(Day 1, LN) Midnight Tea - Unicorn

[Vutall]

This Event is for Unicorn Clan members only

[Utaku Nesrin]

If a nomadic life taught you one thing, it was how to sleep soundly no matter where you were. A strange bed was one that was nothing like a bed, not a bed in a new place. Sleeping on the roof might have been a challenge, for example.

So Nesrin was a bit surprised to find herself groggy, despite the apparent dawn. Waking further, she frowned. This light wasn't the warm gold of Lady Sun, but a cold white, and far too bright for Lord Moon...and coming from inside the building.

Securing her sleeping kimono, she reaches for her trusty stick before padding on quiet feet to peek out of the door.

(ooc, will probably be scarce tomorrow until evening)

[Iuchi Prashant]

Prash wakes up startled and suddenly sits on his bed and searches around the sheets for his amulet satchel. He usually slept well and sound, but since his time in Hirosaka last year he had somehow got more alert, sometimes waking up on hearing odd sounds...

This weren't sounds though, it was an odd... Light? From inside the building?

Well, at least it wasn't hitmen in black clothes... Right?

Seeing Nesrin already at the door, he nods and waves at her, then gestures to his eyes, then the door, as if asking "canyou see something?" - then he gets up too, trying to move quietly, and stands some steps behind her.

(OOC: probably away most of the day tomorrow as well...)

[Ide Hazrat]

Hazrat rolled over, trying to find a sleeping position that would better allow him to relax. The day's events had left him both exhausted and excited, and it was hard to still the thoughts that raced through his mind like horses on the steppes. The more he told himself he had to be well-rested for the next day the more he was filled with anticipation.

He rolled over again, turning away from the wall and towards... a glowing light? For a moment he thought it might be a moonbeam coming through an open window, but then he remembered that no window would be visible in that direction from where he was laying. Curious, he rose and moved to investigate. What was going on?

Seeing the two figures already peering in that direction, Hazrat moved to join them. His curiosity was stronger than his caution, though, and as soon as he was near Nesrin and Prashant he whispered to them "Is... is this normal?"


(OOC: I will also be AFK for several hours tomorrow.)

[Utaku Ichiro]

Weird events and visits in the middle of the night had seemed to become par for the course. This time, at least, there was no obvious and immediate threat.

Still Ichiro moved in front of his non-warrior clan mates until that was known to be a certainty.

[Vutall]

As all of the different Unicorn members are woken by the light and begun to investigate, they suddenly find themselves sitting in a room on cushions, with a tea set ready for ceremony set in between them all. A middle aged man dressed in Crane colors looks a bit surprised to see them all.

“Ah, do any if you know how to perform the ceremony? If not, please someone just serve us the tea.”

[Utaku Ichiro]

Ichiro raised an eyebrow at the strange transition, the strange man, and the strange request.

Perhaps this is still a dream.

He looks to the apparent Crane, "It would be proper etiquette for a host to introduce themselves before any serving is done."

[Utaku Nesrin]

To go from door to seated in the blink of groggy eyes? Surely a dream. Nesrin relaxes into the strangeness, letting things come as they will, as her meditations have taught her.

And so...if the dream asks you for a ceremony, it matters little if you've been formally trained. Nesrin bows respectfully to whatever the spirits have seen fit to teach here, and quietly begins the careful attention to tools, water, tea, and the gaze of participants that the tea ceremony entails. It is measured and stately, and allows plenty of time for answers or questions.

She frowns for a moment at her plain, lavender sleeves, wishing her dream had seen fit to at least attire everyone appropriately.

Then she lets the thought go. She can ponder what a tea ceremony in pajamas means in the morning.

__________-
D1 LN Tea Ceremony/Void. Void spent for skill: 5d10o10k4 31

[Ide Hazrat]

Still not sure whether or not this something to be expected, Hazrat glances around to see what everyone else is doing. His gaze lingers on the tea set, and he sighs with visible relief when Nesrin begins to perform the ceremony.

Mindful of Ichiro's announcement about proper etiquette and wanting to show respect to an honored elder, Hazrat bows to the man in blue and begins making introductions. "Welcome. We of the Unicorn - " he indicates each member of the group with a slow sweep of his hand " - are honored to receive you. As you join us for some refreshment, may we humbly ask your name?"

[Iuchi Prashant]

The Iuchi looks around confused when they find themselves suddenly sitting with the Crane asking for tea. This... Has to be a dream?

When the man asks for a tea ceremony, he remembers he had managed to do that once or twice before, but only for himself... But as he wonders if he could actually manage to do it properly, he sees Nesrin actually doing it already, and quite well. Still pondering whether this is actually happening, he smiles, nods at the Ide's words, and waits for the man's - ghost's? Spirit's? Dream denizen's? - well... for his answer.

[Vutall]

"I forget that few of your Clan have yet to take part in Imperial Courts. I am the Emerald Champion, Doji Satsume."

He watches Nesrin with great intensity and a very small smile parts his lips seeing her success with the ceremony. He bows his head in thanks and grasps the cup with both hands and sips slowly, enjoying the warmth and taste.

"Ah. Perfect. The House of the Red Lotus has the best blends."

[Moto Ichiro]

Ichiro looks around confused not knowing how he got here he remains quiet as the serving happens and just waits to see how things unfold.

[Utaku Ichiro]

Ichiro may not have spent time in courts to recognize the face but he certainly still knows the name... and the recent fate.

Why would he dream of a dead man?

He once more considers the apparition of a man before them - for he is now either dream or ghost or both.

"You are far from where you should be, Doji-sama. What brings you to us this night instead of before Emma-o?"

[Utaku Nesrin]

Seeing the cups for each, Nesrin finds that the dream has decided this is the sort of ceremony where they all get cups instead of all admiring the same chawan. Somehow the pot has enough for everyone in this group, a sure sign of a dream. Still, she finishes cleaning each piece and setting it in its place before moving to join the table with her own cup cradled within her hands.

"An honor to meet you Doji-Ue, this one is Utaku Nesrin, daughter of Utaku Kyo of the line of Utaku Monnagharra." High formality seemed suited to dreams of royalty. She rigidly suppressed the urge to duck under the table to see if ghosts had feet or not in her dreams.

[Iuchi Prashant]

Prashant participates in the ceremony dutifully and respectfully - even if his usual easy smile is a bit less open and maybe a bit more tense after the dream man introduces himself. He bows a bit as the man says who he is - was? - but does not speak yet, waiting for his next words.

[Vutall]

“I am pleased to meet you, Utaku-San. Now that we have enjoyed tea, I would ask all of you to do something for me”

[Utaku Nesrin]

Utaku Kyo had definitely not raised a daughter who'd agree to do favors without knowing what they were. Not even for the spirits of important dead people. Though helping to put a spirit at rest was important, sometimes the things they thought they needed were...not wise for the living. So even if this was a dream ghost and not a real ghost, Nesrin opted for caution. "I'm honored that you would ask, and will listen carefully, Doji-ue." Nothing promised but attention.

[Iuchi Prashant]

Prashant nods at the Battle Maiden's words, adding just a quiet "Hai Doji-ue.", with a friendly, if serious tone.

[Moto Ichiro]

Ichiro also nodded the large quiet boy had an intensity to him that said he was listening even if he didnt speak.

[Vutall]

"A young boy named Hitoshi, of the Mantis, is here to compete in the Championship. I need you all to ensure he is able to at least pass well enough to gempuku"