thenearshore | [open] the anthem of a bird with a broken wing

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[open] the anthem of a bird with a broken wing

Who: Shun and you!
What: Dragging people out of the spooky dark forest, having Vulture Problems again, and investigating the weird sun-blocking stingray while coming under its effects himself.
When: June 3-4
Where: The spooky dark forest, Nekhbet's temple, affected parts of the Near Shore.
Warnings: Probably some vague PTSD-related stuff in the first prompt, but nothing too serious. Third has more on that front with the potential to get darker given the effects of the stingray ayakashi.

[A: June 3rd, Morning, Far Shore Forest]

[It's been a little while since the dark forest has started appearing, and though Shun's definitely taken brief strolls through it when he's run across it - because whenever he's actively intended to patrol the place, he can never find the damn thing - today's the first time he's doing more than that. It's the fireflies that lead him there first, though he lets them vanish into the far distance once they cross the borders of the woods, and for once, he hasn't been sidetracked into the place when he's had something else he's needed to do or hasn't been in the state to risk staying. He'd been paying for his stubbornness at the festival for about the whole week beyond it, after all.

So it is that he ends up walking purposefully through the trees, head turning at each distant scream or moan that filters through them. It takes everything he has to ignore the urge to run after them, to try and find a source, but constantly reminding himself that it's a lure, like the fireflies and like the nature of the forest itself, gives him something to focus on and minimise the desire to fall into a very obvious trap. Filtering out the distant screams helps for more than one reason, the sound threatening to blur into ones much more familiar to him, but it also means his focus is a little skewed, and when he hears a noise much closer in the trees, his reaction is sharp and immediate as he leaps up into the branches of a nearby tree to check what it might've been.

He can't actually see through the dense foliage to the place he heard the sound, but the sound of any other approach is something much easier for him to notice now, as well as the sight of anyone else roaming the forest. And it is true he's here to patrol, so this scope reminds him of what else he could be doing in this situation, even if it could also find him someone to help track down that stranger noise. Whether one approaches Shun as he's perched in the trees or is approached by him as he winds quickly and skilfully through the branches, his question to whoever he encounters will be the same.]

Did those fireflies lead you in here, or are you here for something else? [He could just ask if people are lost, but maybe this way people who actually are lost won't deny it.]

--

[B: June 3rd, Afternoon, Nekhbet's Temple]

[Anyone in the vicinity of the oddly-shaped, buried-in-a-hill temple that is Nekhbet's might find themselves victim to drive-by vultures, whether in the form of sharp rushes of wind as the large birds swoop excitedly down over people, or wings to the face as a few of them get a little too careless with that enthusiasm. Any amount of investigation will turn up a large crowd of vultures sitting on the hilly "roof" of the temple's ground floor, all tilting their heads curiously and ruffling feathers as Shun picks through the wings of one of them, his grip as gentle as it can be while still being firm as the bird worms around in his hands. Despite being the god of this temple, even he's considered it unwise to go into this particular situation without thick gloves to stop any potential attacks on his hands, and given the pair of tweezers he's angling into one wing, it's probably warranted.]

Hold still. [The remark is more one of open frustration than actually directed at the bird, but it does stop wriggling for at least a moment, and Shun takes the opportunity to get hold of what he's been aiming for. With a sharp tweak, he pulls a narrow thorn out of the bird's wing, casting it aside before smoothing the feathers down and picking through the rest of them. Apparently satisfied, he lets the bird go, and it hops around in front of him in what appears to be some kind of aggressive display for a moment...before it hops into his lap and sits there instead, fluffing its wings importantly.

Shun sighs like he's about to make some derisive comment, but it's interrupted by his notice of anyone approaching, and as his sharp golden eyes look up to scan the newcomer, all of the vultures gathered around him turn to stare intently at them as well, even the one in Shun's lap.

Congratulations, you now have the attention of about two dozen questionably friendly vultures. And a questionably friendly falcon, though much less questionable to people who actually know him.]

If you came to watch that mess, you'll have to wait until another one of them is stupid enough to dive through a rose bush.

--

[C: June 4th, Morning, Near Shore]

[Normally Shun would be doing some training with his powers at this time of day when he has another training commitment in the afternoon, but the weird shadows he's been seeing over patches of sky in the course of his job and general wandering on the Near Shore are getting frustrating enough that he can't put off finding out what it is any longer. It's almost a relief when he gets to the next affected area and the stingray-like thing blotting out the sun is so ludicrously obvious he almost can't believe nobody from the Near Shore has noticed it, but on the other hand, the people below are listless in a manner he's only rarely seen before. The thought puts an unsettled edge to his bearing even as he passes into the shadowed area, and it only gets worse as he questions some of the people beneath it in no more than curt, quick interrogations.

Losses becoming raw once again, as if they'd only happened yesterday. Depressive behaviour thought shed coming back, the listlessness leaving some wondering if there had really been a point to trying to move on. It's different from some, the same from others, but the words weigh down on him in a manner that he knows is unnatural as soon as he notices the effect, and though he knows immediately that he needs to get out of this area, the thought seems to slip from his mind almost as soon as he makes it, replaced with a cloying catatonia. For someone as alert and aware by nature, by necessity as he's been for a long time now, it's an unbearable inebriation, and despite himself, he feels his heart beating faster as he realises that with the size of the creature and the state he's in, he may not be able to escape the area, or at least not for a while. Trying to reach for his godly teleportation ability only nets him a thick fog of twisted thoughts, everything he's had reason to doubt or fear in the last two years tangled into a confusing, impenetrable mess with the excess he'd willingly picked up from the people here settled in over it, and the feeling drives him back to the darkest shadowed areas as the stingray keeps circling overhead, apparently happy in these skies for the moment.

Anyone else in the area may, from a distance, mistake him for an observer, with his slow, seemingly measured steps and his head tilted up towards the ayakashi. However, on closer inspection, his eyes are unfocused and unsettled, his movements short and jagged as he takes another few paces that are clearly taking far more effort than they ever should, towards the edge of the shadow that seems impossibly far in the distance right now. And, perhaps most tellingly for some, his reactions are seriously delayed, his attention snapping to whoever comes near a few metres later than he usually notices an approach, along with a slight recoil as if to prepare for a fight in the moment it takes for him to identify who it is.]

Why are you here? [Right now, the details of just about anything are hard to grasp, including why others from the Far Shore might be in this area. As soon as he pushes one intrusive thought aside, another one pushes through instead, leaving him sifting through things hard enough to live through once with a strained grimace on his face that says he’s going to have trouble doing it alone much longer.]

--

[D: Wildcard]

[[Have another idea? Feel free to poke me for plotting!]]

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Tch- teleporting is great, but you gods depend on it way too much.

[Although Yukine is grumbling, he is also looking around him. Even he can tell that Kurosaki-sama is at his wit's end from the effect of the ayakashi, so he needs to get him out quickly.

... or rather than get him out, just move the shadow?

Looking up, he sizes up the ayakashi again. It's still moving in the idle circles he'd noticed before. If it moves that way a bit more, and if he sent a borderline to shift its course a bit-

Not pausing to consider other outcomes, like the ayakashi getting mad at having a borderline shot at it and attacking back, Yukine stops walking and makes a broad gesture towards the sky, his borderline flashing quickly into the distant sky.

The stingray-like thing flinches and a deep rumble fills his ears. Yukine crouches down, one arm ready to attack and the other hand clutched at his chest against the feeling that he wants to just curl up in a ball, start crying, and never move again--

And then the sun is shining down on them.

Trembling, Yukine lowers his arm and concentrates on just breathing for a long moment.
After scrubbing at his eyes with the heels of his palms he glances over to Kurosaki-sama.
Is he okay after that last... whatever it was?]

I only use it when I have no other choice, so I don't want to know what your standards for "depending on it" are.

[It's not much of a situation for sniping and Shun knows that, but he's so frustrated with his lack of ability to do much of anything in this situation that it slips out regardless. Still, if Yukine's about to do something about it, he's definitely not going to stop him, and he watches the borderline flash up into the sky with what focus he can muster.

He has about enough time to admit to himself that it's a creative and effective use of the power before the beast twitches slightly, and he moves into a stance that will let him evade if it attacks back - except it does absolutely nothing against that bellowing rumble, and some of the thoughts he's been trying hardest to keep in check break through to the surface in the wake of it.

It's the screaming he hears first, that and the laughter that always comes with it, the sounds he can't erase that surface in his lowest moments and remind him of those first days, of the numbers that had been lost. But it's twisted up with a sudden flood of guilt and anguish that he thought he'd pulled through, the realisation that he'd left so many of his comrades to die seeming to come raw all over again in the midst of a storm of overpowering negative emotions, and before he knows it, he's crouched as well, instinct pushing him lower so he doesn't risk dropping if his legs give way entirely.

It's a few moments later that he realises his eyes are closed and that the feeling has ebbed, and the sudden bright light when Shun opens his eyes makes him hiss a little and blink a few times to ease the adjustment. It takes him another moment longer than it probably should to realise his hands are over his ears, but it's another long few seconds before he removes them.

The stingray is gone, he can see when he looks up, but the hands don't drop until the last strains of resurfaced suffering die away from his ears. It doesn't help, but it's somewhat of a habit by now.

With a long breath out, he straightens up, trying to look more composed than he is. He doesn't want questions, least of all when he can still feel the traces of guilt and upset he can't quite wipe from his expression.

The excuse he finds to avoid looking directly at Yukine for the moment comes quickly, when he turns to survey the rest of the area the shadow had covered.]

If any of the humans heard that as well, they might be even worse off. [His tone is as controlled as ever, giving nothing away, except perhaps some weariness.]

[Okay, so the god looks like shit, but it's on to business as usual for him. Got it.
He follows his gaze to look over the humans. Some are getting up from having been crouched down like they had been. Some are simply looking dazed. But over-all, the absence of the ayakashi seems to be doing them all good.]

So long as... so long as none of them make any sudden movements towards the road or the river, they'll probably be fine.

[The grassy stretch along the river gives them a clear view, at least. And there is a fence and a steep hill between the greenbelt and the road running along it. It'll be fine...
But he wants to hang around a bit longer just to make sure.]

Tch. It sucks letting that thing go. It's just making trouble somewhere else now.

[After that, Shun's definitely not leaving the area anytime soon, at least until the remaining humans clear out and he can be sure none of them are going to suffer ill effects from that attack. Or as sure as he can be without trying to follow them all home individually. Though he doesn't usually take to staying in one place well, he accepts it surprisingly easily this time, leaning up against a wall and watching the downed humans recover from the gloom. It also gives him the chance to school his expression back to something more neutral, even if it's more slowly than he'd like, and let the inebriation and the lingering surface feelings of guilt drain off.

Though he didn't think the first comment from Yukine really warranted an answer beyond his action to remain, the second is one that while he might agree with, they can't do much about now, so he lifts a shoulder slightly in indifference.]

Neither of us came prepared to defeat it in the first place. We would've had to let it go for at least enough time to find our partners, and it might've moved on in that time anyway. It's annoying, but it doesn't make much difference to what would've happened anyway.

I know.

[He knows, and he doesn't need this guy to tell him. Yukine sticks his hands in his pockets and irritably fingers his cell phone. Even with this, Yato isn't always by his side.
It's 'annoying', in more ways than one, that's for sure.

Breathing out a heavy breath, Yukine asks,]

So what were you doing under the shadow, anyway?

[He's stuck with the guy until the people forget the ayakashi- while it shouldn't take long, it'd be dumb to just stand here silently the whole time.]

[If it had been any other remark, Shun might've asked why he said it in the first place if he already knew that logic, but in this one, he can kind of understand. He'd probably be more frustrated himself if he wasn't still preoccupied with other thoughts, but as it is right now, maybe it's better his focus is elsewhere (well, "better" to a certain value of the term).

When it comes to the topic of why he was under the shadow, Shun doesn't hesitate to answer, since he doesn't consider it a bad reason to have gotten into this situation. Though he's still looking with crossed arms in the direction of the just-affected people, it's not hard to hear his explanation.]

I was talking to the people underneath, trying to work out the effect in more detail. The thing's not actively attacking anyone, and I can't ask people it's passed over because they would've forgotten about it already, so to figure out what the hell it's actually doing, it seemed like the most straightforward option. But I'll admit I didn't expect it to affect me that heavily. That was an oversight.

[That is actually a pretty good reason.
Well, even after only one conversation he already knows that Kurosaki-sama is smart that way. It just so happens the guy's personality kinda irks him so he forgets about it.

But they did agree to work together in the end last time, not to mention he just saw the guy looking really horrible, so Yukine reaches for his senpai chill.]

Don't worry too much about it. You couldn't have known. ... [You definitely could have done better though.] ... You'll do better next time.

[Oddly enough, it's the lighter remarks that seem to bother Shun more of those three, and while he's at least not bristling, he throws Yukine a sidelong glance as if to say he knows what he's doing.]

Obviously. If you're saying that just for the sake of pity, don't bother. It doesn't mean anything.

[While he's not quite acidic about that, his tone is firm and definitely not impressed. He's been bad enough about accepting pity from even the people he considers friends here, so getting a remark from Yukine which sounds to him more like an attempt to make him feel better irks him more than it should.]

Nope. Just said it as a statement of fact. I already know you don't go for that 'being vaguely nice like a human-being' crap.

[Not that Kurosaki-sama had put it like that, but that's what he'd been basically going for with that whole 'apologies are a waste of breath' and 'telling people they're in the way is totally the only way to do it' thing.]

[That's not even taken as an insult by Shun - quite the contrary, actually, because his reaction is a faint snort that might be of amusement. It's rather dry either way.]

You'd be surprised how many people don't realise that. [By this point, he's starting to lose count of the people who've decided he's "nice" without knowing any more about him than the barest of details. Admittedly, the one person who does know more still thinks that, but Shun still has his doubts about being called that regardless, especially by people who don't have that information.]

[Yukine is surprised at the hint of amusement, dry though it may be.
The guy is actually good with being dug at like that.
Huh.]

Nope, I get it.

So you'll probably just take it if I'm not nice right back and say 'why do you need to know what the ayakashi is doing, it's an ayakashi and you should just kill it, dumbass.'

[On one hand, the insult doesn't draw any specific reaction, because Shun's more than used to minor insults being slung at him by his enemies by this point. Getting distracted by rising to them is just letting them play you. On the other hand, the statement in general gets Yukine a sour, sidelong stare.]

Because attacking it went so well for you just now. My shinki isn't a standard weapon, so to fight something like that, I'd need to get creative. Knowing what effects I should be looking out for and what it might try to defend itself with is information worth trying to get, especially since I don't have my shinki with me right now anyway.

[Again, a smart (smart-ass) answer from the god.]

Right, right.

By the way, I wasn't attacking it. I was making it move. You're welcome.

And you did that by basically shooting a projectile at it. [The general gist there is that it can be both an attack and making it move, because Shun really doesn't think those are mutually exclusive.

Yukine's last remark gets a dismissive snort, though, because this feels like a conversation they've had before.]

If you need words to figure out someone pulled out of a bad situation might appreciate it, that's your problem, not mine.

[Sure is familiar.]

Nah, it's fine. I figured you'd appreciate it. That's why I'm saying "you're welcome". 'Cause you aren't going to say 'thanks', but you will say a bunch of words about not saying that word.

[While Shun could probably attempt to argue that, he's not going to on this occasion, merely dismissing it with another noncommittal sound. He supposes it's less annoying than people getting shirty about him turning down the sentiment, at least.]

That's because I'm optimistic enough to think people might actually listen to those words the once and save me from having to repeat them.

[Good call, Shun. Arguing with teenagers is a pain.]

[Yukine looks over at the man with a grin that’s actually becoming closer to an honest smile.]

You don’t look like the optimistic type.

[That grin gets an eying from Shun like he isn't sure about its sincerity, or more like he's just used to that sort of thing having an ulterior motive, but eventually he just shakes his head slightly.]

I'd call myself a realist. Most other people prefer some variation of "paranoid".

The same people who didn't realize that you don't go for 'being nice'?

[A small part of him is honestly curious, but mostly he's just wondering how far this can go.]

Most people like that would probably think that's too rude, or whatever other stupid thing. It's the ones who act nice themselves who insist that I must be "nice" as well.

[His tone says that he's really just frustrated with that whole angle of things. Particularly the ones who won't take him not being nice for an answer.]

How dare those nice people put their expectations for niceness on you.

[Said with a healthy helping of sarcasm.
Because it is rude, and 'most' people probably aren't wrong.

He looks over at Kurosaki-sama thoughtfully for a moment, although he's reflecting upon himself. He was ...pretty rude at the start. Especially to Hiyori. So it's not like he can say much.
Yukine then turns his gaze up at the sky. He kind of wonders what would happen to Kurosaki-sama to change his mind, the way the ablution changed him.]

Well, whatever. If you really don't mind people thinking you're a rude, paranoid asshole, then you'll just keep on doing whatever you want.

They're setting themselves up for disappointment. That's not my concern.

[The sarcasm isn't missed, but Shun just answers flatly, as if it doesn't bother him at all. His attitude isn't something that's going to just change with a snap of fingers, and the fact is that overall, he really isn't as nice a person as some people want to pretend he is. Or at least, that's his opinion on the matter.

Likewise, the reaction to Yukine straight-up calling him an asshole is basically none at all - he'd probably be less annoyed by people assuming that instead of assuming nice, honestly. With a slight shrug, he glances up to the sky for a moment, following Yukine's gaze until he simply looks back down to the still-straggling leftover civilians.]

I'm not going to pretend to be something I'm not for someone else's benefit. If that bothers them, they don't have to be around me.

[Geh- this guy’s attitude about himself was really annoying somehow. He really doesn’t mind being hated, does he. That’s just weird. And kinda sad. And maybe a tiny bit admirable that he’d act true to himself, no matter what others thought. But mostly annoying. Even though Yukine couldn’t put his finger on what about it annoyed him so much.]

Whatever you say, Kurosaki-sama.
You irk the hell outta me, but I guess I have a thick skin because of my moronic god.

[Doesn't mind being hated, perhaps. Is very used to being hated, definitely. It's still a little bit strange each time he meets someone new here who doesn't react to him with that subtle fear or attempts at derision or the other things he so often got back home.

Given Shun's met Yato, though, he can definitely see where Yukine's coming from with that, and he gives one of those faintly amused snorts that are the only show he ever seems to make of amusement.]

Dealing with him, I can see why you'd need one.

[That low-key amused snort just makes Yukine wonder what the guy would look like full-out laughing. --He actually has to fight down an out-of-context grin at the mental image.
Instead, he goes for an irritated sigh.]

Right? Did you ever end up meeting him again? Anyway, just once is plenty enough to get it. You'd not believe what he's like to live with.

[open] the anthem of a bird with a broken wing

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more specific warning for ptsd flashbacks/recollections on this tag

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