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Micah Bradley:
Micah felt that it's been long enough. Hopefully, Rieko and Saya have smoothed out whatever was going on between them. He reached out to them both separately, as well as his Great Uncle of course, to join him for a private Afternoon Tea at a local restaurant.
He arrived early to ensure that his reservation was set and ready to go. Dressed in black slacks, light blue button up shirt and a matching black vest, the Avowed looked every bit the charming British host with his hair slicked back neatly. Micah lounged on the provided comfy chair in the private room he was led to, while waiting for his guests.
There were several plates and tiers of little cakes and sweets and other bite sized goodies on the table.
Rieko Sato:
Rieko doesn't often make public appearances in the waking world these days, but that's fiiiiiine, right?
When The Oni arrives for high tea, she's wearing a very fashion-forward pair of well fitting white trousers, with a matching blaser, and a goldenrod button-down top. The look, of course, fits best when paired with her natural, unmasked appearance. Golden accented fangs, claws, and irises. Pale red complexion. The mane of butt-length, white-gold hair pulled back into a truly majestic ponytail.
... as per usual, she travels in the company of a blade. Her bowie knife is holstered in a black leather scabbard on her hip, but instead of the odachi she's become so well known for...
She's escorting Saya on one arm, because High Tea is fancy.
Saya Kemmochi:
Saya wearing skirts or dresses that even reach her knees is pretty uncommon these days, so the fact that she has on a dress of a more modest length is noteworthy enough, but formality and fanciness aren't things she goes in for all that often any more, either. Apparently she's capable of and willing to dress up more nicely when the situation calls for it.
What she isn't doing is wearing heels, just nice flats. She's certainly capable of walking just fine in heels, despite the notable limp and the unpleasant sounds of metal shifting wrongly against metal that come with her movements, to Lost ears, but she's opted not to bother. The significant difference in height between her and Rieko is thus accentuated.
And her hair is still bubblegum pink, which seems to be her preference these days.
"I was tempted to dress like I would for a chadou," she's saying to Rieko, speaking in English but using the Japanese word for the tea ceremony. "But I honestly just don't want that much attention today."
Aurelio Menegi:
Aurelio didn't dress up often, but when he did the Torrent cleaned up nicely indeed. Sticking with his usual all-black ensemble albeit in the form of slacks, long-sleeved dress shirt and shoes, he arrived not long after the other two Lost with a nod to everyone gathered.
Micah Bradley:
When the servers brought his guests in, Micah rose with a wide grin that instantly conveyed how happy he was to see them. Together to boot. "Ladies! I am pleased that you could both join us today!" he crowed, voice full of joy in that British accent. He walked about the table, gesturing with his hands as to where they would like to sit and when chosen, he would pull a chair out for Saya first, gently pushing it back in when she lowered herself into it. He would repeat the courtesy for Rieko if she waited.
And then Aurelio walks in and his grin somehow widens?! He might as well look like a Cheshire cat at this moment. After tending to the ladies, he stepped forward to envelop Aurelio in a bro-hug. "Thank you for coming, Granduncle! Let me introduce everyone. Ladies, this is my Granduncle, Mr. Aurelio. And these gorgeous maidens are Ms. Saya..." A pause as he gestured politely to the bladed Changeling. "And Ms. Rieko. Welcome welcome! Our server, Mr. Jason, will be attending to us this afternoon. Feel free to order whatever you would like."
And with that, he settled into his chair once more.
Rieko Sato:
Rieko offers a puff at Saya's comment, flashing her golden fangs in a smile. "I briefly considered, but... indeed. Nothing quite draws the eye like looking abnormal, and pulling it off when nobody else is."
Rieko is half-way to pulling put Saya's chair -- old habits die hard, it would seem -- when Micah reaches it first. With a fluid nod in the man's direction, she ensures that Say is okay getting situated before pulling out her own chair.
"It is lovely to meet you, Mr. Aurelio. We heard quite a bit about you when Micah last spoke with you," there's a mischievous grin on her lips. "Of course we also heard a great deal that wasn't about you, but I think that was more a fault of the guessing game we played over your identity."
She offers a mirthful laugh, and her mantle sympathetically crackles with the distant thunder.
Saya Kemmochi:
A stormy mantle is one thing that Rieko and Saya share, and that rumbling seems to echo itself in Saya's mantle despite the differences in their seasons. Japanese and European seasonal reckonings have some differences, and typhoon weather is an autumnal association in Japan, as are the blood red maple leaves that occasionally fall through Saya's mantle.
When she's introduced Saya makes a small bow, not very deep, whether that's a consequence of her disabilities or a sign of perceived social standing. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Menegi," she says, despite the surname not having come up in the conversation so far. "I'm Saya Kemmochi." She doesn't move to sit down until after introductions are completed, but then does so without much concern about who is holding her chair for her or not.
"We speculated as wildly as possible about your identity, when Micah had us guessing about who his relation might be," she agrees with Rieko.
Aurelio Menegi:
"Did he now..." Aurelio replied with a chuckle, returning the quick hug with Micah before moving to claim a seat at the table. "Must have made for an interesting riddle. It is good to meet you both as well."
Micah Bradley:
Micah winked at Aurelio and giggled. "Please, help yourselves!" he offered as he gestured to the table of treats.
Rieko Sato:
Rieko offers a little nod, and then leans across the table to procure one of the little finger sandwiches from a platter. She doesn't quite toss it into her mouth right away, but it's close. There's a pause and she drops a napkin into her lap before tossing the bite-sized morsel into her maw.
"If I'm being honest," she clears her throat with a laugh. "It's really just rather difficult to answer a riddle about someone you've not yet met. Still, it was a good bit of fun."
Saya Kemmochi:
"Thank you for organizing this tea for us," she says to Micah as she gets herself settled. Saya has the kind of table manners that suggest plenty of time spent drilling on etiquette, with all of her movements precisely calculated even if they have to be modified somewhat to account for having only a left arm to work with. That doesn't apply to some things, like her perfectly straight posture or the small, delicate movements she makes. Or the fact that she hasn't reached for any food or drink yet and instead asks, "I'm not familiar with the proper etiquette for a high tea. If it's not too much of an imposition, would somebody be willing to educate me, so that I don't cause any offense?"
This is a mode that's probably familiar to Rieko, who has seen her in the setting she grew up in, where any small lapse in her manners during a formal setting was likely to be a significant slight to someone around her.
Aurelio Menegi:
After glancing over the spread Aurelio looked to Micah at the question about proper etiquette, not having a clue himself.
Micah Bradley:
He smiled reassuringly and proceeded to explain the do's and don'ts of a formal-ish afternoon tea party like this. As he explained, he took it upon himself to serve the tea, pouring them into the provided cups and pointing out the jar of sugar and the creamer jug. He demonstrated the way to stir the tea with an up to down motion rather than in a circular one.
"Other than that, it is a time to relax and enjoy each others' company with finger foods eaten delicately. But I won't hold it against you if etiquette were to be broken in this case. Afterall, we are all friends here, are we not?" he grinned as he settled back with a sip from his cup.
Rieko Sato:
Rieko reaches for her cup of tea, basking in the scent for a moment before delicately sitting it down to await the others.
"Indeed. This is certainly a very delightful little gathering. Thank you for hosting, Micah -- and for taking care of the ceremony." She smiles, shrugging out of her blazer and beginning to roll up her sleeves. "What type of tea are we having? Doesn't smell like any black tea that I recognize..."
Saya Kemmochi:
The level of attention that Saya pays to the etiquette lessons might seem rather strange to people who only know her in casual settings, in the modern world, where she tends to be informal to an extreme degree. Everything gets made careful note of, and she does her best to proceed under the set of instructions that she's given.
"We are friends," she says with a smile. "I just get a great deal of anxiety about not following the rules strictly when I'm in a formal situation. I grew up in an environment where it was utterly unacceptable for me to have any lapses in protocol, and even all this time later some habits are difficult to shake." She glances over at Rieko. "I believe that Rieko could attest to the reality of that, even if I don't wish to share the particulars."
Micah Bradley:
"Oh, there is no need to apologize, dear Saya! I am aware of Japanese traditions! Though, not all of the intricacies and details, but enough that I know how much procedures mean to them. Thankfully, us Brits are less formal, so you may relax. I simply thought you may enjoy a relaxing and chill afternoon!" he responded, grinning casually after having nodded in acknowledgement of Rieko's thanks.
"The tea is Dian Hong Cha, from Yunnan, China. I saw it on the menu and immediately went for it. It is absolutely delicious with the rich aromas and lack of an aftertaste!"
Aurelio Menegi:
Aurelio listened intently to the rules as well, unfamiliar with this particular custom but willing to learn. He took his cup when Micah passed it his way, taking a test sip on its own first before adding a small bit of sugar to it.
"Is very nice." He offered, having another small sip.
Micah Bradley:
"Is it not? I have not had Dian Hong Cha in several years." he nodded before reaching for a cannoli to munch on.
Saya Kemmochi:
Saya takes a sip of her tea, finally, and nods her own approval of the taste of the particular tea. "I particularly enjoy the slightly sweet aroma it gives off," she says. "With a slightly malty taste." She takes another sip and makes another slight nod. "This one is a good choice." She sets down the cup and reaches for one of the little finger sandwiches. "In my case," she continues explaining, "a good deal of the value I had to my family came from my ability to impress other people with my behavior at social events. I'll do my best to relax, and I'm only going to get past the anxiety that comes with these situations by doing them until I remember there's nobody around any more who can really punish me for lapses, any more. Even if..." she shakes her head and smiles. "Even if it turns out that one of my brothers is still alive, and here in Philly."
Aurelio Menegi:
"That so..." Aurelio replied with a warm smile, a notable show of emotion for the usually stoic Torrent. "Good to hear. Finding family when you thought them long gone is a blessing."
Micah Bradley:
"Depends on the family in my experience. But usually, yes, it is a blessing." Micah added as he smiled fondly at his Granduncle.
Saya Kemmochi:
"It was an improbable thing to discover, at the very least," Saya says with a soft laugh. "I was born in 1850, and he's my older brother. A mage." She doesn't seem to know just what to feel about this, given the bemused expression and slight shake of her head. "It's good to see him, even if we've both changed more than words can describe since the last time we saw each other."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Was not aware they could be as long-lived as that." Aurelio mulled that over for a moment. "It is good that you were able to reunite nonetheless."
Micah Bradley:
Micah nodded in agreement. "I have heard of mages before, but have not really encountered any... I think. What is your brother like?"
Saya Kemmochi:
"Neither was I," Saya says with a little smile. "I don't think either of us ever expected to see the other after I vanished into Arcadia a century and a half ago. It doesn't seem that a fetch got left behind." She sips her tea. "He's not like he used to be," she says. "As well as very busy, so I haven't really had a chance to get to know him again."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Hopefully you are able to find that time soon. Finding a part of my own brother through Micah has been a comfort in its own way."
Micah Bradley:
"I don't mean to assume as I know very little of Japanese culture besides the very basics, but... Is it not normal for Japanese raised peoples to keep themselves very very busy? Would you not need to schedule a time to relax like we did here?"
Saya Kemmochi:
"Perhaps, but..." Saya stops, considers what she was about to say, and then shrugs. "It used to be that I would only try to schedule something if it there was a significant reason, but I'm not who I was, and I shouldn't let myself fall into the same patterns. I don't hold off on doing things like that in the rest of my life."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Then perhaps you should reach out to him." He offered with a small smile. "I would think that he would want to get to know this new you as much as you may want to know him."
Micah Bradley:
Micah gave Saya a reassuring nod of agreement. Family was still family, and family should always stick together. He knew this more than most. He then shot a fond glace towards Aurelio before picking up his cup to sip his tea quietly.
Saya Kemmochi:
"Maybe," Saya says with a slight shake of her head. She puts the tea down and reaches up with her lone hand to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. "I worry that we might find that we don't care for each other's company any more."
Aurelio Menegi:
"That may be the case, but you will not know unless you try, and it may go better than you think."
Micah Bradley:
He placed his cup down gently and reached forward for a tiny triangle sandwich. "If it helps, I did not know what I would find when I got here. I certainly wasn't thinking I would find Granduncle Aurelio himself." he chuckled, gesturing to the marbled Changeling. "I had hoped strongly, but I was expecting a far more difficult search that would last years. And I was surprised to find how well we got along. It has been very nice."
Saya Kemmochi:
"It might." Saya shrugs absently. "Thank you for trying to convince me not to hold myself back. I'll check in with him again soon, and we'll see how things go. Just remember that I'll blame you both if they go poorly." Lest anyone think that she's not joking, she smiles when she says that. "You both seem like you get along with people pretty well, though. I'm not surprised you hit it off so well. Hikaru and I both... are not always the most agreeable."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Hopefully that will not be the case." He replied with a small smile. "I do...well enough. Not the most talkative of sorts and being out of times leads to missing some of the more modern references, but I do my best."
Micah Bradley:
Micah chuckled and then winced at his own thoughts. "I can chatter for you, Uncle. I suppose I am the youngest here! Makes me feel like a baby, hah!"
Saya Kemmochi:
Saya laughs softly and admits, "I can talk endlessly about some things, mostly about video games and other media, but I've found a lot of people don't really care all that much about most of the things that I fill my life with. Talking with people face to face always seems strange, though. Too much time mostly only communicating in dreams, or something? I don't know." She smiles at Micah. "If it makes you feel any better, I was born forever ago but I've spent most of my time as a sword, not really fully conscious or aging or anything, so how much time I've actually experienced? Maybe we're actually pretty close in effective age."
Rieko Sato:
"I'm young in spirit," Rieko flashes a wink at the table, stirring sugar into her tea using the exact motion Micah demonstrated prior. "Even if my body and my experiences are ancient."
She gestures to Aurellio with the spoon. Oof she was doing do good with decorum until that moment. "... I really relate to that, though. There is so much of popular culture to catch up on-- from my own home, let alone this new one. Plus, sometimes people will reference commercials from twenty or thirty years ago as if they're commonplace phrases."
There's a grin, but it quickly disappears behind the rim of her tea cup.
"... but there's more to social situations than catching jokes and references."
Aurelio Menegi:
"Indeed." He nodded to Rieko on her comment about age, smirking a touch. "I was twenty-four when I was taken, so still somewhere around there these days."
"True enough. Those do help to fill in the cracks, though."
Saya Kemmochi:
"At least we can use the excuse of being a foreigner," Saya says to Rieko. "If I tell people I didn't live in the US when those commercials were airing they usually just send me a YouTube video of the commercial." That makes her laugh. "I might know more pop culture references than many modern Americans do, because I spend so much time on the internet, chatting with people who are happy to explain every reference. At length."
Micah Bradley:
"Then you might be more caught up than me, Ms. Saya! I rarely go online." he winked.
The afternoon passes casually and comfortably as the four got to know each other over tea and crumpets...
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