jade leech [ school uniform ] r - "even if i might not understand it"

[mandytl]

 

 

Location: Courtyard

Jade: Hmm. It came out a bit too bitter. Let’s try brewing some of the other tea leaves.

Kalim: Jade? What’re you doing back her—

Whoa. That’s one huge stack of cups and leaves!

Jade: Ah, Kalim-san. As energetic as ever. I’m currently researching how to brew a decent cup of black tea.

Kalim: Man, you’re going all-out. But the stuff you’ve got lined up here’s pretty good.

Jade: My, you can tell?

Kalim: They’ve got a unique fragrance that’s different from the rest. I knew right away, ‘cause we drink a ton of tea where I’m from.

Jade: To think you’d know all about tea… Looks can certainly be deceiving.

Kalim: Having tea with our meals and breaks is essential back home in the Scalding Sands.

We even prepare a special blend when welcoming guests.

Jade: So it’s offered in tasteful hospitality. How very interesting.

Would you be willing to teach me how to brew delicious tea?

Kalim: Sure. Just leave it to me! I want people to know more about my country anyway.

First, you’ll want to insert the water and tea leaves and bring the kettle to a boil. Stuffing it with so many leaves that it’s almost too much is the trick.

Jade: Hmm. Steeping it to bring out the flavor.

Kalim: Next, put a handful of fresh herbs in the pot.

For today’s tea leaves, we’ll do… —yeah! These two types of herbs, until it’s 70% full.

Jade: You even make your own tea blends. You truly are accustomed to this.

Kalim: Well, yeah. I know at least this much with all the tea I drink!

Herbal tea helps you beat the heat, plus it’s easy to drink. It’s perfect for a country where the temperature’s always so high.

Jade: It does sound refreshing, but it’s not the sort of drink we’d have in my homeland.

Kalim: Where’re you from again?

Jade: I was born in the Coral Sea; the complete opposite of a desert metropolis in the Scalding Sands. 

Kalim: That’s smack dab in the middle of the ocean, right? That environment’s got to be totally different from my country.

What’s living in the sea like?

Jade: In the sea? Well...

I’m sure most would think it dismal and colder than they’d ever imagined on their first visit.

Kalim: Cold and dismal?

Jade: Why, absolutely.

After all, sunlight won’t reach the ocean depths and lighting a fire’s not possible.

You’ve always got to be on your guard there, for there’s no telling what lurks behind every rock.

Kalim: S-Scarier than I expected… 

Jade: And, unlike on land, there aren’t really any sweet things to eat, like candy.

In fact, we mainly consume raw foods.

Kalim: Seriously…? I could never handle that! No way! I’m impressed you guys can even live in a place like that.

Jade: My. The idea of it must be truly detestable for you to make a face like that. I find it a rather comfortable place to call home.

… Well, there are plenty of merfolk who yearn for the surface world, even if I might not understand it.

Kalim: … Whoa. The tea started boiling while we were talking. Stop the heat.

Then pour it into the pot full of herbs.

Jade: Of course. ... Ah, what a wonderful fragrance. It smells delicious.

Kalim: Last is the sugar… —hm? This sugar pot’s so light.

Jade: I just finished refilling it a moment ago. There should be about thirty lumps of sugar.

Kalim: What, only thirty? Just dump ‘em all in.

Jade: Uh.

Kalim: The sweeter, the better.

“Experience luxurious hospitality through some sweet tea!” The custom started back when sugar was still expensive.

… so, here goes the whole pot!

Jade: Of cour—… err? You mean every cube? That’s… 

Kalim: There. The whole thing!

Jade: Ahh…!

Kalim: Last but not least is to pour yourself a cup, like so… —and, finished.

Go ahead. Try some!

Jade: ……

Kalim: So, how’s it taste? Delicious?!

Jade: It’s a refreshing, yet exceedingly fragrant tea that almost verges on the realm of being too bitter.

… And sweet enough to saturate your teeth.

Kalim: Exactly. The feeling just runs through you, huh? 

Jade: Yes. Like all my teeth are going to fall out.

Kalim: That good, huh? Nice! I mean, you said they don’t have sweets where you’re from, right?

So this is on me. Savor this sweet stuff as much as you like! There’s plenty more where that came from.

Jade: Of course… Thank you very much…

Kalim: It’s still missing something, though. I’ll go look for some more sugar!

Jade: More?! That’s quite alrigh—… and, there he goes.

Still… 

There’s no telling what Azul or Floyd would say if I served them this. 

The world of tea is profound indeed…