A Long-Awaited Meeting

[godsoffortune]

Who: Amaterasu & Barry Goodman
What: A private meeting with the Queen of the gods
When: August 6th
Where: In Amaterasu's private office (ie the little room she's been borrowing from Suijin while her temple is refurbished)
Warnings: Gratuitous amounts of cuteness.

[Amaterasu had heard of Barry's request to meet with her just yesterday and she's been on pins and needles ever since, delighted and excited to get to spend some more time with one of the people that she's come to consider her friend.

So when she hears the knock at the door of one of her shinki bringing him to her, she immediately responds with a squeak in her over-exuberant voice.]

Come in!!!!

[Oh. That was way too excited!]

Comments

skreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[very_goodman]

[Barry is in similarly good spirits, a big smile on his face as he very nearly bursts through the doorway.]

Ammy-chan!

[He's got his arms held out wide, either out of excitement, the expectation of a big hug, or possibly a little of both. Either way, he's clearly happy to see her again.]

[ammyterasu]

[Ahhhh!! It's just the sort of high energy she's come to expect of Barry!

Seeing his arms open, she can't help but immediately run up to him and leap into the offered hug! It's comforting. It's nice. She likes his hugs.]

Barry-san! I'm so glad to see you! Are you doing well? Nothing's amiss, is it??

[A little worry peeks out there. Something is probably wrong if he requested to see her, right? ;A;]

[very_goodman]

[Barry catches her, standing up and twirling her around as he hugs back before gently setting her down again. She's such a good kid.]

Haha, it's good to see you too!

[The big smile on his face should allay any fears she has that something's wrong. Well... wrong with him, at least.]

Actually, I was comin' to check and see how you're doin' after... y'know. All of that.

[The temple attack, the nasty fliers, etc.]

[ammyterasu]

[Her mouth drops open into a small 'o' shape as he admits why he's here. She shuffles her feet and looks down, a little abashed.]

Oh. Um... I guess I'm doing okay! As okay as I can be doing, I think...

[She clenches her fists and then looks at him with determination.]

I'm still working really hard!

[very_goodman]

Good girl.

[Barry smiles, patting her on the head. She's always so earnest.]

But y'know...

[His face goes serious again.]

...If ya need some help, you can always call on me.

[ammyterasu]

[She blinks up at him curiously.]

Oh! I know! I know that so many of the new gods and shinki are willing to help so much more than I could ever expect of them~

[Lol she's not getting it. Sorry Barry.]

[very_goodman]

It's more than that.

[Barry closes his eyes and bows his head for a moment.]

You've got so many shinki, so many advisors, but none of 'em could keep your temple safe. Next time it might be even worse. So...

[He makes a fist, thumping it against his chest as he looks her in the eye.]

...give me a name. So I can protect you too.

[ammyterasu]

[For a long moment, Amaterasu is taken aback. Never would she have thought that the reason for Barry's visit was to ask this - to offer himself to her.

But then a smile lights up her features, though she looks a little wary all the same.]

Are... you sure about that? I do not want you doing something that will ask of you more than you can handle.

[very_goodman]

[If she's searching Barry's features for guidance, he looks 100% confident in this offer. He's clearly given it some thought.]

Yeah. I'm sure. I wanna keep you safe, Ammy. I'll do whatever it takes.

[ammyterasu]

[That right there?

That earns him another, really tight hug.]

Then I will absolutely take you up on your offer! I couldn't possibly ask for a better shinki.

[very_goodman]

Great! I can't wait to tell Hiyoko!

[Barry.

Barry no.]

[ammyterasu]

[She pulls away and tilts her head at him.]

Hiyoko...?

Who is that?

[very_goodman]

Mielikki. She's my first goddess. We've been together since I first showed up here.

[He raises an eyebrow.]

That's, uh... that's not gonna be a problem, is it?

[ammyterasu]

[A frown creases her forehead as she considers his words.]

Hmmm.... It's highly frowned upon, but I know that many gods do employ noras...

[She raises a finger.]

It should be fine! As long as no one really knows about it, that is.

[very_goodman]

Don't worry, you can count on me!

[Barry grins, nodding enthusiastically.]

She doesn't even hafta know it's you, if ya don't want. She just likes to know when I'm moonlightin'.

[ammyterasu]

[She lets out a giggle. He's so excited about this. It's kinda cute!]

Oh, no, it's okay if your other goddess knows. I think that's only fair since I might have to call upon you sometime.

[very_goodman]

Sounds good to me!

[He's bad at keeping secrets anyway, hahaha.]

So, I'm ready whenever you are.

[ammyterasu]

[She nods, resolute, and thinks for a moment before raising her hand and drawing a character (奥) in the air.]

You, with nowhere to go and nowhere to return, I grant you a place to belong. My name is Amaterasu. Bearing a posthumous name, you shall remain here. With this name, I make thee my servant. With this name and its alternate, I use my life to make thee a vessel. Thou art Oku. As vessel, Ou. Come, Ouki!

[And she'll hold out her hand to him with a smile, waiting for whatever he might become to aid her.]

[very_goodman]

[Barry's grin only grows as Amaterasu chants the shinki naming rite. He might even be bouncing in place just a little. And once she's finished, he eagerly reaches out his hand to take hers. There's a flash of light, and she will find herself clad in what should be a somewhat familiar outfit if she's ever bothered to look at Barry's favorite t-shirt. No wand - that's his form for Hiyoko - but the Dia Witch Iroha outfit does look ridiculously adorable on the tiny goddess.]

Hey, this is new! What do I look like?

[ammyterasu]

[A tiny gasp escapes the goddess' mouth as she looks down to see the adorable outfit she is now sporting. She giggles and spins in place before prancing over to a full-length mirror.]

Here! Take a look! You look so cute, Barry-san~

[very_goodman]

You're the cute one here, Ammy-chan!

[Barry sounds entirely pleased to suddenly be a frilly skirt and top.]

So, uh... what kinda power did I get this time?

[ammyterasu]

[She giggles. Oh Barry~

Amaterasu twirls around, watching herself in the mirror and delighting in the way the dress moves on her.]

Hmmm! Let's see...

[Taking a deep breath, she looks to be in deep concentration for a few moments. And then her face lights up.]

You can push my enemies away!

[Would you look at that. She just knows.]

[very_goodman]

Hey, that sounds pretty useful!

[Definitely a good way to protect her, anyway.]

You wanna give it a try on somethin' in here?

[ammyterasu]

Hmmmmm!!!!!!!!!

[She looks around the room curiously.]

Okay! Let's pretend that pillow is a bad guy!

[Walking towards it, she sticks her hands out, in a pushing motion.]

Go away!

[very_goodman]

[The whole outfit glows for a moment, the light coalescing into Ammy's hands and bursting outward suddenly. The pillow goes flying, hitting the wall.]

Hey, pretty good! We make a great team!

[ammyterasu]

[She claps her hands together, delighted.]

That's amazing! You're a really wonderful shinki, Barry-san!

[...ah. She can't hug him like this... um... SHE HUGS HERSELF in an attempt to hug him.]

[very_goodman]

[Barry can't help but laugh at her reaction.]

Change me back and I'll give ya a real hug!

[ammyterasu]

Oh! Right!!

[She forgot, okay?? She smiles brightly.]

Return, Okuten!

[....oh. She looks awkward after saying that as he changes back.]

S-sorry. I mean Barry-san...

[very_goodman]

[And just like that, he's right back to his usual self.]

Hey, no problem! I don't mind.

[With a big grin, he picks her up and spins her around.]

C'mon, no frowns! Today's a happy day, right?

[ammyterasu]

[Ahhh! She's smiling again immediately, hugging him tightly and giggling as they spin.]

Right, right! I'll try to remember not to refer to you with the name I gave you unless I need to call you.

[She scratches her cheek.]

It's a very different situation than what I'm used to.

[very_goodman]

Yeah. After all, I'm kinda like a secret agent now!

[Barry sets her down before pressing a finger to his lips, winking.]

I can protect ya better the less people know about it. I'll be like your trump card.

[ammyterasu]

[She nods, enthusiastic!! A presses a finger to her own lips in mimicry of him.]

Right! We have to be veeeery careful about it!

[Then a thought occurs to her and she raises her eyes, like she's looking at the ceiling.]

Oh. But Ikuten already knows. I ... forgot. That's okay, right?

[very_goodman]

Ikuten...? Who's that?

[Barry tenses up, looking around and eventually following her gaze to the ceiling.]

Was somebody else here the whole time?

[ammyterasu]

[...!! Oh! Right! Amaterasu laughs. Actually, it's more of a girlish giggle. Ahhh.]

Oh no, I'm sorry! Sometimes I forget I'm the only one who knows she's here.

[She touches her headdress softly and it glints in the light.]

Barry-san, this is Ikuten. She is my guidepost and she thinks very highly of you.

[very_goodman]

[Barry tilts his head for a moment before leaning in for a closer look.]

Well, any friend of Ammy's is a friend of mine! Nice to meet ya, Ikuten!

[ammyterasu]

[With another giggle, Amaterasu tilts her head to the side.]

She says it's nice to formally meet you as well. And that she hopes you will understand the need to keep her existence a secret.

[She lets out a soft sigh.]

Ikuten is very strict sometimes.

[very_goodman]

You got it! One secret agent to another, right?

[Barry seems to be taking it in stride, winking and laughing.]

[ammyterasu]

[Bless him, honestly.

Ammy grins brightly.]

I like the sound of that! You're my special, secret shinki.

[She puts a hand on his arm.]

And my very good friend.

[very_goodman]

You're a good girl, Ammy.

[Barry smiles, patting her on the head.]

You just keep doin' your best, okay? Just do your best, and it'll all work out.