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

[evanescent]

Oh — me?

[She seems genuinely surprised, but then she brightens up.]

I'd love to! Just let me know when you'd like to shop around, and I'll be there. I love shopping! I once helped a friend dress up for a date. [...The look on her face, it can only be described as mischievous.]

[lumberlady]

A date? Oh, no, this isn't like that, though- There's not even any other jinba here, and I like-

[Okay, wait, she's getting things twisted]

I mean... I just need regular clothes! Like for working, so nothing fancy.

[evanescent]

[Aerith listens to this, fascinated, and files it under her mental file of "things to make gentle fun of when we know each other better." Eventually...]

Right! No dates yet. [Yet.] We can find something practical for you then.

I should get a few things too...

[lumberlady]

[Yes, oh gods... ?]

Then... maybe we could go tomorrow? Unless you're busy with gardening?

[Now she can see the other posts!]

[evanescent]

I can make the time. [Her smile is faint, a little amused.] It's no trouble for me. Tomorrow sounds great!

[lumberlady]

In return, do you want some help with your plants? I'm really good with them!

[Well,]

With crops, anyway. I've never grown... not food.

[evanescent]

I've never grown food before, so we're in the same boat! Sort of.

I would love to have your help. You can stop by just for the company, too! I don't mind either way.

[lumberlady]

Then maybe we can trade tips? Some of our food has nice flowers, but... I mostly just know how to get the fruit.

[Plums are nice, for example...]

It would take a long time to grow fruit, though... so maybe vegetables?

[evanescent]

We could. I wouldn't want to mess up any vegetables.

The fruit may not take quite as long to grow as we think. I heard from someone...that they were able to grow trees fully grown in a matter of weeks. It has something to do with Chroma.

[lumberlady]

Just a few weeks? Really?

That's crazy!

[... ok, so a lot of things here are, but! This is a craziness she can more easily appreciate!]

[evanescent]

I know, right? It's got me really curious — I have to see it in action! If trees can grow that quickly, other plants should be a piece of cake.

[lumberlady]

You made a flower bloom really fast, right? I didn't hallucinate that, did I?

[she sometimes feel like she might have... but fruit trees just seem more difficult in her mind]

[evanescent]

Hm?

...No, you didn't. Was it strange? I hope I didn't frighten you.

[lumberlady]

Oh, no, I mean... I’ve seen some magic before now so I wasn’t scared!

Just surprised.

[evanescent]

You know, I've never thought of it as magic. It's always just been something I can do. But that's a good way of putting it.

I'm glad you weren't frightened. People don't always like to see it.

[lumberlady]

That’s my secret to how I can understand things in places like this. It’s either “magic” or “technology”... and then it’s fine if I don’t understand.

[ingenious, right???]

No? Even though the flower was pretty?

[evanescent]

That's a good secret. [She giggles, some.] I think I should start doing that, too.

And no. It's easier sometimes, to be frightened of things that aren't understood. But I don't mind all that much.

[lumberlady]

Your advice helped me before, so... hopefully mine will help you!

[its a trade]

Ah... that’s true. But I’m glad you’re strong.