thenearshore | [Open and Closed]

Who: Ayumu Yamazaki, Satoshi, and you!
What: Getting to know the neighbors + attempting to sell Vesta's stuff + Prayer #2
When: March 20 - 23, various times of day
Where: Takamagahara and the Near Shore
Warnings: None currently!

March 20st - Takamagahara, afternoon (Open)

[Outwardly, Ayumu seems perfectly calm as she strolls through Takamagahara. She's clad in a blue haori today, having decided that it'd be better to avoid garments that could restrict her movement outside her temple. She's largely kept to herself since her arrival, far more preoccupied with getting her new home in order and adjusting to living with a child under her roof. It's a big change and grave responsibility, one she takes quite seriously, but it's a daunting task, too. The last youth Ayumu had regular dealings with was Tetsu and he was a good five years older than Satoshi.

Adapting to such a quiet home and cooking and cleaning for two instead of a whole fighting force of rowdy men is difficult, too. She keeps making too much food and there are always leftovers and while that cuts back on the amount of meals she has to prepare, it also cuts down on the amount of time she spends doing her hobby.

Today, Ayumu's chosen to venture outside her temple for the first time since her return following the chocolate affair. She's currently going around to different temples with small plates of daifuku mochi - strawberry-filled pastries traditionally associated with spring. It'd be in her best interests to get to know her neighbors, she thinks, and get to know the layout of the area better.

Feel free to answer her polite knock on the door or intercept her in transit.]

March 21st and 22nd - The Near Shore, various shopping districts, all day (Open)

[ So far, Vesta's pantry seems very well-stocked but it's not going to last forever. With a child in her care, it's imperative that Ayumu take initiative and ward off potential financial problems well in advance.

One positive thing to come of the break in was the understanding that Vesta's temple had valuables that could be sold if Ayumu could find a buyer. But before that, she needs to find somewhere to appraise the items. And that's how she's come to find herself walking down a street of local businesses, carrying a priceless Roman urn in her arms, while she looks for a merchant or secondhand shop.

The Near Shore residents don't seem to be paying her any mind but an old-fashioned Japanese woman carrying an object that looks like it belongs in a museum might catch the eye of any Far Shore residents in the area.]

March 23rd - Near Shore, city hospital somewhere in Shikoku, morning (Closed to Satoshi; Prayer #2)

[The size and style of the hospital building are a little intimidating to Ayumu as they approach the front lobby. She may not know much about the modern world just yet but she does understand the importance of family. Having lost her own due to a strange circumstance very recently, the woman's worries about her mother's health and her ability to take care of her moved her to act on her behalf. She isn't sure what support or comfort she can give but there is solace in working, even if it's different from the type of work she's used to. It's still a job and Ayumu makes it a point to complete those to the best of her ability.

She turns to Satoshi, smiling down at him with a confidence she doesn't quite feel in this situation. The woman's concerns about being unable to support her mother through such a trying time certainly resonated with Ayumu's own doubts as to whether she's fit to take care of a child.]

Are you ready, Satoshi-kun?

[Ayumu's about to ask him if he knows his way around these types of buildings when she remembers that she'd know better than he would. ]

The lady we're looking should be with her mother right now...

[Hopefully, they won't get too lost on the way to her.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His surliness is almost comforting in a way. It reminds her a little of Hijikata in his more obstinate moments. Of course, her commander could follow up his grumpiness with merciless violence, too, but it was part of his charm and Ayumu wouldn't have had him any other way.

Ayumu's attention is diverted to one of the kittens trying to scale her leg and she gently scoops it up, holding it firmly in her lap. She scritches the kitten underneath its chin. It really is a little darling.]

Oh, you want one, too? Well, we'll have to ask your master if it's okay first.

[She glances up at the boy with a gentle smile.]

Ah, can I give him one? And oh, I didn't catch your name or the name of the god who lives here. Sorry.

[Normally, Ayumu's much more well-mannered than this but there's cute kitties distracting her.]

[All of the kittens were squirmy and curious about the new person, even Kishi, who normally just liked to sit on Hibari. He did lose interest fast, but Tenryuu hopped out of the shinki's hands to replace him.]

Sweets aren't good for kittens, don't you know that? Why would you even think of allowing that?

[It wasn't stopping from Hibari eating the treat-almost delicately-while Kishi pawed at his feet. And completely ignored the asking for names.]

They aren't?

[Ayumu blinks, flashing a regretful smile down at the kitten in her lap. She scritches the kitten again.]

Sorry, little one! Your master says no.

[She looks up to the boy, still petting the kitten.]

Ah, I didn't know! I don't know much about animals or what they should or shouldn't eat.

[Okita's the expert on cute animals, not her. She just likes them from afar.]

[Hibari stared at her annoyed, failing to mention that he too had to be told a few tips (again) about taking care of cats, but even he knew the basics that didn't seem to be a part of memory loss.]

I don't care about your supposed ignorance about cats. I just want you to do your piece and leave me alone.

[He didn't like people on his territory.]

[Is this boy rude to all of this god's guests or is it just her? If her little brother had taken this tone with her, she would have smacked that attitude right back out of him. Susumu knew better than to speak to her like that. And as rude and mouthy as Tetsu could be, he'd never turned it on her.

But as annoyed as Ayumu's getting with this unnecessary hostility, she's not about to beat a boy senseless in his own home. Her home, maybe. But not his and especially not when she's trying to make friends.

No. She can't let him get to her. She has to stay in control.]

How's the mochi? You seem to be enjoying it.

[Talk about acidic politeness.]

[No one was around to do any sort of thing like that for him-and he wouldn't appreciate it either. He came from a place where power meant in control, and if he lost that, he would lost everything.

And he just really didn't like interacting with people. They bothered him. He was more than able to tell she was forcing herself to be polite and it pissed him off more than the intrusion did.]

If I didn't like it I wouldn't be eating it. That fact is still not changing my mind.

[It's on the tip of Ayumu's tongue to ask him if he's always this rude. If the boy had only intended to be as unpleasant and unwelcoming as possible, he shouldn't have invited her inside. Without a word, Ayumu gently pushes the kitten off her lap, and stands. She forces herself to leave the plate of mochi where it is and not give in to the petty impulse to take it back.]

Please save some for your god and let him know that I came by.

[She keeps her tone carefully civil and cool. While she may be rapidly running out of hospitality toward this boy, she would rather not make enemy of his god. Her good will toward that one remains intact.]

I'll show myself out.

[She turns to leave.]

[Well Hibari was perfectly willing to let her leave, even if the kittens were less than happy, but he had to get one more thing out before she was gone.]

I don't like people who lie to save face. Maybe next time you won't pretend to be nice.

[He just had to open his mouth again, didn't he? That's it. She's saying something. She probably shouldn't and later she'll probably regret this but right now, her temper's flaring.]

When someone extends a hand in friendship toward your god, you shouldn't bite it so carelessly. It's a good way to make enemies of those who'd become allies.

[It's not a threat, just a brief lesson in diplomacy. Ayumu has no intention of harming the boy or his god.]

Keep the plate. I will not trouble either of you again.

[Open and Closed]

apparently she is a cat person

all of his kittens are adorbs thats why

way to distract a ninja put adorb kittens in her path

works every time

oh no now he's starting to make her mad

welcome to interacting wth hibari 101

pffft yeah she's done for now

an effort was made

a valiant effort