[baren makes a note to put up a sign "stop feeding the tanuki"
but tanuki will just continue to eat happily, wiggling his round body happily even as he looks back at her and seems to be listening to her problems. it's true, he understands human language fairly well by now.... but then he's gonna go and retrieve baren!! he scutters away, but will come back into view a few moments later after he's managed to get his teeth on one of baren's shoelaces and started pulling him over]
Oi Tanuki, watch it, these are new...
[but despite the fact that he was definitely listening, he has the nerve to act a bit sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. when he speaks to her it's similarly in Japanese - ]
< Ah, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. > [well... he didn't... he didn't expect visitors at all] < Don't worry about me - stay here as long as you want.... >
Which means she was babbling in the presence of a stranger, and that heats her cheeks with embarrassment, stare immediately hitting the floor of the shrine. He seems to know Japanese...? And whether that's his heritage or a language he picked up, she responds in kind after a bow of respect, realizing he must be the true owner.]
< No bows necessary - and it's kinda funny, that you were more chattery with Tanuki. Am I intimidating or something...? >
[He wants to clarify that easily, giving a wave of his hand. She's embarrassed. He gets that. But there's no judgment coming from him and he only moves to reach up to pet the tanuki that rests on his shoulder.]
< He's mine in the sense that he won't leave me alone... but he took a liking to you pretty quick. >
[... Right, so. This man is not to Japanese that he's going to adhere to the cultural "Ask no questions" clause. Honestly, she's a little startled by the boldness of his question, but it also seems to shake her out of her nervousness. For now.]
< Sorry... I suppose I get nervous around strangers... >
[The reply, carefully crafted like an apology, is followed by a tiny smile. Still not meeting his eyes, though.]
[Oh honey... that is not how nervousness works. At all. Her lips pull into a somewhat amused smile.]
< I've never thought of it like that. >
[Ah well, it's a moot point, and she won't dwell on it. Not when there's a cute tanuki to coo over. She covers up a laugh with the back of her hand, though it doesn't completely diminish the sound]
< I see many visitors assume he's the shrine's guardian and treat him accordingly. >
[Yeah your tanuki is pretty fat but look? at how? cute?? she wiggles her fingers at him, into a little wave]
[baren has no idea how anxiousness works he really does just shoot in the dark in hopes of one day getting it right
(he won't)
that said, tanuki will tilt his head at the wiggle of her fingers and then do a little nod of his head back. hello. you fed him. you can stay.]
< When he's around here, I guess. He uses that face of his to worm his way into people's hearts, and also onto their plates. Do me a favor and use at least a little restraint with him, yeah? It's for his own good. He doesn't get nearly enough exercise to balance it all out. >
[If she were bolder than she is, Sakura would make mention of her two kittens and how they'd love to help this cute little tanuki burn some weight.
:) ]
< Of course. My apologies if I contributed to the problem. >
[This apology, at least, seems more relaxed than her previous statements. It's obvious she's not quite as nervous now.]
< ... Um, are you someone who looks after this shrine? >
[She's hesitant to name him the owner, as talk of spirits aside, "owning" a shrine might be seen as a little presumptuous, and she doesn't know him well enough to assume he wouldn't take offense.]
He hates owning things like this, but there's really no way to answer that wouldn't be a terribly obvious lie. Still, he seems nonchalant about it, giving a shrug.]
< One of them, anyway. >
[That's the truth - but he's still technically the owner, considering that it was given to him by Retrospec.]
[Well. Partly. She supposes it's only fair to delve into the bigger truth if she's going to make a habit of coming here every so often, like she promised Tanuki.]
< It's very nice. And I hadn't realized how much I missed seeing shrines until I found yours in the forest. >
[Picking lightly at her skirt, she tosses her glance to the side, still feeling bashful.]
< In Japan it was commonplace, but here in America, it's like something out of a fairytale... >
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no subject
but tanuki will just continue to eat happily, wiggling his round body happily even as he looks back at her and seems to be listening to her problems. it's true, he understands human language fairly well by now.... but then he's gonna go and retrieve baren!! he scutters away, but will come back into view a few moments later after he's managed to get his teeth on one of baren's shoelaces and started pulling him over]
Oi Tanuki, watch it, these are new...
[but despite the fact that he was definitely listening, he has the nerve to act a bit sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. when he speaks to her it's similarly in Japanese - ]
< Ah, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. > [well... he didn't... he didn't expect visitors at all] < Don't worry about me - stay here as long as you want.... >
[he's
so much nicer to women
wow]
no subject
There was someone here.
Which means she was babbling in the presence of a stranger, and that heats her cheeks with embarrassment, stare immediately hitting the floor of the shrine. He seems to know Japanese...? And whether that's his heritage or a language he picked up, she responds in kind after a bow of respect, realizing he must be the true owner.]
< Thank you, sir. >
[... After a fidget, nodding to Tanuki]
< Is he yours...? >
no subject
< No bows necessary - and it's kinda funny, that you were more chattery with Tanuki. Am I intimidating or something...? >
[He wants to clarify that easily, giving a wave of his hand. She's embarrassed. He gets that. But there's no judgment coming from him and he only moves to reach up to pet the tanuki that rests on his shoulder.]
< He's mine in the sense that he won't leave me alone... but he took a liking to you pretty quick. >
[it was the damn food]
no subject
< Sorry... I suppose I get nervous around strangers... >
[The reply, carefully crafted like an apology, is followed by a tiny smile. Still not meeting his eyes, though.]
< Oh, I'm sure it was the food. >
[Listen, she ain't no fool at least.]
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[So there's no need for uncertainty, for feeling nervous or shy. Baren shrugs again.]
< Even if those reasons are just to feed a gluttonous tanuki. >
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< I've never thought of it like that. >
[Ah well, it's a moot point, and she won't dwell on it. Not when there's a cute tanuki to coo over. She covers up a laugh with the back of her hand, though it doesn't completely diminish the sound]
< I see many visitors assume he's the shrine's guardian and treat him accordingly. >
[Yeah your tanuki is pretty fat but look? at how? cute?? she wiggles her fingers at him, into a little wave]
no subject
(he won't)
that said, tanuki will tilt his head at the wiggle of her fingers and then do a little nod of his head back. hello. you fed him. you can stay.]
< When he's around here, I guess. He uses that face of his to worm his way into people's hearts, and also onto their plates. Do me a favor and use at least a little restraint with him, yeah? It's for his own good. He doesn't get nearly enough exercise to balance it all out. >
no subject
:) ]
< Of course. My apologies if I contributed to the problem. >
[This apology, at least, seems more relaxed than her previous statements. It's obvious she's not quite as nervous now.]
< ... Um, are you someone who looks after this shrine? >
[She's hesitant to name him the owner, as talk of spirits aside, "owning" a shrine might be seen as a little presumptuous, and she doesn't know him well enough to assume he wouldn't take offense.]
no subject
He hates owning things like this, but there's really no way to answer that wouldn't be a terribly obvious lie. Still, he seems nonchalant about it, giving a shrug.]
< One of them, anyway. >
[That's the truth - but he's still technically the owner, considering that it was given to him by Retrospec.]
< Why? >
no subject
[Well. Partly. She supposes it's only fair to delve into the bigger truth if she's going to make a habit of coming here every so often, like she promised Tanuki.]
< It's very nice. And I hadn't realized how much I missed seeing shrines until I found yours in the forest. >
[Picking lightly at her skirt, she tosses her glance to the side, still feeling bashful.]
< In Japan it was commonplace, but here in America, it's like something out of a fairytale... >