Welcome to Gaia! ::

She probably should have asked for directions. Someone had to know where the tea shop was. Of course seeking aid probably wouldn't work well without a business name, and Shin had none to give. The young man had not mentioned it when they'd spoken the previous week, and she hadn't thought of that fact until after she'd left her home to go in search for it. She wasn't lost. No, her mind was much too sharp for that. She'd logged away every twist and turn she'd taken. The problem was that the city was enormous, and there were more then a few tea houses within it. She didn't even has his surname to go by.

So she continued to wander, a basket held in one hand, the tea pot he'd given her resting inside, empty and cleaned. Her pace was leisurely, there was no need to rush about, she had all day. She took her time as she walked to read the business signs lining either side of the street, looking for any sign of tea houses.

When she came across one she'd stop and inquire within if anyone by the name of 'ZhongXian' was employed there, and when they answered in the negative, she'd move on. She had to have stopped at at least a 6 shops so far, but no luck. Not a single one had anyone by that name employed. She was beginning to wonder if the boy had been forthcoming with his information, or if she'd wrongly deduced his occupation. It was a guess that led her to search the tea houses, fueled by his skill in cooking and tea brewing. Had she been wrong?

Another street, another set of shops to look over. She'd stopped counting on the next store front being the one she was looking for, and had simply fallen into the mind set that she was on a long, somewhat peaceful walk, with a destination in mind that would show up eventually. It certainly beat being frustrated by the complete absence of a shop that didn't seem to exist.

She'd even gone so far as to hum under her breath. It was new melody, and the humming served as more then simply passing the time. She was replaying the tone, committing it to memory. Liu and her and been working on it all week, and the results had been quite fruitful. It was up to her now to remember the song and the flow of energy required to achieve the desired effects.

Gaze directed upward towards the signs, Shin almost missed the familiar figure beneath it sweeping the steps. She recognized the name though, and it caused her to pause. The sound of the broom luring her attention down and onto the young man using it. The sign had read "Xian Herbals", which meant her guess had been spot on.


"Zhong." She called to him, smiling as she crossed the street to stand at the base of the bottom step. ""I've been looking for you all morning." Lifting the small tea pot from the basket, she held it up to him. "I wanted to return this and thank you for the tea you left for me." She was reaching out, attempting to be social and form bonds. Rong would have bee proud.

She folded her arms as he took the teapot, taking a back to stand at the bottom of the shop steps and to one side. Hands retreating into the sheer length of her sleeves to clasp loosely over her elbows. She kept a polite smile turned up to him, though it faltered a little at his question.

"I was not certain how." An honest answer, seeking people out was rather new to her. "I didn't mind the walk. It's a very pleasant day."

She gave an elegant roll of her shoulders in a small shrug at her seemingly simple reasons for being there and moved to take a seat on the bench. Unfolding her arms so palms could smooth under her thighs and over her lap, smoothing the pale silk of her skirt.

"Mostly yes. I wanted to return it in person so I could thank you for your kindness." Sending an attendant had seemed too impersonal. Besides, so far she found his company enjoyable. Their previous conversation had been easy and relaxed.

"You're welcome." She smiled at him out of habit, the response automatic. One of the usual responses of the masses that she'd grasped easily. She even meant it in this case, which could be considered odd for the dark skinned youth.

She watched on quietly as he moved to sit beside her, his gaze raising towards the sky and it's sprinkling of clouds. She too lingered for a brief moment on the various shapes before his mumbled comment brought her attention down to him. Flying? She'd never wondered of such things, perfectly content with her place of the ground. She had no longing for the sky, and for some reason, that he did, was odd to her.

When he offered her tea, asked the length of her walk, she gratefully accepted, thin shoulders rolling in a soft shrug. "From up in the mountains surrounding the city, to here. Though I did lengthen the journey by weaving through the many roads." She turned on the bench to point towards the west and the Noble Estates.

The young Noble continued to smile politely up at the other youth even after the string of offensive nonsense left his pale lips. The change in tone was too abrupt for Shin, and it took the space of a heart beat for pale brows to contract, that smile to fade. She wasn't dim, nor slow, simply unaccustomed to the sudden changes in the moods of others. They'd been getting along just fine a moment before, and now he was being insulting and demanding she leave. She herself held no hate for the legion. They were merely unwilling to change or blind to the errs of the emperor. Clearly Zhong's views were of a much different persuasion.

"The hierarchy you follow is outdated and flawed." Her voice was soft, but her tone was sure and held an edge of superiority. If he wanted to play the allegiance card, she could play.

She stood abruptly, but instead of turning to leave she closed the distance between them, poking a stiff finger into his chest. "You label me pompous, yet here you stand dismissing me for my allegiance when I have shown nothing but kindness to you. You are a hypocrite, Zhongxain." She dropped her hand, but stood her ground, glaring up at him. "The dis-honor is from your mistreatment and dismissal of a kind gesture. You should be ashamed."