[closed]

[existentialcrisis]

Who: Ukoku and friends (I'm sure they're friends)
What: luring people into his hell temple to do bad magic for bad reasons, nice conversations
When: some days
Where: aforementioned hell temple
Warnings: crows in a literal pie




[ The enchantment was a little too much. His fault, maybe, for being economical (see also "lazy") about it, but it doesn't really matter. It worked, and it's still working. The question, now that things have changed, is whether it's still useful.

But there's no benefit in being quick to throw away Ni Jianyi. So he shows up at the temple of Dionysus, not a priest (a not-like-the-other-old-guys professor, at best, with a hoodie over a dress shirt and his stupid yellow monkey hair tie wrapped around his wrist on top of an incongruously sober black watch), and knocks. ]




[ Generally, nothing she does really surprises Ukoku—but the text asking after his hangover (as if he had no experience handling them) came close. That was a week and a half ago. He's never expecting her, strictly speaking, but now, less than ever.

The temple has changed since she was last there. The boxes around the perimeter of the atrium are gone, as are the sigils—and the pool in the center. It's been replaced by a crater with sharp, curving edges.

Ukoku himself is out in his makeshift lab, behind the temple. ]



[ It's been days since the pool disappeared, and the most Ukoku has said about it—in passing—is that he made a mistake with some magic. Nothing to worry about! He's been busy, too, either out of the temple or in the greenhouse (which now has zero plants) when Guy's not, and he may or may not be inconspicuously checking whatever easy, boring lab work Guy chooses to do for him.

On this particular day, though, Ukoku actually makes a point to locate him as soon as he gets back to the temple. ]

Guy?

Comments

[existentialcrisis]

[ There's no way this will result in a life lesson at some point. ]

Good. [ It's a quick, easy response. ] Deal. Who was it?

[onerous]

[Well he's dishing them out left and right if Sanzo and Sharak's shenanigans are to be taken into account.

She narrows her eyes at him a little as if to say 'what, that's it?' before she moves on. She'll think of something later to actually ask for, maybe.]

Sharak Sanzo. She thinks I'm a friend of Genjo Sanzo. [She taps her fingers idly against his desk and leans back in the chair] I know him, at least, so it's not that much of a stretch. [Yuri pauses a moment and turns in her chair again to eye him skeptically.]

Do you have a clip-on tail too? [THIS IS IMPORTANT]

[existentialcrisis]

I have a bunny tail.

[ He's kind of smiling. Moving on: ]

Did she say anything interesting?

[ He shoves away from the chair and ambles toward the door, stopping there by the box with the stuffed monkey. He tosses it elsewhere, into some other box, and shakes out the white coat underneath it. ]

[onerous]

[SQUINTS AT HIM. She turns the chair to watch him, tucking one leg underneath her to get comfortable.]

She said her sutra was called 'Kouten.' And that she's disappointed the tannery she used to go to is gone. [Yuri looks a little amused at that. Why are sanzo priests so weird.] We mostly just talked about a few things--how different cultures and religions can form, life and death... [YOU KNOW. CASUAL SHIT.] She doesn't seem to hate me though, so I can probably ask about more when we meet again. About the sanzo priests and all, I mean.

["When" not "if" because Yuri is curious, so of course they're going to meet again. She'll make sure of it. She tilts her head and watches him.] If I find anything interesting out, I'll probably tell you. [Probably. Now she's just teasing.]

[existentialcrisis]

You were smart not to mention me. She and I don't see things the same way.

[ Leaving aside that he asked her not to. She did say she wanted praise! ]

Come here.

[onerous]

[She hates how pleasantly surprised she feels about that and looks away a moment as if suddenly distracted by another origami animal to hide how pleased she is.] Somehow that doesn't surprise me. Professional differences?

[That doesn't sound concerning at all. She gets up from the chair and walks over, curiously eyeing the coat he'd pulled out]

[existentialcrisis]

Professional differences.

[ He throws the coat over her shoulders. It's his, but it doesn't particularly fit him—on her it's even longer, even more awkward. She's swimming in it. He tugs the lapels closer together and closer to him at the same time. ]

If you want me to tell you about the sutras, it'll cost you that favor.

[onerous]

[Running a little on autopilot at a coat being thrown over her, she slides her arms in to wear it more properly before she even considers what the hell he's putting on her to begin with. She stumbles at the tugging, nearly into him as she loses her balance, and places her hands against his chest to steady herself.]

What-- [Yuri looks at the lab coat, baffled, and then up at him with a furrowed brow-- partly because she's confused at this sudden gesture, and partly because of his comment. She huffs.]

No way. I'll just find out what I can from her. [SHE'LL GET A NEW SENSEI. A BETTER SENSEI. Okay no. New Sensei probably wouldn't give her a labcoat.] And I'll just cross-reference it with you.

[existentialcrisis]

Her sutra is nothing like mine.

[ It doesn't even matter what a simplification that is, really. ]

I can tell you as much about hers as she can, or would. You don't think she's going to give away all her secrets, do you?

[onerous]

Bragging, Ukoku? [Is this some weird sutra-waving contest she's unaware of?

She pauses to consider that, but it doesn't really need considering. She shakes her head.] No, of course not. But it wouldn't be as fun if I just got all the answers from you right away.

[Yuri pauses again, looking a little surprised at her own words and purses her lips, regarding Ukoku with a sort of accusing look, like he planted those words there. Which, in a way, he did. She wouldn't have thought something like that before without his influence.]

...Would you even tell me everything?

[existentialcrisis]

I'll tell you anything you want to know!

[ It's saccharine-indulgent, a lie so clear and silly it's almost a joke: he might have tacked some shitty term of endearment on the end. He throws an arm loosely around her shoulders and starts back toward the temple. ]

[onerous]

Mm-hm. [SureJan.gif] But for what price?

[Because 'everything' would definitely be worth more than one favor. But she lets him lead her out, pulling the sleeves up on her--his? her, now?--lab coat so they don't slip over her hands ridiculously.]

Maybe being a sanzo priest isn't for me after all. [As if she'd actually put any thought into becoming one in the first place. No thanks, y'all are walking disasters.]

[existentialcrisis]

[ Joke or not, he gives her an amused, searching look, long enough to be uncomfortable. ]

You're already a—what did you call them? The priestesses where you're from. Crow-something, yeah?

[onerous]

[She glances at him, but instinctively looks away after a moment as his gaze grows too heavy.]

Nuregarasu no Miko. [She mutters her clarification, but shakes her head.] ...There aren't anymore priestesses and the religion's all but died out back home. It's not like I'm officially recognized as one or anything. [It's more like she's a spiritual successor? Sort of?? She's not sure how to describe it, but her point still stands, there was no one to recognize her as one anyhow.]

[existentialcrisis]

But you can do what they could, and that's what you've been doing here, isn't it? Heaven even gave you the robe, if I remember. "Priestess" is just a title. Do you need someone else with a title to give it to you?

[ He shifts the arm propped on her shoulder so he can reach her hair more easily, run his fingers through it, soothingly repetitive. ]

I can do that.

[onerous]

It just seems proper that way. [Look, she likes traditions, to an extent. It'd just make it feel more... complete.

There's a soft, sudden inhale when his hand moves to play with her hair, and she looks to him quickly. Would you, now she wants to ask, skeptical on just how much he's just joking-- a seemingly constant struggle in conversations with him most days. Half the time she felt like she was back on that cliff again, teetering on the edge of...something.

She tilts her head up in acknowledgement] Alright. [A murmured acceptance, like somehow if she speaks too loudly it'll ruin whatever this--thing is. A moment? Were they having a moment? A vaguely unsettling, strange moment? And besides, she's curious. A trait that used to imply something good, but now seemed rather damnable] And what do I have to do?

[existentialcrisis]

I don't know! When my predecessor died, I got a name. That was about it. [ It's the absurdly minimalist version, but it's not untrue. ] But you have no predecessor, and no one here can contradict you on the particulars. You can make it whatever you want, and you can use those abilities however you want to.

[ He's still playing with her hair, walking slowly through the atrium toward the front of the temple. ]

What do you think would make it real to you?

[onerous]

[She considers what she does know about the priestesses and what she'd read in Ouse's diary. None of it was very useful, though she supposed to become the 'immortal flower' pillars and all the previous one did have to die. Except they were like, all dead now anyhow. This was a little complicated.]

When the last Pillar died, the next powerful in line would become the new one... I suppose I could just kill you. You're a priest, after all. That's close enough, right? [And she could probably do it too, if she was actually inclined to. She sends a flicker of fear out, just to get his heart beating a little faster, as a sort of playful reminder-- she could, after all, practically stop his heart at any time.

Yuri wouldn't though, of course. Not yet.] An actual ritual might help, but I'd just feel ridiculous if it was you trying to do it. [Him doing anything actually priest-like just seems...wrong? Weird. There's a distinctive 'that's not right or okay' feeling at the thought alone. She rolls her shoulders, not trying to dislodge his arm or anything, but attempting to shake off the weird feeling.] I suppose it doesn't really matter as long as I'm recognized by someone...

[existentialcrisis]

[ He makes a doubtful noise, stopping in front of the narrow hall that leads outside. ]

A ritual has a practical purpose, right? Maybe you could do something for me.—Did I tell you I'm dead? Where I come from, I mean?

[ He's still just stroking her hair, calmly. This is a normal thing to say. ]

[onerous]

[She pauses with him, shrugging] I could, I suppose-- [And they both know she probably will, depending on what he asks of her, but she's thrown off by how casually he drops that bit of information.]

What? [It's a good thing they stopped, because Yuri's gone still in shock, turning to face him.] That's-- No. You didn't tell me that. [What the fuck you don't just drop that on people!! What is wrong with you!!!] You're sure?

[existentialcrisis]

[ He looks back at her in response, unwavering. (It doesn't really matter whether he's sure.)

Anyway: ]

You do something for the dead, yeah? Help them with passing, I think you said? Something about taking their pain? I don't remember dying, so that should be easy for you.

[ He doesn't need help being dead, of course, but this isn't about him: this is about her, and reluctance. ]

[onerous]

I-- [Her brow furrows a moment, trying to get her mind on track with the turn this conversation has taken.] Yeah. [She closes her eyes a moment, shakes her head to clear it, and then continues]

I can relive someone's death if they're already dead and take the pain from it. Or take the pain on as they die if I'm watching it happen. [A pause and Yuri gives him a searching look] Is that what you want me to do for you?

[existentialcrisis]

Why not! [ He claps his hand on her shoulder like she suggested taking a walk, or going out somewhere; something fun and frivolous.

Presumably there won't be anything for her to see, if he died just a little later than when he came in. This will all be ceremonial—just what she seems to want. ]

Go get that cute little outfit and meet me back here, okay?

[ Her death priestess robes, naturally. They're cute.......

He heads outside to sit on the porch and wait. ]

[onerous]

Cute little outfit. [She echoes him flatly, looking a little uncomfortable with the whole idea. It seems a little... much? And she's not sure just what she's going to see or experience here and there's a little thrill at the idea of diving into the memory of someone that had previously seemed so far out of her reach.

So she steps back, sighs, and teleports back to her home to get ready. She takes her time a little--she bathes and purifies herself (and there's something... Ironic? About doing that when she's using her power on Ukoku of all people) and takes care of the makeup and the way her hair is supposed to be styled. She doesn't know if all of that places any significant role in the priestesses'...anything, but it feels like if she's going to do something "official" she should emulate them the best she could.

It doesn't make her feel less ridiculous when she teleports back, making sure the veil is tied properly as she looks for him again.]

This feels sort of silly. [Yuri mutters, feeling a touch embarrassed. Probably she shouldn't have brought any of this up to begin with, but hey. Too late now. She might as well take what she can from the experience]

[existentialcrisis]

[ He appears behind her and lays his hands on her shoulders. The first few times he might have been trying to get her to jump, a cheap but worthwhile joke, but now he likes it just as much when she doesn't react.

He's changed into his robes. The sutra is across his shoulders.

He doesn't warn her before he teleports them both. His shrine has grown; the statue of a god that looks nothing like him, with a peaceful smile and bare feet balanced on skulls, now sits protected under a wooden pavilion. The sound of the river nearby is gentle and persistent.

There are brass bowls surrounding the statue, full of offerings. Ukoku picks one up and dumps the contents out. ]