乙巳 004: 大寒

[singlemilletgrain]

[video broadcast]
Greetings again, Corsairs.

[As usual, following a bow, Shu addresses the video feed with perfect poise and elegance.]

After the... challenging events of the New Year's mission, I wish to call for some levity. In Yan, as the year changes, we visit the temples to have our fortunes told for the coming year. It is just for fun, of course. In Dahuang, I keep a place of worship to... [a faint pause] a Xian of agriculture, Shennong, and occasionally run the festivities.

Please come by. There will be traditional New Year's food, of course.

[If anyone has learned anything about Yan at this point, it is that they have Too Many Holiday Traditions and Too Much Food.]

[option 1: just for fun]
[Shu's doorway is vibrantly decorated in red and gold, and when she ushers you in, the most immediate sight is the table filled with plates and plates of food. Mostly dumplings, for dumplings are easiest for visitors, but also whole fish, noodle dishes, and sticky rice.

To the side, there is a little chest with two sets of burning incense at either side. Fortune seekers are invited to kneel, burn incense if they wish, pray for luck from whatever deity or the general karmic wheel of the universe, and then reach out for a container of what look like sticks. There is a little sign explaining this is the tradition of 'qiu qian,' beseeching insight from the gods.

One must ask a clear question, shake the container a few times, and pull out a stick.]

[option 2: the real thing]
[Shu sits at her 'priest's seat' and laughs lightly at the interpretation of the fortune received. Perhaps she sees something more ponderous in your eyes, for after a moment or two, she clasps her hands together and exhales lightly, bowing her head.

Her red pupils have constricted to tiny dots when she raises her head once more.]

...I could give you a better fortune, if you wish.

((If you pick option 2, Shu will either tell you in very vague prophetic terms something that may or may not happen in the future of your canon, something that happened in the past of your canon, or give you a random item that might be useful to you this year. If you pick option 1, it will be total nonsense.))

Comments

1 at first

[spacetogrow]

[Ilphyl does believe that things like like and divination exist, but they are hear for the food. They won't turn down a good omen.]

[After they eat. Ilphyl may be well past any adolescent growth, but they lead an active life, so are building an impressive plate of dumplings]

Hello. I'm leaving some for other people, don't worry.

[singlemilletgrain]

Ilphyl!

[Shu welcomes them in warmly.]

Please. You must take as much as you wish. I have not seen you in many months.

[They were Mine Slave Buddies together. That was important.]

You must try the noodles before they are gone. I'll tell you a secret - the first batch is hand-made, but I did not enough time to make too much. The rest of the noodles are store-purchased.

[spacetogrow]

[IF Ilphyl's hands weren't full, they would offer a hug. Someone greeting you that warmly falls into hugs]

I will, I promise. I've been pretty busy in Flotsam during the hunt. What about you? What have you been doing?

[singlemilletgrain]

Since the harvests concluded, I have mostly been holed up in my room cooking. And finding excuses to inflict my cooking upon other people.

[...This is not a surprise.]

But I was with the propagandists in the mining village during the mission last month. Were you on guard duty there? I thought I saw you moving out with some of the Corsair forces.

[Despite that they have a large pile already, Shu continues to urge the noodles on them by picking up a fresh plate for them.]

[spacetogrow]

Well, I'm always open to eat other people's cooking. And, yeah. I'm not the best at talking to people, but I am very good at crowd control.

[look, don't turn down good food.]

[singlemilletgrain]

And I am always open to having other people eat my food. That is, as they say, synergy.

[Shu pushes plate of noodles in their direction.]

How did the mission fare from your end?

[spacetogrow]

Good. I worry about how the people will handle it after we left, but they know the Empire better than we do. We just need to stick to the background and listen to what they need.

[Ilphyl is concerned about not abandoning the people they are trying to help]

[singlemilletgrain]

I was worried they would face retribution for appearing to help us in any way, but Renne, one of the Corsairs on my team, told me she had taken steps to avoid that happening.

It would be kind to return when the coast is clear to ensure that the remaining villagers are doing well. The evacuated miners have at least begun to assimilate into our cities. Many of them took residence in the Vault

[spacetogrow]

I could offer to take a look, if I can get close enough. I;'m pretty good at going unnoticed if there are animals I can blend in with.

[singlemilletgrain]

That would put my mind much at ease if you would be willing to do so, Ilphyl. Thank you. Our activities may be necessary, but I still hope that we do not cause unnecessary harm.

...Now, that is enough business. Come, you must eat.

[spacetogrow]

Right. Thank you!

I should probably sit down for this. At least for the noodles.

[singlemilletgrain]

I shall keep you company for a bit.

[Shu pulls out a chair for Ilphyl at the table and immediately begins to fill up a plate with far too much food. She pauses as she is handling the dumplings.]

...Did you eat meat?

[You know, since they are occasionally these animals.]

[spacetogrow]

[takes a seat]

Why wouldn't I?

[Ilphyl tends to be more of the 'don't be wasteful about a kill' sort of nature-lover. Which also means they've eaten some weird things. Jerk giant spider cooked over a campfire by a goblin chef stands out.]

[singlemilletgrain]

Oh.

...No particular reason.

[She's just the kind of person who thinks about that kind of minor thing, obsessively, about anyone she ever meets. Ilphyl is served a plate filled with a full spread of luxuries before long, followed by a steaming pour from a shallow teapot.]

Please, partake at your leisure.

[spacetogrow]

Thank you. You won't think it's rude fi I talk as I eat and drink?

[singlemilletgrain]

Not at all.

[She seats herself beside them and collects a few of the dumplings onto her own plate.]

What have you been occupying yourself with as of late?

[spacetogrow]

Oh, mostly helping with fishing when I can. But I did help with the mission to the mines. And you?

[singlemilletgrain]

Cooking.

[She smiles. ...Obviously.]

But I do need to make use of the various fruits of the harvest. The grains must be dried and stored, the fruits must be canned or preserved. All such activities keep me busy day-to-day. In between missions for the Corsairs, of course.

[spacetogrow]

If you ever want help, I'm always up for doing something different for a day or two.

[singlemilletgrain]

I would never turn down a friendly offer. But I must warn you... it can be exhausting work. I would not wish to overly burden you.

[spacetogrow]

I don't mind a bit of exhausting work. And it's different work than what I'm otherwise doing.

[Ilphyl does know their limits, but they are also young so inclined to actually approach their limits and trust that they bounce back pretty well]

[singlemilletgrain]

[A glimmer of mischief in her eyes.]

Then I shall call upon you later this week. We shall spend the day canning. Wear light clothing. It will be quite warm.

[spacetogrow]

I don't think I've done that before, so it will be interesting at least.

[singlemilletgrain]

I shall be looking forward to it.

((And I think we can leave it here with them eating more food! Thanks!))