[The Dragon Clan Complex] Yes, Mother dear? [Private/Gossamer]

[Ayameko Gicha]

Third Brightening in the third cycle of Melora, season of Winter, Era I of the Celestial Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum

Ayameko walked into a plain room in the Dragon Clan complex, it was far from lavishly decorated, there was no need, it was a room that was hardly used. But it was functional, it had a table with a few chairs around it, all elegantly carved from fine wood. Ayameko was alone in the room but she was there on her mother's request, she had something to ask of Ayameko, or have her do, or some small complaint to make. Who knows what it could be, her mother often requested her presence and usually it was to make sure her exterior was well groomed and she was keeping up with her studies.

So Ayameko had dressed accordingly, she worn her pink, cotton kimono, it wasn't as fancy or as nice as a silk kimono but it was the best she owned. It was a pink kinomo with a red obi which was embroidered in a silver thread. Over all it was very plain but it was the fanciest she cold afford, and she made the best of it, the know on the obi was ornate, intricate, and very aesthetically pleasing. Her hair was up in the fashionable style using three lacquered wood hairpins. Overall she looked quite pretty and dainty. Ayameko tried very hard to please her mother because she knew her mother worked hard to give Ayameko the best she could get.

So she walked across the room and sat in one of the chairs at the table, waiting patiently for her mother. While she waited she pulled out her fan from her obi, it had been a gift from her mother, who had received it from her mother and so on. But for being so old it was in very good condition, the handle and case was encrusted in jewels, nothing huge but enough for it to catch the light and sparkle. But prettier than the jewels was the painting on the fan itself, a picture of cranes on a beach with mountains in the background. The scene was commonplace but the colors were so vivid, and the details so carefully and meticulously done that it was breathe taking. So Ayameko sat their admiring this gift while she waited for her mother, and from her mother the news, request, or whatever she wanted to say.

[Gossamer]

Shizuko Gicha, for all that she was the third wife of Haido Gicha, slipped into the room with mincing precise steps and carrying with her a light floral scent of lotus. Everything about Shizuko was immaculate, from her perfectly up swept and coiffed hair to her deep bronze kimono with its black obi and elegant embroidery. Even her face was pristine, elegantly powdered and painted. There was an air of indulged patience to her as she studied her daughter. Her lips curved down, not a good sign in Aya's experience. "My daughter. I've done my best to train you right. How many times have I told you not to use black enamel hairsticks with abalone hairsticks? You must always be at balance and harmony. Pearl and black enamel only. Do I make myself clear?" She said in that sweet acid voice. Shizuko wasn't a bad mother or overly demanding, she just strove her best to teach her daughter how to climb society, which was indeed one of the reasons she was so hard on her. The woman minced over to Aya, stroked her perfectly coiffed hair, and pulled out the offending stick. Black ebon locks tumbled down her back, destroying the aura of perfection.

"Do it again." A pearl hairstick was proffered, in exchange for the blue abalone one, which had indeed looked lovely with Aya's obi. But Shiziuko had her reasons, and they were a very strict list that were unwaivering. "Someday, you will oversee your daughters and sons, making sure their appearence reflects well upon you." Shizuko waited, not offering Aya a mirror, and would remain stoic for hours until the hair was perfect. As the task was completed, a tea service was set up on a long low wooden table, and once the task was fully completed, Shizuko gave careful instructions.

"There will be two men here in a moment. One is your father, another is his guest. You will serve tea. You will do so with impeccable manners and not comment upon what you might overhear. You will show me honor in this and indeed honor your house." Her mother advised, this having been one of her longest speeches ever.

The formal tea was all laid out and a servant was sent. Moments later two men filed in. One, Aya recognized as her father, though she rarely saw him. Haido Gichi offered not a single smile for his daughter. To him, the whole purpose of today was a business deal, and if she didn't preform, then there'd be a cost later, though the girl didn't understand that at the time. Her whole training was laid out in Shizuko's hand. If the daughter didn't meet expectations, then the mother was ill equipped to be such and would be indeed cast out. Shizuko's honor depending upon Aya's actions and how well she carried herself, though the girl perhaps wouldn't understand this.

The second man was someone Aya recognized as well. It was a bit startling to see him here. Lord Ansai Adsa was a prominent figure in Zinn'Sunnese culture. He was in fact a coal importer and one of the key figures surrounding Clan Gryphon's business dealings. He took his seat opposite of Aya's father and they continued their polite converstation ignoring the women. Shizuko gave Aya one more stern glance, and left the room so that Aya could handle the situation and serve tea. Both men waited, expectantly, though their converstation flowed. It seemed they were discussing Ansai Adsa's son Kasumi.

[Ayameko Gicha]

Ayameko looked up at her mother expectantly as she walked into the room with her perfect, mincing steps and glowing in her immaculate and well-manicured beauty. Ayameko was excited, her mother was always well dressed, always, but today she was exceptionally dressed, which meant something exciting was going to happen. But the excitement faded quickly as her mother's mouth drooped and she scolded her for wearing abalone hairsticks withe black enamel hairsticks. Ayameko sincerely did not remember a time her mother said this was not allowed or criticized her for doing it, and honestly Ayameko thought it went well with the obi she was wearing. But of course Ayameko did not cross her mother or disagree with her, especially when she was like this. But what was she like... Ayameko had never seen her mother act like this before. It seemed like she was tense... or even nervous.

Shizuko then came over and pulled out the apprently incorrect and offensive abalone hairstick and gave her a new pearl one. It took Ayameko a bit to fix her hair with it, and definitely longer than it normally would have taken because she had no mirror to do it. But needless to say, Ayameko was not one to give up no matter the odds against her, not that fixing your hair really stacked the odds against her. And after she had finished fiddling she looked up at her mother who inspected her and then carried on, a sign that her hair now had her approval.

Ayameko did not speak as she got her orders from her mother, there was no time to interject and barely anytime for her to think about what her mom was saying. Ayameko was to entertain two men, her father and a guest... but who? All Ayameko could do was nod and bow to her mother, who left the room and let a servant bring in all the supplies for her to properly prepare tea: whisks, bowls, cups, green tea powder, everything she needed.

The servant was then sent to retrieve her father and the guest, and she was at the end of the table facing the door and bowed, and remained in the deep, respectful bow until both men had entered and had been seated. From her bow she saw the two men, one her father, practically a stranger to her, he had never been close or affectionate to her, though how he really felt about her she had no idea. Regardless she did not want to embarrass him or her mother or her family. The other man she recognized too. Ansai Adsa! Her mind reeled in shock, though she did not flinch or move from her deep bow as she de-thawed her mind from the shock of seeing Lord Adsa. She wondered why he was here, but his presence only made her more determined to prover herself, to her mother, to her father, and prove the worth of the Gicha women, a glint of determination shined in her eyes.

When they were properly seated she started working on the tea, moving through the rituals of the tea ceremonies, and the first of which was to serve the guest. So she worked on making the perfect cup of tea. Wiping down all the utensils, carefully adding the water, and bringing it to a boil. Then she added the green tea powder and whipped it to a frothy, green tea with a rich aroma, an excellent cup of green tea, at least to her standards. She then poured it into the a beautiful teapot, the glazes were wonderfully and masterfully done, truly a piece to be admired, the cups were matching and of equal excellence.

Ayameko walked over to Lord Adsa, and knelt down beside him, careful not to brush against him or make eye contact, but she held herself erect and carefully poured him tea with out spilling a drop. After he took the first sip did she stand and move next to her father and repeat the same process. While she was pouring tea she heard them talk about and mention Lord Ansai's son, Kasumi. She tried not to listen, but realizing this was impossible, she chose to listen but just not react. After finishing serving the tea according to standards she moved back to the end of the table to clean the supplies in preparation for another round of tea. And while her eyes and hands were focused on her activities, her ears listened carefully everything said between the two men, her downcast eyes glinting with curiosity. She waited for any hint that either of the two men needed anything, hoping she was not disgracing her mother or anyone else in the family.

OoC: I was going to do the traditional tea ceremony, but that is where the tea is served to one individual at a time and no conversation, so I figured that this was better, the way I modified it, still based off it, I hope that it is okay.