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[@hatakekuro][/center]
Once more the victim of Zens hair ruffling, the girl blew the loose strands back out of her face as he motioned for her to follow after him. [color=DDDCE1]"Hmm, sure."[/color] With a bit more prep and energy about her than usual, she jumped off the stool and scurried after Zen as the duo made their way out of the guildhall. Walking beside Zen, letting him lead the way seeing as he knew the way to the gardens, Akemi was almost immediately distracted by the first series of booths being set up along the streets of the capital. Though the vendors seemed a bit more intent chatting amongst themselves than actually setting up their stalls, it didn't stop Akemi from gawking as they passed.

It wasn't long after that the scent of spices, cooked meat, and bakery goods along with various sweets began to fill the air around them, mixing together to create a rather delectable cocktail of aroma, causing her stomach to growl rather audibly. Upon recall now, Akemi couldn't remember when she had last eaten that day. She had finished the nutritional smoothie she had made before leaving the guildhall, and she remembered breakfast...but was that it?

One particular, very familiar scent caught the girl's attention, finding herself drawn towards it. This scent reminded Akemi of her grandmother, who had tried to teach the sickly to cook, albeit with...interesting results. This was the first thing her grandmother had tried to teach her. Dumplings, a mixture of both sweet, meat-filled, and other various fillings. While she recognized most of them, it was the dango that seemed to catch her attention.

[color=DDDCE1]"Can I?"[/color] Grabbing at Zen's sleeve, the girl looked like a child asking their guardian for permission. While it honestly wasn't far off from the truth, as the girl had always had something of a strict diet in watching what she ate and keeping a proper nutritional balance for obvious reasons, it was still an amusing sight for any passersby.
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[color=9C2E37]"Ah it is alright Mr. Isanami, it was a bit for you to take in and process I'm sure...it's not exactly the easiest thing, explaining what seems second nature to an outsider, or for said outsider to immediately grasp the meanings."[/color] Her words were followed by a simple, graceful shrug of her shoulders. Politics and such relations were actually a strength of Alina, how to decipher their meanings as well as twist individuals to her whims a key part of her upbringing. [color=9C2E37]"But yes, that is certainly one part of the festival. A carrot on a string to keep the people motivated and onside, and how best to do so, are key to a ruler's reign."[/color]

Throughout their entire interaction, not one act or gesture had been genuine. Each one a calculated and in some cases, preordained response to the many scenarios she had foreseen in her mind and practiced countless times accordingly. Though this time, the shock that caused her smile to freeze for a split second, the involuntarily twitch of her left hand as her mind seemed to grind to a stop before them, all without breaking her stride though? That was as genuine as it got.

Had she been too focused on outside forces and her own scenarios to notice she had messed up her tone? No, no that can't be it. There was no way she would never make such an amateurish mistake surely! Looking away from Menzai, as if more interested in what a cloud to her left looked like though she was instead trying to recompose herself. She had let her guard slip on her facade, but she wasn't going to let this fluster her and after a planned, delayed response, she finally turned back to Menzai with another sigh.

[color=9C2E37]"I guess you've caught me Mr. Isanami. You're quite perceptive."[/color] The girl shrugged, bringing her hands up as she did. [color=9C2E37]"In all honesty, I cannot relate to how these people feel about this festival because of a difference in upbringing."[/color] The best lies were always mixed with a bit of truth, after all, so her sheepish admittance was probably her best response to give here. She would have to be more careful around the beastkin, he was far more perceptive than she had thought in picking up something she hadn't even realized she had let slip.

[color=9C2E37]"My parents were merchants so festivals were always more work for us funnily enough. Not that I'm saying my life was any harder than any of these peoples, just me musing a bit on the irony of the situation. But also as such, I never really had to work hard enough to really deserve a break so never really felt the need for one, for I could get one whenever I wanted almost. It's why I became a guild wizard, in all honesty, I wanted to give back to society and a, well, break from the mundane life of a merchant."[/color] Reciting her scripted backstory, albeit a lot sooner than she had expected without being asked outright about it, it was once more a mixture of truth and flat out lies. It would also go to explain her polite manner, immaculate appearance, and just overall character.

[color=9C2E37]"But that's enough about me Mr Isanami!"[/color] Clasping her hands together, her beaming, cheerful smile returned once more as she seemed eager to drop the conversation or change it at least. [color=9C2E37]"Do tell me about yourself. I personally think you must have some fascinating stories to tell or at least something to be learned. As you are curious about human society and our ways, I am also curious about your own people's culture and the like...although I'll settle just for knowing a little bit more about yourself if you're not feeling too keen on talking about potential clan secrets with an outsider."[/color]