driftfleet | Tea Ceremony

Who: Kogarasumaru and you!
Broadcast: Yes
Action: The Dojo on the Iskaulit
When: 8/2

Broadcast

[The pretty sword appears on the screen with a smile on his ever polished face. Politely, he bows his head before speaking.]

Greetings. I would like to host a tea ceremony for those interested in attending. If you do then I will be holding these ceremonies in my dojo on the Iskaulit. There is no requirement for dress code aside from the removal of your shoes when you enter.

[Lowering himself down, he bows where he is kneeling, hands brushing the floor.]

I look forward to seeing those of you who are interested.

The Dojo

[For those who are interested in coming, the dojo looks the same on arrival. The same traditional Japanese setup. In the center of the room Kogarasumaru can be found kneeling, bowing politely to the ones who enter before rising to his feet.]

Please come in. I will get you a cushion to sit on.

[He is not going to expect anyone to kneel like he will. It can be terribly uncomfortable for most.]

Have you ever attended a Japanese tea ceremony before?

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[She bows before entering, then steps carefully across the floor to the place he suggests, and smiles faintly.]

Since I was a child. Lessons with my mother. I made it a living for a short while.

I am Otono-Tachibana Makie.

Perhaps one day you will give me the honor of playing for me. In return, I will dance for you.

[He smiles at her then fetches his tea supplies, kneeling easily. With that, he lets the ceremony begin, cleaning the tools before her so she can witness this for herself.

All the while his posture is perfection, graceful and elegant.]

[She's quiet a moment before answering, observing his actions. Were it not for what she already knew about him, she'd be amazed at such poise in one that seemed so young.

She wonders how old he really is. But that's a rude question to ask.]

I would be honoured. Your grace is exemplary.

[He smiles and bows his head to nod his thanks to her for her kind words. No words are spoken on his end for now so he can maintain his role as a host.

The time to prepare the tea has come and he carefully places the matcha into the bowl and pours the water over it. Whisking it quickly, he soon finds it ready for more water which he pours into it as well.

With that, he turns to her and presents the bowl to her.]

[She has so rarely been on this side of a ceremony. But thus far the tenets of this one mirror closely her own. Makie bows her head forward and accepts the bowl, turning it in graceful fingers to examine its working. Then she drinks from it, pausing afterward to wipe its rim.

If there are other guests, she'll pass it along. Otherwise, she returns it quietly to Kogarasumaru.]

[When the bowl is returned to him, he cleans it before her so she can see what he does. The teaware is also cleaned and the tools once again.

With that, he allows her to inspect the teaware, sitting back so she can take her time to do so. After she has handed them back to him, he replaces them where they are meant to be.

At this point they would bow and she would depart. The look on his face says he knows as much as he turns to her.]

If you would like to stay longer, we can say our ceremony has concluded. I do not believe any dishonor will be had if we stop here. I have tea for guests of my dojo should you wish to linger.

[The offer is a surprise, mostly because she was expecting the ceremony to end formally. But after a moment, she smiles faintly.]

I would like that. It's so rare that I get much of a taste of home.

I had wondered. You were so familiar with the ceremony I thought you might like the chance to talk to someone who is also Japanese for a time.

[Rising to his feet, he goes to fetch a tray with a pot and two cups. Something he keeps here for guests when there are no ceremonies or lessons or sparring to be had.

Kneeling before her, he pours tea for her first and offers it to her before pouring some for himself.]

How long have you been with this fleet?

Apart from a brief time away this year... quite some time. [It's hard to calculate when she went home and spent over a year there. She takes the tea with a soft nod of thanks.] Not quite three years.

And you are quite new, are you not? Though you've already made more of a mark than I.

((also the mun apologises, she's on hiatus.))

My child who left before I arrived was captain of the ship I now reside on. I felt that I should make a mark in turn so if any of my children arrive again then they will have pieces of me whether I am here or not.

[Basically this has all been for his children.]

So I have arrived more recently but I still wished to do something.

[ooc: Don't worry about it! It's okay!]

[Whereas Makie has already lived and died and wants to be left to relax in peace, for the most part. But blades and fighting always draw her back in the end. There's a flicker of sympathy as he mentions a child, though it rapidly dissolves into confusion.]

May I ask who your child was?

[She thinks of Takeshi. But that can't be right.]

His name is Doudanuki Masakuni. He is one of my many children.

[He smiles proudly as he talks about the other sword, much like he would any of his children really.]

He is quite strong and has seen a number of battles.

[So he isn't the first such spirit here, then. Fascinating.]

And you? You must have seen countless.

I saw a few. However, I have been kept more as a treasure and a weapon for protection during my time of use. After that I was kept as a treasure by the Imperial Family of Japan.

[Ah....]

Who is Emperor in your time, Kogarasumaru-san?

I am not certain. I have seen many live and die. It becomes difficult to remember the name of every face that I have seen in life. So I work to remember those I treasure and are with now. My friends here and my children.

That sounds difficult, to live for so very long. [But perhaps such spirits have different philosophies.]

I suppose I was curious as to whether you came from an era in Japan past my own. When last I was ...there, it was the third year of Tenmei.

Tenmei...

[He lifts a hand to his chin as he ponders when that was. It takes a little bit but soon enough he recalls.]

I would say that it is presently several hundred year into the future for me.

Ah. Once again, I am left behind.

[Though honestly, she doesn't mind. People from the future always have such optimistic tales to tell.]

I would not say you are left behind. Rather we learn much about our pasts and honor them. Even treasure them. Such as this tea ceremony which is still practiced today.

Yes...I still recognise much of the culture of my country in future generations. Truly, I don't mind. It seems most come from a far less strict land, now.

Yes. I suppose that would be very accurate. I had not actually considered that would be the case but now that attention has been called to it I can see it.

Tea Ceremony

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