The Tea Clutch Profiles

[Uta]

Green Zhenth
Written by ShinosBee
Colored by -_Wish of Tevarae_-



Origin of Name: Originating in Taiwan, 珍珠奶茶, or zhēnzhū nǎichá, is pearl milk tea. Zhēnzhū itself means 'pearl', and Zhēn alone is often used for the name 'Jane'.

Inspiration: This brilliant green is based on bubble tea! Also known as boba tea, it's a tea base mixed with fruit or milk, to which chewy tapioca balls (known as bubbles, pearls, or boba) and/or fruit jelly are often added. Available in liquid and ice-blended smoothie-like forms, and with a wide range of tea bases, flavors, and variants, bubble tea has spread far from its original recipe—and from it's country of origin!

The most accredited story for the origin of bubble tea comes from the Hanlin teahouse in Tainan, Taiwan. In 1986, in the Ya Mu Liao market, teahouse owner Tu Tsong-he got the inspiration when he saw white tapioca balls. He then made tea using the traditional white tapioca balls, which have the appearance of pearls, supposedly resulting in the so-called "pearl tea". Shortly after, Hanlin changed the white tapioca balls to the black version that is seen today. At many locations, one can purchase both black tapioca balls and white tapioca balls; two kinds of bubble tea.

With so many flavors as options (fruit flavors typically include strawberry, green apple, passion fruit, mango, lemon, watermelon, grape, lychee, peach, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, banana, avocado, coconut, kiwifruit, and jackfruit; other popular non-fruit flavors include taro, pudding, chocolate, coffee, mocha, barley, sesame, almond, ginger, lavender, rose, caramel, violet, and Thai tea!) the exact mental image that comes to mind for each consumer tends to be different. More and more widely available in the US and around the world, newer experimental flavors have also begun cropping up: hibiscus, saffron, rosewater, and cardamom!

Personality: Zhenth is like, super happy to see you! She simply cannot get enough of your (or anyone's!) attention, and thrives on her time with her friends out having fun. The life of the party, she's always down to clown, and is really, truly excellent at making sure everyone has a good time when they're around her. If it's planning a trip to the beach, herding wherries to a pen for the new hatchlings' first 'hunting party', or leading a squad of aerial acrobatic fliers over a gather, if it's fun, she HAS to be involved!

The trouble with being a part of everything is that sometimes there just isn't enough Zhenth to go around. Wanting to be part of anything means that sometimes she overextends herself. A stark inability to 1) choose a priority, and 2) focus on that priority once picked, means that the green is prone to having to be in two places at once. Sometimes she even pulls it off! But of course, sometimes that means she ends up crashing, or getting so tangled up in her multi-layered plans so badly that nothing at all gets done. It'll fall to her rider to pull her back from the brink, and head her off when she starts sticking her claws in a few too many pies. Being kept out of the party might put a damper on her perennial good mood, but never fear! As soon as she spots another chance to have a good time she'll be as right as spring rain again!

Unfortunately not everyone appreciates her effervescent persona. She cannot comprehend dragons that enjoy being grouchy, or just want to have a good cry, and even those she does get on with can come to find her sweet, sugary nature cloying after too much time in her presence. She's a very tactile dragon as well, always wanting to drape her neck over others, or cover a friend with a wing. It's wonderful as a pick-me-up when you're down, but she just does not know when to back off, and it can get awkward very quickly when she fails to read the social cues of those not so inclined to cuddling.

Positive Traits: Fun-loving, adaptable, popular, bubbly (lol).
Negative Traits: Unfocused, indecisive, lacks boundaries.

Adult Size: 22'
Physical Attributes: Calling Zhenth 'round' would be doing her a disservice...but she definitely isn't as sleek and streamlined as many greens. This girl's all curves and no breaks! The cherub-like shape of her face and slightly larger than usual eyes make her look eternally like a weyrling, which isn't helped by her party-girl behavior. On the ground or in the air she seems to dance...a peppy, bopping, head-bobbing type of dance!

Additional Notes: Zhenth adores all her siblings, and being apart from some of them is a perpetual issue her rider will have to deal with. She especially misses Baihath—regular check-ins, by letter or mental contact, will be in order, with her rider's assistance. She has a particular thing for trying to coax curmudgeonly males into playful flirting, but has no real preference for males or females when it comes to romance.

The Solid Leaf Green Egg A medium sized egg to the side.
Theme Song: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

Why Me? Farensil! You've waited long enough, and now your Zhenth is here! This green may have taken her time finding her rider, but there is no doubt in her heart that the young girl is meant for her! Where Farensil is quiet, you can be Zhenth plans on being loud. She will shake things up for the girl, and certainly shake her out of those daydreams! On the other hand, Zhenth could use someone more reserved to help keep her in line. Farensil's diligence will help ensure this green stays the course, though if it gets too boring, you can bet this green will try to shake things up. She'll have no problem letting Farensil pull the weight when she can -- it's not that she'll take advantage of Farensil's enabling attitude, but she certainly won't object to it. She has the utmost faith in her beloved Farensil -- why should they both have to listen to lessons on such a sunny day?

It will be up to Farensil whether she keeps Zhenth in line. Thankfully, Zhenth doesn't do what she does out of cruelty -- no! She does it because life is meant to be lived, and she has a lot of trouble focusing. She is easily distracted, and will eventually cling onto her riders ambitions. While there's much to do, her beloved will always come first and have Zhenth's endless energy and support. No star will ever be out of reach with this duo!

 

[Uta]

Green Zhuchath
Written by Masterharper
Colored by demon_pachabel



Origin of Name: Zhuchath's name comes from the pinyin form of Gunpowder Green: zhū chá, which means literally "pearl tea".

Inspiration: Gunpowder Green Tea is a form of Chinese tea in which each leaf has been rolled into a small round pellet. Its English name comes from its resemblance to grains of gunpowder. This rolling method of shaping tea is most often applied either to dried green tea (the most commonly encountered variety outside China) or oolong tea.

Gunpowder tea production dates back to the Tang Dynasty 618–907. It was first introduced to Taiwan in the nineteenth century. Gunpowder tea leaves are withered, steamed, rolled, and then dried. Although the individual leaves were formerly rolled by hand, today most gunpowder tea is rolled by machines (though the highest grades are still rolled by hand). Rolling renders the leaves less susceptible to physical damage and breakage and allows them to retain more of their flavor and aroma. In addition, it allows certain types of oolong teas to be aged for decades if they are cared for by being occasionally roasted.

Gunpowder tea is also exported to the Maghreb where it is used in the preparation of traditional North African mint tea. The Moroccan tea ritual is at the heart of any social gathering, from an informal visit to a neighbor to lavish soirees with dignitaries. Mint tea is made by adding mint and sugar or honey to gunpowder tea while brewing.

Personality: Watch out world -- Zhuchath is finally here! This green is not at all like some of her quieter, softer-spoken siblings. No, this green is here and ready to shine. She will move through the world like a cannonball, and isn't the sort to ever back down. If you want to pick on someone, it had best not be Zhuchath, because she will absolutely crush you beneath here claws.

Passion drives this green. When she puts her mind to something, there is no swaying her. She isn't afraid to speak up, speak out, and will well be known for being assertive. If she wants something, she will find a way to get it -- even if it can't be immediate. No, Zhuchath isn't the sort of green who demands immediate gratification -- she knows how to wait. The end game is something this green is always considering, and is something she knows how to play. Just because she can't have something right now doesn't mean she won't woo it over to her side, tomorrow. Some say Zhuchath is too clever for her own good, and they'd likely be right.

Additionally, she doesn't seem to sleep. While she'll be energetic as a hatchling, and have trouble calming down, she'll keep that energy well into adulthood. This is a green who wants to be out there having fun! If she's not doing something, then she must well be dead, because Zhuchath isn't going to sit around and wait around for anyone. She can entertain herself as easily as she entertains a group, and you can bet that this green knows how to party! While she isn't always people's cup of tea (no pun intended) due to her blunt and sometimes aggressive nature, she has enough friends and allies to happily be at the heart of her social circles.

Though she's smart, and temperamental, she's not especially serious. At her heart of hearts, Zhuchath can be quite a sociable creature. She isn't afraid of talking to anyone -- shyness just doesn't suit her. She will talk to anyone who approaches, and that means others outside of her rider. Unfortunately, Zhuchath is known to be blunt in conversation, which can turn others off from her. On top of being assertive, and always standing her ground, this green isn't afraid to call a spade a spade. She will call you out on your crap, and tell you what you don't want to hear. She has no tact. Worse, she has a tendency to get aggressive when she feels cornered, or if her friends, loved ones, or rider is in need. She's the sort of green who bites first, and asks questions later. While she will not harm people, she isn't afraid of close calls. While her snaps might be relatively harmless as a hatchling, such behavior had best be kept in check. Having a full grown green baring down on anyone can cause more trouble than good.

Positive Traits: Passionate, Energetic, Sociable
Negative Traits: Assertive, Blunt, Aggressive

Adult Size: 28'
Physical Attributes: Zhuchath is a big green. She is bulky, strong, and tall. Just like her personality, Zhuchath is a force to reckon with, and you can bet she has the muscle to back it up. This makes her slower than some of her green kin, but just try telling Zhuchath that! You can bet this green isn't going to care or listen.

Additional Notes: When it comes to flights, you can best bet Zhuchath will fly as soon as she is able, and often at that. They are hard and fast, and she will not settle for anything less than the best. Her size lends her well to fighting Thread.

Zhuchath's very friendly with Sahrawith. She loves to hang out with her sister, and even if they are worlds apart, will talk every day just to keep up with her beloved sister. She also has a fondness for Aryath, arrogant a*****e he is.

Theme Song: b***h Meredith Brooks
The Pink Striped Egg A medium sized egg sitting off to the left side of the clutch.

Why Me? Valineux is Zhuchath's equal, through and through. If anyone could handle this feisty green, it's the assassin with the perfumed wares. These two were simply made for one another, and can be as loud and proud and sassy as they need to be! You can bet that Zhuchath isn't going to slow Valineux down -- in fact, this green is likely to be just as much of a bull in a china shop as her rider! This green didn't want some wilting wallflower -- no -- she wanted someone who knew how to stand on her feet and make some noise! Thankfully, Valineux's assertive and bossy nature will (hopefully) be able to temper Zhuchath's aggression. While this green didn't display much at the Hatching, she knows how to bite, and can bite hard when things don't please her. While she would never hurt a person, terrorizing them isn't much better as far as the Weyr's are concerned... and that doesn't stop her from attacking other dragons. There's hope that Valineux's warmth will rub off on Zhuchath, for there isn't anything this green wouldn't do or give for her most beloved. They might butt heads from time to time, especially if Valineux isn't giving Zhuchath what she wants, but there is no denying the perfection of this match.

 

[Uta]

White Baihath
Written by Masterharper
Colored by demon_pachabel



Origin of Name: Baihath's name is inspired after the Chinese name of White Hair Silver Needle tea, Baihao Yinzhen. For the production of Silver Needle, only the leaf shoots are plucked. Unlike the plucking of green tea, the ideal time and weather for plucking white tea is a sunny morning when the sun is high enough to have dried any remaining moisture on the buds

Inspiration: White Hair Silver Needle, is a white tea produced in Fujian Province in China. White tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the same one that produces green, black and oolong teas. Like green tea, white tea leaves are minimally processed, but unlike green tea, only the youngest leaves and buds of the plant are used. Silver needle white tea consists of only the buds of the plant and is very rare, as it is harvested only two days of the year. Like all white teas, it is high in antioxidants and can potentially provide protection against a host of conditions such as regulating blood glucose, and helping to metabolize fat. Baihao Yinzhen is said to smell of "fresh-cut hay", and the flavour is described as sweet, vegetal, and delicate.

Personality: Baihath is the sort of dragon who is young at heart. Even as he ages, this white dragon will always seem to find a way to have fun. He will turn chores into games, and never turn down a chance to play chase, or hide-and-go-seek. This dragon is known to have a penchant for games, and will turn any sort of task into something fun. Why so serious? Please. Baihath has no time to be serious, and can't seem to understand or relate to his peers that are stuck up and full of frowns and drear. This will get him in trouble when he goofs off at the wrong time, or misses an important warning due to giggling over some inside joke. Though his games and good humor and cheer can be fun to be around, this white can be a bit childish.

He doesn't really want to grow up, and isn't going to be particularly responsible. Though he can and will earnestly abide orders given to him, he will be easily distracted from completing his tasks quickly, and might well forget details. But what does it matter? Getting a job mostly done is better than not finishing at all! No matter how often he's in trouble, unless his rider is on task, Baihath will always act a bit more like a weyrling than a fully-fledged dragon; consequences just don't often stick, which will be troublesome for his rider!

No matter how bleak the situation, or how much trouble they're in, Baihath will always find the silver-lining. This white is full of good cheer, and very little will bring this white down! Even in the most dire of situations, Baihath will be the optimistic. They can do it! There is nothing his rider can't do, and no challenge too great for this white... Except, perhaps, staying on task. But that's what his rider is there for, isn't it?

Trouble will follow this white wherever he goes. He doesn't usually mean to cause problems, but he just can't help himself. He finds lessons boring, so likes to spice them up however he can -- poking at this clutchsib, reading that bystander's mind, coming up with some sort of game that only makes sense to himself -- the usual things. Worse, he doesn't seem to know when to quit, thanks to his childish behavior. Requests for obnoxious behavior to end wind up going unanswered, which can cause some dragons to get mighty testy and angry. His poor rider is going to feel the brunt of it, since Baihath finds it all one good joke.

Thankfully, his beloved rider is the one person Baihath will listen to. Usually.

Positive Traits: Optimistic, Eager, Fun-Loving
Negative Traits: Distracted, Childish, Troublesome

Adult Size: 17'
Physical Attributes: Baihath has fine proprotions, and is average size for a white. He'll have decent stamina, and will enjoy having an extra-long flame. He'll make a decent edition into any wing, as he can almost keep up with the smaller greens.

Additional Notes: Baihath likes to think he's friends with all of his clutch-sibs, and will have no problem reaching out to those who wound up in different a Weyr than he. His conversations might not last long, but he does love making -- and keeping -- friends.

The Indigo & Yellow Colorful Egg A small egg in the middle.

Theme Song: Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & the Waves

Why Me? If ever there could be a more irresponsible pair, this one would be it. It's what makes Alya perfect for this big white dragon. Baihath didn't wants someone responsible, or a stick in the mud serious rider -- no, Baihath was drawn to Alya's like a bear to honey! Her sweet, dramatic, and flighty nature pairs well with his fun-loving childishness. He'll giggle over her dramatics, and encourage her to be twenty times worse. Why not? It's all in good fun, after all, and he plans on having the best damn time with Alya!

They will be unstoppable!

Rules? Who needs rules. Life is too short to be fenced in, and they should spend as much time laughing as possible.

There is hope that, between the two of them, Alya can keep Baihath from actually hurting himself, or others, due to his antics. She will have to be the responsible one, but might be able to convince her white that it's all a game. Her quick thinking should be able to stay ahead of Baihath's tricks and trouble. She is the one person he will defer to, though he might whine or sulk if it's something he really doesn't want to do. Thankfully, though, there will be more sunny days than cloudy ones for this pair. Life's a game, and Baihath is going to drag Alya out to play it!