乙巳 005: 小暑

[singlemilletgrain]

[video broadcast]

[Is it time for another Yanese festival? Shu bows to the video feed with her usual greeting.]

Hello, Corsairs. We are in the midst of difficult times, once more. I am glad that our aims have succeeded thus far, but it seems as if the fighting will become more pitched shortly.

Perhaps some levity is in order. In Yanese culture... [here we go again] the middle of the seventh month of the Lunar Year is called the Hungry Ghost Festival. The correct word would be preta or 餓鬼. It isn't the best translation, but there is a folk belief that the spirits of the ancestors return during this time and need to be honored, then escorted back to the afterlife. Normally, this is a very solemn affair, but of course, as ancestral veneration is not a part of your cultures, we can focus on the merriment.

Please join me this evening. We will make paper lanterns and paper boats and escort them down the river to the beyond.

If that is not to your liking... [there is a faint twinkle in her eyes] Perhaps we may share some ghost stories.

[action, by a River Somewhere That Is Definitely a Real River in this setting]

[The days are long in the summer. When the first rays of the sun begin to glimmer golden red as it descends below the horizon, Shu appears with quite a large number of candles, folding paper, and calligraphy pens.]

We guide the souls of the ancestors back to the beyond. The flowing water is the barrier between life and death. The river escorts them. We honor them with a few words and we write our hopes for them upon these lanterns.

The ancestors, of course, do not have to be your actual ancestors.

[action, for Turtles]
[It is high time that they keep their appointment and hear embarrassing stories about Donnie when he was a wee turtlekin share a meal together. Having some experience now with Raph's bottomless pit of an appetite and his, ah... completely undiscerning palate, Shu has thought long and hard about how best to improve his experience with food. The feast she has prepared is slightly different: instead of being set out family style, she plans to bring out one dish at a time so as to guide the direction of the meal more closely.

Of course, he is equally as likely to just inhale everything as he is to learn anything, but one can only try one's best.

She leaves the door unlocked for them. They are welcome to come in and out whenever they please, even if she has never actually said this.]

Comments

[purplexing]

[Donnie glances at Raph then. He was talking about him? Not that Donnie hasn't talked about his own brothers but he has to know if it was good Donnie things or bad Donnie things! Thriving on personal achievement and ability? No, not him!

When Shu slips off to the kitchen, he can't help but hiss at the big turtle.]

-what did you say about me??

[-Ah, saved by the ...soup. He looks innocent (?) as Shu returns with the pot, and at least in that he's not disappointed. It's still difficult for him to wrap his head around why anyone would take that long to cook anything.

Although he can't help for the amused look as Raph seems to be having trouble with the concept of savoring.]

In other words, don't just toss the whole bowl back like you're drinking shots.

[singlemilletgrain]

...Hrm.

[There is the briefest flicker of an expression across Shu's face as she observes Raph's countenance, which she can only describe as... improper. Well. At least he will enjoy the food, even if it is not the way she would prefer that he enjoy it. She has the distinct feeling she could be speaking strictly in Yanese right now and Raph would still be nodding along. Her expression of calm benevolence returns as she doles out generous portions of the soup for the turtles, an even balance of broth and filling.]

Seafood, traditionally shark fin, though we more frequently use sea cucumber as a substitute. Abalone, a meaty marine mollusc. Chicken, fish, egg, mushroom, tendon, and taro.

Please enjoy.

[Her own bowl is much less full.]

[supersmashbrother]

[Getting his brain back into working order, Raph recomposes himself, posture straight as he lets his jaw click into place. He happily accepts the bowl offered, stealing a sidelong glance in Donnie's direction as he frowns.]

Yeah, yeah, I get it. I have table manners!

[The look is also a belated read on Donnie's earlier question, one that says, 'we'll get there when we get there.' It easily flickers to a gracious smile and a polite bowing of his head.]

Thank you, Miss Shu. I gotta say, that's a complex list of ingredients! It smells good...

[A careful sip. He then blows on the soup after burning the tip of his tongue on it, trying again so that he can drink it as presented. The second half goes down a lot faster than the first, but he tastes it, lightly smacking his lips as he thoughtfully looks down into his now-empty bowl.]

This is amazing! I like the salt level, an' the flavors compliment each other in a way I didn't think possible!

[purplexing]

[Donnie is not at all satisfied with Raphael's non-response, but at least the food set before him is a distraction. He sniffs at the scents that waft up from the bowl before pulling it closer.

It's not long after Raph that he samples his own soup, licking his lips as he savors the flavoring of the broth. His next spoonful is a much heartier helping, as is the next, but he's only about halfway through his share by the time Raph is done with his.]

Mmmm, this is so good. I can see why monks wouldn't want to miss out on this.

[singlemilletgrain]

[Well, that's a little more satisfactory. Shu beams beatifically as she ladles more into Raph's empty bowl.]

Yes, that's precisely what is special. In cooking for such a lengthy period of time, the flavors develop new depths of subtlety. The complementary tastes eventually fuse into something totally different altogether. Alone, each of these items conveys a different kind of umami - that is the feeling of savoriness when you taste the rich broth. Together, the individual pieces have united in harmonious concert.

[Shu will simply derive some pleasure in watching them eat for a bit, sipping gently from her own soup.]

I am glad the two of you are getting along so well. The union of your disparate worlds must be hard to reconcile. But truly, you are as I imagined, Raphael.

[supersmashbrother]

Mind. Blown. Mikey would be all over this soup.

[With his bowl refilled, he inhales (normally, not in the 'gulp it down in one go' way), breathing in the scent as he tries tasting it again. He's gotten used to the temperature of it, ignoring the heat as he finishes another sip.

Shu's right about them, and it makes him think.]

Well, it really is kind of strange, in a sense. I'm used to havin' all three brothers with me at all times. Leo's the face man. Mikey does his fun thing. Donnie always has the stats an' clever inventions that can come in handy during a fight. We fight bad guys together an' save the day. That's just how it was back in my world.

But I'm also glad Donnie is here, an' I can see he's doing the best he can. Even though we're probably very different from what we've come to expect, I can still see the similarities.

[He blinks, however, when Shu mentions this.]

You imagined me the way I am now?

[purplexing]

Indeed, this goes far beyond him throwing random shellfish, rocks and plants into a stew pot.

[Donnie finishes off the last from his bowl, scraping up every drop he can manage. Which means he isn't nearly as distracted when Raph starts talking about him. Or rather, the Donnie of that world, versus himself.

There's a warmth from those words, even if they're strange to hear. Maybe it's just the soup. He smiles almost shyly, looking down at he empty bowl. Even if they aren't really related, it still feels good even with that vague acknowledgment.]

I thought it'd be more difficult to get used to. Seeing someone who looks so familiar and yet...not being the same person I know. But it's like you said. There's similarities. Sometimes its uncanny how alike you are to him.

[Sometimes it's easy to forget he isn't his actual brother, and Donnie's still struggling with whether he should feel guilty about that or not.]

[singlemilletgrain]

Well. There are only so many details that can be conveyed about someone you don't know. But in so far as big, strong, and... fond of consuming everything, yes. You are very much like the mental image I had formed. The powers or abilities or... trappings of you, as a person, are of secondary importance.

Of course, you are very much like Donnie, too. You have a kind soul and a good heart. The things that matter to him matter to you. And in the ways that you are not alike, you are counterbalanced, in the manner that siblings tend to be.

[They might not technically be brothers, but even besides the fact that they are both turtles, they are clearly related. Where Donnie overthinks everything, Raphael could benefit from a little bit more thought in most things. Together, they smooth out each other's edges.]

...You must both wish to see Mikey and Leo, though. Some form of them, at least.

[supersmashbrother]

[Don't mind Raph having Some Concerns about Donnie's version of Mikey.]

Okay, yeah, Mikey needs plenty of time to learn those secrets.

[Semi-flatness of knowing how his brothers can be aside, the warm fuzzies he gets from Donnie and Shu pops like a bubble when Shu gets to the details of what she's been picturing this whole time. He has to say something about that one point within all of the good stuff.]

Consuming everything— I eat a fair amount of things!

[Mild offense, really. He can't deny the fact he eats whatever is there in front of him. He shoots a look at Donnie regardless, similar to what Donnie has thrown his way previously.

He settles down again, though, giving it some more thought. She's not wrong about that counterbalance thing. They play off of each other really well. They always do.

Fortunately for Shu, she hasn't seen what happens when they share a brain cell...

His shoulders slump slightly the more Shu hits nails on the head for him, but he nods, letting his gaze drop back onto his empty bowl.]

It's been weird not seein' them. Not that I want them to be here with us — I know they'd be able to hold their own against these guys, but I don't wanna see them get hurt.

[purplexing]

[Donnie simply arches a brow back at Raph as though to say "Well, you do." Or at least his Raph is willing to lick any manner of things if he's hungry enough and something might seem edible. Even against his brother's advice.

He looks at Shu again, a wistful expression on his face at mention of Mikey and Leo. He glances at Raph, nodding in his shared sentiment.]

...same. That's...why I haven't tried looking for my brothers here. And why I'd rather hope they've stayed hidden.

[Even if it hurts that maybe they didn't try looking for him. But he knows they would have. ...if they didn't think he was dead or something.]

[singlemilletgrain]

[The expression Shu directs at Donnie is mild, though perhaps he will find it more penetrating than she desires.]

Well. You know my opinion on the subject.

[No need to push it right now.]

I, too, wish to see my siblings dearly. Though we rarely meet even at home, I find that being in this unfamiliar world heightens my desire to be with family. [a faint pause] I suppose that is just fancy language to mean I am homesick.

Tell us about where you come from, Raphael. What are things like? ...Pizza is a common commodity?