TEA-SENSEI

TEA-SENSEI
Date of Scene:	30 April 2013
Location:	A Teahouse in Wutai
Synopsis:	Artemis teaches a couple members of the Network about tea. No one survives. Okay maybe they do.
Cast of Characters:	Artemis Eurus, Ramza Beoulve, Legion

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Ramza Beoulve has posed:
After the battle only one thing was on his mind.

Alma.

In some distant corner of his mind, that wasn't true, he was already having some of the Braves set up in case it was a trap. He didn't trust the hospitality of Souji Murasame. Even so, there was no risk he wouldn't take for her, and he was more than willing to take.. the chance, of going onto Souji's airship to confirm whether it was or not her. After the battle, he'd patched up his wounds, but not his armor, as he went into the tea house closest to the inn they were staying at to refresh himself. The sight of a young man in scuffed up armor was not a shocking one to the people of Wutai, who had weathered bloody conflict after bloody conflict, and they didn't think much on it. And so he sat in the tea house, at a table with his back to a wall, hands folded, awaiting his order to arrive..

He didn't think much upon the Dark Knight, or even the girl Jade. Riku had finding her handled. The Dark Knight would be sorely injured, enough so that he might at least be slowed down. He could be dealt with later. But Alma?

Alma couldn't wait, not for him.

Artemis Eurus has posed:
Artemis had had some business to deal with. Business that she hadn't told anyone the nature of, but of course Ramza had let her go. She knew he would make her regret it, as there was no possible way he wouldn't get into trouble while she was gone. Still, this had been something she needed to do, and if he was alive? Life would continue. If not...

Artemis moves into the tea house, her eyes scanning the room, immediately locking onto Ramza. She lets out a small sigh of relief, her heart lightening as she crosses the room and takes a seat across from him, settling her katana in her lap. "Ramza," she greets, flashing him a smile that could be called affectionate, at least before her expression turns to concern. "Well....best be out with the story, I know there is one. Genmaicha if you please," she orders from the approaching server.

Emi Dennou has posed:
Omi Dennou has naturally returned to sticking to Ramza like glue. At this point, though, they've gotten a pretty good idea of hte sort of person Ramza is. If he's doing a con, he's quite dedicated, and other news from other sources have gotten themselves quite concerned about The Church. Issue is, of course, what aspects of the Church are the problem? It's a mystery.

Omi doesn't reveal they actually ran into Alma themselves quite yet. She sits with the other two and silently sharpens a knife. Other customers look over at all the weapons and are a bit concerned but really it's not uncommon to be with weapons in these areas, in these days.

A young ninja girl, with a plastic giant shuriken on her back, and a black bodysuit walks out by Ramza and Artemis's table. She throws a plastic ball to the ground, confetti popping out. She has green hair and--well okay it's a Dennou. Emi Dennou in fact.

"Welcome to our humble Tea House, with stealth we strike--our tea infiltrates your mouths and sets off a bomb of satisfaction in your soul. The Network faithfully recites what she was told to say as her first shift begins."

She sets down kettle and cups. There's way too many leaves in both teacups and she starts pouring hot water into the cups regardless.

"The Network additionally has news to provide you with regards to your sister. Maybe." Emi adds, blankfaced.

Ramza Beoulve has posed:
As Artemis arrived, the young man would at least smile fondly at her, allowing her to order. She asked for the story, so he gave her the brief version. "The Dark Knight we encountered in Fluorgis was here, and slaughtered a civilian in the streets. Many arrived to defend the city, and he was eventually beaten back." He'd put a hand over hers for a moment. "And Souji Murasame told me afterwards that he might have found my sister.."

His expression was one of uncertainty, and he might have continued when...

CONFETTI SMOKE BOMB!

Alright maybe he was on edge, as he rose from his seat.. and then awkwardly returned to it as confetti swirled around him. He was used to Omi's somberness, he didn't know Emi all that well yet despite a few encounters. So after he'd fully processed that one of the Dennous that was /not/ Omi was having some fun, he allowed himself to chuckle. "I admit, you actually suprised me there. Forgive me for asking, but which node of the network are you?" He used the word node more frequently now as per Omi's wishes, rather than her name, but sometimes.. alright almost all the time he slipped up. He didn't like to relate to people so impersonally.

And then she brings word about her sister, and he smiles once more. All somberness fading away. "You have news? Then, please, by all means, I'd like to hear it."

Artemis Eurus has posed:
Artemis raises a brow beneath her mask as he takes her hand. Oh, are they hand holding in public now? That's the most daring thing Ramza has done in a while. It is not unenjoyable....

Artemis sighs when he tells the story, nodding. "I see. I apologize for being detained I--I will tell you the story later on. You have word of your sister?"

Then Emi arrives with a confetti bomb and Artemis just....blinks. She works here? Is this how the always do business? How distasteful to the ritual of tea! Still, she smiles and nods to Emi in greeting, motioning for her to speak.

Emi Dennou has posed:
It probably isn't. The other waitress wasn't wearing a ninja suit anyway. Maybe Emi just is trying too hard.

"This one is Emi. We have met a few times before. You probably didn't realize it was me because of my Omi disguise. Heh heh heh." Emi crosses her arms proudly. "Deception is the way of the ninja, but also the detective. Deceit is just one more way to find the truth, The Network analyzes from daytime dramas and detective fiction."

Omi looks down at her tea in dread.

"The Network ran into someone with the name 'Alma' at the mines in Goug. We cannot say for certain it is your Alma, of course, but she was in the employ of Souji Murasame. She seemed a bit shy, we worked alongside and protected her for the duration of the mission, of course. She seemed nice from initial impressions."

"Are we really going to drink this?" Omi asks. "This looks horrible. The water barely fits inside."

"This is how I like tea." Emi protests. "It's really strong so you know it's working."

"Ugh." Omi says. "just remake it so it's actually drinkable. You're usually so good at these jobs."

"...Yes, sister. This one will do so momentarily." She looks back to Ramza and Artemis expectantly.

Ramza Beoulve has posed:
Ramza Beoulve would smile as he watched the banter between the two nodes of the network. "Artemis, I think you may have to step in here, and teach that node.." He gestures towards Omi. "..and Emi..about tea. It's a pleasure to meet you when you aren't pretending to be that node.." Gestures to Omi. "..Emi.."

Give him a gold star at least for figuring it out quickly enough!

He'd tap his fingers on the table idly, giving Emi a searching look. "Tell me more about her, what did she look like? My sister was never.. shy. A little demure perhaps, but that is the way she was raised."

Artemis Eurus has posed:
"Perhaps it would be prudent to give a physical description, yes," Artemis agrees, standing then with a sigh. "You are both lovely girls and good detectives, but tea is an art that must be done correctly," she informs them, then moves to take over without another word.

Artemis makes tea with not on competence, but elegance and grace, each movement smooth and practiced. She rinses the leaves with hot water to open them, pours the first brew out, then makes the first batch, timing it perfectly to bring out the right notes in each tea, served in a pot for one with small cups.

Then, Artemis sits back down and drinks.

Emi Dennou has posed:
"Red hair--we couldn't get that great of a look at her face, it was rather dark, The Network admits--and unfortunately we could not be sure it was not a wig. She wore it in a bun and wore the wardrobe of a white mage." Emi explains before taking a moment to observe Artemis at her work. She narrows her eyes faintly in concentration before she nods slowly, as if with understanding.

"Understood. This one will be more cautious with the next customer. This one--"

She gets called over, in fact, to help with another customer and she adds, "Please excuse this one and direct commentary to Omi." She, apparently, isn't too concerned with Omi's wishes in this regard.

She turns on her heel, collecting another kettle which she brings out to a new pair of customers, along with cups. She elegantly sets the cups down--though her face is as deadpan as ever so it's really just the movements. Flower petals bristle past her as she pours the water into each cup, reaches behind her and--

--whips out a pair of tea bags which she dunks unceremoniously into each cup simultaneously, wiggling around the bags a bit by a pair of strings before letting the strings drop over the side of the cups.

She looks back to Artemis and offers her a thumbs up as she heads back to the table.

"Nevermind her," Omi whispers quickly. "She thinks she's funny."

Ramza Beoulve has posed:
The young man would rub his eyes with his thumb and one of his forefingers. "Bother. My sister could look like anything now, if she's in hiding. But she does wield white magic. Strong white magic."

And then he'd nod to Artemis solemnly, he knew better than to interrupt her in any tea discussion. When she pours the tea, he follows the ritual as best as he knows how, before taking a sip himself.

When Emi gets called away, Ramza gives Omi a bewildered look, "How many jobs do you and your sisters have?"

And then she'd watch Emi copy the motions of Artemis, wondering exactly where the flower petals came from...

And then the tea bags. His face literally runs down his palm, and he sits back in his seat.

He didn't expect Artemis to draw her blade, per se. But her wrath when it came to tea was rather legendary.

Artemis Eurus has posed:
Artemis watches Emi. Slowly, she crosses her arms. Tea bags? REALLY?

Unceremoniously, Artemis then walks over to Emi, leans down, hefts her over her shoulder and takes her outside, at which point Artemis puts her down and scolds her thoroughly! "I am not a woman without a sense of humor but don't <GOOSEHONK> with my tea. I will <long strain of honking here>."

Emi Dennou has posed:
"Emi... is in charge of our finances." Omi explains. "She had to provide for us since at first she was the only one able to obtain jobs. She has gotten quite good at obtaining a part time job on short notice. Her skillset is rather varied and--aw cripes."

Emi doesn't resist, she's easily hefted over Artemis's shoulder and is carried outside. She continues to be a deadpan but she is likely animated in a 'chibi ' fashion. She also doesn't resist being set back down on the ground outside.

Emi tilts her head quizzically and then says, carefully and thoughtfully, "I am sorry, sensei." Pause. "You are saying then it is inappropriate to reuse bags of tea? I had thought that would be more economical. This one used to do that for her sisters to cut down on costs."

Omi is still talking with Ramza. "When we first arrived in Traverse Town, we had lost our initial funding from the labs which was never much but was enough to keep us in able health. This one thinks this led to her being...rather economical in nature." She sighs. "...Course she thinks she's a comedian, doesn't help. She has a strange sense of humor."

Ramza Beoulve has posed:
Ramza strokes his chin as he listens to Omi, "Is that so? Well if you all require constant funding then we're not so strapped on the pecuniary side of our group that I can't contribute.. something more to it. You have been a stalwart companion, and of great aid when it was required. It's only fair that I offer more for your services."

And then he watched Artemis issue a string of obscenities to Emi, and he was visibly cringing. It'd been like that the first time Marlowe had suggested that they make coffee in the morning instead. It'd been /almost/ like that the time he took a blow meant for her from the Dark Knight.

Yes, the stain on her honor conversation was slightly less horrifying than the experience of messing with Artemis' tea. That's where it ranked in the grand scheme of things.

Artemis Eurus has posed:
Once she believes Emi understands (this might take a while) Artemis returns and resumes her seat with Ramza, lifting her tea to her lips.

It's cold.

One eye twitches.

Emi Dennou has posed:
Omi grins faintly. "Careful,if she hears you say that, she'll take you seriously." Of course she already DOES know thanks to being a hive mind and all but they sometimes pretend they're not to let people be more comfortable. "But in any event, that was the past. Now we all chip in and our work in Fluorgis has allowed us to have a cushion as far as finances go."Emi has privately referred to the Shadows over Fluorgis TP as a 'cash pinata'.

Emi comes in a bit after, she seems a bit embarrassed from the pinkening of her cheeks. She bows her head and says, "This one hopes you've enjoyed your tea and apologizes for the trouble."

Ramza Beoulve has posed:
He'd chuckle at Omi. "She's welcome to take me seriously on that offer, if she chooses. But if you're certain that your financial future is secure..." And then Emi apologizes to Artemis, who is..

Oh sweet Faram no, her tea was cold.