seasonsrpg | ☀️ all the trees change in the fall

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☀️ all the trees change in the fall

WHO: Everyone who wishes to visit the tea house.
WHAT: Tea house opening!
WHEN: Forward-dated a couple of days, but early July!
WHERE: shinrin-yoku, Sunwaning
WARNINGS: Mystery hot pot………… (shudders)

[ It had been a couple of months ago, when Ayaka informed the network of her desire to open up a tea house. Many people showed interest, and as such, may receive either a written invitation (so formal) from her, informing them of the tea house's opening. Others may find the invitation via network from the white heron ~~which we will conveniently handwave~~, announcing the opening of her tea house, shinrin-yoku in Sunwaning.

The invitation somehow asks guests to bring an ingredient for food– whatever it is they like!-- with no explanation whatsoever. Huh… wonder what that's about?

And to those who visit, they may find themselves in a little haven of zen for a while. ]

Welcome
🌸 shinrin-yoku seems like a simple tea house upon entering, with a large wooden sliding door that's already opened for guests to enter.

Ayaka will be the one to personally greet her guests, offering three possible areas for seating– the traditional Inazuman set up, the space for where you can let your legs down and not kneel while seated, or outside in the gardens. Of course, since it is a grand opening of the tea house, people aren't limited to their own tables! Familiar faces may be abound, and guests may like to walk around and see the interior, perhaps even say hello to the manager who is walking around and sniffing people here and there.

For future endeavours, Ayaka informs guests that they may use the shinrin-yoku for business gatherings and meetings. Members of the Welcoming Committee and Ayato's own committee are more than welcome to use the shinrin-yoku, and may even become a place for exchanging information and the like. The tea house promises to be a safe place to all.

A Simple Game of Snack
🌸 While guests may order food separately with any of the tea house's servers, there is a long table at the garden area offering all the items on the menu (except for the udon). It's free, and part of the ways Ayaka wishes to celebrate the opening of her tea house. There is a small card in front of the display of food, however, and it reads:

a cup of tea, warm
savoury, sweet wagashi
new names under trees

Strange? Random? What does that have to do with food? Well, it seems our little proprietress just loves it when people gather. She doesn't wish for the grand opening to just be a simple transaction, and she wishes for her tea house to be a venue where people can make friends, exchange stories, and feel safe.

It is why these snacks offered at the buffet table are laced with enchantments. The side effects are not harmful at all, and she only wishes for her guests to mingle, as well. As such, some may make people extra friendly, wanting to break the ice with a joke or a funny story. Some may end up bursting into song because of the snack they ate, while some may not be able to hold it in. They have to compliment another person before they can proceed with the rest of their conversation!

Ah, now the poem makes sense… as for the tea? Guests will have to order their own, as it is best served hot.

Mystery Hot Pot
🌸 Thanks to Ayaka's time spent in Nippon, she's become. . . excited and wants to continue this tradition she has when she hosts gatherings. If her guests have brought ingredients, there is a large pot of broth being boiled in the garden, with a card informing guests to put in the ingredients they brought! It also informs guests to try the hot pot, despite not knowing what others have put in it. [it is a mystery.png] Ayaka has started it off by adding matcha powder into the hot pot, giving the broth a bit of bitterness to it.

One of the things she enjoys whenever she has the pot boiling are people trying to figure out what the taste is, together. And anyone who manages to finish their bowl of mystery hot pot, regardless of how delicious or questionable it is? Will just have to show their bowl to Taroumaru in order to win a prize!

The prize is a box of Snow on the Hearth, a special kind of sakura mochi that only Ayaka is able to make. Be glad, for people of Inazuma would consider receiving a mochi like this a blessing! If one had the honor of enjoying such a treat while having tea with a princess as graceful and noble as a white heron, one would surely yearn to have that moment stretch into eternity.

Sunset in Sunwaning
🌸 Much like how beautiful the sunrise is, the sunset is beautiful and provides the tea house a nice and cosy ambiance. Guests needn't stay at the tea house the whole day– if they are done with their meal and tea, of course they are free to say their goodbyes! But the tea house is definitely open to all until the sun is down, should they wish to stay and spend the rest of their day here.

As the celebration begins to wind down, lanterns are lit in the gardens to keep it well-lit, yet still cosy.

Those who stay until nightfall may be treated to Sunwaning's local theatre group performing. Celebrating the tea house's opening, the theatre group volunteered to perform at the shinrin-yoku with a performance. It is very familiar to Ayaka and the Kamisatos, and no doubt those from Inazuma and Japan, but it may be a new cultural experience for those who have yet to witness such a dance.

---

((OOC: Ayaka's tea house is finally open! The prompts are set throughout the day, and are definitely open to anyone and everyone! Feel free to make your own top level and mingle~

The tea house serves the NSFW tea that was mentioned in the recent quests, but she also doesn't want anyone to engage in nsfw activities in her tea house. Anyone who orders those flavours of tea will be advised that there is an inn just down the street FDASGDSGH ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It is a big day! To think, she has her own business now. She's responsible for this entire place, as well as the people she works with. Not to say she doesn't feel a sense of responsibility towards all her friends and even strangers, but it feels more official.

It's nothing like a festival, but she feels happy, anyway. ]

I'm happy to see smiling faces, and people inquire about tea, and talk about their lives. [ Which is really what she was hoping for in the first place! ] I hope I can make this a safe space for everyone.

I think you've done a wonderful job of things so far.

[ He's biased, of course he is, but even if he weren't the cozy environment and aesthetics of this tea house appeals a lot to him. He probably would have frequented here even if he hadn't known anyone in the shop. ]

What're you working on over here, rather than joining the others?

Oh, I was just taking down notes and jotting down some ideas.

[ For the future of this tea house, other things she can do... There really is quite a lot on her mind right now.

Ringo heads back to circle around Ayaka's legs for now, then rests at her feet. ]

I'm sorry, I should go back to everyone.

Please, take your time! I think we can manage out here for a while more. Besides, if you stop writing now, you may lose whatever ideas you've got now and that would be a shame.

[ He'll straighten back up, peeking back into the shop before returning his attention to his lady. ]

I am a bit curious about your future ideas though.

Alright. Thank you, Thoma.

[ It's not like she'll be here all the time on other days, either. She supposes leaving the rest to the other staff should be okay, even on the opening day.

Her fingers play with the edge of her notebook, her eyes on it as she wonders which ideas to share with Thoma first. ]

Well, the tea house must give the feeling of zen, but I also want it to have moments where there's life. I thought of having one day a week where we invite someone to host an activity.

Oh- like a musical act?

[ At least, that's the kind he's most familiar with in eating and drinking settings. It would certainly be an entertaining addition, at least. ]

Indeed. Musical acts, or perhaps other guests talking or performing their craft.

[ Poetry reading, for one, would be such a wonderful activity to have. Though she must wonder what else others would like to see in the future. ]

Do you have anything you would like to see, Thoma?

Live instruments would be nice... though I feel like it might have to be certain kinds of music otherwise it wouldn't fit the theme of your teahouse.

[ He can't imagine a rock concert happening in the teahouse... ]

It could also be nice to do collaborations with other shops nearby? Like holding a day for promoting local jams or sweets that would pair well with your tea blends.

No, most certainly not.

[ It is not like she's going to ask Arataki Itto to do rap battle contests here, either. If he were here, anyway. Ayaka would still have a final say as to who performs. ]

I think that's a very good idea. I think some of the locals would be happy with that, as well.

[ The old lady at the convenience store nearby is quite fond of her. She can start there. ]

And it'll open up doors for more permanent collaborations in the future.

[ Thoma hopes for this teahouse to be just as successful as Komore, and he'll certainly do his best to assist in that. He's even gotten advice from Taroumaru about how he could... or at least, he tried his best to. ]

[ He's still learning how to understand the good boy. ]

This sounds like it'll be a great idea overall.

Thank you for your suggestion, Thoma.

[ It's up there now in the ideas that will be implemented in the future! ]

Ah- have you had a break yet? Perhaps we should get something to eat.

Not yet, so a snack sounds really great right now.

And perhaps some tea for ourselves to enjoy as well?

What sort of tea would you like?

[ She will serve him! ]

How about a nice sencha?

[ He will absolutely make attempts at taking care of the snacks for her. ]

Is there any snack you're in the mood for?

Maybe some dango, then?

[ Sencha is honestly not difficult to prepare, but at least dango is also easy to procure. ]

I'll go get some, as well as the tea.

[ In fact, she will bow her head so she can go get both now!! Seeya later, Thoma. You snooze, you lose. ]

Oh-!

[ Wow how dare!! ]

[ But once the initial surprise at just how quick she moves is gone, he finds himself relaxing and laughing. ]

[ Truly, the lady is always full of surprises. He'll at least be a good guest and wait patiently then. ]

[ There's a good boy. Ringo stays with Thoma, at least, calling for his attention with a cheerful "Eevui!" Please play with him!!

As for Ayaka, she's in the kitchen to prepare some sencha. While it steeps, she fetches some dango and puts it on a plate, before bringing both on a tray back to Thoma. ]

I hope I did not keep you waiting long.

[ Every Kamisato has Thoma wrapped around their finger, and that includes their pokemon as well. At the little chirp, he crouches down to comply, taking out a little bouncy ball to play with Ringo with. What kind of animal lover would he be if he didn't have a toy on hand for playing with? ]

Not at all. Ringo's great company as well, aren't ya?

[ Ringo is very attached to those people Ayaka is attached to. He's very happy playing with the ball, rolling it around and trying to bring it to Thoma with his mouth but failing. In the end, he just rolls it back to him. ]

I'm glad Ringo kept you company.

[ She would give him pets if she could, but her hands are full. The tray is set down first, before Ayaka takes a seat. ]

[ The ball is taken with an encouraging ruffle of Ringo's head before the toy is tossed off again for him to fetch. ]

He's an expert at fetch already.

[ And because Thoma knows his manners, he'll be stepping away to wash his hands before taking his seat across from her. ]

Have you been teaching him anything?

It is my understanding that Pokémon are not just pets, but companions who are capable of combat.

I have been exposing Ringo to Taroumaru, so that he may learn some things.

[ The newest recruit to the Shuumatsuban! ]

[ Is Thoma about to get beat up by Ringo next- ]

Well if Taroumaru is involved, then he's about to become a truly skilled fighter.

[ Fighting animals is just the norm when you're from Inazuma. ]

Yes, I should hope so!

[ A ninja Eevee. That surely is something to see.

Now that Thoma is settled, she serves him some tea. The plate with snacks is placed in the middle. ]

You do not mind, do you?

Mind? Not at all. If anything, Taroumaru sets his own schedule and has his own keys to the house, so he comes and goes as he pleases.

[ We don't talk about the specifics of the key, but the important part is he has one. ]

I think he'd actually be pleased to have something to do again. He seemed like he was getting a little restless just staying at home all day.

Oh, then that's good! And since he is also managing the tea house, I am sure Taroumaru will have lots to do.

[ As busy as a dog can be, anyway. ]

I must make sure to always have treats here.

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