⛧ Aʟʟᴇɴ "ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴘʀɪᴇsᴛ" Wᴀʟᴋᴇʀ ★ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
likethelight) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thenearshore2017-02-26 10:31 pm
likethelight) wrote in thenearshore2017-02-26 10:31 pm
[closed] We'll finish what we started
Who: Allen Walker (Archangel Michael) and Lux Crownguard
Where: Various!
When: June 19th and onward
Summary: Catch-all! Lux and Allen begin taking on prayers and throwing themselves headlong into it like the workaholic worldsavers that they are who would rather be distracted with the problems of other people than their own. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE PAINFULLY SAD AND CUTE THINGS BOTH, TBH. Also tl;dr.
Individual threads for prayers to go below!
Where: Various!
When: June 19th and onward
Summary: Catch-all! Lux and Allen begin taking on prayers and throwing themselves headlong into it like the workaholic worldsavers that they are who would rather be distracted with the problems of other people than their own. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE PAINFULLY SAD AND CUTE THINGS BOTH, TBH. Also tl;dr.
Individual threads for prayers to go below!
Prayer #02 - strength and guidance
This is the fourth time my mother's been in the hospital. The bills keep getting bigger. I don't know what to do! I need the strength to get through this. Please... help me...
The prayer card it's written on—faintly luminescent gold ink—is cradled lightly in his gloved hands. (What's funny perhaps is the knowing of it before he even saw the card or had to read it. Kind of weird...) As for what he's supposed to do with it, well—
"It'll probably be alright," is what he would tell Lux with the most blasé kind of smile. He has a feeling of what to do. (She should probably be worried.) Before taking her hand because hup, here they go—
—to wink out of one plane of existence (the small church that, well, Allen guessed was home... again?) and alight lightly in the next. A compact Tokyo studio. Cluttered. Messy. Not from personal belongings being strewn around but from, well... papers. Piles and piles of papers.
Bills.
(Would Allen look a little green when he picks up one and realizes what it is? Yes. Yes he does.)
But there's a man slumped against his desk, middle-aged, a hand raked through his messy black hair that's probably got more than a few gray hairs by now. He seems distraught, wholly unaware of their presence still, and Allen turns to look to Lux then with a more sobered expression then, raising a finger to his lips.
Ah, it's him then. ]
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(Or possibly very strategically-placed advertising by a rather industrious little shinki.)
But how the prayer came in was of little importance, but rather what they were to do about it. Even as he reassured her ("It'll probably be alright."), there was still that little bit of nervousness. This was their first time. Would it really be all right? And with a smile like that, she was hardly reassured. Did he really know what he was doing?
And so, without a chance to protest, or to outline any number of ways that this could go wrong because did they really know what they were doing, he took her hand and—
—Suddenly appeared in a completely different place. Magic!
(The sudden disorientation from popping in and out of places was something she would need to get used to. The rush of it? She hoped that would never go away. It was kind of fun, actually...)
Looking about the modest studio, the slight blond drew her lips together in a deep frown. When he showed her the prayer, she hardly thought... Ah, this was a problem, wasn't it? Even Allen seemed to balk at it, picking up a sheet of paper and looking positively sick. Sick with sympathy?
Her eyes darting from the man slumped over her head to the god at her side, her brows slightly raised in concern.
Should we..? ]
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Allen seems torn for a moment—people do seem not to notice them, treating them more like spirits, so should they really try to force him to see them?—before looking back to Lux with a small shrug. Maybe they could look around a little first...? What if they just scared the poor man more than anything by him suddenly realizing they were there. Allen wouldn't blame him.
Or at least he'll take the brief opportunity to reach for a stack of bills and begin to thumb through them. No need to suppress a shudder even; his shoulders are squared and his expression steadied (deadpan. a little soul-dead) with the practice of someone far too used to debt consolidation. Actually, his expression clears after shuffling through a few. Oh, these aren't actually so bad...
(Read: they're awful. Allen's frame of reference is just that skewed.) ]
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Because...
He didn't... notice them? Not even then? That... oddly made sense, actually. They were dead, after all, and while they could interact with things around the Near Shore, it would seem their presences would go unnoticed.
Well, that made this easier.
Deftly dodging past piles of paperwork, she looked for something that might give her a better idea of what was going on. Some direction to take. Picking up a small stack herself, something seemed to fall out—
A photograph, of the man sitting there before them, and a much shorter, hale-looking old woman. Was this his mother? There was enough of a resemblance. He didn't appear to be nearly as gray in the picture, so maybe this was from a few years ago.
Flipping it over to the other side—
It was dated earlier that year, not six months before. But that didn't seem right, she looked perfectly healthy! Someone like that shouldn't be in and out of the hospital like this... right?
But that was something to be discussed later. At the very least, they had something of a lead in who to potentially look for and, making her way toward the exorcist, she tapped his arm before offering the photo. Here, look at this. ]
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Pausing then with his lips pressed together for a moment.
"Maybe if I just killed myself... maybe—maybe the insurance would pay for everything then... Yes, it'd be easier for everyone then..."
Alarmed—sharply alarmed—Allen's head jerks up at that. Not just because of what the man said, but..
Quite suddenly—as suddenly Allen's left eye simultaneously pitches blood red and black, even the white of it—there is a small blobular ayakashi that seems to ooze out of the man's shoulder. Sleepy and morose there, nuzzling its face against the side of his head. It's okay, just do it, no one will miss you, she's probably too sick to think of you...
That's why the god will move quite abruptly—coming up by the man's side in a sweeping rush that's softly urgent. Not to strike down the spirit, but... ]
You musn't think that—
[ As gentle as it is abrupt. Although any stare or panicked gasp from the human suddenly noticing them will be met with what's— ]
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If you do, you'll only make everyone sad.
[1/2]
She froze then, eyes wide as her gaze shot upward and toward that voice. The man at the desk, he couldn't possibly, even as daunting as this seemed, he wouldn't—
An ayakashi.
Lux didn't have to see it to know the thing was there, the amorphous black mass nestled up against the man's cheek, whispering the sort of toxic sweet-nothings that seeped into one's psyche and poisoned it at the core.
Allen moved much faster than she, with a sort of urgency and swiftness should not have gone unnoticed, yet still clearly did—
Until the Exorcist spoke. ]
[2/2]
The last six months had aged him a few years at least.
Gawking then at the white-haired man smiling at him, he blinked a few times, shaking his head as he did. Then slowly, his attention still firmly on Allen (not taking his eyes off you), groped around the desk for his glasses with one hand.
The ayakashi that rested in the crook between his head and his shoulders shifted. Not opening an eye (did it have any?), but certainly looking at the pair sideways, not nearly so drowsy now. ]
Dammit, must've fallen asleep, now I'm seeing things.
[ Still groping for his glasses. A quick glance (still got his eye on you, don't think otherwise!), once, then twice. Inching back a bit to actually grab them and put them on. Niiiice and easy.
Cynically: ]
So what are you supposed to be, my guardian angel?
[ (Wait, did he not..?)
Clearing her throat gently, Lux waved a bit with a gentle sort of smile. ]
Not quite.
[ Oh, there go the glasses again, this time on the floor, this time with an actual shout. He was so close to getting them on too. The shinki smile turned into a wince as the man gaped at her. Was that a little too much? ]
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Raising his gloved hands up and waving them a little in a quieting motion, Allen attempts to calm the man down. ]
It's okay, it's more like— [ ah ]
...that we're here to help.
[ god? who's a god. not him. you can practically see him squirm every time he struggles with trying to phrase around it ]
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By breaking and entering! How did you even get in here?!
[ You know that smile on her face? How quickly it falls, turning into something incredibly sour and altogether very uncomfortable. ]
No, we did not break in, that would be against the law!
[ Sir are you accusing her of being a criminal, because if you are...
She clears her throat abruptly, taking something of a sharp breath through her nose. Let it go, Lux. It's the ayakashi on his shoulder talking (just tell yourself that, it's fine, it's fine). ]
We're here because we received your prayer for help. You wrote to us, after all; Allen has the card with him. And only someone truly in need of help would be able to see the ad we put out.
[ You know. The one... she neglected to tell Allen about, now that she thought of it. Whoops.
Listening, the man looks between the two of them, then makes a face. ]
What are two kids supposed to do to help me? This is too much, there's no way I can see the end of this. She's going to just keep getting sicker, and the bills will keep piling up...
I don't know what happened.
[ He plops down again in his seat, which moves slightly backward, his hand once again pushing his hair back off of his forehead. ]
She was just fine, then all of a sudden... What does it even matter? There's nothing you kids can do. This is never going to get any better.
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Prayer #31 - a prayer for protection
No matter what I try, my animals are getting lured out of their pens and killed! I almost caught the thieving beast the other night, but it got away. I thought raising animals was my calling and now I'm not so sure.
And so god and shinki went and looked. And investigated. And probably gave the poor man a heart attack and had a pitchfork pointed at them at least once. To seemingly no end and no choice but to wait for nightfall and to see what creature would come and promises that they would find out and keep the ones still alive safe. (Although it would seem the man still fret because one could see the lights on in the cabin still and how he'd pull the curtains back every now and then to squint out at the pasture...) So wait for night and the attacks they would.
A very long night.
That felt a lot longer than it even was.
(It probably wasn't even quite midnight.)
Though not too long into it Allen would have taken a deck of playing cards (regular, not prayer) from his breastpocket and begun to idly shuffle them. Just to pass the time—before remembering something and turning to Lux to ask (brightly, with his quiet sort of cheer) if she wanted to play anything. (And hurriedly suggesting something tame like Old Maid because, ah... let's not have that discussion again). For a while at least.
But by now, even the card game's been set aside. No predatory animals have shown up, no ayakashi. In fact it's been nothing but peaceful. So much so it would seem Allen has bonded quite closely with the sheep while they lie in wait...!
...given that—from his faint and even breathing—he's lightly dozed off against one.
It was cozy like a pillow.]no subject
...At least, until night fell.
After playing perhaps a few too many hands of cards, however, the blond got up and stretched, excusing herself to go check other areas of the farm—he could stay there, she would make sure that the chicken coop was secure.
And while she managed to get there and back to make sure that, yes, everything was as it should be, the shinki took her time, her attention caught up by something else entirely. The night sky.
Lingering outside perhaps a bit longer than she should, the slight blond slowly opened the barn door, slipping through quietly, none worse for wear. Well. Save for a few feathers on her uniform; she miiiight have startled some of the ladies in there by accident. Her voice barely above a whisper so as to not startle the animals. ]
Well, I didn't see any signs of a break-in, so that theory is out.
[ Silence. ]
...Al—
[ ...Oh. Stopping for a moment, the shinki sighed somewhat bemusedly. Allen, really? Somehow this felt very much (yet very much not) like him, that she shouldn't be surprised. And without so much of a pause, Lux made her way over. Slowly shrugging off the heavy uniform coat, throwing it over one arm and rolling up her sleeves at the elbows. Brushing the feathers off and then finally reaching where he was.
Pausing before sitting down herself, not too far away (hopefully his sheep friend won't mind her being nearby), the coat still draped over her arm. Her thumb idly brushed against something attached to it.
That strange badge. ]
It's so quiet out here, it's strange to think that a place like this exists.
...But there's so much that I don't understand. It's a bit—mm... I'm not sure. About any of this. Ah, I think this is going to be a long night.
[ Was she talking to him, or to herself? ]
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Well, it was hard for him to feel comfortable enough to do so. Because even out here without so much as a blanket at night waiting to basically be attacked by... whatever it was eating the animals.. it's actually really nice.
But he blinks and—bites his tongue the moment she speaks, realizing she might not be talking so much to him but, figuring him still asleep... talking to herself? ]
? [ He'll crane his head just a little towards her, but otherwise remains still and with his back to her (and holding his breath without realizing it). Because perhaps it would be ruder to say something and embarrass her to realize he was awake after all and had heard. And yet..
Not sure about any of this...? ]
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It was too quiet, and while there was something very peaceful about it, hearing animals sleeping nearby and Allen dozing quietly, she almost felt guilty with how uncomfortable it also felt. ]
I doubt this is what anyone thinks of when they think about where they go after they...
[ She hesitated with that before letting it go completely. ]
And I don't think about it, really. I'm all right with where I am. There are good people here, and enough to keep me busy, but...
[ (But...)
And if it wasn't clear that she was unaware that he was awake before, it likely was now. ]
I know who I am. But there are times when I might do or say something that make no sense, and I'm not sure why. Or when I feel like I should know something, or be able to do or say something, but it just... it's not there. And that scares me—not that I can't remember, but that there are so many things I don't know about myself. And I think...
[ She paused then, taking in a deep breath. ]
Mm, no. I can't say that. That wouldn't be fair to you.
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(Of all things—why are you worrying about that.)
Hopefully Lux isn't paying too much attention to him. As while Allen still remains perfectly still and as silent as if he were still asleep, he's far too tense to still be so. Eyes having widened with a bit of alarm at that and he does hold his breath for a moment for real now. Ah...
He knew that... something like this—everything—is an impossibly hard kind of thing for anyone. For everyone. And going through the motions and staying busy like they both had... it's easy to forget that. Because by doing that they made themselves be fine and were fine, at least on the surface (and fundamentally, sure; that's the kind of person Allen is), but..
It's still weighing on her heavily, isn't it? And hearing that still leaves a pit in his stomach too. In a way where his expression becomes a little clouded over as well; flickery. The fear of not understanding oneself, not remembering...
He should really roll over and say something. Wants to so he can say something reassuring more than anything. ...But that's a worse breech of her privacy. But isn't it worse not to say something? It isn't anything to be embarrassed about. It isn't something she should be alone dealing with. So— ]
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[ !!! ]
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It's licking his hair—you know this is kind of weird and with the reflexive urge to yelp and bolt up... he is instead frozen more in the silent terror that it's drawn too much attention to him so it's all he can do not to squirm.
This is bad timing, why!! ]
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Allen, get up, I think that—
[ That—
... ]
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(Oh gods was that sheep eating his hair?) ]
H-hey, cut that out!
[ Sheep
momstop! She crouches down, putting her hands on his shoulders and giving him a quick tug. Oh please don't be chomping away on his hair, Allen she would feel so bad if that sheep decided to take a bite in that moment. ]1/3
not that Allen had or usually has a plan of any kind. but still. ]
Ow—! [ WELL IF IT WASN'T GOING TO BEFORE IT CERTAINLY BIT DOWN ON HIS EAR WHEN LUX SPOOKED IT. ]
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Nn... [ Leveraging.. upright... this sucks... why did— ]
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Freezing and blinking for a moment just perhaps a little owlishly at realizing Lux is, well.. right there.. Allen pauses from rubbing the abused tissue and tries not to think about his hair also feels damp now. Which isn't hard as it's immediately the furthest thing from his mind, because right, before.. ]
Sorry... [ It's softer. Immediately hushed at remembering where they are and that they're supposed to be quiet. And because—
"And that scares me—not that I can't remember, but that there are so many things I don't know about myself. And I think... Mm, no. I can't say that.
"That wouldn't be fair to you."
His expression gets a little flickery. Faraway; apologetic.
Hard to pin down. ]
..I must have dozed off.
[1/3]
At best, she could make out moving figures, and what looked to be him clutching his ear.
Oh Gods, she felt terrible! She had to make sure that he was all right, but she couldn't see a thing in this state.
And so, frustrated, her off-hand swept upward, held out cupped and held in his direction as, with a flicker and a gentle flare, it filled with light. All right, that was better. ]
Allen, are you—
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cracks. knuckles.
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