thenearshore | [closed] see the kitten on the wall

Entry tags:

[closed] see the kitten on the wall

Who: Shun and Nanako
When: August 14th
Where: Near Shore, a park somewhere in the vastness of Tokyo.
What: Prayer 43, and possibly further on.
Warnings: Prayer 45 section of the thread involves blight-related mild body horror, as well as blood and wounding/scarring due to an impromptu surgical procedure.

[Feeding stray cats isn't quite the kind of prayer Shun generally expects to get, but then, not all of Shun's followers are really followers he expects to have either. But he can at least try to enlist the assistance of a more appropriately domained god, and to that end (and the fact that he figures she'll enjoy herself), he enlists Nanako.

It's...really not hard to find the corner of the park the prayer had mentioned, because just about as soon as they get into that vicinity with a bag of cat food, the trees rustle and seem to spit out a good two dozen cats in the space of about five seconds.

Shun doesn't exactly look surprised, but he does let out a breath like this is a bit too familiar.]

This isn't the kind of work I usually expect to get for this job.

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[ Nanako had been delighted to get invited on a Prayer with Shun and tags along behind him, taking in everything as they pass. But when the cats they are here to help appear, she gives a quiet cry and hurries forward, coming to crouch down in the middle of the strays, reaching out to pet and be investigated in turn. ]

Oh, look at them all! There's so many!

[A few of the strays shy away a bit, not so used to contact beyond the feeding side of things, but others do come up to sniff at Nanako's hands and cautiously butt heads against them. Yet others who know their priorities come and wind themselves around Shun's legs, since he's the one with the food, and he gives them a long look as they purr around him.]

Some of them might bite if you're not careful, but if they're being fed regularly by someone then there at least shouldn't be any completely feral ones.

I know. I let them come to me. Then they can decide if they want to be petted or not.

[ She sounds like she's quoting instructions from someone. Likely Souji, considering the number of strays he rescues.

Still, the ones that do want to be petted she happily obliges. ]

I think they're happy to see us. Or maybe just happy to see the food.

That's right. [Even if she is quoting instructions, it's good that she's put them to memory like that. And given the amount of cats her brother had at one point, he can make a pretty good guess at who gave her them.

There's a faint snort from Shun at the observation, and he bends down, pulling out his dagger to open the bag. Apparently scissors are overrated.]

The prayer mentioned they keep some bowls in the crook of a tree. I'll see if I can find them first. [Though he doubts it's going to be much trouble - as soon as the bag opens, a few of the cats scamper off and run up one of the nearby trees, pawing at something nestled there.]

[ Nanako giggles as she watches. ]

I think they're trying to show you where it is. They're very smart kitties.

So I see. [Given the cats at the cat cafe can also suddenly get very smart when it comes to matters of food, Shun isn't doubting that, and he heads over to climb the short way up after them - which really entails just stepping into the fork of the lower tree branches. Sure enough, there's a stack of paired pet bowls, though as Shun grabs them he feels his attention pick up a bit.

Is there someone else around? A cursory glance gets nothing, so for the moment he just backs out of the branches and sets to work laying the bowls out.]

Here. [He hands Nanako a few for the cats currently hanging around her.]

[ She giggles and takes them. Her instincts not quite as honed as his own just yet, she doesn't realize anything could be amiss and just smiles as she spreads out the cat dishes with enough distance that they won't be crowded too badly once there's food inside. ]

Thank you, Shun! Wow, there really is a lot. I wonder who helps take care of them normally? Do you know?

Obviously whoever made the prayer, but with this many I'd expect them to have some kind of help. [Shun does it by himself at the cat cafe, but that's because it's his job. Putting that much into a volunteer effort would be unusual.

Once the dishes are spread out well enough, Shun starts filling them one by one. The more pushy cats get in first, but there's enough that even the quieter ones can come along at their leisure.]

Tell me if any of them go for the others' food. [He might as well be the one to deter any particularly rude cats from eating everything.]

I'll keep an eye on them, too! Just so everyone gets enough food. [ She's crouching in the middle of the bowls and cats, keeping a keen eye on everyone to make sure they're sharing. ] Otherwise we wouldn't be doing the Prayer right, right? I want to make sure they all get fed and are happy.

[It seems like everything's going well enough on that front for the moment, though Shun's still keeping an eye out. He knows well enough from work that they don't always stay playing nice even if they start that way.]

If they're worried enough about this group of cats to make a prayer about it, they'd want it done right. And there's not really much point doing it if you don't do it right anyway.

Yeah! [ That's an easy agreement for her to make, at least. ] I wonder who looks after them normally? I'm glad someone does, though. They seem pretty friendly, so someone must come and care for them a lot.

I've been thinking that myself-- [And then Shun breaks off at hearing the snap of a twig from within the trees. Instinctively putting himself in front of Nanako, he peers into the treeline.

He's about to demand whoever it is come out when they do anyway - it's a young woman in a flower-patterned yukata, her hair tied into a loop against one side of her head with a decorative clip. However, both the outfit and hairstyle look ruffled and unkempt, the yukata almost falling off her shoulders and bits of her hair falling out of the style. There's also blotches of blight visible on one of her shoulders, extending down below her sleeve.

There's a few bowls of water in her hands, but she stops warily at seeing two people, at least one of whom can seemingly see her.]

...Gods? [Her voice is on the quiet side, but it's still audible.]

[ Nanako can see her too, now that she's stepped out from the trees. And for a moment she stays crouched behind Shun's legs, fingers clutching the fabric of his pants. But when the stranger addresses them that way, it's enough to remind Nanako of who she is and why they're here.

Peeking out, she steps out from behind Shun's leg to peer up at the unfamiliar woman with a serious look. She also doesn't miss the spots of Blight she can see on the woman's skin, making her frown slightly in worry. ]

Hello. Did you come to see the kitties, too? Are you the one who's been taking care of them?

[The woman holds her position, though it definitely looks like she wants to step back as Nanako comes forward. Keeping her eyes on them, she leans down to place the water bowls for the cats, who flock around her eagerly.]

Yes. [There's a pause as she looks them over.] ...You're both from the weird newcomer gods, aren't you?

[Shun figures it's not exactly a hard thing to notice, so he just nods.] We are. [Then he nods to the blight.] Why are you alone down here in that state?

[That makes the woman purse her lips a bit.] Can't you guess?

[ Nanako's still a little naive about what reasons she could be referring to, more concerned about the state the young woman is in.

she hesitates where she is, not missing the way the newcomer looks like she wants to back away. Instead, the little girl stays where she is, shifting from one foot to the other as she chews on her lip. ]

You're hurt. Can we help you?

[The fact that almost as soon as Nanako says that, the woman steps back, a hand almost going to the blight but not quite touching it, likely says enough.]

You're gods. Why should I trust you after I was discarded by your kind?

[That immediately piques Shun's interest, and he looks over her condition - she definitely looks like someone who hasn't had a home for a while. His expression softens minutely, since he can relate, but there's a firm confidence to his tone when he speaks.]

You said it yourself. We're newcomers. We don't think the same way as the gods that discarded you. Shinki are partners, not expendable weapons.

[Shun glances over at Nanako in some hope that she'll support his argument in a manner less pragmatic than what he's presenting.]

Discarded? [ Nanako blinks at that, working through the meaning behind that and then looking distressed. ] Does that mean you're down here all alone? Oh no, that's not alright! Especially if you're hurt! Your god is supposed to look after you and keep you safe.

[ Homura would probably tell her she has that backwards, but Nanako was of the firm belief it went both ways.

She glances up at Shun, upset, and curls her fingers in the fabric of his pants, tugging lightly. ] We can help, can't we?

[The woman looks almost confused at Nanako's concern, but she looks between them evenly nonetheless. For the moment, she at least seems satisfied that they won't harm her, but further than that might take longer.

Still, at Nanako's offer, she forces a smile.] Sorry, kid, but I don't think you can. This kind of blight doesn't heal with blessed water.

[That's not something Shun's heard of before now, and an immediate look of concern crosses his face. He might have just met this shinki, but leaving her down here in this state doesn't at all sit right with him.]

We might still be able to help. Nanako can try healing you, and if that doesn't work, I can at least try my powers on the damage it's caused. [It might not strictly class as decay, but he wants to make the attempt even if he doubts it'll pay off.]

[ Considering how much Nanako's been practicing, hearing that this might be another kind of injury she can't heal has her expression falling a little. But then she lifts her chin stubbornly because she still wants to try. ]

There are different kinds of Blight? [ This is the first time she's heard such a thing. ] Do you know what can fix it? There has to be something we can do! I still want to try. Would that be okay?

[The shinki purses her lips a little, as if she doesn't want to share, before shaking her head and pulling her arm from her sleeve. It's blighted in scattered patches most of the way down, going from the middle of the shoulderblade to just above her wrist.]

...How about I tell you if you can't heal it like this. [There's a very definite few moments of hesitation, but eventually, she takes a step or two forward towards them. She'll have to trust that these newcomer gods are as different as they say if she wants to survive.

Shun, meanwhile, takes a cautious step forward in apparent hopes he won't scare the woman off.] That looks like it's from more than one attack. How long have you been like this?

[The woman bites her lip a bit and turns her head.]

[ When she doesn't answer, Nanako steps up a little closer as well, reaching out to pat her leg comfortingly. ]

It's okay. We'll figure out a way to help. [ Because Nanako was determined they would. There had to be answers somewhere if they couldn't heal it the normal way.

But she's still going to try, and taking a step back, she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes to focus. As it does every time she calls on her power, a warm, soft light surrounds her for a moment as a halo appears over her head and white feathery wings unfold behind her, stretching out and swaying faintly in an unseen breeze. Opening her eyes again, she smiles up at the woman and holds out her hand to her in invitation. ]

Here, let me see what I can do.

[ The woman hesitates a moment longer, having watched with wide eyes as the little girl changed her appearance, but after staring at the outstretched hand for a heartbeat or three, she reaches out and places her own hand carefully in Nanako's.

At the contact, the glow spreads, stretching up the woman's arm and seeping into her, wrapping around all of her until she's encompassed by the same warm glow that surrounds Nanako. It seeks out any wounds and injuries, healing what it can, chasing away aches and soreness.

Nanako closes her eyes, focusing on the dark shadows of Blight she can somehow feel, doing her best to heal this damage as well. ]

[Since Shun's seen Nanako like this before, he's much less surprised about the change, and merely watches over her as the light wraps around the woman's arm. He remembers how it felt when she used it on him, and how it went quite quickly even then - so when a few seconds pass and there's no change to the blight, he's already grimacing a little in expectation of the worst.

The woman seems to realise it too, and she bows her head as if she expected this.]

I feel better, but I don't think it's doing anything to the blight. It doesn't feel the same as the rest of me.

[While the warmth of the magic is lighting up the rest of her, the blighted arm still feels cold and heavy, like a dead weight, even with the magic wrapping around it.

Shun reaches over to put a hand on Nanako's shoulder.]

I think this is as much as you can help for now.

[ Nanako lets the magic fade, the glow dimming as well until she stands there as she normally is, with the exception that her wings and halo are still in view.

Her expression is disappointed as she glances up first at Shun and then the woman she wanted to help. ]

I'm sorry.

[Shun reaches over to rest a hand on Nanako's head somewhat protectively.] You did what you could.

[Though the woman still looks a little wary, she nods in agreement.] I knew you newcomers were weird, but you're both...different to the gods I've met before. I don't want to put this on you.

[But she has no choice, and she did say she'd tell them how to handle it if Nanako failed. While Shun reaches a hand out to attempt using his own powers to heal it, the woman holds a hand up.]

I don't think it will work either. The only way to get rid of this kind of blight is...to remove it. Cut it from my body.

[That makes Shun recoil slightly, but after a moment, he sets his jaw and puts a hand to his waist. He does have his dagger on him.] That's the only way to save you?

{He didn't know this detail, but he knows what happens to wandering, unnamed shinki. For her, this is a matter of life and death.]

[ Nanako ducks her head under the weight of Shun's hand, grateful for the comfort, but that last only as long as the woman explains what has to be done, and then Nanako's head jerks up, her expression horrified. ]

Cut?! But that will hurt a lot!

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comment count for prayer 44 starts here /spooky fingerwiggle

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prayer 45 count starts here

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