GM: Blaze
Players: Vera, Knox, Sasha
Synopsis: A tea ceremony in Little Chiba starts off oddly.
Date: Mon, Jan 10, 2071
Asian District - Little Chiba
This part of Chinatown is dominated by small houses and blocky apartment buildings, and shining office buildings and a couple of factories. It's more of a place to work and live, and less of a place to be. The streets are clean and swept by drone street cleaners, and Shining Mountain Security Enterprise patrol cars roam through the neighborhoods, ignored by the inhabitants.
The flavor of this area is dominantly Japanese, though the people behave quite differently than the typical Japanese in the downtown corporate sectors of Denver — these are the people who work and live as part of a local community, not the new rulers of the economic world. Signs in the area are mostly in Chinese, with some of the simplified Japanese language on them, but not much.
With the sun setting and snow banked on the sidewalks, it might be a pretty time of day. At least, it might be were it not for the constant foot traffic and passage of cars that has turned the snow to dingy slush and crunched up ice. The smell of exhaust combats with the stench of what could, quite possibly, be dog cooking somewhere in an apartment complex, mitigated only slightly by the smell of Tsunami Gardens' seasonal verge.
Perhaps it's time for a little nosh, and with a rather imperial taste for foods of former areas that had been, at least for a time, at least partly under the sway of British hegemony, or at least unequal diplomacy, Vera has decided to indulge in a little hibachi, little caring about the downsides of the cattle-call seating or the possibility, however remote, of a mistossed knife through the heart. She moves to approach the restaurant front, dragging a half-smoked cigarette almost behind her as she eats pavement with her tough boots.
A beat up C-N Jackrabbit with tinted windows putters along to the curb across the street from the Tsnuami Gardens. The engine shuts off with a purr. Knox steps out, cigarette a dangling from his mouth, and stretches. Why he's been driving around the Asian district who can say for sure. Maybe he was on his way to fence some knockoff chopsticks. In anycase, the ork yawns and takes the scene in, his arm leaning on the hood of his car.
Exiting one of the small houses and taking a moment to check the sky, Sasha considers her situation and absently rubs her left hand with her right. She'll let out a small sigh and shake her head, putting aside the past and focusing on the future.
"And I hate you! And YOU! And definitely you!"
Out of the torii gate entrance to the gardens, a short, angry little man with thinning hair mousey features and bright pink plastic spectacles decides to make his protestations to the world verbal. One by one, he points to Vera, Knox, and for some reason decides to single out Sasha for the brunt of his displeasure. "All of you! Pagans! Phillistines! No appreciation for true culture!"
Knox flicks his cigarette into a blackened pile of snow. And stares at the man for now. "Damn crazies.", he mutters to himself.
A red eyebrow lifts in response to the man's tirade, and she glances up, out of her moving reverie as recognition shows on her face, though she doesn't shout out any name or any other such foolishness. She considers the man and then glances to Sasha. "Lovely. It sounds like you've made a new friend." She glances at the other present. "Me included, he -does- have a point, though I'm wondering what prompted him."
Eyes falling on the man who singled her out, Sasha stares for a moment as if trying to place him. She'll shake her head and start down the sidewalk, away from the man and going about her tasks for the day. No profit in arguing with nuts.
"Crazy?!" the man shrieks. "I am not crazy!"
He stops short in the middle of the gates, as if barring the trio from entering. "I've heard about you three. Ruffians!" He takes off a flip flop and lobs it at the departing Sasha, missing her by a mile, honestly.
Knox narrows his eyes and sighs, knowing he's got to go into Tsunami to pick up these knockoff chopsticks. Damn 1.8 turn around. Chump change.With an ait of professional menace, the ork walks towards the loud man and owers his voice an octave, "You need to get out of my way, sir."
The flip flop flies far past Sasha and is ignored much like the voice of the yelling man, the shoeshine boy, the meat salesman and anyone else on the road. She doesn't appear to be willing to be drawn into a battle with someone in the middle of the street in this district, nor does she rise to the bait. Instead, her eyes search rooftops and nearby doorways in case it is all a distraction from some other, more nefarious goal.
"Uncle! Get back inside!" A woman in a kimono shows up and starts herding the angry man away. "Please forgive him," she apologizes to the trio. "He drinks. Too much. Uncle, go inside and ask Tomo to make you something warm to eat. You will catch your death!" She is finally aided by a couple other women, obviously working here, and the angry man is shepherded around the back railing against 'those three' the whole way. "Please accept our apologies," the first woman says, bowing deeply. "Will you come inside? Whatever you wish will be on the house."
Vera raises her cig in silent farewell to the departing Sasha, smiling as she watches the unfolding drama. She seems to be in no particular hurry to enter, whether because she has just come for a meal or just has not pressing business, as at the moment she seems more intent on finishing her smoke outdoors. Perhaps she likes the brisk air. She smiles to the first woman, shaking her head. "It was nothing," she replies, attempting to politely reassure.
Knox looks around suspiciously, but bows in return. "Might as well make business, polite. " He nods to the woman, "Only for a moment, then I need to continue with your cousin who has some…..items for me he wants to move."
Much of the words from the woman in the kimono falls on deaf ears in Sasha's case, her sure-footed movements and determined pace taking her further and further from the scene of the disturbance. Perhaps she doesn't like confrontation, or perhaps it was whatever went on in the house she left; regardless, this isn't the area she wants to be in with this sort of attention.
The woman watches Sasha leave and seems disappointed. However, she bows deeply again to the Ork and the Elf, turning to lead them back into the buildings.
Vera simply shrugs, and supposing she might be folded in for a tea service with whoever else comes along, she stamps out her cigarette and allows herself to be herded into the teahouse, an affable expression of mild interest writ across her features. She inclines her head politely to Knox.
You enter the tea house after removing your shoes.
Tsunami Gardens - Tea House
This tea house sits on a small hill and allows full view of the opulent gardens outside. During the warmer seasons, the room is cooled by overhead fans and sweet smelling breezes that blow in from the gardens, while during the colder months the shoji screens remain closed to hold in the warmth of heat lamps. Large colorful Japanese laterns are strung between the rafters and swing gently in the breezes. Lights within the ceiling fans light the room as do small hurricane candles upon the tables, casting a soft glow upon the formal tea ceremonies. The traditional ochaya is certainly born out of classic style more than out of modern efficiency, returning to a time that has long since passed.
Obvious exits (Current location: CAS Asian District):
Out <O>
The redhead chuckles at Knox. "Indeed. I suppose our fields of focus diverged, but perhaps we'll work together on a less formalized basis sometime," she replies, relaxing, "You know, this is not terrible. A little bit of being yelled at, and by only an amateur, and now it seems I get to enjoy a little excellent service in intelligent company."
Knox nods, and looks around agitated shifting uncomfortably, "Yes yes. Just hoping to turn some simple cred around, illegal power hook ups in a blackout are expensive."
Quietly, the kimonoed woman leads the pair to sit at a low table. She disappears for a couple of moments before re-emerging with a tray full of very, very traditional tea implements. A small fire is lit near the table, the woman kneeling in traditional fashion, and water set on to boil. Another woman arrives in tabi socks to set out small cups of warm sake and small paper envelopes of wafer-thin confections.
Knox grabs the sake and sniffs it, he puts it down. He taps a foot. This place of quiet reflection just ain't his scene. He stands up and notices near the door a japanese man in a dirty cooks outfit, "That's my guy." He motions to the woman serving and gives her a short bow, "My apologies but business before leisure I must go. Thank you and-", he looks around, "Please watch your Uncle, he's clearly a disturbed man."
Vera nods at Knox. "Quite," she says. "I ended up dabbling in a little…infrastructure management, you could say, as well," she replies. "It seemed to work rather well." She does not light up a smoke, as she glances down at the sake, lifting her cup. "Kampai?" she asks, draining her cup as Knox rises and moves to leave. She shrugs, and then nods to Knox as he departs.
The serving woman merely kowtows gently as Knox leaves. It seems that she is not paid to be chatty. Once the wagashi and sake have been consumed by Vera, they are cleared away with silent efficiency. The woman smiles shyly at the Elf and puts the matcha into the natsume, or tea caddy, ceremonially adding hot water before whisking it briskly with a carved piece of bamboo.
Vera awaits patiently the presentation of the piquant pale green beverage, offering the occasional smile to the woman in return to that said to her. She does not break the ritual of the ceremony, however, with the harshness of words.
Considering that this is not a formal affair, only thin tea is presented, but even that is made with expert care. Every motion of the serving girl is fluid and poised, calling to mind a far distant past. Perhaps, even, it helps to slow the passage of time itself, for the highly ordered movements and steps of the temae create a sort of spell, a poem of simple elegance. Finally, the tea is scooped into the bowl with an ornate bamboo 'spoon' and extended to Vera with a bow.
Vera smiles at the woman and dips her head with a polite bow in return, really doing little more than mirroring the motions of the young woman. She doesn't know exactly how to do it. Was it two or three times? Three. Vera grips the rim of the cup gently, pinching between thumb and the length of her forefinger as she cradles it, and turns it three times.
The woman smiles, seemingly pleased at her guest's apparent knowledge of the temae. Finally, with the tea served, conversation may begin. "We are honoured by your presence here," she says, begining the ritual washing of the implements, preparing them to be put away again. "Is this your first time in Tsunami Gardens?"
Vera nods, waiting until she is indicated that she may drink. She never gets this part right. "That is correct," she replies. "But I've watched enough trid to know that you're supposed to turn it," she replies, rather warm. "I must say, it's lovely what you've built here."
The woman chuckles and shakes her head. "Oh, this is not my place. My father is the manager. I simply serve tea here." She does, of course, flick her eyes to the tea bowl, indicating that Vera should drink.
Vera picks up her tea and softly slurps as she takes her sip, letting the slurping motion cool the tea a little bit, instead of blowing it, hoping that she guessed right. She shakes her head at you. "Well, I don't see your father in here serving the tea and giving me such a lovely ceremony," she replies. Is trying to challenge the sensibilities of Japanese women part of her job description lately, or something? Vera does look a little nonplussed.
The woman smiles and nods her head agreeably. She doesn't seem to mind anything at all, really, but she's keeping quiet nonetheless. "I hope you will enjoy your tea," she says pleasantly. Another table has come in, and apparently this woman is on duty. "Do come again." She stands, bows, and moves for a fresh tray.
Vera gives a warm smile in return, coming back from her musing. "Oh, I will. The service is lovely. And I think I shall return. Thank you so much."
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