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Who: Jennifer & a couple people

What: Jennifer's nora'd, and talks to a couple friends about some memories she regained

When: June 1st...I GUESS??

Where: The temples for Hijikata, Sharak, and Masaki's god

Summary: points to the 'what' section. I might add more starters for people later ehhh

[Talk Nora to Me -- Hijikata]

[She feels like she's going to have a heart attack and faint already, and she's barely crossed the threshold of his gates. She's unannounced, it's rude, she should've said something but if she'd <>said something he would've expected her. his way, if it turns out he's not home, she's free to leave. No obligation to continue! It's perfect.

Unless, of course, he is here. She feels her heart skip a beat and her stomach twist uncertainly, but she takes a deep breath and reminds herself that she's made up her mind about this. It's her decision and she's made it and darn it she's going to go through with it! Unless he tells her no.

What if he says no?? She didn't actually plan for that and while the beauty and general calm serenity of the temple goes a long way in helping her calm down, her heart still races. Jennifer both really hopes to see him, and really hopes she doesn't.]

[There's a dirty joke i could make here about roosters but for Jennifer's sake i won't -- Sharak]

[The place is pretty in its simplicity, Jennifer can appreciate it. Like with Hijikata she doesn't announce her arrival beforehand, both hoping to see the other woman and hoping Sharak will be out for the day so she has an excuse to leave.

The conversation she wants to have isn't as big a deal as nora-ing (though she briefly toys with that idea too, if she's being bold today why not go the full way?), but it's still deeply personal.

And, Jennifer thinks with a sigh, not something she should be sharing anyhow. Sharak isn't her god, there's no reason for her to care, but in the brief time spent with her, Jennifer's grown fond of her. She wants to continue the meditation thing, it's helped!, and it offers her another excuse if she can't get her nerve up.

Ugh. She takes a breath and glances around, hoping (sort of) to catch sight of Sharak and make her presence known if Sharak doesn't already somehow know she's there.]

[Muffled 'Welcome To The Jungle' playing in the background -- Masaki, maybe Dio??]

[Unlike her previous adventures, Jennifer feels more confident about speaking to Masaki. They were closer friends, she thinks, of a sort, both being shinki and all. That makes them more equals, and therefore Jennifer more comfortable.

Also unlike her previous adventures, she feels she's reached a point where she has to reach out first to make her intentions to drop in known. Not so much out of politeness (though it is partly that, since it's Masaki's god's temple, not her own) but because Jennifer has shown up and gotten horribly turned around in the weird jungle.

So she pull out her phone to slowly send a text]

Masaki? I came by your god's temple to see you. But I think I may have gotten lost. I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience. I should have said something beforehand, but I suppose I wanted it to be a little bit of a surprise? I'm sorry.

[Help. :(]

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[Jennifer feels a flutter of nervous energy again, but she quickly nods]

If you don't mind. Before I second-guess myself too much and lose my nerve.

[But there's a small smile as she says it; it's a joke, of a sort, because there's no way she's going to back down now. She wants to hold onto the righteous anger from that regained memory and use it as fuel-- to never become a person capable of losing someone close to her again]

[Hijikata nods, and rises to his feet. He doesn't gesture for Jennifer to do the same.]

Then let's begin.

[The only other time he's done this was for Souji, but his voice and posture are impeccably confident as he raises his hand, light beginning to glow from it as he focuses his power into the incantation. Some parts of it sound a little odd for a nora, but... so long as it works, it works.]

Thou, with nowhere to go and no place to return to -- I grant to thee a place to belong. My name is Hachiman.

[The light begins to focus around Jennifer, and with his fingertips, he draws four smooth strokes that hang suspended in the air - 仁 ]

Bearing a posthumous name, thou shalt remain here. With this name, I make thee my servant. Granting this name, I use my life to make thee my shinki.

[He flicks his hand towards her, sending the kanji off to find the place on her body where it will belong.]

Thou art Jin. Come, Jinki!

[She sits up a little straighter, if such a thing is possible, watching him with rapt attention. This was really happening. There's a thrill of excitement-- this was really happening. She might be in so much trouble later, if--when--Schuldig finds out. How would she explain this to him?

But it was too late to take back now, and she wouldn't anyhow.

The kanji settling on her chest, over her heart in a way Jennifer feels might be symbolic if she thinks too hard on it. She feels her form changing too and holds still.

In Jennifer's place is now what's certainly some mix of a wolf and a Labrador, fairly large and intimidating looking in size, but-- Her ears go back and her tail tucks in close as she takes in her new form; there's a sort of whining yip before she thinks to use the telepathy inherent between shinki and god.]

'I thought I'd turn into something useful...I'm sorry.'

[In the moment before she changes, Hijikata's eyes go wide, the memory of Jennifer's death flashing vividly through his mind. The strange man lumbering toward her on all fours, the desperate escape to the yard, the oppressive cold of the rain, the guilt-grief-nausea heavy in her stomach, the young girl in boys' clothing -- because you wouldn't love me, because you were so stubborn -- the gun...]

[I'm sorry, Joshua. Please forgive me.]

[The pain of the bullet, numbed by the shock of it. Fading out, bleeding on the sodden earth, surrounded by the dead. (Well, wasn't that familiar?)]

[By the time Jennifer "speaks" to him, though, he's more or less recovered from the vision. He sits down again, and holds his hand out towards her carefully.]

What's wrong with this form? Come here.

[If she does, he'll scratch behind her ears, cautiously, as if he's not quite used to petting animals or sure how she'll react.]

[Jennifer doesn't move a second, less because she's worried and more because she has to figure out walking on all fours. as it turns out she needn't worry, since it seems to come instinctively, and she quietly moves over to him.

The scratching at her ears is surprising, and a tad embarrassing, but she sits down and her tail begins to wag despite herself.]

'You can't exactly swing me at the ayakashi or anything... I suppose I can still attack them, though.' [So not all is lost, but, still.] 'This form is really alright? I won't be upset if you want to revoke my name.' [Okay yeah she will, a little, but it'd be because she'd just be disappointed in herself, not with him]

Souji is a sword as Baiki, so I have a weapon I can hold in my hands. Anyway, you have teeth, and claws. I'm sure if I need you to defend me, you'll do fine.

[He's very attentive to her reactions, edging away from any spots to scratch that seem to make her uncomfortable and lingering on ones that seem to help her relax or get her tail wagging.]

...When I was human, you know, I helped lead an army. People used to call us "wolves" all the time, or our masters' "dogs."

They meant it as an insult, of course, but maybe it's not so bad. Wolves are clever enough to work together. They're strong, and loyal, and they look after each other. I think there are worse things that they could have called me.

[Jennifer considers this for a moment, before she slowly lays down, getting comfortable. She supposes with something like that it makes sense she'd become something that would represent that. She's also glad that he's not taking it as an insult either.]

'Of all animals, I believe dogs are my favorite.' [So in all this form isn't so bad. She hesitates though and her ears go back against her skull] 'Mr. Souji... We'll have to tell him about this as well, of course...'

[And given Souji's general thoughts on nora....... Jennifer's obviously a bit concerned]

[He thinks of the dog that was there in his vision through her eyes, and finds himself completely unsurprised to hear that. It seems appropriate for her to take the form of a dog, as a protector or companion.]

[He doesn't know much about dogs, himself, but it's hard to miss the way her ears flatten back when she brings up Souji. He lays his hand down as a comforting weight on top of her head, just his fingers moving to stroke lightly through her fur.]

You're worried about that?

'Of course. He's your Exemplar, after all. If he disapproves of me, it would make things difficult for you.'

[Nevermind herself. It's like bringing home the new wife in the harem. If the first/head wife doesn't approve, the new wife is gonna have a bad time.]

'I don't want to get in the way of you two or your relationship.' [Whatever that relationship is.]

Edited 2017-01-12 03:28 (UTC)

Don't get too nervous about any of that, if you can help it. He's a brat sometimes, but he listens to me when it's important. And as far as I'm aware, he likes you fine.

At any rate, he and I could handle worse even if it did cause some problems. Our connection isn't that fragile.

[She considers this for a long moment, and then nods in acceptance.]

'I'm afraid worrying and being nervous is part of the problem with working with me. [If a dog could give a sheepish smile, Jennifer certainly is trying. She's sort of joking, at least, but...]

'Also.' [Here there's a moment of hesitation.] 'There is another reason I wanted to become a nora for you. I... remembered something. Something that made me realize I never wanted to be so... Weak-willed or cowardly again. That I needed to become stronger.'

[The tail wagging stops as she watches for a reaction]

[Hijikata shrugs a little, still petting her ears calmly.]

I said "if you can help it." If it's an unavoidable problem, we work with it.

[He glances down at her, trying not to look too worried or anything. Anything she remembered seems, from his admittedly limited experience of her memories, less than entirely pleasant.]

Do you want to tell me about it?

[For a long moment Jennifer doesn't reply. She lowers her head to rest it on Hijikata's leg, ears flat and tail thumping in a slow, thoughtful way against the floor.]

'I don't know where to begin, I'm afraid.' [The beginning, she supposes.]

'I was n a room of children, all girls. Around 10 or so, a couple a little older. There were boxes set up and chairs, like a throne. And sittng on one was a girl in a red dress. Wendy. And a little teddy bear. Joshua.' [She remembers, vaguely, the bear had a name] 'A teddy bear, but it wasn't, either... i think it was meant to represent something.'

[Oh she's getting off topic] 'Wendy came to me and gave me roses. She smiled, they all looked so pleased with themselves. One of the girls came to me. "Your friend is in the bag. It's too late now." There was a bloody bag nearby, but I'm not sure what was in it. All I know is that in it was a dear friend and that he was dead.

I knew they'd killed him.' [Jennifer goes quiet again, the grief still making her heart ache in remembrance] 'I think... I think Wendy thought it would. bring me back? I don't know. I think I'd left or was leaving and this was her trying to stop that.

I felt so sick, I wanted to scream and cry and give up, but I... hit her, instead. I attacked her. I was so angry. I yelled at her, at all of them... That I hated them, none of them were aristocrats like they'd claimed or pretended to be. And that I'd hated myself the very most, because I'd never had the strength to stand up to them.

They were afraid of me. I'd beaten their Princess, and Wendy ran away. That's where the memory ends.

[Jennifer curls up more, huffing a doggy sigh.] 'Because I'd been such a coward, I'd lost the things precious to me. My beliefs and the will to stand up for them-- I don't want to lose those ever again.'

[Hijikata doesn't react outwardly to the name Joshua, but damn, does it feel uncomfortable to hear Jennifer say. He strokes slowly, steadily through her fur, and tries not to react too much at all, but honestly, he's a little horrified.]

[Blood and revenge and obsession are nothing new to him, but what happened to set children so young on that dark a path?]

[Jennifer deserves better. Any child would, but it's somehow even more upsetting with her, because he cares about her personally.]

I don't know how likely you are to forget a thing like that.

But if you need help from me to hold on to your will, I promise to give it.

[Jennifer sits up enough to press her nose shyly to his cheek--it's easy to be more affectionate in a dog's body like this. There's an instinct to want to cuddle close and roll all over, though she refrains from being too dog-like. No need to go literally slobbering over her new master.]

'You're too kind, Mr. Hijikata. I knew I'd made a good choice.

You just saying this much is enough. I... have to learn to be stronger.' [She sits back and takes a deep breath.] 'Thank you for listening to me.' [Jennifer doesn't require much to get loyalty out of her; her heart was too big and her needs very small. A kind word, a smile, a ruffle on the head-- a dog starved of affection and craving it nonetheless. The dog form was far more fitting than she possibly realized.]

[Hijikata pats the side of her neck gently with a big, broad hand. Her nose is colder and wetter than he quite expected, but the gesture is... sweet?]

Remembering why you want to be stronger is a good first step.

Edited 2017-01-15 05:18 (UTC)

[Jennifer nods in understanding, then cocks her head, looking around. Everything is a little sharper now for her, so it's interesting to pick up on all the new smells and sounds.]

'Should we tell Mr. Souji soon...?' [She assumes the other shinki is hanging around somewhere. Schuldig will also find out sooner or later, unfortunately. She should probably tell him while he's still in this weirdly good mood of his, she reasons.]

[Briefly, he finds himself wondering if she can smell that Souji's around.]

We can. I can call for him, he's around here somewhere.

[She's quiet for a moment, body tense with momentarily hesitance and uncertainty. But then she nods and exhales slowly to relax.]

'Yes. I think that would be best. The sooner the better.'

[Hijikata nods, then scoots back from her a few inches so she's not quite as on top of him.]

I assume you'll want to be able to talk when he gets here, so... Return, Jennifer.

[With her shinki form released, he picks up his phone and sends a text message to Souji: There's something I need to discuss with you. Come to the kitchen when you get this.]

[It's a little disorienting to go from one living thing to another, and for a moment Jennifer sits on hands and knees, collecting herself, before she slowly sits back.

Her hands fold in her lap, posture prim and proper. She says nothing--not sure what there is to say--but the way her hands clench together (and their new bond) belies her nervousness.]

[While they've been talking, the water for the tea has had more than enough time to boil. Hijikata gets up in silence, fills the basket of a small ceramic teapot with loose leaves, and waits a few moments to pour the water on.]

Is green tea alright with you?

[He's not big on small talk, but... they've got a few moments to pass, and complete silence is more awkward.]

[Jennifer starts a little in surprise, staring wide-eyed at Hijikata a moment before her expression turns sheepish and she nods. She'd been focusing so hard on other things that she hadn't been paying a lick of attention to him moving around and his voice had startled her]

Oh. Yes, that's fine. Um-- Shouldn't I be...? [The one serving? or something?? She sits up a little more, clearly prepared to rise and rush over to start helping or something]

[Since Souji was just in the garden, feeding the ducks, it doesn't take him that long to poke his head into the kitchen. He looks a bit puzzled, since among the words you might use to describe Hijikata's usual mode of communication, 'vague' is normally not even a contender.

The confusion only deepens further when he sees Jennifer, and it's pretty blatantly obvious from the look on his face. He nonetheless smiles warmly at her before turning to Hijikata, an attentive look on his face.]

You wanted me, Hijikata-sama?

I've got it. Next time you come here, you won't be a guest, but I invited you in here as one.

[So let him show a little bit of hospitality, Jennifer, gosh!]

[He's just finished pouring the tea when Souji comes in. Before even speaking, he presses a cup into his hands, then gives Jennifer hers, then takes his own and sits down.]

I did.

Jennifer, did you want to begin, or should I?

[closed]

how dare u i am so offended.... gosh.....

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ugh I'm so late, sorry

<3

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