(D4, LA, Tori Tea, Open) Another call out

[Yasuki Taraka]

Having demonstrated the tea ceremony quite successfully, Taraka was ready to head back to her store.

"Um, Taraka-sama, the next person doing the demonstration also called out. I don't suppose you could help us out just a bit more?" asked the overwhelmed manager.

"You already owe me big for the first one." she replied.

"We'll....owe you bigger?"

Taraka sighed. "I'm going to hold you to that."

She was a bit less composed this time, but still it was a fine demonstration of the ceremony

Tea Ceremony for Taraka and one lucky pc or npc: 21

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Still exhausted from the day at Fancon, Suh-Hyun stumbled into the tea shop. She was going to ask for a milk tea, which would really hit the spot right now, when she spotted a certain Yasuki.

"Good afternoon Yasuki-san, are you working two jobs?" She bowed, "How do you balance the hours?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Still exhausted from the day at Fancon, Suh-Hyun stumbled into the tea shop. She was going to ask for a milk tea, which would really hit the spot right now, when she spotted a certain Yasuki.

"Good afternoon Yasuki-san, are you working two jobs?" She bowed, "How do you balance the hours?"

Taraka offered a bow, and a chuckle.

"Nothing so dire as that Shinjo-san. I'm just helping out a neighbor. They were supposed to have someone here today to demonstrate traditional tea ceremony, but they didn't show up, and as you can imagine, with all the festivities going on today, no one was picking up the communicator." she explained.

She gestured at her outfit.

"And having chosen to dress as Doji Yayoi, it was apparently fated that I'd be serving tea today. So I'm helping out Jimen Tori Tea today, and they'll get me back later." she said, the last part directed more at the owner than the Unicorn.

She offered a deep bow.

"Art thou a stalwart companion to my best friend Mai-san? I wouldst like to offer thee the chance to partake in the noble art of the tea ceremony. Though the implements art brightly colored, I believe it can sooth thy furrowed brow." she offered.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Taraka offered a bow, and a chuckle.

"Nothing so dire as that Shinjo-san. I'm just helping out a neighbor. They were supposed to have someone here today to demonstrate traditional tea ceremony, but they didn't show up, and as you can imagine, with all the festivities going on today, no one was picking up the communicator." she explained.

She gestured at her outfit.

"And having chosen to dress as Doji Yayoi, it was apparently fated that I'd be serving tea today. So I'm helping out Jimen Tori Tea today, and they'll get me back later." she said, the last part directed more at the owner than the Unicorn.

She offered a deep bow.

"Art thou a stalwart companion to my best friend Mai-san? I wouldst like to offer thee the chance to partake in the noble art of the tea ceremony. Though the implements art brightly colored, I believe it can sooth thy furrowed brow." she offered.

Suh-Hyun blinked a few times. The little horse ears twitching, which reminded her that she was still in costume. "Oh...ah...ermm." She took a deep breath, "Do you not recognize the one who brings your doooooom! We have done battle many times!" Then the Unicorn let's out a sighing laugh, "Sorry Yasuki-san, this costume is really hot and walking with these metal horseshoes on the shoe has taken it out of me." The little ears droop.

"It's been a long time since I took part in a tea ceremony..." The little ears perk back up, "Very well Crusader Crane, I will accept your honorable offer. Also we should get a picture together later, sorry I missed you at the event!"

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Ah I get that, Shinjo-san. My costume at Yoritomo's party was certainly not particularly comfortable, we can definitely get a picture afterwards." she said.

She would seat the Shinjo. Carefully and with great care she would take out the tools, and brew the tea. After a short while, she would pour the tea into a bowl. Ritually she turned it and handed it to the Shinjo.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Before replying, Suh-Hyun bows and accepts the bowl, turning it as well before taking as sip. She gingerly cleans the rim and hands it back. Her movements through out are the sort of stiffness one would expect from someone with very limited experience at ritual.

"Your costume still looks great though," She laughs softly, "I have gained a new respect for the actresses that performed the live action adaptation and the stage musical. Choreographed dance numbers in this outfit? I'm in pretty good shape but..."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka nods.

"I think that's a part of why people admire them. Sure, they're pretty and talented, but they also put so much effort into what they do for the enjoyment of others. Hours and hours of suffering for smiles they'll never see."

Taraka took one of the tea snacks.

"I wonder how that translates for Umiko-sama making the transition from actress to karo?" she mused.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Well it does come with the benefit of fame," Suh-Hyun replied and took her own tea cake, "But I suppose it does all have the problem of fame." She smiled, "Everyone wants to know everything about you. Not sure I could stand so curated a life, having to keep up appearances for fans."

"I haven't had the privilege of meeting the Karo, or the Governor for that matter. Well outside of a few words at an official gathering during the gift exchange." She eyes the cake, "What's Umiko-sama like?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka considered that.

"Well, it's true I have at least talked to her once. She was making sure there were additional volunteers for First Market, personally leading a gaggle of public works employees to make sure the word was out late in the evening."

She popped an edamame.

"So at least on the surface, she came across as polite, kind, hard working and smart. But you could say that about any idol's public image. But if there's something darker beneath her On, she's not yet been under enough pressure as karo to see the cracks." she decided.

Taraka shrugged.

"First impressions can be wrong after all. I don't think I would have predicted us having tea together and taking a picture afterwards based solely on our initial meeting at the store." she admitted.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"I see," The Unicorn nodded, "Given the tensions of idol life, hiding her feelings is probably a skill she has become an expert in. For better and for worse, I suppose."

Suh-Hyun blinks at the comment about their first meeting, then her lopsided embarrassed smile made an appearance, "I uh was worried I had offended you there...its one of the main reasons I bought the drone. Well that and some curiosity, they are very well put together little things. Not the most sophisticated I have seen, but among the best civilian ones. Sorry rambling..."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka gave the Shinjo her best, 'Modest Yayoi' looking away.

"Thou art far too considerate Shinjo-san." she offered, before slipping back into normal Taraka.

"I'm glad you recognize it's qualities now that you've bought one, Shinjo-san. I know you'd rather be flying for real, but going up against you in these duels is probably the only chance I'll get to see a shadow of your skill in piloting. Of course, if it were actual combat, I'd probably only get to see it once before I got to tell Emma-O how it was." she admitted.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Suh-Hyun's smile waivered at the comment, "I hope such a scenario does not come to pass." Her tone was more serious then perhaps expected. She laughs, an obvious attempt to relieve tension. "Besides I am test pilot these days, I only shoot down test drones and simulated targets. So the only thing I have hurt these days is maybe someone's pride."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka nods understandingly.

"Ah, I see, that's why you couldn't talk about your exploits at the party. I didn't realize you were working on things that were clans secrets. My apologies, Shinjo-san." she offered sincerely.

She thought to ask what her homeworld was like before recalling that she didn't have one, and what could she say that was interesting about ship life?

"Hmm, so when not being an ace test pilot, what sort of hobbies does Shinjo-san enjoy?" she asked.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Oh boardgames, mechapla kits, watching silly melodramatic soap operas," There was a visible sense of relief on the Unicorn's face about not being pressed on her combat record, "running, and I enjoy riding my personal sports bike around the station." She laughs a little at that, "Though Open Hand Castle doesn't quite have the space of New Hope Castle, you could have some real wild rides in New Hope."

"What about you Yasuki-san? When you aren't working toward your dreams of drone based arena combat domination?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Well, I do spend a lot of time on Golden Shotengai." she admits. "It's good business to support your neighbors on the street, and there's a lot to do there from shopping to dining. I even learned Fantasy Flight when Player Station Plus needed one more person to make a tournament have the right number of people."

She looked at the shopkeeper who was super busy with the con crowd.

"But every once in awhile I like to get away from it all. Travel for a bit, see some seashores I haven't seen before. Or even more exotic things. When I was in the military, we got to have shore leave once on a planet with actual snow. I don't think I could live with months of cold but for a couple weeks it's marvelous."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Oh you should visit the Three Castles." Suh-Hyun's smile broadens, "The home system of my clan. Three great stations circling the three habitable worlds in system. My home station is New Hope Castle, most of the Shinjo live in it's confines. I'm just the next station over in Open Hand Castle, so I could show you around."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka smiled a bit at the genuine offer.

"That'd be quite nice, Shinjo-san. It's always good to have a local who can show you the best time so you can enjoy a visit to the fullest rather than getting stuck in tourist trap after tourist trap." she said, actually pleased by the invitation.

:"Speaking of which, is there something you've been hoping to see or do here that you've not found the opportunity to do yet? I'd be happy to act as your local guide to such, since we're here now."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Yeah, I'll show you the real best spots to eat. The literally hole in the wall street food vendors." Suh-Hyun gripped her chin in thought, "Though really Open Hand Station, that's the Iuchi and Ide home station, has way more tourist traps then New Hope. I'm afraid planet side is a bit trickier. We mostly keep those preserved in their natural state with only a few wanting to live traditional nomadic lifestyles really living on them."

She nodded to herself, "I still need to venture out into the surrounding area, and go to the beach. Which would mean stopping somewhere for a swimsuit. Only ever had a military issue one and I wasn't bringing that one."

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Hmmm, that sounds really impressive Shinjo-san. I understand wanting to preserve the natural state of the planet, and allowing tourists down there wouldn't do that very well. Will have to look in to finding a documentary or something on them." she mused.

She considered the request.

"Well, I'd happily shop with you, Shinjo-san, depending on what you're looking for in a swimsuit. If you want something viintage, there's Run-it-back. If you want something fashion neutral, there's Koi. If you want something more fashion forward, I know a few small boutiques that well, let's just say the cost/amount of material acquired ratio shifts dramatically." she offered. "Although, for an actual beach trip, we might want to book a trip at Whenever for a leisure cruise to some of the more spectacular beaches. Azuma Beach is reachable without that, but it's not a terribly popular beach."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Oh yes! The beach, Utaku-san had mentioned it had a reputation." Suh-Hyun was feeling more relaxed and centered already, "Something about local superstitions, though I didn't get the full story from her."

"That would be great if you can spare the time, Yasuki-san." She smiled, "It also helps to have extra opinions on outfits. I'm a bit on the scrawny side and well...taller then average. A lot of clothing ends up looking silly on me, well unless I get it tailored."