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

[singlemilletgrain]

Are... the circumstances I described so distressing that you have to redirect your attention elsewhere in that matter?

Please do not be so concerned. The situation is under control.

[largely because Shu has spent the last 1000 years suppressing the demons, but]

What if we discuss how you're enjoying the food, instead?

[bearsperminute]

No, it's just that you said not to think about those things, because that'll make it worse, so I'm trying not to make it worse for you when you go back.

[She pauses.]

I have no complaints about the food, though! It's honestly just what I needed. Big motor, big fuel needs, right?

[singlemilletgrain]

Ah, I see. Thank you. I don't think that sort of psychic influence applies in another dimension, though.

[...well technically the Collapsals were already from another dimension, but.]

Er, at least, I hope not. But yes, please tell me. What do you prefer the most? There are four kinds of dumplings: shrimp and seafood, pork and scallion, mushroom, and beef with ginger. You must try each of them.

[bearsperminute]

[Now, she takes a slow time to test them, each, in turn.]

I've always been partial to stuff with a bit of kick, so I'm going to be a bit biased towards the beef, but let's see how the others do, first.

[She takes a bite of the seafood.]

Yeah, this... This is pretty typical for Flotsam, but when it's done well, like here, it's done exceptionally well. Just the right amount of savory and--

Oh, man, it's been a while since I tasted this spice, now it's gonna nag at me until I remember.

[singlemilletgrain]

You have an excellent palate. The mildness and soft texture of the fish mixture can be bland, so there are a number of seasonals that awaken the natural robustness of the flavor. The hint of spice specifically is from bird chilis, though I only added a tiny pinch to the filling.

When you have finished with the dumplings, I need an opinion on the steamed sea bass.

[bearsperminute]

I just eat plenty, and I figured, if you're gonna eat, you should learn how to cook, right?

[Her expression turns a bit melancholy.]

But... Man, how did I miss bird chilis? Natruckt's famous for it in the south reaches...

[The beef next:]

As expected, beef-ginger's a hit with me. There's just always something pleasant about that little bit of heat, right?

[Pork-scallion:]

It's... A little milder, but it's not bad. The scallion's surprisingly fresh-- is it in season already on Flotsam?

[Mushroom:]
Nn, as usual, I'm never quite sure what to think about mushroom's texture. It's kinda chewy, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, but... I dunno. Still, it's well done; this is my bias talking again, right?

-- wait, steamed bass?

[singlemilletgrain]

[Shu is taking notes on a pad that has appeared out of thin air, nodding approvingly at each comment.]

I see, I see... no, the scallion is from the herb garden I keep indoors. And vegetarian dishes always need a certain extra something to have a texture as satisfying as meat. I will continue experimenting with the filling.

And yes, of course. It's the New Year.

[Flumph goes the entire steamed bass in front of Kanna.]

[bearsperminute]

Oof, pushin' even me, huh?

By all means, share it with me; an entire bass is a bit overkill, even for me.

Ah, this is where the other part of the scallion went. Good economy of ingredients. ... Never can tell parsley from cilantro at first blush, but...

[She serves for herself over rice, and uses the sauce. She's familiar with communal dishes.]

[She pauses, takes the first bite.]

Ah! This... This this this-- There's something unconscionably familiar about it. They say that all dishes are Imperial dishes, but it's one thing to say that, and another to go to the capital and find nothing like what you got in Natruckt from your family, who made food for days you had never heard of in school.

It's a flavor kind of like that, you know?

[singlemilletgrain]

[She does not know, as someone who doesn't know heads or tails about Imperial cuisine (she assumes it is as stale and monotonous as their design principles), but she is not gauche enough to say so directly. Instead, Shu smiles at the appreciation Kanna is demonstrating for her culinary efforts.]

In Yan, we say 'may every year bring you blessings.' Because the word 'blessings' sounds like the word for 'fish,' we eat whole fish in hopes that it will bring alongside the blessings.

This is the dish I prepare for my siblings when we have the chance to gather on the New Year, which is not very often.

[bearsperminute]

Well, I might not get blessings, but if I'm lucky, I might get another fish by the end of the day.

[that's probably a pun as old or older than the initial joke.]

But... Siblings, huh...? I hope you get along when you do get chances to meet, anyway.

[singlemilletgrain]

Oh, do you enjoy it? We should go fin-catching some time. Ah -- fishing.

[but that was probably a tangent]

We have our differences, as all siblings do. But I genuinely believe we all love and care for each other, even if we disagree on many things. After all, there are twelve of us. Two people can hardly exist in harmony all the time, let alone twelve.

[bearsperminute]

It's a good pastime.

[she nods about the siblings.]

I didn't have any siblings, but I kind of understand what you mean. I hope.

[singlemilletgrain]

The members of your division -- you were close to them in a similar way?

[This is phrased as a question, though from what Shu had glimpsed, she felt that it was true.]

[bearsperminute]

You could say that, yeah. We argued a bit sometimes--

[A slightly irritated air for a moment when she says:]

one especially--

[And then she's as calm as ever.]

but we all agreed on some things, you know?

[singlemilletgrain]

Yes, precisely. You do understand. You can disagree on the most important things in the world, but it does not matter, in the end. What we agree on is that we love one another. Even if that manifests in argumentation and in gross conflict... at the end of the day, we would shatter the world for each others' sakes.

[...literally.]

...Naturally, that means we do come to blows from time to time...

[bearsperminute]

It never got quite... that bad, but it got pretty close at least once.

[Okay that wasn't quite true. there was that one time...]

But... Yeah.

.... I think. I hope. that they can all feel it.

That there's something rotten in the heart of the Empire.

But then, I thought nothing would ever change. Fool. Everything changes.

[singlemilletgrain]

I am sure they do. In large part because of your choices not too long ago, for their sakes. And I am sure that when you see them again, you will have the conversation you hope to have. For you are not somebody who gives up on their family;

...That is not a fortune, it is simply an observation.

[bearsperminute]

[She pauses. Raises her cup of tea.]

To absent family. May we find them all, one day.

[singlemilletgrain]

[Shu pours herself a cup as well and joins in the gesture.]

...Yes. To our families.

[Her smile is clearly tinged with melancholy as she raises the cup to her mouth with both hands and sips silently. There would be no reunion for the siblings. It was impossible... for more than one reason.]

((I think this seems like a good place to leave off!))