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merryfortune · 1 year ago

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An (un)Important Use for the Most Favourite Teaset

Written for @ygorarepairweek

Prompts: Role Reversal | Domestic | Angst

Title: An (un)Important Use for the Most Favourite Teaset

Ship: Rockdustshipping | Ryoken/Spectre/Earth

Series: Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains

Rating: T

Word Count: 1,343

Tags: Alternate Universe - Everybody Lives/Nobody Dies, Post Canon, Canon Divergent, Domestic Fluff, Slice of Life, V-Shaped Relationship, Polyamory

Ryoken didn’t look up from his paper newspaper, yes paper, as he heard Spectre in the kitchen.

Spectre, meanwhile, was focused on making himself and Ryoken some tea. There were various clinking and clanking noises as he poured out tea from a teapot into the matching china.

Or, at least, that is what Ryoken assumed. He hadn’t looked up from his newspaper after all. Merely flicked the next page, the sound of which resounded through the sunroom and then Spectre joined him at the table. There were four chairs set up but they would rarely seat that many people; just three. It was nice to live with just them and their paramour; no Lieutenants, no comatose father, just them.

“Oh… Earth is making it?” Ryoken said.

He sounded suitably dubious. The idea of a glorified robot steeping, pouring, and otherwise making tea wrinkled him. Though a lot of things about Earth wrinkled Ryoken. Luckily, his crinkled expression and tone of voice only ever amused Spectre and Earth was too oblivious to things like that.

“He is. He’s gotten quite good at it. He may have to start learning tea ceremonies next.” Spectre told him.

Ryoken snorted and Spectre gave him the side eye over the book that he had brought with him. In his defence, however, the idea of the Ignis adapting to human cultures was preposterous. Even if Spectre’s Ignis was the one who was most closest to them, at least emotionally and understanding that context. Unlike the other Ignis - such as the Light, Wind, and Dark Ignises - who saw it fit to punish their Origins in whatever manner it was, whether it was during the Incident or thereafter, regardless of how pure their intentions had been.

Still. The idea of Earth of learning the art of tea ceremonies was amusing to Ryoken. Especially since, deep down, he would be good at it. At least in farce or aesthetic. The straight of his back, the clothing that he wore, the impeccable manners required. All of that, yes, he would be good at. In theory, at the very least.

But actually making the tea?

He would first have to prove himself as having culinary talent in making beverages. Something he would surely have to lack due to having no taste receptors of his own. He was an Ignis, after all, a robot, an inorganic creature that had no mouth, no tongue, no nothing.

“It’s ready.” Earth announced. He called from the kitchen.

“Thank you, dear, please bring it over.” Spectre replied.

Ryoken looked away from the newspaper, just briefly, so that he could watch as Earth, brought over a tray: teapot on top, two empty cups, and two little madeleine cakes on matching saucers. He had used Spectre’s good tea set, with his favourite floral etchings on them, white flowers hued with goldenrod and orange centres.

That tea set, as Ryoken understood it, was for special events, everything and anything from wakes to birthdays. Neither of the two extremes seemed all that appropriate for a mere Saturday afternoon with nothing better to do than to eat cake, drink tea, and read the paper. So, Ryoken brought it up out of the curiosity.

“What’s the occasion?” Ryoken asked. He turned back to Spectre in front of him.

“Nothing in particular.” Spectre replied, turning the page in his book with a satisfying flick and a swish of the aged paper. “I let Earth pick and as it would turn out, his favourite is my favourite, also.”

Hm… Like Origin, like Ignis, Ryoken mused. Their likenesses were eerily apparent. Even though it seemed like they should be opposites, they weren’t. They were complementary to one another. This was especially pronounced to Ryoken who had to bear the brunt of both extremes of their eccentricity and how they blended together.

Just look at Earth’s SOLtiS appearance. The resemblance to his Origin was uncanny. Even if Earth had - thankfully - dyed his hair to match his skin as an Ignis.

Still, he walked over with clunky brothel creeper shoes and the awareness that he would be in big, big trouble if he spilt either the tea or worse: dropped the tea set that he was carrying. But, fortunately, he made it. The change between the kitchen and the parlour was not all that big but the couple metres were still nerve wracking enough before Earth, relievedly, placed the tray in the middle of the table.

“Pour me a cuppa, won’t you?” Ryoken teased Earth.

“Yes, of course.” Earth chirped, spritely.

He missed entirely how Ryoken’s tone of voice had been soaked in jeering. Spectre, meanwhile, had not missed that and was giving Ryoken the stink eye from across the table. He put aside his book.

“I would also appreciate it if you served me as well.” Spectre said.

Earth was suitably excited to fulfil both requests. He was in a strange position, being the quote-unquote Hanoi Ignis so he often felt the need to earn his keep. That he needed to prove that he was worthy to stay with them, that they would never need to terminate his position with them.

With a big smile plastered across his face, Earth picked up the teapot and to Ryoken’s amazement, Earth had the most immaculate gesture as he served both him and Spectre tea. His manners were exquisite, the flourish was just enough without being pompous. It was strange but he had a talent for it.

(But then again, Ryoken supposed even Ai was capable of flipping hot dogs down at Cafe Nagi so perhaps food and beverage could mix with the Ignis. Even if he would selfishly prefer better not.

“Thank you, Earth.” Spectre said as he was offered the now full tea cup to the left.

Yes, there was still a matter of tasting it.

“Thanks, Earth.” Ryoken added.

He took the teacup to the right and watched as Spectre, smiled delicately, into the white rim of the teacup. His expression was gracious, thankful, pretty even. He enjoyed the taste and Ryoken, too, couldn’t mistake the dainty scent of chamomile. The steam that wafted up was like a ballet dancer cloaked in tule as it danced up and past his nose, tickling him with a floral perfume.

The taste was even better. The tea was the most perfect amber colour and had been brewed to perfection.

Ryoken sighed, “Well done.” he praised Earth. Something he did quite sparingly and so, Earth’s face lit up.

He beamed. “Really? You think so?”

“Yes. It's delicious.” Spectre agreed.

Ryoken may very well have to consider paying for the Earth Ignis to make a hobby of learning tea ceremonies and the like. It was clear he had talent for it and it was one which was beneficial to him and highly unlikely to lead to the downfall of both the planet and humankind. Or so Ryoken could only hope.

He had another sip and enjoyed the gentle warmth of the tea in his mouth. He withheld a sigh. Being served tea by a former enemy of his and current lover of his own. It was still quite distasteful to him. But ah, how times had changed if this domestic scene was one that he could enjoy and more importantly, both Spectre and Earth could enjoy. They really had come so far, all three of them.

“Hurry up and sit down already.” Ryoken scolded Earth.

“Yes, just because you can’t eat or drink doesn’t mean you can’t join us.” Spectre added.

“Ah, thank you very much.” Earth said and he clumsily pulled up a chair.

The legs of it scraped against the floor, making Ryoken wince. That needed more work but the noise of it was soon replaced by Spectre and Earth making light chatter about the book that he had been reading and whether or not Earth might enjoy reading it later. Ryoken smiled to himself and followed up another sip of his tea with a bite of the madeleine cake that had been accompanying it before he continued to read his newspaper.

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