[OPEN + closed] there'll be music everywhere

[declamando]

Who: Maria Cadenzavna Eve, Natsuru Senou & OPEN
When: Through Mid-August
Where: The Near Shore
What: Maria is patrolling for ayakashi, and wearing a very...interesting outfit to do so.

[On Patrol - Closed]

[There's been a lot of ayakashi activity this month, both minor and otherwise, and one particular god and shinki team have decided to make some time to go on proper patrols together. Not only does it serve the safety of those on the Near Shore, but it also keeps their teamwork sharp. And, considering Natsuru's form, she and Maria have to think and move as one to make the best use of their abilities.

Natsuru's even starting to feel almost comfortable with her form. Almost. It's still embarrassing whenever she thinks about it, and anytime she and Maria went anywhere in public view made her intensely aware of it again. It wasn't too bad when they were fighting the ayakashi. Then, Natsuru's focus was wholly on their dance, protecting and being of use to her goddess. But once they were successful in rending it, she realized they'd strayed further into more heavily populated areas of the city.]

Um...you're REALLY sure you still want to keep me like this, Maria-sama? I know we're on patrol, but if it's...weird, being dressed like this here...

[While Maria can figure out why Natsuru's uncomfortable, she gives her outfit a somewhat apologetic glance as they exit the mouth of an alley onto a busier street. So far, it doesn't seem like anyone’s noticed them anyway.]

I'd change you back, but there's a risk we'd run right into another ayakashi. If you're uncomfortable, you can tell me anytime.

[A: On Patrol - Open]

[As Maria and Natsuru get further out into the city, there's more and more chance someone will run across them in the streets. While it only seems like Maria is present right now, she’s wearing a very unusual outfit – a purple dance costume with several long, flowing veiled pieces that trail around her. They seem to have their own will, floating and dancing around with no regard to gravity, and Maria looks around with an occupied, serious air as she emerges from the mouth of an alley and glances back into it.]

Nothing else yet...

[It's murmured, but upon noticing anyone else nearby, she'll head over with a wave of the hand.]

Excuse me, but I heard some rumours about an ayakashi hanging around this area. Have you felt anything strange or malicious while you've been here?

[The seriousness might stand in almost bizarre contrast to the outfit, but then again, the lurking of the veils isn't dissimilar to a circle of limbs primed to strike when needed...]

[B: Taking a Break - Open]

[While they’re not quite done with their patrol yet, Maria does prefer to break it up a little in this situation – with Natsuru likely not used to being worn for this long as a vessel, and her also not used to wielding her for this long, she doesn't want to overdo it.

Despite a few stares from the waitstaff courtesy of the dance outfit, Maria has settled outside a café on a street somewhere in the happy medium between busy and quiet. As she sips at her tea, she keeps an eye out for any unusual activity around them, but her attention is drawn by a comment from Natsuru’s vessel before too long.]

You know, it's pretty relaxing like this, when we're not moving too much. If people would just stop looking at us like that...

[Natsuru 'speaks' to Maria to fill the silence, and alleviate the slight boredom of still being clothing while they take a break, and while nothing seems to be happening to get their attention. She's still working through her feelings on one part of this arrangement: namely, the looks that she gets whenever people do notice them out in public. Or, is it Maria getting the looks? It's hard to tell.

Maria seems a bit more at ease about the whole thing, though, and she smiles a little knowingly as she takes another sip of her tea and addresses her next words a little downwards towards her outfit. Which may look somewhat strange to any onlookers who can't hear Natsuru's side of the conversation.]

If you're going to be an idol, you'll have to get used to those looks, right? [Is she talking to her clothes, or making an open statement? Who knows.]

Comments

A

[priforprince]

...The air is clear of sentence enders.

[ THANK YOU HIBIKI

Really, though, Hibiki's mere presence here, tea and all, while she waits on her lunch at this fancy restaurant's outside patio, is probably a no-ayakashi guarantee. Her elite disposition wouldn't brook such a distasteful environment.

If she has questions about Maria's hunting attire, they're secret, for now. ]

[declamando]

[Well, that's one whole aspect of the local ayakashi covered, though Maria supposes it is reassuring that the ayakashi responsible for that incident hasn't returned. And while Hibiki being at ease here is probably a good sign, Maria's not going to bank on that when it comes to people's potential safety.]

True, but most ayakashi spread their influence in other ways. I believe we just got unlucky that day.

[...Lucky that it wasn't a worse ayakashi, honestly, but Hibiki likely considers it unlucky, so Maria rolls with that for now.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki nods, well aware both of the singularity of that event and their good fortune in escaping without permanent damage. She lifts an appetizer from a platter with silver tongs and sets it on her plate. One step at a time. ] Are you patrolling?

[ Hibiki, honestly, would probably not blink too much of an eye at patrolling in that. People have worn stranger things to be police, where she's from.

She is, however, giving those clothes a look Just For Them now. Politely. But. ]

[thirdbeauty]

[Eep! There's a flutter of motion in the looser, flowing pieces of fabric in response to Hibiki's eyes on Natsuru. She doesn't have a chest or stomach for swelling or fluttering of feelings at the moment, so instead she just feels an odd flutter in her entire form. Does Maria feel her getting a little bit warm too, or is that just her imagination?]

Hi-... Hibiki-sama?!

[She's (mentally) talking to herself more than Maria, an expression of her embarrassment and uncertainty at being seen like this by Hibiki in particular, mixed in with a strange sense of pride at being noticed? She couldn't be more obviously a girl with a huge crush if she actually tried...]

[priforprince]

[ ....There isn't a breeze, is there? Hibiki blinks. She hasn't made the connection yet, but she is looking a little bit closer to confirm what she thought she saw. ]

B

[nolittlesecret]

[Normally when going about the Near Shore, Nari is good at ignoring everyone around him. Normally.

But here's a lady with pink hair that he recognizes from that Obon concert thing, and she's.......... is she talking to herself?]

... I think you're doing just fine if you're an idol.

[She looked comfortable enough when performing.]

quickest mind-interjection ever

[thirdbeauty]

[Nari might not be aware of her, but Natsuru is aware of all of her surroundings. She recognizes that face, and Maria might feel a bit of embarrassment and uncertainty from her shinki. Nothing too serious, as reactions go, but he's someone that's clearly bothered her in a memorable but ultimately very minor way.]

Oh no, it's that guy...

[She hadn't meant to send that thought to Maria. It just kind of happened. Good thing he can't hear her.]

[declamando]

[Natsuru's interjection makes Maria shoot a sharp glare in Nari's direction, though it's only very brief before she offers him a slight smile.]

Thank you for the compliment, but I was talking to Natsuru, not myself. [Glancing briefly down at her costume, she adds:] It seems you've met before.

[Maria's going to let him try to figure this out from context clues for the moment, just to see how it goes, and whether the mention of Natsuru draws any particular reaction from him.]

[nolittlesecret]

[... this lady has named her clothes. Weird.]

Who? [Thinking... Nari sighs softly.] Look, I'm a god. Anything I did as a shinki, I don't remember. So, if your clothes have met me before, I don't remember that.

Closed patrol things~

[thirdbeauty]

Oh, no, it's okay! I think...

[Natsuru is bravely doing her best not to let it get to her. She'd actually shown no signs of being uncomfortable with this at all when they were on the outskirts of the city, as away from the general public as they could get around here. So it's not just being Maria's clothing that's making her feel awkward, so much as the thought of them being seen like this, in a place where an outfit like she is would very much stand out. She still hasn't wrapped her head around how she should react to being looked at while she's such a... revealing costume, on a beautiful woman like Maria.

But there are more important considerations. And if they run across any more ayakashi, being already transformed like this could make all the difference in a battle.]

It's better to be prepared, right? So we don't get caught off guard. I understand.

[If anything, she's pleased that Maria is considering her feelings at all. Were she assigned to another god, that might not be the case.]

[declamando]

[Maria listens closely to make sure Natsuru doesn't sound like she's forcing it, but it seems fine for the moment, so she smiles and nods.]

I'm glad. It might help your confidence a bit too, though you're already getting better all the time.

[What with performing. It might not be her agency, but Maria is still glad Natsuru got interested in that - it seems to be doing wonders for her. It's perhaps not the time to think too much about that right now, though, and Maria turns her attention back to the buildings surrounding them, peering all the way up to the rooftops.]

I could swear I saw a tail disappear up one of these buildings. Have you seen any signs of movement?

[thirdbeauty]

Ah... thank you...

[It never fails to fluster her, at least a little bit, whenever Maria seems so absolutely certain that Natsuru is growing more confident as a woman and a performer. Though, this is the first time she can recall that Maria has suggested, inadvertently or otherwise, that she might be growing more confident as a vessel, too. Appearances aside, she needs that confidence for when Maria dances, and Natsuru moves in sync to fight against any threats. Getting hung up over how she looks like this, or how it feels to be in such an intimate form for Maria, will do neither of them any favors.

Having other goals to focus on helps. Her awareness as a vessel is a little different from her human form, and she has to take a second to process it all. She wants to be sure she's not getting too easily spooked and imagining things.]

You mean up there? [There's a barely perceptible tug of the fabric hugging Maria's form. Natsuru had meant to indicate a direction, up and to the goddess' left, and that's how the desire chose to manifest. She can't move her own form much without Maria's dancing, yet it seems she still can shift her own material in some useful ways.] I don't know if it was a tail, but I saw something too.

[She hopes at least it was the same something...]

[declamando]

[Though Maria smiles softly at the thanks, she pays more mind to the tug on the fabric for the moment. They are patrolling, after all, and she follows the motion and looks up to the indicated rooftop.]

Yes, it was that one. It might not have been a tail given what ayakashi can look like, but I agree that it was definitely something. Shall we take a look?

[There's a fire escape at the back of the building, so it shouldn't take Maria more than a minute to climb it, but she wants to be sure Natsuru herself feels prepared to chase after whatever it might be. It's not going to do them much good if they run into it and then realise they're not adequately prepared to fight.]

B

[alchemists]

[ Elfnein was out by herself taking a break from being inside researching for most of the day. She had meant to just get something to drink and go home but Maria's outfit and odd tone of speech to herself was quite unnatural. ]

Do you have a rehearsal later today?

[ That had to be the reason right? ]

[declamando]

[With a polite wave to Elfnein, Maria takes another sip of her tea.] No, actually. I'm in the middle of a patrol for ayakashi, but I'm trying to pace us a bit. I'm not as experienced with wielding a vessel as I'd like.

[She'd only really fought with Natsuru twice on any significant level, and for having been here several months, that's not much.] What about you?

[alchemists]

I've been so busy with all the requests people had when the spirits went out of control that I haven't been outside of the temple in a day or two...

[ Wait, wielding a vessel? Wouldn't that mean it's Natsuru, but spotting the blue haired girl wouldn't be hard to do was the vessel form something hidden. ]

Um, if you're on patrol where is Natsuru?

[declamando]

Ah, I see. I didn't have as much luck with them myself, but at least they've moved on now. [She was glad to see that much, at least. They deserved rest even if they were on the frustrating side.

Maria smiles a little at the question before nodding downwards to her outfit.] Right here. Natsuru, this is Elfnein, though I don't know if you've met before.

B

[1wing]

[ Who should come across Maria talking to her clothing but one Tsubasa Kazanari? Here she is, arms akimbo, head tilted slightly in confusion. ]

It seems your clothing is still haunted, Maria. Do you require aid?

[thirdbeauty]

[There's another little flutter of some of Natsuru's fabric at that. She's not haunted!!! She's supposed to be like this!]

[declamando]

[Maria offers Tsubasa a wave of greeting as she approaches, though she shakes her head at the question. It's much easier to be amused about it rather than embarrassed in this situation.]

No, it's fine. [Her smile widens a bit as Natsuru flutters in apparent offense.] My shinki's vessel form is this outfit, so it's not a haunting this time. Since you're both in CelePara, I assume you know Natsuru?

[1wing]

I wonder about that. [ So you don't have a ghost in your clothes, your clothes just happen to be a ghost? Is that any better? ]

Natsuru and I have met, but Hibiki has a rather odd attitude to training and practice, so perhaps not as often as we should have.

[ So well, they sorta know each other at least. ]

Are you sure it's supposed to flap like that though? You're one jump away from a wardrobe malfunction.

A

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto was also here to look for signs of ayakashi. She was merely scouting right now and was planning on reporting back to Kanji if she discovered anything suspicious. However, everything seemed quiet for now. Or at least, it had seemed that way until she heard someone approaching. On her guard, she turns to face the stranger... and is promptly thrown for a loop when she sees what this mysterious young lady is wearing. She blinks in surprise, and blushes significantly as the woman walks right up to Naoto to ask her question.]

I- I-

[She stammers for a moment before clearing her throat, and then doing her best to stay calm and cool.]

I haven't. I came here to investigate much the same rumors, but they don't seem to be around. At least not at present.

[Naoto does her best not to look at the woman directly. Instead acting like she's surveying the area around them while occasionally looking over at her out of the corner of her eye.]

[declamando]

[Maria doesn't seem bothered by Naoto's stammering reaction, though she does give her somewhat of a reassuring smile. It's a little obvious Naoto's trying not to look at her too closely, and perhaps to ease her time of it a little, Maria crosses her arms over her chest, which covers it significantly better than this costume does.]

I've been thinking the same thing. We've been searching for a little while now, but I don't think any of the ones we've found are major enough to be the cause of the rumours. Unless it's just that this place had a bit of an infestation...

[She considers that seriously for a moment before turning a smile on Naoto again.] Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Maria Cadenzavna Eve, incarnation of Nuada Airgetlám. It's good to meet you.

[thirdbeauty]

[Crossing her arms over her chest might cover it a little more for Naoto's sake, but it also presses Natsuru more firmly against Maria. She'd mostly gotten over the embarrassment over being clothing as a vessel, but feeling Naoto trying not to look while this happens emphasizes it in a way she's not used to. Flashing back to how Naoto had also tried to avoid looking at her figure too much doesn't help.

By the time she's regained her composure enough to manage words, Maria is already introducing herself. So she just stays quiet for now. She can let Naoto do her own introduction first before she interrupts, at least.]

[fortune_detective]

[The crossing of the arms does help, yes. Naoto stops pretending like she's looking out for signs of ayakashi and makes proper eye contact with Maria. After her initial shock, Naoto starts relaxing, and her calm becomes more genuine and less forced. She offers a formal, little bow in greeting.]

Naoto Shirogane. I'm the shinki of Kanji Tatsumi.

It's nice to make your acquaintance as well.

[She is certainly glad that Maria is another Far Shore resident, as Naoto was worried about being ambushed while investigating the area. Between the two of them though, they should have better chances of fending off and getting away from any surprise threats. It's then that Naoto notices that parts of Maria's outfit... are they moving on their own? She'll ignore it for now, not sure if it's somehow a trick of her eyes or not.]

So if you haven't seen any ayakashi either, it would seem the rumors are unfounded. That is, unless the ayakashi may have moved on from this area? Or perhaps it simply is not back yet.

[Both possibilities certainly troubling in their own ways.]