thenearshore | Like a bridge over troubled water

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Like a bridge over troubled water

Who: Viktor and everyone ever!
When: late July/early August
Where: Every temple he can possibly get to; various shops and establishments; basically, all around both the Near Shore and the Far Shore
What: Viktor and Yuuri's god is gone, and Viktor is on a mission to find one to adopt Yuuri.
Warnings: None that i can think of, unless you find Viktor's weird persistence and determination offensive. There will likely be a good amount of pining ang gushing about how great Yuuri is to various gods, for which I apologize but Viktor vehemently does not.

Open to anyone who might be at the various temples when Viktor goes knocking around!

He'd made it his mission. How could he not? The idea of Yuuri being left without a god to serve was a possibility he wasn't able to accept. He wasn't as worried about himself, although it would obviously be better for him to find someone to align with sooner rather than later. Still, in Yuuri's case, it was already having an effect on his mental health, and Viktor hated knowing that there was very little he could do to help on his own.

But he could ask around to see which gods needed help. Without telling Yuuri, of course, because he knew that would just be met with protests and probably some anger, fueled by...whatever it was that made Yuuri think badly of himself. No, he was going to do this on his own. He felt like he owed it to the shinki he'd spent so much time with and grown to like a lot.

He even had a speech prepared! Which he started into immediately upon knocking at the temple doors, not waiting for whoever was inside to open to them.

what they'd hear would vary between temples, but a combination of how hard Yuuri worked all the time, how genuinely kind he was, how determined, and how useful as a shinki and (when necessary) a weapon could all be expected at some point.

Around everywhere else!

The best way to find new knowledge, he was quite certain, was to ask! Hence, a very worried looking Russian will be popping up at various places around both the Near and Far Shore, asking everyone who can see him about what a shinki is meant to do when their god goes missing. Because he doesn't know, you see, he's only been here for a little while and his god has disappeared and his fellow shinki is very upset and sleeping outside and Viktor doesn't care about sleep but he doesn't like Yuuri being so worried and - well. Help him? Please?

"I need to make a plan, so I just need to know how to start."

He'll even throw in a pout and his best puppy dog eyes as an incentive.

(Really, he's going everywhere he can possibly get to. Businesses, temples, meeting places, restaurants, wherever).

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Tsuzuki stares wide-eyed as Yuuri's fellow shinki launches eagerly into his discussion of Yuuri's great points, and his usefulness, and his determination, and...

... on and on. He's starting to get the feeling that this guy rehearsed it.

Eventually, he interrupts, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.

"Look -- I'm sorry, I didn't even know Yuuri's god was gone! Oh man, and he was here trying to sleep in our shed just a day or two ago, too."

Because he didn't have anywhere else? Tsuzuki winces.

"I don't know if my goddess is looking for anybody new, but you can come in and rest a bit. Have some tea -- I've got cookies in the kitchen. Storebought, so they're good," he adds, and tips the guy a wink. His own cooking skills are still hit-or-miss, as far as he's concerned; he's eaten everything he's cooked, but he could tell Sakura was trying not to make awful faces at it most of the time. He picks up a lot of take-out.

"Oh no, was he?"

Viktor hadn't really been keeping tabs on where Yuuri'd been sleeping, but he knew he'd been outside a few nights and it worried him quite a bit.

"Thank you! I could use a rest, I think. I've been going around to every temple I can."

He wasn't at all worried about the state of the food and would have eaten Tsuzuki's cooking and probably loved it. But then, he'd never been picky and liked most things. Cookies did sound good, though!

"Are you looking for a god for yourself too?" The question is hesitant. It sounds like they'd shared a god, but Viktor'd just been talking up Yuuri -- and he's been going around to every temple?

Geez. It's sweet of him, Tsuzuki concludes, but: poor guy! He waves Viktor inside, leading him towards the kitchen.

"Ahh, I hadn't really thought about that, to be honest! Hmm. I'd rather stay with Yuuri if I can, but his comfort is more important to me. I like meeting new people and can ask around! I think Yuuri might have a bit more trouble with that aspect of it, so I thought I'd try to help him out."

He explained it all thoughtfully as he headed to the kitchen, looking around appreciatively at the temple. It seemed like a comfortable place! And anywhere that housed people offering cookies ranked pretty highly with Viktor.

Anywhere Tsuzuki was going to live, there would be cookies. Snacks were essential to a good life. Booze was, of course, also nice, but not this early in the day even if Viktor clearly was having a tough time.

He hooked a chair out with his foot and went to get down a plate, and the current package of cookies, and fill two teacups from their electric hot-water dispenser while he pondered the situation.

"Okay, so basically, both of you need a god to work with -- right?" He arranged a handful of cookies in a neat little fan on the plate as the teacups. "But what do you want to do? You're not really into the fighting ayakashi thing, right?"

Yuuri hadn't seemed the type, anyway. Tsuzuki had to admit he didn't have a good read on Viktor so far.

Viktor definitely wouldn't have turned down a drink, but it wasn't as if he needed one. He was too focused on the cookies to give any sort of beverage any concern.

"Yes, we shared a god until he disappeared, so we both need a new one! Yuuri needs the stability a bit more than I do, though. I'm not opposed to fighting, but I'd much rather help answer prayers and make people happy if I can!"

He beamed when the cookies were presented, murmuring his thanks before he took one from the rather lovely display. It had been a few days since he'd eaten, and while it wasn't something he needed to do, it was still nice!

Tsuzuki smiled back at him, still a little worriedly, and slid one of the cups of tea across the table before he took the opposite seat. So they did both need a god.

"I heard you could get assigned to a god if you waited long enough," he offered. "So that might still happen."

But they might not go to the same god, and it seemed like Victor cared about him a lot. So it'd be easier if they did -- right?

"Ah, really? That would be amazing. Sorry, I'm not very educated on how things like this work."

He'd been learning, a little bit, but had refrained from asking many questions. That seemed to lead to Bad Things and the last thing Viktor wanted was to hurt anyone.

He wasn't too concerned with ending up under the same god. Sure, it would be wonderful, but if not they could easily survive!

"Yeah, so you'll probably be okay no matter what. I don't know if Sakura'd want more shinki, but if you're having trouble finding anybody, well." He smiled. "I sure wouldn't mind."

Company would be... nice. Sakura was sweet, but Tsuzuki worried about her sometimes: he was all the protection she had, and he wasn't all that strong. Even if Viktor and Yuuri weren't really fighters themselves, three was safer than one. Right?

And they seemed pretty nice.

Lavi almost veers back from surprise when he exits the library and the first thing he sees is Viktor coming up to him. He's a little bemused, listening to him before the man throws him a pout and the puppy dog eyes.

"You're looking to help your friend out, right?" It's asked slowly so that Lavi can get a better understanding of what's going on. It's not rare for a shinki to suddenly become godless. D2 has suffered from a god-loss and he's seen various other shinki on the BBS announcing their god leaving, including that one incident with Ekko.

But this is...somewhat new.

"Well, what you can do is probably try to find him somewhere to sleep first that isn't outside. Have you tried going on the BBS and asking for help?" He pauses, thinking. "Or ask a god you know personally to have Yuuri become their shinki."

He'd gone into his spiel almost tiredly, since he'd been at it for so long. But this guy, at least, seemed to be listening to him rather than just brushing him off in annoyance, so he was happy to answer.

"I am!"

He had to smile a little bit at the BBS suggestion, though.

"Ah, I'd been considering that! But I thought it would seem a little more personal if I went to ask myself rather than over the network. I can try it, though! Thank you. If I knew any gods well enough, I would ask, but I haven't been here terribly long and unfortunately haven't made friends with any."

Lavi blinks once, still trying to gather his head around what was happening and who exactly this person is.

"Well, I know some gods so I can ask them for you or I can give you their number?"

He thinks that a couple of them wouldn't mind, especially given how kind they could be on a daily basis.

"I would really appreciate that, thank you!"

Viktor considered hugging him, but thought better of it. he didn't even know him, after all! He was extremely grateful, though.

"No problem."

Is that all this guy came here to do?

"Who are you, anyway?"

Yeah, that was pretty much it. Viktor had sort of a one track mind since his god had vanished.

"My name is Viktor Nikiforov, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself! It's very nice to meet you! Thanks again for your help."

"Don't mention it. My name's Lavi, by the way."

He's a bit curious, however, since this guy seemed to only come here to ask that.

"You've just been going around to random temples to help your friend?"

"I have! I thought about posting to the BBS, but that seemed so impersonal!"

He smiled and bowed his head, which he'd gathered was the custom, at least in Tokyo.

"It's a pleasure to meet you! My name is Viktor Nikiforov. Please don't worry about pronouncing it, it's Russian!"

For some reason, in life, his nationality had been important. Things like that didn't seem to make a lot of difference here, but it could possibly help explain a name that seemed a bit odd even here.

"Impersonal since you're personally going around asking to help your friend?"

He doesn't get it.

But that is the first time he's heard of a Russian name around here, surprising him a bit.

"Viktor Nikiforov," he repeats it slowly, surprised how fluent it rolls off his tongue. "First time I've heard of a Russian name around here. No offense."

Viktor is lucky to find Butch actually at the main building itself for once, since he spent a great portion of the day at the accompanying stable and the fields, taking care of the horses, exercising them, or training them for mountain riding, or those sort of things. Viktor might also have been followed by a couple of the dogs that lived there, there were a lot of those, just as there were a lot of cats and chickens. Some of those chickens might have followed him as well. The animals are pretty good at alerting the people living there of the presence of anyone, and Butch, in the kitchen in the midst of doing the dishes after lunch, heads out the open door and around the house because that goes faster than passing through the halls.

He missed a lot of what he said but he got the gist of what he was trying to say either way. Some of the dogs bounds toward him, while some of the others begs Viktor for attention. A chicken pecks at Viktor's pants, another clucks at him, as if wondering how he grew out of the ground.

"Iffen ya ain't mindin' an ol' cowboy like me, I ain't never opposed'a havin' more people round the place."

You don't need to promote anyone, he was raised to be helpful and it's in his nature to be anyway. Bank and train robbing aside. There is no hesitation in him to do so.

Viktor was taken a bit by surprise by the animals, but it was the happy sort of surprise. He bent down to give the dogs as much attention as he could, and babytalked the chickens a little. It had been a rough few days without the constant army of cats now that Yuri was gone, and he'd really missed animals being around.

He perked his head up, much like one of the dogs, at the words.

"Really?! Thank you, you're so kind! I promise you won't regret it, Yuuri is wonderful and can help with the animals!"

He'd liked the cats and worked at a cat cafe, after all. Although that might be a bit of an issue for the dogs..but Viktor was sure something could be worked out.

He didn't even think to ask for himself, but this would be a wonderful place to stay!

Calling a notorious outlaw kind feels a little odd, but on the other hand, he always went out of his way to make sure people didn’t get badly hurt during their robberies. Sometimes people did get hurt, yes, but if you do it right, you might not even need to fire your gun. Still, maybe it’s somewhat appropriate for this one particular notorious outlaw. (And it’s not like he’s told anyone his previous profession. Simply naming himself just another cowboy is good enough. He didn’t rob people for the glory of it, or what one might call it.)

He grins at the other man, while he crouches to give the dogs pets and scratches, to get some dog kisses in return. Viktor is likely to get some too, they’re very friendly animals.

“Bring the lad over an’ I’m sure we can work somethin’ out that’ll work for him.” And besides, the kid should meet him and make sure he thinks things will be alright for him at this temple. Butch would never force any shinki into one of these ridiculous relationships, and sees it more as a partnership, rather than a servant and a master sort of relationship. Yes, a god has a certain power over their shinki by default, but he would never abuse it and would do anything to even things out. “You must like him a lot, if ya’re goin’ round lookin’ for someone that’ll let him stay with ‘em.”

"Oh, I think he's wonderful!"

It came out before he could even give it any real thought, but it was certainly true! Viktor smiled, incredibly grateful that he'd found someone who seemed to be so kind to animals and to a stranger who'd wandered onto his temple grounds. It was a good sign for Yuuri. While he was more than capable of dealing with all sorts of people, he tended to do a bit better with those who were a bit more relaxed and not prone to anger. Viktor hadn't know the man long, but he didn't seem the type to lash out.

"I'll being him over soon, I think he might be at work at the moment. he works at the cat cafe, have you ever been? It's really lovely in there!"

If you were Viktor, anyway. He would just go sit down, let cats climb all over him and be quite happy about the entire thing. "Do you think the dogs would be bothered? I'd imagine Yuuri might smell like cats when he gets home..."

But he didn't dwell on that. It would either work out or it wouldn't, and the dogs were very friendly. Viktor sat down and let himself get covered in dog affection, feeling truly happy for the first time since Yuri had disappeared.

“That’s big praise.”

Answering without any real thought isn’t always a bad thing, particularly not in these cases. It just speaks better for Yuuri. But also for Viktor. How a person talks about another, and what their expressions and tone of voice are like says a lot too. And a person’s interactions with animals said a lot about that person. There were a lot of ways to tell what a person was like without them telling it themselves.

“I’ll look forward to meetin’ him. I ain’t got no clue what a cat cafe is, so I probably ain’t been. It’s soundin’ like it’s worth a visit though.”

Cafes were just cafes back in the day, and he has yet to spend a lot of time in the Near Shore because damn it’s a bewildering place, even with only a time gap of o100 years. He knows people from even farther in the past than him, who wouldn’t even know trains at all. But tell him about cat cafes and he would probably sit and let the cats climb on him too, it already happens sometimes here. “That’s a’right, there’re cats round the place, too, so they’re already used’a the smell’a cats. An’ I ain’t been to any stable that ain’t got no cat at all yet, at least.”

The very simplest ones, maybe. They were unlikely to have cats. But even his family who had been pretty damn poor and had to work really hard to keep the few horses that they kept had a cat in their little stable. Though it had moved in on its own, rather than being brought there by the Parkers.

"Ah, is it really? I just think he's wonderful!"

Yep, he was pretty smitten with the shinki that used to be his husband, although of course he had no memory of that at all.

"It's really just a cafe with a lot of cats in it! people go in to pet them. I haven't been often, but Yuuri seems to enjoy it. The cats are very friendly, some will come sit on your lap and purr."

Those were Viktor's favorites, of course!

"That's true, cats do seem to like places like that. I'm glad that won't be an issue! I just didn't want to make the dogs uncomfortable, because they're very good dogs, yes they are."

And that last part, of course, was said in affectionate babytalk to the several dogs he was still petting happily.

“It is, far’s I know.” But he’s only an old outlaw who probably was dead to the world even a hundred years ago. What does he know, right?

He may never have been genuinely smitten with someone, personally, but he’s seen it plenty in other people’s eyes. If the man has realized just how much it shows or not is a question for another day though. They don’t know each other well enough for that. Those sort of things is different outside and inside outlaw circles.

“That sounds like an’ interestin’ type’a business.” He grins. This person seems very fond of dogs. And pretty decent with them, too. “Yeah, they are. But there ain’t no worry bout makin’ em uncomfortable. Round farms, animals usually find’t easy bein’ round other animals no matterin’ the type.” They get used to each other, at least. “What’s it ya call yerself, by the way? I’m Roy Parker, currently standin’ in for Epona.”

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I thought for sure I'd said it..." But thinking back on it, he hadn't even given it a thought! Embarrassed, he scratched the back of his neck a little, trying to keep one overly exuberant dog from climbing completely on top of him with a laugh.

"Viktor Nikiforov, former shinki of the god Bastet! It's very nice to meet you, sir."

Because he really, really liked this man. Anyone so good with so many animals was someone inherently good as a person, he believed that with all his heart.

“Ya seemed a bit distracted to mention it.” He doesn’t seem to mind. IT’s nice to know what to call someone, but considering ‘son’ or ‘lad’ or the like is just as available for him at least, it’s alright if introductions are a little delayed.

“But ya don’t need’a call me ‘sir’, it just feels weird.” Maybe he’s the ‘sir’ age by now but it’s still weird to be called that. He isn’t a man who’s done honest work to earn his keep, at least not very much. Staying on the straight and narrow was impossible, in the long run. It was too narrow and there simply was no excitement. “Jus’ call me Roy.”

And here, Mabel just happened to spot a rather sad looking Russian nearby! She wasn't sure what was going on but she couldn't help but be a little bit nosey. At first, she wasn't really paying much attention to what he was doing. However, with him asking so many people about a plan, there was just no way she could refuse!

That and when there was a plan? Mabel definitely knew what to do! (Except not really.) Hope Viktor doesn't mind a 13 year old girl walking up to him!

"Hey there! I heard that you needed some help, right?"

Of course, she doesn't really know just what kind of help he needed but she could figure something out! There was no way this was going to backfire, right?

Right??

Edited 2017-07-09 15:29 (UTC)

Backfire? Of course not. Viktor's just a weird happy Russian dude, what can possibly go wrong ever?

He grinned at her, completely happy to hear it.

"That's right! I have a friend who just lost his god, and is needing a place to stay! Might you know of any gods that are looking for good shinki?"

With that, Mabel was seriously pondering about this. While she might know someone who could probably use a shinki, she just wasn't so sure yet!

And besides, there was something more important at hand!

"Is that friend okay though? Because if he isn't, we might need to turn that frown upside down if you ask me!"

"Oh, I think he will be! He just likes to have structure in his life, so being without a god all of a sudden has made him a little antsy."

He was pretty confident about that, because while Yuri's disappearance had definitely taken a toll on Yuuri's mental state, Viktor was sure he'd be all right if a god took him in and gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

"It would be a great idea to make him smile, though!"

How could he be against an idea like that?

Suddenly, an idea popped up in Mabel's head! While it might be a little bit unconventional, there was something wrong with a tiny amount of chaos for Yuuri, right? Right??

"Oh, I know! I think I might have an idea that could cheer him up a little!" Then with a low whisper, that's when she leaned in closer to Viktor.

"I'd say that we have a sewing party! I think it'll help him calm down a little and it'll help me get a costume ready! It'll be hitting two birds with one stone!"

A beat. "Except there's no birds getting harmed!"

"Oh good, I wouldn't want any birds to suffer!"

Viktor had found that he had a real fondness for birds since being here, after all, and the thought of harming them was pretty repellent to him. But the sewing sounded nice! He could almost vaguely remember some sort of experience with sewing, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

"That sounds lovely! I'm not sure he'd be willing, but I'll ask him! Thank you, that's a great idea."

"Of course! And you know what?"

That's when she started to lean in and giggled a little bit. Whatever she was planning, she wasn't doing a very good job at hiding it! Then in a very low whisper?

"Maybe he can make a superhero outfit with me...!"

"Hmmm, I think that might be something you need to take up with him personally! I think it would be really cute, though."

Because, well, it would!

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go and ask him already!"

However, there was a slight pause. "That is, if he really wants to do it!"

"We can go try to find him, I suppose! No idea where he is right now, and if he's at work I don't want to call him..."

He paused.

"Well, I can't say for sure, but there's no harm in asking, is there?"

"Of course not!" She said with a proud smile. "Now c'mon, let's go and see where he is! I'm sure he wouldn't mind us popping in and saying hi to him!"

This is sure a thing Chikusa was never expecting to deal with on his way to the library, although at least Viktor has the advantage that the teen will never bother with wasting energy on trying to discourage people away from him. No one ever seems to listen, after all. He just... keeps shuffling along, letting Viktor babble at him. The strings hanging from the earflaps of his black purple-striped beanie sway with each step, and keep swaying when he finally comes to a stop.

"Find a god."

....Helpful.

Still, Chikusa understands that's not so easy, so he gives a sigh. "....The Heavens are regularly providing days for new shinki and gods to learn what they can do. Take advantage of that. They have free food."

"Are they? Thank you so much! I can always use some free food."

Viktor wasn't at all bothered, he'd known and experienced Chikusa's demeanor for quite some time. It reminded him of his departed god, really, and the thought brought a small wave of sadness until he shook it off.

"I really like your hat!"

He'd been watching the strings sway, and was really impressed by the colors. He really sort of wanted one for himself.

Chikusa gives a simple nod. "They're not usually heavy things, but there's enough of it... You just have to be careful of how much they see you take." It's not like he knows this from experience or anything.

Blinking at the compliment to his hat, he goes quiet for a second and then loosely touches one of the strings. "....Yeah." Eloquent, he knows. "It was cheap because of summer..."

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you!"

Not that he planned to take any, since it wasn't really something he needed, but it was good to know regardless. And he did love food!

"Ah! I should really get one myself, receding hairline and all..."

His face took on an expression of complete and utter woe.

Chikusa has to pause at that, tilting his head a little bit and staring for longer than is probably socially acceptable in most places.

"...If you're dead, will you really have to worry about that?"

"Nope! But appearances have to be kept up!"

Because why not? He had no real idea, it just seemed like it might be important. Maybe.

That's definitely reason for more of a pause, as if this is something that's never really occurred to him. "Is something... important coming up?" he asks after a second. That's the only reason he can think of to care about one's appearance.

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Like a bridge over troubled water

Around the temples

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around temples

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