016 | The Good Old Days

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Ageswapping
When: July 15-17
Where: Everywhere
Summary: A breach in the space-time continuum is messing things up.

Edit: OVERFLOW is here!



The Far Shore has been dealing with a lot of space-time pulsating through the past week or so and everything is culminating on the night of the 15th, even though the Heavens are preparing for an all-out Obon bash. They had planned to have the celebration on the 15th itself, but Amaterasu asked to postpone a day due to the horrible feeling that is permeating the Far Shore.

And it turns out she was right to postpone everything. In fact, it will have to be postponed another whole month at this rate...



Before

Late in the day on July 15th, the new batch of shinki will arrive to a Far Shore with a thick, tense atmosphere. All night on the 15th it feels like something is about to happen - and it's difficult to tell whether that something will be good or bad. Any attempts to contact the management of the Far Shore have fallen on deaf, slightly harried ears and so everyone is left to their own devices to try and figure out why things are so tense.

July 16

Just after midnight, an explosive shock wave rips through the Far Shore, bringing on the age changes with it. Even the spirits of the Far Shore seem to be affected - for example, the library goblins are either toddling around on wobbly legs or are dragging themselves from place to place and looking decrepit. There are a few gods and shinki that seem to have been exceptions from the change, though it is not clear why.

July 17

Another wave of energy comes in the early morning of the 17th. Fewer people are affected this time and it seems to alter those people's ages a second time. There is no rhyme or reason to who is being affected further. Several of the library goblins have just dropped dead from severe old age. Oops.

Aftermath

Late on the 17th brings about one final burst from the energy that has been plaguing the Far Shore. For a short moment, every new temple glows with a soft light, seeming to beckon to their owners. But the light is gone quickly and everyone will find themselves back to normal with complete memories of everything that happened during their age adventures. The goblins that died, though, are still very dead. Looks like the library will need to get some new help soon.

In Summary:

• Meet the newbies
• Get aged or de-aged
• Deal with other too young/too old people
• Try to handle the consequences
• Have fun~

Comments

[ripplesoflosttime]

[He doesn't like the hair ruffling, but he'll tolerate it.

He turns around, lone eye blinking at the sight of Hajime without her clip and it's. Weird somehow. A hand reaches back to where the strings are, fingers brushing against the clip.

O-Oh, so she did lend him one of her hair clips.

Dropping his hand, he stares at her.]

Nothing. [Since whoever he was with seems to have left now.]

ii

[drops_acid]

[The temple of Hel does not get a lot of visitors so Cardia is surprised to hear the knock on her door. Very carefully she eases the door open and peeks out.]

Oh!

[And she especially wasn't expecting him. Smaller and younger, like so many others, but still she recognizes him. He probably doesn't recognize her though so she tries for a neutral tone.]

Um, did you need something?

[ambitioninwait]

[It seems a little cruel, doesn't it?]

[The words he said in desperation, wanting to give Souji something to hold on to, are truer now than either of them ever intended. But he isn't about to break his promise now...]

Then you'll have to work hard, won't you?

[He can't quite look Souji in the eye, but his voice is surprisingly gentle for a moment. There's a reverence in it, of all things.]

You'll have to be brave, so you can stand at my side. Will you do that for me?

[songoten]

[Goten doesn't argue but he still views it as Izumo's dish. He's already practically cleaned his own plate too when Izumo starts takling again]

Some guy that doesn't like Shizuo?

[Licking lips, Goten frowns. Izumo was in no condition to fight but all that considered, he looks okay...sorta]

Could he use fire like you?

[drops_acid]

[His eagerness is adorable, and she picks up the pace just a little for the final stretch. Once inside, she finally lets go of his hand.]

Hmm, let's see...

[She looks around at the different shelves.]

I think what we're looking for would be considered... arts and crafts perhaps?

[revolutionfalcon]

No. I just meant that you're magic, but mysterious too. [Clearly he needs to learn to use his words better. Though he has met some weird and cool people today, so it's been pretty good as far as he's concerned.

Once she explains what she's been doing, the little Shun looks up at her with an admiring air.] You're really responsible, lady. Looking after people is important, especially when they're confused. [Very serious nod. Apparently small Shun has some thoughts on this subject.

When she invites him to pick a bento, he looks over them thoughtfully for a moment before carefully picking one up - there's egg and a few other things in it.] What's this one?

[revolutionfalcon]

I hope nothing's happened back home while I was gone, then. I'm guessing there's no way back if people have been here so long. [He doesn't exactly sound pleased with that, but he'll live, he supposes. As long as it doesn't last too much longer.

At her offer, he rubs his hair briefly as he tries to think of something.] Some information would be nice. I keep hearing things about gods and shinki, but nobody's actually stopped to explain what this place is and why I'm even here.

[ambitioninwait]

[That gets a little shrug in reply.]

It was interesting, at least. The shops have changed a lot from what I remember.

[birdstheword]

[Hajime's smile just grows when he realizes it. Oh Lavi, lavi, lavi~ you are so adorable.]

Would you like to hang out with me? I was gonna get some ice cream but it's always better with another person.

[minibeauty]

A little...

It's all so big...

[Bigger than she remembers, even though she's always been this size, so that doesn't make any sense. This lady is so pretty and nice, though!!! Of course she's not scary, and the more Natsuru realizes it the more her face lights up in a relieved smile of her own. Spending time with her sounds so much better than being out in this big, kind-of-scary place all alone.]

C-Can I, really?

[PLEASE STAY WITH HER, NICE LADY.]

[toremainbehind]

[He nods.]

Seems to think Shizuo's a coward since he hasn't been going out on him, but he's been on the destruction path before he hit my bar.

[Goten, Izumo is probably hiding more injuries from you.

He sighs.]

Something similar, yes, but his flames were purple. [It has Izumo frowning a bit, but then he continues:] Anyway, that's why the bar is destroyed. Fortunately, the guy who destroyed it seems to have calmed down now.

[kagenonadeshiko]

[Ayumu's still not quite sure what to make of this. One might think no one had ever bought her a gift before. Maybe no one has. It's not like the girl herself can verify it. When he goes on to talk about the shopkeeper, she quickly shakes her head, long hair flying.]

Nuh uh. Not supposed to do that. Just makes it harder to survive.

[Like usual, Ayumu doesn't know where the knowledge comes from. Somewhere deep inside her, a place beyond her reach maybe? It's not a matter she should think about so she doesn't. Ayumu's good at doing what she's told but the knowledge of who told her these things is lost. Or who she's supposed to obey. Just that she's supposed to obey and this person isn't them.]

But thanks.

[It's a little grudging but genuine gratitude. She doesn't like accepting help but she's a smart kid, too smart to turn down something she needs out of pride. Even if it's really, really hard to do it.

Ayumu takes the sandals out the bag and slips them on her feet quickly. But if Hijikata's sharp enough, he might notice they're blistered, dirty, and one of them has a nasty looking scrape on the heel.]

[antepone]

[ If that smile doesn't melt her heart, Mira's not sure what will, honestly. The girl's obviously really relieved, and because of Mira? She's surprised, but pleasantly so, and her own smile widens a little. ]

Of course you can. I did offer. [ She holds out her hand. ] My name is Mira, by the way. I'm still trying to figure out my way around this place, but... we can explore together, right?

[ripplesoflosttime]

[Tilting his head, he looks.

Arts and crafts?

He searches the shelves before he notices something, gently tugging on her sleeve to catch her attention.]

There. [He points.]

[ripplesoflosttime]

Ice cream?

[A blank look.

What is ice cream?]

[drops_acid]

[That seems far too cynical for someone so small. But she doesn't think he's wrong either. Except for the monster part. But it is interesting that this is the second time someone has offered a different view on what a 'monster' is. It gives her a lot to think about. But later. For now, she really just wants to say something to make him feel better.]

There are some good people...

[That's all she's got. Because there are terrible people out there. They harm others and feel no remorse. And there always will be people like that. But.... there are kind, generous, and gentle people as well.]

[songoten]

[Shizuo....really? Goten gets that but that's still no reason to take it out on the bar and a look-a-like.]

Purple fire...I don't think I've ever seen purple fire.

[Goten blinks, looking off thoughtfully as he twirls the fork between his fingers--until it suddenly snaps and the half that broke off goes flying]

. . . . .

[There's a 'I'm so sorry' written all over his face as he stars at the metal and then Izumo. ANYWAY]

So you managed to fight him off after all?

[spes_phthisica]

[Soujirou nods, trying to put on his very bravest face, because somehow this feels really, really, really important. This is proof, if nothing else, that this really is his home and will keep being his home for as long as he does what he's supposed to. This is his place too, and he can actually do something to deserve it. He's not going to be a burden on anyone, not hurt anyone else by existing.

That's a good thing, right?

Without knowing why, he reaches out his branded hand imploringly to his god, as if it's part of some kind of ceremony.]

I will. And that means I can stay with you, right?

[birdstheword]

[That makes Hajime blink, her head tilts a bit]

Have you never had ice cream?

[bear_necessities]

You should have...? Why? Do I know you?

[His eyes are wide with curiosity. Senri doesn't remember meeting this guy, but then he doesn't remember much at all so he has no reason to doubt it.]

[ambitioninwait]

Harder... maybe. Easier isn't always better, though, when you can afford to do things the hard way. I can right now, and that's my choice.

[Damn, that's harsh. She must have come from some really rough circumstances, if just thinking about how the person you're taking something from feels like such a threat...]

[The glimpse he catches of her feet as she lifts them up to slip into the sandals strengthens that suspicion, and Hijikata feels a pang of sympathy -- an urge to protect her, even if just a little, from an uncaring world that seems like it's already taught her to take what she can and not think too hard about it.]

...You're going to want to take care of that. Do you have clean bandages, or anything to clean it with?

[revolutionfalcon]

[That sounds kind of weird to Shun still, but this guy seems pretty preoccupied with it, so he takes a moment to consider it himself.]

I think there's something weird going on anyway, but we'd have to remember something if we'd been here before, right? [Not mentioning the fact that Shun's been getting a feeling he can only describe as deja vu about this place on and off. As if he'd been here long enough ago that the whole thing had slipped his mind.]

Maybe there's people who know what's going on somewhere, but I haven't met them yet if there are.

[revolutionfalcon]

Okay! [Shun's good at examinations, he can totally become an honourary sea anemone this way. He even seems a little excited by the prospect, though that's partially because the whole thing is still kind of a mystery to him.]

What kind of stuff is in the examination? Am I gonna need to study?

[bear_necessities]

[A shrug.]

Probably. He knows all kinds of things.

[revolutionfalcon]

Oh, I see it. [He peers over the trees at the big purple thing in the distance, and decides it seems easy enough to remember to come back to here from there.]

I think that's okay, then. I just didn't want to get lost.