video

[lumberlady]

[Good morning, Lunatia. The video starts with a view of hooves, a too close view of a face... and then finally... a centaur? Who keeps looking off screen while she talks and never seems to actually focus on the lens correctly.]

Hello? Can everyone see me? Connor, am I doing this right? Okay? ... Okay.

[She clears her throat and dips into a bow, the camera bobbing along with her.]

Hello! This is Konoha... some of you maybe think my name is Shizu, but- It's Konoha! I'm from Echigo province, in Japan, if you know it... and I'll be in your care.

If you don't know me, which, I figure is most of you, this city must be even bigger than the capital I'm the... well in my world we say jinba but I'm the "centaur". I haven't seen anyone else like me so I think I can say "the"...

Anyway... what I wanted to ask was... if anyone had an recommendations for... shops? I've never really shopped before, and I haven't seen any locals quite like me, so if you know somewhere that does... I don't know, tailoring? Or a restaurant with really big seats or tall tables? Anything like that!

I'd appreciate it, so... thank you very much!

[Another bow, another bob of the camera... and a blurry flash of android helping her turn the dang thing off. Thanks, Connor.]

Comments

[lumberlady]

One step at a time.

[She echoes the sentiment with a smile, agreeing completely. It's the only way she, a simply country girl from medieval Japan, has been able to make it this far at all. One step at a time.

So Konoha waves her device around before plopping down into her peculiar, dog-like style of sitting, inviting Connor closer to show off the comments.]

Let's see what they have to say!

[... well, it's a wild post.]

[jiyuujin]

The best way to find out is to try.

[Ah but where were his manners. She had asked a question hadn't she?]

I might be able to assist you in another matter. We all reside here at a teahouse. [Very deliberately, he doesn't specify which kind. It might be a bit anachronistic to her anyway.] While the interior might be a bit cramped, this time of year the engawa is a perfectly lovely place to take in a meal and some entertainment.

[lumberlady]

I guess so.

[She's not about to use that motto on something more dangerous, but since it's just holding hands... Sure, she can just try that.

But she perks up a bit at the mention of a teahouse, picturing only the sort she's familiar with. Which often seemed nice, but often didn't serve jinba, so she wasn't quite sure what it was like in there.]

And you wouldn't mind? I'd be really careful if I went- I won't knock anything over!

[jiyuujin]

[He laughs at that. It's not hard to picture the sort of trouble she might end up in within human spaces. Well, she'd get alone with the oodachi if they ever showed up again.]

It would be my pleasure to have you. Here. [He types out something quickly and her device pings as it receives the coordinates to their address.] Drop by anytime. Mention you're a friend of mine and you'll be taken care of.

[lumberlady]

[Oh, wow, the device can do that?]

Thank you so much! What's your place called?

[... in case she can't find this screen again and has to ask for directions fkewnlge]

[jiyuujin]

Tsukiyo. Not the most original.

[But hey he's got a theme going.]

[lumberlady]

It's still pretty, so!

[jiyuujin]

If that's what you think then I'm sure you'll fit right in.

[lumberlady]

[At first, Konoha just hums noncommittally, unable to agree with him. Well, there were already a few things they'd established that they didn't agree on, but. The weakness known as love...

At first she just deals with the food, thanking the waiter and opening up the small bamboo baskets he brings, revealing a variety of bite-sized morsels. Dumplings, steamed buns, braised meats, cooked vegetables, turnip cakes... (She loved how it smelled here!!)]

Love is a strength, too.

[She might be naive in some ways, but she doesn't completely deny it could be a weakness. Certainly it wasn't always totally good for a person's health or even life, but... ]

I can understand how their mothers feel. I'd do anything for my children- I already know that.

[She knows it. Deep in her bones. In her heart. But that probably isn't enough, and though she feels like she's going to have to apologize to this girl if she ever does arrive here, for using her as an example to try and get through to Sesshomaru despite never having met her...]

But... what about Rin? If she chooses the demon world... Won't her husband be a demon? And then her child would be a half-breed, wouldn't it?

[THAT'S YOUR GRANDCHILD, SESSHOMARU.]

[lumberlady]

It would be nice to have some familiar food I didn't cook myself, so I'm looking forward to it.

[fashionicon]

[ Hmph. ]

If you are constantly dissatisfied, you will seek a more satisfying situation. [ Hence happiness will come eventually. ] If you're strong enough to seek it, you'll find it.

[fashionicon]

[ His gaze fixes on the food, lifting his chin each time a new dish is revealed. He makes a small thoughtful, appreciative noise. Opening up his hand, he gestures for Konoha to serve herself first this time around.

And, Sesshomaru keeps himself from clicking his tongue about hearing that love is a strength. He feels warmer for it; he knows that he would never wish to sacrifice the life of Rin to accomplish anything. To some degree, the same could be said about Jaken and Kohaku. And no matter what he says, he will protect Inuyasha. But these things feel like ... weaknesses, at times. Because people can take what he cares about in an attempt to control him.

It is only at the last part does he find himself pausing. ]

Rin?

[ He repeats his daughter's name carefully. His eyes widen slightly at the idea that she would get married and have a child of her own -- that did not occur to him. ]

He will be. He will most likely be another greater demon. [ Like he would allow her to marry any low-bred demon. However, he pauses as he realizes that if Rin truly fell in love with one of those ... would he be able to tell her 'no?' He frowns considerably. ]

The child would be a half-breed, but being related to me... I would carve a place for that child to exist. Even if I have to kill every other demon or human... I will protect that child. [ That is what Konoha is getting at, yes? ]

[amities]

[ He doesn't really know what "hakama" is, but he can always just look it up after their conversation. He can only presume it's a form of clothing from her world. ]

Chroma isn't necessary. I don't participate in moonlacing of any sort with strangers, I'm afraid. [ He has a boyfriend for all that. ]

However I'm rather curious to know what meals you favor from Japan. I've a habit of picking up new recipes during my stay here. Are there any in particular you feel would be worth learning?

[jiyuujin]

[Watching that subtle attempt at flirting fly right over her head he has to chuckle.]

It's certainly exciting to have so many new things to experience here but you do find yourself longing for the comforts of home from time to time. Is there anything you're partial to? I can try to arrange for it.

[lumberlady]

[unless it comes with a giant neon sign that says FLIRTING...]

Oh, gosh... I feel like I could have listed a lot of things if you hadn’t asked me...

Hold on...

How about...

Those small, sweet crystal candies? No, that’s a sweet not a food...

[thedarkbond]

[It's like one of those city-walking youtube videos...]

Oh, it could be...I mean, people still use the same meats and vegetables and things even if some of them have changed a little over time, but new styles of cooking pop up all the time, and people have new ideas about mixing flavours.

[Salted caramel craze, for example.]

[lumberlady]

I guess I just never thought about it.

[the benefits of being a 17th century peasant?]

There was a lot of steaming going on!

[lumberlady]

Oh, no, I didn't mean moonlacing... I meant, you know- the chroma! The stuff you buy things with!

[The money kind! Oh, no, what if he thought she was forward...]

A- Ah, me? I'd say a lot of recipes are worth learning... What kind of food do you like?

[jiyuujin]

[He laughs again. That's certainly one choice.]

Konpeito? You'll find at least a dozen shops that sell dagashi like that on the way to our place.

[lumberlady]

A dozen? It's not... rare?

[shocked as only someone from a time a mere thirty or so years since konpeito reached Japan...]

[lumberlady]

[Filling the silence, Konoha take the cue and takes a pair of chopsticks, beginning to take a little portion from every one of the small bamboo baskets spread out over the table, piling them up on her plate and leaving him half.

To her, it just seemed a simple connection to make. To question how he could be so disdainful of the idea of half breeds while at the same time waiting for a human daughter to choose his world... which would mean that all her future prospects would be demons. Right?

Konoha pauses, hands halfway to clasped in gratitude before she starts eating, watching the thoughts run through his mind, the frown on his face.

He's... close. Sort of. Kind of. She almost asks how he could phrase it that way when he was also related to his brother, but instead...]

That child wouldn't be an affront, would it?

[wildsorcery]

Oh, my name is Confidence! You can call me Connie.

[jiyuujin]

They've come quite a long way to simplify the process of making it over the years. Shall I also procure some Castella?

[Now he's just having fun with this.]

[lumberlady]

Castera...

[way to just blow her mind???]]

Is that the... the golden sweet from the south? I've never even seen one- That one isn't rare here either?

[lumberlady]

Confidence? That's a strong name!