Asato Tsuzuki wants more sweets (sweetslacker) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-12-06 13:14:00 |
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Tsuzuki had worked hard over the last two years to make the greenhouse something beautiful to look at. Despite the snow outside, visible through the high class ceiling and walls, inside was warm and rather humid. The flowers of all kinds and a couple of smaller trees, such as hibiscus trees, grew along a winding path that led to an open area where they had set up some tables, and a string quartet played unobtrusively in the corner.
There weren’t a lot of people at the greenhouse for tea this time around. He imagined it had something to do with people pinching their pennies for the perfect Christmas present, but Tsuzuki really didn’t mind. Less people meant less work, and less work meant more opportunities to chat idly with some of the patrons who came in.
He approached a young woman, wearing a brown waistcoat over a white dress shirt, and pants that were the same colour as his vest. “Good afternoon,” he said. “How are you today?”
Things were finally seeming to go okay. Cosima’s clone illness had been dealt with and Jemma finally found herself truly letting herself relax. Oh, she still had her concerns (she didn’t know what, if anything, had happened from her trip into the monolith) but she wasn’t pushing herself through all hours of the night looking for cures where answers really would only come from someone’s dreams. Which meant afternoon tea.
She had done a survey of local venues which had it and this was the first on her list of places she wished to try. The biochemist wasn’t even concerned about the snow. True she hadn’t been expecting it here, but she was used to it and working at the Agency meant she had read up on previous incidents and so wasn’t startled by the phenomenon.
And that was how she ended up at the afternoon tea in the greenhouse. When she was approached, Jemma smiled.
“Hello. This is lovely, and I’m doing well, thank you.” Always polite, this one. Well, unless you didn’t deserve it, but as a general rule, Jemma tended to be polite.
Tsuzuki gave her a friendly smile. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said. While normally an energetic individual, he played the part of a calm Victorian server quite well, his voice calm and melodious. “Is this your first time here? I don’t believe I’ve seen you here before.”
“It is, yes. I have been in search of somewhere to have afternoon tea since I moved here.” Of course, with everything that had then ended up happening, her search had been delayed. Which was fine. There were things more important than afternoon tea. It wasn’t like she couldn’t make herself a proper brew while at her flat. It was just a nicer atmosphere and getting out was always nice. Especially now that Wendy had moved away and wasn’t there to drag her out for tea.
“I hope the greenhouse has been to your liking thus far. I know it’s my favourite place to drink tea.” Not that Tsuzuki was ever able to participate in the Sunday teas, as he worked all of them, but often times after his shift was over he’d make himself a cup of tea and sit among the plants. He always found it rather soothing. “I’ve brought you a tea menu if you’d like to take a look.” It wasn’t much, just a single page. On one side, it listed the different types of tea, on the other a couple of choices of sandwich, scone, and dessert combos.
“It is, yes.” She certainly wasn’t surprised by how this could be someone’s favourite place to drink tea. There was a soothing atmosphere that one couldn’t get within a tea house. Oh, she loved tea houses but there was something calming about the greenhouse. Add in the fact that it was sometimes necessary? Jemma could certainly see herself coming here when she got to be too stressed out.
Taking the tea menu, the biochemist smiled. “Thank you.” And the more complicated part. Making a decision.
Tsuzuki left her with the menu, checking on the few other guests that were in the greenhouse and making sure to steal a sugar cookie from the back before heading back to Jemma’s table. “Have you decided what you would like?”
By the time Tsuzuki had come back, Jemma had at least made up her mind. Which was always important.
“For the combo, egg salad with cress sandwich, raisin scone with strawberry jam and devonshire cream and passion fruit tart. Then for the tea, Christmas spice please?” Really, a black tea with citrus and cinnamon just sounded very good.
“The passion fruit tart is absolutely wonderful,” Tsuzuki said. “I'm actually hoping they don't sell well today so I can take a few home. I haven't had a chance to try the Christmas spice though. You'll have to let me know how it tastes.”
“Well, your praise of it makes me even happier I chose it. I wish you luck on that.” Smiling, Jemma folded some loose hair behind her ear and nodded. “I will definitely do so.” It seemed like it would be a good flavour and she was looking forward to trying it. And of course if it was good, she’d let him know, how could she not?
Tsuzuki wandered off to put her order in the back and to help some of the other customers, before returning with a cart that held everything she had ordered. The nice thing about having a small menu was that nearly everything on it was prepared in advance, and so really the only time it took was giving the tea some time to steep in the back.
He placed everything on the table, and even poured the first cup of tea for her with a practiced grace that people who knew Tsuzuki might not have expected. “Do you need anything else?”
Not having to wait was always appreciated. Though it wouldn’t have been a problem if she had needed to. After all, it was a soothing atmosphere to be in and Jemma wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet. She knew how things in Orange County were and after the extremely tense few months, the quiet was needed.
But there was Tsuzuki with her tea and food and she smiled in thanks.
“Not at the moment, thank you.”