A Favor Returned

[Bayushi Jiro]

Jiro entered the side room, sat, and folded his hands in his lap. There, in serene silence, he awaited his companion while considering the steps of the to come in the hour of the dog.

[Otomo Nobuko]

Nobuko found Jiro shortly after he had settled himself, bringing with her a servant who carried a tea set and a small folding table for them to put between themselves. After it had all been set up, she seated herself across from him and gave him a proper bow.

"Kohai-san. Thank you for the invitation. It was a delight to have received this morning."

[Bayushi Jiro]

He returned the bow with his customary grace. "And I was honored by your reply, kohai-san. More time spent with a young woman of your gentility is a true gift."

[Otomo Nobuko]

Her eyes flicked upward before looking away demurely, she cheeks coloring softly at the compliment, "And time spent with a new friend is always a pleasure."

She moved to begin the tea ceremony herself, this time, by ritually cleaning each of the (already clean) tools.

[Bayushi Jiro]

Jiro observed the cleaning with quiet equilibrium. Once the cleansing of the tools began, of course, all talk must cease. He allowed his expression to settle into composed neutrality, calmly awaiting his next task in the ritual.

[Otomo Nobuko]

She had not spoken when she started cleaning, but since it was a practice session, she wasn't going call Jiro out if he had chosen to make small talk. Nobuko was glad, though, that he hadn't. Doing it right was important and the quiet let her focus on the tasks.

Once the tools were cleaned, she prepared the thick macha. Though she added the portions in properly (three spoonfuls, 1 cup water), and whisked them until completely blended, it was likely she had not had enough macha on each spoon, as when she handed the bowl to Jiro to sample, it was noticeably on the thin side.


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OOC: Tea Ceremony fluff roll. She's good at theory, not so much at practice.
D4 Rooster Tea Ceremony/Void: 1d10 4

[Bayushi Jiro]

Jiro examined the tea as prescribed, rotating the bowl and taking a sip, then wiping the rim to dispose of troublesome cooties. He smiles serenely in spite of the tea's thinness. After all, he had no room to judge. Then, he passed the bowl back to the Otomo.

[Otomo Nobuko]

The formal portion now over, Nobuko thinned the tea out further, but did get it properly frothy and poured cups for the both of them. After passing one to Jiro, she settled her own into her hands and shifted slightly in her seat to get comfortable.

"It has been a few days since we last spoke directly," she said, opening the floor for conversation now that the majority of the ceremonial stuff was over, "the teachers keep us so busy even without classes assigned."

[Bayushi Jiro]

"Ah, yes, the war against dust is never quite won, is it? Not that it stops some of our colleagues from wandering." Jiro smiled over the rim of the teacup.

[Otomo Nobuko]

"Ah, you have noticed that, too," she 'hmmmed' with an amused smile. "Have you also noticed that it is often one particularly sleeping beauty and a playful kit that wander together?"

[Bayushi Jiro]

"I had not known about the kit, but I have noticed that the warbling of the wading birds has faded on more than one afternoon." Jiro chuckled. "Though I confess that I have known worse matches than those two."

[Otomo Nobuko]

"They are the exact picture of what many a poet describe when speaking of youthful fancies," she giggled. "It is unlikely anything more will come of it. But it has be amusing to watch them dance around each other, in the morning especially. As the bird flies off to the forge and the kit runs after."

[Bayushi Jiro]

"I shall have to keep my eyes open as my fingers work to the bone." Jiro took a sip of tea. "I had at first entertained the notion that some young thing would become enamored of the swagger of the "gentleman of fortune," but it seems that our colleagues have sensed that his attentions are already spoken for."

[Otomo Nobuko]

"So it would seem."

A sip of her own tea and she really wished she had practiced the mixing more, but she had been focusing on the cleaning and presentation...

"Did you hear the commotion last night? During the height of the storm?"

[Bayushi Jiro]

"The thundering crash? I am afraid not, though a kinsman of mine did."

[Otomo Nobuko]

"It woke me briefly, enough to make me wonder at the time and if I was late to rise," she admitted with a soft laugh. "But otherwise, it was nothing more than a passing moment for myself. However, I have heard strange things whispered about it today among the other odd happenings the other students claim to have occurred in the few days we have been here. One wonders how much these tales have been exaggerated."

[Bayushi Jiro]

"I suspect that they are not. There have been too many such events of different kinds, with little variation in the individual stories to suggest that they are mere rumor." Jiro smiled. "I hope to ask Agasha-sama what, precisely, is going on."

[Otomo Nobuko]

She frowned slightly at that, disturbed at the idea that none of them were merely flights of fancy, "That hardly seems possible. I've heard someone say they saw a Kenku riding upon lightning and animals not natural to this region playing chase with a fox, among other things. As if everyone is trying to top each other in a game of bragging. If you do manage to speak with Agasha-sama, would you be willing to share what you learn with me?"

[Bayushi Jiro]

Jiro nodded slowly. "I would be pleased to do so, kohai-san."

[Otomo Nobuko]

Having finally finished her tea, she set her cup down and proceeded to begin cleaning it and the utensils.

"You are doing well by the Sensei's standards," she said, changing the topic to the rankings, "Not as well as Asako-san, but he has outstripped all of us from the moment we came. I have spoken to him briefly. He is very dedicated to his goals."