[PRP] Tea Troubles [ZariahxRastin]

[LordPocky]

Zariah sat at the boardwalk nervously. He'd left the highblood a note at his stall about where to meet him, far too embarassed to actually return after being banned. He couldn't believe he'd been kicked out....the only places he was banned were places that knew he was a rebel! The highblood had never even met him or seen him before! Though....with the mark on his wrist it didn't really hide that well. Not like he planned to be bested friends forever with the highblood....but he sure felt terrible about breaking the teacup, making a mess, being such a disturbance, bothering other customers.....his head sunk as he further thought about just how badly he'd acted. He hadn't needed to speak like that to Chiara....though...not like it wasn't totally and completely 100% HER FAULT!!!

The orangeblood held a mason jar between his hands, nervously making circles with his thumbs over the glass. He didn't have much to apologize with...Kei and Zari didn't have much....between being lowbloods, living in the middle of nowhere, and fighting for rebel causes and being stuck in a swamp....Kei had her weapons and armour so she was happy....but his belongings had dwindled even further than before.

Lavender Hues

 

[Lavender Hues]

One of the teenagers that fought outside his booth wanted to talk at the boardwalk? Rastin was surprised, to say the least, and a little fearful. What if this was an trap to get himself smacked around, too? The purpleblood sighed.

He hadn't actually taken the time to scout out where the boardwalk was, so he closed the booth up for a hour or two and hopped on CatDad's back to find it. Once he was there, though, he didn't find much interest in it. It was just a bunch of shops and lights... Nothing worth fussing over.

"Stop here, I think I see them." He said, patting CatDad. "Yeah, that's him. Don't go anywhere in case I need you, okay?"

He waited for CatDad to grunt a response before shuffling off of his back and meandering his way toward Zariah. He paused a few feet away, just to study him, and took a breath.

"Um, Chleio, was it?" He asked, cocking his head slightly to the side. "You wanted to speak with me about the banning?"

LordPocky

SORRY ABOUT THAT. I didn't realize he was going by a different name! |D

 

[LordPocky]

(Nope, Chleio razz It's the name he's been going by all event)

"OH! No, not about that I f-fully underst-stand!" he said quickly, holding both hands up in a gesture of surrender. "N-no....I w-wanted to apologize f-for make such a f-fuss....um...we sh-shouldn't have brought our dr-drama to you and br-broken your tea cups," he said, saddening again at the thought. They were so lovely too....his own tea cups were mismatched, old, chipped....they had been nstage props he'd had in his first hive before he met Kei and her lusus.

Zariah stood slowly, eyes downcast in both shame and to look at his rather.....foolish gift. "Um....I w-wanted to apologize pr-properly but...this is all I've got. Uh....I us-used to live up on B-Busthind s-so I have a l-lot of more....rare herbs from th-there I've used f-for tea, and some even fr-from the swamp.....um....if you'd like..." he held the jar of herbs, several plastic bags with labels in a very worn looking jar. It certainly wasn't much to look at but he was QUITE proud of his collection. Anyone that wanted to sample tea from Busthind was in for QUITE the hike, and the teas from the swamp were simply an unpleasant venture. It was a bit of a shame to give up his teas from Busthind....but he could always go on an outing to pick up more. He was sure Kei would HAPPILY escort him if he mentioned it to her. Plus....it wasn't often he met another troll so fond of tea...while Chiara seemed to like it because of his interest in it....he was eager to meet other trolls.

Lavender Hues

 

[Bouquet of Diamonds]

Rastin leaned back. The stuttering and hand motions of the other male had been a surprise, and he started to question if he could have made a mistake. Nervous trolls weren't ones who typically fought, in his opinion of course, and seeing as he remembered the other fighter being of a higher blood... He couldn't help but feel that this boy had been a target instead of a true participant.

However, he didn't really care about that all that much. He just wanted to get this over with. His booth couldn't stay closed and safe for long!

"Ah, oh." He said, his brows flexing as he was presented with a jar of herbs. Rare swamp tea? He'd never heard of such a thing before! He grasped the jar gently in his hands, seemingly between awed and intrigued, and managed a ghost of a smile.

"I accept your apology, thank you." He continued, tapping the jar. "... However, while I am very interested in this swamp tea, I don't feel right taking too much if it's rare. Perhaps a trade instead? Tea for tea?"

LordPocky

 

[LordPocky]

Zariah relaxed a little and smiled faintly when he accepted the jar. In his mind it was the most thoughtful a gift someone fond of tea could give or recieve. At least when it came to a broke troll like himself. If he'd asked her to surely Chiara could've offered a more appropriate gift....but he doubted she was as interested in apologizing for causing a disturbance as he was. She was a bit stubborn like that.

When the highblood demurred at the gift he started. "Oh, n-not at all!" he said quickly. "Um....the swamp herbs r-really aren't hard to get.....it's m-maybe a bit unpleasant..." and by that he meant trekking through mud and if the smaller troll was like him it probably meant touching and sampling pretty well every plant he found...with VARYING levels of success. But it hadn't been as risky as the plants on Busthind, braving the mountain wasn't advisable to anyone that didn't live there. Plants and animals were dangerous, the terrain itself as well. He smiled faintly at the suggestion of a trade and nodded slowly. "S-sure, I went to y-your booth because I r-really do enjoy tea...I just....didn't know Ch-Chiara would..." he broke off looking frustrated before he sighed, "be Chiara....." but....at least they'd worked it out. Sort of. He would twist her arm properly later.

Bouquet of Diamonds

 

[Bouquet of Diamonds]

Rastin's expression grew somewhat puzzled. So, the herbs were rare, but not hard to get, just unpleasant? That didn't exactly make sense to him. However, he decided not to question the teenager further.

"That's good to hear, you being a fan of tea that is." He replied, offering a smile before his expression flexed downward again. "This... Chiara. Is she usually like this? ... I'm only asking because you seem to be saying that this was her typical behavior."

He was also asking so he could know if he needed to stay away from her, regardless of running a booth or not. There was no need for him to get involved with someone that had a track record of poor behavior.

LordPocky

 

[LordPocky]

Noting the confused look Zariah grinned sheepishly. "S-sorry....rare in terms that most trolls d-don't want to make the tr-trip to the swamp or B-Busthind. So....my blends are a bit....uncommon. But they're good! Just....um...different," he finished a bit lamely.

He frowned a bit, pursing his lips in thought. "It's....complicated," he mumbled. "She's very.....um....excitable....and a bit hard-headed.....I guess....she kind of likes tea now but um.....she's.....pretty confrontational," He still worried about letting Chiara and Keionx have an actual discussion.....it would probably end in bloodshed and he doubted he would like if either of them 'won' the altercation. "I wouldn't say she's a b-bad troll though...just.....takes a bit to get used to how.....mmm....just how she is," he said, mulling over how best to phrase it.

Bouquet of Diamonds

 

[Bouquet of Diamonds]

Rastin's eyes widened in understanding. Ah, that made much more sense. He'd never actually been too far through Busthind so he didn't know what to expect from taking the whole route. He'd take Chleio's word for it, though.

"Interesting, alright." He replied, nodding. "I'll keep a note of the difference, but I do look forward to trying them. It's always good to have a well rounded palate when it comes to tea."

He expression returned to flexing, though more subtle and slower than before, as Chleio explained how Chiara was. Mmm, excitable, hard-headed, confrontational... All traits that he abhorred in other trolls. He'd be more leery around her next year, if he decided to open a booth again.

"I see, thank you." He said, taking a breath. "Well, never-the-less, my offer for a trade still stands with you. What sort of tea do you prefer? I have all sorts I'd be willing to let you pick from."

LordPocky

 

[LordPocky]

Perhaps it was his own low standards was why he didn't mind the blueblood....or simply the fact that she was the first and only troll to find him far more interesting that his twin. It wasn't often others saw him as more than a more....boring version of Keionx.

"Oh I quite like all teas," he grinned. "Oh, and the bags are labelled with sweet, spicey, floral, earthy, nutty....um, well....you'll see them. And c-certainly.....I think it would be....nice having a tea-trade," he answered excitedly. "And if you k-keep track of the teas you like I c-could send you pictures of their plants....you could find them yourself if you're interested in the.....um.....rather rough hike up Busthind....or you could try to c-cultivate the plants yourself....if you have that interest," he shrugged. He wasn't terribly partial to gardening himself....but drying the plants for teas had been something he'd gotten used to doing. Though, in part it was that he needed a hobby while he lived on the mountain. Keionx went off adventuring so often leavingi him on his own...learning how to make how own tea saved him the trek down the mountain,,,definately worth it.

Bouquet of Diamonds

 

[Bouquet of Diamonds]

Well, Busthind was a good walk, but the thought of finding more tea plants was of great interest to the small hooded purpleblood. Of course, being that he was as small as he was, he did have CatDad's assistance. He just didn't like putting a lot of strain upon his father, really. He nodded to himself. Yes, he'd try the teas that Chleio had offered him first and then decide if he wanted to make the effort. It wouldn't be right to make such a large decision now.

"Certainly, I think that's a wonderful idea." He replied, before turning to wave CatDad over. "If you'll give me just a moment, I think I have something worth trading here with me. I also have a pad of paper, so we can exchange contact information. I like to keep in touch with trolls who like tea as much I do."

CatDad, who hadn't been doing much else but staring off into the distance, dutifully plopped himself next to his charge as he was called and watched the boy dig around in a pouch tied to his side. After a moment, Rastin tugged a smaller bag out from the pouch, alongside a pad of paper and a pen, and wandered back over to Chleio.

"Now, I think this pouch has... Lavender rose?" He questioned, squinting at the smudged writing on the bag. "... And I want to say a handful or more bags of expensive tea that I threw in just for the fun of it. Probably multiple varieties I can't think of off the top of my head..." He paused, offering the entire bag to Chleio. "I'm more than willing to trade this to you, and I hope that you'll enjoy them."

Next, he offered the pad of paper up to the older boy.

"And if you would like to send me pictures, I'd be grateful to know who I'm looking out for when the mail comes." He said. "I could send more tea back to you in return. It's not much trouble."

LordPocky

Thank you for being patient with me! ; A;