Generally there's one generic blend of tea that Mai makes me – after I stated my preference for Earl Grey. It goes under company budget so she happily restocks it of course, but I've noticed that no tea she makes has exactly the same flavour. Which – of course – should be impossible considering she's only using the same tea leaves she always uses.

There are times when I'll get a hint of cinnamon… and chocolate oddly enough – though that only happened once. Usually this is when the tea is brewed so heavy that all the individual spices (I would've sworn once I tasted pepper, maybe cayenne) mix and meld, becoming stronger then weaker in individual tones. I could go out of my mind trying to recognise them all.

In the morning I'll get an abrasive brew so light it should be more water than tea, but I can still get the lemon and mint – sometimes even milk. It somehow manages to be like cold water, even though it's hot, or even a cold breeze that opens your eyes. The smell of the tea perks me up more than the actual tea; scent seeming to pervade the very air in a surprisingly non-invasive way. Sitting there on my desk – possibly as far away from my nose as possible – I'm still able to pick on the various flavours that might be lurking within (hypotheses that I find myself naturally forming before I pick up the cup and try to confirm them). At times I taste mango – which should be impossible, especially with Earl Grey.

I disguise my…interest fairly well – unless Lin is being unusually taciturn about my behaviour. Doubtful.

So I'm able to project apathy to the argument that is currently occurring between Mai and Hara over my tea. As though the position were one of special meaning. Nevertheless this is delaying me getting my tea, and I'd be loath to accept anything from Hara-san's hands (I've had more than enough of the girl and her tedious, childish games), however breaking this dispute in Mai's favour would only serve to heighten the argument as well as anger Hara-san (something I cannot afford right now, despite my dislike of the girl). Not to mention I'd be demonstrating an eagerness to receive Mai's tea, something that would be deliberately and grossly misconstrued. Though I am curious as to what mystery ingredients could be procured in the confines of a hospital, there's really only one option available to me right now.

Irritation bleeds out of my every pore as I wait, eventually they notice and – flustered – they scurry out. Presumably to resolve this elsewhere though, knowing Mai they may end up working together on this.
Knowing Hara, it won't happen.

I dearly hope one of them hurries in with tea.

You know that thing where your muse constantly bugs you while you're meant to be doing something else and then goes away when you're free...?

Yeah - hate it!

So here's a forced/uninspired oneshot for GH. Hope you like, sorry about the OOC. Based on my favourite quote from The Cat Returns (LOVE Studio Ghibli. LOVE. THEM. When I heard they made a movie out of Howl's Moving Castle - something that I also LOVE - I was like AWSDAASDFGDSDF! I could not help. My fangirl squee. EPIC. they had all the parts that... I'm rambling and this AN may get bigger than the actual fic)

My bunnys may have died from Muse-neglect... sadness.

Also my mom's threatening to read my fics... and the next chapter of The Flying Alchemist is pretty... well that's on hiatus until heat's off. A warning to those who're following me.