thousandcraneswish | Character Inbox for Songerein

Is this Chizuru?

It's Wei Ying, from the shop with the tea. It occurred to me I've not yet tried to send a private note, and I thought you might help me practice.

( which is to say: he's checking in without actually checking in. )

Hello, Wei Ying.

Yes, it's Chizuru. I haven't tried out these journals much yet either, so I'm glad of a chance to practice. There's so much about this dreamscape that's new. There's a lot to learn.

Am I saying too much?

Ah, best not to ask me. If my mouth is open, I'm certainly saying too much. (Sometimes my mouth doesn't even have to be open at all! Just ask my shidi. What a wonder it is.)

Where is it that you're from? And when? Have you learned of such things yet - the past and future and whatnot?

[ Chizuru hides a chuckle behind her hand, keeping the quiet in her room, before dipping her brush in the inkwell and answering. ]

I come from Japan, and I don't know whether I come from the past or the future. This dreamscape is ... unique. It's unlike anything I have known back home, but I don't believe I know all that my country hides in the forests and mountains either.

[ After all, demons were myths, legends reminiscent of the Warrning States Period, to most citizens around her, until she traveled to Kyoto. She'd be even more of a fool than her usual naive self if she believed she understood all of the secrets of her country after that.

She's not concentrating on the matter at hand. ]

I do know that there are too many styles here for them to even be European travelers where I am from, too.

Are you from China? Your dress is similar to mine but still different.

So you've heard of it? In the place where we were before this (a long and terribly distracting story) most called it 'ancient China'. You know, now that I think of it, it's a shame no one was from future China. What use is being ancient if there's no one to honor me as their maybe-perhaps-ancestor? They can skip the kowtowing, but a few pork bun offerings wouldn't be too much to ask.

Oh, would you like to see a trick? Hold on a moment, just watch the page! :)

( yes, that's a smiley face. and yes, it's on its side. he learned emoji by texting and it hasn't quite occurred to him to turn it rightside-up.

but! more importantly, on the blank bit of page beneath this note appears what looks like a painting of a scenic lake, complete with colors. speaking of things which haven't occurred to him: he hasn't quite realized he send it in more realistic picture form, instead manifesting the image on the page as if he'd painted it himself. )

That's the lotus lake we grew up on.

Oh, but I've not heard of Japan. Is it nearby?

Edited 2021-09-28 11:42 (UTC)

[ Hopelessly amused, Chizuru’s giggles in the quiet of the room as this man complains about the differences in time and not getting offerings as an ancestor. He reminds her of her family back home with that easy confidence and his mock outrage at not getting recognized for his skills. Really, the comment about food is the least surprising. It just fits with his jests. A pang of nostalgia hits her hard and she wipes a tear away before it can hit the page.

But Wei Ying’s good at distracting her, first with a : ) symbol that seems like a smile if she tilts head and then with the magic trick. The picture’s not even a painting, but more like a window to the actual lake. The scenery is beautiful, peaceful, and yet, somehow, the image is painted on that one page.

She’s delighted! ]

How did you do that? It’s beautiful and too detailed for a painting. Is that dreamotion? Can you do it again?

[ Chizuru completely overlooks the other questions. ]

Edited 2021-09-29 00:25 (UTC)

Can I do it again, hmmm

It seems that's a question you'll have to ask yourself, isn't it?

( which sounds all sorts of cryptic and unhelpful, but don't worry: he's solving that rather quickly. in an empty bit of page, a likeness of chizuru herself appears. the picture-chizuru is smiling, and a speech bubble beside her holds the word "yes!" )

Aha, well! If the kind Lady Chizuru says that I can, who am I to argue?

[ Chizuru starts as a perfect image of herself appears in front of her next with a bubble near her filled with the word yes. For a moment, she stares. And then she begins laughing again, smiling widely and letting it ring out around her.

Her fingers are still shaking when writing another reply, smiling like an one of those three idiots. ]

You're a trickster, aren't you, Wei Ying?

Edited 2021-09-29 07:23 (UTC)

Such accusations! I'm wounded.

So terribly wounded that the only thing that could mend my heart is for Lady Chizuru to wish up a picture to send in return! Otherwise, I may never recover. A tragedy, truly.

[ That settles it. Her new friend Wei Ying definitely likes making jokes. Chizuru finds herself considering how best to reply. To trying to create the picture. Or to tease him for his dramatic words first. She is truly tempted to try and joke with him again. Even if she could never keep up with the three idiots back home and had always been hopelessly left behind by Okita’s verbal pranks, joining in their fun always lifted her lips into another smile. Always covered the loneliness inside her.

She decided to try.

Slowly, an image of burly man’s stomach with a large lips drawn over it appeared with it’s own speech bubble, saying ‘Yes I am.’ The lips on the stomach moved as if saying the words. ]

Edited 2021-09-29 23:58 (UTC)

[So as he said he would, after fighting Kazuma Rokurou sends a message to Chizuru. Although it's not immediately after... He kind of forgot for a bit and while starting to treat his injuries he remembered.]

Hey, Chizuru! Just checking in like I promised, and don't worry. I have all my limbs intact. Kazuma, too.

[ Chizuru has tried to keep busy while waiting for news and finally gets a breather when her journal fills up with Rokurou's message. ]

That's good. Is he alright? Is he still mad?

[ No, wait. Chizuru's being rude. She can ask about Kazuma after. ]

I'm glad you're relatively unharmed, Rokurou-san. Do you want some assistance with any wounds?

Oh he's definitely still mad, haha.

And I can probably take care of it. Just have to find some more bandages and it'll help up in a few days.

I think.

[So very reassuring given that, uh. He is definitely not saying how badly injured he really is, ha ha ha HE'S FINE....... Fine enough for a daemon. He'll live he's been through worse.]

( what's that sound? it's coming from chizuru's front door, is that... scratching? if and when she investigates, she'll find only her journal lying there on her doorstep. chizuru may or may not have even noticed her journal was missing yet, but here it is.

a message waits on the first empty page in scratchy mostly-legible writing: )

found it in the woods

keep better track of it next time

lalli

[ Smiling in response, Chizuru glances around her treehouse, but she can't find anyone. She sighs, wondering how to thank him. After all, the journal was her best way to remain in contact with the people in this realm -- and to create scenes from her world.

She wonders if Lalli looked at the portraits.... ]

Lalli,

Thank you for bringing my journal back to me.

Since you know the way to my treehouse, why don't you come over for tea and snacks when it's convenient for you.

Chizuru

( he did look at the portraits. he has a friend who draws portraits, too. maybe that's why he bothered to bring this back at all. )

what kind of snacks

I'm well versed in cooking, but we all come from various places. Would some sweet rice cakes suit you or you would like sweat bean cakes?

Edited 2021-12-31 06:19 (UTC)

rice isn't sweet

beans aren't sweet either

You haven't tasted them. How can you say that? Maybe it's true where you're from but in my country, we use different spices and sauces to change their flavors. Beans and rice are just the base to create the sweets!

( he is still very very suspicious of these """"sweet rice and beans"""" but........ )

you said cakes?

( he might possibly like cakes. )

[ Great! It looks like she's convinced him! ]

I did say cakes. It's the new years soon. It's custom to make rice cakes for the season. You pound them and then shape them. After they cool, you eat them with tea.

( he's not so sure about all of this pounding and shaping, or tea for that matter, but if there are cakes in it for him: )

when

[ What a simply reply. ]

When is it best for you? I already have some made but I can make new ones if you prefer?

old is okay

i can come back now?

As long as you don't mind waiting for the tea to steep, then that is agreeable to me. This is a gift to you. So any time that is favorable to you is good for me.

Character Inbox for Songerein

journal message, late september

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