(4LA) Tea at Blue Bird House (expecting, or ask)

[Doji Soon-ja]

The old Crane lady fussily arranged the tea utensils on the low table in preparation for her guests. The tatami mats had been changed for fresh ones, and the tiny ikebana arrangement from the previous day had been joined by a calligraphy scroll with the character for "Friendship" written upon it in bold ink.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

To be honest, Shouji hadn't spoken with many of the Crane here, even though he had transported a pair of them down the coast to this tiny village. It wasn't any fault of wither side as far as he could tell. Making his way to the Blue bird House, a place he had seen but thus far not been in he scratched politely at the door and waited for the servants to arrive to guide him towards the meeting he was to attend.

It was strange that it hadn't happened yesterday, but then maybe it wasn't? Really this whole thing was hard to wrap his mind around. Why didn't it look like it was going to rain for example?

[Doji Soon-ja]

After a time, the door slid aside to reveal an elderly Crane woman in a richly embroidered robe.

"Oh my, I can't imagine where the servants have gotten to," she fretted. "Please, come in, come in. You must be Ship Captain Tsuruchi? Thank you for accepting my little invitation. My name is Doji Soon-ja."

The Doji lady bowed politely, her old bones almost audibly creaking.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

It sounded like the woman was about to break, maybe she should hurry to retirement? Well, that wasn't for him to decide. He offered the old woman a warm smile. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Doji-san. As you thought this one is Tsuruchi Shouji Captain of the Sea Fox."

"Thank you for your gracious invitation."

[Yoritomo Katsu]

Katsu, of course, was just a few steps behind his captain, and slipped in at the tail end of introductions. To meet a Crane, one dressed in formal robes, and so Katsu had dressed.

He bowed, formally and competently, if not especially warmly. "Doji-san. This one is Yoritomo Katsu, first mate of the Sea Fox." He didn't offer a smile, although his expression wasn't any worse than neutral; the vinegar to go with the captain's honey, perhaps.

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Ahh, welcome, welcome, Yoritomo-san," Soon-ja said, bowing once more, though not quite so precariously. "Please come in."

Turning towards the interior of the house, she led the two Mantis through a hallway to a small chamber that had been arranged as a tea room. Blue Bird House seemed strangely devoid of servants for a residence of its quality.

"Please, have a seat," the elderly Crane said, gesturing to the tatami mats surrounding a low table. "We might be joined by another of my clan mates at some point, but let us get to know each other in the meantime. Did your ship have a good voyage here?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

The Mantis followed the older woman as she made her way into the room, taking a seat as she offered. "Another of your clanmates? Anyone I might know?" He asked as he settled into his seat and glanced around the room briefly. It wasn't poorly decorated all things considered.

"As to our voyage it was pleasant." The Captain replied with an easy smile. "The weather was fare, and the guests we had on our voyage south were quite the fine company." Though he himself didn't chat with many of them.

[Yoritomo Katsu]

Katsu followed along, mostly quiet, although he grunted agreement as the captain gave his answer.

[Doji Soon-ja]

"What ports does your ship regularly call at, if I may ask?" the elderly Crane inquired, as she began arranging the tea utensils and preparing hot water for the tea. "It must be quite an adventurous life, sailing about on the open sea. I knew a few Daidoji naval officers in my day, and I must say, they all spoke well of the seafaring life. I can see why your clan is so fond of it."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Naming just a few would be hard." The Captain replied with a soft chuckle. "We spend most of our time along the coast of the Crane and Crab lands when not on the islands."

He watched the older woman work. "You are quite right though, it's an adventurous life style. Sometimes I think we encounter something new everyday."

[Doji Soon-ja]

"May I ask, is there much opportunity to start a family, if you must constantly sail from one port to the next as part of your duties?" the elderly Crane inquired politely, as she continued preparing tea with well-practiced motions. Once the hot water was ready, a tea scoop was used to carefully measure out a portion of powdered tea, then Soon-ja whisked the liquid into a light froth, before pouring it into cups.

The first steaming cup was served to the naval captain, as the guest of honor; the next, to his first mate.

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4LA Tea ceremony for 3, VOID/Tea Ceremony +Void Point TN20: 9d10o10k4 34 succeeds, please gain 2 Void Points if you need it!

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Certainly, we do return to the islands on multiple occasions during the year. Some seasons also aren't very conducive to shipping." No reason to lie about that.

"Though I admit time with my spouse isn't going to be constant. It should be more then enough to start a family." He finished as he watched the older woman prepare the tea ceremony, it seemed she had it down to an art form.

Taking up the cup, he turned it before taking a slow sip. "This is lovely Doji-san."