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He wasn't usually on this side of town, preferring to stick closer to the college and his home, but the interstate had been backed up for hours thanks to a wreck and he'd been forced to take the long way home. It was frustrating in it's own way since everyone else had the same idea and traffic wasn't moving much this way either.

It would have been ignored, loud music and some breathing exercises but he'd spotted a sign for a tea shop and an empty parking space which begged to be pulled into. The shop said it had a cafe inside too which meant they probably served their blends to make you want more so he could at least get a cup of something as well.

Thankfully the store wasn't too busy, though busy enough that he suspected it meant the tea was good, and he got in line while eying the menu. It was probably good no one was paying him any attention as if one looked it was obvious he was still tense and angry about something. The young man at the counter was helpful though and was kind enough to go over some of the house blends with him while he decided what he wanted to drink and what he'd want to take home.

"I typically prefer them darker, black or chai blends, so I think I will go with these two. If you have any black tea with orange and chocolate in it I would like a small tin of that as well." He was glad the staff member had been helpful and hadn't tried to push anything on him since he wasn't in the mood for that sort of help.

He had found two blends he liked the look of and another that he might come back and get later since it sounded nice even if it was a lighter tea than he usually drank.

'If one has the time to put that sort of thing together." He preferred to not have to unless he was adding a bit of extra flavor to blends that weren't quite strong enough for him. "And I have a blend much like theirs at home already which I am running out of." He turned slightly to see who had interrupted, slightly surprised to see a young lady.

"Thank you for the advice." Even if it was unsolicited. "This young man's advice has been helpful so I am find with him fetching me a blend to try as you can't really have a bad cup of tea."

"Thankfully this young man here hasn't bothered with any up selling and has just done as I've asked." Which was a blessing since he knew there were more expensive versions of two of the blends he'd put together that the staff member could have suggested to get a better sale. "You believe you know their tea better than they do?" He raised a brow, slightly unimpressed that she was still bothering him but she did have a backbone since she was, despite the usually unfriendly expression on his face.

He had two blends on his hands, the smaller size that the shop offered, and wasn't really looking for any others but the young lady seemed determined to get into his business and it would at least waste some time while he waited for traffic to clear.

"Considering Avery has tried one of the two I picked up and the other I created myself I think I am going with experience over an information packet." He didn't need some little girl telling him how to get his tea. He'd probably been drinking it longer than she'd been alive. He felt slightly bad for the poor clerk for being called out but he had probably dealt with worse. The two of them at least weren't getting onto him.

He watched her for a moment before laughing softly. He could almost see the gears turning in her head. With her attitude and this neighborhood he obviously didn't belong and that could explain her attitude toward someone 'strange' in her environment.

"It is a Pu Erh base with coconut and papaya. It's a rather nice go-to for the morning but I usually have to purchase it online rather than finding a shop I can make it in." It was the larger of the two tins he had and if the ingredients proved fresh he would have to come back over here to get more. Having a shop in town would be preferable than having to order it online every time.

"I usually blend my own but I do like getting pre-made blends some times just to try new things. Or for when I have guests who don't actually have any taste." He had a few colleges who got his cheaper teas when they bothered him. They weren't worth the good things since they were always happy with the sub-par blends.

"I do." He nodded. "For most occasions at least. Some mornings call for something a bit stronger and my usual isn't something you' drink if you were trying to sleep." That didn't always stop him from drinking any of it before bed but he preferred sweeter things for that.

"There are a few other places in town that do loose leaf though they're out on the other side of town." Most likely not somewhere she'd gone or would want to find herself given the clientele of those shops.