[ Gonta straightens up, feeling a bit awkward about handling some personal deliveries for Konoha (as hardworking as she is, it wasn't right for her to do all the delivery work). But he does his best! Thankfully Shino's a friendly fellow. ]
A delivery for you.
[ He reaches into his side saddle and pulls out a woven straw basket full of oversized vegetables. There was no doubt, these vegetables from the Farmstead were larger than the usual! Proof that the Chroma the jinba produced helped them grow very well! ]
It's a consolation prize for the raffle. Thanks for joining.
[ He blinks, holding out his arms for the straw basket with wide, appreciative eyes. These are the best vegetables, and he's got nothing to say but praise a married couple for the fruits of all their labours, and he's leaving it at that! ]
Konoha and you are so generous! This is incredible! I've got to bring you guys something too, after all, it was because you put that offer forward that I had the chance to try and win it.
[ He grins, all teeth and unfettered happiness. ]
Is there anything useful for you guys at the farm that I can bring over later? Or just something you and Konoha will enjoy that you're not already making on your own.
[ Gonta scratches the back of his head, probably the first time he's seen someone so enthusiastic about the work he and Konoha put in. He's so used to being in the background, just quietly working away while Konoha plays the face of their partnership. He feels really sheepish suddenly. ]
Ah... um... yeah. Yeah, we do like beef. It flavors a good hotpot.
[ He's so not used to this, it's pretty visible how this big dude is acting very small. ]
[ Shino is simply relaxed and easy going; this, conversations about future meals in most senses, is his favourite topic. He can see how Gonta isn't comfortable or confident in this back and forth, but he's trying, and that's more than enough for Shino to have a positive response. ]
Great! There's this really tasty stuff at one of the local butchers, I'll bring that over! If you like hotpot, do you prefer doing all the thin slicing yourself? Oh, oh, how about tripe?
[ He's talking enthusiastically, but his gestures are fairly small, mostly looking up at Gonta and showing big, green, sparkling eyes because beef is great! Tripe has its own deliciousness, but he's thinking, well, that can go decently too, can't it? ]
[ Gonta has to admit, he's grateful that this Shino person was so upbeat and was willing to continue talking though he struggles with a conversation. He supposes that Konoha must have really chosen him for Gonta's delivery for this kind of reason.
... the way his eyes sparkle kind of makes him think of Konoha's enthusiasm, too. He can't really feel weird around this kind of positivity. ]
Huh, you're really passionate about your meats, yeah?
[ He actually earns a little smile out of the usually grim jinba. ]
[ Shino's reply is again near immediate, his grin and then all too serious(ly ridiculous) expression following right on its heels. ]
Of course! Who wouldn't be, if they're not vegetarian? Good meat is good, of all kinds, but tasting just how amazing meats can be from specific regions... nothing can beat that! It's all a little weird here because one city isn't like one country, and I don't know that the fox city raises much meat different from here, or what those dragons in far off mountains do, but still! There's really good stuff here!
[ He clenches his fist, held at about chest height. ]
And slowly but surely, I'm getting to taste them all!
[ Yeah. That seals it. That enthusiasm really sets the big jinba a lot more at ease and he seems to visibly relax-- his shoulders not as stiff as they were held earlier. ]
I... I'm... I don't travel.
[ His admission is sheepish, but is very honest. ]
[ He nods, both accepting the answer and answering in turn: ]
I didn't travel much growing up myself, except for the rare times I was sent to another village for treatment.
[ Sick child life, right? He breezes right past that, one hand coming up to press under his chin as he considers the question with perhaps undue seriousness. ]
Yes, and no? It's hard for me to say in many cases, but in some of the uh... specialty meats? Those taste different. Some aren't here at all, and most those here are not like the ones I've had even in the Imperial Capitol.
So... how did you get to taste so many meats, then?
[ Gonta is honestly pretty utilitarian? If he kills a bear in self-defense, he'd eat the bear. Same with wolves. But the meat from them isn't really that good.
The only time he's tried farm meats was when he lived in the human village for a while to look after Tanikaze. But he never really thought about the differences between things. ]
[ He rubs the back of his neck, laughing and looking away. ]
Um... I got summoned to the capitol, mostly. There's a bunch of different foods there, way more than what I saw in the village where I grew up, or the one where I lived with the church after we were all orphaned.
[ Said casually because he's matter of fact about realities that will not change. Dead is dead. He's supposed to be, but he's not. ]
Anyway, one of my friends I made there is the son of this wonderful inn owner, and her kitchen is amazing. Plus there was this time we visited a town out in the countryside known for its beef, and there was no way I wasn't trying it when we were there, you know?
Huh... well, you certainly have traveled more than me.
[ He smiles. ]
Humans... are really capable of many things. I can't even imagine a life like the one you've had. But I'm content where I'm at. But... if you do want to share something new with an old, mossy rock like me, I'd welcome it.
[ He's still grinning, his eyes for a moment almost turning into happy crescents. ]
Old, mossy rocks are my favourite! They're sturdy and weathered a whole slew of storms, you know?
[ With a light laugh, he nods his head, because a little of that was teasing, yes, but he means it. People aren't less for not having traveled more. Until he was eighteen, he'd only traveled to another village for treatment, or moved once when his village was burned down. He's no Xie Lian, roaming the countryside for centuries. Though he might be, one day.
If Murasame doesn't consume him, he will be, some day. ]
Mm, then it's decided! Have you had short ribs before? I'll bring a bunch over along with the sauces so we can all try them at your place! That'd be for what... you, Konoha, and Mikuni too, right?
[ That is going to be so much meat, and he has zero regrets already. ]
[ That comparison to being sturdy and having weathered many storms has him smiling a little and replying with a pleased little grunt. That was very astute of him. ]
Short ribs...? No, I've never had such a thing. And yes. There's me, Konoha, and Mikuni on the farmstead.
[ Sturdy people are ones he rather appreciates, since he wishes he was more like them in his own life... and he tries, but he often falls short. Not for lack of heart or trying to be there, but it's hard to be a rock when you have no foundation to stand on, just other people's graces. ]
Okay, so that's a lot of ribs with our four appetites... it'll be great! Can I borrow something to haul them over or... hm. Would you be okay meeting up and helping bring them all over?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Oh, hey, Gonta! What's going on?
no subject
A delivery for you.
[ He reaches into his side saddle and pulls out a woven straw basket full of oversized vegetables. There was no doubt, these vegetables from the Farmstead were larger than the usual! Proof that the Chroma the jinba produced helped them grow very well! ]
It's a consolation prize for the raffle. Thanks for joining.
no subject
Konoha and you are so generous! This is incredible! I've got to bring you guys something too, after all, it was because you put that offer forward that I had the chance to try and win it.
[ He grins, all teeth and unfettered happiness. ]
Is there anything useful for you guys at the farm that I can bring over later? Or just something you and Konoha will enjoy that you're not already making on your own.
... Do you guys like beef?
no subject
Ah... um... yeah. Yeah, we do like beef. It flavors a good hotpot.
[ He's so not used to this, it's pretty visible how this big dude is acting very small. ]
no subject
Great! There's this really tasty stuff at one of the local butchers, I'll bring that over! If you like hotpot, do you prefer doing all the thin slicing yourself? Oh, oh, how about tripe?
[ He's talking enthusiastically, but his gestures are fairly small, mostly looking up at Gonta and showing big, green, sparkling eyes because beef is great! Tripe has its own deliciousness, but he's thinking, well, that can go decently too, can't it? ]
no subject
... the way his eyes sparkle kind of makes him think of Konoha's enthusiasm, too. He can't really feel weird around this kind of positivity. ]
Huh, you're really passionate about your meats, yeah?
[ He actually earns a little smile out of the usually grim jinba. ]
no subject
Of course! Who wouldn't be, if they're not vegetarian? Good meat is good, of all kinds, but tasting just how amazing meats can be from specific regions... nothing can beat that! It's all a little weird here because one city isn't like one country, and I don't know that the fox city raises much meat different from here, or what those dragons in far off mountains do, but still! There's really good stuff here!
[ He clenches his fist, held at about chest height. ]
And slowly but surely, I'm getting to taste them all!
no subject
I... I'm... I don't travel.
[ His admission is sheepish, but is very honest. ]
... is the meat here different from your home?
no subject
I didn't travel much growing up myself, except for the rare times I was sent to another village for treatment.
[ Sick child life, right? He breezes right past that, one hand coming up to press under his chin as he considers the question with perhaps undue seriousness. ]
Yes, and no? It's hard for me to say in many cases, but in some of the uh... specialty meats? Those taste different. Some aren't here at all, and most those here are not like the ones I've had even in the Imperial Capitol.
no subject
[ Gonta is honestly pretty utilitarian? If he kills a bear in self-defense, he'd eat the bear. Same with wolves. But the meat from them isn't really that good.
The only time he's tried farm meats was when he lived in the human village for a while to look after Tanikaze. But he never really thought about the differences between things. ]
no subject
Um... I got summoned to the capitol, mostly. There's a bunch of different foods there, way more than what I saw in the village where I grew up, or the one where I lived with the church after we were all orphaned.
[ Said casually because he's matter of fact about realities that will not change. Dead is dead. He's supposed to be, but he's not. ]
Anyway, one of my friends I made there is the son of this wonderful inn owner, and her kitchen is amazing. Plus there was this time we visited a town out in the countryside known for its beef, and there was no way I wasn't trying it when we were there, you know?
no subject
[ He smiles. ]
Humans... are really capable of many things. I can't even imagine a life like the one you've had. But I'm content where I'm at. But... if you do want to share something new with an old, mossy rock like me, I'd welcome it.
no subject
Old, mossy rocks are my favourite! They're sturdy and weathered a whole slew of storms, you know?
[ With a light laugh, he nods his head, because a little of that was teasing, yes, but he means it. People aren't less for not having traveled more. Until he was eighteen, he'd only traveled to another village for treatment, or moved once when his village was burned down. He's no Xie Lian, roaming the countryside for centuries. Though he might be, one day.
If Murasame doesn't consume him, he will be, some day. ]
Mm, then it's decided! Have you had short ribs before? I'll bring a bunch over along with the sauces so we can all try them at your place! That'd be for what... you, Konoha, and Mikuni too, right?
[ That is going to be so much meat, and he has zero regrets already. ]
no subject
Short ribs...? No, I've never had such a thing. And yes. There's me, Konoha, and Mikuni on the farmstead.
no subject
Okay, so that's a lot of ribs with our four appetites... it'll be great! Can I borrow something to haul them over or... hm. Would you be okay meeting up and helping bring them all over?
no subject
[ Gonta seems pretty confident about that, giving Shino an assuring nod. ]
It'll be nice to have a good meal together on the farm.