The afternoon at the Imperial Matchmaker's estate had been a beehive of activity. One that needed time to reflect and process. And perhaps to come down from.

Again, at the Scorpion held casino, a small private room had been secured. Tea of a varietal from Scorpion held lands. The courtier awaited his guest, everything in their proper place for the tea ceremony.

The priestess announced her presence with a tap on the frame. "It's Tansaku Akarei," she stated plainly, more-so as a rote repetition of proper etiquette than actually caring to explain herself.

"Irashaimase." He spoke calmly, his eyes closed. He knelt on a tatami, his miscolored eyes closed. The tea set before him. Ready for his use. And hers. He turned to her, offering a friendmy smile. His mask was off. They would not be disturbed here. His hair worn loosely.

"Thank you for accepting the invitation. I need the practice."

"That was quite the escapade," she remarked, putting it lightly. She took a seat across from him, though she elected to leave her mask on. "I wonder if this skill will be useful among the gaijin."

Tea Ceremony (Void 3, Tea Ceremony 1. With one other TN 15) (not screwing up the roll): 4d10o10k3 10

"And if it is, I hope that I am up to the task." He seemed nervous. Talking was is forte. Formal ceremony of tea? A small tidbit he remembered learning from his mother.

The ceremony was rough. Unpracticed. Frustrstion apparent on the young courtier's face. Doubly embarrassed by his failings in front of his better.

At the end, he bowed humbly. "Gomen nasai, Tansaku-sama. I should not have wasted your time."

The woman was unable to hide her disappointment on her lips as she watched the man. Her mind was also fraught with images of him with the other man at the event. The images refused to depart her precise memory. It can be such a curse as well...

She let out a soft sigh. "It is good to be among your company nonetheless," she admitted.

He allowed himself a moment of respite, taking the lessons of his failure to heart. At least the tea itself was good. Reminding him of home. A weak smile to the priestess as he bowed again. "I will resolve to strengthen my technique. I'd hate to embarass myself more publically than this."

He thought back go the party. It was a bit of a spectacle. Perhaps he was more anxious than he thought.

"Should we discuss the news of the matchmaker's son?"

"You are always so hard on yourself. I suppose that is better than making poor excuses."

The Tansaku woman smirked. "What gossip have you brought to me then?"

"Well. The main bit is the revelation of the bastard daughter. How the Matchmaker's son let that slip. Of course, by her own response the man is deranged. A shame, really. But I could hardly contain myself." His smile seemed to flourish as the news was divulged.

"And catching that Sparrow lecture a Lion on piety and not merely taking on the tao as a fashion. So many gaffs in one afternoon." He sipped at his tea, the taste of it humbling him abit more. "It'll be all ears for the next several days."

The redhead grinned. "I am glad that you have enjoyed yourself," she stated, though she winked behind her mask. Though odd, even in the privacy of their room she still maintained some sort of mask with the man.

She gave a soft shrug. "I may commit those details to memory but I have no use for them. I do not have your tongue."

He wondered if maybe he should have kept his mask on. Had he insulted her? Opened himself up too quickly? He was feeling rather off his game since the event. He had hoped the tea would help. It only compounded the frustration. Still, he acknowledged her highlighting of his skill, and hers. A softer smile, more humble, thankful. "All you have to do is ask, and I'll spread whatever you feel needs to be spread." A hint of malice and delight in his voice, his evil eye shining slightly brighter in the dim lighting of the private room.

"Over all, it seems the other explorer's are just as excited to embark. A sense of wonder is in the air. Any clan business we have should be able to ignored by the others. Everyone will be too busy."

"The intricacies of what must be spread or not is beyond me." The woman let out a soft sigh. "I admit, I have no desire in causing division among our fellow samurai. My purpose, my duty, is to combat the Ninth and alleviate the curse that plagues my liege lords." She tipped her head. "I hope the counter-magic is not limited. It would be nice if the Tansaku were also blessed by it."

Akarei let out a sigh. "They should tame your excitement, and you should as well. The portents point towards great turmoil in our future."

"Great turmoil?" He swallowed the lump in his throat. Again, her wisdom served to temper his eagerness and natural tendencies. "Yes, of course. We will have to come to rely on each other, so far from home."

His unmasked face locked eyes onto her masked visage. "I'll be prudent in what is spread through out the voyage."