thenearshore | 19 | Peaceful Departure

19 | Peaceful Departure

Who: Everyone!
What: Celebrating Obon
When: Evening August 10
Where: The Near Shore
Summary: Mortals may be partying, but there's lots of work for the denizens of the Far Shore to do.

It's the final day of Obon and spirits are being sent back to their homes -- both the ancestral spirits that have been welcomed home for the duration of the festival and the mischievous spirits that have been plaguing the Heavens. But some of them might not go easy, so Amaterasu has requested that gods and shinki old and new alike help ensure the spirits' peaceful departure.

Mukae-bi

Fires have been lit on hillsides and near cemeteries to lead the spirits back to their resting places and to protect them on their way, but angry ghosts and ayakashi are trying to quench the fires so they can attack weaker spirits. Keep the firewood stocked and the fires blazing high while you fight off the attacks.

Heavenly Exorcisms

Guarding the Gates

Hidden pathways into the underworld in caves throughout Japan are open from sunset to moonset on this night to allow the spirits who have temporarily left to return. Gods and shinki must watch over these pathways and ensure that no dangerous ayakashi take the opportunity to escape from the underworld before the moon sets.

After-party

After the moon sets, the denizens of the Heavens can finally kick back. Everyone is invited to a private hot spring on the Far Shore, where a midnight banquet spread is waiting in thanks for their hard work. Wash off any blight in the hot springs and enjoy the banquet before heading back home for a good night's sleep.

In Summary:

Keep the fires burning
Exorcise those annoying spirits
Fight powerful ayakashi
Enjoy a banquet
Have fun~

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[A: Mukae-bi]

[As someone whose godly domain covers cemeteries anyway, keeping the fires burning is something Shun considers part of his role here regardless of need. Though he's planning to contact his shinki at first opportunity, for now, he's largely focusing on running the firewood - his strength and endurance means he knows he'll be able to keep it up for quite a while, and he's still got his canteen of blessed water in case any of the ayakashi have gotten too close, as well as the evil-dispelling charm he picked up earlier in the week with all the curses flying around. All he needs to do is fend them off temporarily.

Sometimes, it's going to take a bit more than those two things, though, and if Shun passes anyone on the way back to the fires in question, two bundles of firewood under one arm, he nods at the enclosed ayakashi before addressing them.]

We need to keep them off the fire while I add this to it, otherwise it's going to be out in minutes at best.

--

[B: Guarding the Gates]

[Though Shun would like to be able to cover more than one of the hidden pathways, unfortunately even he has to acquiesce to the fact that he's only one person. Still, he does teleport between the caves every so often, keeping an eye on them and making sure all of them are covered, or at least checked.

If there's a cave with nobody in it, he'll wait until someone arrives, eying them up and down before glancing over to the passage to the underworld.]

Have you got a decent way to block this off? [Might as well make sure they can handle it effectively.]

--

[C: Afterparty]

[As ever, Shun is visibly not pleased by being present at the afterparty, and most certainly avoiding the banquet table. He can eat when he gets home, however late that happens to be. Or early, given the time they'd been working. He did, however, have a couple of close encounters with ayakashi today, so he's not too proud to take up a spot in the hot springs for a while once he becomes aware it cleanses blight. With just a towel wrapped around his waist, anyone approaching from behind stands a chance of spotting the pitted scars around the base of his neck, as if something heavy had scraped across it, but they're unlikely to get closer than a few steps away before Shun turns his head towards them.]

If you're here to try and drag me to the food, don't bother.

--

[D: Wildcard]

[[If you have another idea, hit me up at

reviseleviathan to plot!]]

[A: Mukae-bi]

[On one hand, Davesprite has an edge on both keeping ayakashi away from the fires and getting firewood to them, since flying overhead is a surprisingly effective response to most of the angry spirits. Unfortunately, he can only be so lucky, and there are a couple of times the ayakashi are just too close to the fires for him to really be able to do anything while also carrying his cargo.

Right now, he's got about three lines up, forming a loose triangle around the fire, but he can't exactly ditch the area to go and get the wood he had to leave nearby. So as soon as he spots someone, he draws another line to force a gap through the ayakashi to talk to them.]

Hey, so, completely off-topic question, there wouldn't happen to be a couple of bundles of dropped firewood over there, would there.

--

[B: Heavenly Exorcisms]

[Davesprite has dealt with enough possessed blankets this week to break a lesser man(-bird), and he's only too happy to have a way to get rid of the damned things.

Still, he seems to be trying to have some sympathy for his brethren, given the fact that he's wafting a particularly stubborn one over one of the purifying pyres rather than throwing it straight in.]

Look, dude, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.

--

[C: Afterparty]

[It still feels a bit weird to be hanging around people too much again after what he remembered recently, but Davesprite's mostly floating over the hot spring with a bowl of cheese chips pilfered from the food table.

Anyone in the spring stands a not-insignificant chance of an orange, taloned hand reaching down from above to offer the bowl to them.]

The food table's right over there, but who the fuck can be bothered to get out of the water for that, right.

i. The Ring of Fire

[ Whether by coincidence or design, Mikoto wakes from his slumber on the last night of Obon when the fires need to be kept burning guiding the way for all the lost souls, a task well suited for the Red King. Deep into the evening, a blazing fire can be seen spreading wide from hilltop down to a children's cemetery that's impossible to put out. The fires burn bright, stemming from a sole occupant who stands at the gates protecting the way for all the lost children. ]

a) Nightlight

[ Mikoto can be seen holding a small child's hand as he walks them down the path flanked by fire. It blazes bright, driving away the shadows, before calming to a more steady pace as the pair moves on. The pattern continues until the child stops, the fire throwing light on a stranger up ahead. ]

b) The Sun God & His Sword

[ Near the end of the night, while the moon hovers above lending its calming light on the world below, the sun god helps her light the way. A grand fireball burns bright above the cemetery, driving away the shadows. High above the artificial sun, the Red Sword of Damocles hovers in the air pointed straight at the King below. A passerby might notice the damaged state of the mile-long sword. It's crumbling and pieces have already broken off from the once mighty blade yet it stands tall, hovering above its King. ]

[ ooc; Sword of Damocles FAQ, generously offered by

mostsuitable. ]

ii. Wildcard

[ ota. Set-up your own scenario! ]

Edited 2017-08-02 05:23 (UTC)

[A. Guarding the Gates - Closed to Cardia, Allen Walker, Shun Kurosaki, and possibly Izuku Midoriya]

[Unfortunately, while some gods and shinki might be watching over the pathways, there's something oddly out of place here. Slumped near one of the pathways is a certain redhead. He doesn't seem to know what's going on or the fact that he's even moving, but it's easy to miss him at first if someone isn't really looking.

His fingers twitches when he hears something approaching, but otherwise, he doesn't move.]

[B. After-Party]

[After being found and (somewhat) tended to, Lavi can be found at the after party.

He still looks as if he's literally gone through Hell and back, looking worn out. He can be found sitting against the wall near the banquat table, eying anyone who approaches him warily. Do take care not to startle him too much. His poor body wouldn't be able to handle the strain.]

[C. Wildcard.]

[Due to Lavi being recently canon-updated to having this guy's lovely parasites inside of him, he won't be moving much. So, after initially being found, people are still free to run into him somewhere amidst all the chaos! Or PM this journal or hit me up on

seabutterfly if you wanna do something else.]

Edited 2017-08-02 05:17 (UTC)

[Shun's been teleporting between various caves and pathways to make sure they're covered, which means keeping a good eye on everything there to make sure he's not missing a hidden god or shinki in wait. But the slumped shape near one of the gateway openings is a lot more troubling - it takes Shun until he gets a bit closer to identify him, but once he does, his pace becomes a lot more urgent.]

Lavi? [He hasn't seen him in a few days, true, but this isn't exactly how he was expecting to see him again. Bending down, he moves to carefully roll him over, trying to avoid any blight that might be on here as much as he can, and also trying not to jostle him too much.] Can you hear me?

[He can already feel the cold anger bubbling up in his gut at the sign of someone he cares about hurt, but his tone is calm, if definitely also concerned. There's nobody here to blame for it right now, so he needs to focus on what's important.]

[As the night moves on, Shun returns to focusing on the cemetery fires. The caves and entrances mostly seem well watched-over, and there's not as much time left now for ayakashi to escape through those openings before they vanish again. As such, he's in a good position to catch sight of the massive fireball - and moreso, the red sword, more familiar than he'd like it to be. It does look a lot like Reisi's, and it seems unlikely that power is widespread between worlds, and so when he approaches the area it's hovering above, he's far from surprised to see Mikoto below its point.

Still, he can't help but look up again. It's damaged, the way the one in the memory of Reisi's death was damaged, and he has to clamp down on the first question out of his mouth being so what makes it fall?]

Isn't it dangerous to have out in that condition? [Knowledge of the sword or not, it wouldn't exactly look in good shape to anyone.]

[ Ra stands beneath sword and sun, steeped in red. The normally golden eyes glow with the same power burning through his body like a conduit, electrifying his aura into something impossible to ignore. ]

Heh.

[ Mikoto turns to the newcomer, his lips spreading into a fearless smile, the words all more amusing coming from Munakata's god. ]

Is that why you came out here?

[As soon as Mikoto turns to him with that countenance, Shun's expression dulls to something distant and unimpressed. Of course, he was expecting a certain degree of blase behaviour from him, but this isn't exactly promising given what he's seen can happen to those swords.

His tone is somewhat short, though it tends to be with most people anyway. Mikoto has never endeared himself enough to earn anything less.] I figured it was you, and I have some things I need to know. I doubt I'm going to get them out of you any more than I ever get a straight answer out of you, but that'd just be giving up before I even tried.

[With a twist of what might be a similar, but more subtle humour to Mikoto's in his tone, he adds one more thing.] Not to mention you're looking a hell of a lot less comatose than you were a few days ago.

Sorry, but I'm not here for you.

[ Mikoto speaks, without even looking at him as his eyes settle on the latest ghostly arrival who had followed the lighted path. ]

Now move aside.

Edited 2017-08-02 07:41 (UTC)

I don't really give a damn what you're here for. You like to talk about "protecting your own" - that's exactly what I'm trying to do, even if it means having to try and get answers out of someone who never gives them.

[He'd really rather not be talking to Mikoto, honestly, but his only other option is Tatara, and that's going to be second-hand information at best. So he might as well try the man himself first.

Shun follows Mikoto's gaze over his shoulder to spot the ghost following the path, then turns briefly, keeping half an eye on Mikoto as he does. He stands aside far enough to allow the ghost to approach nearer, gesturing it forward, but it's very clearly a movement aside for the spirit, not for Mikoto.]

[ Curiosity had brought her here - and the journey hasn't been met with disappointment.

Having perched herself atop a torii, Grell squats to take a better look at the man standing center, beneath the blaze. Wild hair alight, and illuminated in scarlet flame...

Drawing a finger over her lips, she can feel her heart flutter! ]

Must say, I've seen some wonders in my time, but nothing quite like this. [ Calling from where she is, she'll motion above to the sword, if he manages to spot her. ] Has your sword always been in such a state? It's quite beautiful, as so.

A. Mukae-bi

[ After everything that's happened over the past week or so, Yona's relieved there's a task asked of the gods and shinki to assist with the current happenings on the Near Shore. It gives them something to do and she thinks she could use that right now - as could most of her companions, she suspected.

So she can be found right in the midst of things tonight, a familiar bow draped over one shoulder - a simple wooden one, not her shinki, currently, although she knows Hak is nearby should she need to call on him in the case of needing to cast a Rend. She guards the fires with a fierce determination and occasionally fire-tipped arrows can be spotted arcing through the air to impale evil spirits with deadly precision. ]

B. Guarding the Gates

[ The call comes from the short redheaded goddess as she rushes towards one of the underworld gates, one that has suddenly been enveloped in a strange, chill aura. Her eyes are watchful and her bow is already in her hand, although she's quick to join the guarding god or spirit she's just warned, her eyes watchful. ]

C. After-party

[ Relieved the night had gone well (or as well as can be expected) Yona quite happily takes up the offer to join the rest of the Heavens in celebration. It's been too long since she's gotten to enjoy a soak in a hot spring and this brings back fond memories for her as she slips into the steaming water to relax.

Afterward, she can be found, bright-eyed and flushed from the bath, gathering a plate of food and also looking around to check on friends and acquaintances alike, making sure those she knows fared alright during the long night of guarding. ]

A. Mukae-bi

[ Despite the sheer number of 'ghosts' that are out and about tonight, Yata is still here and fired up, for lack of a better word. There's an air of hyper-vigilance about him, because spending the evening outside of a cemetery is not his idea of a good time, but this time he's not the only one here and he's got a simple task - keep the fires burning and defend the spirits as they return to their resting place from evil spirits and ayakashi.

This, at least, is something he's particularly equipped for and anyone passing by might notice the telltale flicker of Red flames around his form as he keeps his Aura channeled, just in case a fire somewhere needs a helpful boost or an evil spirit ventures too close to the area he's guarding. His trusty bat is propped on one shoulder, also lit with flames. And while he'll engage the ayakashi readily enough, he's also learned firsthand that he can only keep them busy for so long before he needs to find a god nearby for help, so he keeps an eye out for who's nearby just in case he needs to call in backup from someone capable of Rending them. ]

B. Guarding the Gates

[ Eventually his assignment changes and he can be found outside one of the caves holding a gate. Although he might be looking a little on the tired side now that the night is waning into the early hours of the morning. His flames flicker a little more sporadically, like he's been over-exerting himself and, should a long period of quiet have fallen over his post, one might even catch him leaning against a nearby tree, head nodding slightly before he catches himself and struggles to shake himself back awake.

Although this doesn't bode well for long because it seems some evil spirits and ayakashi were waiting for such a chance as this, lurking in the shadows of the gateway, waiting for the perfect opportunity to escape into the world. He's jostled awake by the sound of skittering feet and chortling cackles as a handful of spirits make a break for it. ]

Oi!

C. Sword of Damocles

[ It's late in the evening when there's a sudden change in the atmosphere above the cemetery. It's enough to startle Yata into alertness, searching around him for the source. Only it's not around him, it's above, and it's a glint of fire that draws his eyes upwards as a massive Red sword manifests overhead to hover in the night sky.

He stares at it in shock for a moment, mouth dropping open in surprise before the brand on his chest starts to burn with a sudden powerful intensity and he clutches at his shirt, going to his knee in surprise and confusion. ]

Ngggh!

D. After-Party

[ Yata almost skips the party entirely, because he really just wants a bed to flop into right now, but the lure of a hot spring first does him in, especially when he does notice a few spots of Blight on his skin. Taking care of that first, he can be found slumped in one of the steaming pools, letting the hot water work on sore muscles. A plate of food is gotten afterwards, because he is hungry, and he finds a quiet place to flop down with it, poking at it until his yawns make it obvious that it's time to head home for the night or he starts dozing off again over his plate... ]

[ Yata had been guarding nearby when the Sword first appeared in the sky and his brand had burned with an intensity that had sent him to his knees with a startled cry as he clutched the front of his shirt.

When the burning itch didn't fade, he pushed himself to his feet, eyes still locked on the sky, and staggered in the direction it pointed downward. He didn't even know where he was going, or why. He just.... felt drawn to something. Someone?

When he finds the cause, his face is dirtied with soot and he lifts a sleeve to wipe sweat out of his eyes from the heat, but pushes forward anyway, moving up the fire-lit path to where Mikoto stood, his expression bewildered. ]

What...?! What's going on? Why...?

[A pained hiss escapes from him as he's turned over. There's some blight creeping up from his right arm and a bit on his face. At first, he doesn't really react much; his body feels heavy and aside from the blight, he feels as if just the littlest bit of movement will cause him great pain. He shifts a bit, stopping when he feels another flare of pain.

It takes a him to properly respond, forcing his eye open to look at Shun.]

...Sh...un....?

[Where is he? He tries to move again, a pained grunt escaping from him when the pain flares again.]

[ He finds him at the hot springs after they're finished for the night. Yata has cleaned up and looks flushed from the heat of the bath, but there are faint circles under his eyes and an air of tiredness about him as he rubs absently at his chest.

And then he stops abruptly when he spots the redhead nearby. He stares for a moment before approaching, waiting until Lavi notices him before he speaks, so he doesn't startle him. ]

You look like shit.

[ So she'd fallen asleep halfway through the night, because all-night watch sessions were not something the six-year-old was used to. But she'd stubbornly insisted on staying when she was woken up in the early hours of the morning when the gods and shinki were returning to Heaven.

So she looks a little more wide awake than some as she bounces around the hot spring checking on her friends. But when she spots the redhead off by himself, Nanako pauses for a moment before wandering over with a worried expression. ]

Are you okay, Mister? Did you get hurt?

[Shun notes the blight - not too bad for the moment, but if he'd been sitting around here longer it would've ended up much worse. When Lavi responds, he lets out a short breath of what's pretty clearly relief, though it isn't much given the condition Lavi is still in.]

It's me. Don't move if it hurts. [It certainly sounds like it does, and while Shun's going to have to move him to help him, there's no reason to aggravate it more.

Since the blight is on his right, Shun moves to his left, putting a hand behind his shoulders.] I'll need to pick you up to get you somewhere I can look at this. It won't take long, but it's probably going to hurt with you in this state. Do you remember what happened?

[There's no guarantee he will, but it'd mean Shun would know what to look for.]

[ Much to her chagrin, Nanako had fallen halfway asleep through the night, because staying awake for so many later hours was hard when it was well past your bedtime. Still, when she'd been woken up afterward, she'd been refreshed enough and eager to join everyone else at the hot springs instead of heading back home to her bed just yet.

This at least gave her the chance to check on her friends and make sure they were all alright and, spotting Shun's familiar hair across the room, she hurries in his direction when he comes back out of the baths.

But catching sight of his back, she pauses, frowning a little. ]

Shun-oniichan, did you get hurt?

[Shun isn't overly fussed by being seen in this state in general, but when Nanako says that from a place where she's almost definitely referring to the scars on his back, he has to clench a fist to stop himself from reaching to cover them.

After a moment, he turns to face her, a difficult to read expression on his face.]

...Not tonight. The scars are a lot older than that, if that's what you're asking about.

[He's not going to specify how long without being prompted, because that opens up an entirely different can of worms that he hasn't actually discussed with anyone here yet. As such, he makes an attempt to change the subject.]

What about you? There were a hell of a lot more ayakashi out tonight than I've seen in a while.

[ Unlike most of HOMRA in this place, Tatara knows this feeling; knows the very moment the Red Sword of Damocles makes its appearance, sunlight or no. And, though they’re in another place now, he can still feel its power radiating, calling to him all the same, and there’s the obligatory moment taken to simply bask in its warmth -- a familiar, most beautiful red.

Internally, however, its presence is met with an entanglement of emotions. ]

King’s Sword, it’s...

[ --damaged; broken; crumbling in spots.

Oh, King... He’s been abusing his power, hasn’t he? (Or it’s been abusing him, as the case sometimes is.) But the great lion’s tamer is here now. So despite its crumbling, withered state, Tatara lets out a chipper chortle, smiling brightly. King is back! My king; the strongest king. The man he respects more than he can ever put into words: Mikoto Suoh.

And he rushes off to find him without delay, tracking the Sword like a little moth drawn toward a brightly-burning beacon of flame in the sky. It doesn’t prove too hard; though he’s a little winded when he approaches, bending at the waist for a moment to catch his breath first. ]

So even in the Heavens, the Swords can still be seen...

[ Tatara comments with a smile aimed at the sky before leveling it upon his king. It flickers momentarily, however, as concern crosses his features. ]

Are you alright, King?

Mukae-bi

[Shock of the century: Dust is out here fighting ayakashi. Who saw that coming? It's completely unbelievable!]

[Truth is, Dust's skill set suits this battle remarkably well: mixed in with the blurring strikes of his weapon as he dances around the ayakashi in quick, agile movements come blurring spins of his sword that possess enough power not only to draw in and wound ayakashi, but pull lumber off the ground and into the vortex of his blade. When the Dust Storm ends, he takes a moment to kick one of the tumbling pieces of lumber into the fire he watches over, keeping it burning and bright in defiance against the shadows and spirits who would oppose him.]

[Aid him in battle? Or perhaps catch him in a quiet moment as he waits, sword in hand, for the next assault, his half-hidden face in shadow as he waits.]

I wonder if it all really matters...

After-party

[Dripping wet and soaked through, Dust stands by a convenient fire to dry off while he snacks on a plate of chicken he'd purloined from the banquet.]

[Dripping wet. His clothes are drenched, his tail looks like a rat's, and the only thing that looks dry is his hat. Raises a lot of questions, doesn't it?]

[ She still looks a little worried, but his question momentarily diverts her attention and she ducks her head, looking sheepish. ]

I fell asleep...

[Well, that's not really a surprise, given it's just about dawn. There's a nod from Shun as if that was to be expected.]

It was a long night, especially for someone your age. Make sure you get enough sleep once you go back to your brother's temple.

Guarding the Gates

[Bright, warm lights call the eye of spirits and Far Shore denizens alike to a hillside, where a pony waits outside like the morning dawn to beckon others through. Her eyes are for the spirits, but more physical beings who approach get a warm smile and a graceful wave of one forehoof as well.]

[But though Celestia is the model of diplomacy and grace as she lights a road home, her eyes never lose their focus or concentration, and she keeps her ears pricked. Calling attention to this cave is a double-pointed lance, after all.]

Do be careful. There is something waiting for its chance to strike out there.

After-party

Ahhhhhhhh.

[The pony sinks into the hot springs with a smile of pure bliss, spreading her massive wings out on the water's surface as the heat seeps into her fur and relaxes her muscles. A moment later, she ducks her whole head down, then splashes back up with a toss of her soaked mane to breathe in again.]

What a night! I hope nopony had too bad a time of it. This is much more what I thought being a god here would be like!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 123

19 | Peaceful Departure

Shun Kurosaki | OTA

Davesprite | OTA

Mikoto Suoh | K Project

Lavi | OTA

A

i.b because of course

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

i.b

Yona | OTA

no subject

i-b!

no subject

B

B

no subject

no subject

no subject

you know which one i'm after...

Dust | OTA

no subject

no subject

no subject