VI. The First Formal Ceremony
May. 23rd, 2025 09:39 pm
Various Teas
Talk of Touching
Oiling Down
Kissing
Jinx interruption
Jinx Becomes Second
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The footsteps in the hall sound lighter than normal, and it quickly becomes apparent that her breakfast tray isn’t being delivered by Sweeney, but instead, the female servant who had tended Vex in those early days when he had been obligated elsewhere. As before, she says nothing, just deposits the tray on the vanity and leaves.
As her steps start to fade, a more familiar set heads towards the room, and soon enough, Sweeney’s at the door with a tray in hand. It’s not difficult to tell why this was a two-person affair; the one he has is significantly larger than normal, and it’s piled with all sorts of things. Cups and jars, an earthen pot, and an ornate stoneware kettle are huddled tight towards the center. There seems to be a couple of small books and some candles as well. A basket is strapped across his shoulder, leaving the rolled carpets and cushions safely uncrumpled at his hip.
Sweeney offers a quick smile before turning to shut the door.
“I hope your sleep was restful,” he offers, not looking back to her. Instead, he turns to the area in the room that offers the most open space, and kneels to set everything down on the floor.
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Date: 2025-05-24 04:58 am (UTC)Vex's voice trails off. Despite Sweeney's wishes, she slept fitfully after Jinx left her, thoughts keeping her awake. The poor sleep shows on her face, subtle smudges under her hazel eyes, her color washed out. Still, her interest and her curiosity piques at his appearance.
The thoughts that kept her up are pushed back, at least for the moment.
"A new lesson?"
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Date: 2025-05-24 05:07 am (UTC)Sweeney had swiveled on his toes to look back to her, but her state immediately dampens his hope into concern. He rises and crosses to her, already lifting his hands, ready to catch her cheeks when she's in range, so he can have a better look at her.
She'd mentioned her worries about bad dreams, but it had been some days since then, and they'd seemed to pass quietly. Perhaps, there had been a delay, and her thoughts had finally caught up with her.
"Are you a'right?"
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Date: 2025-05-24 05:17 am (UTC)It's like she told Jinx: protective.
"I'm fine," she assures, leaning into his hand slightly when he looks at her. It serves two purposes. On the one hand, she is grateful for his attention, and she doesn't want him taking the wrong lesson about his concern. There's no shying away from his touch. On the other... it makes it easier not to meet his eyes.
"I didn't get much sleep last night," she can answer without lying. "Trouble quieting my thoughts. I'll perk up after breakfast."
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Date: 2025-05-24 05:55 am (UTC)"By all means, take yer time." He sneaks a quick glance between her and the collection of items on the floor.
"We ain't in a rush."
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Date: 2025-05-24 06:08 am (UTC)"It looks like we have a lot to do."
She shoved a bite in her mouth.
"Do you want to tell me about it, or is this one of those things where you'll tell me as we go?"
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Date: 2025-05-24 06:37 am (UTC)"Oh, we're not actually performin' it; it's just learnin'." Hopefully, that takes some of the stress off of things. She can go in with information and being able to ask questions. That's good, right?
"Not everythin' a Companion does is in the bedroom. She's a face of the King. An ambassador an' a hostess." Sweeney watches her eat.
"The Tea Service is a recognition of a guest. A way ta talk without tongues." He shrugs her head, not wanting to make it too big.
"It's got a lotta pieces, but overall, ain't all that complicated ta execute."
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Date: 2025-05-24 06:48 am (UTC)But.
The fact he's giving her the chance to learn what the ceremony is about first does give her a little bit of confidence.
She reaches for a thin slice of cured meat.
"At its heart, it's just serving tea, right? I think I can do that."
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Date: 2025-05-24 06:58 am (UTC)"There's a fair bit of form ta go with that function though. How ya mix; how ya pour. Takes a lotta practice ta make it second-nature."
And they're going to start today.
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Date: 2025-05-24 07:13 am (UTC)She eats a bit more, unsure what else to say, or if there's even anything she should say.
Of course, in the quiet her thoughts turn back to her conversation with Jinx. Different parts of it come to her, out of order and with some bits feeling more important, more weighty, while other blur and fade back a little more. She recalls the questions about if Sweeney pleasured her, and if he's kissed her. If she'd shown discomfort at his touch.
She remembers the offer of the dreamstone, and thinks of where she'd have had to hide it, and feels a surge of guilt followed closely by a certainty that she made the right choice not taking it for today. She wouldn't be able to look him in the eye if she had that tucked inside of her while they spoke.
She swallows down too big of a bite at the thought.
"So how do we start?"
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Date: 2025-05-24 07:32 am (UTC)"We have some options." Maybe that will grant her more agency, and thereby get her more motivated.
"There're the steps of the preparation, but we can also talk 'bout the blends an' when ya use each'a them." He smiles encouragingly.
"Whichever ya like."
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Date: 2025-05-24 07:42 am (UTC)"I'll admit I don't know that much about tea, aside from how to drink it."
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Date: 2025-05-24 08:41 am (UTC)"You have any experience with cookin'?"
There's no judgement; Sweeney's just trying to get a feel for where they're starting from.
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Date: 2025-05-24 05:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-05-24 05:45 pm (UTC)"Have ya ever used medicinal herbs?"
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Date: 2025-05-24 06:21 pm (UTC)What can she say? She's outdoorsy. Vex has always wanted to be outside, out of the village, ever since she was young. Hunting had been part of that, but she'd often found other reasons to be in the wood and collecting herbs and mushrooms had certainly made her days outside more productive.
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Date: 2025-05-24 06:38 pm (UTC)"It's basically makin' a tincture. You'll need ta learn the various plants an' spices; how hot the water needs ta be ta steep them without them goin' bitter." It sounds like he's just giving her information, not warning her of the challenge.
"Ya blend the tea ta serve the purpose it's symbolizin'." He tilts his head, signifying an incoming explanation.
"Peace talks, alliances, Deals...they all have their own associated herb. Then ya blend it with who's involved. An Ambassador, Prince, Priest... It makes the tea specific. In time, ya'll be able ta recognize it by smell, even once the cup is empty."
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Date: 2025-05-24 07:08 pm (UTC)It's distracting, at least. Gives her a reason not to rush to the conversation she's, like, sixty percent sure they're going to end up having today.
"That does make sense though."
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Date: 2025-05-24 07:25 pm (UTC)Sweeney smiles more freely. Her snark had been minimal, almost playful, which seems a good sign, as to how this might go. He hopes, at least. With a quick bounce of his chin in the direction of the tray, he continues.
"I brought a book 'bout the different kinds, so you can study it an' not try ta remember everythin' in one go."
It will help less with the smelling part, but at least it has names, purposes, and pictures that should assist in her memorization.
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Date: 2025-05-24 07:43 pm (UTC)She looks down at her hands, briefly, then shrugs.
"Something to do in my free time." Which is actually a good thing. She doesn't have many of those, and the books available are only what Sweeney brings.
"What now?"
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Date: 2025-05-24 07:50 pm (UTC)His brow crinkles. As far as he can tell, he's been straightforward about the plan, and they'd both agreed it all should wait until after breakfast. From his perspective, that's still in progress.
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Date: 2025-05-24 07:58 pm (UTC)Vex raises a brow, her head cocking to one side as she brings her gaze up to study his face.
"Did you bring herbs for me to smell?"
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Date: 2025-05-24 08:06 pm (UTC)"Yes. An' the pots an' cups, so we can work on the preparation." He presses his lips. "I'm hopin' ta get you through the main overview, so you can put it all together when yer comfortable with the blendin'."
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Date: 2025-05-24 08:41 pm (UTC)She swallows, then shrugs, grabbling the impulse to get argumentative. He did answer her question. Vex isn't even sure why the response leaves her wanting to bristle. If it's because she's tired, or because she's frustrated—or because she's vaguely restless, achy and antsy from having Jinx visit the night before, saying a lot about pleasure and then not giving her any.
Though that had been her choice.
"All right," she says after the beat of silence goes too long. "That sounds reasonable."
Because it does sound reasonable. And she's trying to be reasonable.
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Date: 2025-05-24 08:54 pm (UTC)"You sure yer a'right? We don't gotta do this today, if ya could use the rest." Sweeney's quick to clarify. "I mean, we can go o'er the types an' do the smellin', but we don't gotta get fancy."
He doesn't want her to feel like it's an all or nothing; that if she isn't up for any of it, he'll deny her all of it. He wants to share what she's up for, without pushing too hard and leaving her resenting it.
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Date: 2025-05-24 09:04 pm (UTC)Vex shakes her head, her resolve to do this now firming. Perhaps paradoxically.
"It's all right," she says, then adds, because she's clearly not entirely all right. "I'm all right enough for this. I think learning something new would do me some good."
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