(D1 EM) Some Things Never Change

[Utaku Yesugen]

Even though she was supposed to be on vacation, Yesugen loathed the possibility of falling out of her routine. And so, she tackled the new day with the same rigidness she had rising out of her bunk.

And one important aspect of a new morning was tea.

The compactness of the lounge didn't phase her at all. She went about retrieving her drink without much hassle. What did plague her, though, was the still burning question of what to do with herself.

[Ide Yamako]

Yamako knew that she needed to rise early and get on with the day, but she was a slave to caffeine. So, blearily, knowing she was among clan mates, she stumbled to the lounge.

She prayed no one was entertaining someone important at this time of morning. The best that could be done would be to claim a hangover or a mugging to explain her morning self.

Finding the auto barista, she punched buttons til something caffeinated came out, downed the first one, dialed her preferred combination now that she could see and think and then took it to find a chair. Only then did she notice the utaku from the day before also present.

“Pardon me Utaku-San, I am not at my best in the morning. I hope you are well.”

[Utaku Yesugen]

Yesugen, ever the loner, enjoyed an arbitrary foray into the dredges of literature: by-the-zeni "romance" books. The characters are flat, well, in their personalities. And much of it seems abusive. She sipped her tea with a grim outlook on the future of the Empire.

But the arrival of the Ide from yesterday brought her back from her despair. "I've heard many people aren't," she said, unable to empathize personally. Well, not that she was great at relating to others in the first place. "I'm well enough. I've been told that I should stop studying during my vacation so..." It seemed wrong to divulge the specifics of her recent escapades. "Leisurely reading does not seem to be my taste."

[Ide Yamako]

Yama glanced at the book she was reading. “Oh no wonder! That one’s by this awful author, she has no sense of story. I swear she can make the best plot sound as interesting as watching rice grow. I can lend you some of my favorites if you like, I brought them with me. It’s always good to have a comfort read with you.”

[Utaku Yesugen]

Yesugen blinked. "Oh, no, this isn't the sort of thing I usually read," she blurted out. Then she inclined her head. "Not that there's any fault in it. If there were, it wouldn't be published and readily available, yes?"

As an attempt to get as far away from the subject as possible, she pointed right at the coffee. "Is it good here? I usually find auto dispensers to be disappointing."

[Ide Yamako]

Yama sipped her coffee slowly. “Well if you change your mind let me know.” A brief pause. “It is…sufficient. I would not call it amazing. But it is present and available.”

[Utaku Yesugen]

"I see." Yesugen looked to her own selection then pondered for a few moments. Then, a slight smile appeared on her face. "I've been told before that not all can be the most beautiful, the most luscious, the most appealing... and other matters. It was more poetic when first said to me." She bit her lipi once and shook her head. "Anyhow, the point was, we learn to appreciate the excellent in our lives through experiencing the mundane."

[Ide Yamako]

She chuckles. “That sounds like a good way of saying my grandmother’s advice but that was more ‘Be grateful for what you have! When we first came to Kuwagata, we brewed whatever leaves we could find.’ I knew I was in for it when she started in on the virtue of gratitude.”

[Utaku Yesugen]

Yesugen suppressed a laugh. "Yes, that does sound like grandmothers. But who can blame them? We have to inherit their legacy and improve upon it." And like that, her own words brought her back to her usual, dour self. "We've come far enough to enjoy the premium tea some of the time, yes?"

[Ide Yamako]

She nods. "We would be doing them a disservice if we did not do so. They would have wished for us to take the Clan to its full potential." She chuckled. "And I will need better tea than this to make that happen."

[Utaku Yesugen]

"I wouldn't trust any of the local tea shops to provide that," Yesugen said with a soft sigh. "Then again, we're all here under an acceptable level of risk, yes?" She nibbled on her lip. "Do let me know if anyone troubles you. I may not have sworn before anyone to protect you. Nonetheless, I will do all that I must."

[Ide Yamako]

She shakes her head. "It does seem that we may have to find our own tea options. And I appreciate your offer Utaku-san. It is good to have some family here at least."

[Utaku Yesugen]

"You may be able to see the rest of my wing," Yesugen said with a faint smile. "Well, I've been doing my best to ease off of them." She pressed her lips together. "They find me to be difficult to spend leisure time with. We'd still die for each other though, so don't be worried about that. Unit has maximum efficiency."

[Ide Yamako]

"You may be able to see the rest of my wing," Yesugen said with a faint smile. "Well, I've been doing my best to ease off of them." She pressed her lips together. "They find me to be difficult to spend leisure time with. We'd still die for each other though, so don't be worried about that. Unit has maximum efficiency."

She nods, knowing that military life is very different from most of her life. "I am glad you are taking care of yourself. We need everyone in these tough times and at their sharpest."

[Utaku Yesugen]

"I suppose I am trying," Yesugen said, unable to conceal much from a fellow Unicorn. She looked about the lounge with the signature frown still on her lips. "What do you usually do to... relax? Are you here to relax or purely for work?"

[Ide Yamako]

She thinks for a moment. "I am here purely for work, but as a diplomat, so much of my work looks like being relaxed or having fun. Its sort of complicated, but I regard it as a particularly complex kata. When I am in less formal space though, I read, watch vids, send comms to my husband or friends. That sort of thing."

[Utaku Yesugen]

"I see. Perhaps I should attempt those things for recreation again." Yesugen lowered her eyes. "Yes, I shouldn't distract you any longer from your duties. I am meant to be on vacation. Thank you for accommodating me." She bowed to the Ide then started heading out of the lounge.

One more matter stopped her. "As always, you may contact me with any request."

[Ide Yamako]

The small Ide bowed to her. “You are too gracious but I will not forget. Good luck.”