AUDIENCE FOR: Kaeya

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[ thanks polaris. thankfully, for the moment, aquila is not bothering polaris which is probably good.

they wave their hand, then, and put it on kaeya's arm. shadows immediately swallow them both up... and they appear in the tea room! there's fake grass carpet in here, and an incredible selection of teas, as well as tables and chairs stocked with desserts. aquila ignores those, releasing kaeya's arm and waving him off to go sit down as they make their way over to the wall of tea. ]

Let's have a drink that's a little less - y'know. [ a beat. ] Uh. Less likely to fuck you up, than usual. Got a preference?

[callalilies]

[ oh hello! tea room! kaeya looks delighted by their landing in such a delightful room. pol is going to stretch out somewhere on the fake grass while kaeya does actually admire the desserts with curiosity. he does wait, however, and heads towards the seating, curious more about the tea selection. ]

You know, I think I'd like that very much.

No preference. Pick something that you'd enjoy.

[guestservices]

[ hmm...

they look thoughtful, even with their back turned, hand raised. there's a glint of something silver on their wrist.

... but eventually, they select a couple different kinds of tea - a fragrant jasmine green tea, a hardier oolong, and something that smells slightly of peaches. they then come over and settle down with the kettle.

maybe surprisingly, maybe not, they're pretty good at making tea? their movements are very elegant. ]

No preference. I thought you of all people might be more discerning, if you're so much of a wine drinker. [ not an insult, just amused. ]

[callalilies]

If it were a wine room, perhaps. But I'm always a little out of my depth when it comes to tea.

[ he turns to watch them as they work, clearly curious. ]

You seem to know precisely what you're doing, so I think I'm in the best hands to learn a bit today about tea.

[guestservices]

I've picked up some things here and there.

[ they shrug a shoulder, as they're measuring out the jasmine tea with precision. ] Can't really say I'm an expert. I just pick 'em based on what smells good.

[callalilies]

Who did you pick it up from? A friend?

[ he will take the jasmine tea and sniff it just a little... curious. considering wine often involves scent, this is just a natural part of exploring something like this. ]

... I like that. Promising.

[guestservices]

A friend. [ they agree, breezily. ] A couple of doctors I knew.

[ but once they've poured the cups, they hand kaeya one of the jasmine tea, first. ] Apparently they pair well with the desserts, if you're interested in that, too.

[callalilies]

[ kaeya nods and takes the cup. he appreciates it the way he would appreciate a glass of something vintage back at the winery. scent, appearance, the way it tastes against his tongue. it's floral, a delicate fragrance filling his nose, sweet, almost dewy.

he pauses and looks upwards with a smile. ]

I'll go and get one, then... just to have a taste.

[ when he returns, it's with something delicate like an angel cake with some whipped cream and fruits all around it. that works. ]

Doctors, hm? Always good to know a few of them...

[guestservices]

[ they watch him take the cup and inhale from it, and prop their chin in their hand. there's something a little mischievous about it. a little sly. like there's a private joke to be told. ]

Just a taste. [ agreeing. ] Close your eye, before you take your first sip.

[callalilies]

[ hm. ]

Alright.

[ as he settles in at the table and picks up the cup in both hands, he closes his eye and will take a sip. just like a fine wine, he'll take it all in, finding a smile on his lips as the taste hits his tongue. almost instantly at the taste, appreciatively: ]

Mm...

[guestservices]

[ this is hateful actually.

aquila's voice seems to lose some of its usual, gravel tone. it melts into something silkier, like honey, chin still propped in his hand. ]

There you are. Breathe out slowly through your nose. Let the liquid roll around on your tongue, and keep your mouth closed. Savor every last layer of flavor.

[callalilies]

[ you did this, i'm just an innocent kaeya.

there's something soothing, however, about listening to their voice like this, and he focuses on it for a moment longer before doing as he's told, letting the flavor linger not just on his tongue, but in his olfactory sense as well, mingling so that each distinct quality of the jasmine tea imprints itself like a lesson.

isn't this one?

he swallows, eye still closed, focusing on what is left behind. beneath the table, their ankles knock together. it's (mostly) an accident. ]

[guestservices]

[ i did do this actually. i'm so sorry

anyway. they don't seem to mind, shifting a bit in their seat - they cross one ankle over the other, brushing against kaeya's calf, awfully slowly. ]

Good. [ hmm. 🎶 ] How does it feel?

[callalilies]

[ when he opens his eye again, it's with a calm smile. ]

I like it. It's very delicate, I almost don't want to ruin it with anything else.

[ he offers the cup towards them, as if there aren't others around. ]

[guestservices]

Didn't say you should open your eyes.

[ wow.

that seems a little teasing, though, they take the cup. kaeya can't see their face, but he can probably feel the eye contact. it doesn't break, as they lift the cup to their mouth and take a sip. ]

Appreciating flavors that intermingle can be an experience in and of itself.

[callalilies]

[ that's unfair, you can't say that and expect him not to get a little pink in the face. ]

Didn't realize you were giving orders on this particular little outing.

[ stop making eye contact under the veil, that's somehow even more unsettling (don't)! he does hum with his chin in his hand. ]

[guestservices]

[ they see that pink. :) ]

Didn't you say you were in the best hands to learn?

[ oh, the insinuation there. they set the cup down, delicately, letting it clink into porcelain. ] Or are you the sort of student who misbehaves?

[callalilies]

[ wow. ]

Just to see what they can get away with, perhaps.

[ but he closes his eye once more, as if to make up for the brief disobedience, scooting into the table just a bit more. ]

And perhaps the threat of consequences to follow can be interesting depending on the teacher.

But... do continue.

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I expect nothing less than perfection from mine. Consequences might be severe.

[ fufu. they sound very amused, actually.

they pluck up the angel food cake, then take one of the berries off the top of it. kaeya will hear fabric against the table, and then, aquila's voice, closer. ]

Open.

[callalilies]

[ a pause as he hears the shifting of fabric. he moves his ankle softly against his leg underneath the table until he can anchor himself. and then he parts his lips.

he'll be good for now. ]

[guestservices]

Eyes stay closed.

[ a little warning, but - when they put the berry in his mouth, kaeya can feel bare skin, and not the touch of a glove.

they push his mouth shut with one finger under his chin. ]

[callalilies]

[ he's still behaving. shocking, but maybe he's also just stunned at the quiet that fills his ears from the sheer act of having something placed inside of his mouth. he stays still, though a finger curls a bit against the table for a moment as the one beneath his chin pushes his mouth shut. he can taste the juice that dribbles out just a bit from where his tongue crushes it a little against the roof of his mouth: tart, bright. ]

Mmhm?

[ soft, a question, still with his mouth still shut because it's rude to talk with your mouth full, right? his eye is still closed for sure, no peeking. he'll keep playing along, though his tongue flicks out briefly, staining a bit of his lip. ]

[guestservices]

[ the joke i wanted to make here but held back from. you're welcome.

that's better. aquila makes a soft noise, approving - kaeya will feel their thumb come up under his lip to wipe something away. ]

Yes? [ go ahead. ] Swallow first. Don't speak with your mouth full.

[ the innuendo. again. ]

[callalilies]

[ delicately, he chews and swallows, indulging in the flavor that mingles with the floral edge the tea has left behind from his first taste.

the thumb wipes and his hand lifts to grasp the sleeve a moment, thumb searching blindly for the skin of a pulse. ]

It's perfect... you should have some too.

[guestservices]

[ he can grasp, and find their pulse. it's beating a little quickly - their skin is cold to the touch, though it seems to get warmer at the brush of someone else's hand.

in the meantime, aquila's other hand, gloved, comes up, and presses over kaeya's eyes. no peeking. ]

Are you offering?