Beauty and the Bowl [Asami, Kyo]

"I certainly like to think that I do. I wouldn't be here, otherwise."

A small smirk crossed his features, the sense of the ice having been broken more than enough to justify him being more forward. It wasn't as if he ought to simply avoid forwardness, after all. That wasn't a man's way, and he was a real man. Her question was one that he understood had put him into quite the position, and despite the sight on display as she slid back, Kyo kept his gaze from wandering.

Iron will and all that.

"I think it's certainly a dress that any woman would probably kill to have. But I doubt they could wear it well enough to make it look quite so eye-catching."

Even if Asami was not necessarily fishing for compliments, Kyo had absolutely no issue with giving them. After all, he was an honest man. She looked stunning.

"That's quite a title, but given her work, I'd say it's more than well-earned. Not that it's my place to be the judge of something like that either way."

Kyo wasn't the type to single idle praises, or simply compliment something if he didn't mean it. He was a craftsman, and he appreciated exceptional work. It was simply in his nature to speak well of anything that was well-made, and he could certainly say that Asami's mother had made quite a beauty.

"If you would make such an offer, I'm sure that my sister would be honored. She's been seeing suitors recently, and I have no doubt she would want to look even half as fetching as you do."

Now that was certainly bold of him, but it wasn't outright uncouth. It was a compliment, after all, and not one that could be called outright crass. Kyo was, even at his most forward, still a man who understood propriety.

Now that was the sort of forwardness that Kyo lived for, that he found far more attractive in a woman than any aristocratic demeanor. If they weren't still in a proper establishment, and he weren't still wearing the finery of the Sawachika, he might have simply taken that as his cue to speak more naturally. But, of course, he would never do something like that.

"I think a second arrangement would be perfect. Away from prying eyes, of course, given business is hardly anyone else's concern. Where did you have in mind?"

Kyo was aware that this had moved a bit beyond the typical banter of a first date, that Asami had met all of his expectations and then surpassed quite a few of them. Now was the time to be bold, ambitious. That was who he was, after all, and mere first impressions weren't his concern anymore.

Perhaps Kyo had let his composure slip just a touch, or perhaps he'd understood the nature of this moment between the two of them and lowered his guard willingly. Regardless of the reason, his perfectly composed demeanor did not hide what lay in his eyes-- the very same fiery passion with which he carried himself in his life, which was only ever restrained by Kyo's own desire. He wouldn't embarrass himself, certainly, but the light behind his gaze made it quite clear that he would prefer something more than this formality in their next meeting.

"Naturally. I'll speak with the household and inform them I'm not to be disturbed, then. That it's quite important business. Simply tell me when you are free, and that is all I will need to know."

He maintained his polite, courteous wording of course, but the meaning of his words was rather plain, his gaze finally moving just a touch to take her in more completely. He'd certainly restrained himself before, when things had not been so straightforward, but now there was no possible room for doubt that the two of them were beyond basic courtesy. And Kyo was, after all, an honest man.

There was plenty to be said about Asami that Kyo would call decidedly attractive. Enough that he would probably just call it a waste of his time to list it all. However, at the moment, none of it was half as appealing as the look in her eyes at the moment. It was one thing to see a woman like her so driven in a professional environment, but in something like this? That was on an entirely different level.

"Not in the slightest. I can have a messenger let my family know right away, then, and we can make our way there when we're finished here. I'm naturally ready to host at any time, and my schedule for the day is remarkably empty."

Was Kyo the sort of man who would completely change his plans for the day just based on a woman? Yes, absolutely. Not for just any woman, of course, but when he'd made it to this point, that was something else. Some might have called it going through a lot of trouble, but to him, it was just one more thing to commit fully to. It was worth the outcome, after all.