Ida found herself leaning in as Natsuko spoke, the same way she would sit straight to attention and hang on every word from her favorite professors. Even the cucumber sandwich on her plate was left untouched. This advice was precious - and truthfully, something Ida immediately latched on to because it validated what she'd hypothesized for some time.

Women are the ones who make the strategic sacrifices, not men. 

"Well I must say that I appreciate how forthcoming you are about your experience," Ida sighed at the heavy thoughts, but offered Natsuko a small smile of shared understanding. "My parents were arranged in marriage, and great love came up between them over the years. I suppose one can always grow to love someone. And the choice about what I could tolerate without misery, is better than no choice at all." 

It wasn't like Ida to see the glass half-full, she was usually quite objective. But as she formulated what she wanted most out of a future partner, Natsuko's words empowered her to find gray areas for options. It felt a lot less stifling now that she understood what she had to do. "My father has asked if he shall arrange suitors for me, from our family and business contacts. I would accept them for tea but would much rather... gather other suitors via my own sources. I may speak fluent Mandarin, but I'm an English girl at heart." Ida crinkled her nose and let out a little giggle, catching herself a bit by surprise at how open she felt with her new acquaintance. 

Ida nodded thoughtfully as Suki continued, heart swelling with pride a bit that she was able to break ground so quickly with someone who typically took on such a guarded approach. "Though I find your mind and temperament quite charming, Miss Mountbatton," Ida jumped in to insist with a grin, knowing it might have meant little coming from her, but wanting to reassure her new friend that really any man who passed his opportunity with her was likely an idiot. Incapable, as she'd said earlier.

"In all seriousness, it sounds as though you and I are quite similar in what we seek," the Ravenclaw mused, remembering to take her tea before it got cold. "I should very much like to be of a position where I could enjoy the comforts of feeding my mind with some stability..." And a good deal of autonomy, she wanted to add. A husband who traveled often didn't seem so terrible.

The strategy was coming together in her mind's eye, and Ida could not resist opening to Suki further. "My father is rather traditional. He won't be very patient with me should I close my season with a career and no suitable prospects." The girl scoffed at the thought. It was very much a sore subject for her - she blamed his mindset for her mother's tragic demise. "I shall take your advice and not show my cards too soon. Maybe I can do just enough to appease him, and any suitable prospect, so as to delay the process indefinitely. Long enough to find someone more acceptable by my own standards, at any rate." 

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