Marlene
The time had finally come to repay Ikoma Miho for her unexpected insights. A brief exchange of letters had clarified the day and time she would arrive and he had made a point to have everything they might need prepared in advance.

Was it a bit more than the situation warranted? Absolutely. Was furthering the Lion's good impressions of the Phoenix worth it? Absolutely.

So it was that Sanumo waited by the front of the embassy along with Shiba Terumi, the new duelist who had surprisingly sought him out upon learning of the small gathering. Normally he would have thought twice about allowing a newcomer to join him in something of this nature, but the man had seemed very eager and assured him that there would be no blunders or misunderstandings.

That remained to be seen, but there was hope.

He'd elected to eschew his typical simple attire for something a tad more formal. A pale yellow kimono with wave-like patterns of rich red had been chosen for this particular occasion, though he still kept his hair held in a circlet made of cord.

Glancing towards the sun, he spoke as much to himself as he did to his fellow Phoenix. "The hour is upon us. She should arrive any time now."

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Melissa
When Miho was given an appointment, she took it very seriously; meeting at a certain hour meant meeting at that *Exact* Hour, not a second before, not a second after. And indeed, as Lady Sun reached the agreed position in the sky, the figure of the Ikoma predictably showed up at the horizon. It was not out of the picture that she had even waited out of sight to make the perfect appearence.

If formal was her regular attire, now she was just even more formal. Tight golden furisode, black obi, and a orange overcoat (finally cleaned, after she had used it to cover a rain-soaked child) complemented her traditional hairstyle, the kind ancestors were depicted with in historical artworks. This was a very serious business: the Phoenixes might have not been numerous in the city, but their alliance could have meant much In the eyes of the Imperials. If the Unicorn could not keep their support, so be it, she would not hesitate in replacing them.

She deliberately slowed down, to give the pair the time to assume their best bearing and prepare appropriate words. She was slightly surprised of seeing Terumi as well, but it was good to see him: she found the Shiba quite pleasant, if a little odd.

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Luther
Terumi was excited when he learned that a certain Lion was going to visit the embassy. Ikoma Miho had made a lasting impression and he found that he was actually looking forward to conversations with his newfound acquaintance. 

Now here he was, standing patiently besides Asako Sanumo-san as he waited for their guest to arrive.

Unlike the other Phoenix, Terumi decided to wear a modest attire; a simple red kimono unadorned with overt patterns. He was just joining along, after all. Whatever the reason for her visit, it was a matter between Ikoma Miho and his superior.

He responded to the Asako's observation with an agreeing nod and, sure enough, the Lion arrived in punctual fashion. She was dressed quite impressively, too, and Terumi briefly regretted his outfit. It didn't last long and he greeted the approaching Lion with a warm smile.

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Melissa
Miho stopped at five steps from the small delegation- far enough to make impossible to reach with any Katana - and bowed elegantly to them, even though she looked like a toy soldier bending in half, as always. "Asako-san. Shiba-san. I thank you again for your invitation. Your embassy is truly beautiful." She actually meant that. If there's one thing Miho could appreciate was order, and the building looked impeccable down to the last tile. Must be the Karo's work.

Her eyes switched to Terumi for a moment: she had mostly addressed Sanumo with her first comment, property commanded she also took note of the duelist after his superior. "It is good to see you again, Shiba-san. It seems like you're integrating well with your kin."

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Marlene
Returning Miho's bow respectfully, he did his best to match her energy. He remembered well how cold and stoic her countenance was when they first met. Mirroring that, in his mind, seemed like it would keep their guest comfortable.

He was admittedly surprised at how formally she had dressed for the occasion, but it showed how seriously she was taking this. It was always safer to go overly cautious than not in social settings.

"Thank **You** For coming, Ikoma-sama. I am sure you will find it as impressive on the inside." He gestured behind him and Terumi towards the property itself. "Please come inside and partake of our hospitality."

As he started leading the way towards the main building and the room he'd had set aside for this, he addressed a question to the both of them. "So, how do you two know each other?" The question was intentionally phrased neutrally, so as not to risk offense or accidental implication.

||After you each post again, my next post will detail us arriving at the room, having food/beverage brought to us, etc.
Melissa
"He entertained my request to spar at Jotomon's dojo. I was throughoutly impressed by both his skills and character." Miho spoke neatly as she navigated through the corridors, under the Asako's guidance. While she did so she also took note of every guard and patrol passing through, not really because she had hostile intentions, but because she had genuine interest in military organisation and security work (And still, a small chance was still a chance).

As she entered the room, she sat with all the fluidity of a man in full armor and waited patiently for food and drink to be brought, thanking them softly. She was very frugal in her choice of foods, because for the Lion anything beyond nourishment was basically unforgivable decadence, and because she had already eaten something before coming in, to not give the idea that her lord left her hungry. She was more appreciative of the tea, though: it was a passion of hers, both drinking it and brewing it, and the Phoenix certainly made a good blend. "Your hospitality is wonderful, Asako-san, Shiba-san. Forgive me for repeating myself, but credit must be given where it's dude." Finally she decided that a conversation could only be carried so far by compliments, and she switched to actual questions. "I heard recently there has been trouble regarding an Isawa and a backfiring spell. I hope you passed through the storm unharmed." She had carefully chosen her words to purge them of any possible offense, but she thought the risk was worth the information she could learn. In a city where subtlety was the language and the smallest of scandals raised a storm of rumours, she was very interested in an event involving falling thunder, a mob riot and a duel with the Ambassador himself.

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Luther
"It is as she said, Asako-san." Terumi confirmed with a pleasant smile, dark eyes twinkling with mirth. "We had a wonderful spar at Jotomon's dojo and a small conversation afterwards."

He was careful not to speak too much, preferring to play the part of an interested addition to this meeting rather than someone integral to it. It was the truth of the matter, after all. There was something else that Ikoma Miho was here for and it would not be good to impose his thoughts on the matter when he was not spoken to. The young duelist sat with a grace that enhanced his serene beauty, the tip of his sheathed wakizashi not even making a sound as it made contact with the smooth flooring as he lowered himself.

He silently partook of the tea, eyes closed as he savored the flavor politely. Terumi was more than happy to let the other two converse without him. He could talk to Ikoma Miho-san after her meeting with his superior was concluded after all.

When she voiced her statement, Terumi's eyes opened just a bit, teacup almost to his lips when the last word left the Ikoma's lips. For a moment, he stared at her. Then he continued drinking his tea, using the cup to hide the amused smile on his lips.

_The Lion really are quite charmingly bold,_ he wryly thought. 

The young Shiba has always been annoyed with the Isawa but he does not let it show on his face. 

His gaze flicked towards the Karo.

_No, it is not his place to reply to such a statement._

He did know that it was this unpleasantness that lead to the duel of Shiba Iemon with that magnificent ronin, however. The next smile that was hidden by his teacup was a sharp, eager one. The thought of her being around the city still makes his spine tingle with excitement. He savored the thought of finding her and challenging her to another duel ... But then let's it pass. 

He had a duty to the embassy. That comes first, especially when it came to this.

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Marlene
Sanumo had led the group into a small meeting room laden with earth tones and paintings of nature scenes dotting the walls. Depending on one's sensibilities, it may have come off as rustic or quaint, but such is often the case when dealing with the Phoenix clan's tastes (or, at the very least, those of the Asako family).

Moments after their arrival, the ambassador's favorite Golden Needle tea was brought in, as well as fish and rice dishes with much of the food having been wrapped in leaves prior to cooking.

He was very happy that everything was to her liking so far, as she was all too eager to broadcast. Sadly, Sanumo was none too thrilled when she brought up ***The incident.*** For now, he ignored the small wooden box next to his seat and the hand mirror that rested face down atop it.

"The actions of Taisei were, and likely still are even now, deplorable. I would not say that we have emerged unscathed, as the way the Unicorn conducted themselves in wake of the incident has left the ambassador feeling truly spurned, but we are making do. Your concern is very much appreciated. If you have want of more specifics, you would need to meet with Shiba-sama himself, as I have been expressly asked to hold my tongue regarding the particulars."

A fair bit of the mirth had left his eyes while he was talking, if only because the more jubilant occasion had been tainted my talk of the Isawa and their consistently awful actions.

"Please, Ikoma-sama. I had hoped this to be a more relaxing occasion for one such as yourself. In fact,-" It was at this moment that he produced the box and mirror from his side. "-I know it is not customary for a guest to be given a gift, but as a show of appreciation for your assistance with my sculpture, I thought it only fitting." He set it on the table and gently slid it with both hands until it was within her reach.

*Inside the box was a long steel comb (similar in overall shape to the one pictured). The decorative flourishes along the top consisted of a spread of five silver feathers fanned out (rather than the pictured dragonfly) with the kanji for "Serenity Amidst Chaos" Engraved across the tips of the feathers themselves.*
Melissa
She nodded her head, thinking inappropriate to react with more than that to this grim story. She had taken a bit of a risk, but she found it was worth gauging the situation between the Unicorns and the Phoenix: no hope of reconciliation, good. She would have went on and apologised for the rude question, and taken Sanumo's reassurances in return, but then the Asako went out of tune: instead of doing so, he started speaking about appreciations and gifts, and produced that box.

*Why? What does this mean?* In a millisecond Miho considered all the ways this could be interpreted as an insult, but she found none. Was this an attempt to elicit a gift back? She wouldn't give out anything of importance to her clan on an unregulated exchange. No, this was- this was personal.
Of course. Her Lord had promised to start searching a suitable spouse for her to stave off the ire of her mother, and when Akodo Katsuhiro said he'd do something, it was as good as done. Because this couldn't be Sanumo's personal initiative: except for how scandalous that would be, the gift was so perfect for her that he was either a staggering judge of character or had received some advice. 
Finally, after the assessment, came the judgement.

*...Very well.* After acknowledging it, the situation was overall quite advantageous. Sanumo was the karo of the Phoenix in the city, not as high ranked as she would have liked but still very respectable, and he was young, he could reach higher if he kept up the work.

Besides, such an union would have cemented an alliance between the Lion and the Phoenix within the city: both her duty to her clan and to her own ambitions would be satisfied. But this was all for an hypothetical future. Now they had go through another dance, meant both to satisfy protocol and give the two of them the chance to size each other up.

"I have no words, Asako-san. Only thankfulness, for such unsolicited generosity." Avoding to look at Terumi, who she was sure was grinning like a maniac, Miho plucked her hairpin and replaced it with the new haircomb, as a show of her appreciation. For most this gesture would have meant the collapse of her complicate hairstyle, but the Ikoma was so used to fighting and restraining her hair that they didn't even have the chance to fall apart before the replacement was done. "I apologise. I was not as thoughtful as you were, and so come empty-handed."

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Luther
If he had a fan, he would've spread it to cover his face. It felt like the appropriate moment to do so. His eyes did crinkle in mirth at what was developing right in front of his eyes. Was this the purpose of this entire meeting? If so, he felt like quite the intruder to this endearingly amusing scene. Terumi's eyes rapidly flicked between his clanmate and the always-serious Ikoma, considering how a match like his even began and how their future would look like.

He took another sip of the tea to stop himself from chuckling too loudly.

Improper as it may be to even think, but Asako Sanumo-san would have his hands full if he ever married this Lion.

Ikoma Miho-san would make for a poor, traditional housewife. She was far too much of a warrior, a ranked soldier and a skilled combatant. She would not be the one to stay in the house to manage the mundane affairs. She would be someone commanding her unit towards victory.

One thing was for certain, however. Terumi would have words with his superior once this meeting was over.

He didn't know that he was more fascinated with Lions than Terumi was!

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Marlene
The Karo allowed some surprise to leak into his expression as she skipped the standard three refusals **And** Proceeded to immediately don the accessory. It should be no surprise to the others that he visibly perked up at such a display.

*It appears that Kenshin was spot-on in his assessment! I'll have to send him a letter of praise.*

Rather oblivious to the way the other two had interpreted this gesture, he replied. "No apologies are necessary, Ikoma-sama. The perspective you gave me has been instrumental in keeping my word to your clan. I had hoped to offer you a perspective in turn, but eventually elected to provide this as a way you could control how you are **Perceived** Instead."

Shrugging, he gestured to their food and drink. "But I've distracted us from the accommodations. Let us enjoy this reprieve while we can."

Having steered the proceedings as much as his aims required, he began attending to his plate and opened the floor for the others to choose the direction of the conversation.

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Melissa
She paused at his words: the first part had just been standard words of courtesy, but his reasoning behind the gift left her surprised by how acutely it nailed her character. She was awfully sure of her vision of things, but she took great pain in making sure others would see her as she wanted to appear. Still words from her clansmen? Or his own insights? Both possibilities were vaguely alluring. 
At least, the moment of silence gave her an opportunity to recover and gather her ideas: they'd also have to consider who would marry in the other's family. She was confident he would be the one to take her name, but it was better to make it clear at some point: she was the only heir of her parents' bloodline, and a successful military career would have been much harder.

*That's enough silence.* She finally decided, and placed down her teacup in a way that announced she was about to talk. "Speaking of art, I have just recently picked up painting: i am leagues behind a true master, but it is a relaxing endeavour. Do you practice arts besides sculpture? Your clan is renowned for its artisans, as this very embassy testifies." There, a safe topic: art was one of the generally approved idle talks between samurai, so she was glad to go back on a terrain more familiar to her. She had mostly looked at Sanumo, as he was of higher rank, but she didn't do anything to exclude the Shiba either.

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Luther
Terumi takes another sip, the smile on his face returning to a more proper one of polite interest. Still, hints of his amusement can be seen if one looks intently enough. This truly wasn't how he thought this meeting would go. It was quite the surprise but not a truly unwelcome one. If his superior and his newfound acquaintance wishes to ... Pursue such a relationship, who was he to gainsay it?

He certainly thought that it would not be a terrible match. It was not perfect, either, but it could be a respectable one. Then again, he was neither lord nor parent. Such intricacies was not for a simple duelist like him.

When the topic veered off to something less volatile, Terumi gently placed the teacup down on the table and turned his face towards the courtier.

"I would also like to know, Asako-san." He added, a courteous smile upon his lips.
Marlene
As the conversation turned to more idle topics, especially art, Sanumo grew ever more comfortable. Miho's initial inquiry had concerned him at the time, but she had either only had the one burning question or had elected to leave it alone for now. Either way, he was thankful.

*Ah, yes. Memories of home.*

While not everything from his youth was so rose-tinged, this aspect was.

"I cannot say that I have any cultivated talent for painting or any other non-sculpting art, but I respect and appreciate the efforts of those that do. Much artwork has passed through my family's hands due to my father's operations. While that provided me many points of reference and opportunities to try my hands at such things, only sculpting really stuck with me - though I've picked up a fair sum of broad knowledge about the arts in the process."

"If I may ask, why did you elect to pursue painting over the myriad alternatives? What appeals to you about it?"

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Melissa
She nodded her head. She was not some belligerent brute, art was a noble pursuit and artists worthy of respect. Sculpture intrigued her in particular; the constant motion of the scalpel hitting stone seemed like a great way to train your arms, though she knew dedicated sculptures often ended up half blinded from the dust flying in their eyes. "I assume your father was a Shiba Artisan, then? I have always been interested by their work. Their performance in creating art quite resembles our Bards', though their styles are polar opposites." 

She considered her answer with attention. She wanted to convey well the reason behind this choice without revealing too much of her weaknesses. They still belonged to different clans, after all. "Part of the reason is very simple: I also indulge In writing, travel diaries specifically, and often this genre is paired with illustrations of the landscapes descripted in the book. However, I also find it an healthy endeavour for my character; I am a commander, and perception is at the base of my profession. The general that is blind to the battlefield is set up for a loss. Modestly I am already quite proficient in this branch of my career, but there is always room of improvement- and now that we entered a prolonged peace, I must find other ways to keep myself sharp." Though this was all true, it was also not the complete truth: she was good at perceiving *Details*, keeping track of her forces up to the last ashigaru. But when it came to insert her troops in the bigger picture, she often found herself struggling with it: It was both her strength and weakness, her maniacal attention to detail. Through lateral studies, she hoped to polish this double edged sword into a perfect katana, safe for her, deadly for her enemy. "Allow me to ask the same question. What do you see in sculpture?"

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Marlene
"Not a Shiba artisan himself, no. But he has cultivated a network of such artisans and ensures their works circulate as necessary."

He was surprised at how much of Miho's answer centered around practicality, but all of her reasons made a certain sort of sense. That she was seeking to better herself was admirable, even if using art as a focal point for such a thing wasn't typical of Sanumo's own experience.

"For me, sculpting is an exercise in mindfulness and mastery. In many forms of art, you are building something where once there was nothing; it is a constructive pursuit. In sculpture, you deconstruct your medium until you have something that is simultaneously less and more than what you started with. You must take into account your medium, tools, force exerted, and a number of other factors in order to cultivate an end result that makes you **Feel** Something."

He paused to partake of some of his tea to wet his throat. "Coupled with the comparative peculiarity of the act itself, the precision and knowledge one must wield to sculpt well makes it particularly endearing to me."

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Melissa
She was not sure if she was confused by or appreciated Sanumo's philosophising: the type of philosophy she was used to was *Leadership*, do this, do not do this, do this sometimes. The Phoenix's more abstract thoughts were alien, but also intriguing. In a rare moment of fantasising, she imagined what kind of person she would be like if she had been born in the clan of magic, or any other clan. 
*Still myself, of course. The Lion only reinforced what I already was.*

"A fascinating take, Asako-san. I would love to see you sculpt something: you clearly see something in the crude stone that I don't." She finally put down her cup: she hadn't actually drank it all yet, but sometimes she enjoyed holding warm things with her injured hand, to see how much the heat would take to infiltrate through her dead nerves. "Yes, fascinating. Most of my job essentially involves destroying, so the arts always held a particular appeal to me. How is it, Asako-san? Being a karo, I mean. I also often administer resources and men, but in the end it is always to maintain or reduce losses. Never to make them grow."

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Marlene
"Certainly, Ikoma-sama. I'm not sure when my next project will be once I finish Akodo-sama's piece, but I'll make sure to notify you when the time comes. I welcome the company!" Normally he would focus on his art alone or with minimal supervision, such as at the garden, but he wasn't strictly opposed to having someone else present. Perhaps it might even be a nice change of pace.

It shouldn't have surprised him that conversation periodically bounced back to matters of station and duty, but it did. Miho made no attempts to hide her more serious interests and it showed. Though he'd tried to keep talk away from such matters, today's visit was ultimately for her and so he obliged.

"Being a Karo is a complex affair. I must attend to asset and personnel needs, make sure I am apprised of any new developments, draft, propose, and submit paperwork, and any number of other tasks which improve or preserve our circumstances. In essence, I act as a catch-all for anything which Shiba-sama does not personally attend to. Every day presents new puzzles to test myself against, but I am honored to have the Ambassador's ear and be so in tune with the heartbeat of my clan in this city."

And he meant it, the young man visibly swelling with pride at how well he'd managed to keep this teetering ship afloat since his arrival. "There is a certain wonder to looking around yourself and seeing all the ways in which your actions bore fruit."

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Melissa
Miho listened with actual interest: it was not just politeness, she genuinely cared about such things. Where most found administrative hurdles tiring and annoying, to her they were almost pleasant, definitely an easier task than- whatever this meeting was. Sanumo's job felt appealing; she herself had thought about assuming such a position, after she was too old to serve in the army (assuming her career hadn't opened the way to much more prestigious posts, of course). "I can imagine that, Asako-san. Your skill in such a complex occupation is commendable."

She felt a metallic taste on the tip of her tongue, the kind she got when a conversation was close running its due. She had assessed the situation, analysed her interlocutor, from there on it was likely just pleasantries. But before she left eveeything to the part of her brain stuffed with inoffensive topics, she needed to handle another thing. "I hope you won't think I am trying to one up you, Asako-san, but I truly feel in debt for this wonderful invitation: I must make an offer of my own. I am afraid our embassy would bore you by now, so how about we meet in Daikoku's Gardens, one of these days? I can attest to their beauty, and I believe their sight would prove a great scenario for some of the topics we are debating here." There: Sanumo had done the first step, now she was setting up second. She just hoped the man didn't have a preordained schedule she was messing up with her offer, but if she didn't reciprocate she might have looked indifferent or rude. Besides, she didn't plan to act like a flower awaiting to be picked: if they were to do this, she would also do what was necessary to bring it to completion, instead of prolonging unnecessarily this procedure. *I should also talk about this to my lord. He might have further instructions.*

Suddenly, she remembered the Shiba was in the room and she addressed him just in time to avoid being rude, moving her eyes on his face. "You are also welcome to join us, Shiba-san." She imagined Terumi would refuse, if he caught the undertone, but even if he didn't she wouldn't mind, and maybe the odd duelist could shock her with another surprise.

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Luther
_And now they remember that I am here,_ Terumi thought with mirth. The two of them were getting along so well that the young Shiba did not dare to open his mouth and interject in the conversation. So he made himself like a dutiful yojimbo and kept his silence. He has seen his father do it often in the presence of Benihime-sama and he was sure that his father was also soaking in the knowledge while he did it. 

"I can confirm that Daikoku's Gardens would indeed provide a beautiful scenery and I thank you for the offer, Ikoma-san, but I think I shall refuse." He replied, tone apologetic yet still smiling. Miho has seen the strange samurai's smiles but this one had amusement as well as curiosity. He knew the underlying meaning and it was amusing him.

He did not expect that he would enjoy listening to the two of them as much as he did but he is and it was a pleasant surprise.

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Marlene
*The entire point of this meeting was repaying a debt and now she feels indebted? This could get out of hand...*

*...But I am having a good time and this can only help strengthen the bonds between clans.*

He took the time of Terumi's response to mull it over, electing not to address the potential one-upmanship she had brought up. "Your embassy has been far from boring for me, Ikoma-sama, but I can understand the desire for a change of scenery. Though the Ambassador keeps me busy, I am sure we can make such an outing happen. Over the coming days, simply send word of when you'd like to aim for and we can go from there. I'm sure it will be worth whatever wait that duty demands."

Even though Sanumo was still trying to match the tone with which Miho was comporting herself, an attentive eye could tell from his body language and other occasional cues that he was looking forward to an excuse to get away from his desk for a little bit - doubly so with good company to spend it with.

*I'm sure even Iemon needs a respite from time to time. I refuse to believe his Shogi matches are only for training purposes. Surely he will not begrudge me similar affordances.*

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Melissa
She softened- a little. Like, a glacier in a slightly sunny day's level of softening. *Must be tired of staying inside. I can imagine the amount of paperwork just that Taisei affair must have brought.* Personally she wouldn't have minded, but she knew she was an anomaly (in the most flattening way one could intend that word), and so she nodded her head. "Then expect to receive word from me soon, Asako-san. I look forward to enjoying more of your company." 

From there, she expertly veered the conversation towards pleasant, inoffensive arguments, that wouldn't require any of them much thought to answer on nor be cause of unintentional disrespect. Finally, it came time to leave, and after all the ritual farewells she decided to walk through daikoku's Gardens to come back to the embassy: she wanted to make sure the gardens were as she remembered them to be. However, as she walked in front of the waterfall, her eye casually fell on her own reflection in the water, and she stopped. After making sure no one was around, she tilted her head in a bit of a pose, and touched her new haircomb thoughtfully. *Uh. It's really pretty, actually.*

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