Tea Time Tasting Test (Day 3, LM, expecting)

[Doji Misaki]

The trip out to the Camellia House was brutal. It wasn't as if Misaki was overly worried about the cold either; She had layers and thick sensible clothes, so it wasn't as if she was going to get lost on the short walk and freeze to death. No, the bigger problem was just cold extremities, especially thanks to the brisk wind. The basic gloves she had felt like they did almost nothing for her hands, and her hood almost acted like a wind funnel when she walked in certain directions or the wind swirled.

Still, she made it to the tea house in one piece and told the attendant Doji Tsubaki-sama was expecting her. To her knowledge, Misaki had read in the letter that a place would be set aside for their little talk and tea time, but she wasn't exactly sure where that would be, so she was reliant on being led there. Besides, it seemed like proper etiquette rather than wandering around on one's own.

[Doji Tsubaki]

Misaki was led to one of the private tea rooms where the irori was already stoked and water warming. Given its enclosed nature and the fact the fire had been going for a little while the room was quite warm compared to the frigid transit to the tea house. Tsubaki was clad in one of her more basic outfits, which would still put many to shame, and comfortably seated.

"Ah, welcome Doji-san! Would you care for some entertainment?"

[Doji Misaki]

Misaki bowed as she entered before looking up; Over her shoulder she had a bag slung, a traveling bag from which small sounds of jars and such came. She was dressed in layers of white, red, and blue, thick tabi on her feet with additional layers on them as well.

"Entertainment, Doji-sama? I would not pass up such an offer if it was something you had in mind, hai."

[Doji Tsubaki]

"Well the House has a wide array of entertainers available or I could have whichever girl is not presenting her attempt provide accompaniment... and practice. Though they are talented enough not to offend at least."

[Doji Misaki]

"Oh.. Ah, well, I would not imagine anyone you have hired here could come even close to offending me at the least. I am used to simple things and have simple tastes, and I would defer to you in whatever you feel would fit me the best. I am simply happy either way to get to spend this time with you."

The meek young woman gave another bow to Tsubaki, once again the jars lightly shifting in her bag.

[Doji Tsubaki]

"As long as you do not mistake yourself as a simple person." She smiles and gestures to the host who had led Misaki in. They slide the door shut as they depart, likely to fetch her students/daughters.

"Please, make yourself comfortable, Doji-san."

[Doji Misaki]

"Hai."

Walking over with small steps the younger woman took a seat on the cushion clockwise from Tsubaki, not wanting to have the whole table between them if tea brewing were indeed to be done later. Sitting seiza on the cushion, she set her bag on her left gently.

"I brought my dried tea like I said I would. Also some inventions I'd been tinkering with for tea preparation, if you were interested."

[Doji Tsubaki]

Tsubaki, in turn, had an array of bundles behind her.

"I have brought up some of the more interesting tencha from the stores as well. But I am intrigued by this talk of inventions. What do they do?"

[Doji Misaki]

"Mostly, I'm afraid, those inventions are nothing special. I tinker around with different methods of making and saving tea to make things simple and practical for people with little time or knowledge of tea. On the bright side, tea is one of those things that does not need much in the way of help or simplifying in order to be practical. Still, I do hear from Heimin that tea can be a bit fiddly to make in a hurry, and many use tea as a pick me up for work or such."

Misaki dug through her bag as she spoke, pulling out a few things. In particular, she pulled out a small, strange pot.



"This, for instance, is a pot I've been working with that has a built in bamboo strainer. The built in strainer seems to be something a lot of travelers like, since it means you can pour on the go easier."

She turns it a bit.



"The thing over here is to add leaves on the go while the lid is locked."

Misaki frowns a bit after letting the thing go.

"It's only a prototype though. I have gotten some good feedback, but it's still a bit too fragile and hard to carry without spilling to live up the purpose I want for this."

[Doji Tsubaki]

The elder Crane strokes her chin with a well manicured hand as she examines the items, "The strainer holds potential, even for within the Houses, the other seems best served for travelers but I can see its use then."

[Doji Misaki]

A small nod, "What I really want is something that could serve as both a tea maker and a tea carrier; Brew on the way to work then drink from it while laboring. Still, any progress is a learning experience, and I might be a bit obsessed with the project due to the tea bushes I tend... and the amount of tea I regularly drink; Certainly it is not my own bodily strength that gives me the energy and stamina to travel so much and keep up with farmers and children."

[Doji Tsubaki]

A soft chuckle, "Indeed. I find the more fermented the stronger the effect. While I cannot say I am most fond of the Little Teacher blend it is certainly bracing and invigorating. The Lord's Favor and Blissful Union blends are strong as well while being much more pleasing... at least to my palate."

[Doji Misaki]

"I have been accused of liking my tea too strong in the past, hai. Then again, I sometimes add honey to my tea too, so that can make the most bracing tea a bit smoother... and it certainly doesn't hurt the invigorating effect. I've always wanted to raise bees so I can make my own honey, but there are only so many hours in the day, and I have other work to do unfortunately."

[Doji Tsubaki]

Another laugh, "Indeed! Such ambition for one who says they like things simple."

After a scratch at the door and acknowledgement from Tsubaki the door slides open and Ni and San enter. San closing it after they enter and Ni bearing a shamisen in her arms.

"San is better suited to song and Ni to her instrument. Any preference as to who performs for us first, Doji-san?"

[Doji Misaki]

"The shamisen, please," Misaki says, still blushing a bit demurely but making sure to at least give a bow of her head to the two apprentices in acknowledgement, "I have played the instrument myself, so I find it quite familiar and soothing."

She would have answered the charge of being ambitious despite saying she liked things simple, but it seemed a bit embarrassing in front of the performers.

[Doji Tsubaki]

Tsubaki turns and gives a nod, "Ni." The girl quickly hurries to the near corner and finds her place and prepares the instrument. Soon a softly played melody, said to have been composed by Lady Doji herself, begins to fill the air. While the girl is nowhere near that level of skill and talent she is decently skilled and there are no obvious errors let alone discordant notes.

"As for tea would you like to present one of your creations? Or shall I have San test her skills first?"

[Doji Misaki]

"How about you let your apprentice go first; That way I can see the sort of things you teach and so I am better able to do my own demonstration in the correct manner."

[Doji Tsubaki]

Tsubaki nods, "Certainly. You heard Doji-san, San, I expect you to demonstrate your best."

The younger of the two girls swallowed hard and bowed before hurrying over to the bundles of leaves and starts carefully selecting among them.

Meanwhile the music continues to gently fill the room.

As she bustles Tsubaki returns to small talk though a careful eye seems to always follow her charge and her choices, "So, Doji-san, how have the non-tea based inventions been turning out as well?"

[Doji Misaki]

'Well enough, I suppose. Though I've not had the chance to work on anything the past month or two. Certainly with the harvest and getting ready for the wedding here... But this summer, I invented something the local farmers seem most happy with, though I've not really perfected it I think. It was an inspiration from a rainy day, one where I saw a goat eating some of my plants outside. Apart from that, most stuff has more been tweaks or process adjustments to existing things. An underappreciated part of invention I suppose, when I say it out loud like that."

[Doji Tsubaki]

Tsubaki raises an eyebrow, "Oh? I'll admit I doubt my knowledge of farming is a fraction of your own but I would be interested in hearing of this invention."