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Post by Panda on Mar 24, 2023 15:27:04 GMT
[Initiated by Faye.]
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 24, 2023 15:50:45 GMT
"Do I just... Knock?" Faye asked, standing right outside Mikoto's apartment-room in the city planet. "Is that how this works?"
Her only companion, the jackalope, offered no guidance. "Maybe I should have asked earlier... I mean, are they even going to be in here?"
It should be made clear. She was not whispering. With how quiet the apartments were, her voice likely traveled quite far.
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Post by Kachu on Mar 24, 2023 15:58:13 GMT
By insane coincidence, or by the direct will of god, Mikoto suddenly stumbles out the door to their room, and falls face first onto the pavement, or wood, or whatever is right in front of them.
Their small green companion, Leafcelot, waddles on top of their master's corpse-like figure, and looks up at Faye.
":]"
Mikoto's leg twitches. Perhaps they died.
"I'm okay!" They call out, muffled both by their coat collar, and by the fact they're face down on the floor. They did not die.
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 24, 2023 16:18:39 GMT
Faye made a noise somewhere between an "eek!" and a "waaah!" as she jumped away. She was about to ask if Mikoto was alright before Leafcelot waddled on top of them and swiftly derailed her train of thought.
"Oh, hello there little guy..." she said, leaning down to pat it on the head.
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Post by Kachu on Mar 24, 2023 16:23:39 GMT
Leafcelot does a little spin dance before waddling off of Mikoto's back, letting them stand up. Each step they made makes a little cartoony stepping noise.
Mikoto dusts off their coat before jumping back an inch in shock when they see Faye there.
"Ah! Hello, friend! What brings you to right outside of my room's door?"
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 24, 2023 16:32:43 GMT
"Oh! Um, hi, Mikoto." Faye said, like she didn't come here specifically to see them. Her gaze drifted to the door behind Mikoto rather than their face. "... Okay, so, do you remember a few days ago when you made that tea? You know, the first time we had to wake up at like 8 AM for some reason?"
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Post by Kachu on Mar 24, 2023 17:36:07 GMT
Mikoto nods. "Of course. Did you like it? I don't know if I made it to everyone's tastes..." Mikoto sulks a little, expecting Faye to totally roast them or something.
"I'll do better next time, I promise!"
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 24, 2023 18:42:18 GMT
"It was really good, actually!" Faye answered. "It was way better than what I usually make, so I was hoping you could show me how you do it."
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Post by Kachu on Mar 24, 2023 19:16:37 GMT
"Oh!" Mikoto seems surprised. Pleasantly so.
"I must confess, my skill and talent is not my own. My mother taught me well, and well... Um..."
They took a deep breath in, and then out. "Are you prepared for what it takes?"
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 24, 2023 19:30:01 GMT
"What it takes...? Oh, yeah!" Faye answered. "I found a kitchen in one of the apartments, so, yeah we have pretty much everything we need."
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Post by Kachu on Mar 24, 2023 20:03:30 GMT
"No." Mikoto shook their head. "Tea is serious. Are you serious about tea?"
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 24, 2023 20:09:20 GMT
"Um." Faye made an attempt at looking into Mikoto's eyes, but failed. "Yes. I think. I'm as serious as someone can be."
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Post by Kachu on Mar 24, 2023 20:27:36 GMT
"Excellent!" Mikoto cheerfully exclaims, taking a notepad and pen out of their coat pocket.
"We'll need to have you here at 7am each morning, maybe for a week or two so you can watch me do it first... then, maybe for afternoon tea at 3 you can stop by and try about eight or so pots for a daily training..."
They begin to scribble words in the notepad.
"Of course we'll need to make sure you have the right know-how and taste, as well as proper posture, elegance, and smell... so perhaps I should start you on the back brace now? Not to be rude, but your posture could use some work." Mikoto coughs.
"Would you be comfortable standing, walking, talking, eating, sleeping, and breathing with a large metal rod keeping your back straight the whole time? How about weighted gloves? Nose plugs? Sunglasses? Weighted boots?"
Mikoto doesn't wait for Faye to respond before scribbling more down on their notepad. "We'll need lots of tea... Do you have a favourite? Don't answer that, it doesn't matter. You need to be respectful of your guests. Step inside, we'll talk more indoors."
Mikoto turns away and walks into their little apartment, still talking and asking Faye ridiculous questions like if she's willing to bathe in a bathtub of tea to get a real FEEL for it, or if she'd be okay with chewing on teabags during her downtime so she can properly write an essay on the aroma of each flavour, or if she's content with potentially having to keep an electric kettle in her room.
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 24, 2023 20:54:21 GMT
Faye's eyes had already gone wide at the mention of being there at 7 am, and it only got worse from there. Dumbfounded, she followed Mikoto into their apartment while failing to interrupt them as they continued to prove that no, she was not as serious about tea as she could be. Not even close. How could she be so naive?
"Um, uh, Mikoto? Is all that really necessary...?"
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Post by Kachu on Mar 24, 2023 23:54:30 GMT
Mikoto's neck almost snaps with how fast they turn around to face Faye.
"Um. Yes??" They say, dumbfounded. "I asked you if you're serious about tea!"
"...Okay, maybe some of it isn't but tea is an art! And I'll be teaching you just as my mother taught me. Together, we will both be just like the innocent harem women who serve underneath a mighty emperor. Eager to please, and serve tea with the strength and elegance of a thousand yellow bellied chickens..."
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 25, 2023 0:18:36 GMT
"Can't we just. Brew tea. The taste. I liked the taste of the tea." she pleaded. "I don't really want to be a harem woman or a yellow bellied chicken..."
"... Did you have to wear a back brace to learn this?"
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Post by Kachu on Mar 25, 2023 2:54:34 GMT
"Naturally." Mikoto nods. "My training was intense. It was a technique passed down within my mother's family for generations- the same who served the old Emperors of Japan." Mikoto nods, again. It's a little weird.
"However, if you just want to be served tea... that's a different story."
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 25, 2023 17:42:33 GMT
"I think... I'm not serious about tea after all. Actually, five minutes ago I think I couldn't even conceptualize what being serious about tea means. You... Really opened my eyes, Mikoto."
"Having tea with you would be pretty nice though. It's really good..."
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Post by Kachu on Mar 25, 2023 19:00:32 GMT
"Well, truth be told, I am holding back." Mikoto sighed. "Mother never taught me everything, and she only dressed my sisters up in the traditional outfits we kept at home."
Mikoto puts a sleeved hand to their chin. They do this a lot. It's hard to express with someone who you can't see their hands or mouth, okay? "My mother was insistent on not teaching me, yet my father did not wish to teach me his family art as well. So, after enough insistence, she did teach me but..."
"I never had a chance to put the outfit on. So truthfully, my tea is far from perfect."
Mikoto turns around and takes out their really really cool electric kettle. It's probably like $12 at walmart but it's painted black and blue like their coat.
"So, you'd like some?"
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 26, 2023 3:31:35 GMT
"Should I take a seat here?" Faye looked around the apartment-room, as I realized I have no idea if there's even anywhere to seat.
Her familiar had followed her inside, too. It silently skulked around the room and seemed intent on staying in the very edge of Mikoto's vision.
"... Hey, uh, how come your parents didn't want to teach you any of that stuff, anyways? The way you talk about it sounds like such a big family thing..."
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Post by Kachu on Mar 26, 2023 4:14:41 GMT
Faye finds that there's not much to sit on other than some low cushions next to an epic low table that I'm only putting in Mikoto's room now because they're cool.
Leafcelot was waddling in circles and swinging a plastic knife around. It's training.
"How come indeed." Mikoto sat down on their knees, while the kettle slowly began to heat up. "I wish I could've come with an answer, or at least gotten a lie out of them. They never did tell me."
Mikoto scratches their chin, but like, with their giant sleeves it's kinda goofy. "It is a big thing for my family. My two sisters had no trouble learning. And while my four brothers did not meet my father's expectations... At least he tried to teach them. But on the other hand, both my parents seemed reluctant to teach me anything." Mikoto lets out a soft sigh.
"I tried asking again and again, yet I would get no answer. At a younger age, this would cause resentment among my siblings... but as they grew older they found it wasn't my choice. I've tried asking the goddess of our village, and yet, no answer has come to me in a dream."
"So I'll suppose I'll never know. Yet, I haven't let any of that stop me yet! I am skilled with tea, archery, swordplay, and I enjoy calligraphy from time to time. I WILL have my parents acknowledge my skills. No matter what, they must accept me. All of me."
...
The electric kettle begins to whistle obnoxiously.
Mikoto lets out an awkward cough. "Sorry. That was a bit much. What kind of tea would you like?"
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 26, 2023 4:26:44 GMT
"Big family, huh..." Faye tried to imitate how Mikoto sat down, but soon she had to awkwardly adjust her position until she was sitting cross legged on the cushion. "Oh, what did you serve last time? I only really know black tea, so."
The jackalope, seeing her settle down, took a seat on a cushion as well. Perhaps it expected to also be served.
"... I, uh, I get what it's like, I think. Not being acknowledged, I mean."
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Post by Kachu on Mar 26, 2023 14:28:41 GMT
"Lovely. Black tea it is then. What an interesting choice!" Mikoto exclaims. Even though it's not an interesting choice. It's actually a very boring choice, but they don't know that.
"Oh... I apologize, here I am hosting a wonderful friend for tea and instead I make her feel like a sour grape with my words. Please, forgive me?"
Mikoto looks at Faye dead in the eyes, and they are THIS close to crying. "I would hate to have made you upset. If you need anything, I am here for you, as a friend, alright?"
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 26, 2023 15:54:57 GMT
If eye contact was a weak point for Faye, what Mikoto had just done was sure to inflict massive damage. She had to stammer and turn her entire head away before speaking. "Uh, no, no! It's fine, really. You're fine. I'm fine. We're both fine, great."
"... You don't do anything by half, huh?"
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Post by Kachu on Mar 26, 2023 16:06:43 GMT
"Are you sure? You don't sound too good..." Mikoto hangs their head, gets up and begins to prepare the tea.
"If anything is troubling you, I'm happy to lend a helping hand!"
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 26, 2023 17:44:09 GMT
"I'm not good with the, um. The eye to eye thing." she made some quick gestures in front of her face. "Sorry..."
"... I'm kinda jealous, though. You had, what, six siblings? Maybe it's overkill, but it sounds kinda nice. Growing up with a big family like that, I mean."
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Post by Kachu on Mar 26, 2023 18:34:13 GMT
"Oh!" Mikoto nods. "Do forgive me, then."
"Hmm... Though, I cannot entirely disagree, I would hesitate to say it was 'all good' with my family. The grass is always drier on the side with fire, though." Mikoto sighs. "...But, you know. If you wish to have an elder sibling of sorts, we might be able to work something out..."
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 26, 2023 19:44:31 GMT
"Hey. You're not that much older than me." Faye answered. "... I think. I guess I've only ever seen the upper half of your head."
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Post by Kachu on Mar 26, 2023 20:43:10 GMT
"Older is older!" Mikoto says, and then puts their hands to their sides all smug like. "So you see, it doesn't change anything! From now on, I can be your older..."
Mikoto stops. All the colour from the face fades away in nearly an instant. "your... your um... older... um..."
...
"Nevermind. That was strange of me to even suggest. I apologize."
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Post by dootdoot on Mar 26, 2023 21:53:49 GMT
"Sibling is fine, right...?" Faye asked, before the color drained from her own face. "Oh, uh, sorry, I never asked, I just assumed- uh, what do you prefer...?"
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