A Very Happy New Year [Open, Mingle Log]

[meds4sale]

Who: The Medicine Seller and You
What: A rather informal (emphasis on the former) hatsugama. Come get your tea and mochi.
When: January 9th
Where: At The Mossy Fox.


Content Warning: Mischievious but otherwise harmless spooks for those who might go wandering. Because of course he would live in a haunted house.

I. HATS OFF FOR HATSUGAMA


A. Arrival
It wasn't like the Medicine Seller could have lived somewhere less remote; that might make things convenient, and unfortunately he doesn't have a single ounce of convenient sensibilities. The journey to the Mossy Fox is, for most, a long one, up twisting paths through the woods. Helpfully, brightly coloured paper lanterns have been set out along the route for those who expressed interest in the tea ceremony, and for those who just need an escape from the bitter chill, and some of the steeper parts of the trek have been shoveled free of snow.

The Medicine Seller greets any arrivals, polite and aloof as ever, but there is hot tea or chocolate and bowls of o-zoni are served around the fire pit to ward away the winter chill and to give his guests time to mingle and any stragglers to make it up to the remote home in the heavy snow.

B. First Tea Ceremony of the Year
When it seems no more are coming, the Medicine Seller leads the group from the kitchen area to the spare room. It's quite a bit chillier in here without any heat source and poor insulation, though there are several kotatsu set up so his guests don't freeze waiting for their tea and sweets.

The process of making the tea is explained, from each component such as the portable little charcoal heater, to the delicate whisk, to say nothing of how a careful, deliberate process such as preparing tea might help with counteracting the psychological elements of corruption and beasthood.

Three at a time little bowls of a thick, green tea are served, coupled with plates of the hanabira mochi. The tea lacks the usual bitterness one might expect, tasting a bit how freshly cut grass smells; lightly sweet and earthy. The mochi too is pleasant; chewy and sweet but not overly so.

II. YOU'D BEST START BELIEVING IN GHOST STORIES...

The Medicine Seller's home is... eclectic. If one were to go wandering, they may see all manner of oddities; books and charts detailing diseases and treatments, curious knicknacks and pottery, an odd collection of clockwork toys that don't seem to work, scandalous literature... with pictures, various alembics and other chemistry equipment, sheaves of herbs and other plants hanging up to dry, and things in dusty jars best not to speculate too hard on.

Perhaps that clockwork doll begins to move suddenly, or you catch sight of a giggling child scrambling up the stairs out of sight, or perhaps there is a peculiar scratching sound beneath the floor from the the cellar, or the dulcet tones of an elegant sounding woman lead you out to the orchard.

Whatever the case, there is something very strange in the neighborhood.

III. PARTING GIFTS

All good things must come to an end, though there are remaining gifts to give to the guests. Little red paper bags containing samples of tea and incense and boxes of sweets and dried persimmons all tied with omamori in shades of red, pink, or gold. Protections from the darker things that lurk in the gloom of the forests as the sun sets over Trenchwood, and nice things to share with friends and loved ones.

"I do look forward to seeing you again soon," he says with a bow. "Do have... a safe trip home."

code bases by tricklet

Comments

A. Open

[hopticulture]

[she's heard of this place through the grapevine of Trench, among Sleepers and locals alike, and while she's been...relatively healthy, this itchiness that's been creeping all over her has Haru seeking means of relief.

traveling this way was reminiscent of visiting the shrine during new years between the cold and lanterns, and despite her itchiness she's glad for her snow boots and extra layers of clothing.

and, it turns out, she's arrived just in time to celebrate the new year. the o-zoni is a welcome treat, both thanks to the warmth but also the familiarity, and for a moment she forgets about her itchiness, sitting besides the firepit, a white rabbit sticking out like a sore thumb among the others here, sitting cross-legged and facing the fire.]

Ah... [she speaks outloud, mostly to herself as she unloops her scarf from her neck, scratching under her chin for a second.] I didn't expect such a warm welcome.

[to think she was headed this way for some ointment, and she just so happened to drop in to an entire ceremony. it feels lucky.]

[hearthebell]

[L is scratching at his own dry and flaking skin; after trying no shortage of common sense home remedies, he'd received a tip that The Medicine Seller might have some remedies to soothe his symptoms for a time, and he'd made his way up the lantern-lit paths to find the ceremony ongoing. While rituals involving complex etiquette tend not to agree with him, on account of seeming like he was raised by wolves, he does enjoy tea.

Sweeter tea. Much sweeter tea. It takes great presence of mind and willpower to not let the herbal-tasting tea dribble out of his mouth and back into the teacup. So he's on the hunt for copious amounts of sugar, but checking the tables and stands near the fireplace, he stumbles across something else that is pure white and sweet.

The scrawny, pale man cants his shaggy head in surprise when the diminutive rabbit speaks, but his surprise could be greater. He's met one of them already, after all.]

I don't suppose you're acquainted with a bear... about...

[He reaches over his head, approximating around seven feet high.]

[hopticulture]

[she’s in the middle of taking a sip of her tea (because to her, it’s just right) so it takes her a second to respond. but at the mention of a bear…

on one hand, don’t assume all walking and talking animals know each other.

on the other:]

You mean Riz? [there’s only one seven foot talking bear in this place as far as she knows.

she too cocks her head to one side, though it’s a gesture that probably seems cuter when it’s a rabbit doing the scrutinizing instead of a weird looking scrawny guy.] I didn’t really know him before I got here, but we went to the same school.

Are you a friend of his?

[hearthebell]

[In fairness, if he'd seen more than two walking and talking animals in Trench thus far, he might not be as quick to make such gross generalizations!

Also in fairness, L looks for patterns before he looks for the politest possible way to phrase things.

He nods; even if he didn't know the bear's name, there's just the one, to his knowledge. Haru's easy bearing and the charm with which she mirrors his own awkward movements puts him somewhat more at-ease; his hunched shoulders relax, dropping slightly.

This is uncanny, but rabbits are cute.]

We've only met once. I thought it was a costume, at first, and then...

[Then, I thought I'd be eaten. He clears his throat.]

He seemed courteous. I suppose that whatever I assumed in the moment was uncharitable.

[He pauses, rather hoping for a confirmation. If a small white rabbit with a gentle voice doesn't have anything to fear from him, L's gut feeling was probably animal instinct, subject to mastery just as much as any other impractical emotion.]

[hopticulture]

You assumed he was going to eat you?

[she fills in what's unsaid in that pause, not necessarily out of perception but because it's just the natural, immediate thought most people would have when face-to-face with a large intimidating carnivore like a brown bear.

and Haru is blunt. very familiar with her own animal instinct, and not one wanting to mince words when it matters. setting her teacup down, she scratches absentmindedly just below her ear. ]

I guess...if he wanted to he could have. Especially in a place like this. [just going to be honest. beyond that it's not her place to say. she lives her own life here, as does Riz.] But where we come from, eating other animals like that is pretty taboo.

[hearthebell]

The thought did, at least, cross my mind.

[He appreciates her candor; generally, people who cut past the fat of a matter agree with him, past those who will dance circles around a subject in the most delicate possible way while the minutes drip by.

Though Haru and Riz are very different creatures, he finds himself similarly unnerved and fascinated by the very human mannerisms on what he's always understood to be an animal, with a life worthy of basic respect but not awe.]

Taboo?

[But it does happen, he starts to say, but the rote rules of etiquette tug at him. L is rude in myriad complex ways, but he has no excuse for the basic ones that can be easily committed to memory.]

We've been talking for long enough that we should know each other's names. I'm Lazarus Sauveterre, and I appreciate you humoring my questions. Your world is nothing like most I've heard of.

[hopticulture]

[Haru appreciates his honesty; in their world, too many animals try to hide from the reality of what it means to be a carnivore and what it means to be a herbivore. it's bothersome, because it's something that'll never change unless confronted and acknowledged.]

Mmhm, it's not like how it is here, but the way the animals are in Trench-- [and in the human world, for most humans at least (so she assumes)] are also very different.

[the act of eating meat doesn't disturb her as much as it used to. but the way the animals are here certainly does still bother her, because she still sees herself in the rabbits that eat grass and are eaten by others.

but when he introduces himself, she nods, patting the space next to her as she shifts a bit to make room, signaling that he can sit next to her if he wants.]

I'm Haru, it's good to meet you. And I don't mind the questions...but where I'm from isn't really all that interesting.

[a pause as she enjoys more of the soup, munching on the mochi part she's been saving for last. and when her mouth isn't completely full, she continues, whether this Lazarus guy takes a seat by her or not:]

A world where society is made up of entirely one species-- that's something that sounds weird.

[hearthebell]

Is that difficult for you?

[Right back to his nosy, prying questions. He can't really help it, when he has insatiable curiosity in place of appetites for food, sleep, friendship and love.]

To see another animal that isn't sentient, and to know what most humans expect them to be like?

[He hesitates; he always seems to, before settling in for longer than a glancing encounter with others. Maybe knowing he's handsomer than usual heartens his resolve more, because he does take a seat in an armchair that would have looked like it was eating his wiry body, pre-shedding.

His omen, an orca whale shrunken down to the size of a Labrador to better navigate indoors, circles his chair.

He wonders if Haru's ever met an orca whale and spoken with one, and what they might have had to say.]

[hopticulture]

That's a nosy question to ask a girl you just met.

[Though she doesn't sound offended by it, and when he does take a seat beside her she settles back into looking away and towards the warmth of the fire.]

But it did disturb me at first...the animals themselves. I don't care about how a human would expect me to act as a rabbit.

[She sees the orca circling around him out of the corner of her eye. Her own omen remains pocketed away, wherever omens stay when not around their person. But says nothing in response to the animal, accepting it as much as she accepts her surroundings.

Shrugging her shoulders, she brings the tea back to her mouth, muttering before taking a sip:]

That's their problem, not mine.

Vira-Lorr | OTA

[onerthes]

The Tea Ceremony)

[Vira-Lorr settled herself into a polite, seated position after introducing herself to some of the other guests. She chose a relaxed posture, easing down to rest herself and listen attentively to the ceremony. Just because she'd done something similar in Yamato long ago didn't mean that it wasn't decades since she'd last done it. So it never hurt to 'refresh,' especially since the details might be different in this case.

She looked over the various implements as they were being given for inspection, her attention on the medicine seller, quietly pouring over each of them before smiling and offering them to another.]

It's an intriguing ceremony.

[And though it felt refreshing she admittedly couldn't be sure why it was so refreshing. it was something very different from her own experiences.]

Did you hear something?

[She paused shortly after the ceremony, not really wandering, but looking around as she could swear that she'd heard a child's laughter. Pausing at the steps leading up, she squinted and shivered, before looking at whoever happened to be with her for just a moment, curious and a bit concerned.]

Did you hear something just now?

Tea ceremony

[payingfordeliverance]

[Break is tickled by this entire experience. The thought process behind it all is familiar and welcoming, but the actual manifestation new and interesting, and on top of that he's honestly a little high on his own weirdly friendly darkblood. Included in this is a deep amusement at finding himself seated next to Vira-Lorr.

Between the two of them they have the correct amount of eyeballs.]

Most tea has a bit of ceremony about it, I think. I imagine the inherent ritual of it is what makes it potent against the corruption of this place. How lovely that something so similar would show up across different worlds entirely, right?

[onerthes]

I have enjoyed the elements that are similar across worlds. As you said, there seems to be a certain kind of ceremony, one that is both formal and familiar, to the brewing of some form of tea across worlds.

[Somehow, she was starting to believe that mortals just liked putting leaves in scalding water to see what happened, and it became ingrained as a kind of ritualistic practice. She idly wondered how it had all begun.]

I do not think we've met yet, have we? Vira-Lorr. A pleasure. So, do they have a similar ritual in your world?

[payingfordeliverance]

Then, Miss Vira-Lorr, my name is Xerxes Break. This one here is Baltus.

[He is referring to his omen, who of course he has not put away for the proceedings. Break never puts his omen away. He simply assumes the world will deal with his presence and for the most part nobody argues with him, given that, like Break, Baltus has impeccable manners when he feels like it. At being mentioned, the borzoi leans around him to give Vira-Lorr a polite "boof", regarding her with his glowing white eyes.]

If they've something identical to this at home, it's in a country I'm not familiar with. Mm, but -- tea is of great importance in my own culture. If you can't sort yourself out by taking the time for a delicious cup of tea, then you know you've real problems, you know?

[onerthes]

[Weirdly, Vira-Lorr's omen seemed accustomed to being hidden, but given that it had taken a form not unlike a pokemon she'd encountered and cared for in the nightmare perhaps that wasn't so surprising. So, it was usually in its pokeball her spirit awaiting to be summoned.

She smiled and nodded to the omen before turning back to its companion.]

mmm. I can't truly argue against that. If a little tea can't help at least a little to calm your nerves, there is a deeper problem. Even when meditation fails, tea helps.

So, may I ask? What is your homeland like?

HMM!! This notif got eaten. My apologies!

[payingfordeliverance]

I suppose it's not terribly unlike this one, albeit without all the, ah. Blood and squid business.

[It did have the odd blood ritual or rampaging beast, true, and Break's work entailed dealing with exactly those things. But they weren't anything that menaced the general populace, most of the time. The whole point of the organization he was part of was to step in and stop the matter, when they did.]

Rather -- the look of the place is similar enough that it's like an especially dour version of home, and it hasn't been difficult to find the kinds of clothing I'm accustomed to here. In that sense it's not terribly overwhelming, even if there are a great many things my home does not have yet. And you...?

No prob

[onerthes]

I find that those who splash color and create a more gaudy aesthetic locally are to my taste, personally, but I certainly must say the whole air of the place is rather dour is it not?

[She turned the cup in her hands as it was brought to her, breathing the vapor and inspecting it before taking a small sip. Another partial turn and it was passed to him. She took the moment in the ceremony to consider.]

A world of many continents, of numerous surreal and exotic races, each the child of a different god's whims. Magic mingled with technology in my world, and much of it is brighter, more cheerful than this place, though its darkness hides behind the veils and smiles of those who live lies. Only one continent is truly honest in its darkness, and its people are better and kinder than many other, their world blasted but not their hearts.

[payingfordeliverance]

I suppose you can't blame it for being dour when walking out the front door without checking first might well get you eaten by something gross.

[Break, too, prefers the gaudy side of things, even if he doesn't look it at the moment. He goes around in all black himself these days, even if it's pretty ruffly black, in fine fabrics you have to actively take care of in a world so blood-soaked as this one. It's because he's in mourning, for his own self and several others. Once he hits the six-month mark in March, he'll start unfolding back into a beautiful purple butterfly.

For the moment, he listens, enjoying the warmth of the teacup in his hands. Even outside of his darkblood causing him to crave company more than usual, he's pleased that he's come out tonight.]

...to know so many different continents, is it easy to travel between them? Crossing great distances can take weeks, where I'm from.

The Tea Ceremony

[unphase]

[Tinya actually did know how to behave at such events, thanks to He Who Won't Be Named at her previous prison planet. but it's better to not think about him, thinking about him always makes her angry and that destroys the point of the ceremony and she felt out of place as it was, coming to a stranger's house.

she seats herself gracefully next to a woman she hadn't met yet (not that that meant much, she barely knew anyone yet) and shot her a quick smile before paying attention to the ceremony, looking as demure and respectful as possible.

as the unknown woman turns to her, Tinya smiles shyly]

Yes, very much so. I've seen holos of such ceremonies, but never got to witness it in person.

[it's entirely different than anything she's had before, but in a good way]

[onerthes]

There's one a little like it in one of the nations of my homeland, but it's not quite the same. Tiny differences. It's interesting to see the nuance play out.

[She offered Tinya a hand and a smile, bobbing her head as she did so.]

Vira-Lorr, by the by. It is a pleasure, miss?

[unphase]

Really? What is your homeland like? And, if you don't mind...those tiny differences? I'm sorry, I'm a diplomatic corps brat, these sorts of things fascinate me.

[she took Vira-Lorr's hand and shook it firmly with a warm smile]

I'm Tinya. Tinya Wazzo. I'm new here. Really, really new.

[onerthes]

No need to apologize. I find the differences of culture fascinating. I suppose Yamato was more of a place of practicality. They relied on their traditions, but theirs was a smaller kingdom, old and poor. Sometimes they would make do with whatever they could, rather than family heirlooms such as this. It could not be afforded for each piece to have such a vaunted history. There were also not quite so many turns of the cup, so many precise motions to the ceremony.

[She sighed a little wistfully, almost reminded of the incident with the 'imitation crab.' Ladius had almost choked on it, hah.]

Mine is a world of five continents. I'm told that much of it is fantastical, being a world of magic and sorcery, though I've surprised a few by how advanced some things in our world can be. [She chuckled softly.] we mingled our technology with our magic. There are many species and races besides just humans there. from the Harpuia who fly on great wings, to the elves with their powerful magic and my own people, the Onelthes, who see the future. There are many things I could tell you of, but in return I'd be curious of yours Tinya.

[unphase]

Thank you, so do I. Were the other countries around you pressuring you or did they mostly leave you to yourselves? And it hurts to be without family heirlooms completely. I've never seen anything like this in person and my homeworld doesn't have anything like it, really.

[she's spent more of her life away from Bgztl than on it]

Magic and sorcery? Real magic? Don't get me wrong, I've met other people who can do magic, it's simply that--well, my home galaxy doesn't have anything of the sort, so it's still fascinating. And technology with magic? Unheard of, where I'm from. Though, I guess I'm used to a large number of species and races. Does it count if they're all from different worlds? I'd like to hear them, but me? My home galaxy?

[onerthes]

Considering that, sadly, I spent the last century of my life as the general of an army that had to fight across several civil wars and protect various nations from the incursions of darkness threatening our very world? No, sadly they weren't as peaceful as one might have liked. [She laughed softly.] Believe it or not? Trench is more peace than I've had for a while.

Well 'real magic' varies from world to world, but if you mean what I think you do, then yes. Sadly, that power has faded in me since the nightmare ended and I woke here. [That did get a bit of a wistful sigh.] I'd demonstrate, but it isn't possible anymore. We would fuse elemental forces into weaponry for added effect. It isn't unlike what they do around here.

Mmmm, I think the living trees, the Ryulent are my favorite to tell of. Perhaps you'd like to hear about dear Arbol?

[unphase]

Oh. Oh, my. Peace is something easily wished for, but obtained with difficulty. I'm sorry that you had such troubles back home. And--and in the before? Before here? I've gotten so few details about the before here and even the here that I barely know what to ask or how to ask it.

I'm sorry. That's got to be a terrible loss to have to get used to. I don't know...does this place mess with one's abilities? And what is it they do around here?

Yes, very much so. I spent so much time in space, I rarely had the chance to appreciate nature.

Xerxes Break | OTA

[payingfordeliverance]

Journey

[Inconvenient it may be, but Break enjoys the walk out to the Medicine Seller's home. With his omen at his side as always and his canesword in hand, he has little trouble navigating the twisting paths, and that leaves him free to soak up the aesthetic of the whole thing. He pauses frequently simply to look at his surroundings, taking it all in with extra appreciation given the time he spent without his eyesight when he first arrived in Trench.]

I'm happy to get to see this. This is a much better fairy tale than what we started out with, isn't it, Baltus? We'll need to remember these lanterns. They'd please Miss Alice for certain.

[He is talking to his omen, but anyone who overhears him is welcome to pipe up. Break is a darkblood, and January has him extra chatty.]


An Inane Observation Arrival

Those are carrots, aren't they? Carrots shaped like flowers. Good gravy, that's cute.

[Break has discovered the soup. He is terribly charmed by the cute soup. That's it, that's the prompt.]


Ghosts

[He does notice the hints here and there -- the laughter, the scratching -- because he is the sort of person who notices very tiny things. It's all weirdly familiar for some reason, but it isn't until Break finds himself staring out towards the orchard over a disembodied voice that it clicks, and he perks right up.]

-- oh! This house is haunted, too.

[Break lives in a thoroughly haunted house himself. Nodding in satisfaction, he turns himself right around to head in the opposite direction of the orchard. Nope. Nothing doing.]