Shadowed Eons

Reunion, Part the Third

The room fell into an awkward silence as the door closed behind the trio, the only sounds coming from the occasional sips from cups. Not even the more conversational amongst them uttered a word, seeming to prefer concentrating on their drinks, except Sophocles, who tinkered with a device in his hand. What it did, one could only guess.

Mallow tapped her foot on the ground, being mindful not to step on Steenee. Feeling someone stare at her, she turned until she noticed Lana attempting to get her attention. Furling her eyebrows, she watched as her friend twitched her head to her side, and so Mallow leaned forward and peeked past Lana's head. She winced at the sight of Lillie staring glumly out the window, knowing all too well what brought the girl into such a mood. Exchanging glances with Lana, Mallow cleared her throat before tentatively asking, "So, Lillie...what's the tea like?" Immediately, Mallow wanted to facepalm. Why did I have to ask it like that? I sound so stupid. She could see Lana and Sophocles cringe, while Kiawe's eyebrow raised, mouth dropping into an O. Their host glanced at her with an expression that she assumed to be one of amusement, although that did nothing to make her feel less ridiculous. Lillie turned away from the window, looking confused as she responded, "...The tea...?" She sounded as though Mallow had gone mad, although she did an excellent job at masking it.

Again, this did nothing for Mallow's nerves.

Trying again, she pressed on more confidently, "You know...the tea. What uhh...what do you think of...Alto Mare tea compared to Alolan variants?" That was hardly better, she mentally chided herself as Lorenzo chuckled. "Just Johto tea, my dear," he replied, swirling his tea around. "We import many things from the mainland, such as timber, certain medicinal herbs that don't grow too well out here, and of course, the tea. Although this particular tea might be from Kanto," he added as an afterthought. "I'll have to ask Bianca when she returns; my tastebuds aren't what they used to be."

As the class nodded thoughtfully, Lillie drank from her cup before slowly setting it down. "Well," she began, no longer looking upset as she considered the question, "It doesn't taste as fruity as the tea Hobbes serves, but it's still sweet." Lorenzo smiled and nodded, "Ah, so likely from Kanto. Tea from Johto doesn't have as much sugar and tastes a little earthy. Plus, they don't add certain things to their varieties like Kanto. Or Galar, for that matter." He shuddered as he uttered that, looking haunted as he frowned. Lillie tilted her head as she stared at him, asking curiously, "Galar? What's that?"

Kukui sounded almost excited as he suddenly replied, "Galar is a region quite far from here, being decently up north from the region Kalos and...what was it? Paldea? Anyway, regarding their tea, I haven't had the opportunity to try it." Lorenzo stared at him hard then, sounding very serious as he replied, "And I suggest you keep it that way, if you know what's good for you." Mallow jumped as Rotom unexpectedly butted in, "I must record this!" Rotom's screen turned from a face to some form of diagram with teacups as the machine whirred, "Johto and Kanto tea differs from Alolan tea by not being as fruity, and Kanto tea differs from Johto tea by being sweeter." Their host nodded in confirmation as Rotom stored the data before the Dex inquired further. "And Galar tea is different by....What are the differences between Galar tea and others?" Mallow watched as Lorenzo scowled and replied, "We don't talk about Galar here, machine, and we especially don't talk about that abomination they call a beverage."

Sophocles asked in a baffled tone, "Is it really that bad?"

"Worse," the older man replied, closing his eyes a moment before opening them again. "Why they would make something like that... it's horrendous. It tastes almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea."

Rotom hovered in the air, a circle turning round and round as the Dex struggled to make sense of that description. Mallow was equally baffled, but before she could gather the words to question such a statement, Lorenzo cleared his throat and waved his hand.