thenearshore | 011 | Black Parade

Entry tags:

011 | Black Parade

Who: Everyone!
What: Parade of the dead
When: All day May 26
Where: Shinjuku
Summary: The Near Shore needs a little protecting from the dead

The last few days have been filled with festival food, high energy, and lots and lots of parades. Near Shore residents really know how to enjoy their holidays, stopping up traffic for hours on end as floats and palanquins go by and filling the streets and courtyards in the area with food stands and festival treats. Many Far Shore residents may have found themselves drawn to this particular festival, as it is being held in honor of a shrine.

When an unexpected parade starts up, the people gather round to watch the impromptu spectacle. It's a little strange, yes, but nothing too terribly off-putting. That is until the parade reaches the shrine itself, at which point all hell breaks loose as the members of the parade start attacking anything and anyone in their way.

The Heavens will then call upon all the gods and shinki who are available to help, because these attackers are not normal at all - they are, in fact, the undead.

Let the Festivities Continue

The festival is a large, booming one. There are dozens upon dozens of food stalls set up all over the place with so many different kinds of foods that it could make your eyes go buggy, most of them fried in some way. On top of that, there is live entertainment walking around, stalls with souvenirs, and lots of excellent company nearby. Surely you'll be able to enjoy the festival to its fullest.

The Walking Dead

It is not immediately evident that the parade is being manned by corpses, but keen observers would be able to pick out the noticeable rotting elements of the dead. Anyone with a soul-sensing ability might even realize that they're not soulless, just lifeless. When the parade reaches the shrine, every god and shinki will be needed in order to protect the Near Shore from this menace. Corpses must either be exorcised or completely mutilated to the point where they can no longer move in order to release the soul.

Not Rootbeer Floats

On top of the mass of dead bodies being possessed by stray souls, some of the floats on wheels in the parade seem to have been taken over as well. They are moving slowly and with purpose towards anyone that crosses their path. At first, it may seem like the float is just veering a little off course, but it will soon become evident that it's headed towards you. They may be slow, but they're very large as well, meaning there's a lot more than needs to be destroyed to release the soul.

Souls, Souls, and More Souls

In Summary:

Enjoy the festival
Help save Near Shore residents
Take down the dead bodies
Try not to cry
Cry lots
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That's so cute, something important.]

Is that what you thought of, the first time? That's so sweet.

[her new dads are so gay]

Like my mom and dad? When they were looking for me, they thought about me a lot, but they also asked lots of questions and did some bad things so they could get me back, which was mostly okay because they were doing it to bad people.

[Aside from the fact that just thinking didn't seem like that would be enough to actually get shit done...] Besides, I've been thinking really hard about trying to find Izabel already, and she's really important.

[God, Jae-Ha is so gay!! Hazel waves his free hand at him, like, shush. He literally just told the Hazels to chat and now he's interrupting with this gay stuff. Later, dear.]

Well, it's more somethin' like magic this time, I think. Not like your Izabel, [who might be fake] since it's the magic they've got around here.

It doesn't come with a manual, I'm afraid. I just knew what I was doin' one day, like it was nothin'.

[Ooh, he's being shut up. Alright, alright, he'll just squeeze their laced fingers and keep walking.

But he doesn't think Hazel is very good at this advice thing.]

[stop throwing shade on the perfect pink babe]

Granny would tell you that magic doesn't work that way and probably pull your ears.

[listen,]

Lil lady, I don't know what ya want me to say. I can't explain it, it just works—you're not even tryin'.

[Both of these Hazels are like 6.]

Now, let's take this a little slowly.

[Children, behave. Jae-Ha's face is probably a little purple in spots by now, and getting worse by the second, but at least the blood has dried up and his nose doesn't seem to be broken. His mood has improved by a ton since earlier, or at least it looks like it has, and so he smiles between the both of them.]

Whatever manner of how things "work" that you believe to be true, it seems to change in this place. You can't think for too long on what's normal and refer it to things here; it won't always work. What you should try is to take big Hazel's words here and try to apply them to yourself.

Something important. Thinking of your Izabel didn't work, so perhaps thinking of something important in general, or specifically thinking of a shinki? If that doesn't work for now, it could be that you're not meant to meet one just yet.

[Hazel looks doubtfully between the pair, then twists a lock of hair around her finger while she thinks about doing this weird...dig deep and concentrate thing. It's not her fault it sounds stupid...!

But… Well, she’s not stupid, and she can see the importance of having a shinki around both for her safety and theirs -- seemed to be some emotional health benefits, too. Might need those eventually. So Hazel sighs and frowns down to her feet. Closing her eyes when they were still here seems like an especially stupid idea, even if it might help her focus.]

...I don't...think I feel anything.

[Maybe she’s still searching for the kind of spiritual bond she was familiar with, and it wasn't supposed to be anything like it had been with Izabel. Maybe she really didn't have one right now. Whatever the reason, her shoulders droop. Sorry, folks. You're stuck playing babysitter for now.]

[Is the name Hazel cursed? They're two for two on not seeming to have a shinki upon arrival, sooo... cursed, probably. Hazel sighs, gesturing for them to continue on. They'll just go home, then.]

Then you're welcome to come with us all the way, like I told ya before. Do ya like cake? We've still got some.

[some gay cake with a heart in it, shut up]

[Ah, so she's alone. At least while little Hazel is here, Jae-Ha can't focus entirely on his own problems. She's without a shinki, so they should look after her, right? He's so glad big Hazel suggested this first.

Shifting to make sure he's on the right side, he stays attached to the hip with one Hazel on one side, and stretches out his hand to little Hazel on the other. Hold his hand, do it. Or reject him coldly, maybe...]

Only if you'd like, of course. But it's a rather large temple and I happen to like it very much. Hazel here also started without his own shinki, you know. You two share more than just your lovely name.

[Jae-Ha...]

[They also both play weird games with souls, but that seems insensitive to bring up now,

At the invitation, Hazel reaches over to fold her small hand around Jae-Ha's and looks up with large, bright eyes. Cake and a giant area to play in... Truly, she has been blessed. Of course, she'd make her way back to her own temple eventually, but when she'd seen Jae-Ha get knocked around like that, she is a little anxious to make sure he's okay like her cursory examination predicted. Physically, anyway.]

Okay! What kind of cake is it? Is it just you two? Do you have a big kitchen and everything? How long did it take for you two to team up?

[SHE HYPE NOW]

[Oh, everything just got about ten degrees cuter here. Hazel blinks at the sudden onslaught of Child Questions, but okay, let him give it a go.]

It's chocolate cake and it's the tastiest cake you've ever seen, I can tell ya that already. The kitchen's alright, but the game room's even nicer. [There is a game room!!! but maybe not the best games for tiny tots. Maybe they can lift her up to play billiards.]

And Jae-Ha's better at the dates than me, so... [take it away, dear.]

[If Hazel can play billiards than a small child has hope for reaching it,]

You see, our meeting had to do completely with fate!

[Why was he allowed this part of the story. He even leans down a little as they walk so he can tell this. Ignore his beat up face, he is Fine.] You see, we met and danger followed us immediately... An ayakashi attacked us and we couldn't do a thing! After all, I had another god at the time, and she was nowhere near us, and he had no shinki of his own.

I carried Hazel away, and from then, we bonded quickly. I believe it was only about a week after that when my previous god vanished completely, and I woke up in Hazel's temple by coincidence. Or, by fate. I was relieved to be assigned to him rather than anyone else, and since then we've been through so much together, I can't imagine us being apart.

[aaaaa chocolate cake, she hasn't had chocolate cake in so long, and they have a whole room dedicated to games? That was way better than that room with the wheel thingy Miss Petrichor sat at to make clothes for her and sometimes the stupid baby thing.

She turns her attention away from that unpleasantness to blink owlishly at Jae-Ha and squeeze his hand.]

Woah... I didn't know stuff like that could happen! [It sounds kind of familiar.] I think it was probably fate, even if lotsa times people say stuff is fate, they're just being dumb.

[Hmmn.]

I hope my shinki likes me...

[like, not the same way obviously, that's gross and sounds like a hassle, but!!! a friend would be nice.]

[These nerds talking about fate. Cute. See, Jae-Ha says it way better than Hazel, who would keep bringing up how Jae-Ha only uses the front door like a person like 50% of the time, like that's relevant. It kind of is!!

But he's shoujo in other ways, so, good explanation.]

Well if they don't, there's no obligation to keep up with 'em instead of goin' separate ways to find better folk. If ya don't get along, stickin' it out's not necessarily the best plan.

[She's like 6... he feels like he needs to really drive home the "do not put up with crap" point, especially because there are so few children around and what is the likelihood that her shinki is some dickhole adult who will take advantage of the situation?? Seems high from here!!]

[That's good advice he completely agrees with, but Jae-Ha thinks he should probably be the softy that makes sure she's not startled into being afraid of a shinki that hates her and having to deal with it. So:]

I can't picture a person who wouldn't like a cute girl like you. You're a very capable girl. You helped me out quite a bit, so I'm certain that your own shinki will learn to rely on you quickly. Just be sure to rely on them the same, when it works out like that.

[She nods seriously, and then she stands a little straighter while she walks. Hell yeah, she was capable and great.]

I just got big Hazel. But... Yeah. I want to be like -- a real team. Like you guys! Or like Mom and Dad, or Granny and Auntie Lexis. Especially since I probably can't fight on my own so much yet. [weak-ass magic] So I'm gonna get a really good one.

[A Real Team... they're such a Real Team.]

Of course ya will, kiddo. Maybe Jae-Ha here can teach ya how to kick so you're all set to help out.

[And Hazel can teach her various gymnastics?? Maybe. She's a little small for parkour.]

Certainly. You can always come to either of us for help or advice.

[They'll be there, in their giant mansion... Which they'll get to any moment now. They're almost at the closest shrine, probably.]

[Small enough to effectively stand on tables, though.]

I'm gonna learn how to kick people's heads off.

[...said before she really thinks to stop herself.]

I mean, I won't, that's bad, but I can still learn?

[Wow damn, be more considerate, big Hazel almost did that today and it was stressful.

Just kidding, there's about half a beat before he laughs, although he is surprised... damn, tiny Hazel.]

You'll do alright, kiddo. C'mon, everybody hop over to the shrine.

[zam bam time to go back to Western House]

[You never know when you might need to spin kick a guy in the face or gut! Jae-Ha is glad to provide this, so he agrees with a smile before he moves on over to this shrine so they can finally get out of this heavy atmosphere and somewhere a little better.

So, she can admire the cute little garden out front, or the huge western mansion that is Hazel's temple, but Jae-Ha is just going to take a moment to lightly touch his own chest and take a deep breath. It's much nicer here. This feels more like home, especially with Hazel here...]

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011 | Black Parade

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