{01 Video}

[freshtilapia]

[ After playing around with the device for a bit, now that they finally have time to settle in after the vine madness, Fish has the thing mounted nicely at an angle high enough to give the network a nice view of their head to the top of their shoulders—much like a beauty blogger really. They’ve got an eye for beauty and they put it to use here. They have a bare face at the moment, but it’s still a pretty face with smooth purple skin that fades to lilac on their face, their throat, and the front of their chest. ]

I suppose if everyone is using this thing to ask questions, I might as well ask one of my own.

[ They take a small brush loaded with sea green pigment and draw it over each of their eyelids as a thick eyeliner with practiced, precise movements. ]

Cosmetics and clothing. Has anyone gone shopping recently? I’ve noticed this place is just far too different from the one I know. So I think I could use some guidance. Or some company. Company preferable.

[ They chuckle to the camera and shimmy their shoulders, like a practiced coquettish performer. They pop open a small glass jar of deep purple pigment and another brush. And they quickly fill in their lips with the same neatness as their eyes. ]

There is a lot I want to acquire if I’ll be staying here for a while. So, let me know if you’d like to go shopping.

Oh, by the way. In case we haven’t met... you can call me “Fish”.

[ They wink. ]

Comments

[asaqueenshould]

That's my family name. Hifumi is my given name. [She should probably just... stop using her family name in introductions, because this is at least the second time it's confused someone, but old habits die hard.]

Well, that at least means there's more than two of us from Japan here. It's a marker of both respect and relative emotional distance - we rarely just use someone's given name to refer to them. There are a few other honorifics that mark closeness of relationship or the relative ages of the people involved, but 'san' is the most common one.

[freshtilapia]

All right... Hifumi it is, then.

[This is an interesting cultural lesson, Fish finds. They've never heard of a place called Japan.]

What an interesting culture you have! I've never heard markers in any of the places I've traveled to. But, it really isn't much... I've only been adventuring for a little over a year.

[asaqueenshould]

There are several cultures in my own world that don't bother with them. It's possible yours lacks the concept entirely, or that you just haven't encountered those people yet.

[freshtilapia]

I think it's most likely that I just haven't encountered those people yet. Like I said, I've only been adventuring for a year. There's only so much I can see on foot and by boat within that span of time.

[asaqueenshould]

That's very true. Even with faster travel options available, you can only go so far at once.

[freshtilapia]

Well anyway! About that shopping trip! Would you happen to know where to shop or would you like to meet up so we can explore together?

[asaqueenshould]

A little exploration would be best, I think. What with the festival and then the vines, I haven't had much chance to look around yet.

[Other than scouting good spots to set up her shogi board, anyway. Priorities.]

[freshtilapia]

All right, then. Let's meet up. There seems to be a park close to the apartment block where most of the Moonblessed seem to be. Shall we meet there?

[asaqueenshould]

That sounds good. I'll meet you there.

[freshtilapia]

(( continued here ))