016 | The Good Old Days

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Ageswapping
When: July 15-17
Where: Everywhere
Summary: A breach in the space-time continuum is messing things up.

Edit: OVERFLOW is here!



The Far Shore has been dealing with a lot of space-time pulsating through the past week or so and everything is culminating on the night of the 15th, even though the Heavens are preparing for an all-out Obon bash. They had planned to have the celebration on the 15th itself, but Amaterasu asked to postpone a day due to the horrible feeling that is permeating the Far Shore.

And it turns out she was right to postpone everything. In fact, it will have to be postponed another whole month at this rate...



Before

Late in the day on July 15th, the new batch of shinki will arrive to a Far Shore with a thick, tense atmosphere. All night on the 15th it feels like something is about to happen - and it's difficult to tell whether that something will be good or bad. Any attempts to contact the management of the Far Shore have fallen on deaf, slightly harried ears and so everyone is left to their own devices to try and figure out why things are so tense.

July 16

Just after midnight, an explosive shock wave rips through the Far Shore, bringing on the age changes with it. Even the spirits of the Far Shore seem to be affected - for example, the library goblins are either toddling around on wobbly legs or are dragging themselves from place to place and looking decrepit. There are a few gods and shinki that seem to have been exceptions from the change, though it is not clear why.

July 17

Another wave of energy comes in the early morning of the 17th. Fewer people are affected this time and it seems to alter those people's ages a second time. There is no rhyme or reason to who is being affected further. Several of the library goblins have just dropped dead from severe old age. Oops.

Aftermath

Late on the 17th brings about one final burst from the energy that has been plaguing the Far Shore. For a short moment, every new temple glows with a soft light, seeming to beckon to their owners. But the light is gone quickly and everyone will find themselves back to normal with complete memories of everything that happened during their age adventures. The goblins that died, though, are still very dead. Looks like the library will need to get some new help soon.

In Summary:

• Meet the newbies
• Get aged or de-aged
• Deal with other too young/too old people
• Try to handle the consequences
• Have fun~

Comments

[sweetdeath]

July 16 - A

[There's a kid at Sakura's temple. He's clearly no more than ten years old, with big, vividly red-purple eyes and a messy mop of black hair, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts that look like any elementary school uniform.

He's also up an orange tree, hanging precariously out on a limb with his legs locked around the branch as he swipes wildly for a fruit that's just a little out of his reach. He leans further -- then further ...]

C'mon! C'mon, just a little closer! I know I can--

[Slowly, he's starting to slip.]

B

[Asato's out and about after his morning adventure with the tree. He seems none the worse for wear, but he's shy, ducking his head and darting out of the way whenever adults pass by on the path. He doesn't recognize anybody so far, kid or adult, but he's still looking busily. He doesn't remember where he's supposed to be, and he doesn't want to get in trouble, or make anybody mad.

He'll figure something out, though. For sure. In the meantime, he's going to poke his nose into every building he sees, just to see if anybody inside might know him, and yell.]

Hello? Hello--! Is anybody home?

A

[erogappa]

[ Gojyo's been wandering more or less aimlessly since he found out what this place is. It should probably bother him that he's dead, but for some reason it feels like a relief. It's so pretty here! The sun is shining and the sky has all these pretty little white clouds, perfect for cloud watching, and there's birds and bugs and rocks to throw...

...And there's an orange tree on the other side of that wall! Gojyo finds the gate and ducks his head around it, only to spot another little boy who had the same idea. ]

Use a stick!

[sweetdeath]

I don't have a stick!

[He's in a tree. But he doesn't have a stick in his hand at this exact moment, which is the important part! He's just gonna try one more time to lean out -- further -- further -- and lose his balance with a yelp.

Luckily, it's only about eight feet down, and there are several branches in the way. In a shower of broken leaves, twigs, and plenty of ripe (and unripe) oranges, Asato hits the ground.]

[erogappa]

[ It's only about eight feet, and he didn't scream when he landed. He's fine. ]

I told you!

[ Gojyo's still running over to help fish the other boy out of the mess of leaves and branches... and, you know. To make sure he's not dead. ]

Are you dead?

[sweetdeath]

[He sits up, blinking. His head doesn't hurt, but he's scraped and scuffed up everywhere, and although the shock of the fall kept him from noticing it hurt at first, he realizes when he looks down at his palms and sees he's scraped both of them trying to catch the branch on the way down.

They're bleeding a little bit.

Asato's chin wobbles, his eyes fill, and he hides his face in his arms before he bursts into tears.

He's way too old to cry. It doesn't even hurt that much!

But he wants somebody to wash his hands and tell him it's okay, and he doesn't even remember who that somebody should be, much less how to find her.]

[erogappa]

[ What. What. Oh, come on, he's not hurt that badly, is he? Shit. ]

Stop that!

[ Gojyo yanks at the fallen branches and whatnot, clearing them off the other boy so that he can see for sure if he's hurt or not. So far it just looks like he scraped his hands and maybe bruised his butt, but that's nothing to cry over! ]

Boys don't cry.

[sweetdeath]

M'okay.

[Boys don't cry. Right... Asato hunches his shoulders defensively, rubbing the dirt and blood off his hands onto his pants. His voice is still all choked up and his eyes are watering, but he swallows back the actual sob that's threatening to follow the others, and wipes his eyes on his sleeve, and looks up at the other boy.]

T-thanks....

[He's helping, after all. Asato'd thought maybe he was going to be mad about the crying when he yelled, but he just looks worried. He must be really nice.

He sniffles, and tentatively starts to get up.]

... where are we?

[He wants to go home, but that's a baby kind of thing to say, and he's not gonna be a baby. Even if the tears are still threatening right behind his eyelids.]

A

[festal]

( Sakura is unchanged. She's the same as she's always been and while that may have bothered her before, it's perfect right now. She hasn't figured out exactly what's going on but she knows something has happened and begins to investigate. But first... )

Tsuzuki...? ( She checks his room and then the kitchen. When she doesn't find him, she goes outside to check the gardens and lo and behold. She doesn't find Tsuzuki. At least, she doesn't think she does. But she does see a little boy up in a tree, reaching too far on his own and she runs over, just barely getting her slippers onto her feet as she stumbles out , )

W-wait a moment! ( She's hurried over and stands under the tree, looking up at the boy. She doesn't look angry but she can't help but look concerned. Arms reaching up as if to catch him and help break his fall in case he slips, ) You're going to hurt yourself. P-please, stop.

A

[sweetdeath]

[He hears somebody calling his last name, and then an older girl runs for the tree. Asato sits back up on the branch hastily, grabbing for it with both hands to make sure his balance is good.]

'M okay! Sorry! Is this your tree?

[festal]

( He doesn't remember her? She frowns a bit to herself but puts those thoughts aside for now. Right now,
she needs to get him down. In response to his question, she shakes her head no, )

No, it's ours. Mine and yours, Tsuzuki....kun?

[sweetdeath]

I'm Asato.

[Tsuzuki is his family name, but it's weird to be called that. Like he's grown-up or something... which of course he is perfectly big enough to do whatever, right? Right.

(He doesn't really want to be, but he's trying not to be too scared about not remembering.)

He looks down at her dubiously.]

... I don't remember it.

[festal]

( She can't help but fret a bit, hands twisting anxiously. )

A-Asato-kun.

( It shouldn't be strange for her to call him by his given name but she's always been a polite and formal person so habits are hard to break. It'll take some getting used to this. )

Then... if you don't remember, I'll share it with you now. Th-this is my temple and everything here is yours too.

[sweetdeath]

... Really?

[He looks around again, wide-eyed, and then scoots back towards the trunk of the orange tree to climb down. It doesn't take long; his branch hadn't been much more than eight feet off the ground, and he jumps the last few feet to the ground before straightening up and looking at her with wide, curious eyes.]

Are you my big sister?

A

[birdstheword]

[Today Hajime is looking at Threads more then ever. She's trying to find all her friends and squish them with hugs, love and fill them with sugar. But it's because shes actually searching through the array of various life threads that one in particular stands out to her.

She...knows this one. Knows it well. It may be a little different in texture or color, but she knows it.

Tsuzuki...? Maybe?

Putting her plans aside, she decides to follow it to the source----who happens to be a fun-size version of her firend. Staring at the little boy, catching those bright violet eyes..there's almost no mistaking it.]

Tsuzuki....-chan?

[What is this child doing?]

Hey, hey, do you want some help?

[sweetdeath]

[Asato wobbles, waving his arms wildly for a moment, before he sits back up on the branch and locks his ankles together under it to make sure he doesn't fall. He peers down at the older girl.]

Um, I can get it! Thanks, miss.

[He probably can't, but he's going to stretch out a hand for the orange again. It's fine! He's independent and big and stuff!

And he's hungry, besides.]

[birdstheword]

[Aw what a cutie! Hajime can't help the squeel as she nods. She is....so happy to see him. Small or not. But this way is he is cuter. Just ignore her her as she takes out her phone and snaps a quick picture.]

Okay Tsuzu-chan! I'll be right here to catch you if you fall!

[She calls out to him, arms out already for when it happens. Becasue, well...it is Tsuzuki and he's just so bitty.

[sweetdeath]

I'm Asato!

[Using your family name's just for grownups. Even with "chan" attached, it's weird. But with her standing under the tree ready just in case he does fall, he's leaning out with more confidence this time, swiping wildly at the orange with his fingertips. Not quite-- not quite....

-- There! His hand hits it, and the orange pops free of its stem, starting to fall towards Hajime just a second before Asato overbalances, too, and topples off the branch. Good thing it's only eight feet in the air!]

[birdstheword]

[By that time it's probably a good thing Hajime pockets her phone because she ends up with an orange in one hand and a small Tsuzuki in her arms. Luckily it isn't a high fall and the boy doesn't weigh much. Plus she's a hero]

Gatcha!

[Hajime giggles and uses the chance to hug Tsuzuki and spin around. Even though he's small it's so good to see him again. Ah, when this is all over they're going to have to play catch up!]

You should be careful, you know?

[Shifting the boy in her arms she carefully sets him down before booping him on the nose with the orange he was after]

[sweetdeath]

But I'm okay!

[She caught him! It wasn't dangerous because she said she'd catch him. He makes a grab for the orange as she sets him down, but he's dizzy, and misses it by a mile, giggling as he sits down hard and tries to get his bearings back.]

Hey, who're you, miss?

A

[lookingforhead]

[Asato is lucky that Celty just happened to be passing by. All these kids running around were nice at first but she's grown more and more alert, watching out to make sure none of them hurt themselves.

Spotting him out on the tree limb she takes a worried step forward, but she doesn't interrupt. However if he does fall he'll find himself caught by a black web of shadows which will ease him to the ground. That is, if he needs the rescue. She doesn't want to act prematurely and risk hurting him in the process.]

[sweetdeath]

[It's probably inevitable. Asato's completely focused on getting the orange, but it's just a little too far away. He swipes -- and swipes -- and loses his grip on the branch, going tumbling with a startled yelp that cuts off as a web of shadows fold around him and ease him gently to the ground. He sits up on the grass, wide-eyed and with his orange clutched close to his chest.]

What...?

[lookingforhead]

[The shadows move with Celty's hand, gently lowering Asato to safety. And then as he's settled down the shadows are dismissed with a wave of her hand. She hurries over to take a knee by his side and holds her phone out for him to read.]

Are you okay? That was dangerous what you were doing.

[sweetdeath]

[He leans forward and tries to puzzle out the weird-looking letters. They're hardly anything like handwritten at all, but he can figure it out, if he tries hard.

That... was... dangerous.... oh. He waves the hand that's not full of orange reassuringly.]

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you help! Um, thanks very much, miss!

[He's lost for a moment for what to do to let her know he's grateful, and then -- struck by sudden inspiration -- he holds his orange out to her as a gift.]

[lookingforhead]

[She was worried about this. With all the kids running around she might run into some trouble with communicating. She hopes all of this is only temporary. Her helmet dips in what seems like a sigh and it takes her a few seconds to notice the offered orange.

Politely, she tries to gently wave her hand and decline the offer. Besides, he worked so hard to get it anyway.]

[sweetdeath]

It's okay, you saved me!

[She looks like she's trying to get him to keep it, but he just tries more earnestly to press it into her hand. She did save him, and he hasn't got anything else to use to say thank-you with, not right now, anyway.

He can't understand why she's not talking, but maybe it's hard to, with the helmet?]

So, here.