D1 MM: Tea and biscuits with your breakfast

[Ikoma Tanji]

After a typical Lion gathering, Ikoma Tanji was getting a little nostalgic for the school days. So he decided to step into the kitchens and politely ask for a kettle and some rice balls with the red bean paste in the middle. Just thinking about it brings back memories of when his neck was still perfectly smooth.

[Soshi Eiji]

After a typical Lion gathering, Ikoma Tanji was getting a little nostalgic for the school days. So he decided to step into the kitchens and politely ask for a kettle and some rice balls with the red bean paste in the middle. Just thinking about it brings back memories of when his neck was still perfectly smooth.

Tanji wasn't the only old Lion who was perhaps feeling a little nostalgic for days of Kyuden Ikoma past. The figure in red and black certainly stood out more than Tanji, but it walked as one well familiar with the area.

Taking note of Tanji, the man bowed.

"Good morning, Ikoma-sama." he said, taking a bit of a guess. "This one is known as Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji. Arranging a late lunch by Leadership standards?"

[Ikoma Tanji]

D1 MM Tea and Biscuits . . . : Fluff roll, how well does Ikoma Tanji recognize the scorpion who's familiar with the grounds. Lore: Heraldry TN 25 | 4k3 ⇒ 13 (TN: 25)

"Good morning Soshi-san, this one is Ikoma Tanji. Alas, it's not a late lunch but a bit of a cheat before the day starts proper. I recall the days when the kitchens would deny the students a second rice ball in the morning. So I decided I would ask for three for the past me. I see you know your way around this busy kitchen. Is it safe to say you've come here often?"

[Soshi Eiji]

D1 MM Tea and Biscuits . . . : Fluff roll, how well does Ikoma Tanji recognize the scorpion who's familiar with the grounds. Lore: Heraldry TN 25 | 4k3 ⇒ 13 (TN: 25)

"Good morning Soshi-san, this one is Ikoma Tanji. Alas, it's not a late lunch but a bit of a cheat before the day starts proper. I recall the days when the kitchens would deny the students a second rice ball in the morning. So I decided I would ask for three for the past me. I see you know your way around this busy kitchen. Is it safe to say you've come here often?"

Eiji nodded.

"Ikoma-sama is not the only one with memories of a rice ball denied. The servants may change, but the policy remains the same." he agrees.

He smiles a bit.

"I hope your past self is happy with your lagresse."

[Ikoma Tanji]

"I would like to think so too. So much for being the young blood of the party, there's quite a few up and comers at this court. Excuse me, where are my manners? Would you like to join me for a while. There should be a kettle coming shortly."

[Soshi Eiji]

"I would like to think so too. So much for being the young blood of the party, there's quite a few up and comers at this court. Excuse me, where are my manners? Would you like to join me for a while. There should be a kettle coming shortly."

"I would be honored to do so, Ikoma-sama." he agrees.

He nods a bit at the first point.

"Indeed there are. Their families must think highly of them to send them to the imperial winter court, especially those who haven't even seen their second decade yet. Hopefully they are sparks destined to light a bonfire, rather than the byproduct of steel on steel, destined to flicker out before barely being seen." he mused.

[Ikoma Tanji]

"Bonfires are a good thing when you know what you're doing, but I've seen many a good comrade suffer the consequences of not respecting the dangers it presents." A kettle of plain water comes out along with a pot of matcha. "If they find the ways to cool their heads and find the right moment, I am sure they will go far."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji smiles a bit at that.

"A fair point, Ikoma-sama." he conceeds. "I had thought of likening them to a campfire, but that seemed too.....mundane for the imperial winter court. But even a candle flame is dangerous if one is careless."

He takes a moment to enjoy the scent of the tea being brewed.

He gestures to the pot.

"But even fire and water can combine peacefully and productively with but a bit of earth between them. The empire would be a much more grim place without hot tea, I'm sure Ikoma-sama would agree."

[Ikoma Tanji]

"Aye, a good balance is important to everyone. How things return to such balance, however, are the parts that make life worth living. Fire to force the water to move, earth to give the water texture, air to temper, and void to connect them all." (Do you want to roll, or shall I?)

[Soshi Eiji]

(it's your tea party, you roll )

Eiji nods at the Lion's description.


"Well said Ikoma-sama.".

[Ikoma Tanji]

D1 MM: Tea Ceremony tn 15 | 3k3 ⇒ 24 (TN: 15)
Void point recovered

The tea ceremony has no special frills, something similar to the theme of old school memories.

[Soshi Eiji]

D1 MM: Tea Ceremony tn 15 | 3k3 ⇒ 24 (TN: 15)
Void point recovered

The tea ceremony has no special frills, something similar to the theme of old school memories.

Eiji sat silently as the Ikoma worked through the ritual movements, taking solace in the famliar movements.

He drank deeply of the tea.

"Ah, the blends of the Lion are always so warm. Don't get me wrong, Scorpion blends have their own charms, but their focus on smaller plantations means it's not an every day treat." he offered.

[Ikoma Tanji]

"I doubt I would be drinking every day if I weren't in the cultural hubs normally. Most of the time I'm in Otosan Uchi supervising the West Lion Embassy back of house. Here we have the Clan Champions gathered, but back home I'm probably just drinking water."

[Soshi Eiji]

"I doubt I would be drinking every day if I weren't in the cultural hubs normally. Most of the time I'm in Otosan Uchi supervising the West Lion Embassy back of house. Here we have the Clan Champions gathered, but back home I'm probably just drinking water."

Eiji considered the Lion's words with a nod.

"An important posting to be sure. Might I inqure where home is for Ikoma-sama? The lands of the Lion are quite large." he asked.

[Ikoma Tanji]

"A small village close enough to the city of the rich frog to attract criminals, far enough off the road for logistics to be a problem."

[Soshi Eiji]

"A small village close enough to the city of the rich frog to attract criminals, far enough off the road for logistics to be a problem."

Eiji tilted his head a bit at the descrpton.

"That sounds.....unfortunate, Ikoma-sama. Perhaps you will have some hand in improvng their fate this Winter? It is a good time for the clans to gather and look for such possibilities, after all." he suggested.

[Ikoma Tanji]

"Aye, but to receive gifts, one must give them in return. To give the proper gift at the right time and to the right person, that is how one succeeds in court. It is too early to tell, but the games have just begun."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Aye, but to receive gifts, one must give them in return. To give the proper gift at the right time and to the right person, that is how one succeeds in court. It is too early to tell, but the games have just begun."

This brings a small smile to Eiji's face.

"True, it's not like all the clans can simply lay all their gifts out in a single room and then fairly and evenly distribute them. How would the court pass these long winter days if they had nothing to slyly hint at, no backroom deals to hammer out, no promises to make or keep? You can only endure so many poetry competitions dedicated to snow before one breaks." he says lightly.

He shakes off the unimaginable horror of an Empire that was efficient.

"Still, even this early in the court, those who are diligent are at least looking about to see what they can learn. We may not wish to do everything on the first day, but we also do not wish to do it on the last." he suggests.