thenearshore | [Open]

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Who: Ayumu Yamazaki and you!
What: Errand running on the Near Shore
Where: Various locations
When: May 21 - 23
Warnings: None as of yet!

A. The Near Shore, Garden Center

[With spring drawing to a close and the approach of summer, it's time for Ayumu to see what's in season at the market and get ready for summer planting. It's still more satisfying to feel the earth with her own hands and grow her own vegetables. Of course, it's a comfort that even with new conveniences, gardening still remains mostly unchanged.

The same can't be said about Ayumu's appearance today, however. After months of stubbornly sticking to traditional dress, she's finally made the leap to modern clothing. She still sticks out like a sore thumb among the conservatively dressed housewives and farmers in an stylish outfit more appropriate for a hostess club than a garden center. Her long black hair is pulled back into a simple ponytail rather than its usual strict, old-fashioned updo and she's wearing light, natural looking makeup. Ayumu's not used to wearing any of this yet but she's trying her best to adapt.

The Near Shore residents don't notice her as she stands by a rack of seed packets, debating just how much room she has to plant summer crops. At the moment, she's holding packets of okra and lettuce seeds in each hand, apparently absorbed in reading the backs of each.]

B. The Near Shore, Cat Cafe "Calico"

[For all her reluctance to indulge in modern comforts and convenience, this is one Ayumu's quite happy to partake in. She can be found lazing contentedly on a loveseat in the corner with one gray tabby batting at her ponytail and rather massive ball of fluff sprawled across her lap rumbling away. The hot tea she ordered has long since turned cold, forgotten in favor of doting on the cats. A third cat slinks across the floor toward her and jumps up beside her, mewing for attention as well. If a person draws close enough, they can hear her softly singing nonsense about whiskers and paws to the cats.]

C. The Near Shore, various public bulletin boards across Japan

[The time has come for Ayumu to find a job. It's a decision born from boredom more than necessity. She has most of what she needs at the temple but without an undercover assignment and a smaller number of men to attend to, she's found herself with far more free time than she knows what to do with.

Currently, she's standing in front of a town bulletin board, looking through various 'help wanted' ads for anything that might match her skills. However, judging from her dejected expression and frustrated sighs, she isn't having much luck.

What's an old-fashioned kunoichi like herself supposed to do for employment in modern times like this?]

D. Wildcard

[If there's something you want to do that's not listed here, hit me up via Plurk (mimarin) or PM!]

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[Erk sighs yet again. Loudly. Fine, fine, he'll sit down and get covered in cat hair. And spend the rest of the day trying to get it all off of his cloak, no doubt. It's not like he has anything better to do.

And sure enough, as soon as he sits, the orange cat makes a beeline for his lap. Erk gives a startled yelp as it lands on him, looking decidedly tense and uncertain as it curls up in a little furry ball and begins to purr.

He knew it. He's stuck here now.

Clearing his throat, he does his best to regain his composure and appear at ease. It doesn't work at all.]

I am Erk. It's-- [he pauses to cringe as claws find their way into his thigh] --a pleasure to meet you.

[Shaking his head at the question, he tries to carefully pry the offending paw away from his leg.] I haven't. I wasn't planning on staying... [And so much for that. He probably should buy something, since it's looking like he might be here awhile.]

What would you recommend?

[How cute. He's kind of like a cat himself, isn't he? Unused to contact and affection or so he seems to her.]

It's nice to meet you, too, Erk-san.

[These Western names are just so strange. But her smile doesn't waver. She reaches over to pet the cat in his lap, making a soft, murmuring coo at it to help it relax a bit.]

They serve nice tea and sweets. They might serve other things as well. You'd have to ask. In the meantime, I think this one just wants to be petted.

[She gives the orange cat one last scritch under its chin and resumes petting her own.]

Perhaps I'll order some tea, then.

[Whenever a staff member happens to come by, since he can't get up now. And then he'll have to try to drink it all before it can get fur in it. And this is something people actually pay to do. Erk still can't quite grasp it.

But the cat seems to relax at Yumi's attention, and Erk likewise relaxes--slightly--as the claws retract themselves from his leg.]

Needy little beast...

[He mutters the sentiment in a tone that's more resigned than it is annoyed. He's already got the cat on his lap, so at this point he really might as well pet it. Especially if that keeps it from poking him full of little claw holes. So he strokes the cat with all the awkwardness of someone who has never done so before in his life, but it seems content regardless, and Erk is relieved to be able to turn his attention away from it.]

...I've heard "san" added onto names several times since I arrived here. May I ask you what it means?

Oh! It's an honorific. We say it to show respect. I suppose it must sound strange to a foreigner.

[And with that hair color and those clothes and a name like that, he's most definitely foreign. Ayumu smiles a bit at the sight of him petting the cat like this is his first time ever, certain that both she and the cat are in agreement that it's much better than him just standing around. ]

I take it you haven't spent much time with cats before.

An honorific? [Is that like a title? Erk blinks, and then glances away, mildly discomfited for reasons he doesn't understand.] I... don't think I'm anyone you need to address in such a manner.

[He looks down at the cat again as it shifts to make itself more comfortable. Yes, he supposes he really is out of his element in a place like this, but that isn't something he knew before he stepped in here. Still not meeting Yumi's gaze, he shakes his head.]

I don't recall, but I believe that's a safe assumption to make.

[Her expression softens a little in sympathy. Her own memory loss isn't quite the same as a shinki's but Ayumu does have some understanding of what it's like to feel out of step with the rest of what's going on. She's still trying to adjust to the fact she has a history with people here that she doesn't personally recall.]

Well, maybe it's time you spent some time with them. Cats are lovely creatures. I have a stray I took in at home.

[With the absence of shinki in the temple, it's been nice to have some feline company, at least.]

[Erk has to huff softly at the thought of taking in a stray cat. Maybe Yumi's right, maybe they are lovely creatures, but he can't begin to imagine having one in his care. It would be a disaster, and he knows it.

He shakes his head.] Taking in a stray is just about the last thing I should ever do. I forget to feed myself too often as it is.

[And while he won't starve if he doesn't eat, it'd be quite another matter for a cat.]

Besides, my god's temple is... not ideally suited for pets.

Oh? Which god do you serve?

[And Erk forgets to eat, does he? Well, that won't do at all. Ayumu will just have to make sure he gets plenty. Whether they need nourishment from food or not is besides the point.]

And what meals have you had since you arrived that you've liked?

Yukio Okumura. Or Satan. [He gives another light huff.] The living quarters are comfortable enough, but I wouldn't trust a cat not to explore beyond them. Apparently one of the basement levels has a three-headed guard dog. Among other things.

[Erk stays well away from the basements.

He looks mildly confused by the second question. What meals has he liked? Honestly, he just eats them, and doesn't pay much attention to whether he likes them or not. He can't even recall what most of them were.]

I... haven't given it any thought. The food here is strange to me, but most of it is not unpleasant. [He furrows his brows. This is a tricky question, okay.] ...I suppose some of the fish has been quite good.

Hmm. Well, I happen to know how to make a number of meals containing fish if you'd be interested in trying my cooking sometime.

[It's always nice to have an opportunity to cook for others. Without most of her brothers-in-arms around, she misses it.]

I don't believe I've met Okumura-san yet.... But a three-headed dog sounds like it wouldn't be friendly toward other pets.

[Maybe it's some kind of youkai? Or Western equivalent? Satan's an unfamiliar name so she assumes it's another Western deity.]

Ah--that's very kind of you, Lady Yumi, but please don't trouble yourself on my behalf.

[He'd enjoy a good home-cooked meal, honestly. His own cooking skills are rather lacking. But he's sure he'd feel like an imposition if he took her up on the offer, and he doesn't know of anything he could do for her in return.

He looks down at the cat in his lap again. It's now sound asleep. Finally, he can stop petting it.]

My understanding is that the dog isn't friendly to anyone. I haven't met it, and I hope I never need to. Certain texts I've read have mentioned a three-headed dog guarding the gates of the underworld.

[Which is probably something to be concerned about, but Erk seems to view it as more of an annoyance than anything else.]

[Lady Yumi? Normally, Ayumu isn't one to insist on formal titles but it does sort of have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?]

I've heard stories of the underworld before but nothing about three-headed dogs. Nine-tailed foxes and dog spirits, yes, but nothing like that.

[She isn't particularly versed with myths, preferring to leave spiritual matters to the priesthood. Since her arrival here, she's gained a bit more interest in such things, if only for practical reasons. Turning a blind eye to something she's dutybound to dispose accomplishes nothing for anyone.]

And it wouldn't be any trouble. It'd be nice to have guests over for dinner.

[Especially with how quiet the temple's gotten.]

To be honest, I'd enjoy the company.

[Talking to her cat at home isn't quite the same as talking to a person. Even she knows that much.]

It seems to figure in ancient Greek and Roman beliefs. I don't yet have a solid understanding of who the ancient Greeks and Romans were, but they appear to have shared a very... rich mythology.

[To put it tactfully. From what he's managed to study in the short time he's been here, Erk thinks 'bizarre' would actually be a much better descriptor.

And he glances awkwardly down at the cat again.]

But... er, very well, if you insist. I fear I make for poor company, but if you're sure I wouldn't be imposing... I would be honoured to join you for dinner at your convenience.

[All he wanted to do was find out what this establishment was. Now he's got a cat on his lap and an invitation to a home-cooked dinner. How in the world did that happen?]

[It's funny how life turns out sometimes, isn't it? Ayumu brightens a bit when he accepts her invitation.]

It'd be my pleasure, Erk-san! I'm free most of the time so whenever you aren't busy with your god is fine with me.

[Really, she has too much free time in her opinion. She still hasn't adjusted to not having a heavy work schedule. Even when Toshi didn't have any undercover work for her to do, looking after the rest of the men kept her adequately busy.]

Perhaps you could tell me more about the mythology then.

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