[ 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

[littledove]

[There's only one way to get better at something Kobato thinks. Something like this is definitely a good way to improve! Hands on training... or practice? It's something like that.

When the question comes, however, she's excited to explain. Usually it ends up that others are doing the explaining. It's nice to be on the opposite end of things from time to time.]

Nabe is a hot pot dish! It's like a soup with all kinds of different ingredients in it. You can even cook it at the table while everyone is gathered around, and continue to add more ingredients when it starts to get low!

[darkestbefore]

Oh! That sounds amazing! [ Yona is intrigued. ] We should definitely try that, then!

[littledove]

I'll be a pinch!

[She means cinch.]

I'll make sure to add lots of things!

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona would be confused either way. ]

I look forward to it!

[littledove]

Is there anything you especially like?

[She was certainly down due to the loss of a friend. Any little thing Kobato can do to help she wants to do.]

There's lots of delicious food in this place, isn't there? Kija-san always provides all kinds of good things to eat.

[darkestbefore]

There are so many! I'm still learning about so many of them. but so far there have been very few I haven't liked. I enjoy trying new things, so please, bring anything you might find tasty.

[littledove]

[That makes sense she supposes. And she can always ask Kija if there is anything that Yona is particularly fond of. After all they are from the same world! Kija seems to enjoy all kinds of foods, after all.]

There's lots of new things I'm trying too! [Well, she can't really remember what she might have eaten in life, but the fact that she's familiar with the names of various things makes her think she has some kind of an understanding regarding it all.]

I like to look through the magazines at convenience stores and learn all kinds of things about the Near Shore. [For a better understanding of it all.] They always have pictures and recipes of different kinds of food that look delicious.

[Eyes closing she tilts her head to the side and scratches a cheek.]

Somehow even though I eat plenty I always feel a little bit hungry.

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona gives her an understanding smile. ]

I've heard other shinki often claim the same thing, that's not so unusual. Perhaps you just need more energy as a shinki who becomes a vessel? I'm not sure I understand why it happens, only that it seems to be a common thing for many here. Several of the shinki I know can eat a great deal. Including my own.

Ahh, have you gotten to try ice cream yet?

[littledove]

[So that's what it is... She isn't starved by any means. It's not a major distraction, either. It just usually feels like she could always eat a little more. It's strange. Her attention returns to the conversation at hand however. Ice cream...?]

That's the cold stuff, right?

[She shakes her head. She's hasn't tried it yet, but she saw an ice cream shop while she had the chance to go clothes shopping and get necessary items for her new home in Kija's temple.]

I haven't tried it yet! But I heard that it's really sweet.

[darkestbefore]

It is! And very cold as well. But it's delicious, and comes in so many flavors. It's definitely one of my favorite things I've tried since coming here.

[littledove]

Now I really want to try! I wonder if Kija-san would mind.

[She feels bad asking him for things because at the moment she hasn't been able to earn any of her own money. Not that he's ever told her she must do something like that. Instead, she thinks he tries to act very responsibly toward her. But she wants to do her part, too.]

Oh-! But princess...

[Kija always refers to her as princess, and so...]

You have to be careful though! I heard if you eat or drink something cold too quickly it freezes your brain.

[darkestbefore]

I doubt he would mind at all. Or I could take you sometime, if you would like to go? I know a really cute place to go on the Near Shore.

[ She's a little surprised to be addressed as Princess, but this is Kija's shinki so she can also understand it. ]

Ahh, you can just call me Yona, Kobato, you don't have to be so formal. And yes, ah, that can happen. Sort of. But then you just have to take your time and savor it.

[littledove]

It would be nice if everyone can go together.

[He's always talking about Yona in glowing words. And she really likes Yona, and Zeno, and the rest of Kija's companions. Everyone gets along so well, like a family.

Although... she supposes she'll stick to Yona, then. She wonders why Kija remains so formal.]

I'll be sure to savor it lots! I want to try the different flavors.

[darkestbefore]

What a wonderful idea! Maybe I will see if the others would like to go and we can make an afternoon outing of it.

[ Surely nothing could go wrong with that... ]