thenearshore | [closed]

Entry tags:

[closed]

Who: Cho Hakkai and Sharak Sanzo
When: June 30
Where: The Isle of Man
What: Investigating mysterious activity that Suijin suspects has something to do with the appearance of new gods and shinki.
Warnings: General "Saiyukis here" warning for possible discussion of violence, suicide or self-harm, will update if necessary.

[It's a lovely temperate day in Douglas. The bay glitters with a thousand sunlit flecks, and Hakkai glances out at it for a moment before turning back and crossing his arms. He considers the row of carefully maintained tourist-friendly older buildings fronting the beachside promenade.]

At least it's a small island.

[At least he hadn't been sent a suggestion to go find evidence, for instance, somewhere in Tokyo. Hakkai's curious to see whether they find anything. He's also wondering, casually, if this is going to turn out to be a trap.

He does still suspect Suijin, even if there hasn't been another shoe dropping, and picking him off while he's not even in the country would be nicely deniable.

This is why he's not here with Yuri. Instead, he'd texted Sharak as soon as he had been handed the letter by the white-garbed messenger. She, he's certain, can defend herself; and between the two of them they might badly surprise any attacker who expects to find Hakkai and Yuri.]

Where shall we start? Local news, or a drive-through?

[From his shoulder, Jeep chirps helpfully. It's a small island… but not so small that he didn't think it was a good idea to bring a ride.]

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It's interesting. [Sharak surveys the town, more interested in the residents and tourists going about their daily business than the actual landscape.] I've never been this far west before.

[But they're not here for sight-seeing, they're here for work. Sharak hadn't hesitated to agree to come once Hakkai had explained the situation. She's curious if Suijin will be annoyed or put-off that Hakkai isn't partnered with his actual god for the job, but surely if that were important she wouldn't have contacted a shinki directly anyway. After the conclave, Sharak is fairly certain that the old gods would rather go through other gods than shinki, so Hakkai must be the important contact for some reason. Maybe because he's so capable. Maybe because it's a trap to kill him. Either way, Sharak wants to see what happens.]

We'll do both. Today we're tourists, after all. Tourists drive around and look at different places, then they get lost and end up talking to locals. The residents will be used to it.

[She's definitely not motivated by any desire to ride around in Jeep again. No matter how nice it was last time.]

[Maybe because he's spoken personally to Suijin... but Hakkai's defaulting to the assumption that this is a trap until he finds out otherwise. He smiles affectionately at Jeep.]

Well, Jeep, it looks like we'll need your help after all!

[Jeep lifts off his shoulder, wings spread, and settles heavily down onto the road as a weatherbeaten car. Hakkai swings into the driver's seat, and gestures Sharak to the passenger side.]

Tourists. This will be a new experience.

[He smiles cheerfully.] It's nice weather for it!

[Especially considering that Jeep doesn't have a roof.]

Edited 2017-03-27 21:31 (UTC)

[They're both going to be very disappointed if they get out of this without anyone trying to kill either of them. What a waste of a lovely summer's day.]

Maybe we can go for a swim later.

[Not that the weather in Britain is ever really nice for swimming, even in June, but still. The sun is out. Sharak vaults over the side of the car to land in the passenger seat, because she's extra like that, patting Jeep affectionately on the door as she settles in.]

He's a useful one, isn't he?

I don't know what I'd do without him.

[Jeep revs his engine in pleased response, and Hakkai checks for traffic (not too much, conveniently) before pulling out into the lane.]

If we get all of this out of the way fast enough, we really might have time for a swim! Ha ha.

So, unusual ayakashi activity... I'd imagine property damage or mysterious deaths? There are only four towns here, and I think we should be able to stop by each of them and look by lunchtime.

[It will also, conveniently, make them very visible throughout all the biggest population centers on the island, and alone on rural mountain roads between times. If there's a murder plot behind this, it's a good way to draw the attack. But he assumes Sharak will have noticed that part of the idea without needing to say it aloud.

After all, he wouldn't like to tip off any watchers that they're ready for a fight.]

[Sharak nods. They're just two support characters out for a drive, gathering intel. Whatever will they do if they're attacked by bandits on a lonely rural road? Sharak calmly keeps watch, looking over the town's buildings and the faces of pedestrians, while she speaks.]

Property damage, deaths... Anything influencing the general vibe of the area. [Not all ayakashi activity is obviously violent, at first.] We don't know the area, but the locals will probably have noticed any changes.

[Though physical damage to the landscape might stand out even to a couple of foreigners.]

Tourism does seem to be an important local industry. Anything that's only moderately unpleasant might not have made the papers.

[One wouldn't want to scare away tourists with, for instance, an unexplained cluster of suicides or some strange graffiti incidents Hakkai peers ahead through Jeep's windshield, looking for a nice little eating house or breakfast place of the sort that might draw in locals.

Well, maybe a little further from the beach they'll have more luck. He hangs a right further into the town.]

But they'll have been keeping an eye out for it.

[One doesn't want to spread dangerous news, but one doesn't want to be surprised by it either. Humans can't see ayakashi, but they can see their effects.]

One can always rely on small-town gossip!

[Hakkai flashes her a slightly edged smile: and ah, there's one, a small shop with a glass fronted window that's advertising 4.99 full breakfasts.

He should, he reflected, have looked up what the local currency was. Well, they'll manage....]

How about that one? -- Jeep, I'm afraid you'll have to stay outside if we're getting their attention.

[The engine rumbles agreement as Hakkai pulls into a parking space next to the storefront. He pats the dashboard before getting out.]

[Sharak lets herself out of the car like a normal person this time, opening the door and such.] I don't know, a dragon might help with that. Europeans love them, don't they?

[Don't listen to her, stay outside, Jeep. They'll bring you back a doggy bag with pancakes. Appearance wise, Sharak is probably attention grabbing enough on her own, once they manage to get someone to look directly at her for longer than two seconds. The bell above the door jingles pleasantly as Sharak walks in, causing the waitress to look over at her.]

Table for two, please. Can you tell me about your specials?

[This doesn't really look like the kind of shop that has a proper special menu, but it'll get the girl to chat with them at least.]

[The waitress points her pen at a chalkboard hung above the register, where several types of soup and two desserts are listed.

"It's that or the menu, ma'am," she says, and deals out two menus on a window-side table with two neatly rolled napkin-and-silverware bundles next to them. Hakkai pulls one of the seats out, and glances over at the woman, clearing his throat.]

It's very quiet this morning, isn't it? I expected more of a crowd on the beach.

[He blinks, attempting his best impression of an innocently curious tourist.]

[The woman is already trying to make her way back to the counter when Hakkai speaks up and her shoulders slump noticeably when she hears him. "Yeah, I haven't been out there today." Just sit down and let her leave, come on...]

You must get busy this time of year. [They don't look busy at the moment.] Is it hard work?

[Come on, chat with them, they're so pleasant and charming.]

[So charming, indeed. Hakkai's smiling pleasantly; the waitress doesn't look particularly enthused, but she glances around the otherwise empty restaurant and turns back towards them.

"Course it is," she says. "Not right now of course, but you should see this place at lunchtime." Her expression suggests: and you two are keeping me chatting during the quiet part of my shift. Hakkai conceals amusement.]

Oh, I see. Actually... [He lowers his voice, leaning towards her instead of sitting down. What sort of 'unusual events' would bring tourists who wanted to know all about them...?]

... actually, we're here hunting UFOs, ma'am. There wouldn't happen to have been any strange events lately? Injuries to people or livestock, inexplicable damage to buildings, strange moods--

[She pulls herself up very tall (which puts her about equal with Hakkai's chin) and glares at them both equally.

"Oh don't tell me you're here about the fuckin' wilderness crop circle!" she demands, and points her pen accusingly at Hakkai. "It's some kid messing around is what it is. You two, out. Now. UFO investigators indeed."

Hakkai raises his hands, palm out, and makes a few mild soothing noises as he darts a significant glance at Sharak.]

[Sharak can't believe that paid off. What the fuck.]

... I should have known better than to humour his conspiracy theories. He already dragged me all this way and I haven't seen anything interesting yet. [She tilts her head to address Hakkai.] I told you, they're all making it up for media attention. We should have just gone to Stonehenge if you wanted something mysterious.

[That makes the girl purse her lips even more and direct her glare at Sharak instead. "We're not making it up, the dumb shi- brats messed up the Dalby reserve with their stupid games!" Sharak nods sympathetically.]

It must be frustrating. [And now they have more specific directions than "the wilderness". Perfect. She can't believe they're investigating a goddamn crop circle.] Well, we're sorry to have bothered you.

[Neither, honestly, can Hakkai. He laughs placatingly, stepping back from the table.]

Oh, you know Stonehenge is much too ... [He trails off. What is Stonehenge, anyway?

A recent habit for late night cheesy horror movies isn't helping, so he makes a vague gesture, hoping the irate waitress will fill in her own appropriate adjective rather than being startled by an inappropriate one, and moves towards the door.]

We should go take a look, just in case, don't you think? Thank you for the help, miss, we won't take up any more of your time.

[Dalby reserve. That must be on a map.]

[Wow, is she the only one who googled "weird shit in Britain" before coming here? She probably read three "top ten things to see in the UK" articles before deciding it was a waste of time.]

And there he goes again, without even letting me have breakfast. [The most put-upon sigh. Perhaps she's enjoying the roleplaying.] We'll let you get back to your busy day.

[And so Sharak heads for the door, letting the poor girl forget all about them and go back to her book.]

[She's probably enjoying this too much, Hakkai suspects from her put-upon sigh: although he has to admit, too, that it's a little fun to go hunting assassination attempts with someone who plays along with his fragile spontaneous cover story.

(It's also nice to know that they don't have to worry about her getting suspicious; she'll forget they were ever there by the time they've pulled out of the parking space.)

He pats Jeep's hood as he crosses around the car.]

We're off to the Dalby reserve to look at a badly done crop circle, Jeep.

[If an engine can start dubiously, that's exactly what Jeep's engine does as Hakkai slides into the driver's seat. He flashes Sharak a very faint smile.]

Well, it's something unusual, at least. I'll be surprised if it's anything to do with what we're looking for.

[More likely it really was drunken students on break, but a wilderness area doesn't seem like the sort of place they'd target. Not enough publicity, not convenient enough to the main roads....

He finds himself genuinely curious.]

[Look, she doesn't get to have much fun these days. Let her enjoy this.]

It's a starting point. [Sharak gets into the passenger seat again, not bothering to smile back but nodding instead.] And since the alternative is driving around aimlessly, we may as well.

[Maybe they'll get attacked on the way there, who knows. Maybe they're being spied on and whoever is watching them will set up a trap at Dalby. You never know your luck.]

Even on such a nice day for a drive, yes, we may as well!

[It would be terribly rude to stand up an attempted assassination trap. He beams cheerfully at her, and guides Jeep back out into traffic and onto the main road out of town.]

Ah, you'll have to give me directions. Can you find it on your phone map?

Hm? Probably.

[Digs her phone out of her back pocket and opens up the map app. The battery is already at 53%, because no one ever told Sharak that she was supposed to close apps when she was done with them, but that's fine. They'll be fine. It's a small island. She types the name into the app and searches around a little with her finger.]

... There's a town called Dalby and something called the Dalby Mountain Moorland Nature Reserve. [Scrolls down.] Not that there seems to be many mountains, judging from the photographs. [Maybe Sharak's standards are a little high.] I suppose that's where the girl meant.

[Gosh, Sharak, not every mountain can be the Himalayas. Hakkai curiously leans over to get a better look at her screen. He's not watching the road, but most of the time, Jeep steers himself anyway: it's fine.]

It must be. That's... what? Half an hour away?

[Small search areas, he reflects, are really a blessing, and hits the gas.

It turns out to be no more than twenty minutes before, startlingly un-attacked so far, he pulls Jeep to a stop by the side of the road, looking out and down over a stretch of forest and rolling hills. Halfway down the incline, maybe a kilometer away, a scar mars the greenery over a wide circle that's scoured down to bare earth. He can feel it, even so far away, like a bitter aftertaste lingering on his tongue.

It's not a college prank. He wets his lips, trying reflexively to wash away the hint of wrongness, and looks over at Sharak.]

From here, we may have to walk. Unless there's a trail?

[Even before they're close enough to see the circle, Sharak has her eyes closed in the passenger seat. She can feel it, a dark, menacing presence that seems to be waiting for them.]

This is it. [She mutters to herself as Jeep pulls to a stop. She opens her eyes and glares out at the circle in the distance. She could just teleport them into the center of it but... No. That feels a little too risky, especially with what they've seen of magic and circles in this world so far.]

... We'll walk. [The terrain isn't too rough, at least, even the parts that haven't been scarred. Sharak lets herself out of the car and starts to walk down.] Watch your feet.

[And everything else. The terrible feeling seems to emanate from the circle, but it might have guards outside of it.]

Stay close to us, Jeep.

[Bringing the little dragon with them might put him in danger. The malice of the spot only seems to grow stronger as Hakkai follows Sharak down the hillside with Jeep clinging to his shoulder... but if they are being followed, attacking their defenseless transportation while they're away is an obvious first step. He's safer with them.

Jeep shifts closer to his ear, cheeping in a soft, wary tone, and Hakkai lifts one hand to stroke his mane reassuringly.

It's the same feeling he has when too close to an ayakashi, and it makes the hairs on his arms prickle: it's somewhere between malicious dark magic and something that is simply wrong. Unclean. Blighted.

It amuses him that it still feels that way to a shinki who is, himself, more and more severely blighted.

Still, the sense of wrongness grows more and more powerful as they approach the patch, and Hakkai finds himself having to struggle not to slow.]

What could cause this?

[She's a priest. She must have more idea than he does... or, at least, he hopes so, because if not they're both clueless.]

... Not a bunch of punks fooling around, at least.

[Sharak steps over a treacherous looking bog. She's stepping carefully, and keeping a cautious eye out, but she refuses to let the dark energy slow her down. Stubbornness and pride pay off sometimes. She takes a second before answering Hakkai's question a little more seriously.]

It's a magical disturbance. [She doesn't know anything, nothing concrete, but she still has some spiritual sense as both a priest and a goddess.] It's possible it's happened on it's own due to some imbalance in the area's natural magic, but more likely... [A person. Probably not a human, or at least not one from around here.] A circle could be used for anything. I'd say a barrier of some kind, typically, but the shape shows up in summoning spells as well.

[They pass through a grove of trees. The view of the circle is blocked at the moment, but Sharak keeps staring in it's direction. They're not far now.]

If it is a summoning circle, it's for something big. If it's a barrier, I'd say it's about right... But unless that's it, I'd say we're heading towards the aftermath or something, not the prep work.

[Which is... probably good?]

If Suijin sent us here because they sensed something, then I think you're right. This is the aftermath.

[Morning sunlight blazes on a brown scar in front of them. Hakkai stops at the edge of the scar, dropping to one knee to examine the edge without touching it. It's not bare dirt, like he'd thought it was from a distance. The grass is still there, but wilted and matted against the ground, drying out. He looks along the edge.]

... Ah, what a shame. I was hoping they'd signed their work --

[It's as far as he gets before a massive shape rears from the dead ground. It seems to coalesce like a fog bank forming in fast-forward, legs pulling free of the dirt and eyes the size of manhole covers blinking at them from a flat, froglike face as a mouth like a gash across its front half opens.

Hakkai leaps backwards, hand slashing down in pure reflex.]

Line!

Shit-

[It's probably not a surprise that Sharak suddenly has an automatic pistol in hand. While Hakkai casts his line, it's a better use of her time than activating Kouten for now.

A long, dripping tongue exits the ayakashi's mouth, scattered with eyeballs that immediately focus on the shinki and god in front of them. The creature lifts it's tongue and sends it crashing down towards Hakkai, slamming hard into his barrier. He must look tasty.

Sharak grits her teeth, takes a few steps to the side to put some distance between her and him and fires three bullets into one of the ayakashi's large eyes (look at her, asshole-). She can't rend it on her own, but she can probably hurt it.]

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