thenearshore | [closed]

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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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[The shrine is peaceful -- a modest complex of low, old-fashioned buildings surrounded by lush gardens, nestled up in the hills near the sea. There's only Hijikata, Souji, and a bunch of ducklings, so even with the occasional visitors coming and going -- their students at the dojo, or Ayumu coming to spend time with them, or the friends they've made on the Far Shore -- it's usually rather quiet.]

[Fortunately and/or unfortunately for Jennifer, it doesn't take long for her presence to get Hijikata's attention. He's out in the front garden, just strolling around and having a smoke, when he spots her and comes over.]

Jennifer. It's good to see you.

[He doesn't go so far as to smile, but Hijikata isn't the sort to waste that sort of pleasantry on people if he isn't actually happy to see them.]

Mr. Hijikata. [It's said on an exhale, like a sigh-- she's pleased to see him, but also terrified. The anxiety might show in the way she twists her fingers together and shifts her weight, watching him.]

It's good to see you as well. I, uh, I was hoping to find you. [Obviously, since she came to him. She feels her face grow warm with color.]

... I'm sorry. It took almost all the courage I had to bring myself here...

[He definitely notices that she seems on edge -- you don't survive years of people with swords trying to kill you without a decent eye for when someone seems unusually tense. But, well, this is Jennifer. She's a little bit on the jumpy side at the best of times.]

[Why, he wonders, would it take all her courage to bring her here? He doesn't like the sound of that, in the same way that he doesn't like the sound of a lot of things that happen to Jennifer, but he keeps his disposition as calm as he can in spite of it.]

What's going on?

[Straight to the point. Hijikata's never been one for excessive word-mincing.]

It's nothing bad. [She's quick to reassure him, but then she hesitates and looks uncertain.] Well, I suppose, depending on how you look at it...

[But why are you here, Jennifer. She's stalling, she knows. In her head she had a little speech prepared, explaining her rationale and what brought her to this conclusion and all, but as she struggles to figure out where to begin, what comes out is a blurted:]

I want to become a nora to you.

[Nailed it.

She claps her hands over her mouth immediately with a gasp, eyes wide. She stands completely frozen, waiting on a response]

[So it's gotten bad enough with her god to come to this.]

[Hijikata glances around, though of course they're alone -- he knows Souji is busy right now, and otherwise, there's no one around. Then he nods towards the residential building, because even if they're alone, it somehow feels more private than being outside in the gardens.]

Come inside and have some tea, and you can tell me why you've decided that.

[It's not a "no", and it's not likely to become one, but he does want to be sure that she's as sure as she needs to be.]

[It's not a no, she tells herself, but it's not a yes either. Somehow the idea of having to explain herself is more daunting than asking to be a nora to begin with.

She almost tells him to forget about it, forget she ever asked, she's going to run away and hide and they can forget this ever happened. Wouldn't it be easier that way?

...Easier, sure, but it would make everything she did a waste. She thinks of the memory she's recently regained and takes a breath, lowering her arms to her side.] I... Alright. [She'll follow him to wherever the tea is, hands clasped firmly in front of her as she tries to figure out how to sort her feelings into words.]

This isn't a sudden decision. [She feels it's important to explain that, first.] I've been thinking about it since we last spoke, really...

[He leads her inside, nudging his shoes off on the veranda. The weather's started to heat up, so half of the walls -- all the movable shouji type common in old houses and temples -- are slid open to let the breeze blow through, revealing pleasant views of the garden at every turn. Hijikata walks into what appears to be the kitchen, picks up a tea kettle and puts it over a little cooking fire left over from breakfast, then waves Jennifer towards a cushion to sit on and settles down cross-legged on the floor to listen.]

How have things been since then?

[Dio wasn't used to uninvited guests, but he also wasn't quite as paranoid as he once was, thanks to Masaki also living with him. No doubt she'd made some friends who might want to visit her!

This visitor was a young girl, but boy did she seem lost. He supposed someday he should make a path through the foliage, but the getting lost part was also part of it's charm. So too was the part where he could stalk the poor girl in the form of a jaguar.

If he were more cruel, he'd jump out and scare her, but if she was Masaki's friend then he should try to avoid giving her a heart attack- if shinki could have heart attacks.

He was still as silent as a nearly 200lb cat could manage as he approached, speaking up before he could be seen.]

Looking for something?

[The barrier makes Jennifer known to Sharak before the shinki can herself. As soon as Jennifer comes near it, Sharak looks up sharply from her position on the floor, surrounded by books and papers. Ah. They have company. Well, before she goes down the hill to invite Jennifer in, she had better tidy all this up.

While Sharak is piling up papers and putting them to the side, the man of the house also notices Jennifer. The rooster runs down the hill, clucking wildly, before stopping sharply just out of kicking range (it's possible he's learned). He bats his wings and crows threateningly!

Luckily, Sharak hears all this from the temple and just rolls her eyes. Shouting from inside:] Ignore him!

Things have been fine. [It's an automatic, almost ingrained response. She's followed Hijikata's lead and removed her shoes, resting her hands on her lap as she kneels on the cushion. Her posture is picture perfect, fingers curling anxiously into her dress.]

...They have been fine, honestly. [Jennifer sighs a little.] Lately, Loki's been unusually nice and thoughtful, but even before that, I... suppose he's just been... He has high expectations. And he [Here her voice drops, as if Schuldig will somehow overhear and come swooping in] can read my mind. So working with him is a bit scary.

It's not as though he mistreats me, but I... [She doesn't know how to really explain herself.] Sometimes, I find myself wanting what I see other partnerships having. I want to be-- comfortable. I suppose that's a little selfish, I'm only a shinki and it's my duty to serve my god. [She trails off, uncertain. She doesn't feel like this is a good enough reason to nora or something.]

[The first rule of being lost is to not move. Jennifer knows this, so she doesn't bother trying to move further along the path--for a given value of 'path' here. She stares at her phone for a few seconds, as if hoping that if she stares it down a reply will come back faster.

There's movement, somewhere-- her head snaps up and she looks around, mouth opening hesitantly in preparation to call out, but Dio speaks first. She inhales sharply and squeaks, hands flying up to clutch together at the hollow of her throat.]

I- I-- [Jennifer swallows hard and turns around, searching for the source] I'm sorry, I... I'm here to see Miss Masaki?

[Was that a giant cat moving around? That wasn't what had talked to her... was it??]

[JEsus christ it's a ~~lion~~ rooster get in the van.

Well the attack rooster does it's just fairly well, because Jennifer's yelping and jumping back in alarm before she can stop to consider the fact she's being scared by a glorified chicken. Boggled, Jennifer stares, wondering what to do. Getting pecked would surely hurt but--

Oh, there's Sharak.] But-- he seems to be trying very hard! [Jennifer attempts to sort of inch around the rooster towards Sharak's voice. She's semi-concerned about hurting the rooster's pride by ignoring him]

Edited (no one saw that fail) 2017-01-06 03:23 (UTC)

[Dio approached the young girl, trying not to startle her since she'd mentioned Masaki's name. As funny as it'd be, he was at least going to try to be nice for her sake.]

Got lost? I'll help you out, then.

[That's nice of him, isn't it? Tell Masaki how cool and nice her jaguar god is.

He trudged in front of her when he'd finished, sitting down.]

You aren't far.

Edited (don't mind my repetitiveness) 2017-01-06 04:57 (UTC)

Thank you. [She responded with an automatic politeness, but it didn't stop her from staring openly and taking an uncertain step back when he came nearer.

Maybe Masaki's god had random talking-- leopard? Things??- around his temple. Jennifer has no idea what kind of big cat this is other than 'not tiger' and 'not lion' (and certainly not bear, oh my!) and hopefully 'not interested in eating blonde british girls.' Or maybe it was Masaki's god? She supposes with the different worlds and all, a world of sentient talking animals exists that had people who could become gods here.

Sure, that was plausible as anything else in her life right now.]

Are you Tezca... Tez... [Jennifer trails off, her face growing red and she fidgets, voice growing smaller in her embarrassment] Miss Masaki's god? [Nailed it.]

[Dio liked that politeness, immediately becoming somewhat endeared. Not so many people with manners like that these days, are there? Ans he could tell she came from the same country of his own birth. Of course she did.]

Tezcatlipoca, but you may call me Dio. [It was easier than his God Name for one, and it was the name he was used to. And since she was being polite, Dio felt the compulsion to do so as well, turning back into his regular, human(looking) form in order to extend a hand toward the young girl.]

A pleasure to meet you. May I ask your name?

[The rooster keeps darting back and forth, threatening Jennifer but never coming too close. He's all talk.

Sharak's at the temple entrance, on top of the hill, now anyway.] He's trying to be a pain in the ass. He won't follow you inside.

[And there's her invitation.]

[Hijikata just listens quietly, prepared to do so as long as she needs him to. As he does, he finds himself wondering...]

[How terrible would a god need to be for Jennifer to come out and say it? And no wonder she's afraid, if he can do something like that... On top of that, it's a risk to accept a nora knowing that her other god could very well use his bond with her against him, especially since her other god is someone that he doesn't like or trust in the slightest.]

[But when she trails off, he's still looking at her with a calm, gentle expression.]

It's not right or reasonable to expect loyalty where it wasn't given freely and willingly. You have your own mind and your own heart, and it's not selfish to use them in choosing your own path. It's not selfish to want your service to go to someone who works to earn your trust and respect.

[He leans down slightly, to look her in the eye from closer to her own level.]

If offering me your trust and your service is a decision you've made for yourself, it will be my honor to accept.

[Jennifer still looks a little concerned, but after moving around him and making her way up the hill without incident, she relaxes enough to greet Sharak with a shy smile.]

I'm sorry for coming over unannounced. I hope I'm not interrupting something...?

Oh! [She takes a step back in her surprise, eyes wide. ?? ??? HE TURNED INTO A HUMAN? Was he always human but could turn into a cat? Was he a cat that could turn human??? What the fuck.

She doesn't respond right away, still caught up in her surprise, but manners are almost instinctive by now; Jennifer takes the offered hand and executes a curtsy automatically] Pleased to meet you, Mr. Dio. My name is Jennifer. I, ah... I'm a shinki belonging to Loki.

[The back of her left hand bears her kanji mark-- kekki, bloody--so she supposes it wasn't something she had to add when it was rather obvious. Well, whatever.

She gazes at him curiously; Masaki seemed to think favorably of him, and it was because of their partnership that she'd held very different views of the shinki/god bond than Jennifer did.]

...I'm sorry for showing up unannounced. I... It wasn't my intention to trespass.

[For a moment she simply gazes at Hijikata with an almost lost expression. How did someone say things like that so easily and mean them? her instinct is to lower her gaze and avoid his, but she forces herself to steady on and meet his eyes.

It's hard to admit things like this out loud, in so many words.] It's what I want. I've made up my mind.

[Jennifer suddenly sighs, a rush of exhaled air in relief that the weight of that confession's been lifted from her shoulders, which slump a little in response. She wants so badly to add a, 'if that's really okay' or something, but forces herself to refrain from backing down.

There's a little more behind her decision and her sudden confidence and desire to get at what she wants, but that can be discussed after she's properly nora'd. ]

[He caught onto her surprise, though it was unusual to him, after having met so many people with strange powers for someone to find him strange and unusual for what he could do alone. Now, the '6'4", flamboyant vampire' bit usually got them going.

Right now his flamboyance was dampened by how charmed he was by the young girl's impeccable politeness.]

Oh, it's not a problem, Ms. Jennifer. Masaki has a way of being particularly welcoming, so it's not terribly unexpected.

[Dio let her hand fall from his, not intending to hold her hostage. He then turned away and waved at her to coax her to follow him.]

Let's get you inside. I'm sure you didn't come to have a chat with me. [Unless she did. He doubted it but who knows what Masaki said to other people?]

Nothing significant. Just some reading.

[She wasn't getting anything too useful out of it. Sharak starts to walk back inside and nudges a pile of books under an end table a little further.]

I've got time for a break. How have you been?

Well, thank you. [Her tone is almost painfully polite and distant, though she seems to at least realize it when she blushes and shakes her head.]

Sorry, I suppose I'm nervous. But things have been-- fine. I suppose I can't complain. [She doesn't know what else to really compare it to so for her everything is going about as well as she expects it to be. Which... That isn't very reassuring either.]

I wanted to do more with the meditation, if you had the time. And... [Jennifer hesitates, wondering how to word this.] I remembered something, from when I was alive. [She continues in a bit of a rush:] I didn't really know who else to talk to about it and you seem kind and smart, so I... [She trails off, embarrassed, and suddenly wishes she could take it back]

[If it helps, Jennifer seems to live in a constant state of forgetting weird things exist; she'll be as startled the 8th time as she was the 1st. It's a problem.

She follows after him gratefully, storing the 'is he a cat or a human' question in the back of her mind (she'll ask Masaki later).]

Ah, no, not this time, I'm afraid. [Jennifer smiles lightly, albeit nervous. Don't take it personally though, she's pretty much also in a constant state of anxiety.] Miss Masaki helped me before, and I've simply been a bit too busy to follow up in talking with her. [she's quiet a moment, her gaze curious on Dio's back as they walk]

...Do you and Miss Masaki get along well?

[He didn't seem terribly disappointed to not be who she was looking for. It just meant that once she was settled in he could be on his way, prowling about his jungle once more. Maybe he could help her out once she was ready to leave, if he didn't get carried away with the idea of making a path in the underbrush.]

I certainly think so, and I hope she does as well. I care for Masaki quite a bit. [That was an understatement, but he couldn't go around speaking about their past, and so his feelings for her simply had to be downplayed.

It wouldn't be long before they happen upon his temple, the immediate look of it being perhaps somewhat intimidating, especially in how the entrance seemed rather well hidden.]

I imagine she gets along well with most people. She can be a spitfire, though. [He smiled as if she should already be in on that little 'joke', leading her under a little overhang to where there was a small mud room before the main door.]

Here we are.

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