A formal welcome

Posted on 29 Jan 2022 @ 12:27am by Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Yukime Frost
Edited on on 30 Jan 2022 @ 4:36pm

1,808 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Regula I - Holodeck One
Timeline: MD 03, 1600 hrs

[ON]

Yukime knew there were perks to being station commander like being able to get the absolute best holodeck on the station. After that it was simply a matter of sending out invitations to the Galileo personnel that had been at the debrief.

The electronic invitation simply stated: 'You are invited to a traditional Earth Japanese tea party as a more formal welcome to the station at 1600 hours. Civilian dress is acceptable."

The holodeck was already in readiness and featured a beautiful garden with Zen meditation centre and many cherry trees set at the time they would blossom. As the guests would enter, they would be on a path to the chashitsu, a simple bamboo constructed small house with a low ceiling. Of course, the traditional sliding paper door was present. Silk had conjured up some assistants to help and they would greet each visitor when they would show up.

Marisa was the first to arrive. She chose a traditional Vulcan dress to both honor her host and show her own roots. Or one of them, anyway. She walked slowly onto the holodeck, taking her time to appreciate the setting.

"Have you ever been somewhere like this before?" Blake asked as she stepped up beside her, not having been far behind her. She wore casual clothes as suggested, black trousers with a red jacket. She looked around, taking the peaceful sight in.

"No," Marisa said, smiling at Blake. "I've visited other cultures, but I haven't been to Japan or the like. This is beautiful."

As the guests arrived the two holodeck attendants dressed formally but with their hair in the style that they were still understudies came and made formal bows to each guest.

Each in turn said "Yōkoso" and then followed into Federation standard with Welcome. "Honored guests," the most senior one intoned. "Please come, and let us prepare you." She waved a deep sleeved arm toward what appeared to be a stone fountain. The attendants both turned and went to the fountain and stood waiting for the rest to come over.

"Traditionally, one washes one’s mouth, hands and feet before entering. It is our duty to help prepare you. One will leave one’s footwear here as well before entering. However, we have been instructed that not all perhaps maybe comfortable with certain customs and thus please just inform us."

"I have no problem following your traditions," Marisa said. "Is there a particular ritual that must be observed for washing?"

"There is a dipper for rinsing your mouth, then just wash your hands in the water flowing from the fountains. Me and Miko will attend to your feet. Then please enter and take a seat. We have Western style stools if you find that more comfortable than traditional style."

The girl led them to the fountain and took the dipper. She placed it in the water and then drank from it. She then spit out the water into the stream flowing away, then carefully washed the dipper again before offering it to the guests.

Marisa took the dipper and followed the girl's actions, then handed the clean dipper to Sharp. When she took it, Marisa washed her hands as directed.

The two understudies went to stand by the entrance. They bowed as the guests came up and then knelt to remove the shoes. They then gently washed their feet and toweled off with water from bowls that were at a warm temperature. Finished the two stood, bowed again and then one slide the paper door open while the other said, "Be welcome honoured guests."

Marisa bowed to the two women and walked through the door.

Blake took a deep breath before moving carefully through. She had moved dutifully through each step, but it was very strange to the space born woman. It piqued her curiosity though, with just how different it was to the snippets of Earth culture she knew.

Silk waited in formal position. That position in which one sat on one's heels and had one's knees in front. It was uncomfortable but one learned to endure it as part of one's training. She did not have the white makeup on, as she was nearly albino colored especially with her hair. She rocked back and stood easily as the two entered and made a formal bow.

"Welcome, and welcome to Regula I. I have arranged for some upgraded quarters for you after the interview. I figured one of the least things that could be done. Please," she waved a hand. "Have a seat, there are chairs," she indicated wooden chairs along one wall. "I you feel more comfortable. I will get started shortly, but if there are questions about this ceremony, me or anything else feel free to ask."

"If you don't mind," Marisa began, "I would appreciate an explanation of the tradition behind the ceremony as we go along. It doesn't have to be very detailed, but it will help me appreciate it more."

Silk made a tilt of the head. "But of course. The ceremony was practiced in Japan almost thousand Earth years ago. The ceremony is called sadō or “The Way of Tea.” The idea of the ceremony is to create a feeling of hospitality for guests by preparing and serving matcha tea in a beautiful and thoughtful way. The idea is rooted in Zen Buddhism, as a formal stylized art form to epitomize four qualities of Japanese life and culture. They are wa or harmony, kei meaning respect, sei the sense of purity, and jaku which basically translates to elegance and tranquility. Every action and movement throughout the tea ceremony will be deliberate, considered, and completed in careful order. The idea is to set a space for purity, harmony, along with clarity. It is an attempt to put aside the chaotic and celebrate the peace of clarity, harmony, and most of all friendship. Overall, while not a complete student of Vulcan or Bajoran lifestyles, I think it shares the same idea. Formal like Vulcan meditation, calming and quiet like Bajorian contemplation. Did that help answer your question honoured guest?"

"It did, thank you," Marisa said, inclining her head respectfully. "And yes, there are similarities to Vulcan traditions and meditation. It is especially appreciated after the past six months."

Silk made a small bow. "Please feel free to ask questions, though normally one would not. While this is formal, we relax some of the rules of the ceremony."

"Thank you." Marisa appreciated her making that accommodation for them. There were so many nuances to a Japanese tea ceremony that the science officer didn't want to miss anything.

"Very good." Silk then pointed to the various pieces that were laid out. "This is Matcha, a type of very high-quality green tea powder. This is the fukusa, a silk cloth which will be used to ritually clean the actual tools. The matcha is being stored here in this container called chaki. The chagama is a metal pot made of copper that will used to heat the water. This is the chashaku which is a small ladle that will be used to scoop the matcha. These are the chawan, or tea bowls that the tea will be prepared in. Finally, this is the chasen, a type of wisk made from a single piece of bamboo which will be used to dissolve and mix the matcha into the hot water."

Silk then began to use the fukusa and thoroughly wipe each of the bowls, the scoop and whisk. She then wiped the inside of the pot that the water would go into. "In ancient times, this indicated that one was not going to poison the guests. Everything cleaned a purified." She then poured water into the pot saving just a little which she put in a bowl which she then sipped, then recleaned. The small pot soon got the water to a boil.

While the water was going into a boil, a little bit of the tea was placed in each bowl. "When I give the bowl to you, the decoration will be toward you. When I give the tea, you are to turn it so the decoration is facing me."

She then handed a bowl first to Commander Blake, then Lieutenant Commander Sandoval and finally to Lieutenant Alexander, as that was the ranking order and tea was served in order. She explained that as she went.

Blake carefully turned the delicate cup in her fingers, not having used one without a handle before. She leant to smell it first, but the aroma didn't give much away of the contents. She finally sipped it carefully, taking her time to taste it. She'd never had tea like it...it was fresh and earthy, or perhaps grassy or plant like was a better way to describe it. It tasted...healthy and light, but a flavour that also held its own. It didn't have the heaviness or bitterness of dark tea, and she was pleasantly surprised by the taste.

Marisa took the bowl in both hands, pausing to appreciate the aroma before taking a sip. She often drank herb tea, but this was very good.

"This is macha green tea, a bit thicker and used just for formal ceremonies." She made a little bow forward, "Regula One e no meiyo aru gesuto o kangei shimasu. Welcome honored guests to Regula One."

"Thank you," Marisa replied formally. She wasn't sure exactly how she should respond and hoped it was appropriate for the occasion.

"This pretty much concludes the ceremony. When you are finished the attendants will gather your cups. If you wish, I can holograph up some entertainment for you."

Marisa bowed. "Thank you for the welcome and the ceremony. I don't know about the others, but I'm fine." It had been enlightening and she'd enjoyed it, but she did not need to be entertained.

"Same," Blake assured, lifting her hand slightly in a reassuring gesture before shifting to a more comfortable position. "Thank you, I've never done anything quite like this. How old is this custom? Has it endured a very long time?"

"Several thousands of Earth years. For some, yes, very old, others, well not quite so much." Silk stood easily and then bowed. The attendants came to take the bowls also bowing in return. "Thank you for attending. May your voyages be easy." Silk again bowed.

Marisa stood and bowed back. "Prosperity and long life." As she was half Vulcan, it seemed a fitting response. She was grateful that Silk had chosen to share the ceremony with them. She felt better prepared to take on the rest of her day.

[OFF]

--

Lieutenant Commander Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

Yukime "Silk" Frost
Station Administrator
Regula I
[PNPC Warraquim]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

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