OPEN especially to video responders

[starfestival]

Who: Orihime and her guests from the video post
What: Catchall for those who wanted to speak to Orihime in person (again)
When: Late on July 4th through Midday July 7th, excepting the Festival time
Where: Her Home, by the Amanogawa (Milky Way River)

Missions Info: By responding to her video post, your character earns the right to ignore the Follower/Exp total requirement for the sake of logging Mission 11 or 12. This includes bringing a small group with them per the normal Mission guidelines.

Visitation Times Slots:
[ Yona, Shizuo, Yoon ] [ Shun ] [_]   July 4th, Late Evening
[ Forrest ] [ Izuku & Hajime ] [ Allen ]   July 5th, Morning
[ Lavi ] [ Chikusa, Ken, & Axel ] [ Hibiki, Johan, Elfnein, & Luna ]   July 5th, Afternoon
[_] [_] [_]   July 6th, Morning
[ D2 & Kaya ] [_] [_]   July 6th, Afternoon
[_] [_] [_]   July 6th, Evening
[_] [_] [_]   July 7th, Morning
[_] [_] [_]   July 7th, Afternoon

Comments

[junkyarddog]

[Ken isn't thrilled about any of this, although most of his disgruntlement can be traced back to the fact that Chikusa made him take a bath before they came here today. But, like Chikusa, he's devoted to Axel and he doesn't want to let him down in any way, so aside from a slightly sullen expression, he's behaving himself admirably. He's following Chikusa's lead - Chikusa may well have given him even more instructions on his behavior today than Axel has, although that's likely because Chikusa trusts him not to embarrass them a lot less - melon held carefully in his hands. Conveniently, with his hands not able to be jammed into his pockets, this has improved his posture a bit from its usual, too.]

[small_reservations]

[Axel is no less on edge than his shinki, but for somewhat different reasons. He's not afraid of embarrassing himself (though he knows his shinki are, and thus has given them instructions to be on their best behavior), but there are other issues. While Chikusa was focusing on getting Ken clean, Axel sneaked off to get shrine water to wash off the blight creeping down the back of his neck. It worked, and today there's less of a prickle than usual, but if it should return while he's here...

He's not sure how his shinki would react to knowing they're hurting him, still. It's not something he blames them for - there's no way to lead a totally guilt-free life, after all - but it's something he knows they'll blame themselves for, and that will only make the problem worse. For this reason, he's kept a bottle of blessed water handy, just in case, but he's not carrying it now. Too conspicuous.]

[starfestival]

[Orihime is outside of her home, heading inside when she hears the approach of people and turns back around. She's not yet dressed for the evening, instead wearing a lighter garb. Orihime bows at their approach.]

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

[kokuyoyo]

[No one's told Chikusa about not bowing to other gods because it's disrespectful to his own, but that's fine- he doesn't bow to anyone anyway. There's just a glance from Axel to Orihime.]

Hello.

[Look at that. An extra syllable than the 'hey' he would give other people. He really is making an effort. And he also nods to Ken- you have one melon job, Ken, don't mess it up.]

[junkyarddog]

Hello. [Ken parrots Chikusa, knowing that Chikusa's lead is safe to follow. He steps forward toward Orihime, holding out the melon.] This is for you, from Axel-sama.

[Chikusa hadn't specifically told him what to say when presenting it, but Ken's instinct is to emphasize that the courteous gesture comes from his god.]

[small_reservations]

Hello. Orihime-senpai, right? Or should I use sama too?

[He's not sure. He IS also a god, but he's pretty sure that she's been doing this longer than he has. Perhaps something more respectful...?

Either way, it's easy to put a smile on his face. He's been faking that much for years.]

[starfestival]

Well this certainly is a surprise...

[She gestures to a table in the middle of the room for Ken to place the melon on while also ushering them in.]

A hostess gift and being referred to in such high regard. You need use neither title with me, sir, for surely by now you have surpassed my new rank to have two shinki with you. And such polite ones too.

Your exemplar, Kakimoto Chikusa... he mentioned that you wanted to visit but I must say I don't know why.

[Her tone is a bit moody, but she's trying to be polite.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Oh, he's being called out mentioned. Chikusa had been perfectly content with just lapsing into silence, but if he's being directly referenced, then he supposes he should answer.]

With Tanabata coming up, I thought it would be important to get Axel-sama fitted.

[...Which is pretty fucking selfish and, for once, Chikusa is making the effort to recognize this and has thought more indepth about this before coming, so he continues.]

There's also a divide between young gods and older ones... I thought this would provide to be a good meeting. Reaching older gods casually is... difficult.

[So, when put like that, it almost makes it sound like the Tachibana festival is simply a fortunate chance. And it's not wrong. Chikusa has thought long and hard about this. Frankly, he's still not convinced that the Heavens aren't behind all of this in some manner, or at least an important player in divine politics (almost as annoying as regular politics). However, if there's even a chance that Axel being held in good or even fond regard by one of the old gods could help tilt things even a little in his favor so that he's not in danger of disappearing.]

[Maybe it won't do anything. But if he didn't try, what kind of exemplar could he call himself?]

[The silence which follows his words might make it seem like he's done, but he suddenly speaks up again, quietly.]

If you're busy...

[He trails off, the offer unfinished. Whups, look like he's starting to lose energy already. Pretending to be a decent dead person is tiring; Ken or Axel might want to finish that offer of assistance.]

[junkyarddog]

[Ken sets the melon down on the table Orihime indicates, then promptly falls back behind Axel and Chikusa, silent and fidgeting only a little. He really doesn't have much to do in this meeting, or at least not much he's trusted to do. He'll endure silence, stillness, and boredom if it's for Axel-sama...but he's not necessarily comfortable with it, and he's certainly not going to enjoy it. But he resigns himself to it willingly enough, even if he's only half listening to the conversation. He knows he's not meant to participate in it.]

[small_reservations]

I think I'll stick with senpai. You're my senior, after all, shinki aside.

[He's inherited the role he plays; It's not like he's been here long.]

Is there anything you need done? We're at your disposal today, as a show of goodwill from the younger generation of gods and goddesses.

[That seems to about wrap up what they're hear for - or at least what they can tell her without totally ruining the purpose of the visit.]

[starfestival]

[It's true, she has no shinki - at all. She is apparently the only one who lives in the small house, which is why there's only two rooms and the wrap-around porch.]

Ah, well... if it is a matter of my offer to clothe a god in divine raiments, that I am capable of.

[She brings out a notepad, an inkwell feather pen, and a tape measurer - well, she's not holding the tape measurer, it turns out, it actually starts floating on its own towards Axel.]

After all, your goodwill is appreciated, but it is not in yours or any other god's power to give me more than a show of goodwill on any particular day.

[She looks at the melon they've brought sadly.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Honestly, it's probably for the best that there's no other shinki, if only so there's less for Chikusa to be worked up about- he compares himself enough. For right now, he merely nudges Axel forward subtly before stepping aside and going to join Ken.]

[Since she'd looked at the melon.... His murmur is for Ken.]

Do you have all your channels on you?

[And then he turns his attention back to Orihime.]

So this is simply all you do, with no breaks or assistance from anyone?

[....For some reason he feels validated.... It seems like even the old gods of the Heavens or those who claim to be family aren't that much in the end.]

[junkyarddog]

Yeah, why? [Ken keeps his murmur low and only for Chikusa, giving him a curious look. Axel and Orihime are being largely ignored, as Ken feels as though god stuff is well outside anything he should be even attempting to overhear, much less involve himself with.]