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~

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[It pains Maria to even ask this of Natsuru as well, especially so soon after she named her, but the only other option that might end it as quickly would be Airgetlam, and Maria isn't prepared to watch Serena die to that relic a second time. Though the nightmares have lessened some, there are still nights she wakes in a cold sweat, remembering the final time she'd seen Serena's face or heard her voice in life.

Merely inclining her head in silence as Natsuru leaves that question unfinished, she listens to her considerations without comment until she settles on her decision, not wanting to push her one way or another. Maria, too, is hoping that it won't hurt her any more than she already has been by these events if they make it quick, and she lets out a long breath, opening her eyes one more time to see the shadow of her sister's face before she extends her arms.]

Thank you. I'm not sure I could have handled this alone.

[With that, she executes a delicate twirl on the spot, raising her arms together and spreading them out. They don't need nearly the force they'd used to destroy that crowd from earlier, and given the power that dancing had bestowed them with earlier, she hopes the short segment of dance will be enough to sever the body and soul apart.]

Goodbye, Serena. Please continue watching over me. [The words are quiet and sad, but very genuine. It's something she hadn't had the chance to say upon her death or when they'd briefly spoken in the Frontier, but something she lingers on more often than she really should.]

[Natsuru goes silent, but she steels herself for what's coming. They're doing what has to be done, for the sake of the poor girl trapped inside that body. Knowing what she knows now, it seems that it takes quite a lot of destruction to actually force the spirit to leave. If they want it to be merciful, they'll have to do a lot of damage as quickly as possible.

Thankfully, it should be easier with only one target. Maria's twirl starts to whip out the loose streams of fabric, which start to feel more solid to Natsuru. Spreading her arms out sends them rapidly outward, moving so that the twirl quickly slices up the body.

Natsuru feels a sharp twinge of sadness and pain, from being forced to do that to someone presumably innocent. But it's what she wanted... to be freed from that prison. Still, the heaviness weighs on Natsuru's heart for a long moment, after hearing Maria's heartfelt goodbye. The shinki's voice is still heavy with sadness when she finally speaks up again.]

Was... she really your...?

[Another pause...]

... Sorry. You don't have to-

[Ugh!]

I-It's fine! Forget I asked.

[She's already doing damage control on herself, and she hasn't even given Maria a chance to respond yet. How are you supposed to talk about it when you've just dispatched a zombie housing what was probably someone's dead sister?]

[Opening her eyes as the sound of parting flesh quiets, Maria watches as a small, glowing orb rises from the fragments of the body. Its light ebbs in and out, a somehow reassuring sight to her, and it circles once around Maria's head, lingering in front of her face for a moment. Hesitantly, Maria reaches a hand up to touch the orb, and it brightens strongly at that contact before spiralling up into the air, drifting away to follow the path of a few other stray souls floating overhead.

Natsuru's question snaps her out of the brief reverie, and she turns her attention from the now empty sky back down to her costume. There's still a sadness to her expression, but at Natsuru's hasty attempt to backtrack, she gives a wan smile and shakes her head.]

No, it's fine. It would have come up some way or another. [Letting out a breath and glancing up at the sky once more, she explains herself.] Serena is my younger sister, who died when she was thirteen saving myself, a team of scientists, and potentially the world from an experiment gone wrong. It's been some years now, but she's guided my actions both directly and indirectly since then.

[It takes another moment for Maria to remember their exact situation here, and with the crowd of undead wiped out and Serena's soul freed, there's little else to keep them in this configuration.] Ah...and thank you for your help, Natsuru.

[At least, she recalls the use of a shinki's true name being what returns them to their normal form...]

[Oh, wow. That's... a lot to take in, especially hearing something so personal from someone Natsuru's only known a short time.

She's almost forgotten that she's still Maria's dance costume, until she hears her true name spoken and the transformation begins to reverse itself. The ribbons of light the material forms into take the shape of a woman, and Natsuru's soon standing there next to Maria again. The sadness she felt at all of this happening is written all over her face... though, Maria may have already known what her new shinki was feeling.]

Do... Do you think... all of those...?

[She lets the unfinished question linger for a long moment.]

... I'm sorry. I mean, I know we did what we could! We helped her. But... it's horrible that it even happened.

[Maria turns her head as the costume reforms into a human shape, and her own clothes reappear as the ribbons of light leave her body. It's not a surprise to see the sad look on Natsuru's face when she reforms, though Maria tries to give a reassuring smile.

It doesn't last long, though, because when Natsuru raises the point of all of the souls potentially being a similar case, Maria has to look back up to where the lights disappeared. She's silent for a moment, even as Natsuru adds the more uplifting follow-up, before nodding slightly without looking back towards her. She's biting her lip a little, because it's still not a pleasant thought, but if she's being honest, there's only one answer she can give there.]

Perhaps not all people myself or you, or even other gods and shinki would recognise, but it's possible they were all somehow connected to the people at this festival. The only question is why this happened at all.

[Natsuru glances down at the ground for a moment, but soon follows Maria's gaze up to the sky.]

Probably something else like what happened a few weeks ago? Magic, or an ayakashi, or something.

[She hopes that was all of them, or that if there are any others that the other gods and shinki are taking care of it.

Still feeling a bit drained, she finds a place to sit down. That's when she notices the familiar mark on her thigh... a different kanji this time, but similar placement. Her fingertip traces the character - 'echo'. It seems somehow fitting, though she can't say why.]

This is kind of sudden, isn't it? We barely knew each other, and that vessel form... and your sister...

[She trails off, pulling one leg up onto her perch to hug closer to her chest.]

It wasn't awkward for you? You'll... be okay with me, now that it's all over?

[They seem to work together well, so that's not her concern. Her concern is being a burden in any other way. Invading Maria's space, or getting too close too quickly. That kind of thing.]

Maybe. This doesn't seem like something that could happen without power standing behind it.

[It's a weighty thing to admit, but Maria really doesn't think it can be a surprise at this point, with what few details she has on the attack on that town. There's some kind of enemy in the background here that they all seem to be aware of in hypothetical terms, and if they're pointing fingers anywhere that might have the power for something like this, it's a logical place to direct them.

Following Natsuru to where she chooses to sit down, but remaining standing herself, Maria looks aside slightly to give Natsuru some privacy when she notices her new name. It's not until she speaks again that she looks back, seeming a little surprised at the question.]

Why wouldn't I be? [A somewhat morose smile lights her face, but it's a smile all the same.] I think we handled the situation well together. You did all you could despite your reservations about the possessed bodies. Especially for a first battle, it went as smoothly as we could have made it. I was the one who chose to tell you the details about Serena...and I assure you, I'm very used to outfits like that. [Okay, maybe that's not the actual problem Natsuru is raising when it comes to the vessel form, but still.]

[It's not the actual problem at all, but Maria's reassurances are more than enough to calm all of Natsuru's fears. Her lips even curl into a smile of her own, despite the sadness still in her eyes from everything they had to do just now.]

... Okay. I just... didn't want you to feel like you had to take me in. Permanently, I mean.

[Maybe it's silly that she still had reservations about that. Maria seemed to know exactly what naming Natsuru would mean for them when she did it. Looking up again, so her eyes meet Maria's, Natsuru finds herself thinking that, while it's sad it had to happen this way, she's fortunate to have such a considerate god again.]

Thank you.

[Still, her mind wanders with thoughts of what actually happened here. She's curious about Serena too, but now doesn't seem like the time to ask for more details on the girl whose soul they had to demolish a dead body to release...]

[It doesn't seem to surprise Maria too much that that's where the reservations were coming from, and her smile softens to something more genuine and reassuring from that sad tint.]

I wouldn't turn you away regardless. I made the choice to name you, and now I have a responsibility to treat you with the respect our bond entails.

[Even if some gods would argue that point. As far as Maria's concerned, it shouldn't just be the shinki looking up to the god.

It's getting rather late in proceedings now, and Maria glances around the area briefly to check that more undead haven't wandered in. It seems to be quieting down, at least, and with that in mind, she turns her attention back to Natsuru.]

Will you be alright to keep fighting this battle?

[Natsuru takes a breath, and nods.]

Yeah. I'll be fine, if we run into any more. Just... maybe don't call my name too suddenly yet, if that's okay.

[She just doesn't want to be completely disoriented by being transformed into clothes without warning. As she stands up, straightening and brushing off her skirt, she turns to face Maria again. There's that sadness in her eyes again.]

Actually... no. If more of them show up... please, use me right away. I don't want them to suffer...

[That's certainly something Maria can understand, and she nods in easy agreement until Natsuru revises that remark. It's still a strange thing to hear, being asked to use somebody like that, and even though they both agreed to this, Maria can't help but look a little uncomfortable.]

I can still give you a little time to prepare for the change, as well as entering the fray fast enough that we can end things quickly.

[It doesn't feel quite right not to at least try finding a balance there, especially when she can't help but feel responsible for making Natsuru want to end things that much quicker.]

[Well, she wanted a god that would treat her as a person and not a tool. Despite everything that's awful about this situation, a soft smile traces the girl's lips again, and she nods in agreement.]

I think it'll be okay, but thanks.

[She sticks close to Maria and keeps an eye out for more danger. After a brief pause, she adds:]

This isn't my first time changing like that, you know. I was armor for Lightning-sama. ... I think that one covered even less.

[Time for that blush to flare up again. Why she felt Maria needed to hear her shinki job history is a mystery. Maybe it just seemed relevant, since they're going to be partners now for the foreseeable future. That's a very different thing from the friendly but casual acquaintances they were before this incident.]

[Maria's keeping her own eye out as well - it's just typical behaviour when she's in the field, and though she can't see or hear anything untoward approaching yet, it'd be too quick to assume nothing more is going to confront them.

It's a little sad to hear that recollection of Natsuru's old god, even if the focus is the more embarrassing outfit, and though Maria gives a light smile and laugh, she finds herself hoping she can live up to the standard set by that previous god.]

I have to wonder why it was armour at all, then...though I have seen some odd armour designs in my time. I wonder if becoming the same kind of thing for different gods is common.

[She's already discussed moving between gods with someone else earlier tonight, so it seems like a logical question.]

[She actually chuckles at that comment. It did seem to kind of defeat the purpose of being armor, if it left so much skin exposed.]

I don't know! It was kind of like with us, though. She couldn't use me to fight like that, but when we were working together she could move a lot faster.

Maybe there's something about each shinki that makes us take certain shapes...

[And there's another thought to make her blush. She hopes she doesn't lose Maria anytime soon, like she did with Lightning. But she can't stop herself from wondering how many more people might end up wearing her.]

Well, I suppose you would need something lightweight for that. I have to wonder how the powers and forms of some shinki are connected, though, because that one seems a little strange.

[Some kind of shoe she could understand for high speed, or even something more figuratively appropriate to the power, but something usually associated with additional bulk creating additional speed presents a lot of odd questions.

These aren't questions Maria's really considered before, though, so she ends up looking rather thoughtful when Natsuru makes that last point.]

Maybe. I haven't met enough shinki who've changed gods to weigh in on that, but I hear it's not that uncommon, those disappearances and shinki going to new gods.

[She had a defensive purpose too, but they never got a chance to really test that out like she and Maria just did with this new vessel form's unusual battle capabilities.]

... It's kind of sad. I don't want to think too many shinki will have to be separated from the people they care about.

[In the short time she knew Lightning, she got pretty attached. She might be more cautious with Maria, since she now knows they could be separated at any time regardless of how much they want to stay together. But she already likes her, and trusts her, so it's only a matter of time.]

Especially since we only know our lives here...

[It must be different for gods, who remember their own friends and family and homes.]

[It is sad, and Maria nods along with Natsuru's words as she muses on the situation. Ever since hearing that it's not uncommon for shinki to switch gods earlier tonight, she's been wondering what that might mean in future.]

I hope not. I know some of them may not care for the gods they're required to serve under, and some might not mourn their god being taken away, but the ones that do...

[There's a doleful note in her voice as she trails off there. It doesn't feel like there's much more to say on that note, when they both seem to be thinking the same thing.]

It must be hard, living like that. But there really is no way around the arrangement, so I suppose we must take it for what it is.

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011 | Black Parade

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