(D4, MA, Tori Tea, Open) A last minute substitution

[Yasuki Taraka]

Everyone was super busy on the street today. While Flying Battle Carps was flying along with no issue, there were no small amount of issues at other businesses. Such as employees 'accidentally' forgetting to show up for their shifts or coming down with sudden bouts of 'Con Flu' (An amazingly fast acting variant to be sure).

Such was the crisis facing Jimen Tori Tea. They sold tea, tea accessories, and offered space for people to conduct the ancient art of tea ceremony. For fan con, they had reserved one of the tables as a demonstration space, since not everyone these days knew how to properly do a tea ceremony.

However, the person who was supposed to be doing the demonstration had called out and they had not a staff member to spare, and no one was picking up their comms for an extra shift.

And so, a panicked text had gone out to one Yasuki Taraka.

<If you could come in and handle the demonstration, we'd owe you big!>

And Taraka was a fan of being owed big.

She showed up still dressed in her outfit from fancon, and took the implements to perform the tea ceremony for one lucky recipient.

Tea Ceremony for Taraka and one lucky PC or NPC: 31

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

There's the distant sound of skidding tires and a panicked 'you can't park there' before a car door slams. A few moments later Ochiba, dressed it what can only be described as ' retro pallid chic' bursts into the store.

All this nerd talk was wearing her out, armies of the undead she could handle, but LARP? It made no sense to her. Still, that didn't meant she wouldn't win LARP and become LARP Shogun or whatever.

"Where's the tea ceremony demonstration? I need to learn this oldtimey stuff because everyone keeps asking me how many dots I have in tea and then they get mad when I ask if they mean boba."

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Where's the tea ceremony demonstration? I need to learn this oldtimey stuff because everyone keeps asking me how many dots I have in tea and then they get mad when I ask if they mean boba."

Taraka could help but smile a bit at the Mantis's outburst.

"Nice to see you out and about after last night's party, Yoritomo-san. You're just in time to participate." she said, seating the Mantis.

"Your part in the ceremony is pretty simple. You just need to quietly watch me prepare the tea. Then I'll hand you the bowl of tea. Rotate the bowl once. Sip the tea. Rotate the bowl once more the same way and hand it back to me. There is no talking until all participants have partaken of the tea, but we can freely converse afterwards." she said, giving her the short short version.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Taraka could help but smile a bit at the Mantis's outburst.

"Nice to see you out and about after last night's party, Yoritomo-san. You're just in time to participate." she said, seating the Mantis.

"Your part in the ceremony is pretty simple. You just need to quietly watch me prepare the tea. Then I'll hand you the bowl of tea. Rotate the bowl once. Sip the tea. Rotate the bowl once more the same way and hand it back to me. There is no talking until all participants have partaken of the tea, but we can freely converse afterwards." she said, giving her the short short version.

"Takes a lot to keep a good Mantis down, and I'm a great Mantis."
Ochiba sits in the designated spot, squirming slightly and puffing out some air from her nose at the idea of having to sit quietly and just watch...this was gonna be harder than she thought.

"Right, sit and don't say anything, take the ball, spin it a little to show it off, drink, spin again and the back...and I can't say anything until then???"
Drumming fingers on her thigh.
"Well, if this is what it takes to win."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka nodded.

"It is meant to give you a moment of calm reflection. No thinking about what you need say or do, just simply watch, drink, appreciate, and reflect. You'll find yourself more focused afterwards and re-energized for your day." she explained.

The movements of the tea ceremony were absolutely unhurried. She purified the tools, whisked the tea, and passed the bowl at the appropriate time. The outer world was allowed to fall away, just a moment of calm, just two people enjoying the aroma and eventually taste of plain tea. No sugar, no whiz-bang additives, just tea.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Taraka nodded.

"It is meant to give you a moment of calm reflection. No thinking about what you need say or do, just simply watch, drink, appreciate, and reflect. You'll find yourself more focused afterwards and re-energized for your day." she explained.

The movements of the tea ceremony were absolutely unhurried. She purified the tools, whisked the tea, and passed the bowl at the appropriate time. The outer world was allowed to fall away, just a moment of calm, just two people enjoying the aroma and eventually taste of plain tea. No sugar, no whiz-bang additives, just tea.

Fidget....fidget-fidget....fidget fidget fidget!

Ochiba is having a hard time doing literally nothing

[Yasuki Taraka]

The more the Mantis fidgeted, it seemed like the slower Taraka moved. Just how long did it take to make tea the traditional way? She could've produced a literal flood of tea in this amount of time with a microwave.

Just when the Mantis was reaching a boiling point, the bowl, at last was passed to her.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

The more the Mantis fidgeted, it seemed like the slower Taraka moved. Just how long did it take to make tea the traditional way? She could've produced a literal flood of tea in this amount of time with a microwave.

Just when the Mantis was reaching a boiling point, the bowl, at last was passed to her.

Ochiba snatches the bowl, violently rotates it, coming dangerously to an spill, takes a swig, spins it again and shoves it back into Taraka’s hands.

She would have to admit, if only perhaps to herself. That the tea itself had actually been pretty good.

[Yasuki Taraka]

The bowl is received back gracefully, turned, and Taraka took a leisurely sip. She took a moment to savor the flavor and the warmth before putting the bowl back down. She turned her attention to the tools. Just as they had been carefully laid out, so must they be carefully cleaned and put away.

"I hope this has brought you a moment of peace, Yoritomo-san. Or at least you can argue that you have a dot in tea." she says, feeling reinvigorated.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

The bowl is received back gracefully, turned, and Taraka took a leisurely sip. She took a moment to savor the flavor and the warmth before putting the bowl back down. She turned her attention to the tools. Just as they had been carefully laid out, so must they be carefully cleaned and put away.

"I hope this has brought you a moment of peace, Yoritomo-san. Or at least you can argue that you have a dot in tea." she says, feeling reinvigorated.

“Ohwecantalknowthankthefortunes”
Ochiba stretches her back with a pop and bounces slightly.

“Certainly not how I usually relax, but I think I can see how it works for some samurai. Kinda cool you make it all yourself.”
Rubbing her nose
“I reckon I’ve learnt at least what not to do now. What’re you meant to talk about post tea anyway? Does it all have to be tea related? I don’t have that much tea talk in me.”

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka looked towards the ceiling.

"Well, the really strict traditionalists would probably say that you're supposed to compliment and discuss the implements. I'm sure Yoritomo-san would love to talk about the fine craftsmanship of this tea stick." she said holding up one colored in Jimen Tori colors.

She looked back at the Mantis with a grin before she could run off screaming.

"But like many traditions, people these days tend to use it as a reason to meet and discuss....whatever they wish to discuss. You certainly wouldn't seem to lack in topics, Yoritomo-san, from fancon to your party last night to your gift to the governor and more. Was there something in particular you wanted to talk about?" she asked, curious.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Taraka looked towards the ceiling.

"Well, the really strict traditionalists would probably say that you're supposed to compliment and discuss the implements. I'm sure Yoritomo-san would love to talk about the fine craftsmanship of this tea stick." she said holding up one colored in Jimen Tori colors.

She looked back at the Mantis with a grin before she could run off screaming.

"But like many traditions, people these days tend to use it as a reason to meet and discuss....whatever they wish to discuss. You certainly wouldn't seem to lack in topics, Yoritomo-san, from fancon to your party last night to your gift to the governor and more. Was there something in particular you wanted to talk about?" she asked, curious.

“…people voluntarily talk about tea sticks?”
Ochiba’s expression is a mix of incredulity and nausea

“Yeah, nah. Old timey samurai didn’t actually have much on, did they?”

Blinking at the options for conversation presented before selecting one of the absolute bluntest.

“Huh. I dunno, let’s see…what do you know about Kuni-sama and the governor? I’ve never shot a magistrate over a noise complaint, but disloyalty or cockblocking are both valid reasons for the discharge of firearms. What’s going on with him?”

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka considered just how much to tell the Mantis.

"Well, truth be told, we were speculating last night on just what you had done to earn...hmmm, well ire seems a bit a bit strong for getting a noise compliant...annoyance, of Kuni-sama. Well him or someone he likes. We're all still getting used to him as head magistrate. He's been off the island for...oh...10 years or so. He used to be the prior magistrate, Kuni Asataka's assistant back in the day. He never really made much of an impression on me then...But Asataka-sama had a big personality and I was fifteen, so Junpei-sama just sort of faded into the background." she recalled.

She took one of the tea snacks on the table, and offered another to the Mantis.

"So when he came in last night, we were all trying to puzzle out if you'd annoyed someone, or he'd decided he needed a boost to his paycheck...or maybe it had something to do with the previous governor's succession. Before he left us, Asataka-sama mentioned that originally, the plan was for Umiko-sama to be the governor and Ayame-sama to be the karo. So we wondered if maybe the change rubbed Asataka-sama the wrong way, and Junpei-sama was taking up that torch as well." she wonders.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

The deets

Ochiba accepts the small plate of edamame, turns it, snatches a few, turns it again and then hands it back with a grin while she listens.

“Right, interesting! Sounds like he’s compensating for being a boring loser. You know, that sort of public disloyalty can get someone air-locked during a voyage. It’s dangerous for the whole crew.”

Munching away
“I’m kinda insulted then, it wasn’t even personal. But this is useful info, appreciate the share.”

Idly
“Can he handle himself in a fight?”

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka chuckled.

"I would be rather surprised if he couldn't." she said. "He is trained as a witch hunter, after all, and their prey are not typically the kind to give up when faced with a handful of parking tickets."

She looked to the ceiling.

"Mind, this is all just idle speculation, yeah? Playing the game of, 'Who would win in a fight?' In a hypothetical fight, I would expect Yoritomo Ochiba to fight with courage, speed and bravery. I'd expect Kuni Junpei to fight very intelligently and with the toughness born a Crab. Yoritomo Ochiba has the upper hand if she strikes hard and fast enough, but its not a guarantee. And Kuni Junpei is going to do everything in his power to make sure that he sets the terms and battlefield and numbers to ensure that can't happen in the first place."

She took a sip of tea.

"That's my predictions in this theoretical match-up. I've been wrong before."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Ahhhhh, yeah I heard about those witch-hunters, nasty fuckers...." pause. "I mean, uhhh valiant samurai or whatever. Can't do that stuff and be scared of a fight."

Smirking.
"I'd certainly be fighting with one of those three things. But in any fight, hypothetical or not, you win by tilting the odds. Hmmmm. Well, it's a pleasant image. Shame we probably won't see it. Man I would get chewed out something fierce though...hypothetically."

Clearly having perked up a bit.
"Okay, so this is definitely the sort of post tea discussion that's worth having, I'm beginning to see the attraction. So are you the local tea mistress? Is that your thing?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Clearly having perked up a bit.[/i]
"Okay, so this is definitely the sort of post tea discussion that's worth having, I'm beginning to see the attraction. So are you the local tea mistress? Is that your thing?"

Taraka chuckles.

"No need to edit yourself, Yoritomo-san, on my behalf. Honest samurai are a lot more easy to deal with than courteous samurai." she said.

She sipped a bit of tea.

"Were you that impressed by my tea ceremony, Yoritomo-san? It's just a hobby of mine to help me relax when life gets a bit too rushed. I'm a manager over at Flying Battle Carps. That would be my thing if I must have just one."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Taraka chuckles.

"No need to edit yourself, Yoritomo-san, on my behalf. Honest samurai are a lot more easy to deal with than courteous samurai." she said.

She sipped a bit of tea.

"Were you that impressed by my tea ceremony, Yoritomo-san? It's just a hobby of mine to help me relax when life gets a bit too rushed. I'm a manager over at Flying Battle Carps. That would be my thing if I must have just one."

"Everyone wants to be an honest samurai until they get punched in the face, pros and cons to any approach. But at least you Crab...well most Crab, not you Yasuki, but you know, other Crab are pretty straightforward. You guys are sneaky...complimentary."

Raising her shoulders.
"Uhhhh it seemed like a good ceremony? But I haven't had one in years I mean...you know, not my style. But I feel more relaxed now. I got a hot date coming up so nice to be loose and ready for that. Then...I'm beating up leech wraiths."
Bemused.
"The nerd stuff is kinda fun, I gotta say. Some of it's still a little dorky, but dressing up, running around and yelling gambling with little minis, yeah, I can see the attraction."
Tapping her teeth.

"Flying Battle Carps...that's the one you fight like...kites? Or was it actual fish?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Everyone wants to be an honest samurai until they get punched in the face, pros and cons to any approach. But at least you Crab...well most Crab, not you Yasuki, but you know, other Crab are pretty straightforward. You guys are sneaky...complimentary."

Raising her shoulders.
"Uhhhh it seemed like a good ceremony? But I haven't had one in years I mean...you know, not my style. But I feel more relaxed now. I got a hot date coming up so nice to be loose and ready for that. Then...I'm beating up leech wraiths."
Bemused.
"The nerd stuff is kinda fun, I gotta say. Some of it's still a little dorky, but dressing up, running around and yelling gambling with little minis, yeah, I can see the attraction."
Tapping her teeth.

"Flying Battle Carps...that's the one you fight like...kites? Or was it actual fish?"

Taraka waggled a hand.

"Eh, you're kinda close, Yoritomo-san. It's meant to draw upon the tradition of battle kites, and my mother's family bred fighting fish. The actual flying battle carp are quadcopter drones. Default coloring scheme is silver carp scales, hence flying battle carps." she explains.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Taraka waggled a hand.

"Eh, you're kinda close, Yoritomo-san. It's meant to draw upon the tradition of battle kites, and my mother's family bred fighting fish. The actual flying battle carp are quadcopter drones. Default coloring scheme is silver carp scales, hence flying battle carps." she explains.

"Niiiice" and then immediately "Can you gamble on it?"