open/catchall: a sensei's job is never done

[reformedsinner]

Who: Cho Hakkai and you!
What: Kicking around the Heavens, refereeing pet conflicts, providing an education and continuing to test his new medication powers on unknowing human subjects
Where: Various
When: August 6 - 10, 2016

Chicken Feed - August 6

[Hakkai owes a few thank-yous for the help he got while he was sick. As annoying as it is to have needed so much help, he can't exactly ignore it; so he's gone the domestic route, made up a truly astounding number of small fruit baskets and other little food gifts, and is paying visits to the temples of his helpers to leave them by the front door.

He knocks first, of course, to deliver his thanks in person, but if no one answers he'll just leave the basket with its little thank-you tag.

At Sharak Sanzo's temple, he encounters a slight snag, namely, the fact that he can't seem to get anywhere near close enough to leave the basket on the front stoop. It's shielded, and he's going to have to wait until a resident wanders by.

A few of the resident chickens notice his presence, and peck their way thoughtfully in his direction, and Hakkai considers them, and considers the basket he's brought Sharak... and opens up the large bag of freeze-dried mealworm treats to start tossing them to the chickens. Until someone notices and lets him in, passersby may notice Hakkai crouched on the roadside surrounded by a dozen eager hens, offering little dried worms to each one by hand. It's only a matter of time before he starts convincing them to do tricks.]

Reading, Rites & 'Rithmetic - August 8 & 10

[Hakkai's at the school for his classes as usual, but before and after class, he's also putting up some hand-written flyers in the downstairs hallway. They read,

Seeking Shinki & Anyone Willing to Teach Shinki Spells

Practical Daily Lessons: Borderlines, Spellcasting, Shinki Combat Advice

Knowledge Shared is Knowledge Gained. Contact Cho Hakkai If Interested.

They're also illustrated with helpful hand-drawn ayakashi in a creepy, technically proficient but over-detailed style that makes the creatures even more grotesque. Hakkai, when not teaching or pasting up flyers, can be found in the library on the ground floor grading math workbooks.]

Herding Cats - August 9

Kishi, he doesn't want to play with you.

[Hakkai is standing in his temple's entryway, doors thrown wide, addressing a black-and-white cat in an exasperated tone. The cat is on his hind legs, pawing at Hakkai's knee and patting his thigh entreatingly as he meows at the white dragon curled up on Hakkai's shoulders. Another cat, a grayish tabby, trots up to the tableau, sits down, looks up at the dragon and adds her demanding meow to the first cat's.

Hakkai looks like he's developing a headache.]

Musha, no. Kishi! Down.

[Reluctantly, the black-and-white cat drops back down to his haunches and meows again. Hakkai lifts a finger scoldingly in their direction.] Go play.

[Suddenly, Jeep flares his wings, catches the wind, and drops from Hakkai's shoulders to soar up and a few feet further away from the entryway, into the front street. Musha and Kishi tear after him, eager paws kicking up dust from the roadway.

Jeep, midair, transforms, and a jeep thuds down onto the street right in front of the cats' noses. They yowl, hiss, and break for the safety of the temple, moving so fast there's nothing but a few floating hairs left in their wake. The Jeep's headlights blink on and off in something that looks a lot like silent, smug laughter, and Hakkai sighs wearily.]

Well, that's one way to teach them.

Heavenly Delivery Service - August 6 - 10

[When he's not otherwise occupied, Hakkai's still taking his homemade, and divinely powerful, medicines down to followers praying for healing. He has a large and carefully sectioned toolbox, padded with folded cloth for the glass jars and bottles, that goes with him, and a long handwritten list of prayers. Even with teleportation taking him to the general area, he's having to do some walking around and asking directions before he finds the proper house.

It doesn't help that quite a lot of them are in apartment buildings, although, at least, gods don't need to be buzzed in by a resident.

Anyone near enough to one of his prayer delivery locations might find themselves approached by a young man in a monocle, clearing his throat politely as he shifts the extremely large and heavy toolbox he's holding, and glances down at a memo pad in his free hand.]

Excuse me. Would you happen to know where...

[He flips a page.]

Happy Takada Apartments is? It's supposed to be somewhere in this neighborhood.

Comments

Herding Cats

[bartenderizing]

[ It's weird- he was just stopping by to check on something, or someone. Whatever it was, that reason had completely escaped the moment a jeep dropped from the sky and there was a cat latched onto Shizuo's face. It must've happened because he was close enough and one of the cats ran into the other in their mad dash to escape.

It's okay. He's fine. It's fine. The cat will probably end up using the top of his head as a safe place from the sudden vehicle.

Well, Shizuo's noticeably a little thinner than he usually is (if that seemed to be possible,) but it's not like he's bleeding or anything. ]

... Do I wanna know?

[reformedsinner]

[Musha is clinging to Shizuo's hair. Hakkai heads over, mild concern on his face. Well, the cat's not hurt and Shizuo doesn't look as though he's bleeding, although there must be scratches somewhere; Hakkai reaches out to help detach her from his head.]

Oh my. -- We're just having some minor disagreements with the new roommates. How have you been?

[He looks thinner, and he hadn't had much weight to lose. Hakkai eyes him.]

Working hard?

[bartenderizing]

And one of them's... throwing cars?

[ The question doesn't seem so ridiculous to Shizuo. Not just because it sounds normal to him, but it's not like everyone was normal and he wasn't looking to see that the jeep was originally a small white dragon.

At least he's having the consideration of bending his knees enough for Hakkai to get an easier hold of the cat. Mostly to avoid accidentally hurting it (though he seems to have a little practice doing this.) Maybe if he knew the cat more, he'd be able to handle it without worrying, but not when it seems to be in a bit of a panic. It looks like he's no worse for wear, and any scratches didn't have enough of an impact to leave much in the way of marks. ]

Just working a little more than usual, now that Izumo's been sleeping a while. It's not too much more. Now I know I was coming here for something... May as well check while I'm here, though; How's Ayumu adjusting to things?

[ It'd been a little while since he's seen her and, with Hakkai having been around for a lot longer than him, he'd have a better idea of whether she's getting along well. Also, he's checking his phone to figure out that other reason. ]

Delivery Aug 6

[returnedfromtheline]

[It's a Sunday and Yukine is regrettably idle.
Sitting under the shade of a tree and wondering where he can go to take in some air conditioning, he's brought out of his hazy pondering at the familiar voice. Tilting back his head to look up at Hakkai he grins faintly.]

Sure. It's easy to miss- despite the name it's not especially tall or happy-looking.
Are you going to fix it up or somethin', Hakkai-san?

[Because that toolbox is impossible to miss. And-]

It's only been a few days since you were face-first in the dirt, you know.

[reformedsinner]

I know, I know. It turned out that there was a curse on those charms after all -- I thought their energy was a bit odd....

So now that I've disposed of them, I'm feeling much better.

[He hefts the toolbox and adds, amused:]

I'm not very good at home repair. This is for medicines, in fact; I'm answering a prayer.

If you're not busy, would you mind showing me where it is?

[He tucks the memo pad into his shirt pocket and offers Yukine a hand up.]

chicken feed + other treats

[revolutionfalcon]

[Unfortunately for the both of them, Shun is exactly the kind of person who keeps a close ear and eye on his door if he's home. And given he's just had Nanako over this morning and is now waiting on Ren for training, he is very definitely home at the time Hakkai elects to bring his thanks over.

He does, at least, open the door somewhat reluctantly even after seeing who it is, but he levels Hakkai with a rather flat stare that tracks down to the gift basket and then back up to his face without becoming any less unwelcoming.]

Really? [Given his attitude towards shows of thanks is pretty well-documented, he does wonder briefly if this is even so much an attempt at thanks as one at annoying him.]

[reformedsinner]

Really.

[The annoyance is just a side benefit. Hakkai has a few other baskets and small wrapped gifts in his arms, but he's holding out the one marked for Shun. It has a few bags of bacon jerky in it, a neatly wrapped stack of cookies and a few peaches.]

I wasn't sure what your taste in fruit was, but at least the jerky should make a nice treat for your vultures.

[And although he doesn't think Shun likes sweets, he does know that Shun is friends with Ren... and Ren should take care of any leftover cookies.]

Thank you for your assistance the other day.

bawk bawk bawk

[bussounoshima]

[She really should work out a more subtle distinction for Kouten to work with than "invited" and "not invited", Sharak thinks, watching Hakkai from the temple entrance at the top of the hill. It was fine at Kouten castle, with dozens of people who could keep an eye on who came and went and with the enemy so clearly defined as "people who want to rob and eat us", but this is getting to be silly.

Still, for every awkward friend left waiting at the gate there's a nosy neighbour who thinks the lack of door means they can just let themselves in, so maybe it's worth it. Gojyo is probably a fan, at least.]

You're going to spoil them. [Sharak walks down the hill to meet Hakkai at the barrier.] They're not used to being doted on like that.

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai, at least, doesn't mind having to wait at the gate. It's much better than awkwardly running into Gojyo when he knocks... although, to be fair, the basket he's bringing to Sharak's temple is a bit oversized because half of it is for Gojyo. He hands off another freeze-dried mealworm to a chicken, and smiles up at her.]

They have decent manners. With a little work, you might even be able to train them.

[That said, he'll stand, dropping the rest of the mealworm handful back into the bag and brushing a few crumbs off his knees.]

I brought this by to thank you for your help the other day. And Gojyo for his, for that matter.

[He holds out the basket. Apart from the freeze-dried mealworm chicken treats, there are oranges, grapes, a wrapped set of steamed pork buns and a small jar of nice kimchi.]

I hope things have been going well?

[And he hasn't had any more problems with blight since Hakkai's clumsy and half-delirious attempt to throw him off the trail of his past with the story about his time as a god...?]

Heavenly Delivery Service

[solaris9]

[ The thing about the Near Shore is, it's full of people. Everywhere. Goku is easily distracted by all the goings on, lights flashing, cars beeping, people brushing past in a hurry to go somewhere. Everyone is heading somewhere, usually at a very fast pace. It doesn't help that they can't see him, or that he's constantly staring this way and that, taking in the sights as he walks. Every corner you turn, there's something new that demands his attention.

Today he's trying to stay focused, though. Hakkai needs his help. He carries Hakkai's large box filled with medicine. They look pretty fragile in their glass bottles and such, so he's trying to be careful not to get bumped. Thankfully, they turn a corner into a side street that's much less crowded.

He waits as Hakkai asks for directions. Something like a shadow passes over them. Maybe it's nothing. Actually, it's a fairly common thing in the Near Shore... He follows it in the corner of his eye, nevertheless. Just in case. ]

So, did he know?

[reformedsinner]

Yes, he did. [Hakkai tosses Goku a cheerful grin. There's something oddly homey and comforting, he has to admit, about taking Goku out on an errand. He'll have to be careful to keep Goku safe, of course, since he's still fairly new as a shinki. But he's glad the younger man had asked if he could come.

He glances up as something whisks out of view above them, behind the edge of the nearest building's roof. He hadn't quite gotten a good look. An ayakashi?

If so, it's not descending on them. Yet. No need to pick a fight.]

It's two blocks east, and, ah... apparently we'll be able to recognize it because it's painted purple and yellow.

[Unless they're very faint tints of purple and yellow, it might actually be one of those rare "you can't miss it" cases where the building is in fact impossible to miss.]

Reading, Rites & 'Rithmetic

[thevanguard]

[ It's a whim (and maybe boredom) that has Yata swinging past the school one afternoon, just in time to see Hakkai hanging up fliers. Unlike the last time he was here, there is no bored Goten outside to lure away and he actually stops to poke his nose around the place curiously when he'd never before been inclined to even give the place a second glance. Hakkai had made an impression, however, so here he was, looking extremely out of place and uncomfortable for reasons he couldn't even begin to decipher.

Catching sight of the lettering on the fliers as he pauses behind the god, he arches an eyebrow curiously. ]

Huh. You really do go all out here, huh?

[reformedsinner]

Yata? Good afternoon. [Hakkai flashes him a quick cheerful smile, sticks the last bit of tape onto a corner, and stands back from the flier.]

I suppose so. We're still rather small, but there's a lot to learn for many of us.

[Amused, he adds:] I've thought of holding some basic technology classes for the gods and shinki who don't know what to do with a phone, too, but I'd need someone a little better with theirs than I am to teach it.

hakkai knows the way to his heart: food

[kokuyoyo]

[The good news is that it's not Axel who answers the simple door to Hestia's deceivingly little temple or the much louder Ken, but indeed Chikusa himself who peers out through a crack with a bit wariness.]

....We don't need a cold spreading here...

[reformedsinner]

I'm entirely recovered! In fact, it seems it was mostly due to a few cursed amulets I'd picked up to look over later.

[So: not contagious. You're safe, Chikusa! Hakkai holds out the remaining basket, which is covered with a prettily embroidered cloth and smells of steamed pork buns as well as, less obviously, fresh summer fruits.]

I thought I'd bring by a thank-you for your help.

Herding Cats

[noli_oblivisci]

Oh-

[An exclamation that had a lot of meanings to it: first, the fact were two cats chasing something; second, that said thing looked like a lizard...dragon?!; third, and probably the biggest thing, said dragon suddenly becoming a jeep and scaring the cats away. Psyche automatically reached for one of the cats as it nearly smacked into a nearby wall but it skittered away from her and the wall, all the way back to presumed safety.

[There was a flicker of concern...followed by a faint twitch in her eye as she looked back at the dragon...jeep's presumed owner. Her tone remained even, though]

There are better ways ways to deal with cats than scaring the crap out of them...

[reformedsinner]

Shouldn't you talk to Jeep about that, and not me?

[Hakkai waves at the car, whose engine rumbles in response, and raises his eyebrows at the young woman.]

-- Kishi and Musha will be fine.

[The black-and-white cat, in fact, is already sneaking back into view behind Hakkai's ankles, fur bristling all down his back and tail twice its normal size as he stares at the car.]

Delivery

[lookingforhead]

[Celty was doing a bit of people watching when Hakkai walks up to her. She jerks a bit in surprise at being spoken to, the melting into the background as a denizen of the Near Shore being something she's quickly gotten used to. She points at herself first to verify he's talking to her and then strikes a thinking pose.

Ultimately though she's forced to pull out her phone and pulls up a map app. She takes care to let Hakkai see the screen the whole time to make it clear she's not ignoring him. After about a minute she has the address pulled up, and it looks like it's two blocks away but down an L turn that might have been easily missed if he were eyeballing it.]

[reformedsinner]

Ah... hmm. [Hakkai scans her phone screen with care, nodding. So that's where he missed it; he'd expected the building itself to front the street.

Curiously, he glances at her again.]

You're Sharak's shinki, aren't you?

-- May I ask what brings you down here?

[He pats his pocket with his free hand, and produces a notepad, offering it in case she prefers to write.]

Reading

[shiitan]

[He'd been putting off returning this library book for a while now. Not because he really needed it for anything, or that he was embarrassed about having the book (that would require him to have any sense of shame), but the circumstances behind him borrowing the book were pretty strange, after all.

On his way to the library, he noticed the posted flyers. Maybe that was a bit of a misnomer though, because it wasn't so much the flyers as a whole that drew his attention. It was the drawings. He had to wonder if they scared people away instead of drawing them in, and the thought was a bit funny.

Don't mind him, he was just going to borrow this flyer for a little while.]

[reformedsinner]

Sorry, but could you leave that on the wall? I've just put them up....

[Hakkai has clearly chosen just the right timing to head downstairs from his afternoon class. If he hadn't come down the stairs before Ross turned the corner, he'd have been down one flyer.

Perhaps one of the next pieces of school equipment he should save up for is a xerox machine, or at least a multifunction printer, he reflects, and waves cheerily at Ross.]

August 8

[tuishou]

[He'd meant to come before class-- so that's one thing Neji's done as intended lately, and he'll celebrate the triviality of it. As much as he can, anyway. He is still wandering in through school doors and has he ever mentioned the pinprick of dissatisfaction that messes with him when he steps through the halls? No? Well, this school at least has windows and Neji is determined to take his damn time.

That is, until he spots Hakkai hanging up some...thing, and Neji wonders about just returning at a later time. But no.] Do we know if the spells will work on gods or not?

[--what, was he not supposed to ask Hakkai of all people because of some dueling streak of superiority or...? Anyway, save for his Name now gripping his throat, the boy's looking none the worse for wear.]

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai's glance flicks first to the new name on Neji's throat, then to his face. So, he's been assigned.

Does that have anything to do, Hakkai wonders, with his question?]

I haven't tried them on gods.

[He smiles, suddenly and cheerily.]

But I'm willing to volunteer as a target to test that question!

august 8

[smilingbullet]

[ D2 wasn't at home when Hakkai dropped by Lakshmi's temple, instead he was out on his part-time job in the Near Shore. They days have been pretty packed with language lessons booked by phone app, so it's first on the 8th that he's able to drop by the school.

Once he gets there he finds Hakkai in a hallway and he reaches around him without minding the close proximity they're in as he taps the picture on the particular flyer he's putting up. (Personal space? What is personal space?) ]

Did you draw that?

[ Anyway, he's curious. ]

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai would really prefer more personal space, but it seems a little silly to object when D2 had been carrying him around in his arms like a blushing bride only a few days ago. Complete with the blush, thanks to the fever, he reflects with a wry smile. He doesn't lean away.]

Yes, I did.

[He taps his chin, considering it.]

... Do you think it suits the mood?

[Maybe it is a little too grotesque....]