甲辰 003: 冬至

[singlemilletgrain]

[video transmission]

Greetings, Crimson Corsairs.

[As usual, the elegant woman appears with a beaming smile amidst the warm steam rising from bowls of... something or other in her kitchen.]

I understand you come from many winter traditions, both in this land and in your homes. If you would allow me a brief intrusion... In Yan, it is customary to celebrate the Winter Solstice, the 'dong zhi.' As it is the longest night of the year, we give thanks that the light will return and the days will soon grow long once more. In the depths of midwinter, it is a reminder that balance and yang will be restored, no matter how dark the nights may seem. For those of us in agrarian communities, we give thanks also to the animals who have brought us through the hard times.

[A mischievous glimmer shines in her eyes.]

Of course, it is also the day that the venerable master of the stove, Zao Jun, reports to Tian on whether or not your house hold has been 'naughty' or 'nice,' which I understand is a part of some other traditions as well.

Please allow me to offer prayers to Tian on your behalf. What is it that you hope for when the sun returns in its full splendor?

[in person, all around]

[Shu appears at your door on this cold, long winter evening, knocking politely and awaiting an answer. Whether she sought you out specifically or whether she's never met you at all, she stands and waits in her warm coat holding an extraordinarily large soup bowl in her hands. Somehow, it does not seem to trouble her.]

Comments

[singlemilletgrain]

I am sure the ruler of Tian will look kindly upon them this year.

[since they agreed on forsaking her, Renne may or may not go straight to hell but it’s probably fine.]

You said you are in the Vault? May I bring you something?

[straykitty]

[ Renne smiles pleasantly ]

I'm certainly not opposed. I've been holed up by a terminal preparing for New Year.

[singlemilletgrain]

Wonderful. I will be by shortly if you give me a landmark. I live in the provided housing in Vault.

[And so, if Renne gives accurate instructions, Shu will wander down the street bearing a steaming tureen some thirty minutes later.]

[straykitty]

[ Shu will find herself deep in an Ether-net server room when a door opens for her. Renne's been hard at work at a keyboard, although there is evidence in the trash container in the corner and the small table laid out that she had eaten. Some quick snacks. At some undetermined point today. Renne looks Shu over with interest, taking in her somewhat unfamiliar features before giving her a sly smile. ]

I see you found me all right.

[singlemilletgrain]

[Shu manages to bow while holding out the tureen before her as if in offering.]

Thank you for having my company. My name is Shu, of Yan. How unseemly of me not to have introduced myself before asking permission to intrude upon you.

This is...

[The surroundings are unfamiliar to her, as this is not the kind of work she would be helpful with.]

[straykitty]

[ Renne smiles politely ]

Renne Bright, a pleasure.

One of the Ether-net terminals. We can use these to manipulate the system we use to communicate with each other, if you know how it's done. It's a bit of a hobby of mine.

[singlemilletgrain]

Oh!

[She responds, in the tone of one who feels great interest but hasn't the slightest idea of how to intelligently converse on the topic.]

I had always wondered how this technology worked. I suppose I assumed it had something to do with crystals, since they operate everything else. So the communications travel through these boxes somehow?

[Terra had yet to set up any sort of stable long-distance communication, though the theory was not unheard of. Largely because the frequent Catastrophes would surely destroy any cables, networks, or other attempts at linking mobile cities.]

[straykitty]

Mostly correct. We use crystals to create a connection network among our various systems, and these boxes are what we use to manage them. The Empire uses a similar system, so they're mostly compatible which means I can use ours to break into theirs.

[singlemilletgrain]

Break into...?

[Perhaps she had better stick with advanced Originium based magitech agricultural devices. Steam drifting into her eyesight suddenly reminds her of the reason she came in the first place.]

Oh yes. Before we become too sidetracked --

[She sets the tureen on a table and retrieves a bowl from a bag she was grasping by the tail. With a ladle, she spoons what appears to be a colorful mess of white and pink balls.]

This is our traditional celebration of the solstice. Tang yuan.

[straykitty]

[ Renne takes the dish and sets it on the table, taking in the scent before taking a seat on the floor beside the table, gracefully placing her legs to her side as is proper for a lady in a skirt. She gestures for Shu to seat herself as well. ]

Oh my, I've never had anything quite like this. The color is intriguing. How do you eat it?

[singlemilletgrain]

Carefully. The filling is always hotter than you think it is.

[With deliberation, she spoons more liquid into the bowl to fill it with the sugary sweet soup so the tang yuan are bobbing on top. With both hands, she offers it to Renne alongside a soup spoon.]

A happy solstice evening to you. Thank you for sharing this time with me. On this day, the tang yuan are symbolic of 'togetherness.' When we eat together, it is with the promise of future reunion.

...Oh. But I'm afraid the color is just beet juice.

[straykitty]

Beets are fine, it looks lovely. And a happy solstice to you as well.

[ She gingerly takes a spoonful, before closing her eyes in contentment. ]

It's quite good. You are an excellent chef.

[singlemilletgrain]

Oh, no.

[She responds in the fashion of one who frequently receives the same compliment and is required by culture to demur.]

This is very simple, really. I could show you some time if you'd like.

[The filling is sesame paste and oozes out, thick and dark.]

This dish always reminds me of my family.

[straykitty]

I'd like that, if you don't mind. I'd love to share this with my own family, I think they'd enjoy it.

[singlemilletgrain]

Of course.

[There is the faintest note of pleased surprise in her voice, as if she had not expected an affirmative response. Shu becomes a little less rigid and immediately searches around for a piece of paper.]

The ingredients are very simple. The only difficulty will be the glutinous rice which does not appear to be a crop cultivated in this land. But I harvested some in the fall and am happy to share.

Glutinous rice flour, sesame, lard, and sugar is all you need. I like to add a few slices of fresh ginger for taste. And if you prefer a healthier fat, you can substitute anything for the lard.

Let’s see…

[She eventually starts writing on something she retrieves from a trash receptacle.]

And the preparation of the ball itself is simplicity itself. Tang yuan translates to ‘soup ball,’ by the way, which sounds much less elegant in Esthere language.

[straykitty]

[ Renne smiles gently ]

I'll be sure to use the proper name. You say you've been cultivating this "glutinous rice"?

[singlemilletgrain]

This is not to say Yanese is always preferred. Do you know we say 'essence of egg white' when you say protein?

[Which is absurd to her as someone who has existed before people started domesticating chickens for eggs, but she supposes no one had any reason to name such a thing prior to that.]

Oh, but yes -- I had a nice crop earlier this year. I am a farmer by trade. Or, as my hometown prefers to use nowadays, an 'agricultural specialist.' They seem to feel 'farmer' is too...

[Here she says another Yanese word, 'tu.']

Hillbilly, I think would be the right phrase.

[straykitty]

"Hillbilly" sounds a bit pejorative. I know the Corsairs must surely appreciate any new crops you are able to bring us.

[singlemilletgrain]

Oh, I have no issue with ‘farmer.’ It is amusing to me - the importance of status and symbolic meaning to many people.

Officially, my title is Nongye Tianshi, which translates to Celestial Master of Agriculture. I am not sure what there is about it that is celestial. It seems to me entirely the opposite. But I have spent my life in the fields, and I will do so until my final days.

[Here Shu finished scribbling on her discarded piece of paper and hands it over to Renne.]

The recipe.

But if you visit sometime, I shall make it with you.

[straykitty]

Your title makes it sound like you were a god in your home world, at least as far as our reckoning. You certainly seem to have a presence about you. And I would love your assistance - I don't want to make this for my family before I know what I'm doing. They might know I'm not perfect but I try not to remind them of that fact.

[singlemilletgrain]

Nothing so important, I assure you. Though I am very accomplished at what I do, if I may say so myself.

[She lies through her teeth without missing a beat, though a small part of her mind finds this exchange highly amusing.]

Please, I insist. I have nothing to do in these winter months besides care for my animals, you know.

Oh -- but you must tell me more about what you do. I was asking you about this place...

[straykitty]

I'll certainly have to stop by then.

As to what I do, put simply, I'm able to do things that go above and beyond the functions of the communication device you're familiar with using. I hope to use this against the Empire in our coming operation to take control of their own communications and broadcast our messages to the wider populace.

[singlemilletgrain]

Ah... How clever. You mean to propagate our propaganda.

[This is something she can understand, even if the technical details escape her.]

I have often wondered how many are aware of the extent of our plans. How seriously we take our operations and how sincere we are of our goals.

[straykitty]

Having spent time on the Isles Above, the Corsairs are a convenient boogyman. The Empire likes to use our presence to justify whatever atrocities it commits against its own people under the guise of "keeping them safe".

[singlemilletgrain]

I imagine the common people have seen through such a thin facade, at this point. Or at least... I hope so.

[She shakes her head.]

How close do you think you are to accomplishing such a feat?