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 Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:40 pm
Finally finished cleaning up after this lunchtime's customers, Setsushi collapses into a chair at one of the outside tables, shaking out his long hair so that his scalp can enjoy the relatively comfortable feeling of not being tugged on by his work bun. He takes a deep breath of the wet air -- the rain has just stopped, leaving the sky gray and the yard a little muddy, but the taste of the air is perfectly suited to Setsushi's tastes.
... And now, to finally find out if this plum wine is as well, he resolves, reaching for the bottle again. sweatdrop
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:59 pm
As he has already been to the house once, Akram has little trouble finding his way to Setsushi's restaurant a second time. He was dressed in Gaian-style clothing for a change, down to his sneakers... though the merchant prince wished he had opted for his boots instead, as he had tread in enough puddles on the way here to make his feet damp. Though it was no longer raining, Akram's umbrella was open and resting on his shoulder, and he carried a small bag in the other hand.
"Hello," Akram called out in greeting when he came close, pleased to see that the master of the establishment was again outside.
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:07 pm
Caught once again in the act of sniffing the lip of the bottle suspiciously, Setsushi blushes deeply, re-seals the drink, and places it down on the table away from him.
"Master Akram?" he greets him, doing his best to send out a courteous and welcoming greeting. "It is a great pity, but the restaurant has just closed," he says, while simultaneously, almost contradictorily, wondering if he can provide anything to make the visitor feel comfortable?
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:16 pm
The man switches the bag to carry it in the other hand, and fumbles his umbrella closed, keeping his distance from the table as he does so to avoid showering the Porcelain with water droplets by mistake.
"Do you have time just to talk a little now?" he inquired with a somewhat reserved but friendly smile. Akram took another few steps closer to the table and stopped but did not yet sit down. Then he glanced down at the bottle the Porcelain had been holding before and back at Setsushi, a more genuine grin tugging at one corner of his mouth.
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:19 pm
"Talk?" Though Setsushi conceals whatever emotions he may be having, surprise is audible in his voice. "Upon what subject?" He pauses a moment, then inquires, "Does Dame Chourou require anything?" Whether or not that is Akram's desired topic, Setsushi now does emit a feeling of welcome and willingness.
... ... And is carefully not putting any emphasis or attention on that bottle, nope.
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:43 pm
"Dame Chourou and her family have been doing alright, so far as I can tell," he informs the Knight... then winces a little. "I think our noisy neighbors in the apartment have been disturbing my room more than hers, at least. But in terms of our arrangements for housing and such, I think everything has been working out quite well."
Akram then takes two other bottles out of his bag, setting them beside the one Setsushi had been examining. One is a small dark brown glass one apparently full of chocolate liqueur, and the other is slightly larger, clear glass, and filled with a golden-brown liquor; the latter is labeled in elegant script for some foreign language that is written vertically. "More gifts for you, as this is the second time I have visited without bringing my patronage to your establishment. I recall you said you liked the drinks where you cannot taste the alcohol so much? I hope the chocolate is not too sweet for you.
"And the other," he adds, resting his hand momentarily on top of the larger clear bottle, "Is from my father's cellars, but I do not know if it will be too strong for you?" Akram realizes he has completely forgotten once again to ask Dame Chourou or her husband about what sort of alcohol Porcelain generally like.
"If I may join you for a bit?" the merchant then asks, gesturing towards one of the damp chairs. "I wanted to discuss the possibility of a business arrangement."
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:23 pm
Setsushi expresses gladness that Dame Chourou is doing well. He is grateful to Master Akram for his generosity in providing for her; to add more gifts on top of the debt Setsushi already owes him is ... is... is... ... ...
Setsushi loses his trail of thoughts as he stares at the two bottles, then slowly looks back to the plum wine -- of which a drop has not yet been consumed, and once again, his cheeks turn a little red.
"I am grateful," he says after the pause, his words accompanied by a feeling of sincere gratitude but also timidness -- Setsushi cannot help feeling ashamed, he explains, that he may not have the experience and palate to be able to properly appreciate such lavish gifts.
"What sort of arrangement does Master mean?" he asks, still awkward, folding his hands in a shy and submissive way. He seems, too, to be a bit confused, as if he couldn't guess the answer himself.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:10 am
"Is it Porcelain custom to drink with others?" the merchant asks, genuinely curious. Traditionally, talk of business is rarely without drink of some sort in his homeland, even if it is just water. And since Akram had moved into his student apartment with his thankfully-intelligent-but-still-underage undergraduate roommate... well, he had quickly learned that Mainland Gaians are fond of alcohol as well.
"Feel free to share all of it with your other guests and friends and such, too. Your human guests and friends, if the drinks of this place are not suited to your people's tastes."
Setsushi's mannerisms still somewhat perplex the patriarch; he has learned a bit about the Porcelain from watching the family he has started to consider his own, but has really not yet had much opportunity to really discuss culture at length with either Chourou or Reiga. Akram does his best not to stare at Setsushi as he explains his idea:
"I am a merchant here in Gaia, and I mostly deal in silks and fabrics, but I also do a fair amount of business in spices. Dame Chourou has mentioned to me your restaurant here on several occasions, and so I wanted to ask if you perhaps might be interested in buying flavorings and spices?" He pauses for a moment, rubbing his beard a little. "Ah, maybe produce, too, but there is not much we grow at home. Just olives, I suppose."
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:49 pm
"It would be remiss of me not to offer my guest tea," Setsushi replies to his question, clearly not picking up the alcoholic connotations of the word 'drink'. "But if Master Akram would prefer to enjoy these?" Setsushi wonders, aloud, if he should go inside to get a second glass?
At his business proposal, Setsushi gives off a pleasant feeling of being flattered and interested, remembering, publicly, the very fine gift he received on the last occasion. "To enter into such a contract would honor me," he says sincerely. ... But then, his feelings are constrained by a sense of hesitance and regret -- "But this operation is so simple and small, I am not sure what use I could have for such fine spices..."
Setsushi is offering, after all, nothing more than a home-cooked lunch to his neighbors in exchange for a bit of gold and company. Such an unambitious and unskilled cook, he means to imply, would not really have the occasion to use such rich and quality ingredients...
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:01 pm
"Whatever Master Setsushi has to offer," the man replies. "I would be fine with either one. Though I was also asking about your tradition in general."
He tips one of the chairs forward, then taps the front legs lightly on the ground a few times to try to get rid of at least some of the rainwater on the surface of the seat. Then Akram sits down and rests his folded umbrella against the table leg.
The merchant listens as Setsushi explains his little restaurant; Akram had been expecting a larger operation, but does not seem at all upset. He smiles faintly and nods, then tells the Porcelain, "I understand. But please, if you do change your mind and find you need something I might be able to obtain for you, let me know."
After a moment, he then asks, "When would you recommend I stop by to sample some of your cooking?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:22 pm
"Ah," Setsushi ponders as he goes into the house, leaving the door wide open. Setsushi supposes that yes, it is customary to drink together, or to eat -- to share sustenance and kindness whenever possible. "In Toukoku, at least -- I am not a scholar of culture; my knowledge is limited."
He hesitates in the kitchen, then begins heating the kettle, taking out of the cabinet one of his best black loose teas.
"Master is too generous," Setsushi responds to Akram's offer, again giving off feelings of gratitude and embarrassment.
As for when he should come by to eat... Setsushi ponders silently for a moment, then explains, "Normally I cook for two hours around noon each day; however, I will be occupied all day tomorrow." He pauses again, then continues: "Preparing an evening meal. Perhaps Master would like to attend along with Dame Chourou's family?"
... Though, he hastily adds, it will only consist of the most novice of dishes, quite likely unworthy of Master's tastes. sweatdrop
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:44 pm
When the Porcelain goes into the house, Akram stands again and walks up the steps to stand just outside the doorway, but does not go inside. He listens to Setsushi's words and nods, then rubs his beard as he ponders his schedule around lunchtime.
At the invitation to dinner, he seems pleasantly surprised, but then frowns a moment later. "Ah, I would like to join you, but unfortunately I already have plans for tomorrow evening." He quickly adds, "I will try to see if I can come some weekday during lunch, however. I am curious to try your Porcelain food, no matter how simple."
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:06 pm
Then Setsushi is sorry Master Akram cannot come. Though he responds to the human's declination rather eagerly.
After pouring the water over the leaves, he exits the house carrying the teapot and two cups, one substantially shabbier than the other, on a tray. Bashfully, he repeats again that his cooking is nothing so wonderful, but he resolves to do his best when Master comes around again.
"But would that be the first time?" he asks. He seems to be expressing, in a somewhat roundabout way, surprise that Master Reiga has not cooked for Master Akram's household yet.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:26 pm
When Setsushi emerges from the house with the tray, Akram steps aside and then follows him to the table.
"Ah, yes, the first time," he replies, when he is certain he has caught Setsushi's meaning. "I have been busy recently, and I figured it best for Master Reiga and his family to have time to get settled anyway." The merchant makes a mental note to ask his Porcelain family sometime about the possibility of a meal together, though.
... Which reminds him, "Do Porcelain eat cabbage?" Akram sounds faintly amused, but not enough to cause doubt that his question is serious.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:54 pm
"Cabbage?" Setsushi asks to clarify, sending a mental image of cabbage. "Certainly." Indeed, Setsushi rather likes cabbage -- if it is prepared in a suitable way.
Setting the tray down on the table, he settles into his earlier chair and wonders what prompted this odd question as he prepares to pour the tea.
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