#berry plays palia

[palialaina]

The frog is judging us. I swear.

[palialaina]

The new Maji Market is going to be here soon~

Naturally, I'm broke. But I have a fully functional garden, and I think this is going to be here for a while. Which is going to be delightful~

Also, Uncle B helped me set this up. Said it only works small scale, so not enough to water my big garden. A shame, that would really make life easier.

I tried getting Jel to give me a peak at what outfits he's come up with but he managed to hold out. Reth also won't say what he's bringing to the market, if anything, and auuuuuugh! The anticipation will be the end of me!

I wonder if Hodari and Najuma came up with any new fireworks this time? Bet I can get Naj to tell me!

[palialaina]

No one told me we'd somehow gained a giant frog in Kilima. Where the heck did it come from???

I couldn't set my kamera far enough back to get a sense of scale for this thing, but like... what the heck???

I saw someone else standing on top of it, so I decided to climb up and see what was there.

It was a tiny one.

I took the tiny one home to be with this huge one that Zeki sent me.

I have so many questions. Zeki, why? Did you get or make some type of embiggening machine??? I have so many questions...

[palialaina]

So, after weeks and weeks of saving money, I was finally able to get me a gazebo!

And uh...

It Big.

I admittedly have some regrets on placement. I'll have to dismantle it and put it on the maze plot. But It's cool, and I'm genuinely happy I have it! I just... don't have a really good spot for it here at home.

I could maybe put one with the temple space too, but I dunno... I really like my temple as is (minus the soon-to-be-caretaker house, which now I can start saving up for that again.) and I've been meaning to actually make a maze. I think having a gazebo at the middle of the maze, with maybe a fountain, would be kind of awesome!

Now I just need to... make a maze.

Easier said than done.

[palialaina]

I am almost sad that the Luna Festival version of the Maji Market is done.

Almost. It was fun, but no lie, with nothing calling out to be bought, I was kinda bored with it. Though hotpot is fun, and I hope that game comes back in the future.

Hodari came by the other morning and told me he'd finished the tunnel between my plot and Bahari, and he wanted me to see it. I have to say, this will definitely make getting there so much faster!

Tish, Jel, Reth, and even Zeki all got shipments of new stuff, though Zeki insisted I keep his quiet. I might be cautiously warming upt to Subira, but he's sure not. Can't blame him, a fine is a fine, and it's not minimal to someone like Zeki.

Anyways, so Reth said I needed more kitchen clutter. Which.. yeah, okay, he's not entirely wrong.

But I wasn't exactly expecting to have to make my own pots and pans and things. They came out really nicely though, I'm impressed.

Je; got some new outfits, and some were delightful, others were just... odd. But not terribly surprising. I'd like something simple every now and again, but I'm happy to see some cute stuff too.

I really like these glasses too. I feel like I see better with them on for sure.

There's some generalized weirdness going on in Bahari again, but none of it's felt like bad-weird. Just... weird weird. I tripped over the ghost of a rock! Honestly didn't expect the kamera to pick it up, but there it is!

And I think the flow groves are putting off more... magic? Not sure how to reference it. It just seems like there's more sparklies. It was nice, if strange.

That metal sign turned up down in the tunnels near the beach, glowing like it belonged to one of the temples. I still think that area farther down has something to do with it all. Maybe it'll turn out to be a flow gate again, who knows...

Tish got the best wallpaper in existence. My room is pink and floral, and I have zero regrets~

I tried to make those garnets into a heart shape, but I need to move them about a little more, I think. Close!

I found another weird schematic from Florentine again. Najuma said it looked like a prototype glider but.... bad. Like, couldn't even fly bad. She built it for me anyways, I just had to promise to hang it up instead of using it, so now it's hanging up in the workshop!

I really want to know where Auni found these bugs. It's so pretty, not to mention soothing. But I haven't seen shimmerflies in Kilima or Bahari! Maybe it's a different name for those weird glowbugs?

Progress is being made on the caretaker home at my temple. After this I just need two more small rooms! (I already bought the hallway) And then I'll fill it with furniture.

Also, after much thought, I decided the wish trees looked better in front of the temple. It just seems like the right place to put them.

Okay, I need to go hunting clay because someone decided I needed to learn how to make my own dishes after my bratty palcats broke what I had. I mean, I get that it's hard to ship stuff here, but c'mon!

Oh well. Dish making, here I come, I suppose.

[palialaina]

Well, that was...

weird.

I guess I hope Jel really doesn't mind me having another partner because I think Hassian and I might be dating now.

I know what he said, but I also know that Jel kind of puts me over him, so I'm going to have to be careful with him, I think... Figuring out how to talk about it going to be very strange.

Since I am a bastion of good ideas when it comes to romance, I decided to just talk to Hassian about possibly maybe being more than friends. With, admittedly, a Dad-Procured Heartdrop lily because I used my other one for Jel's pin, and I don't think Hassian would have liked chocolate.

I have heard the phrase 'puppy-dog eyes' before. I thought I knew what it meant when I first gave Jel the chocolate.

I did not.

Hassian actually smiled, and oh boy. Jel doesn't have competition necessarily, but that smile makes me feel funny in definitely different ways.

The end jist of it, I think, is that yes, we're now dating. At least, that's the impression Sifuu gave me when she sent me a letter saying we should talk. I was half-afraid I was going to get a shovel talk, but no, she was really happy about it!

I'd almost forgotten about the letter I found and gave to Tamala, but now I wish I'd kept it to give to Hassian. Poor guy. I mean, he's taking a chance on me, for sure... He knows I already gave Jel my pin (I don't think there's anyone in the village that doesn't know that by now.), but he's still willing to try.

That's honestly admirable. I don't know if I'm worthy of that trust (some days I don't know if I'm worthy of being Jel's cherished muse), but I'm going to do my best to at least be the best friend I can, and we can go from there for... other things.

Less serious, the Maji Market opens soon, and I am so excited! I put water retention fertilizer down that Uncle B swears will keep my crops nice and damp if I lose track of time and forget to go home for a couple days. I don't think the market will be that cool, but also, it's something new!

And I did, finally finish the Fish constellation in the Night Sky Temple. I was hoping for... I guess some big thing to happen. Maybe all the doors with the water symbol on it would open, like in the hiding place next to the Phoenix Temple, but... no. Just the release of some strange fish into Kilima Lake.

Maybe I should try to catch it? I dunno...

I'll decide later. I see Jel out the window, and I really want to talk to him before anything else.

[palialaina]

Trees definitely grow way too fast, but I think I'm okay with that because the other option is just...

I would be watering this tree til I died.

It was admittedly longer than I thought it would be, but shorter than what my brain insists is the growth time for a tree. But apparently the Gardener found the whole thing fascinating, and it even found inspiration in the making of new types of seeds.

I have a feeling I'm going to be able to slowly grow some flow tree seeds every so often, and honestly? That's going to be awesome.

He did give me this one, and it's just so pretty. If he gives me more trees like that, I'm never going to be able to cut them because that's just gorgeous.

I should bring Jel to see, just so he can maybe get some inspiration from it.

I also pulled a hilarious fish out of the lucky box today!

I think it's supposed to be the ancient fish, but this thing is goofy looking, whoever made it was working off a really bad drawing, and a lot of prayer, I bet.

This guy turned out much better, though like with the nocturnal plush, all the palcats had to have a hissyfit over it. They really don't like the big plush versions of them, so for now they're over here in my guest house. And maybe eventually I can put them in my actual house, once I'm sure they're not going to get stealth shredded.

I hope it's soon. I'm running out of window space...

[palialaina]

I knew something was going to be in that nest eventually, but I wasn't quite expecting it to be so dang cute!

BIRB!

And the Kitsuu pretending it doesn't see me~

Like the kitsuu, it flew away when I tried to get close, but it left me an egg, which was really yummy. I was not expecting weird candy eggs from a Silverwing, but you know what? I'll take it.

Najuma made a timer for the Kamera, and a weird extension pole thing so that I could get shots like this. It's a bit fiddly to work with, but hey, it's fun too! She's so smart.

It took a lot of mining, but I was finally able to get a stone I wanted to keep and display. I'm really really attached to amethysts, for all my favorite color is actually shades of pink (just look at my house exterior!) but for some reason this stone specifically makes me happy. Chayne says it's probably related to the sign I'm born under, but I'm not really sure I believe all that starstone stuff.

Now I want a citrine! I can worry about the harder to get stones another day though. Rather, I have to, because I got run over by a mujiin again. Najuma thought it was pretty funny, but Hodari was not as amused.

Honestly, it was pretty funny, but Hodari fusses almost as bad as Jel does sometimes, so I decided it was smarter to not tell him the stuff I was doing that led up to the mujiin headbutt.

Hey, at least this time it wasn't a sernuk? Hassian still hasn't let me live that one down...

[palialaina]

It is finished!

It looks so nice, I'm so happy~

The kitchen is still pretty bare bones, but I'm working on it. I regret asking Einar to hang the fruit basket, because now I can't reach the dang thing without a chair...

It's sort of a mix between library and inventor's area, I think. Naj and Zeki and their Paltech recipes. I will say, I love the various heater vents though. My rooms are actually pretty darn cozy now!

The bathroom is so unfinished. I did get another dragontide screen from the Underground, but I still need one more. And I might change the angle of the bed, not sure yet.

I got the fireplace built in the main room though, and I just love hoe comfy the whole place feels. I really need more lights though, it's pretty darn dark.

I don't have cold feet any more. It's so wonderful~

I got curious about those little signs, so I finally followed them and found this stuff. I went and checked, and that's the sign for the Temple of Gales, so I wonder if maybe this will lead to a different facility, maybe one with more questions? Or maybe it's just a dead door and it doesn't lead anywhere.

The minecart is kind of suspicious. Like. What are those stone, and who put all that there? I know Hodari does mine all over, but this just doesn't seem like something he'd do... And I don't think Naj would leave stuff lying around, not if she could use it. She might make multiple trips, but...

It's a mystery, I suppose. Sort of like that door underground over near the Flooded Steps.

I asked Hodari, and he just kind of shrugged and said there was all sort of weird things, and that I should be careful, because if they are old mining tunnels, they might not be structurally sound. Which is a good point, but man... I wonder if Naj would let me have some dynamite so I could blow up the door?

...I think Hodari might kill me if I asked, datemate or not. So I won't. But man, that's going to be on my mind for aaaages now. What's it about???

[palialaina]

I did it, I did it~

What did I do?

This!

This is the start of my caretaker house for the temple I made~ I'm going to put the kitchen/dining space behind the main room, then a library room, then the bedroom and bathroom behind the bedroom.

It's gonna take a bit; those rooms are all pretty expensive now. But Uncle B came by to check on my garden, and I've been told that I'm doing exceptionally well, so like, I win.

I also dismantled and rebuilt my gazebo on this property.

It's a little cozy outdoor meeting space~ I'm quite proud of it.

I'm not sure yet how else it's going to get decorate, but honestly, I think it looks great as is right now.

Maybe I should put a dragontide lounge chair out there?

Tish said she was getting in a new set of blueprints soon, and might have something interesting to show me, so that's going to be fun. She teased me saying I'd have to redecorate all the things, including my workshop. I am both Concerned, and kind of excited.

And I went out with Hassian and Tau last night to do some stargazing. I think I want to give this picture to Jel, see if it inspires anything... He's always looking for something new to make, and maybe this will help?

[palialaina]

So I asked Jina what she thought I should put in my home. Mostly because I was curious, and also because I want Jina to come hang out and relax more often.

She said I should make a library, and I won't lie, the idea sounds really nice.

Pretty sure this is not what she had in mind, but I kind of like it. Now I just need more books for the shelf!

Though maybe I should hang independent shelves and put stuff on those? Hm.

I ended up rearranging my room to make some space for that little nook, and I am almost tempted to go add another room to the guest house that is for books and read, but at the same time... hm. Can't quite justify it to myself. And putting a reading room on my own house is a bit much, since that's mostly my front room, with how few people pop by.

Well, I should say how few humans. Aunt Dal poked her head in just this morning with some extra jam she'd made for me. (She says it's extra and she doesn't want it to go to waste, but c'mon. There's three guys on the farm, all of them have hollow legs. She totally made it special for me. <3)

I also think I finally figured out how I want to display the nice versions of the starstones I find. Something about the way I have the garnet, sapphire and emerald set up really twigs my memory, but... not enough. Something about Spiritual stones? Though I don't think the garnet is right. (It's supposed to be ruby. Naturally the most difficult stone to find...)

Cookie kept staring at me long after this guy had run off. Honestly, I didn't expect it to stay still for a picture!

Decided to change up my front room a bit too. Reth insisted I take the food when I told him my oven was misbehaving and I was struggling to cook.

I have such good friends. And datemates.

Wonder what the guys will think of the new picture wall...

Maybe I should put a lamp next to them so I can actually see the portraits when it's dark?

I did have to move my wreath since there's not enough wall space for it over my bed any more, but putting it right over the fireplace seems... right, somehow. I think I'll keep it there for a while.

I'll debate the idea of a proper library later. I made the mistake of picking today as a birthday when it came up, so now Jel, Tish, Reth, and Dad are working on something in town. I am somewhere between concerned and excited, I won't lie, but goodness only knows how old I actually am...

Oh well. It'll be fun to celebrate with the town.

[palialaina]

I think my arms got replaced by noodles, because I have done so much mining today.

So worth it, though. Hodari and Najuma helped me polish them~

Otherwise, it's been fairly ordinary. There's not really anything left at the market that I want, so I went back to wandering Bahari, and getting run over by invisible mujin after helping people with flow groves. Those things pack a wallop, and I don't entirely appreciate it. Along with noodle arms, I have bruises!

I'm going to do more tomorrow, if I don't have hopeless noodle arms. Though if I have hopeless noodle arms, maybe I'll go to the market and play hotpot and see about getting more festival food before time runs out.

Gotta say, Zeki's taiyaki are yummy. Too bad he won't sell them in his shop. Or maybe make a limited amount to be sold at the inn? IDK.

....I wonder if Subira can teach me to do something like a stasis spell, so that I can make the food and then display the food? I might like her a bit more if she'd do that...

[palialaina]

Of all the games I'm starting to get okay at, why does it have to be the hotpot game? It makes me hungry, darnit!

I've almost got enough of those evnelopes to get the last recipe from Reth, and then after I've got that I'll maybe see if there's anything more I want to buy, but on the whole, I think I'm mostly done with the market, other than maybe those wish papers Chayne keeps sending me. Honestly, sending a lantern up the tree to hang it is kind of fun.

It is weird to feel like I'm at least passable at a game though. I've won a few times, but never really dramatically. Mostly by accident, honestly.

But it's fun. More so than the chappa chase, but that could just be because I'm tired of running around after the little troublemakers. I swear, Kenli trained them.

Though speaking of training, Hassian and Tau popped by today, and Hassian was very upset that Eshe was taking Tau's misbehavior seriously. I get that Tau is a lot smarter than he acts, but it's hard for people to understand that when it's just sort of casual interactions.

It took some digging, but I figured out that the garden being dug up was Kenli and his damn chappa fascination (seriously dude, get a palcat.), the sernuk antlers were for Kenyatta to use... and honestly the newspapers stumped me a bit, but once I saw the headline it made sense; they were all talking about the Duchess. Well, everyone who has a brain can tell that Eshe and the Duchess don't get along, so...

Yeah, it still feels like a reach to say Tau can read, but he figured something was up, so... who knows?

'Tau' gave me a plushie for finding all the evidence Hassian needs, so that's one more of the giant stuffies to be put on a stool!

Look at this thing! It's huge! And adorable, I love it.

I also had a weird thing turn up in my temple space!

It's some kind of nest. I haven't gotten anything from it the way I get things from the lil kitsuu over there, but I'm curious to see if I will. Either way, it's a pretty unexpected turn up!

I stuck my fountain in the middle, so the kitsuu and whatever bird might occupy that nest can have an easy drink of water. Though maybe I should see if I can't move the two things around, and let the bird have the light?

Hm. Undecided. I shall have to think on it.

[palialaina]

See, when I say I'll side with Zeki over Subira, it's because Zeki is... under all his guff and snark, a puffball.

So, apparently there was a bit of chaos at the market after I left last time, resulting in some wishes being knocked off the tree. Chayne asked me to ask around because he has his post next to the tree and can't wander, so I did, and man.

No lies, I cracked up when Naj told me what she saw, and again when Zeki confirmed it. I wish I could've seen that. Like. Kenli, of all people, scaring the shit out of Zeki? Zeki jumping like... ten feet into the air???

Glorious, man. And I missed it.

(Zeki was not amused at my amusement, but no claws came out, so, I win.)

Zeki was pretty put out about the whole thing coming to light, and still a bit fussed about the wishes thing, but he said I could tell Chayne, so I did. Chayne was better about not laughing than I was, honestly.

Went off and did some stuff at home, napped like a sensible person, and then went back the next night, cause Zeki asked me to meet him there so we could talk about some stuff. He actually opened up quite a bit about how he missed his family, even his obnoxious siblings (can't relate, though I do still have that ache when I wonder what my life was before all... this.), and remenisced a bit about how his Dad had taken them to his first Luna New Year market, and gotten them all candy.

And how he wished, as a kitten, to come to another one with his family.

Well, I might be a smart-ass on occasion, but I can't let that go, so I went over to Chayne and asked him if he had some candy we could give to Zeki to make him feel less alone. Chayne then suggested I get people to write nice notes to Zeki too, to remind him that he's part of the village, Majiri or not.

When I tell you he cried, man. He didn't let me hug him or anything, but he did get all teary-eyed and sentimental. It was pretty sweet that he realized that maybe he didn't have blood-kin around, but the villagers regard him as one of their own.

And honestly, that's really what I love about Kilima, and the people here. They did that for Zeki, for me, and for every human that appears from the Phoenix Shrine, whether they stay in Kilima or go somewhere else.

I still have some stuff at the market I want to get, and I think I've gotten the hang of that hotpot game too. So I'll keep going for a few more nights, and see if there's anything else I can do around there to help out. I wish Hassian would come, but there's still chappa for the chappa chase, so that's probably a hard no. Was nice to see Sifuu there, and Dad too. Apparently Subira said she'd watch the inn for him so he could come and celebrate, which was nice. She's not all that bad, but I don't know that I'll ever trust her, or the Order.

In less dramatic news, all my bay windows have been finished, and I love them.

I had to rearrange my room a bit tho, and I'm still not entirely settled on how it looks. I need more cushions to sit on too. And blankets. Bet I could ask Hassian and he'd get me some nice ones. Or Jel. Hmm...

Oh, and Chayne gave me this big box of Luna New Year sweets. There's no way I'm going to finish this off any time soon! Mine didn't come with sweet notes the way Zeki's did, but you know what? It's gonna be a good memory just the same.

[palialaina]

I have officially found the smallest tub in Zeki's rotation night market.

I don't see how anyone could soak comfortably in that thing, honestly...

I think Jel's been feeling worried about me getting closer to other people in the village, because he came by and asked me if anyone else might've also caught my eye. I was honest and said I didn't think so, but I'm very bad at recognizing my own intent sometimes.

He then proceeded to cuddle with me for a bit before telling me that as long as I kept him informed about potentially other partners, he would have no problems with it.

It was a very strange conversation, but honestly, it did kind of make me feel better about the way Hassian's been... nice to me lately. Maybe I just like the loners? Who knows...

Although, being fair, Hassian's 'Wanted' poster for the Chappa made it really really hard to keep a straight face. I took it to Zeki, who made it... better. Sort of. At least I didn' have to do him any favors; apparently showing him the terrible poster was favor enough, he poofed right up he was laughing so hard.

I feel a little bad for Hassian, but honestly, he's a hunter (future blacksmith?), not an artist.

In any case, after I gave it back to him to put up on the notice boards, he... thanked me. And he actually sounded sincere about it. Walking by him, he now lifts a hand in greeting, even if he doesn't come out an say hello.

It's weird, but... cute? In a way? I think Jel will always be my number one (how can I not adore someone who is so sweet and understanding?), but... if he's okay with it, maybe it's okay for me to look too?

I'll have to think on it. I don't want someone who's going to make Jel unhappy, after all. (Tish is out. I like her, but I don't like her like her.) Maybe Jina? I mean, Hassian is... is maybe a contender, I don't know yet.

Feelings are weird and I am going to go get my garden ready for a bit of neglect since the fair is supposed to.. fair. Maji Market. Not a fair, why did I say fair? Ugh. Either way, that's going to start soon and I'm excited to go and see what all will be there. Sifuu said soemthing about opening her own booth, and I know Reth would make some really good food, if he had a booth.

Garden now, confusing entangled emotions some other day. Like if someone hits me with a box of chocolates or a heartdrop lily.

[palialaina]

I found the rest of Zeki's hidden gifts!

I don't think I'm much for scavenger hunts like this, but he's a busy Grimalkin, and didn't want to keep moving things every time a human found the chests. So he put everything in the same place for everyone, which meant I was able to ask for help and actually get it.

I tried to get Einar to help me rehang the other wreath, cause he's right, I did put it sideways, but he just patted me on my head and said it represented the unique human viewpoint. Getting it down is going to be interesting... maybe a bench...

The cutest little coat rack! I wanna know who made that scarf, it's super warm!

I'm not sure if these are decorative or practical, but you know what, I don't really care, they're cute!

Also, I fug up a weird mask in my garden and that was scavenger hunt round two. Apparently my home plot used to be an old theater! I wish I could've kept the masks, but Jina said we should send them to be preserved, even if they weren't for some big religious thing.

It's... funny. And a little comforting. That I know what a theater is. And that Jina knows what a theater is. Humans and Majiri aren't all that different, I don't think.

I'm taking another warm up break, and then I have to talk to Zeki about a flow battery. Caleri and Elousia are once again being the Opposites They Are and want to get into a temple that's out in Bahari. Something about Silverwings?

Caleri thinks it's nonsense, but Elouisa's convinced they're real. Honestly, I don't care about the bird, I just want to see this temple! So far, the temples have all been fascinating. Also, I want to know what to bring to the Night Sky Temple, and what the temple itself will drop as gifts.

And after this there's just one more constellation on that wall. I wonder if the mural is about rebelling against the phoenix, allying with it, or something weirder?

Oh, and the tradtional Winterlight food that Jel brought was wonderful. I need to badger Reth for the recipes!