(D5, EA) The Lingering Customers

[Kakita Yuji]

While most of the competitors had left the lotus, (some of them as hastily as they could be excused to go pound sake and make rude Mantis noises with their armpits) Yuji had stayed behind. The competition was a good reminder to take a moment to enjoy the tranquility of the soul. And so Yuji took another moment, with a fresh pot of tea and a vacant seat beside him.

[Isawa Natsuko]

With the unerring guidance of the Void, Natsuko had lingered in the teahouse, staring disconcertingly at the staff trying to reset their routine in order to start serving people again. She was watching the canisters of tea, more than the servants, but they didn't know that. She didn't worry much about why she was prompted to follow one particular pot as it was brought to a table, but there was an empty cushion beside the table and she settled to it with the boneless 'grace' of those too young to have used any of those joints much and unconcerned about their knees hitting the cushion hard enough to connect with the floor beneath.

After a long stare at the pot, the bright, blue eyes shift up to Yuji before being hidden in a sort of seated bow. "Kakita-san. Were you expecting anyone for tea?"

[Kakita Yuji]

With the unerring guidance of the Void, Natsuko had lingered in the teahouse, staring disconcertingly at the staff trying to reset their routine in order to start serving people again. She was watching the canisters of tea, more than the servants, but they didn't know that. She didn't worry much about why she was prompted to follow one particular pot as it was brought to a table, but there was an empty cushion beside the table and she settled to it with the boneless 'grace' of those too young to have used any of those joints much and unconcerned about their knees hitting the cushion hard enough to connect with the floor beneath.

After a long stare at the pot, the bright, blue eyes shift up to Yuji before being hidden in a sort of seated bow. "Kakita-san. Were you expecting anyone for tea?"

Well he certainly didn't look upset at the Phoenix joining him. Instead he returned the seated bow.

"Ah, that is an interesting way to phrase that, Isawa-san. There is tea and two cups and two cushions But I had not extended an invitation to a specific individual. Rather, I left the spot open for the universe to fill at it saw fit. So I suppose you could say that I was expecting anyone, but not expecting someone." he offered with a small smile.

"But I would be pleased for you to be that anyone, Isawa-san. I hope your stay in Tsuma has been pleasant since last we spoke by the koi?" he asked.

It was a very poetic take on 'Pretty Crane don't drink alone.'

[Isawa Natsuko]

The poetic take is lost on the priestess, but she decides that, after the recent test, she's remembered some scrap of courtesy. "Thank you for the invitation addressed to anyone then, Kakita-san," she says, slipping her satchel from her shoulder to thump gently to the floor with a bit of a rattle.

"Indeed. There has been tea and conversation, and the shrine has been much restored by the efforts of so many pious samurai. I hope it can be maintained so." Her head tilts again. "The all day hail was a bit strange though. Considering the weather cleared back up once the shrine's balance was restored, I hope we will not see it return."

Blue eyes flick to the pot. "What tea have you chosen? The canister was tucked well back which seems to indicate infrequent use."

[Kakita Yuji]

The poetic take is lost on the priestess, but she decides that, after the recent test, she's remembered some scrap of courtesy. "Thank you for the invitation addressed to anyone then, Kakita-san," she says, slipping her satchel from her shoulder to thump gently to the floor with a bit of a rattle.

"Indeed. There has been tea and conversation, and the shrine has been much restored by the efforts of so many pious samurai. I hope it can be maintained so." Her head tilts again. "The all day hail was a bit strange though. Considering the weather cleared back up once the shrine's balance was restored, I hope we will not see it return."

Blue eyes flick to the pot. "What tea have you chosen? The canister was tucked well back which seems to indicate infrequent use."

Yuji nodded.

"Indeed, I believe there is considerable support for both support from the town and the academy to keep it so. Hmm, I wonder if someone can also petition the brotherhood? The old monk is kindly...but he really should be instructing younger monks in the wisdom he has accrued over the years."

He looked down at the teapot.

"Ah, you have sharp eyes, Isawa-san. Not something usually ordered here or even stocked here. I believe one of the Mantis last year offered it as a gift in appreciation of the service provided." he explained.

Which was a nice way to say he couldn't pay for his tea and offered up some tea in trade.

Yuji poured the tea, little bits of safflower and marigold petals adding little pops of color to the blend.

"It is a smoked mango oolong tea. A very complex blend indeed."

[Isawa Natsuko]

"I do not believe I have tasted mango of any sort before. Something common on the Mantis islands?" The question is implied more by context than tone as she settles her hands in her lap. "Smoked teas are good for afternoons though. They feel more robust than the floral ones."

She watches the pour, blue eyes catching the gold petals that slip into the cup, being so much smaller than the tea leaves. "Petitioning the Brotherhood would need to come from someone official, yes?" Someone with an actual position in Tsuma, rather than some not-yet-adults running around the place, was the implication.

[Kakita Yuji]

"I do not believe I have tasted mango of any sort before. Something common on the Mantis islands?" The question is implied more by context than tone as she settles her hands in her lap. "Smoked teas are good for afternoons though. They feel more robust than the floral ones."

She watches the pour, blue eyes catching the gold petals that slip into the cup, being so much smaller than the tea leaves. "Petitioning the Brotherhood would need to come from someone official, yes?" Someone with an actual position in Tsuma, rather than some not-yet-adults running around the place, was the implication.

Yuji nodded.

"A very tropical fruit. But there is definitely more flavor in this than just mango. There's also a pervasive heat from chili flakes mixed in along with the smokey overtones of the tea and the almost syrupy mouth feel of the mango." he explained, taking a moment to appreciate the aroma and visual appeal of the petals before sipping.

"Hm. I'm honestly not sure, Isawa-san, forgive me for assuming you might know more about it than I. Although we'll all be adults soon enough, I doubt that gives us too much more sway with the brotherhood beyond that of a samurai and a monk share. But surely someone will know someone who does have such sway, or at least know someone who does,"

[Isawa Natsuko]

"I know the tenets of the various orders, but very little of their governing." Natsuko says as she sips again. "Could certainly ask Saito-san. I would expect him to be aware of such things."

"Did they actually use dried fruit in this? The syrup makes me think so. Stronger than the peach-scented tea I had the other day, as well." Reaching, she lifts the lid of the pot to look at the leaves, swollen with water now.

[Kakita Yuji]

"I know the tenets of the various orders, but very little of their governing." Natsuko says as she sips again. "Could certainly ask Saito-san. I would expect him to be aware of such things."

"Did they actually use dried fruit in this? The syrup makes me think so. Stronger than the peach-scented tea I had the other day, as well." Reaching, she lifts the lid of the pot to look at the leaves, swollen with water now.

Yuji nodded.

"You have an excellent palate, Isawa-san. The drying has several benefits, the most practical one being increasing it's longevity to get here. But I must admit it has a noticeable, albeit pleasant effect on the experience." he allowed.

[Isawa Natsuko]

"As you chose the tea, I suppose your palate is also excellent, Kakita-san." She replaces the lid. "Does it take multiple steeps well? Many fruits give much of their essence in the first steep or two and leave barely a hint, or a musty aftertaste thereafter."

[Kakita Yuji]

"As you chose the tea, I suppose your palate is also excellent, Kakita-san." She replaces the lid. "Does it take multiple steeps well? Many fruits give much of their essence in the first steep or two and leave barely a hint, or a musty aftertaste thereafter."

The Crane blinked a bit in confusion at the question. Who did multiple steeps?

"Ah well, I'm not sure of that Isawa-san. It's not a common blend around here, I'm not sure all the complex flavors would hold out well in such circumstances. I've heard of really strong black teas being served that way to suit the differences between those seeking a strong jolt of energy and those not, but not for this blend. he admitted.

[Isawa Natsuko]

There is a nod. "Hai, the black teas meant to be strong are cut fine and offer up almost everything they have straight away. But oolong? Twisted and fired and," she nods to the pot, "sometimes smoked. They offer up layer by layer before you know all of it. The sensei who taught me all I know of herbs and medicine had one she made herself that you could study with for half a day, so long as you kept the steeps short."

"I with the fruit, I doubt this one will handle that sort of treatment well." She takes a long sip before asking, "You said a Mantis offered this one up? Are there some new ties with the Mantis? I had not been prepared for that test on a boat based on past Tournaments."

[Kakita Yuji]

There is a nod. "Hai, the black teas meant to be strong are cut fine and offer up almost everything they have straight away. But oolong? Twisted and fired and," she nods to the pot, "sometimes smoked. They offer up layer by layer before you know all of it. The sensei who taught me all I know of herbs and medicine had one she made herself that you could study with for half a day, so long as you kept the steeps short."

"I with the fruit, I doubt this one will handle that sort of treatment well." She takes a long sip before asking, "You said a Mantis offered this one up? Are there some new ties with the Mantis? I had not been prepared for that test on a boat based on past Tournaments."

Yuji pondered the question.

"Hmm, well I think that a lot of it changed two years ago, when Lord Toshimoko recognized his son in the Mantis who then went on to win the tournament. There was also rumor that the expansion of the guest quarters was a result of that competitors experience here in Tsuma. With the inclusion of the Test of the Waves, while I don't know if this means warm relations as a whole, they have at least one powerful friend among the Crane." he offered.

[Isawa Natsuko]

"Ah. We are less in touch with those political activities at the Sanctuary." She sips her tea before asking, "was the new test a result of negotiations for Kakita-sama to reclaim his son to the Crane then? I imagine there is more to trade for a proven adult than an infant or child."

[Kakita Yuji]

"Ah. We are less in touch with those political activities at the Sanctuary." She sips her tea before asking, "was the new test a result of negotiations for Kakita-sama to reclaim his son to the Crane then? I imagine there is more to trade for a proven adult than an infant or child."

Yuji shrugged slightly apologetically.

"Ah, my pardons Isawa-san, but despite seeing Lord Toshimoko on a regular basis, I'm not actually privy to matters like that. And it'd be irresponsible to gossip about him." he deflects, his player finding no references written about the actual details.

"Hm, I don't think we've talked about what your home is like, have we Isawa-san? You've seen a great deal of mine, but I'm curious to know more about yours. There is, after all, a decent chance that my first assignment would be in Phoenix lands." he asks.

[Isawa Natsuko]

"Oh? Simply because of our clans' ties? Or do you have closer than average ties to the Phoenix, Kakita-san?"

"The forest surrounding the Sanctuary is older than this one, the trees wider and the undergrowth far different. The mountains stand guard nearby, rather than standing as a distant reminder at the horizon."

[Kakita Yuji]

"Oh? Simply because of our clans' ties? Or do you have closer than average ties to the Phoenix, Kakita-san?"

"The forest surrounding the Sanctuary is older than this one, the trees wider and the undergrowth far different. The mountains stand guard nearby, rather than standing as a distant reminder at the horizon."

He shook his head.

"Not very direct ties, I'll admit. But if I spent enough time documenting my family tree, I'm sure I could find a branch or two that extends to the north." he offered. "Mostly because the Phoenix are our oldest and dearest allies. "

He tried visualizing the landscape.

"Hmm, it sounds quite lovely, Isawa-san. Perhaps I will be fortunate enough to see it for myself."

[Isawa Natsuko]

"I hope you might. Our forests are some of the oldest in the Empire. I hear that even those not normally attuned to spiritual things can sense something of the age and presence of the trees." She taps a finger against the tea cup. "I am told there is a seaward facing mountain slope with tea trees that are hundreds of years old, the leaves only ever picked for ritual use. I would like to see them some day."

"What sort of posting do you expect after the tournament?"

[Kakita Yuji]

"I hope you might. Our forests are some of the oldest in the Empire. I hear that even those not normally attuned to spiritual things can sense something of the age and presence of the trees." She taps a finger against the tea cup. "I am told there is a seaward facing mountain slope with tea trees that are hundreds of years old, the leaves only ever picked for ritual use. I would like to see them some day."

"What sort of posting do you expect after the tournament?"

Yuji considered the Phoenix's description of the tea and their wants. It was very humble of her to only wish to see them, if not taste them because it was not allowed.

"My assumption would be to serve as a yojimbo for a junior diplomat. Something where I can put my study of both the Art and art to good use."

Yuji tried to picture the Phoenix's posting. For some reason all he could think of was a band of people from different clans wandering about the Empire ever between duties for their lords, solving problems that were not theirs.

"And yourself, Isawa-san? What do you believe the Phoenix will be having you do?"

[Isawa Natsuko]

"Marry, train, continue to examine the ripples on the void for hints of what dangers lie ahead." The latter was something she did not have the experience to truly immerse herself in yet without danger, but that would come. "We may be assigned to some delegation or other through the winters, I suppose. It is useful to have an artist on hand, right?"