Ye Olde Fancy Tea Shoppe

[eien_no_chou]

Chiyo enjoys tea shops. Both kinds - Japanese and Western - had become quite a common sight in Fuyuki recently. Her current choice for the meeting place was a moderately busy Western shop, a slight nod towards who she was meeting today. This meeting was not meant to be one of aggression, though likely it would devolve into the passive kind.

She stared contemplatively at the list of cakes on the menu beside her table, and waited for Acht von Einsbern to arrive.

Comments

[old_man_acht]

He enters without fanfare, with his homunculus driver at his elbow like a pale shadow; at the door, he exchanges a few polite words in Japanese with the attendant, and then his eyes light on Madame Tohsaka.

Allowing the driver to take his coat, he makes his way across the shop to her table. "Madame Tohsaka," he says, carefully neutral. "I cannot thank you enough for agreeing to meet with me. I know that your time is very limited."

[eien_no_chou]

"I could make space for an occasion such as this. It is not very often that our two families come to be able to discuss things together," she smiles stiffly back, gracefully gesturing to the seat across from her. "Please, sit down."

[old_man_acht]

"Of course. Your children are well? Your oldest must be nearly grown." He sits, undoing the buttons on his jacket and revealing his pinstriped waistcoat.

[eien_no_chou]

"My eldest three daughters have already married," she says, flagging down a waitress on the other side of the room. "My son will be inheriting, but he's still too young." No worth in mentioning Asuka.

The waitress approaches. "Welcome, may I take your order?"

"I'll have black tea, no milk," Chiyo replies, waiting for Acht's response. A lot can be told about a man by how he takes his tea.

[old_man_acht]

"Has it really been so long since last we spoke," he says, appraising. "A green tea. I've been told that the house has a very rare Manchurian blend that I've been aching to try."

[eien_no_chou]

The waitress bows and mutters order confirmations before moving off. Chiyo relaxes back into her seat just slightly, a subtle but galling move to show she is unafraid of this old man and his tricks. "In busy years like these, time can move faster than you expect. I hope the war wasn't too harsh on you." Though one or two mansions shelled to the ground wouldn't hurt.