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[lumberlady]

[Lunatia's resident centaur lady is back on screen, and this time she's sharing the spotlight with... a table full of fresh vegetables? Still a bit dirty, fresh from the soil, good ol' vegetables... That Konoha bows over to start out.]

Hello, everyone! My name is Konoha... I'm a jinba, or a "centaur" if you want... I'm from Echigo in Japan, but lots of people say I'm from the past...

[She's just going to do the same introduction every time, counting off details on her fingers to make sure she gets all the good points... there's too many people on this thing and she doesn't check it enough to keep track... oops. Anyway-]

I wanted to ask people some questions about food! My husband and I have set up a little farmstead, but the crops are growing, um, way faster than they really ought to be... [we're just going to speed past the blush] and it's not like we actually have to work for money here, so I was thinking of not just taking the crops to market but... serving meals at the house? Or sending them to people elsewhere in the city? I don't know, but I've met a lot of people here who said they just eat food from the stores, and I know those are really convenient, but it can't be better than a home cooked meal, can it?


[Look at this big turnip! Isn't it healthy looking?! Don't you just want to eat it?? Konoha smiles, making the root vegetable dance around the screen.]

So... can I ask you some questions about what sort of food you like? Or what kind of things you miss from your home? Maybe what they make in your country with vegetables? If you give me some of your time, I'll send you some fresh ones as a "thank you"-

Promise!

[One last bow... and she and the turnip sign off.]

Comments

[clodpole]

[ Ophilia gives Konoha a sympathetic smile. Oh, but doesn’t she know it. ]

It certainly takes a lot of getting used to, doesn’t it? I’m very grateful for all this place has to offer, though, strange as it all may be.

[ Similarly foreign is the mention of imoni. Her expression turns puzzled as she tries to make sense of that, too. ]

‘I-mo-knee’? [ Did she hear that properly? She’s not being rude, is she? ] I can’t say I’m familiar with that dish, either. What an interesting place Echigo must be!

[lumberlady]

Ehe, yeah, it does... How long have you been here now? It’s been almost half a year for me and I still feel really overwhelmed sometimes...

[thats the nice way to say it]

Oh- sorry, imoni is a hot pot! Taro root, fresh meat... it’s really good! And it’s really popular in Echigo. ... Maybe in a lot of places, actually, it’s that good!

1/2

[clodpole]

I haven’t given it much thought, in all honesty. Time goes by so quickly here, but if I had to guess… [ She frowns thoughtfully. ] I believe it’s been two months now.

[ Two months too many, if the crease in her brow is anything to go by. She can’t imagine how impatient someone like Konoha must be to get home if she’s been here three times longer than Ophilia has. ]

[clodpole]

[ An obnoxious growl from Ophilia’s stomach slices the tension in twain and keeps her from thinking on it for too long. All this talk of food suddenly has her hungry! ]

G-gracious! That does sound rather good…

[lumberlady]

Really? I think I counted every day at first, because I was really afraid that something bad might happen while I was gone, but I guess I eventually gave up but...

[nope nope that’s depressing quick back to food???]

Do- Do you want to try some next time I make it? I’m used to preparing it in bulk anyway.

[clodpole]

[ yeah, that one hits a liiittle too close to home

Ophilia’s glad for any excuse to change the topic, though, so she quickly latches onto the opportunity the moment Konoha presents it. ]

Oh, would I ever! If you’ll have me, I’d be most glad to help you prepare it, too!

[lumberlady]

[quick, latch on!]

That's great, because that's how it tastes best! Everyone from the village brings things and we all gather by the river to cook and eat together- especially after harvests!

[clodpole]

Why, that sounds delightful! Shall I bring along something of my own, then?

Oh—but you likely already grow all I could possibly give you… What would you suggest?

[lumberlady]

If you want to!

[Hmmmm... Oh!]

How about some bread? I like that stuff, and it's really filling!

[She doesn't know how to grow wheat... but she does have two stomachs, so she's a big fan.]

[clodpole]

[ Ophilia does want to, so she racks her brain for ideas. Because bread is something of a comfort to her, too—it’s simple and universal!—she’s spent a little while scouring the neighborhood for bakeries that might fill that void. She thinks she knows just the thing! ]

Then bring bread I shall! Let me know when next you prepare it, and I’ll bring enough for you and whoever else you might like to share it with.

[lumberlady]

Ehe, then it's a deal, Miss... ?

[clodpole]

Sister Ophilia! [ She beams and wiggles her fingers some. ] I very much look forward to it, Konoha.

Until then, may the Flame light your way and ever shine its warmth upon you.

[lumberlady]

Sister... ?

[she meant to say goodbye, but she's too curious not to ask-]

Are you a nun?

[clodpole]

[ Ophilia stops, her hand halfway stuck between pressing the button to hang up and not. ]

I am indeed.

[ But the last time she was asked that question, she was mistakenly associated with a church responsible for an international war… and then the time before that, she had to reassure somebody she wasn’t a cultist looking for live sacrifices. She’s not expecting anything good to come out of Konoha asking, either. ]

Why do you ask?

[lumberlady]

Oh, no reason, sorry-

[Thankfully... "not anything good" and "Konoha" tend to be a bit of an antithesis.]

I just thought, "oh, it must be kind of hard to be a nun here"... on account of the whole... ahem, worldliness... thing...

[clodpole]

You needn’t apologize!

I appreciate your concern. I’ve spent months away from home before, though, so I suppose you could say I’m experienced in that regard.

[ … but that’s not what Konoha’s worried about, is it? ]

[lumberlady]

So you're like a... traveling nun! I think I get it...

[it definitely is not, but... you can't say that kind of stuff straight in front of a nun can you... ?]

[clodpole]

Just so! Prior to my arriving here, I was on a pilgrimage. I, erm, suppose I still am, but… I wasn’t expecting it to take me here.

[ The rest of the Order probably won’t be happy to hear that it did. What they don’t know won’t hurt them, though! ]

Would that I could be allowed home to complete it…

[lumberlady]

So your world has pilgrimages, too!

[She probably could have guessed, since they had nuns... but with other worlds, you know! You never knew!!]

Maybe this is just a detour for you. That's how I like to think of it... My husband says we were heading to his hometown in the mountains before he got here, so... this is just a stop along the way.

[clodpole]

That’s… a nice way of thinking about it.

Oh—but please don’t misunderstand! It isn’t that I’m unhappy here. I’ve met some lovely people here from so many wonderful places—you included, Konoha!

There are just some things that I need to see to at home. I’m certain you understand.

[lumberlady]

Ah- No, you're right. I understand...

This world has so many convenient things, and places I never thought I'd be able to see, and people I could never meet...

But it's not home. We have to go back... hopefully soon.

[clodpole]

We can only hope. When we do, though, I’ve no doubt our friends and family will be glad to have us back.

[ After acknowledging that this also means saying goodbye to the friends she has here, Ophilia’s voice takes on a wistful note. ]

[lumberlady]

Some people here say that people might not even notice that we were ever gone... isn't that crazy? But my husband said so, too... He didn't even notice I was missing, even though I'd been here for months...

I don't get it, but. I kind of hope it is true. That way my parents won't be fretting.

[clodpole]

It would be nice if we could keep from adding to their troubles… but it would be dreadful were they to forget about us, would it not? If my sister forgot about me, I…

Well, I suppose that’s neither here nor there. I’m glad your husband remembers you, and even gladder still that he is here to take care of you.

[lumberlady]

Oh, no, I don't think- I don't think they forget us- !

[Do they?! Surely not-]

Just... they said stuff like "time stops"... I don't really get it, but. My husband didn't forget me, so- Don't worry about your sister!