2022-08-05 Coffee, Tea, or Me?
Coffee, Tea, or Me?
Participants: Valislasia Bernadette Lulu
Location: Ethereali-Tea Tea Shop (Koreatown North)
Date and Time: August 05, 2022- 11:00 pm
Summary: A loud, then quiet love of tea and talking.
Mood Music: Shop mood music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEPBpaRfHZg
IC Date & Time: 2022-08-05, 11pm - Weekday closing time of the tea shop
Inside the tea shop, feels rustic and charming. Some walls are painted, some exposed-wood walls are stained, with everything looking cheerful and fresh. Near the front door is the cash register with a glass case full of fancy snack items items as well as a cold case to one side housing little bakery treats that pair well with tea, such as tartlets, tiny cheesecakes with fancy fruit toppings, and interesting fruit salad cups that look to have seasonings.
All around the walls close to the register are decorative display cases with pucks and bricks of tea, as well as gorgeous decorative teapots, cups, and tea canisters. Some tea sets look very elaborate and elegant. Art also decorates the walls, each piece coming with a plaque explaining the piece and artist, and some have price tags showing you can buy them. Their style and themes vary but all seem fitting for the little ethereal shop.
There's a particularly cozy nook that is the main bay window that juts outwardly deeply and seems to form a glass-enclosed floating room from the outside. The seating there looks plush and comfy and the table space is ample. Other quiet nooks tuck here and there inside the small shop, and to one side wall is a fake-but-still-very realistic fireplace. When on, flames flicker on a screen and ceramic logs get lit with an orange, fiery glow, along with crackling sound effects and a hot air blower that sends out comforting warm air to the plush chairs set near it.
The entire shop has a warm, cozy, and inviting feeling, and despite its wooden, quaint feel, wall plugs dot all around so you can charge phones and laptops, and the shop provides its own free WiFi, inviting you to grab a warm cup of tea, a snack, and stay awhile. This place is meant to be a heavenly haven against the banal world outside.
You can't help notice the young man you're now looking at. He's on the short side for men just 5'7", but he carries himself like he doesn't notice or care. He is also very thin but not alarmingly so, and he walks with a charming, easy grace. His voice is warm and mellow, with a deeply soothing quality to it and a fairly neutral accent. He is alarmingly pale with ruddy cheeks and nose tip, almost as if he has a permanent cold. He doesn't look well but he seems to manage his illness, whatever it is, well enough. His hair is an unnatural, almost iridescent white. The style is poofy on top and from the ears down, it hangs long and straight to his hips. Two locks of hair hang either side of his face to his chest, tied up in poofs near the end, with silver jewelled hair cuffs over the ties. Just by looking at him, it's clear he's Asian. Astute people would guess he's Korean. His eyes are an unusual lovely blue/lavender shade. He bears a soft, angular face with smooth skin and white eyebrows and lashes matching his hair. He wears eyeliner to accentuate his otherwise too pale eyes. His lips are full and soft with a pale, slightly bluish tinge to their pinkness. He has on a medium grey drapey, light, asymmetrical sweater that swags in folds from his neck, showing a white undershirt beneath. He has on interesting pants, the material twice the width and folded in to clasp at the front, tapering down to his ankles. It's made of a textured medium cool grey material. His feet have on midnight blue medium tall knitted boots with wooden buttons. They're pulled up over any pants legs he may have on. A silk scarf in a placid blue hue wends its way around his slender neck, held in place by a silver bejewelled scarf slide. His ears are pierced with little aquamarine cabochon studs in silver settings. There's a necklace he wears under his clothes that he keeps close to his chest.
He looks to be in a bright and happy mood, a bounce to his step.
Sharp pale, sea green eyes outlined in dark eyeliner are cradled with long, dark lashes beneath delicately arched brows; these are her most striking features and give her a rather intense gaze. Her dark hair is short and almost featherlike with the whisps that touch her delicate face and neck, giving her a pixie-like look except with a darker and sharper edge. With firm lips that have a light gloss applied, she has swiftly changing expressions most of the time, flitting from one emotion to another without pause.
Appearing to be in her early twenties or late teens, the girl is rather tiny, standing at a mere 5'2". This also helps with the pixie-like look except for the fact that she also appears to be quite trim and athletic, giving her a lithe body that often moves with purpose.
Currently, she wears comfortable clothing that is slightly loose and practical. Dark cargo pants with big pockets are paired with a dark t-shirt covered with a well-worn and used hoodie that has some band name written vertically along the zipper in dark blue. Around her neck, she wears a black leather cord with a silver sparkling knife hanging from it. Also, around her wrists are bands and bands of dark braided cords, looks like survival wear. On her right wrist includes a rather sparkly charm bracelet with silver charms and little dangling jewels that glitter and sparkle if the light catches it.
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
It would seem Valis forgot to lock the front door after the last customer left. The lights were still on but no one but him was inside. His serving apron was off, tossed across the serving counter, and he had a spray bottle in one hand and rag in another, with a second rag flapped over on shoulder.
The music of the shop was always some type of hip Bossa Nova beat when open but this time was different. Harry Belafonte's "Jump In the Line" was playing and Valis seemed to be getting his Groove Thang on. He danced like a chicken on crack cocaine, wiggling his butt to the beat as he sprayed a table and wipe-wipe-wiped (Senora!) it down then used the shoulder cloth to dry. He was singing along but the music was loud enough that it was only Mr. Belafonte's voice that could be heard. As soon as he finished wiping down one table and drying it off, he mojo'ed to the next one, moving his body like it was in a one-man conga line to cha-cha over and begin the whole wipe'n'wiggle dance all over again. He had zero, zip, nada, -zilch- idea that anyone could be watching him, regardless of who it was, and the direction he faced kept him blissfully unaware, to the no doubt amusement of whomever might discover the front door was unlocked and would peer in for the Free Show.
( 🎵 Song - "Jump in the Line": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFRbm1zuXA4 )
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Not realizing that it's already closing time, and just not realizing the late time in itself, Lulu enters the shop with a smile. She pauses at the music and then does a doubletake at Valis dancing the conga. Grinning, she'll close the door behind her and step further in side, bobbing her head to the side to the music. It is a catchy song after all. Either she's being polite and waiting for him to notice her, or she's just waiting because she doesn't want to interrupt this fun shimmy and dance. It is fun, and well, cute. As usual, she has a backpack on, but her hands are free and she'll clap along with the music, clearly egging him on more.
________ [ Bernadette ] ________________________
Bernadette on the other hand simply is. She doesn't expect the store to be closed as well, this is Korea Town, half of it runs on Seoul Time, it is, on the whole, made up of 'Koreans who still think they are living in Korea', and the ties both cultural and business are strong. So you know, late night tea shop isn't unusual. Maybe the dancing might be considered odd, but well she also knows Duck. Duck being one of the two similarly dressed to her young Korean men currently outside.
This simply leaves a rather blank faced young blonde woman dressed in white motorcycle leathers with red piping and a korean gang patch in the entrance. Just tilting her head softly at everything and trying to determing what exactly is in existance at this very moment.
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
Valislasia reared back, shaking or waving the bottle and hand rag about as he shimmied his shoulders and sang loudly, "Shake! Shake! Shake Senora! Shake your body line!" He then leaned forward to shimmy his shoulders the same way, waving the bottle and rag around. "Work! Work! Work Senora! Work it all de time!" He moved over to the long table inside his glass "atrium" as he called the extended open concept window box and continued wiping, dancing, and singing loud enough to be heard. His voice was good and he even tried to use some of Mr. Belafonte's patois respectfully. "Dance! Dance! Dance Senora! Dance it all de time! Work! Work! Work Senora! Work it all de time!" After wiping the long table and its chairs down, he came towards the end of the song. "Jump in de line! Rock your body in time! OK! I believe you! Jump in de line! Rock your body in time! Somebody help me!"
He continued the song right to the end as he finished wiping every surface he believed needed to be cleaned in a busy Tea shop, and as he came to the last line, he did a jump-turn, arms and legs spread out eagle like an "X" as he sang out, "Work! Work! Work Senora!" as the last line, posing like he had finished his dance on America's Got (No) Talent! It was then that he saw two pretty ladies and he stared, eyes any wider and they'd fall out of his head. His face went beet red and he dared not move, still stuck in his hilarious finishing "X" spread. "Oh gawd!" he thought to himself. "I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm..." just echoed in his mind over and over and over again.
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Noticing another lady coming in after her, Lulu glances over at Bernadette and grins. She then looks back to Valis and enjoys the show. When he's done, she will clap for him and grin brightly, "I didn't know teatime came with a show too. That was really fun." Her tone is cheerful and she gives a giggle as she speaks, but it's clear by her tone she's actually being honest. There is no negative vibes coming from her, she isn't trying to insult or embarrass or patronize him. She was entertained and thus is clapping. "So do we get tea now?", she'll ask then with a wink.
________ [ Bernadette ] ________________________
Bernadette on the other hand just seems to treat this as if it was perfectly well normal. Ah yes, the strange man is dancing, that is what he does, and now the dancing is over. Perhaps simply because she interupted it. She does however bow as the man comes to a stop, the local greeting before she blinks, voice coming out softand a bit to airy. "Forgive me for the intrusion, I did not mean to interupt."
Her slightly to large eyes then move to Lulu, nodding again, respectfully, before she takes her in a moment longer. "Greetings."
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
Valislasia realizes it's pointless to wait for the floor to open up and swallow him. He'd likely give the floor a toothache from his saccharine dancing anyway. He dropped his arms, setting his bottle and rag to one side, and tried to give a suave wink. He then devolved into his own giggles along with Lulu and replied to both women, "Dinner and a show! This guy aims to please!" he then took a bow a couple of times as if there was an auditorium full of cheering people throwing him flowers, teddy bears, underwear(?!) before rising up to stand very, very, -very- shyly, cheeks absolutely -aflame-. "But seriously, I haven't turned anything off so tea and desserts, my treat." he sincerely offered to both of them, waiting to see how they reacted.
( 🖼 Valis' wink and giggle action: https://media.giphy.com/media/yTSYgMB7uvSbS/giphy.gif )
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Lulu smiles brightly and giggles, "Well, then that's a total win for me. Will you dance again while we drink our tea, because I have extra money!" This, of course, is teasing, and probably not appropriate, but she's having fun. She'll step forward then and ask, "Can we sit anywhere?" Already she is sliding out of her backpack, getting ready to get comfortable with a good tea. "And we get dessert too? that's really kind of you... especially since it's the end of the day, is there anything left?", she'll ask curiously.
________ [ Bernadette ] ________________________
Bernadette tilts her head again, to the other side, and softly there is a small nod, along with a polite smile. "Tea is fine, thank you. I was hoping to purchase a brick." She apparently brushes over the prospect of taking anything for free with this, though she doesn't seem to have any ill feelings for Lulu taking up the offer. Looking over to the other woman for a moment before she takes a few more steps inwards, casting her gaze about the room.
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
Valislasia grins and calls out, "Wait-wait-wait. Gotta do this right." He then grabs his apron and quickly chucks it on, securing it, then begins to hum-sing that famous song everyone thinks of when thinking of the classic classy stripper. "Daaah-duh daaaah! Duh-daaah-duh daaaah! Daaah-duh daaaah! Duh-dah duh-dah duh-daaah-duh!" As he does so, he slowly starts to unbuckle the shoulder clasp of one side of his apron, flinging it in a sexy flip so that it dangles across his chest, causing the front flap to flip and hang, only held up by the other shoulder strap still being buckled. He then slowly unbuckles that one to the song and the entire top flap flops down to his middle where the waist-belted portion stays on, leaving him to look like he was now wearing an improvised leather skirt.
He clasped his hands behind his head and at the drumb beats, he shook his hip left to one beat, then right to one beat, and as the song finished out, he undid the tie at the back of the apron to take the whole thing off and he flung it back across his serving counter, standing fully clothed but acting as if he were gloriously and proudly naked, grinning with feigned confidence of his little Free Show, arms now moving to pose to make muscles that clearly weren't there and -never would be.- His grin was cheesy as hell but he genuinely seemed to be having a good time just being silly and hoped his unintended companions took it purely for the silliness it was meant to be and at no offense to themselves.
(Song - "The Stripper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2CWfSLyjx8)
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Lulu takes a seat as Valis looks for the apron and sets her backpack on the floor. She'll grin as she watches him and then laughs as she says, "My good sir, I do believe you're in the wrong line of work. Does K-town have an escort service?" Totally amused, she'll glance at Bernadette, watching to see what kind of reaction she will have. After just a second though, she'll bring her seagreen eyes back to Valis and then reach into her pocket for some money, they're crumpled up so she has to straighten them out before she waves them towards Valis. "here you go!! your tip!"
________ [ Bernadette ] ________________________
Bernadette is pretty blank, but then again she seems to just perhaps be reserved in general. There is an owlish blink, and a moments hesitation before softly she nods her head once more. "You are quite good, but you have already sold the product." She pauses there for a moment, perhaps an expression of amusement. "I do not think me or the other young lady will be turned away in the near future."
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
Valislasia smirks at Bernadette and says, "A-HA! Here is where you have -met your match!- And -yes- you may buy a tea brick, the depending on what sort of tea you want, it could be a ball, a disc, a flower form, they're all pretty individual." He then asks her, "Would you like a tea brewed to drink or just the brick?" He then turns to Lulu and the smile he has for her is especially warm and charming. "And do you have any specific tea or dessert in mind or may I surprise you?" He awaits the ladies' answers as he takes his serving apron and begins to fold it neatly and tuck it away behind his counter. He's panting a little, seeming a bit tuckered, physically, but he's alert and bright emotionally. His frailness seems to stand out here as it seemed his own antics wore him out a bit.
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
The waving of the money slows and then Lulu just sets it on the table with a smile. "Me? I would love to be surprised. I want to try all the teas, I have found a love for teas I didn't know I had. I've always hated coffee, but tea, tea is wonderful." She'll look around and then back to Valis, her head tilting slightly, "You're ok right? I know it's late, should I leave? I can come back tomorrow you know." Then to Bernadette she'll ask curiously, "What kind of brick of tea did you want? What's your favorite?"
________ [ Bernadette ] ________________________
"Hwangcha, please." Bernadette notes softly, easily saying out the korean word for the half fermented tea type. Her eyes however then look to Lulu, blinking. "I mainly stick to Barley."
OOC: It's at this point that everyone had to log off. The next day, only Lulu was present so we assumed Bernadette purchased her brick of tea, gave a goodbye, and left, while Lulu stayed behind to talk more with Valislasia and accept his offer of tea and dessert.
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
Valislasia leaned on the serving counter catching his breath. He shook his head, his cute little puff pigtails swinging. "It's alright. I'll be fine in a moment. Now... about that offered tea and dessert." He used his intro there as a reason to go behind the counter and begin preparing things. "This is a tea meant to promote restful sleep. It's warm not just because it's a hot tea, but it has a warmth to the flavour, and there's no caffeine in it, plus herbs that promote restfulness. I'm no doctor and I'm not a wacko who doesn't believe in science, but there's a good bit of science in teas in some ways."
It didn't take long to assemble the serving tray of goods. He then added, "I know we're in Korea town but honestly, you're as Korean as I am, which is to say I'm an eclectic guy who likes to learn from -every- culture willing to teach me, and this dessert is something -magical- out of -China-, from the region of Guangxi Province. It's like -nothing- you've ever tasted!" He then added with a grin and wink, "It makes the snozberries taste like snozberries!" referencing the wonderful old movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder. Valis comes out from behind the serving counter with a tray with clear glass teapot, small clear glass teacup, a tiny snack in a white dish, a glass bowl with a white 'pill', and what looks like a fruit salad in a bowl, only the fruit seems thoroughly dusted and mixed with... seasonings?
(Tray Pic: https://liberationmush.site/liberationwiki/images/thumb/c/c6/TeaTray.png/1200px-TeaTray.png)
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Comfortably sitting now, Lulu had slid her backpack under her chair to keep it out of the way. She'll cross her legs beneath the table and lean forward to watch, propping her elbow on the table and perching her chin on her hand as her bright seagreen eyes stare with interest. "Oh, I can't wait to try it. I totally believe in asian medicine by the way. Herbs DO things... and it's not just asians that use herbs to heal." She'll grin and looks curiously at the tray when he finally brings it around, "Oh, the dessert sounds delicious, can't wait to try it!" Grinning, she'll sit up straight again and back, putting her hands in her lap as she waits properly for the tray. "Where'd you learn all about these teas?", she asks curiously as she waits.
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
Valislasia took the teapot and splashed a bit of tea onto the thick white pill. The pill blossomed suddenly into a now fragrant and delightfully warm damp hand towel for cleaning your hands. He set the tea back down on the tealight warmer after pouring her cup for her. He then shyly asked, "Is it ok if I sit to join you?" He answered her question as he waited for her permission. He seemed terribly concerned about permission, consent, personal space, everything to do with personal respect of others.It seemed to be more than just politeness and in fact was a deeply held personal code to care about the consent and feelings of others.
"I had a great mentor long ago. I was lost, adrift in my life, and someone took me in, emotionally speaking, and he had a love of tea and many friends from the tea community, as it were, and through my brotherly love of him, I learned how wonderful and comforting tea could be, and how it could bring people together in warmth and companionship in a way that was more meaningful than just getting plastered in a pub could do. Tea has seen me through a lot of dark times and has been my constant companion to walk me through to the light."
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Watching with fascination as the pill blossoms into a hand towel, Lulu's smile brightens. She'll reach for the towel and use it and then lift her gaze to him after he asks her the question and she blinks, just once. "Of course! Please do join me! I was hoping you would, it's really boring to enjoy these things alone you know.. I was afraid to ask since you're the owner." Setting the hand towel down gently to the side, Lulu reaches for the teacup then and takes a tentative sip and then a larger sip. "Mmm, this is really good..", she comments. Her eyes were looking down as she listens, but then they lift to look at him again and she'll smile warmly, "That's a really lovely story. It's so great to have such a mentor like that."
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
The fruit salad bowl has a bamboo pick stuck into a cube of cantaloupe melon. There were cubes of cantaloupe, cubes of honeydew, blackberry clusters, blueberries, and strawberry slices; all delicate soft fruits, and the seasoning seemed both brown sprinkles and reddish sprinkles mixed thoroughly throughout but not too heavy. "Thank you." Valis said sweetly, seeming genuinely appreciative of the incite to sit. He took a chair opposite Lulu and nestled himself, clasping his hands in his lap.
"I know not everyone has safety in their lives or their hearts so that's what I want this shop to be; a safe space where anyone of any status or stature can escape stress and find a quiet cup of tea and a comforting dessert to help them feel cared about and comforted. Maybe it's silly, but I want this place to feel like a warm and welcome hug you can have any time we're open." He positively glowed when he spoke of his Tea shop. He then suddenly stammered, "Oh yes! Each tea serving comes with a card explaining what the tea is, where it's from, its flavour notes, and any healthful properties. It's ok to keep the cards, too, either as a record of which ones you've tried or as a way to remember favourites so you can find them again, or even as just a souvenir of your time spent here." True enough was a business card stand with a neatly printed card of the tea currently on the tray.
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Smiling as she puts the teacup down, Lulu reaches for the little bamboo pick and takes the piece of fruit it's already got and takes a bite. She hmms and gets another piece, a strawberry, to try that one. Lifting her seagreen eyes to linger on Valis as he sits, she'll say softly after putting the pick down, "You know, that's really, really nice. I know I could certainly use a place like this. Especially lately when life seems so.... fleeting." Her eyes lower when she says that, and she immediately reaches for the tea to take another sip. The mention of the card causes her to reach out a hand to take the card and look at it curiously while she's sipping. "Mmm, this is a good idea. I will collect them!" Smiling softly as she puts the tea down again and reaches for the pick to get more fruit, she asks, "Are you getting lots of customers? I hope so, this is a great shop."
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
Valislasia blushes with sincerity, not one to puff up at compliments but to appreciate them as they were intended. "I'm run off my feet as the only person behind the counter but honestly, it's been good. I love seeing students study here. To think the quiet of my shop could be contributing to their future success makes me secretly proud. I like to think I'm figuratively giving every customer a hi-5 of support with the gentle atmosphere and the warm comestibles. As long as they remember to buy a little something now and then. I can't host people for free -all day!-" He chuckled, his laughter warm like a gentle breeze through sunlit leaves on trees. "What do you think of everything? I'm always looking to make the best of the shop so I'm always open to sincere feedback."
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Lulu watches Valis with a warm smile, looking much more relaxed than when she initially came in. "I think you're doing an awesome job. Seriously." Looking around then slowly, she'll turn back to the fruit to stab another piece and pop it in her mouth. After chewing, she'll say seriously, "I think it's absolutely perfect actually. The only thing you need now, is HELP. You need more staff so you won't be run ragged." Grinning at him, she'll point his stick in his direction, "And then you'll have more time to come up with more wonderfully creative snacks and tea combinations."
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
Valislasia laughed openly and nodded, his pigtails swinging. He was a bit eccentric in his style, as if embodying magic, itself, to combat the mundanity of the world. "I really should. I'm just very picky, as well I sell some -very expensive- tea goods. Handmade cups and containers using ancient glazing techniques, and rare teas from remote mountain regions. I feel passionate about the artistry of tea and want someone who feels similar as my partner in crime, as it were."
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Finishing her tea, Lulu smiles at Valis, "Your passion will rub off on others you know. It's contagious. Passion." She'll pop the last of the fruit in her mouth too and, while looking very satisfied, says, "Wow you really get handmade cups and containers, that's really cool. I also particularly love the little card explanations, that's even better." Pausing, she'll look thoughtful and then reaches into her pocket and pulls out a business card. "Here, this is me. I'm Lulu (the card says Louise Gravingston - CEO - Sentinel Security Systems). If you ever need help with anything, gimme a call. Or email if you want." With that, she'll begin to rise. "I gotta jet, I have work early, and a long ass meeting." She does not sound excited about that. Grabbing her backpack, she'll sling it over her shoulder and smile at Valis, "I really enjoyed the tea and treat. Thank you, I will be back, I want to order a phoenix tea set and some varieties of tea."
________ [ Valislasia ] __________________________
Valislasia rose and gave a sincere bow, then stood straight as he took the card. "Let me walk you out. It's was an utter pleasure having you and I hope to see you as often as you wish. There'll always be a place for you in my shop, my dear, and please be safe on your way home. Come by any time I can be of kindness or service to you," He walked Lulu over to the front door and held it open for her politely, smiling as if his entire days was made just in this evening's chance meet with Lulu.
________ [ Lulu ] _____________________________________
Looking surprised as he walks her to the door, Lulu smiles even more. This is clearly something she's not used to, this hospitality. She'll nod and then step out as she says, "I look forward to coming to your store again. Thank you...." With that, she'll head out, moving more quickly once outside. The dark is a threat, and so she goes quick.
{ END }
