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[lumberlady]

« konoha » TEXT ✧ AUDIO ✧ VIDEO ✧ ACTION KONOHA ✦ JINBA
RESIDENCE ✦ Emerald Park
GEMBOND ✦ Emerald

"Ah, am I doing this right... ? Hello! This is Konoha! Please 'leave a message'!"

INFO ✧ PERMISSIONS ✧ KINKLIST ✧ VISUALS

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[action]

[circumitus]

[After meeting up with Chiron, it's not hard to find Konoha. Since, you know, they're living in the same vicinity.

[Rather than greeting her like a normal person though, Rey can't suppress her exclamation--]

Konoha!

[--before she barrels forward into a bear hug. Nope, doesn't matter what Konoha was doing before, it's happening right the fuck now.]

[lumberlady]

[Figuring out the hilarity of the mixed messages on locations will have to wait another time, because the more pressing matter is that Rey was here? So once she's finished up wherever she'd been (hah), and it comes time to meet, Konoha is waiting by the park entrance for a hint of-]

Rey!

[It's been long enough that her scent isn't instantly recognizable like it used to be, dulled by a year and some spent back in her own world, but it comes back to her once she sees her, and she has just enough time to brace herself before Rey's unusually heavy weight comes crashing in for a hug... and she hugs her back just as fiercely, overcome with relief.

She remembered her.]

OVERFLOW | ACTION

[lumberlady]

continued from here;

[The ground shudders, the tree shakes, and somehow, Konoha can feel it. She hasn’t yet fully made the connection tying these sensations to the chunk of emerald embedded in the middle of a bay haunch, passing them off as intuition, passive observation, or flights of fancy, but though this world is not her land in heart... it seems to be now in body.]

Gonta isn’t here, either.

[Not just a daughter left behind who needed her, but a husband who did, in a different but just as important way. Konoha has told herself that, surely, time will have stopped. It did in Lunatia, so surely Jude and her family... they didn’t notice a thing, it would be a mere blip in the timeline before they were back...

But even if that was true, and their spouses could not miss them... she and Cardan were awake and aching. And, a part of her also knows... apparently still expected to create something similar to chroma for this populace as well. Was that all they were to other worlds? Batteries?

She doesn’t know. But what’s sure is that when Cardan pulls back enough to look her in the eye she meets him there desperately, cheeks shamelessly stained with tears and fingers still clinging to his shoulders, unable to let go yet. A promise from a person who couldn’t lie, even phrased to account of impossibility... it meant a lot. It meant a lot to her.]

Thank you...

[She manages the answer through the choke of emotion, finally forcing herself to pull a hand off him in order to try and wipe the tears from her face with the corner of a sleeve, attempting to pull herself together even though it’s tempting to fall apart.]

Have you... Have you gotten settled and everything? What- What have I missed... ?

[While she’d been living the life she dreamed of on Mt. Tsurugi, building a home, welcoming a daughter, looking forward to another-

All cut short. Again.]

[greenbriar]

Please, allow me.

[ Like any self-respecting dandy, he carries a nice monogrammed handkerchief, which he will pull out and offer to her. There is-- an odd urge to help her wipe her tears, but it feels... intimate, especially since they were just talking about their families.

He tries to push away the thought that, given the absence of both Jude and Gonta, intimacy looms on both of their horizons anyway. Still, his hand will settle lightly on her side, unwilling to fully let go himself. ]

There is not much to settle.

[ After all, his home is not here. His life is not here. He does not plan to personalize his apartment or spend much time there, for that matter; making spaces look lived-in has always been Jude's knack, not his.

But her question recalls to him her... well, her size, and how awkward it was for her to be stuck in that small motel room that one time. ]

-- what of you? How is your accommodation?

[Text] un; presentmic -- you asked for this

[vociferates]

Konoha-chan!

Where do boats go when they're sick?

[lumberlady]

greeting???

you have boat?
you are sick?

@volkvolny

[reznikolai]

Miss Konoha, I hope you're well after all the excitement of last week.

[lumberlady]

master NIKOLAI

thank you
for asking about i
is not so well
but recovering

is you?

action

[floodbringer]

[ Following an exchange on the network, Ardbert finds himself out in the woods. He almost misses being unseen and unheard sometimes. At times like these, he would like to scream as loud as he could.

If he could just find his way to Laxan Loft, perhaps...

Well, such things aren't possible anymore. He's present now. A person. Alive. He can't even go out to the woods for a good yell because he knows they aren't truly empty. So he does the next best thing, and he tries to distract himself. He places himself at the most distinctly un-home-like thing he could think of.

He shows up at Konoha and Chiron's house. If his eyes look a bit red, pay it no mind. He's perfectly fine. ]

Konoha, are you home? I was wondering if perhaps you could show me the recipe to those riceballs you made?

[lumberlady]

[Luckily for a certain woodland wanderer... someone is indeed home. There's a muffled sound of "coming!" from within the converted barn before the large main door slides open to reveal that this person is Konoha, a threaded needle in one hand and a half-made garment in the other.]

Ardbert, hello- !

[She hadn't been expecting him, but to be honest... She almost prefers it that way. It's more like her own world, without the strange but convenient devices where you could just send messages instantly across vast distances. More spontaneous, more simple, more... well, natural, to her. So it's a surprise, but a pleasant one that brings a smile to her face immediately, not even questioning it before she pulls the door open a bit wider to let him through.]

Come in, come in! Something got you hungry for my mother's recipe all of a sudden?

[She'll notice things a bit better in a moment, but at first... She just welcomes him inside to the converted barn space, that each day is slowly looking a bit more homey inside.]

un: ERENJAEGER

[flatten]

IS THIS KONOHA
YOU HAVE A HORSE BODY

[lumberlady]

yes is KONOHA
is JINBA 👩🐎.
this EREN?
why ask?

hecka backdated

[reznikolai]

[The day after Rag'nbogi draws to a close, Konoha will find a basket sitting outside her door. Nestled inside, packaged in colorful cellophane paper, are an assortment of goodies. Flaky confectionaries tasting lightly of apple, a delicate layer cake sweet with honey, fried cheese pancakes with a small pot of strawberry jam. The pelt she had loaned Nikolai is wrapped around the little trove of treats, and tucked inside is a note in a slanting script:

Dear Konoha,

I described some celebrated Ravkan desserts to a local baker, and this is what she came up with. I think she did an excellent job, but I'll leave you to form your own opinions. Do let me know which is your favorite!

Fondly,

Nikolai Lantsov

Never let it be said that he does anything by half measures...]

[lumberlady]

[A day after a certain basket finds it's way to Konoha's barn, a larger one finds it's way to Nikolai's. Larger, because... well, his jacket is larger, carefully washed and dried, and delivered with a leaf-wrapped package that contains a strange block of solidified bean paste, slightly sour with its sweetness, and a painstakingly handwritten note done in an unsure (but learning!) hand.]

for NIKOLAI

thank you for sweet foods. i like all, but apple taste sweet is best one.
please enjoy food from i 's world also.
is plum yokan, good for now season
eat with tea, cut one knuckle thick

FONDLY,

konoha

{ action }

[drawsblood]

[ Joric is most at his ease when outdoors and even more so the colder it is. Here in this little slice of the mountains he finds himself relaxing as he reclines in the grass beside the basic frame of a cabin that still needs built. He's humming to himself — some old tune from home passed down across generations — when he hears the sound of someone else in the area. And here he thought he picked a remote part of the mountainside for his new house. ]

Who's that?

[lumberlady]

[Though she had been raised in the human villages at the base, it was the blood of the mountains flowed through Konoha's veins, that shaped her sturdier body and made her suitable for the lumber yard work she had excelled at before she'd left the valley for a life of peaks and mist and deep mountain woods with her husband's herd.

And it's to the mountains of Sumerlok that she goes to gather herbs and vegetation for trying to cook the sort of food she is familiar with. The sound of hooves is alternately muffled by moss and distinctive over rock or snapping branch, picking her way about-

Until a voice calls out, and she startles to alertness. The scent of human hasn't come to her, he's downwind, and though this place had shown itself safer than Mt. Tsurugi... Konoha is smart enough to grow a bit cautious, slowly drifting into the shadows of trees and leaf, a dapple of sunlight rippling over hints of a dark mane, a bay coat, a human-like arm...]

Ah, sorry... I didn't mean to startle you...

[Seeking a better view of who she was speaking to, she tries to peek through the leaves towards... was that a house being built there? A man?]

I'm not a threat...

[Just saying her name wouldn't mean anything, would it? But also... when she says it out loud... Does that just sound more suspicious???]

text; un: travis.touchdown

[crownless]

[a few days into the month, Konoha gets a slightly out-of-focus photo of a young girl, around 5 or 6; her arms are outstretched, as if the viewer's preparing to pick her up.]

hey konoha, i got one of those mirrors too
i cant get it to work and pull up a memory of hunter, but... this is my daughter jeane
if this is weird you can ign
i thought you might wanna see her i guess

[lumberlady]

[It isn't a text she'd been expecting. Still, when she opens it, slowly parsing out the characters one by one, opening up the attached file...

Oh. Oh.

What comes back shortly after is very simple, but-]

she is beautiful

voice; un: ladybug

[notmymother]

[Yet another person has arrived with her own mirror. And after a few days of disorientation and more importantly mourning what she now realizes is the inevitable truth she's more than ready to attempt to move beyond it.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to see anything quite happy enough she does finally get one brief moment. What follows is a voice message accompanied by a picture shortly after.]

Since I got the chance to see your family I wanted a chance to show you mine. Here's Jack.

[Attached is just a moment from one of the better memories. It's Ashi clinging onto Jack's back, arms wrapped around his neck and shoulders.]

[lumberlady]

[It's precisely because someone else has since gotten a memirror and then messaged her that Konoha is able to realize quickly how it is this is happening. Though because she doesn't know what came to pass in the interim, not realizing the sadness that might accompany it...]

M- Miss Ashi, that's Jack- ?!

[Her tone... might not be the most appropriate. Still, just reacting from the photo-]

He's just as handsome as you said!

video | un:justzagreusisfine

[intheblood]

[ The feed starts with what seems to be Zagreus juggling his phone and a fussing Manna Bairn bundled in his arms. ]

Wait-- ah, there we go.

[ He manages to prop the device up, leaving his hands free to try and deal with the fussing Bairn. The little one bears several striking features-- one eye red, the other gold, something that looks like an approximation of silver hair or down feathers, and of course, Zagreus' burning feet.

For his part, Zagreus seems a little more tired than usual, but not by too much. ]

Konoha. I'm so sorry to bother you, I wasn't sure who else to ask. [ Mother Nyx would be his go-to. ] You're the only person I know who has any experience with children. I don't know what to do... she's been like this for the better part of the last hour. What am I meant to do?

[lumberlady]

[Well, if any feature at all would give away one of the manna donors for that bairn...]

Zagreus, hello...

[Konoha answers with... completely the opposite vibe. She's outside in the shade of a tree, with two bairns that look almost like twins sleeping in the cradle of a curled foreleg, little infant jinba woven of moss and bark with little horns on their foreheads and leafy wings tucked along their spines. Not quite fully in the frame, both snuffle and snore, nuzzling into their "mother"'s bay coat.]

Of course you can ask- Has it been crying, or is it just being fussy?

text; un: yomiko; backdated to when transformations were going on

[blackwaterchild]

konoha-san? it's miu

are you free? i need help. i think you're literally the only person who can help me

[lumberlady]

HINASAKI-san?

you is needing help? what is wrong?

text | un:deathappraoches

[deathhascome]

Hello. We've probably never talked to one another like this.

But well.

You know Zagreus, right? [That's a dumb question but he asks it anyway.] He's getting married. And he wanted me to invite people to come to the wedding. And I'd like to invite you. Because I'll be there. And we're friends. And I was especially told to invite my friends. I'll also be getting married. To him.

Has he told you this already? I bet he has.

never mind then. Not that this is being uninvited more like... rescinding this invitation because you have one from him? Right?

I have no idea how this works.

1/3

[lumberlady]

[Konoha has to read this message several times. The first time, thanks to her poor literacy, she has trouble being completely positive who Zagreus is marrying and why poor Thanatos is tasked with just bringing the guests. The second time she turns on the text reader and then spends about ten minutes staring into space. Wait. Wait, wait, wait… she definitely… had Zagreus visited her that first night the handfastings were all happening and everyone’s memories got all jumbled? He…

He had! It finally clicks and comes flooding back, and so the first response is-]

video;

[gwenhwyfar]

[ She could find Konoha down in the forests pretty easily and it wouldn't be the first time. Gwenhwyfar is... a bit timider than she usually is. ]

May I ask you something?

[lumberlady]

[A question? Was it serious, that she ask so suddenly like this? Konoha cocks her head curiously, forgoing her usual greeting in favor of,]

Ah- Yes?

text; un: travis.touchdown

[crownless]

hey konoha!

[have a selfie of travis and the cat!!! jeane’s perched on his shoulder, as the two stand in front of a primaveran shop with rows and rows of colorful sweet displays.]

is there a kind of sweet you like?
they have so much stuff here, it’s crazy

[lumberlady]

[oh gods the cat travels with him??? it's so magic...]

TRAVIS greetings!

you where?
is PRIMAVERA?
you no have to buy me treat!

text | un: everapple

[greenbriar]

[ It's a text because it's like 4am, and also because Cardan has been agonizing over it for the better part of 30 minutes.

Not that it shows in the final effort. ]

Konoha, this is Cardan.

Have you heard from Estinien of late?

[ ...yeah, he supposes that'll do.

Only after sending it does he realize that Konoha probably won't be awake for a while, because he's the only actually nocturnal person in this accursed city. ]

[lumberlady]

[The text might come at 4am, but Cardan doesn't have to wait long because Konoha wakes up with the dawn, aka... 4:36am.

This is not the text... She expected, however. It takes her a moment to recover from a double dose of pain rather than her usual single dose of waking up to realize she didn't even automatically reach for Komatsu anymore.

At 4:45am,]

CARDAN, good morning

do
you no remember?
i tell sad news about ESTINIEN at beach...

[... Hadn't she?]

Food Reviews Ep. 1

[takeroot]

Good day! It's Constantin!

I have, as requested, tried your generously given food, and I have come with my commentary. Are you ready?

[Let It Begin]

[lumberlady]

[somewhere in the Greatmoon Groves in a converted barn... a displaced jinba mare who is very used to cooking for several many people with multiple stomachs and might also just really miss providing that manner of care to people... perks up immediately]

CONSTANTIN, greeting!
you try 🍚?
i is eager to hear result!

please give！

Voice; sometime soon after Chiron's departure

[hypomeneo]

Konoha? Is this a good time to call?

[Someone has just discovered Chiron's absence. And someone knows that the first thing that the centaur would want him to do is check in on his roommate and keep an eye on her for the remainder of the time they both are present in this world.]

[lumberlady]

[A stab of guilt strikes a jinba some miles away. She'd meant to contact people, to reach out once she'd realized Chiron was gone to tell his students, his fellows, but-]

LORD EL-MELLOI
hello
yes i can speak now

text, backdated to the start of the month 🐆🐆🐆🐆

[jaegerbomb]

konoha
it's morga

i realize it's early but i don't know who else to ask and i|




i'm ashamed to say i need some help with something.
you're the only person i know who has experience with something like this

[lumberlady]

[Admittedly... not a text she expected to get. Morga was so strong, so competent... And rather lacking in knowledge in kind of the same areas Konoha herself was. Modern slang... technology...

So what could she need her help with? Still-]

MORGA
greetings!

of course i accept ask
what is problem?

text, @solntse

[solmate]

Konoha, can we talk?
Nothing bad I promise.

[lumberlady]

[she says it’s nice thing bad, but… !]

yes
of course
what is, ALINA?

text

[solmate]

Konoha, I have a question for you.
You don't have to answer if you don't want to.
It's just been something on my mind.
Nothing.... nothing really that important.
But I'm curious.






How did you know that you wanted children?

[lumberlady]

[this isn’t actually the first time she’s been asked this question here… she assumes in part because she is one of the very few women amongst so many gembonded who was actually a mother. but coming from Alina, out of the blue… ?]

is alright to ask
i always was knowing I
i want children
i grow up with no sibling
all adopted parents blood children die before i
so i always think fond of big family for self
husband and many children
happy

but
is perhaps question is
when i know i want children with husband?

@volkvolny

[reznikolai]

My dear Konoha, as the days grow shorter and colder, my thoughts wander back to your delicious cooking more often.

(This is not a subtle hint that you should prepare another basket for me and Alina soon, although I certainly wouldn't decline your generosity.)

I simply thought you would be pleased to know that I've been teaching myself how to cook. The results are astonishingly non-catastrophic!

[As proof, a photo of...what would appear to be beef wrapped in a flaky golden pastry crust? The dish has somehow become a household staple...]

1/2

[lumberlady]

[Oh, wow, phew, she is never going to get over how utterly scandalous phrases like “dear” sound in her language— it’s just Nikolai! They must say things like that in Ravka all the time!

[delivery]

[ohthatsnice]

[left outside of Kohona's door is a box containing several bags of tea and a watering can with her name characters painted on the side, as well as a card in the shape of a mushroom]

dear 🌳🍃 (Kohona),
enjoy this tea from flowers I grew myself. I hope you like the watering can and will find it helpful in your own gardening adventures.

Don't ever let anyone tell you you should say or spell your name a certain way to make it easier on them, especially in a place where we're all so far from home. However you choose to write it, for yourself, is beautiful.

Your friend,
Caduceus Clay

text | un: konoha

[lumberlady]

[The watering can... ! Konoha definitely realizes she didn't explain her country's language well enough, but you know what, this is so cute??? So once she gets someone to read the card for her just in case-]

greetings CADUCEUS CLAY
thank you much kindly for tea and garden tool present!
🎁
HAPPY BRUMFAST TO YOU
please allow i to repay with tea also
made from most favorite tree.

[On his delivery he may have noticed a large linden tree on the property.]

@volkvolny

[reznikolai]

I told Alina.

[It's rarely a good sign when Nikolai uses so few words...]

[lumberlady]

[... the lack of greeting doesn't exactly bode well, but.]

and?

@volkvolny

[reznikolai]

[Late at night, after Liem's birthday party has ended, and Nikolai has returned home:]

Thank you again, Konoha, for hosting the party. I had an excellent time. 😄

[Of course, he didn't message her just for this...]

[lumberlady]

[to be honest, Konoha didn’t expect this message. at least, she didn’t expect it now, when she’d assumed Nikolai would be busy in the bedroom and she was still a bit drunk.

but here it is, so manners it was. she deletes various additions like “alone”, “without a date”, and “im surprised” until she just sends-]

you is welcome NIKOLAI
thank you for coming