「اثلاثة عشر」spilled

[1001teatimes]

[The twilight scenery could either be dusk or dawn, there's no way to tell. A lovely Oriental-looking tea set with several fuming cups appears against the backdrop of orange sky. Different brews, different flavors. The scent fills the air and seems to beckon

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[habitformed]

[ Okay, this? This was weird. Nevermind not really knowing what was going on or how he'd gotten there or who this random lady was freaking out beside him. The whole huge teaset thing? Was weird.

Mouse scrambles to peer out over the edge of the teacup onto the scalding hot tide of tea around them. He'd seen a television show on something like this once, the whole 'going crazy' thing. Somehow, though, he'd imagined going cuckoo would have been less...tea party-ish.

Dropping back in to the cup he looks at its other occupant. She was shouting. Again. ]

Lady...

[1001teatimes]

[Somewhere past the fathomless grief she's drowning into Tatra can sense she's not alone anymore. But who cares, goodness, WHO CAN CARE...?

All that fine, fine tea... So much of it... WASTED.

She barely raises her eyes from where she's been sobbing into her hands to stare questioningly at Mouse.]

...Young Master... you come here in this darkest hour of despair...

[habitformed]

[ Mouse stares at the woman like she's suddenly started clucking like a chicken or speaking Swahili or something equally ridiculous.

Then he blinks. And then stares at her some more. ]

...seriously?

[1001teatimes]

[Tatra sucks in a sobbing breath and replies in an equally distressed tone, hardly finding her voice.]

Nothing could be more serious...!

[habitformed]

[ Regardless of how confused might be, Mouse is not a complete jackass at the end of the day and a crying lady (albeit a possibly crazy crying lady) isn't something he can take completely lightly. Pulling his hand into his sleeve, he tentatively reaches out and nudges the stranger on the shoulder. ]

S'okay, [ he mumbles. ] Haven't drowned?

[1001teatimes]

[A shake of head: Mouse will never know whether she's acknowledging the fact she's indeed not drowning or just pitying herself for witnessing this disaster.

She glances up at him and does he best to stand straight, smiling sadly.]

I would rather it was me drowning instead of all these wonderful brews going to waste...

[habitformed]

[ The corner of Mouse's mouth twitches and he tries not judge (at least, not with his face) but he can't help but look at the lady speculatively before shoving his hand back into its pocket where it came from. Squinting, he gives her a proper look up and down and then directs his attention out to the tea-colored waves. ]

But... [ The last thing he wanted to do was upset her more. ] ...just tea?

[1001teatimes]

[Just...?

Just...?!

Tatra's face goes alight with outrage for just a second. Then sympathy takes over. This young man doesn't comprehend the extent of this atrocity, as most youngsters would not!]

Dear young man, tea is the representation of love, art and patience...! To brew it to perfection requires endless devotion. This...

[She gestures at the sea of tea.]

This is a desecration of all such love~!

[habitformed]

[ Desecration of all such love. Mouse mouths the words silently as if spoken in a completely different tongue than his own and then lifts a speculative eyebrow at the woman before leaning out over the side of the cup and tentatively dipping a finger into the ocean of tea around them. It's definitely warm and arguably hot. The steam wavers around them and Mouse attempts to scoop a small bit of the stuff into the hollow of his cupped palm.

Dribbling a bit on himself he sniffs the contents of his hand and then sips at it before making a face. ]

Ew.

[1001teatimes]

[Tatra's expression goes blank. Her jaw drops. It's likely the first time in her life that she's been left without guile out of astonishment.]

..."Ew"...?

[habitformed]

[ Wrong answer. That much is obvious from the lady's face and so -- thrown for a loop -- Mouse looks down at his hand and the remaining bit of tea left in the small bowl of it. Scrambling for an answer, he blurts out the first thing he can think of, which is the word: ]

Desecration...?

[1001teatimes]

Young Master, if you do not find the taste to be of your liking...! [As the Ew-ing denounces, or so Tatra deduces. She shares close quarters with Umi and the Knight uses the expression somewhat frequently.] ---it is only because it has been mixed in an unholy way~! Enough to spoil its flavor!

Desecration, yes. Of the sacred art of brewing tea~!