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Expenditure for a lowblood is generally along the same lines: save, thrift, and scrounge. Nervit was no stranger to this, and indeed most of the time could be found buying the cheaper knockoffs, or the secondhand one-season behind gadget, or (and this was more likely) taking home slightly broken items and trying to fix them up. The latter was mostly done with clothes because whilst a few messy stitches are easily corrected if you blow up an electronic that's a little more dangerous. She could change a plug with the help of pyredad, but more complex shenanigans like shellbulbs or wiring were beyond her. But like every person who lives a little on the poor side, Nervit had a vice - for some it was clothes - having to have something pretty, something new. Feeling the slide of silk and the plastic scent of a shirt straight out the packet. Most of Nervit's clothes were home sewn, and some even home-dyed to the correct shade of brown after picking fabric up from abandoned hives.

For others it was an edible vice. Spun sugar, lollipops in flavours from grubcream to grubsauce. Frozen treats served in paper cones or steak seared lightly and crusted with salt. Fresh fruit, ripened in harsh daylight and softened by transport. Of course for older trolls there were other kinds of addictions - fermented fruits distilled into drinks. Spices tamped and laced and smoked. And simpler still were the vices of quadrants or adrenaline, chasing those highs and forgetting others. But we digress. Nervit is not old enough for any of these to sway her little bloodpusher, and her idea of fine dining is a sandwich with the crusts cut off and extra filling, or baking scones for a party. No, the thing that has Nervit out of her comfort zone is something entirely different.

It was a very odd place for a lowblood to be. Not that highbloods tended to frequent the shop - they could after all simply pay someone to do it for them, and it wasn't in the nicest part of town. But it was certainly rather upmarket. A lusus hovered nearby the small brownblood, but the degree of wariness it showed toward her labelled it the shop owners, not the child's. Indeed Nervit's lusus was tucked into her collar, safe and damp and whispering harried instructions that for once were being ignored. Nervit browsed carefully and with purpose, looking at the leaves texture, smelling them and even looking at the displayed shades of tea they could make. She carried a small basket in which several carefully-folded paper tubs full of tea leaves were already placed.

Yes, Nervit's vice was tea. Not the substandard dregs that are overboiled and served as milky dishwater, nor the preprepared bags of overdried leaves that end up looking like grains. But tea that was as carefully made as it was blended. Because as Nervit perused the shop she stayed only at the plainest section, not venturing towards the fancy mixes or premade herbals. Of course this could have been because this section in general was cheaper, but it wasn't. That was simply a happy bonus. Nervit was just obscenely picky. As Pyredad often said, if something was worth doing, it was worth doing well. Finishing up she paid at the desk and placed her packages carefully in the bag she had brought with her before stepping outside and taking a breath of the clear night air.

Nervit had paused outside the shop, and she took another deep breath. Adrenalin filled her system, and she felt uncommonly brave thanks to the flood of endorphins and hormones that were swamping her little brain. This had been an adventure and a half, and a grin snuck her way onto her face even as she buried it into her turtleneck. She'd been to tea shops before, but this was the first time she'd made the long journey to this one - and by the scents of the fragrant leaves it had been so worth it. She'd heard about the shop whilst making tea for an oliveblood. Well, heard perhaps was an overstatement - she'd noticed the writing on the packaging and the tea had been delicious. (And how generous of the other to share it.)

Pyredad squeaked at her to get a move on and her mouth twitched guiltily. He was getting more and more nervous and he was probably right it really wasn't safe here. She was just about to get a move on when someone spoke. She contained the flinch as best she could as she swivelled to face the voice, clutching her purchases to herself slightly, but it was probably still pretty obvious. Or maybe not - she'd concealed it by swiveling, after all. Positive thinking, Nervit!

"A variety of basic tea leaves, so I can make up my own blends." The answer was prompt and quiet, though not to the level it would be hard to hear. "I'm thinking about making a strawberry blend with some of the lighter flavours, and a mint one with the darker leaves. Or perhaps I could fall back on my citrus blend, which is always refreshing." A little more than she might usually say, but she was interested in tea, and it was better to explain yourself than have to be prodded after all. Still, she covered the boldness with a caveat, a verbal safety net as it were.

"Of course if you had any suggestions as to blending tea I would fold to your wisdom." And a compliment in there as well, yes, good. Pyredad chittered happily, yes, she was learning! He nudged his charge affectionately through her collar, and Nervit fought not to smile (successfully, her face stayed open and neutral.) She was going good, making dad proud! Tealbloods were highbloods, but they were often at least slightly more predictable than bluebloods and up, so Nervit felt it safe to perhaps extend the conversation, maybe even talk for a while, rather than politely folding out and leaving. Plus. Well. She was lonely, after all.

"In the same way that baking is a science so I would say it depends on point of view although you do need to be exact especially in brewing times. Black and green teas for example will become very bitter if over-stewed, whilst other teas will simply lose flavour. And of course the blending of the teas is important - whilst moobeast juice is nice in black tea normally if you add it to any kind of citrus blend it will curdle and taste disgusting. On the other hand you usually don't add it to white tea but if you were making a strawberry blend you could add a little to make a delightful flavour." It seemed Atiqua had hit on one of the few topics that could make Nervit talk for an extended period of time and not feel self conscious. This might have been slightly unfortunate.

Because the thing was, Nervit really, really liked tea. And that kind of meant she would go on about it for a very long time.

"Of course if you prefer a bitter tea there are options that don't ruin the flavour - Ku ding is a nice one, although rare and quite expensive. On the other hand if you like sweet tea you can add sugar to most things or honey of course is a whole brand of differences all by itself. Though you don't have to have those - a particular delicacy I like to serve when working at highblood functions or to highblood guests is noon chai, a pink creamy tea with pistachio and almonds." She took another breath, as if to continue, but Pyredad scuttled out of the bag and bit her arm gently as a reminder - his tiny teeth meant it was more of a nudge as he didn't bite down hard, but it made her remember who exactly she was talking too.

"I apologise, I'm babbling."

"Well I know a couple of high-caffiene blend teas, plus I can always blend you some custom ones using plenty of buds or tips instead of the leaves - they'd have to be flavoured most likely however, as the buds by themselves have a very pungent and not always pleasant taste." She paused thoughtfully. "Of course the stronger you brew the tea the more caffiene it will have in it - you could always try using multiple tea infusers or bags, depending on how you brew your tea, of course." She did sniff slightly. "Infusers are always going to be better, though." Was that contempt from the young orangeblood? It certainly sounded like it, and the facial expressions matched up and everything. What a shocking display, gosh. It was quickly hidden though as she realised and she tagged a caveat on the end. "Of course time can always be difficult with infusers so I understand those who use bags."


Then the question was asked and she changed tracks as Pyredad scuttled up to the top of her head, balefully eyeing the other troll with his huge oculars before flaring his frills protectively as he curled round Nervit's branching horns, one of his favourite posistions.

"I routinely hold private functions for highblood clientele as well as serving as a part time hostess at a cafe nearby. Whilst I am a little young to be doing so, the fact my lusus is so portable and my knowledge of the subject enables me to be considered and accepted for the role."

Nervit turned a lovely shade of burnt orange as the other complimented her lusus, and a small, shy smile crept across her face. It was tucked away quite quickly though - as with every other emotion she seemed to display - and the girl nodded. "An infuser is for loose tea leaves - the metal ball as you described. There's pre-packaged teas you can get in bags which are far less tasty but are far quicker than measuring out leaves into the metal ball and cleaning it each time." Her eyes narrowed slightly, but the tone of her voice was still polite, gentle. "You do clean your ball? Otherwise it could affect the tea flavours?" Pyredad's frills were still out, but he settled, no longer eyeing the other troll so balefully. Possibly he'd seen the other trolls lusus - h u g e. Of course not particularly violet, but Pyredad didn't know that - his long-range vision wasn't great so to him it was a giant white intimidating floaty....thingamabob. He curled his tail a little more tightly around her horn, brushing the base and she squeaked, almost a giggle - the growing roots were sensitive, and in her case ticklish!

"Dad no, c'mon." Lifting her hand she pried him away from her horn, tucking him back into his collar. "You're gonna dry out too." Digging into her satchel she brought out a misting bottle and sprayed him liberally. "Sorry. In answer to your question, the cafe is nearby. Whilst I'm not due to serve for a while I can show you where it is? It's a pleasant night for a walk - I mean, if you're not busy. Ma'am." The last bit of the sentence was tucked on a bit hastily, not quite an afterthought but more rushed as she realised she'd been overfamiliar but. Well. Atiqua (not that they had exchanged names yet) was very easy to talk to - almost nice. You know, for a highblood.

Not that Nervit could hear her thoughts, but if she had heard the line of them, she would have agreed. Life WAS hard. Life was hard and nobody understood. But life was rewarding, too! I mean, there were all sorts of things to enjoy, even if you spent most of your time worrying and worrying and being told to worry by your lusus. Yes. You had to focus on that, or else you'd get bogged down and never want to do anything. That was Nervit's view anyway.

Pyredad was indeed slimy, being aquatic, though Nervit had no idea if he was poisonous or not - he'd never bitten her or anyone else. Nervit was curious about Seadad, too - was he okay, bumping into the wall like that? She turned her thoughts awy from that direction, though. It was really none of her business.

Nervit nodded, replying in kind.
"Atiqua it is then if that's what you wish. My name is Nervit...As for hatching, it's been a while yes."
Nervit risked a smile at her little joke, before starting to walk towards the cafe.

"This way~"