Something's Brewing (Jasmine Individual Training)

Aeris checked the phone she had hidden up her sleeve for the time. Jasmine had six more minutes before she was late. Just as she was starting to think about how she would apologize to the proprietress, she caught the Blonde Lioness walking up from the side. SHe was dressed in what was essentially normal street clothes. She sighed behind the paper fan and turned towards her charge. Without saying anything she looked into the garden and walked in. Bamboo towered over them by at least five times their height. While it was serene and quiet after the gate, it had a towering presence that usually only came from walking in major down towns. For Aeris, she felt like this everyday when she used her quirk so it was nothing new to her. 

The gravel pathway had large stones in the center for ease of stepping for those in less than flat foot wear. "I invited you here for some tea and to talk." Her pace slowed a little so she was walking next to the boom baby as they would spend a couple minutes before reaching there destination. Even the sounds of the city were gone once they had stepped inside the garden. "For starters, I want to say, as a citizen of love, I am proud of what you did at the cafe. My only critique would be in How you did it. Which is what our training is for today." 

There were students in her class that hadn't even bothered with individual lessons yet and this was Jasmine's second private clas. The first one with Rin was something else. So she had no doubts that the Lioness could ace this. She only had doubts that the Fire Knuckle would not try this lesson. She just hoped she wasn't losing ehr most powerful student so soon. 

Aeris just gave the lioness a little laugh as they turned the corner. Up ahead, easily in view was a small traditional Japanese Tea House. The door were slid open at the guest entrance. "We are having to do this this early so we are not hindering business. Madame Tachibana is doing us a great favor so be on your absolute best behavior. Just follow my lead for now." Aeris set the fan down along her body as they approached the tatami mat that made up the entrance step. She made a noticeable pointing motion to her feet, just before stepping out of her geta and onto the step.

From the entrance they could get a good look inside, but Aeris didn't make a move past the two meter by 1 meter mat she stepped up on. Her left hand gave a small motion indicating where Jasmine should be. The room consisted of Bamboo framed paper walls. A roof that was over a millenium old, though it didn't look like it was there for even a snow fall. At the right end of their mat, another equal sized mat ran perpendicular where it met another mat that turned left again to meet a fourth mat which came right to them. The center had a half mat with a stone heart in the corner across from the. To their left was a small doorway. Set in a small room to the right on the furthest wall area, a hanging scroll could be seen with just the Japanese word for Training. there was much she could say, but Aeris was making a point that now they had to be silent. For now. 

When Jasmine spoke up, Aeris slowly turned her head, eyes looking like she was about to murder the young lioness, but they were instantly softened at the sound of wood sliding against wood. From the smaller door on the side, an older woman slid in, kneeling on the ground and bringing a tray with her. On the tray was a kettle, a couple small cups, one large cup, a small plate of sweets, and a wooden box. The woman bowed her head to the two. Aeris bowed back and then softly walked to the left, kneeling down next to a small table. The second table seemed reserved for Jasmine. 

The older woman was the Tachibana she mentioned earlier. Her yukata was simple, but it seemed to fit in well with the surroundings. She went about setting the kettle on the stone oven in the center area, letting the water already inside begin to boil. The cups were set out as was the plate of sweets. It was placed on Aeris's table, though it was close enough for Jasmine to easily reach. A small spoon seemingly made of bamboo was taken from the box and Tachibana placed a small bit of green poweder in the smaller cups. While the large cup was about fifty percent larger, three times the powder was placed in it. 

After just a few minutes, steam began to waft silently from the kettle. It should have made a noise. In fact, nothing was making a noise around them. Aeris just nodded to Jasmine as she took one of the tri-orb sticks and ate the first of the three. The other skewer seemingly pushed a bit to the side for Jasmine to take. While they would get to enjoy said treats, the water was poured into the cups. The older woman than slid closer to the two, placing a small cup on Aeris's table, and then the other one on Jasmine's. The Fairy incarnate lifted hers up. Blew across the twice slowly twice before drinking it. It had a very light weak flavor. Just refreshing enough to quench a thirst and relax someone. After setting down the cup, she ate the second of the cake like orbs, smiling a bit uncontrollably. The sweetness was off the charts on this bite.

Next came the larger cup. There was only one and it was placed on Aeris's table. The water in it didn't go as high up as the smaller cups, giving quite a bit of lip to hold onto since none of the cups had handles of any sort. Aeris took a drink from it. The flavor was much more intense and hit ever flavor sensor on the way back. Her shoulders visibly slumped as she took the cup back from her lips. She set the cup on Jasmine's table and turned it halfway around so that she would have a clean area to drink from. Afterwards, she ate the last of the sweets and almost had a triumphant look on her face, though her body was motionless and still polite.