[ Video ] End of Summer Potluck

[darkestbefore]

From: Áine
Date: September 20th

[ Yona makes a rare appearance on the BBS this afternoon, looking unusually serious. ]

For those who haven't heard yet, or who hadn't pieced together what happened from the... excitement at Ra's temple earlier, Izumo Kusanagi is no longer here. For the time being, Shizuo will be handling matters at his bar, but beyond that... [ She trails off, looking uncertain, because she's a little at a loss at how to handle Izumo's unexpected disappearance herself, let alone how to offer words of comfort or reassurance to anyone else feeling the pain of his loss.

But she shakes her head, as if physically trying to shake off the sadness of the half the cause for this announcement before turning to the other half. ]

I had planned to leave a message here this morning anyway. With summer officially coming to an end now, I thought we might have an afternoon to celebrate it. The goddess Áine governs the summer season and I thought to throw an outdoor picnic at the temple here as the season officially changes to autumn on the 22nd. Shizuo and Izumo had been helping me with preparations and planning for it and have said if we keep the meal as a "pot-luck", there should be plenty of food for everyone who shows up. Anyone is welcome to come if you bring a dish or a drink of some sort, whether we've met yet or not.

I know this is going to be hard for some, considering the other reason for my message - and I considered canceling my plans myself for a little bit - but I also think that maybe this is also needed to counter the difficult times some have been having of late. So, either way, I hope to see some of you there. I'll include the location of my temple at the end of this message and if anyone has any questions about it, please feel free to contact me to ask.

[ As stated, after this message is an attachment with the location of her temple, for those not familiar with it. (A mingle will be posted on the IC date of September 22.) ]

Comments

[action]

[hakingitup]

[He walks up to Yona and taps her lightly on the shoulder.

Not with his finger.

Say hello to Hak's phone.]

Princess, teach your servant how to use this.

[Taptaptap.]

[darkestbefore]

[ Well. That's certainly enough to draw her out of her somewhat dismal thoughts today.

She blinks at the phone tapping against her shoulder before following the length of Hak's arm up to her companion in question. ]

This? Your phone? Oh, but maybe you should ask someone who actually knows how to use it? I'm still learning, too, Hak.

[ And then she thinks about some of the things she's discovered on accident when roaming the far reaches of the Google and abruptly changes her mind. ]

Oh, but I can... show you a little?

[hakingitup]

I'm not sure who else to ask about this.

[She knows enough for him, and he really only wants to know the basics of it. He's not exactly interested in making prank phone calls or selling anonymous romance books on the BBS.

He kind of just wants to see what's all going on here so he's not lost.]

A little is enough.

[Don't let him use google.]

Video

[farseen]

[Although he was nearby, he wanted to try to use this weird box now that he recognized a face popping up on it's smooth, glassy face.

At a loss for what to do, though, he simply stared at the picture of his new friend on the screen.

Was he doing this right?]

[darkestbefore]

[ When Shin-Ah's face appears on her screen but he remains silent, she gives a soft laugh and smiles at him in the video feed. ]

Hello, Shin-Ah. I take it you saw my message?

[farseen]

[A nod. He had indeed seen her message. He had seen everything that had been conveyed through the moving pictures on small box and was fascinated by how they had managed to stuff a miniature of his friend inside of it.

It provoked more questions for later, ones that were unimportant now.]

I can help.

[He said, referring to the event she was planning for later in the week. Yona was a kind person; he would help her with whatever was in his power.]

Video

[clothes_make_the_man]

I'm sorry to hear about Izumo. If there's anything you need, or if I can help with the party, please let me know.

[darkestbefore]

[ She casts him a warm smile, still slightly tinged with sadness she's trying hard to distract herself from. ]

Thank you, Forrest, that means a great deal to me. I hope you'll come join us for the picnic? it's been a while since I've gotten to visit with you.

[clothes_make_the_man]

Of course I will. It'll be nice to catch up on things. Is there anything in particular you'd like me to bring? I know how to prepare a few dishes from my homeland.

Re: Video

[pure_radiantics]

Well I wasn't sure about attending, but if you're going all out on what you're bringing, then I have to go all out as well.

[That was how things started, wasn't it?]

[clothes_make_the_man]

I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

[mithrarin]

I owe you two or five, so. Just... let me know. For anything.

[He's no good at offers like this, and honestly Dust figures Yona has a dozen people she'd turn to before she asked him for emotional support. But the offer is out there anyway, if she recognizes it. He does owe her help, if she needs it. And would be glad to give it even without owing.]

[Not to say she couldn't ask for some mundane help as well.]

[darkestbefore]

Owe me?

[ Yona blinks in surprise at his response, head tilted slightly to the side. ]

Dust, you don't owe me anything at all. But I appreciate your offer all the same. I hope you'll come join us, at least?

[yasei]

I'm sorry to hear that, even if I have no idea who the guy is. I'm Mister Shizuo needs any help I've got a lot of free time.

[ Plus it's a bar so, why not? Seems like fun. ]

And cooking is really fun, as is eating, so I think it sounds like a good idea to not cancel.

[darkestbefore]

Why thank you, Obi! I'll let him know. I'm sure he might, since Izumo did a great deal of the work himself. I doubt he'd mind if you swung by the bar and offered, but I can also let him know.

Yes, I am trying to remind myself of that, even if some of my excitement had been dampened a little. I hope you'll come join us?

[Video]

[littledove]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend...

[It still bothers her that people seem capable of disappearing for no real reason. Why is that? And what causes a person to disappear to begin with? Where do shinki go when they disappear?

Yona might be a little sad to have lost someone who is a friend of hers, and so... she tries to brighten things up.]

I'd like to help for the lucky pot though! I haven't tried cooking before- [Not that she remembers anyway] but I could try a nabe! As for the pot... I'll ask Kija-san if the ones at the temple are fortunate or not.

[darkestbefore]

Thank you, Kobato.

I'm not very good at cooking yet, either although I've been practicing when I can. What is nabe? [ Although she laughs softly at the 'lucky pot' because she'd had the same misunderstanding. ] I'm sure the food will be delicious even if the pot isn't very lucky itself.

voice [not sure if before or after their meeting on the near shore ff]

[futhark]

I'm sorry for your loss. [ If there is a good guess, then it's that if she's mentioning the Izumo guy, he must have been a friend. ]

Do you need another pair of helping hands? I can offer at least one. [ Up to total of three pairs if he decides to try and boss his shinki around ]

[darkestbefore]

[ There's a hint of a smile in her voice as she answers, even if there's still saness lingering as well. ]

Thank you. He will be very missed. He'd been here for some time.

I could always use those. I hope you'll let your shinki know they're invited as well?

[nolittlesecret]

Is he? I was kinda wondering where Izumo'd gone off to.

I can't make it there myself, but I could have my shinki drop something off for your potluck is that's help things out. As a form of condolence.

[darkestbefore]

Yes. Both his god and I woke up this morning no longer feeling the connection of his name.

That would be very kind of you, but please, don't feel like you have to go to too much trouble! Anyone is welcome to come regardless.

Video

[pure_radiantics]

[She hasn't spoken to Yona in a long time and had no idea that the two messages were connected - Ra's temple blowing up and now Yona speaking - but she can't stop the sadness.]

Izumo is... [She bites her lip.] I don't think I'll ever understand why our friends have to disappear like this.

Thank you for letting us know, Yona. I'm not sure yet but... since it's a few days away, maybe I can bring something to your potluck.

[They aren't close friends or anything but it was a public invitation after all.]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona replies with an understanding glance. ]

I don't know, either. I'm not sure anyone is very happy about it, but I've yet to find anyone with any say over it, either.

You're welcome to come, Kairi, I'd love to have you there. I know it makes it more difficult to celebrate when we're missing someone, but... I also think it's something he would want us to do.

Video

[handsome_genius]

[He knows that Izumo didn't die of his injuries, so beyond that he can't change things. All he can do is support Yona.]

I'm heading out to the Near Shore soon to get supplies, so if you have a favorite dish you want me to make you should let me know now while I have the time to prepare it.

[darkestbefore]

[ She looks a little surprised by that. ]

Ah! Anything you'd like would be fine, Yoon? I don't want you to feel like you have to go to a great deal of trouble on my account.

But hmm, maybe something simple that could be made in a big batch for a lot of people? [ Thinking back to Awa and how they'd fed all the pirates and the villagers after the battle... ] Maybe we could do a large stew or something?