VI. The First Formal Ceremony

[madaboutit]

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.

Comments

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"What's all this...?"

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?"

[madaboutit]

"I just thought--perhaps we might take a break from the more physical aspects of trainin'. I know yer curious, so I f'gured we could--"

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?"

[whatsinfrontofyou]

The concern Sweeney shows twists a little guilt in Vex's gut. At the same time, it does feel like she made the right choice not doing more. No bargains. No dreamstones. The last thing she wanted was to worry him more.

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."

[madaboutit]

He doesn't protest her assurance and releases her so she can get started. Tipping his head towards the food, Sweeney gives a quick nod.

"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."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

A little tension goes out of Vex, and she helps herself to some bread and jam. It's a good place to start, at least. Maybe the food will help her nerves a little, too. Whatever they're going to be doing, she suspects that it will be easier if she's not tired and hungry.

"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?"

[madaboutit]

Sweeney pulls the chair out to sit.

"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."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

There's something about telling Vex that she'd be an ambassador to the Summer King while she's sucking berry jam off her thumb that doesn't entirely inspire confidence that she's up for the job.

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."

[madaboutit]

"Well, it's makin' it too, but--yeah, pretty much." He doesn't want to downplay the challenge too much though.

"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.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Of course." Not quite the vote of confidence she might have hoped for. Vex tries not to dwell on it. Too little sleep and too much time to think will have her seeing slights anywhere, if she lets herself.

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?"

[madaboutit]

Sweeney supports her. He wants her to succeed. But he's seen her resistant, especially when it comes to details. It feels like she's trying to ride along with enough being Enough. And if she wants out of this room, that just isn't enough. Sure, she's presenting herself, but his reputation is in her hands, as well.

"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."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"We can talk about the blends while I finish breakfast?" Her voice rises at the end, making it more of a question than a decision.

"I'll admit I don't know that much about tea, aside from how to drink it."

[madaboutit]

That seems fair enough. Though it may be an unfair assumption, Vex comes with an air of rough around the edges. It's not that he'd expect the beverage to be completely foreign, but he doesn't expect her to have spent much time in drink preparations, outside getting something into a cup. It does beg a question though.

"You have any experience with cookin'?"

There's no judgement; Sweeney's just trying to get a feel for where they're starting from.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Not much. My father did keep a kitchen staff." Which isn't to say not none, but... well, not much.

[madaboutit]

Not surprising, but not a problem either. In some ways, it might even prevent her from getting more confused when falling on predefined habits.

"Have ya ever used medicinal herbs?"

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Some." She draws out the words some. "Mostly identification and collection, less use."

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.

[madaboutit]

Sweeney nods, accepting her answer before he continues.

"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."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"That does make me wonder just how much time His Grace's Companions spend making tea." Her brows rise a little, but there's no bite in her tone. More subdued surprise. Curiosity.

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."

[madaboutit]

Each of them? Not so much. But as a group? Quite a bit. All the more reason to have a lot of them.

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.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

She reaches for some fruit from the breakfast tray, something she doesn't recognize. Whether because it's fruit from the faerie lands, or simply some other far off kingdom, she doesn't know, but it's sweet and tart and delicious.

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?"

[madaboutit]

"Now?"

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.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Today? Next?"

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?"

[madaboutit]

Her answer is met with a blink. Sweeney figured it would be obvious from all the shit on the tray, but he guesses he can lay it out.

"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'."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Her lips pinch slightly, puckering like she ate something more bitter than she expected.

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.

[madaboutit]

Something feels weird. Sweeney can't put a name on it, but it leaves an itch in the back of his skull. Maybe it's because she had such a rough night. It would make sense that it could leave her feeling off, and then he'd feel off by proxy. Or maybe it's just because this is new, as far not only as subject, but method. A beat passes as he studies her, trying to sort it out.

"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.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

The fact that Sweeney clearly senses her mood only makes the knot in her chest tighter. He's trying, and what's she doing?

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."