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

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

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.

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'Kay.

[Yukine pulls out a tray and starts setting the snacks, giving Hakkai-san a glance when he comes over too. Oops~ did he show you up a bit?

It takes only a minute to do, but it also only takes a minute to make tea, so Yukine takes the snacks to the table, and after placing the lacquered tray carefully in the center he takes a seat. He then promptly tries to entice the cat over to play with him.]

What's your cat's name?

[Just a bit! Hakkai's return glance is amused, and he carries the steaming teacups carefully back to the table once Shimoda has finished filling them. She follows, and folds herself down onto one of the cushions with creaky care.

"That's Mako," she tells Yukine as the cat eagerly bounds over to bat at his fingertips. "You watch out and tell him no if he scratches you."

Hakkai settles in on his cushion, picking up the teacup (still a little warm) and taking a careful sip.]

It's delicious, Shimoda-san. Thank you for your hospitality.

[She waves off the politeness and picks up her own cup, sipping.

"Oh, it's nothing. Are you new? I don't remember either of you coming by before."]

We're part-time.

Mako~ [Yukine nods to the advice and lets the cat come after his fingers, skillfully turning it into petting Mako's head. From his expression, he's going to forget all about his tea and snacks at this rate...

His attention does return to the others briefly at the granny's question and Hakkai's lie.
Of course, not like the truth would be very easy to swallow either, but if she's a believer in whatever god Hakkai's standing in for, she should accept it on some level. Besides, if not enough people believe in him, won't that mean he'll disappear?

And-- hold on! At least make it a better lie!]

He's part time. I'm a student.

[Yukine figures he'd better clear that one up at least. Does he look old enough to be a part-timer at a drug store, Hakkai-san? Thanks, but probably not.]

Ah ha ha, well, yes. [Hakkai ducks his head in a good imitation of a bashful young man. Shimoda eyes him with a look that makes him wonder if she's seeing right through it, but she sips her tea instead and doesn't answer.]

Perhaps we'll end up delivering to you again! We'll have to see.

[Mako certainly seems to be enjoying it: he's purring and butting his head against Yukine's fingers insistently to get him to scratch just the right spot.]

[Grannies can be pretty sharp, Hakkai-san. Don't underestimate them...

Yukine, with his head low as he plays with Mako, frowns a little. The chances of him coming back here are pretty much zero. But he's used to it. It's not like Yato even gets repeat customers.

So he rubs Mako extra-hard for a moment, then while petting the cat gently with one hand he sits up and reaches for his tea.]

Thanks-- Thank you for the tea. [Getting into super-polite mode takes a bit.]

Mako is really cute. [Okay so not the most creative compliment, but it's true and he's trying to make conversation...]

[So they can. Hakkai can usually handle older adults, but his social skills flounder when it comes to no-bullshit retirees.

This may be related to the fact that his social skills depend on a solid foundation of bullshit. He smiles, and sits quietly with his tea while the old woman's attention switches to Yukine. He isn't likely to come back, unless one course of medicine isn't enough, and even then he isn't willing to bet he will still be here by then.

Shimoda breaks into a smile at Yukine's compliment to her cat.

"You like cats? He's good company for an old lady," she says, pats the pockets of her housedress, and extracts a knotted cord. She holds it out to Yukine. "But he's got so much energy. Why don't you play with him a little?"]

[Yukine, you missed your calling as a pet sitter.]

[Although he tries to downplay it, simply giving an affirmative noise that he likes cats, he takes the cord eagerly enough. He then finishes off his tea in one long gulp.]

Thanks for the tea. It was good.
Leave it to me- I'll tire 'em out.

[He then turns to Hakkai-san.]

Just let me know when you're ready to go, 'kay?

[And off he rolls to play with the cat.]

Of course.

[It's a shame Hakkai doesn't get many prayers to take care of animals, he thinks, watching Yukine play. He'd certainly have to pass them along to Yato.

A bit of extra work would do him good, and Yukine clearly enjoys it.

Shimoda trades a few more little pleasantries, and Hakkai finds himself inventing a sketch of his family history. Businessman father, mother who gardens, only child, no, thank you, he doesn't need to be introduced to her single granddaughter his age.

The tea runs out before she can quiz him about his fictional girlfriend, and he stands to help her take the tea service over to her sink. He's halfway there, hands full of rustic cups, when she calls over to him.

"Why is the Chin Pharmacy sending me medicine when I always order them from Dr. Ota?"

Hakkai pauses, and looks back over his shoulder at Shimoda, who hasn't yet tried the challenging task of getting back up from her cushion, and is giving him the tiny smirk of a woman who has known he's full of it for at least twenty minutes of conversation.]

Ah. That is...

[In the corner of the room Yukine is twitching the cord for Mako without really watching. And he thought the bits about the granddaughter and the girlfriend were good- Right now, he's far more interested in Hakkai-san being pinned down like this.

As another god's shinki it's not his obligation to help him out, but as his senpai he'll give his advice.

Although he's at the corner of the granny's vision he lifts an eyebrow and mouths at Hakkai:

Truth. Tell her the truth.]

[Lip reading is not Hakkai's best skill, but Yukine's not being subtle about his message.

Honesty is really not his best skill... and yet, Yukine knows how the old gods answer prayers. Or, at least, how his old god does. Honesty doesn't seem to be discouraged, then, even if Shimoda is surprisingly perceptive. He sets the cups down carefully on the sliver of counter next to her sink, and turns, bowing in apology.]

Why did you have a payment envelope ready for me if you don't order your medicine from Chin Pharmacy?

[She waves her hand with an impatient, "Oh, it's empty. I wouldn't have let you leave with it."]

... I see.

I'm not a pharmacy employee at all, Shimoda-san. You may know me as Iron Crutch Li.

[There's a long silence in the room as Shimoda stares at him, narrow-eyed.

Hakkai waits until, at last, she declares, "You are much younger than I thought you'd be."]

[Ohh, nice counter there, Hakkai-san.
But Yukine is relieved when he gives his god-name. (Iron Crutch Li? Sounds like a character from a 2P fighting game. Haa.)

He stifles his amusement in the silence that follows, and is again relieved when the granny seems to accept it. There ya go. Telling the truth works for more than just that idiot Yato.

As the granny turns her eyes towards him he quickly volunteers,]

I really am his student. [Under her gaze he elaborates,] Not in medicine. In more regular stuff, like math.

[And Hakkai doesn't even have an iron crutch to go with the position. It would have come in handy the other day if he did.

He smiles politely at Shimoda, avoids any confusing explanation about the current state of the Heavens, and simply replies:]

This isn't always what I look like.

[-- which does, in fact, fit the stories he's read about his predecessor. Shimoda accepts it with a huh, and looks with new interest at Yukine.

"And the Tao?" she inquires. Hakkai clears his throat.]

No -- just math. He's helping me with directions.

[He extracts the empty envelope from his pocket and walks over to place it back on the table.]

If you're going to make any donations for the medicine, leave them with my temple. The salve should make it much easier for you to manage the stairs.

[She looks at the envelope in silence, then shuffles carefully around on her cushion until she's facing Hakkai, and bows, stiffly but almost until her head touches the ground.]

[If Yukine were to keep comparing Yato and Hakkai-san, here is something that Yato almost never gets to see. A follower bowing in appreciation.

Roughly combing one hand through his hair, he gives Mako another firm rub from head to tail before standing. He can read the atmosphere. It's about time to go, isn't it. He takes the tray of snacks with him back to the kitchen as he passes by. (One less trip for her to make.)]

Thanks for your hospitality.

[See, this is why he hadn't wanted to be honest with her. Now he has awkward gratitude to deal with.

Hakkai clears his throat, and smiles a bit awkwardly at Shimoda.]

Please -- there's no need for that. It's my pleasure.

And we're very grateful for your hospitality.

[She creaks her way back up to a seated position, considers standing, and waves Hakkai down towards her.

"Lend me your arm, enlightened one?"

Smiling despite himself, he takes her elbow and helps her to her feet before he offers her a polite little bow and begins to take his leave as well.]

[You're a god, so this is what you do.
But Yukine gets it- it is a bit awkward.

He would hand Hakkai-san his box, but honestly, he's not about to try lifting it right this second. It could end up embarrassing if it's as heavy as it looks.

Instead he leans in close to him as he puts on his shoes-]

'Gonna teleport us out?

[You know, you've gone this far might as well make the grand exit. Not like she'll remember it well anyway.
...And he wonders if Mako might make a break for the outdoors to follow him. (The bitty kitty looks a bit forlorn to be losing his new friend, don't you think?)]

The stairs are good exercise! And I don't like to show off too much, Yukine....

[At least, not to strangers. He saves that sort of thing for friends and enemies. Mako is definitely eyeing the door, though, and Hakkai doesn't want to chase a tiny cat down four flights of wooden stairs. He secures the clasps on his medicine box, hefts it, and sighs, holding out a hand for Yukine. Off they go.]

But all right. Please take care, Shimoda-san.

[Chasing a tiny cat would be even better exercise.
He's glad that Hakkai-san relented.

Yukine gives the offered hand a look (what the hell I'm not holding your hand like a girl!), then nodding at it like it's some sort of signal, he stands to Hakkai's side and puts one hand on his shoulder.

He smiles gratefully at the granny and Mako.]

Thank you again. Take care.

[Ah, teenage boys and their pride... well, if Yukine feels secure enough just to put one hand on Hakkai's shoulder to teleport along rather than holding his hand like a child, Hakkai won't insist. Shimoda's confused look goes to amazement in the split second as they start to vanish, and then, a moment later, they're standing under the tree where Hakkai had encountered Yukine a half-hour earlier. He smiles cheerfully.]

Thank you, Yukine. I hope you enjoyed the trip?

[And the cat....]

[He nods and steps back to lean against the tree.]

Mm. It was interesting. You do things really differently. I guess that's t' be expected- being new and all-- But lock-picking? Really? Even a god is going to get in trouble for that. I mean, sure, some tact is required. You know Yato- he'll tell anyone who will listen that he's a god. But you shouldn't hide it under lame lies either. You might lose followers... and a god who isn't believed in anymore disappears.

I suppose I could have appeared in her living room, but I was concerned that might be too much of a shock.

[And she's not as young as she once had been... but, well, all right, she had perhaps not been the sort of fragile old woman who'd be frightened to death by a strange young man in her living room. At all. He'll keep it in mind for next time.

He shrugs after a moment, and adds:]

Besides, it's been a while since my correspondence course, and I wouldn't like to lose the skill.

As for belief...

[He meets Yukine's gaze.]

Aren't I likely to disappear whether I'm believed in or not?

Edited 2017-07-30 00:52 (UTC)

[Yukine nods slightly- he gets his reason for doing it. Plus he'd said earlier that it was dangerous to teleport into someplace you couldn't see. Makes sense. Maybe that was why Yato used the phone? But still, breaking in like that is just not good. He's seriously gonna get caught one day.
Correspondence course? Is he joking? Anyway--

The question makes him wince uncomfortably, but he forces himself to keep eye contact with Hakkai.]

You're right. You new guys do your best, answer prayers, and still disappear for some reason.
So it means that a lack of followers isn't the only reason that you might go. ... I'd rather that you all really 'go back' instead of 'disappear'.

[... and it's true, anyway. Hakkai lets his gaze fall from Yukine's, as his own smile goes slightly lopsided.]

It's a thought. At least I can say, now, that whatever happened while I was away, I don't remember it.

So it's not a terrible fate.

[Disappearing into oblivion isn't the fate he wants for himself, or for any of his friends -- here or elsewhere. Here, or gone already. And he still hasn't managed to make any real strides towards understanding why it happens, or how to get them home.]

'Course not, because you don't remember it.

[This leads down towards why it's not good to bother thinking about things that have passed. Things better left unremembered. Who knows if it was terrible or not? Which would be worse?

Giving an irritated tsk under his breath to dismiss those thoughts, he shifts his posture and puts his hands in his pockets. ]

Anyway, are you done for today? Or for around here, at least? If you need to find another place though, I can at least get you there again.

Let's see... [He pulls out his notepad again, flipping through it.]

... no, that was the last one for today. [With a quick smile at Yukine, he adds:] I should head back home and see how Ayumu is doing. I'll see you in class, if not before, then?

Yep. Tomorrow for sure, so I can give Jeep that fish. [Learning to drive- it will be a thing. But he owed Jeep one for his help getting passed-out Hakkai back to his place anyway.]

See ya then, Hakkai-san.

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reformedsinner - 2017-08-01 17:00 (UTC) - Expand

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