"Worry not Sir, I took the liberty of reserving a seat for you," Hanae said with a self-satisfied little smile, then turned and led Scarab out into the hall. It was quiet and the two of them were alone, other guests either downstairs already or taking their meals in their rooms. The dark stained bamboo floors were immaculately clean and the elegantly painted screen walls seemed to glow faintly with an internal light. Though thin, the screens were remarkably tough and the essence that permeated the House of the White Lotus made them completely soundproof. Another guest could have been screaming bloody murder just steps away, but nothing could be heard in the hall save for Hanae and Scarab's footsteps. The House's famous lotus blossoms bloomed on the walls and floors themselves, an impossibility were it not for the water-aspected essence that permeated the manse, and filled the air with a soft floral scent.<br/><br/>The trip downstairs wasn't long, but as they stepped over the threshold into the tea house proper it was like stepping into another world. Thanks to the House's sound dampening enchantments the thin silk curtains that hung in the door kept the hall as quiet just inches outside as it was upstairs. Inside the tea room though the air practically buzzed with sound, between the soft murmur of conversation and the lilting song of the two lovely white-haired girls upon the stage. The room was dim, apart from the stage itself, lit only by softly glowing floral arrangements in the center of each table, but the white-sashed girls moving throughout seemed to have no trouble navigating. Hanae led Scarab to the far side of the room, to a small table situated close to the stage, with a single chair. The tables along this wall provided a modicum of privacy, each separated by an intricate wooden trellis covered in leafy vines and softly colored flowers. Once he was settled Hanae gave a small bow before retreating back upstairs.<br/><br/>The show was quite enjoyable (the fact that the musicians were both lovely certainly didn't hurt things) but the performances were a little lackluster compared to the House's homegrown acts. The sisters' renditions of classical Eastern ballads were flawless, but a little too traditional to be memorable. Aided by the essence sight his eyepatch provided it was trivial for Scarab to detect the essence bolstering the women's performance slightly.<br/><br/>It is a testament to the poise and beauty of the girls who work at the House of the White Lotus that their passage drew nearly every eye, even with a pair of terrestrial exalts on the stage. They gracefully came and went from a door near the back of the tea room, arms laden with heavy trays. A dark-skinned girl with a hibiscus flower in her hair flashed a charming smile to an earth aspected woman as she delivered the table's meals, while an elegant redhead with a sprig of rhododendron's tucked behind her ear poured tea for a table full of wealthy patricians nearby. A third young woman, her black hair tied up with a silver ribbon and a white orchid stood in quiet conversation with a man bearing the aspect markings of a son of Hesiesh, and one of rather strong breeding at that. All the girls of the House were lovely, but this one was breathtaking. If it wasn't for the extensive time Scarab had spent overhearing the serving girl's idle gossip he never would have guessed this particular girl, Iselsi Avelle, was in fact the manager of the establishment. On busy nights like this she was reliably found bustling about just like her employees, serving clients and enduring the inevitable indignities that came along. Scarab could see, out the corner of his eye, as the dragon-blooded man reached around and placed a hand on Avelle's back. He leaned down to whisper something in her ear as his touch wandered lower, his hand giving her firm young ass a little squeeze.<br/><br/>Whatever the mistress of the House's response was he could not see though; a petite serving girl, her hair tied up in twin tails at either side of her head appeared, smiling demurely. "Hello Sir," she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice. This particular girl had served him a few times over the past week, but as usual she introduced herself politely before continuing. "My name is Bao-li, I will be serving you this evening. What sort of tea would you like?"