thenearshore | [closed]

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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 It's been replaced by a crater with sharp, curving edges.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?

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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?

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. ]

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.]

[ 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?

[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.]

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.

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?

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?

[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...

[ 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. ]

[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?

[ 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. ]

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?

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. ]

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]

[ 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. ]

Edited 2016-12-17 06:29 (UTC)

[She doesn't jump out of her skin this time at being startled, but there's a soft gasp as she turns her head to try and look at him. He's been touching her an awful lot more lately, and she's suddenly glad for the veil that hides how her face begins to turn red beneath it at the realization.

It doesn't mean anything, she tells herself, but then, when has Ukoku done anything that didn't mean something, even if only to himself?

She takes a moment to collect herself and looks around the shrine a moment in curiosity, before she turns almost instinctively towards the sound of the river. It would never amount to the same power enhancement the 'pure water' from her world could manage, but any water seemed to help, and given how sacred water was to the religion on the mountain anyhow... We all return to water...]

Why here? [She asks it at the same time her mind responds with why not? but she turns a curious look on Ukoku anyhow for an answer, watching him empty the bowl.]

I lost my pool.

[ Like he misplaced it on the way to the kitchen. It doesn't matter—he has a second one—but Guy could have been hanging around, or come back at any moment if he wasn't. It might have made her nervous.

He heads down to the stony riverbank, tossing the bowl from hand to hand, and wades into the shallows. ]

You said your priestesses kept their hair wet, didn't you?

[ He bends to scoop water into the bowl. This is going to be cold. ]

How do you lose a pool? [But does she really want to know the answer to that... Really.

She waits a moment before following him, pausing again only briefly on the water's edge before she steps in as well. There's a hum of acknowledgement at the question--he's right, they did, and she suspects he's doing this less because of the possibility of enhancing her power and more because of the 'wet crow' association.

Either way, Yuri doesn't stop him when he pours the water on her, though she does muffle a squeal of shock at the cold and brings her shoulders up with a shiver. It's only one bowl full, but she already does look a little more bird-like when she cocks her head and frowns at him, watching.] You just wanted an excuse to get me wet. [Her tone is blunt and dry and gives no hint that she means it anything other than literally, which is probably the worst part.]

Well, why pass up a good excuse?

[ He doesn't miss a beat, calmly arranging her hair on her shoulders. It could almost be black, like his, in the moonlight.

He sets the bowl in the water and lets it float away. This is enough. His fingers curl around hers, deceptively warm. ]

Go ahead.

[Yuri is quiet a moment, before reaching up to quietly undo her veil.]

I'll glance into your soul.

[For a given value of 'soul' where Ukoku is concerned. And while she says 'glance,' she tugs at his hand to pull him down, rising on tiptoe to press her mouth to his. Her powers had grown considerably since arriving here, for which she was--grateful, she supposes, but physical contact still made it more powerful. Sure she could've just kep it at the holding his hand, but--

Well.

She hadn't wanted to leave it at that, that was all.

The images come in a frenzy, like jumping in the middle of some action sequence. A fight with all-too familiar people, and a strange sense of nothingness that came from stepping into his mind. The sutra of his was frighteningly powerful and suddenly she was a little more aware of why he'd guard it so closely--why any of them would and why Sharak hadn't been so forthcoming with answers herself. Yuri was aware that the sutras couldn't all possibly have the same abilities, but the fact that this one could and it was in Ukoku's hands... It left her with a terrifying dizzy feeling at the implications. It was, probably, a good thing that Ukoku wasn't quite ambitious enough to use it to its possible full extent.

When she pulls away from him, carefully untangles the threads of memories until she's herself again, she has to take a moment to stop herself from straight up swooning, her head spinning. There's nothing to say as she just looks at him with slightly glassy eyes, searching for--something, nothing?--before she closes her eyes and takes a breath.]

You said you died.

[Accusing, maybe, because she certainly didn't feel any death there before the memory had been cut off.] I didn't feel any death. Not yours'. [Did the 'death' of 'existence' caused by his sutra really count?]

[ He lays his hand on her hip as soon as she kisses him. It's a response, in part, but he hasn't forgotten what happened in India. When she pulls back his arm circles around her, holding her upright. He watches her, head tilted, a plainer crow, searching for what it's like to feel that, for how it might affect her in ways she won't or can't express.

It confirms, at least, that the memory of dying wasn't just suppressed. ]

I did. If I ever go back, it'll only be another minute. I heard it from other people.

[ More or less, not really, sort of. ]

[She's still a moment, gaze wandering away with momentary distraction. Everything is in sharper focus still, the water seeming to move in slow motion. His words make her eyebrow twitch, a slight furrow of disapproval, before she wills her expression to be neutral again, gaze sliding back to him.

'Don't say that,' she wants to say, but there's no good that could come from voicing it out loud. Instead she leans into him more, considering what he's said.]

Knowing that, if you go back, will you change it?

[She speaks low, as if speaking too loud will shatter the world around them]

I don't know if I can.

[ His voice is casual and unperturbed, as if he's talking about someone else's death, or a theoretical death, intangible and poetic. ]

Maybe not.

[ That's the answer, either way. He's staring up at the stars, hands laced together around the small of her back. ]

But I'm not trying to go back. I don't need to.

[Her fingers curl against the front of his robes, watching him and the way the moon his his hair and face. The moon isn't quite full, but it's still bright enough to bathe everything in a strange, ethereal sort of light.

Or maybe she's still coming down from the hyperfocus of her abilities. She wonders idly what the two of them might look like to anyone passing by. Some kind of crow spirits or something?]

Why not? [It's the obvious question to ask next, but he seems to be in a more forthcoming mood than usual with his answers, and she'll take advantage of it for now.]

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