[open] If I could store lightning in jars

[oathkeeper]

Who: Sora & OPEN
Where: The mysterious dark forest that appeared!
When: June 1
What: Bright "fireflies” have been luring gods and shinki alike deep into the forest. People are suddenly drawn to the little spots of light and can’t help but follow. There have been reports of screams and unhappy spirits and people never returning. All you know is that the sun doesn’t pierce the treetops and it’s dark.
Warnings: There's lots of creepy demons and stuff!!


[ A ]

[A sudden cold and heavy rain starts. Light and whimsical at first before it starts to pour down in thick sheets. Gray clouds blanket the sky and the sun is nearly blotted out. The atmosphere suddenly darkens and a chill is in the air.

Through the dark Sora notices some sparks of light somewhere near. They’re like candles flickering and dancing through the haze of the rain. A small smile pulls at his lips as he’s suddenly drawn to them like a moth to a flame. All he wants to do is reach out and touch one. They look like fairies.

You might notice Sora wandering through the rain, a blurry image of him slowly walking just out of your reach. Then he vanishes into the dark forest.]

[ B ]

[Perhaps it is you that got drawn into the bright dancing lights. Pulled into the woods as it makes your heart hammer. All you can focus on is the unseen force pulling your legs as you wander closer to the woods.

And suddenly everything is dark.

Sora manages to catch a glimpse of you before you vanish and he calls out.]

Hey!! Wait!! Don’t go in there!

[And promptly chases after you to stop you from falling deeper into darkness.]

[ C ]

[As soon as Sora enters the woods the rain stops. Or so it seems that way. He can still hear the thundering water in his ears but it sounds muted now. Like someone has put a blanket over the heavens and all he can hear is the thin thudding of the rain but no raindrops touch his face anymore.

He wanders through the woods as he looks up at the treetops to find that small beams of light do flicker through. Weakly, but they’re there. The gloom is still heavy.

His feet take him in a random direction until he spots a figure in the distance… Someone already lost here like him, or is that a tortured spirit...?]

[ wildcard! ]

[something else in mind?]

Comments

[oathkeeper]

I'd like that.

[He nods and gets to his feet. He glances up to the treetops briefly to notice a sparkle of fireflies overhead. But this time they don't feel menacing as he follows them with his eyes. They seem to lead his gaze to a sparkle of sunlight in the distance. Sora points.]

I think we should go this way to get out.

[He's not sure how he knows that but it feels right.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

[Ayumu notices the change in them, too. Somehow the air here feels a little less sinister now. Whatever spirit that had gripped Sora seems to have been satisfied enough to let him go without further incident. It's kind of a relief. She's still new to fighting supernatural threats and having magic of her own to combat them. Facing off against that sort of opponent armed with only an umbrella and minimal understanding really isn't ideal, not that most of the dangerous situations she winds up in are but there are obstacles even she can't overcome on her own.]

I think we came in from that direction.

[She confirms with a genuinely friendly smile. And after a moment, she adds almost as an afterthought. Somehow this feels more appropriate now after what had happened.]

By the way, my real name's Ayumu. Yumi's just another name I go by sometimes.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora takes a step in the picked direction but stops and turns to Ayumu with a slightly surprised expression.]

Really? Oh!

[Then he smiles softly. There's no judgement from Sora.]

Yumi is still really cute for a nickname. Can I keep calling you that?

[kagenonadeshiko]

[The lack of judgment is a relief and it's visible on her face. Hiding her true name and occupation from friends and allies isn't something she does out of malice or ill will. It's habit born out of survival and self-preservation. Such is the fate of someone raised to be a spy from birth. Her own smile softens at his request; it's not entirely unexpected. It'd be kind of weird if he started calling her 'Ayumu' after all this time. With Axel, it'd been different; she'd spent very little time with him as 'Yumi' before making the transition.]

Sure.

[She really doesn't mind. She wouldn't use the name as an alias if she didn't like how it sounded.]

But only if I get to call you by a nickname, too, Sunshine.

[It's what Sora is to her after all. A ray of sunshine in an otherwise dark landscape.]

[oathkeeper]

[No judgement at all. People had their own reasons for everything and who was Sora to judge on which name she picks to use and give people? Ayumu is Ayumu no matter what name he calls her.

He grins brightly.] Sunshine? Heh, I like that. But only you can call me that, okay?

[He's got a reputation of being a tough guy to uphold after all. not

The trees start to part and soon there's more sunlight filtering through the tops. They'll be out soon. Which is good, he feels tired and he's sure that Ayumu is too. He watches her with a little bit of concern. For some reason he still feels really drawn to her like he wants to protect her.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

'Kay. I'll make sure I'm the only one who does.

[Possibly with a thwap with a washcloth or tossed vegetable at the offender. Ayumu's all to happy to help protect Sora's honor. That's what a good shinobi does, after all - protect the honor of other by doing the necessary things that would stain or shame them.]

It sure is good to see the sun again. Who would have expected a forest could get that dark?

[She is tired and hurting still but on the surface she seems her usual, cheerful self who's quick to smile and tease others.]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora lifts his face to the sun. The warmth and energy from it feels amazing.]

Feels like I haven't felt the sun in years and years.

[He lets out a small breath and then turns to her.]

Yumi... Thank you. For helping me out back there. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't there for me. We should get you home.

[kagenonadeshiko]

You're welcome, Sunshine. That's what friends are for.

[She softens, reaching over to fondly ruffle his hair. Sora really is a good person, she thinks. One of the few she's confident in labelling as such. And it's good to be reminded that she's not alone and not everyone in what little ragtag family she's found here is lost.]

You should get some rest, too. We can always meet up and have cookies together another time. I'm not sure what I have in my pantry right now...