[Open] All that I have are these

[welcome_home]

Who: Nanako and anyone!
When: Mid-August
Where: All over the Far Shore and wherever she can find other gods and shinki.
What: Nanako is on A Mission.


A: Photographs and Memories

[ After talking with Izumo a few days before about his plan to make a wall of memories in his bar of all the gods and shinki who have come and gone, so they'd be remembered, Nanako can be found wandering through the Far Shore and near the temples she comes across, borrowed camera in hand. While she's quicker to approach people she knows with her request, she will often wander up to strangers as well, trying to hide her shyness and nerves behind a hopeful smile. ]

Hi! Can I take your picture?

B: Practice Makes Perfect

[ Nanako has been very determined of late to get better at her abilities, whatever they may be. So it's not unusual to find her practicing at her temple, or perhaps out somewhere on the Far Shore for a change of scenery. There might be a tiny girl wielding a bow and arrow, taking careful aim at her target as she practices again and again on improving her aim.

Or perhaps it's the light show that's drawn you in, a tiny hovering angel surrounded by a warm glow and occasionally trying to figure out how to direct that light where she wants it to go - with varying degrees of questionable success, though she remains looking determined, even when she fails. ]

C: Safe and Sound

[ Nanako is crouched beside her shrine, peering underneath the planks of wood that make the walk that surrounds it, looking distressed. And apparently pleading with someone - something? - hidden in the deep shadows underneath. ]

You can come out now, I promise, the scary storm is gone. Don't be afraid! I won't let anything hurt you.

[ Or perhaps you've stopped by on a sunny afternoon to find her sprawled on her stomach on the dock that stretches out over the lake, bowl of crumbled bread crusts beside her as she feeds the fat lazy fish circling beneath her. Watch out for the pelicans, though. They sometimes like to swoop at unexpected visitors. ]

Comments

[welcome_home]

Izumo! [ She supplies this information with a smile, thinking nothing of it. ] Do you know him?

[reformedsinner]

Yes, I do.

[And he has to admit he's startled. Izumo hadn't struck him as the sentimental type.

... Of course, Izumo also doesn't seem like the sort who'd casually reveal his sentimentality if it were there, so there's no contradiction there.]

I didn't realize he was trying to do something like that. Is he keeping the wall at his bar?

[welcome_home]

Yeah! It's safest there, since it won't go poof! like some temples do sometimes.

[ She nods emphatically at this. ]

[reformedsinner]

That's a very good point. I keep some of my important things at the school for the same reason.

[Although, since he's not a shinki anymore, he doesn't have to worry about still being here should his temple ever disappear. Ayumu's the one to be concerned now -- but, he hopes, having the school would help her if it did.]

How did he get the bar, exactly?

[welcome_home]

[ She blinks before lifting her hands in a big shrug. ] I dunno? He's had it since I met him. I think? You could ask him?

[reformedsinner]

I'll have to. [He smiles cheerfully at her.] I was just wondering -- I know he's done quite a bit of work fixing it up, hasn't he?

[Even before Hibari had rampaged through....]

I should stop by one of these days. I want to see the picture wall once you have it ready.

[welcome_home]

Mmm, yeah, it got broke not long ago, but he fixed it up nice since then and it's all open and pretty again!

[ Izumo seemed to have really bad luck when it came to his bar and his god's temple getting exploded. ]

You should! I still have some more pictures to take, but he should be putting them up soon!

[reformedsinner]

Then I certainly will. Are you taking pictures of everyone, Nanako?

[He acquires a thoughtful pose, tapping his chin.]

That could take a long time. You might speed it up by asking other people to donate photographs, too.

[welcome_home]

Mmmm, I'm trying! Or at least seeing who I can find.

[ Although his suggestion gets a thoughtful look from her. ]

Donate? Oh, I bet they could do that too, huh? Do you think other people here have lots of pictures?

[reformedsinner]

I'm sure some people do. I don't take many pictures myself, unfortunately, but I'm old.

[He gives her a cheerful little wink.] I've heard that teenagers these days spend all their time on their phones.

[welcome_home]

[ She giggles at the wink and nods. ] My big brother does sometimes, yeah. But you don't look that old!

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai lowers his voice conspiratorially.] I'm not, but don't tell my students that. They listen better if they think I'm much older, you see.

[welcome_home]

[ That sparks a new burst of giggles, finger pressed over her lips as she nods her head. ]

Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret! I like your lessons!

[reformedsinner]

I'll trust you with my dark secret, then! [He chuckles, too.] But I should let you get back to collecting those pictures, shouldn't I? Let me know if you need any help. I know someone who enjoys photography.

[welcome_home]

Do you? [ She peers up at him curiously at that statement. ] And I will! Thank you for helping, Hakkai!

[reformedsinner]

You're welcome, Nanako.

[Her curious look just gets a mysterious smile in return. He won't out Davesprite's more embarrassing hobby to her yet -- but he will encourage the young man to do so himself.]

And good luck!