Who: Narumi & Astrid What: Tea Ceremony aftermath When: Saturday 1st September Where: Palisades Museum Warnings: None, probably
On the first Sunday of every month, Narumi spent the day at the small local museum, performing tea ceremonies throughout the day, in the Japanese wing. It was something she'd done for years now, and her enjoyment hadn't lessened through the routine of it. It was an excuse to dress up in the kimono her mother had given to her many years before; one she was proud to say still fit just as well as it had then. It was relatively simple; a deep jade green silk, painted with black branches, with embroidered cherry blossom along the hem. It was more suited to spring, but it was her favorite and she couldn't help but wear it as often as she could. There were others she wore, rotating them out each month, but she came back to this one time and time again. Her hair was pinned back from her face in a simple bun, held in place by a pretty kanzashi which chimed gently as she moved her head.
She had prepared the tea following the ryƫrei temae, the simplest method to follow without a purpose-built tea house. Sitting behind a table on a low stool, Narumi spoke in clear, level tones, explaining each step of the temae as she prepared the usucha tea. Once she was finished, she carefully emptied the tea bowls and wiped each one clean, along with the bamboo scoop and whisk, as the room emptied around her. It was common for people to have questions, even for them to ask to have their photograph taken with her in her kimono. She dreaded to think how many photo albums she featured in. Growing up as the daughter of the ambassador, however, she had grown used to having her photograph taken a long time ago. Carefully closing and wrapping up the tea caddy, she looked up from her task as she heard footsteps approaching, a polite smile on her face.
[ooc: more information on the ceremony can be found here.]