Trying Tea Again (Open)

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Sasaiko is going to get this, dammit.

She returns to the dojo tea room and begins to go through the motions of the ceremony Doji-sensei had shown her.

She is evidently in too much of a rush, too disturbed by the success earlier followed by a failure to center herself (Tea Ceremony 13). But she manages to put things away with enough skill.

I am glad nobody saw that one, she thinks.

[Yogo Otoko]

Well, almost no one.

"...I am told it is a lot easier to find peace in the tea ceremony if you are calm." Otoko stood in one of the corners, motionless, hands folded into her sleeves as she looked over through her mask.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Sasaiko is shocked into stillness.

How did I miss her? she thinks. She has to have snuck in.

She bows. "Toritaka Sasaiko. And you are?"

[Yogo Otoko]

The tall woman gave a slow bow, taking a few steps forward, small and gliding. "...Yogo Otoko. I am certain the tea is still quite fine..."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"It helps that the stock is so fine; it is hard to ruin a pot of it." She gestures, inviting the Yogo to take a seat.

"So, how has the dojo been for you thus far?"

[Yogo Otoko]

"The dojo..." Otoko glided over and slowly, carefully sat, hands folding back into her sleeves, resting in her lap. "...I am not a bushi in any sense of the word, so the dojo has been... seen from a distance mostly. It is peaceful when practice is not going on."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

A literalist, Sasaiko thinks as she similarly sits. Wonderful.

"And your training at this facility?"

[Yogo Otoko]

Her head tilted a bit in thought. "It could be going better, but I am not the sort to despair over hardships, so I will persevere. With how hard you seemed to be working, surely you have seen more success than set back thus far Toritaka-san."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"Not as much as I should like, no. Unfortunately.

"But you are correct; going on is all that can be done."

[Yogo Otoko]

Otoko gave a soft nod. "You are not the first I've met here that seems to believe they are not doing as well as they wished to, but then, is it not ever the way of the samurai to strive for some sort of perfection, to succeed in all things? I am glad to hear that you are a bit more pragmatic about it. Others are much less... sensible on the matter."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"Oh? I'd not heard that."

Insensible, yes, but not the way she means, she thinks.

[Yogo Otoko]

Otoko gave a small shrug. "Perhaps it is because of my family background that I see it. It's hardly a surprise that those who were sent here would be the sort to not tolerate failure after all, being quite a prestigious honor. Some take every failure as one more blow to their pride. I suppose we all hope to succeed in all that we set out to do."

It was sort of her way of shrugging off the issue... and to tie in the tea that still sat in front of them.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

The cups are not yet emptied or put away. Nor yet is the pot, still hot.

"If you would care for what is poured, you are welcome to it, of course, Yogo-san."

[Yogo Otoko]

She inclined her head. "... Arigato. I would never turn such down. The real question is, Toritaka-san, if you will drink any as well?"

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Scorpion. Right.

She nods, pours two cups, and gestures for Otoko to take one.

[Yogo Otoko]

Otoko gave a slow seated bow before gently peeling her mask off to reveal a long, impassive face. She delicately lifted the tea up and took a sip, nodding. "Even if the preparation vexed you, the tea is no less delicious. It goes to show that there is always a silver lining if you look."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"True, and practice is always good, but it is an annoyance to have had a sensei take the time to teach a thing and to reflect so poorly upon that teaching."

She sighs, takes a pull from the other cup.

"More practice will be the key, I think."

[Yogo Otoko]

"Indeed. A lesson is a step, not an end. Everyone fails sometimes. Even Shinsei made mistakes. It is what we do after that makes us great or not."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"The Little Teacher erred? Wherein?"

She leans forward, interested in the answer.

[Yogo Otoko]

"I would not shame the Little Teacher. Instead, remember he said, 'What has happened, will happen. By understanding the past, you learn how to act now and how to prepare for the future.' Without failure, we cannot learn what success truly is."