Participants:
Kiyli, A foxkin reporter
Yp Yetsona Yetsona Yetsona, a teashop
Yp Yetsona: Hi, Kiyli! Welcome back! It’s been a while.
Kiyli: Yeah, I haven’t been here in years. Not since I moved to the capital. You look much like you did when I was a teenager.
Yp Yetsona: You should move back! But, yeah, Vil didn’t change much after he took over. I think he feels like if he leaves everything the way his mom left it, it’s sort of like she’s still around.
Kiyli: I can understand that sentiment. I can almost see Viyanna peeking out from the kitchen, trying to keep a discreet eye on things.
Yp Yetsona: I see you selected the mint-bluebark soother. She loved that tea.
Kiyli: It’s my favorite here when I don’t need caffeine. What’s yours?
Yp Yetsona: The smokey pine black tea. It was the first tea Vil designed.
Kiyli: I remember that. We were, what? Fourteen?
Yp Yetsona: I’m bad at keeping track of what year it is. But he was shorter than now.
Kiyli: Not that that’s hard.
Yp Yetsona: He does seem rather tall for an elf.
Kiyli: So, I’m including a write-up of you in my Guide to Niaretya. How would you introduce yourself?
Yp Yetsona: Oh… Um… I’m Yp Yetsona Yetsona Yetsona. If the reader isn’t from the area, they may not know what that means. It’s The Quiet Yetsona Teashop. Viyanna, my founder, loved puns. And yetsonae are cute. Everyone says so.
Kiyli: A yetsona, for anyone who’s never seen one, is like a cross between a miniature dragon and a bunny.
Yp Yetsona: Yes. I’ve always had the one in the front window mosaic, but I recently obtained a series of paintings of yetsonae in various seasons. They’re hanging behind the counter.
Kiyli: I noticed. Vil’s new boyfriend did them, right?
Yp Yetsona: Yuri. Yes. I’m told the pair met because Vil wanted to buy the one with the yetsona playing in snow. It was sort of perfect for me.
Kiyli: It is. Talking to you, you sound very fond of Vil.
Yp Yetsona: Oh, yes! I love him very much. I love all of my elves. Sascha tells me they’re only half-elf, that their father was a human and that’s why they could grow their beard. And supposedly Vil and Vanya are part elemental. But I count them all as elves anyway.
Kiyli: Does that love for your elves extend to your customers?
Yp Yetsona: Absolutely! I love having visitors! Elves, pixies, stonekin, whatever! Anyone who appreciates tea is more than welcome!
Kiyli: Do you have a favorite time of day?
Yp Yetsona: I love opening the best. Oh! And midday, when people are less groggy and talk more. And of course, closing is nice because I get extra alone time with my caretakers.
Kiyli: What about a favorite season?
Yp Yetsona: Winter, for sure! The whole town is happiest in winter. I get so many extra visitors then! And they’re all extra cheerful about getting something warm to drink. A lot of times in summer, people are already so hot they don’t want tea.
Kiyli: I’ve heard about a trend for cold teas. Do you offer those?
Yp Yetsona: We do. But they’re just not as popular.
Kiyli: If there was one thing you could tell the world, what would it be?
Yp Yetsona: Be kind to yourself and drink more tea!
Kiyli: Excellent advice.
Yp Yetsona: If you wanted to include a picture of a yetsona, Sascha’s nephew has brought his pet one in to visit.
Kiyli: Oh! That’s a lovely idea!
Yp Yetsona: That came out well. But I see you’ve finished your tea. Would you like more?
Kiyli: I need to get going. But I’ll take some of the smokey pine to go.
Yp Yetsona: It was good seeing you. Come back soon!
Kiyli: I’ll do my best. You are my favorite teashop in the world.
Yp Yetsona: Ahhhh. Thank you!
(Note: If you are in love with the plush “yetsona” in the picture, she is the Year of the Dragon Rabbit from Plushie Dreadfuls. If they still have any, they’ll be listed here.)
