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

[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!))