(D3, LA) White Skies, Dark Streets, Red Tea

[Isawa Natsuko]

(expecting, but public space)

Natsuko brushed any clinging small iceballs from her shoulders and shook back her hood as she entered the odd shop. Slipping off sandals, she begins walking through the windingly laid out space, cold eyes skimming across the unusual wares, letting instinct guide her.

[Suzume Rin]

Inside a shivering Rin had knelt down by one of the displays and was carefully turning fabulous turban this way and that

"A fabulous piece that Suzume-san, only came in last month. All the way from the Ivory Kingdoms, you'll note the peacock feathers accent the purple silk. In their lands it would be worn by no-one less than the governor of a great territory."
Kasuga Touji appeared to never turn down the faintest hope of a sale.

"It's...very colourful? I wonder if it's warm...probably not, it's meant to be kinda hot down there I think."
For the Sparrow it was far more interesting imagining the story of how this piece had made it all the way north.

[Isawa Natsuko]

Natsuko recognizes the young yam-digger from her first day in Tsuma, but nothing else about the scene or commentary. Oh..well, she recognizes peacock feathers. She offers a bow encompassing them both. "Good afternoon, Suzume-san, shopkeeper-san." She didn't remotely recognize the Tortoise mon, and while Courtesy is important, being a child does give one some leeway.

"Looking to buy, hmm...whatever that is?" It does look like you could put yams in it if held upside down.

[Suzume Rin]

Natsuko recognizes the young yam-digger from her first day in Tsuma, but nothing else about the scene or commentary. Oh..well, she recognizes peacock feathers. She offers a bow encompassing them both. "Good afternoon, Suzume-san, shopkeeper-san." She didn't remotely recognize the Tortoise mon, and while Courtesy is important, being a child does give one some leeway.

"Looking to buy, hmm...whatever that is?" It does look like you could put yams in it if held upside down.

"Oh, Isawa-sama!"
Rin cranes her neck back to see Natsuko and tries bowing without dropping the turban, looking like she's offering the item as part of some ritual.
"I was just examining this....hat?"
The shopkeeper mumbles something about children not appreciating art under his breath after returning Natsuko's bow and heads off to deal with another customer.

"Apparently it's from the Ivory Kingdoms, a land far to the south where they...wear...these. It's quit something though, isn't it?"

[Isawa Natsuko]

"That is a hat?" She tips her head to the side, letting her eyes go distant. "I suppose there's a reality where those are in fashion here. I am not unhappy that it is not this one."

"I hope the Fortunes find you well, Suzume-san," Appropriate greeting enacted, she gets quickly to the point of her trip. "And, have you seen tea in here? Rooibos tea, specifically?" The name of the tea is pronounced with a very good imitation of Yuji's pronunciation, intonation and all...which may or may not be entirely recognizable to anyone from places where the tea is common.

[Suzume Rin]

"That is a hat?" She tips her head to the side, letting her eyes go distant. "I suppose there's a reality where those are in fashion here. I am not unhappy that it is not this one."

"I hope the Fortunes find you well, Suzume-san," Appropriate greeting enacted, she gets quickly to the point of her trip. "And, have you seen tea in here? Rooibos tea, specifically?" The name of the tea is pronounced with a very good imitation of Yuji's pronunciation, intonation and all...which may or may not be entirely recognizable to anyone from places where the tea is common.

"...."
Rin looks back at the turban. Had Isawa-sama just glimpsed across dimensions to determine headwear?!?!
"Oh...well, they are a bit gaudy, ain't they?"
She carefully returns the piece to its display stand before rising to her feet.

"Fortunes find me as well as can be expected I reckon, although it's a little chilly outside today."
Looking over Natsuko
"I hope you've been blessed though." There's a quick blink at her question and her pitch perfect imitation "Oh, well Kasuga-sama's tea is kept at the back I think, to make sure it doesn't get damp. Would you like me to show you?"

[Isawa Natsuko]

"I do not think I have been particularly noticed by any fortunes. I am proving extremely adequate in the tests presented here, have met my betrothed, and have helped avert the danger of a neglected shrine though. So I do not think extra assistance is needed." She follows Rin through the shop, picking up a delicate glass cup in a filigree'd brass holder that seemed to be part of a tea set to examine curiously.

"You did very well in the ball-throwing test. Congratulations." She peers through the cup at the shelf of tea and other beverages, eyes magnified and distorted by the glass. "This one?" She points to a small wooden cask labeled 'coffee' in some style of writing that is definitely not Rokugani.

[Suzume Rin]

"I do not think I have been particularly noticed by any fortunes. I am proving extremely adequate in the tests presented here, have met my betrothed, and have helped avert the danger of a neglected shrine though. So I do not think extra assistance is needed." She follows Rin through the shop, picking up a delicate glass cup in a filigree'd brass holder that seemed to be part of a tea set to examine curiously.

"You did very well in the ball-throwing test. Congratulations." She peers through the cup at the shelf of tea and other beverages, eyes magnified and distorted by the glass. "This one?" She points to a small wooden cask labeled 'coffee' in some style of writing that is definitely not Rokugani.

"Uh....well, I'm sure the fortunes don't mind so long as you're doing everything right...And uh, thank you, I guess I'm a good ball...thrower? I just know your time to shine is coming Isawa-sama."
Rin looks down at the indicated cask
"I think this was it, he said it was really strong tea. 'Kave' or something like that, couldn't quite make it out. Is that why you've come? To try some of the special tea?"
She glances again at the box, what sort of powerful essence could this tea hold to attract an Isawa like Natsuko?

[Isawa Natsuko]

"oh? Do they serve any of their teas? I wasn't looking for kave, but if that is another new tea, I would like to try it." She examines the wares on the shelves, unsure what any of it is, and a bit amazed that there's so much of it.

"Have you been here long, to know about all these goods? I recognize the parts on this one that are just...well the kanji for health and energy, but...that's about it."

[Suzume Rin]

"oh? Do they serve any of their teas? I wasn't looking for kave, but if that is another new tea, I would like to try it." She examines the wares on the shelves, unsure what any of it is, and a bit amazed that there's so much of it.

"Have you been here long, to know about all these goods? I recognize the parts on this one that are just...well the kanji for health and energy, but...that's about it."

"Serve 'em? I'm not sure. Just stuck my head in when the headwear caught my eye. Everything here's so fancy and I only know what half of it is. You got this crazy hats and weird blades and powders that make your head hurt if you stand too close to them."
Nodding to Natsuko
"I'll go get Kasuga-sama right away

Rin goes and very nearly wrenches the store-owner away from a customer before shepherding him over to the Phoenix who he regards with a raised eyebrow.

[Togashi Shinko]

It was impolite to call it "snooping". Instead, Shinko was just...taking special interest in the establishment's wares. Yeah, that was right. And she was totally not being a distraction for anyone else.

"Hello there!?! I was told to find the proprietor to know about what you sell. The guards in the marketplace were rather huffy about asking what you had."

[Isawa Natsuko]

"Serve 'em? I'm not sure. Just stuck my head in when the headwear caught my eye. Everything here's so fancy and I only know what half of it is. You got this crazy hats and weird blades and powders that make your head hurt if you stand too close to them."
Nodding to Natsuko
"I'll go get Kasuga-sama right away

Rin goes and very nearly wrenches the store-owner away from a customer before shepherding him over to the Phoenix who he regards with a raised eyebrow.

Natsuko nods agreement to the the Sparrow's assessment. Everything here was fancy...and odd. "I am curious about those powders, but..." The patterns on the fabrics draw her eyes as she mostly ignores Rin dragging the tortoise to their end of the shop until they'r right there.

Looking up at the tortoise with no reaction to his impatience, she asks. "I am told you have a red tea called rooibos. I would like to see it. What qualities does it have?" The quiet, uninflected tones are interrupted only by that mimicry of Yuji's pronunciation of rooibos."

The shout from the door draws her attention, but not an answer since she was definitely not the proprietor.

[Ender]

The Merchant House of the Exotic was heavily scented with sandalwood, and dimly lit. Lush tapestries draped over columns, seemingly muffling sounds from echoing in the building. Trinkets and baubles are over heavy tables, atop dark green cloths.

From behind his counter, Kasuga Touji, an samurai of approximately 50 winters, eyes the children that have walked into his shop. A kiseru in his hand, the smoke almost snaking around his head. His eyes narrow, looking to Isawa Natsuko. "You have heard correctly," almost ignoring the shouting from the Togashi as they entered. He walked, a slight limp matched with the echo of a cane against the floor adding to the gait. Bringing up a small box from behind his counter, it was gilded, and marked with the symbols of creatures from a far off land, large beasts with a long snout and long... what appear to be horns on either side of the snout.

Opening the box, he presented the rooibos to the Phoenix. "A fine blend, if I say so myself."

Looking about the offered trinkets, none of them look of Rokugani make. Clearly imports taken in from Slow Tide Harbor. Vases, decorative items, other items which their purpose is not discernable.

Touji looked to Shinko, "We sell things of foreign make, beyond our shores, child. Curiosities and art. Nothing against Imperial Decree, obviously, but these are truly special little baubles." He was almost dismissive of the Togashi, before shuffling back to his spot behind the counter.

[Suzume Rin]

Rin peers over Natsuko's shoulder into the box, clearly impressed.

[Togashi Shinko]

"Oh how lovely!" Shinko replies breathlessly, leaning into the perception of the wide eyes ingenue before moving to what she wants to know "What about pipes? I saw a beautiful one a few days ago."

The hope is for the question to surprise the merchant and provoke a response.

[Isawa Natsuko]

The smell is very clearly not tea as she knows it. "It smells sweet, a little bit of wood and orchid. I would like to know what it tastes like." The creatures on the side of the box are undoubtedly some mystical creature of those far off lands. And it is all undoubtedly too pricey for her meager funds.

But the question about pipes, and the sight of the Kasuga's own prompts another bit of curiosity. "Pipes? Do you also have smoking herbs here as well?" What qualities would foreign smokables have?

[Ender]

"Oh how lovely!" Shinko replies breathlessly, leaning into the perception of the wide eyes ingenue before moving to what she wants to know "What about pipes? I saw a beautiful one a few days ago."

The hope is for the question to surprise the merchant and provoke a response.

If Kasuga Touji was surprised, it didn't show on his face. "Pipes? Why would children be looking for something to smoke out of. A few have passed through here, curiosities from other lands. Much as anything else." His tone was almost dismissive, before focusing again on Natsuko.

The smell is very clearly not tea as she knows it. "It smells sweet, a little bit of wood and orchid. I would like to know what it tastes like." The creatures on the side of the box are undoubtedly some mystical creature of those far off lands. And it is all undoubtedly too pricey for her meager funds.

But the question about pipes, and the sight of the Kasuga's own prompts another bit of curiosity. "Pipes? Do you also have smoking herbs here as well?" What qualities would foreign smokables have?

"I happen to have a kettle going. I can prepare a small cup for you to try." He doesn't even allow a response, already preparing the rooibos blend. He toddles along, moving some ceramics. "Now smoking herbs... no. Nothing here, or at least, not for children such as yourselves. Our honored hosts would have my head if they thought me corrupting the youth." He chuckled, pouring hot water over the leaves into the cup.

[Isawa Natsuko]

Natsuko follows, cheerfully surprised that he would offer samples of such things. "That is greatly appreciated. Are the snake-nosed creatures demons or protective spirits?" She leans to peer at the leaves and smell the tea. "It doesn't smell like tea at all." She steps back to leave space for others to check it out if they want to.

"in any case, I do smoke. Mugwort for sleep, mullein for coughs. It's relaxing."

[Togashi Shinko]

Shinko nods along with the Isawa. "It is used medicinally in the mountains, and some spiritualists use herb blends to help their meditation. Bringing one home would be a worthy gift"