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Post by Asahina Kangei on Feb 11, 2018 2:39:18 GMT -5
Kangei approached the greenhouse in his finest suit of black with a blue under shirt and black tie. He carried beautiful bouquet of flowers in his arm that consisted of some daffodils and gladiolus of varying colors. He wasn't one hundred percent sure what this meeting was for but Kangei would much rather be over prepared than under so he also brought with him a bottle of gaijin spirits called whiskey it burned but had a wonderfully complex mix of flavors it was not for the faint of heart but Umeko certainly didn't fit that description. He walked up to the greenhouse and walked in considering it was a public area technically. Kangei surveyed the area looking for his date for the evening. |
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Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0 
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Post by Umeko on Feb 11, 2018 9:44:22 GMT -5
The gardener was currently putting away the last remenent of the day's activities. It had been rather busy during Club Day, but she was very happy with the results. Umeko wore a smile as she moved a few pots back to their appropriate corner of the greenhouse. At the Crane's approach she glanced up, waving at him with dirt-covered glived hands. "Asahina-san, good evening! Give me just a moment to finish up here."
It didn't take her very long to put everything back where it belong and soon she was walking toward him with a smile. "How was your day? Will you be sponsering a club?"
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Post by Asahina Kangei on Feb 12, 2018 1:29:46 GMT -5
Kangei bowed to the ronin as she finished cleaning. As she approached he offered her the flowers "I know you spend all day surrounded by the things but I know they are a language you speak quite fluently. My day was fine, quite relaxing actually I spent most of it unwinding but I will be sponsoring the debate team. You do know how i love to play with words." he chuckles "and what of you Umeko-san how was your day? Also what is with this Asahina nonsense I feel we are far past family names. Please Kangei-san will do more than fine." He finishes with a bemused smile on his face.
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Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0
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Post by Umeko on Feb 16, 2018 15:34:25 GMT -5
The ronin accepted the flowers with a smile. "Thank you." It seemed the simple meaning of the bouquet helped her relax and she chuckled at his request. "Very well, Kangei-san." She motionned for him to follow her, before leading them towards the back of the greenhouse. They entered a smaller closed off section that was slightly cooler then the rest of the large windowed area. There was a fragrant smell to the room, though no flowers were being grown there.
It was filled with vegetation, rows of dirt barely visible under the lush greenery. Umeko smiled at the young man as they entered. "I thought you might appreciate this. It's where I grow all of the various teas." There must have been two dozen different types of plants, perhaps more. It was hard to tell as not all of them were obviously separated in their own sections. "We have a very nice selection. I harvest them four times per year and dry them in an other room."
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Post by Asahina Kangei on Feb 16, 2018 19:59:49 GMT -5
Kangei's eyebrows raise in something akin to excitement, at least the closest thing Umeko had seen to it. His voice was a tad more animated than usual as well. It still had a soft sound to it but his word came a bit quicker than usual.
"Wow there are so many varieties here" he was inspecting as close as he dared without actually stepping on the dirt rows. "I mean a few of these sound foreign names I've only heard while abroad. Oh do you have any leaves imported from Medinaat Al-Salaam? I had a delightful brew that was mixed with spices and fruits to make a spicy fruit tea."
He seems to have almost forgotten any questions he previously had about their meeting. After a moment he seems to realize his excitement and regains his composure. He clears his throat lightly "apologies, you are just an impressive woman. With quite the impressive tea collection." He says with a slight chuckle.
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Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0
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Post by Umeko on Feb 16, 2018 21:44:16 GMT -5
Umeko laughed, smiling warmly at the Crane. "Please, take all the time you want. I enjoy seeing someone else that share my enthusiasm." She walked in, tenderly running her fingers along the leaves. His question gave her a pause as she considered. "Well, blends like that often rely more on the spices and fruits mixed with it to give it their unique taste, then on the tea leaves themselves. I do have some from that area, but I would need to know the whole list of ingredients that made up that blend to even attempt recreating it."
She motioned for him to follow, before opening an other door into a smaller room. That one contained a few dozen racks in individual drawers, each marked with the name of a specific leaf. "This is where they dry." Umeko explained, opening one of the drawers to reveal the rack with a bunch of half-dried up leaves. The air in this room felt very dry and slightly uncomfortable. "It's a rather long process obviously, but I think it's very worth the time and effort."
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Post by Asahina Kangei on Feb 16, 2018 23:17:22 GMT -5
"ah of course I'll have to see if I can track down that contact. If you had the ingredients I'd love to make you a cup, its a unique experience." He followed Umeko into the drying room and looked around it. "hmmm how do you get the air to stay so dry in here?" he asked genuinely curious as he knew very little about the process and methods.
Though he was curious to see if Umeko had simply invited him to look at the tea process or if there was a more pertinent reason for his meeting. Though for now he was smiling contentedly, seemly happy just to be spending this time with Umeko.
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Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0
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Post by Umeko on Feb 18, 2018 9:39:24 GMT -5
The botanist pointed to the corner of the room where a few machines were making a very light noise. "A lot of dehumidifiers and controlled temperatures." She explained, smiling warmly. After letting the Crane explore to his leisure, Umeko motionned for him to follow once more.
"Would you like to sample a few of them?" She offered as she lead the man to her office, letting him in the room before heading for a cabinet that held the many different blends she owned.
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Post by Asahina Kangei on Feb 18, 2018 22:14:27 GMT -5
Kangei bowed "I would be delighted, I rarely get the opportunity to try so many well prepared and cared for leaves. You truly spoil me Umeko-san." he says as he finds a space in the room to seat himself.
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Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0
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Post by Umeko on Feb 19, 2018 12:26:57 GMT -5
Since the goal was to try the teas she was growing here, Umeko picked some very simple teas. Mostly green teas, though she had a simple blend of white and black as well. She get some water boiling, then placed the tea set on the table in front of him with a smile. "Would you do us the honor?" The gardener asked the man. "You are obviously more skilled at preparing it then I am." She added with a chuckle, letting him chose from the various teas as she sat down with a content sigh.
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