♕

--Karen-- (Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town) Part of the Harvest Moon Master List corner background by me

[festivalwine]

It looks like I did pretty well for my first time.

I'm sorry, Clorica. Your ears are very cute, though!

But who was that as the fox...?

[orangetart]

He eyes the hammer in her hand— kind of weary. “How about I hold on to that hammer for the time being…— ahaha.” He says, taking it from her hands.

"But, yeah, good plan. I guess I’ll have to deal with it when morning comes, eh?"

[festivalwine]

Karen lets him take it off her hands easily, and doesn't really comment on it. She actually looks a bit pleased, for some reason.

"Well, I think you've kept me long enough," she teases him lightly. "I think I need to get some rest."

[orangetart]

He watches her turn away and he almost thinks she’s about to leave him here until he hears quiet titters. “You’re one to tease aren’t ya, huh?” He huffs, (weakly) suppressing a smile that’s tugging on his lips. 

"Y’know, I really appreciate your help. I guess the situation is kind of silly, so it’s okay to laugh." Mark nods, "But eventually, I’m gonna have to get in my room."

[festivalwine]

"It's no problem. Helping is something fun to do." Karen gives him a grin, a bit embarrassed at how that came out.

"But if you really want good advice, I think it would be better to wait until morning, and then solicit some more professional help." She shrugs. "You could also look more in the daylight with several more pairs of eyes."

She looks to the side and holds up her hammer. "So, it really isn't the best idea. Sorry I entertained it so seriously!"

[orangetart]

"I— …Karen, it really shouldn’t be an option.” He gasps at her and he’s wondering if she really does find amusement in this. Because he certainly isn’t.

"I guess that’s a thought, but I can’t just take up someone’s couch." He mutters. "Y’know, unless you’re offering…"

[festivalwine]

She awkwardly covers her mouth with a hand, trying not to laugh, and it takes her a few moments before she can respond, but all it is is a repeat of Mark. "Karen... You..." She almost snorts. "Karen, it really shouldn't... REALLY..."

Karen turns away and laughs as quietly as she can and it's almost a minute before she can speak without accidentally raising her voice. "I seriously think you don't realize how many times I've been in the same situation!"

She shakes her head as if to clear it. "Well... I know I'm travelling alone, so there's two beds, but..." Karen stops herself mid-sentence.

"I actually really don't mind if you take my room. I'm tired, and I think it's getting to me." Her eyebrows quirk a bit. "Sorry for laughing like that."

[orangetart]

"I guess…" He looks at her with uncertainty flooding through his green eyes. How many times has he lost his key exactly? And how many times has he had to ask Carol for a new one?

He knew deep, deep down in Carol that she’s probably already starting to grow sick of his carelessness. He also feels really bad that she has to deal with him as a customer at her inn. Despite being the sweet little old lady that she was, Mark knew that everyone had their breaking points so asking her for a new key in the middle of the night was definitely not an option. 

"But what exactly do you plan on doing with that?"

[festivalwine]

"Well, I don't really need to do anything with it."

She speaks a bit more quietly than before. Her excitement at the prospect of committing breaking and entering is pushed aside in an effort to be more empathetic. "It's just a hammer. It could be an option, if you consider it." She gives him a devilish glance, as if she just had another thought, but it doesn't seem like she acts on it. "Sleeping on a friend's couch is a thing, too. It's easier than breaking glass without waking everyone up."

[thecarefreefarmer]

"Huh, I’m surprised I didn’t see you, then," he replied. "I’m a regular there—well, mostly because I live there, but that is beside the point."  He held a hand out to her. "My name’s Jack, by the way."

"You only tried the dairy?" he asked. "The wine’s pretty good there as well. Personally, I just go for their cider, whenever I know they have it. It helps that I can send apples to them for them to make their own."

[festivalwine]

[ Karen firmly shakes his hand. ] "Nice to meet you, then!"

[ As she listens to him, she tilts her head a bit. ] "Yeah, I... actually have no memory of anything else they served." [ She smiles weakly. ] "That's kind of my bad, though. I love wine. I can't believe I wouldn't have any."

[ With her words, she waves away the air as if to dismiss the idea. ] "I just can come visit again. When would be a good time? I mean, I only really know about the summer festivals, and summer is just passing now."

[orangetart]

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Like are you really sure you put a lot of thought into this?”

[festivalwine]

"You need to get in somehow, right?"

Karen taps the hammer against her palm. She's standing with Mark by his house, and it's nearly midnight on the islands. Karen points to his door. "You locked the house, and you lost the keys. In these situations, you have to break in."

Her tone has a hint of laughter on it. "I've been helping you look all over town for hours, and we're back here... With no keys."

[thecarefreefarmer]

"You’re from Mineral Town, right?" he asked. He asked, because he wa sure he had seen her around the times he passed through Mineral Town. It was close to the Valley, after all. He rubbed the back of his neck, "You’ve probably visited Forget-Me-Not Valley’s bar, then. I remember my sister telling me how your Mayor tried to increase awareness of our village a few years ago."

"Ah, right, sales pitch, sales pitch…" He was never good at these sorts of things. 

[festivalwine]

[ Karen thinks to herself for a moment. It seems she comes to a thought when she starts nodding to herself. ]

"I've been there a few times! I haven't in a long while, though. Maybe last year's summer."

[ Noticing that he's taking a little long, Karen tries to encourage him. ] "So, has anything changed? Should I come visit again?" [ She grins a bit. ] "They had a few really nice dairy based drinks there. I don't remember the name of the bar but I DO remember that."

[festivalwine]

So...

Now that I can ask en masse....

Which of you guys' places has the best bar? Give me your best sales pitch!

[pink-chickadee]

Worldly Trinkets [Karen/Popuri]

[pink-chickadee]

As Karen tied the ribbon around her bun, Popuri smiled and hummed quietly to herself. Once she was deciding on where to put the pin, the pinkette thought for a moment before pointing to a place on her bun. “Around here, I think.” She smiles, pointing at an area that was almost at the front but not entirely to the side.

[festivalwine]

Karen nodded, not really realizing Popuri couldn't see, but it didn't matter too much as she began her work with the pin. She carefuly unclasped it. Putting her fingers where Popuri had pointed, Karen led the needle towards the ribon and slowly pushed it through. She examined it for a moment before deciding to thread it through another time to secure it. Once she was satisfied, she used the nail of her thumb to re-clasp the pin and stepped back.

"I think it looks really nice!" Karen said, happy. "I don't have a mirror to show you, though. I'm sorry."

[chubbythecorgi]

Been meaning to post a translation of an article my dad sent me a while back which he titled, “Chubby’s brother.” It’s about a temple-going, bell-ringing corgi in Japan:

2013.06.05 - A Pembroke Welsh Corgi in Hiroshima, Japan has developed quite the reputation for himself after being conferred the title of exclusive “bell-striking dog” from a local temple. The six-year-old corgi has been reporting to the temple every evening, rain or shine, for the last five years to ring the bell at sunset. Even the head of the temple has said that he’d never seen such a devout dog.

This Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s name is Mash and his owner is a Shingon Buddhist monk of the An Le Temple. Because they lived nearby, everyday walks were bound to take the monk and the corgi past the temple and a neighboring shrine. As such, the monk had grown accustomed to stopping by and paying his respects (拜拜) at the shrine while en route with the dog. At the shrine’s entrance was a bell and stick with a rope tied to it. Those who came to worship often pulled the rope to make the bell ring. Mash may have seen his owner pull the rope back and forth and thought it was great fun, because one day, one-year-old Mash suddenly grabbed the rope for himself and ferociously struck at the bell.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are naturally short-legged, but this fact has not affected Mash’s spirit or interest in standing on his tiptoes to ring the bell. Furthermore, as Mash grew bigger, his ambition also grew bigger. Several months later, when the two stopped at the temple on their walk, Mash suddenly broke from his owner and charged toward the temple’s bell to grab the rope and begin ringing it with all his might. The deep dong, dong, dong sound produced by the copper bell did not frighten Mash or detract from his enjoyment of bell-ringing.

The temple’s bell was not like the shrine’s bell, however, and visitors were not allowed to strike it as they pleased. Afraid to cause complications for those in the temple, the owner attempted to stop the corgi’s bell-ringing antics countless times. However, Mash, as usual, was all “I do what I want” (I took slight liberties with this translation but 我行我素 means pretty much that). Every time he arrived at the temple, he’d make a beeline for the bell tower.

Mash’s five years of bell-ringing and his peculiar yet adorable conduct attracted the attentions of the neighborhood and the Buddhist pilgrims who made their way to the temple. The head monk noted that though Mash did not seem to exert too much force, his striking was able to call forth a beautiful and splendid resonance from the bell. It was clear that Mash had a pious heart, so the head monk bestowed onto him the title of An Le Temple’s exclusive “bell-striking dog.” Now the owner brings Mash in every evening to ring the temple bell and Mash himself has become one of the area’s famous attractions.

———————

Translated from this sina.com article in Mandarin, originally on yomiuri.co.jp in Japanese.

**There is also a video of Mash ringing the bell that was deleted from the source site, but luckily the Wayback Machine came to the rescue and you can (and MUST!) view it here. It is seriously the cutest thing ever!

[thedailypersian]

[pink-chickadee]

Worldly Trinkets [Karen/Popuri]

[pink-chickadee]

Watching Karen balance like that impresses her, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to do that without falling over. When she holds out the little box, her scarlet eyes flicker from her friend’s face and to the gift. As she reveals the contents, Popuri’s eyes glimmer with delight. “Oh Karen don’t be silly! I’m not disappointed in the slightest. The pin is adorable and the ribbon is the loveliest color of red. I love them! Thank you so so much.”

Without even thinking, the pinkette removed her green headband and began running her fingers through her thick, pink hair. She began to form a ponytail with her luscious pink locks and tied it up with the rubber band. With the last loop of the band, she twisted her hair into a semi-messy bun before smiling up at Karen. “Wanna help me tie the ribbon around my bun and fasten it in with the pin? I really want to show my mom and Rick later!” She chimed, smiling sweetly.

[festivalwine]

Karen grinned at Popuri, almost beaming. "Sure," she chirped before sliding behind Popuri.

Karen took the little ribbon and looped it the best she could around the puff of hair, doing her absolute best not to pull against her friend's hair too hard. Once the ribbon was secured with a messy bow, Karen held the pin in her hand and thought a bit. "How do you want me to attach the pin? I mean, where around the bun?" she mused as she examined the hair poof. "It would like nice anywhere, I think."

[allthingseurope]

Riga, Latvia (by Domantas )

[festivalwine]

> danny + karen

[dannysgrosseries-deactivated201]

"Why can’t you just go sit in the inn or the bath until its over,” He grumbled, frowning at her, “You never answered any of my questions, lady! You’re trespassing you know,” but he had a feeling the girl didn’t care. He let out a groan and turned away from her, “These storms never last long, they pass right through and then they’re gone."

[festivalwine]

"Okay, okay! Got it! I got it." Karen turned to him and made a flippant gesture with her hand towards him, as if waving him away. "My family runs a supermarket in a small town like this, and I was taught that kindness to strangers was a good thing." Her nose crinkles. "My name is Karen. And isn't the store in its business hours right now anyways? How am I trespassing?"

[festivalwine]

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD?

It really, really depends on why I’m in a bad mood, of course…

But walking or running on the edges of Mineral Town usually helps a lot.

I went running really late at night on the beach, and I’m pretty sure there’s no way you can see the moon reflected on the ocean and still be in a bad mood.

[festivalwine]

> danny + karen

[dannysgrosseries-deactivated201]

"Hold on, hold on," He held up his hands, "You just got here, and you havn’t even told me your name, and now you’re tossing around orders? Lady, I don’t know who you think you are or why you’re so concerned, but don’t be! This stores been through way worse.”

Granted, most of that ‘way worse’ was before the store had fallen into disarray, but he wasn’t about to mention that part.

[festivalwine]

Karen gave him a thin smile, but held her tongue, for the most part. "It is your store. Like I said, your call. Not my fault if a board flies off and smacks someone in the face." Her smile widened into a mean grin. "Maybe you can sue the wind for some reimbursement?"

She doesn't bother pausing to listen to his retort before turning to prop the board against the doorframe. "I can go see if someone nearby has anything I can use to repair or prevent more damage."