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“Hey! We’re here!” Malkuth waved cheerfully as she and Yesod descended the final steps into the Floor of Philosophy.
As per usual, their reason for coming to this floor was due to Binah’s invitation for tea. Unlike what one might expect, their reason for coming was not due to a deep-seated fear of what might happen if they were to refuse one of her invitations. Binah’s teas had actually become quite a regular (and pleasant) social gathering that those living in the Library had come to enjoy participating in. Binah’s conversations were very interesting when not overly morbid, and the tea was always brewed to perfection. A perfect comparable companion to Chesed’s more lively and chatty coffee meet-ups.
“Welcome. You’re right on time, I’ve just finished setting the table.” Binah was already seated at her usual spot, the teapot situated in front of herself as if she’d been holding onto it moments before their arrival. “Shall I assume that that box contains a contribution of yours for this gathering?” She glanced at the small box that Malkuth had carried in under her arm.
“Yep! I brought along a few cookies to snack on while we have the tea. They’re just some butter cookies, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Sweets such as that ought to blend perfectly well with the tea I’m serving today.”
“Will anyone else be joining us for this gathering?” Yesod asked. Upon further inspection of the table, he realized that there were four seats set up at the table, with a cup, saucer, and a small teaspoon set out at each of them. Considering Binah wasn’t the sort of person to do anything without intent, it wouldn’t make sense to him if she had set an extra place to sit empty.
“How observant of you,” Binah smiled thinly. “Yes, one more person will be joining our number. I expect he shall arrive shortly, just in time for it to finish steeping. He’s very timely in that way.” Binah motioned across the table with one hand in an inviting gesture. “Go ahead and take a seat. You can make yourselves comfortable while we- Ah. Not there, Yesod.” Yesod abruptly halted with his hand on the back of one of the chairs. It was the one closest to Binah’s right side. She didn’t seem angry, but her eyes were fixed on him with unnerving intensity. “The other seat, if you’d please.”
“Um, sure…” Yesod glanced at the place with confusion, but he took his hand away from the chair and moved around to the other one that was to Binah’s left. She made no other gesture or indication she was going to speak, so he assumed she was pleased by his relocation enough that it wasn’t necessary. Yesod and Malkuth exchanged a confused look, but took their places at the table now regardless.
“So, what kind of tea are we having today, Binah? Is it black tea again?” Malkuth asked curiously.
“Yes, though I thought I would try a new blend today,” Binah smiled. “I happened to acquire some very lovely dried roses recently, so I thought I would use them to make a pot of rose black tea. As the name suggests, the tea leaves are mixed with dried rose petals. It gives the tea a very pleasant fragrance, and adds just a touch of sweetness to the deepness of the flavor. Normally I’m of the opinion that a nice dark, deep tea has no need to be cut with anything to lighten the flavor. However…” Binah smiled, that thin and secretive expression which only she seemed to be capable of making. “Well, let us say that I’ve recently acquired a taste for this blend as of late. The snacks you brought along with you ought to pair with it very nicely, Malkuth.”
“That sounds really nice! I can’t wait to taste it!” Malkuth was already imagining it, even as she laid out the cookies on a small plate.
“Ah, it seems everyone else has already arrived. Does this mean I’m late?” Another voice sounded, which quickly realized into the form of Hokma arriving down the steps.
“On the contrary, the tea should be just about ready. You’re as punctual as your trusty timepiece, Hokma,” Binah said by way of greeting.
When Hokma got closer to the table, Yesod realized that he was holding something. It was a tall, thin vase, just large enough to hold a single flower in it. And the sole occupant of the glasswork that Hokma carried in was one white rose with its petals spread into full bloom.
“Oh! That’s very pretty, Hokma!” Malkuth said. “Where did you get it?”
“I’ve gotten into the habit of tending to them, lately, after Tiphereth asked for my assistance researching their cultivation methods,” Hokma replied. He leaned over the table, just far enough for him to place the vase in the center. “I thought it might be a nice addition to the table setting.”
“You thought correctly. It’s very suited to my favorite tea set,” Binah replied. “Now go ahead and take your seat. I’m just set to pour.”
Hokma did as instructed, and walked around the table to the sole unoccupied chair (the one which Binah had so stringently warned Yesod from taking, he couldn’t help but notice). Alongside the teapot, there was small container whose purpose Yesod and Malkuth didn’t yet know. First Malkuth’s cup was poured out, then Yesod’s. Each one delivered back to them after they handed them to Binah for pouring.
It was when she went to preparing Hokma’s cup that Yesod and Malkuth came to know the mystery container’s contents. As Binah dipped his teaspoon into it, and brought it back out with a globule of a richly golden honey, which she then smoothly deposited into Hokma’s cup and stirred it around.
“Ah, I forgot to mention. This tea’s flavors go well with honey, if you’d care for it,” Binah addressed the duo who had come in together. Then, to Hokma, “here you are. To your taste, I should think,” before she set his cup back into its saucer.
“Thank you.” Hokma took up the cup quickly, and took a slow, quiet sip. Letting it linger under his nose even when he pulled it away from his mouth. “Your tea brewing is top notch as ever.”
“As it should be.”
Malkuth couldn’t help but flick her eyes between the two of them as they talked back and forth, finally turning her gaze to Yesod, who was right there to meet it. Surely this meant that she wasn’t the only one to see this, right? This odd… something that felt like it was in the air right alongside the scent of roses that now permeated the table with the tea poured out for all its imbibers.
As if on cue, Malkuth found her eyes wandering to the table’s center, and that single rose that Hokma had brought along with him. The rose that he said he’d happened to have been cultivating lately, the same way Binah had just so happened to receive the roses for this tea.
…
Well, it was probably none of her business to say anything. Malkuth shrugged, more for her own benefit than anyone else’s, and took an experimental sip of the tea set before her.
Wow, Binah was right. Roses and tea really melded together quite perfectly.