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[revengeisalie]

"Hello. You have reached Asano Rin. You can leave me a message if you want, and I can listen to it later! So I'll get back to you! Have a nice day."

Comments

[revengeisalie]

"Really? Shame we missed each other. Did your homeworld have an exhibit?" Rin is genuinely curious now. She explored quite a bit of the festival, but there was so much on offer she couldn't see it all. She leans on her elbow to listen, but the water is now audibly boiling, and there's a little clicking noise that suggests the electric kettle is done.

"Oh, just a moment, the water is ready. I'm going to make the tea." And she jumps off her chair to do so.

[artofrevenge]

The place is so large that Mizu is not surprised to miss anyone in particular, including Rin. It's also open for some time, so they simply could have gone at different times. She stayed near the back of the opening ceremony, so it was easy to miss her.

"I can wait." Mizu says. Waiting is, in fact, easier. Any excuse to have more time to gather her thoughts and response.

When Rin returns, Mizu says, "Yes, there is an exhibit from my home. It's about swordmaking. Not as fantastical as some of the exhibits, but I am unconvinced others know how to make a better sword than Master Eiji."

[revengeisalie]

"Master Eiji?" Rin calls from where she is portioning tea leaves into the ceramic tea pot. "I think you mentioned him before." Amusement seeps into her voice. "He must be very impressive if you speak of him so highly."

She fills the tea pot with the hot water, puts on the lid, and carries it over to the table, where she sits down again. "Now we let it steep a little and then we'll have tea!" The method of preparation is novel, but Rin has gotten used to it. She's had time to get to know the workings of her new living space by now.

[artofrevenge]

Mizu presses her hands into her thighs. "Anyone who uses a sword in Japan in my time would speak highly of Master Eiji," Mizu says plainly. "People traveled great distances for the opportunity to purchase a sword from him." Surely Rin understands someone like that. Sword masters exist in her time too.

Her reason for coming isn't forgotten, but Mizu follows good manners. There's time to ask. "It is stranger to heat a cooking surface with the turn of a knob," Mizu comments. She's gotten used to it too, but it's still strange.

[revengeisalie]

Mizu tries to hide it, but Rin can see that Mizu values this Master Eiji a great deal. It's endearing. But she won't say that -- she knows Mizu will likely not react well. Ah, men and their absolute refusal to show emotions. Typical.

"It is very strange, for sure. Almost seems like magic, but people insist it is technology instead. Though in this place, I'm not sure the distinction matters."

Rin, on her part, is curious about Mizu's reasons for being here, so she decides to stop beating around the bush. "So," she says, leaning on her forearm, "what brings you here at this hour?"

[artofrevenge]

Mizu appreciates that the topic of Master Eiji is dropped. She can leave it as it is. A little said, only facts, and nothing more. It is strange to have to explain who Master Eiji is, but no one else is from her time, her world if some are to be believed. It's possible Master Eiji does not exist at all in Rin's world, and that is the true reason she hasn't heard of him, not the centuries between them.

"It does what it needs to do. That is what matters." Magic. Technology. It heats food like over a flame. Though it can still burn a place down.

Mizu sits a little straighter at the inquiry. "I am searching for the residence of one of your neighbors. I thought you might be able to help me."