Back in Hogsmeade.

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

It's been a very long couple of weeks, and Inara is pleased like she hasn't been in a while to be back in her apartment above the bookshop. She goes downstairs after apparating into her bedroom in order to pick up her mail that arrived while she was away (not much, all told) and to check in with Ivy.

Afterward, it is just Inara in the storefront, changing the window displays for the week.





Right before dinner, Inara also takes a walk around the town. Nice to get the ground under your feet sometimes.

[ooc: catch her either place.]

Comments

[leavsfrmthevine.livejournal.com]

In her walk she'll come across another stroller, an elderly gentlemen who is wearing a pair of loose fitting green pants and a similarly loose green tunic. He smiles and nods when he sees her.

"It is a lovely evening for a walk isn't it."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"I would think so, sir," Inara offers cordially. "Though I don't take advantage of it nearly as often as I most likely should."

[leavsfrmthevine.livejournal.com]

"But you are taking it now!" The old man nearly chides. "Please call me Uji, I am too old for formalities."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"But formality is a level of respect that my elders deserve, do they not, Uji?" Inara asks with a grin.

"My name is Inara."

[leavsfrmthevine.livejournal.com]

Uji smiles and nods in acknowledgement or her point.

"But now formality has been satisfied. Inara, that is a beautiful name; full of mystery."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"Ironically, 'Inara' is meant to mean 'shining' in Arabic. How interesting that other cultures take the same concept two ways."

The road in front of them splits; one fork circuits back to the right with an aim to circle the block.

"Do you have a destination?"

[leavsfrmthevine.livejournal.com]

"Even more fitting," Uji replies in reference to her name. "And no, I have no destination. I will be opening my tea room soon and wished to gauge the character of this town. It is very peaceful."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

Inara's excitement is scrawled across her face in an instant. "A tea room? Oh brilliant! What kinds? What sort of ambiance are you striving for? When do you open?"

[leavsfrmthevine.livejournal.com]

Uji's face breaks into a beaming smile at her reaction.

"I have no wish to steal business from Madam Puddifoot (http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Madam_Puddifoot%27s_Tea_Shop) so I will be serving Asian and Arabic teas exclusively. I am hoping for a generalized Asian theme but I am afraid my tastes tend toward Japanese so I fear it shall be thus. My hostess is trying her best to guide my hand however so perhaps we will have a balance. I hope we will be opening in the next few days but my hostess may have other ideas.

"We will have small food items, music and games of contemplation as well as a garden. I hope it will be appealing to the students at Hogwarts as well as the townsfolk here."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"Well I at least am certainly looking forward to it."

A unique place to take clients.

Someplace out of the way. Hopefully private.

"Tea rooms always have the most wonderful air of intimacy about them, don't you agree?"

[leavsfrmthevine.livejournal.com]

"Oh discretion and intimacy shall be paramount at the White Lotus. After the tea of course," Iroh replies, laughing a little at his joke. "We shall have two floors and a garden. The rooms on the first floor can be divided by screens which have been spelled against eavesdroppers and the second floor has more permanent rooms. If you wish I shall give you a tour when we open."

He finished by pointing to a round Japanese temple like building with white walls that is a few blocks away now.

[OOC: Here is a preliminary description of the White Lotus (http://leavsfrmthevine.livejournal.com/1371.html) if you are interested.]

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

Inara's eyes are about as wide as teacup saucers at the sight.

"How pretty."

[leavsfrmthevine.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," he replies humbly though his heart swells with pride. Such a reaction and she hasn't ever seen the water colors yet. "Do you have a business here in town or are you visiting?"

[veneficusvenato]

Apparently it's a day for return, some more silent than others, some more normal and, thus, unnoticeable. Jo as easily as someone really unperturbed or aimed at all, is jut stepping out of Gladrags Wizardwear and back on to High Street.

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

Inara is currently focused on the storefront that will soon open to be Uji's tea shop. She can't wait for it to open - a little slice of modernity and worldliness in Hogsmeade.

Not that Hogsmeade isn't wonderful. Naturally.

She just might be trying to peek inside a bay window a little. Sneak preview?

[veneficusvenato]

Jo has a cloak over one arm, half covering a basket she's carrying.

"It shouldn't be too much longer really." She's does keep from the laugh.

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"Oh! Jo! Hello."

Inara pulls back, once again instantaneously poised and not at all still looking back at the storefront.

"I met the proprietor earlier today. I'll be interested to see what the inside ends up looking like."

[veneficusvenato]

"Probably as interesting as he seems to be."

Beat. "Did you meet Azh, too?"

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

Um.

"...No. An older gentleman named Uji."

[veneficusvenato]

"Iroh," Jo nodded, adding to the name Inara had said.
"He's the new Keeper of the Keys and Grounds."





Smiling pricelessly. "Azh is his manticore cub."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"...Oh. A manticore, hmm?"

Interesting indeed.

"No, I haven't had the pleasure just yet. You know Iroh well?"

[veneficusvenato]

Know of, perhaps, but know?

"Not specifically."





"But," and Jo added this word with a lingered holding note to it. "I do make it a habit of knowing at least little about a lot of the things going on here."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"Usually as do I."

The slightest of smiles. Almost acknowledgement. Inara's not required to elucidate just yet.

[veneficusvenato]

It's easy to turn this one.
She almost seems to enjoy it.

"And what do you hear of Hogsmeade?"

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"All sorts of talented witches and wizards of my age are coming together in Hogsmeade of late. Some of them -- "

Both parties here involved.

" -- with histories which are not easily brought to light, for whatever the reason."

Inara shrugs. "I've only been living here a month, and been actually in town for half that. I have many more people with whom I would like to become better acquainted."