thenearshore | More That One Day A Year [Closed]

Kaede.

[Wendy doesn't even wait to give a response. Instead, as she's dusting off her simple white dress, it springs to mind instantly.]

When a god is being stupid, their shinki are usually the ones who have to deal with it. Besides, if she's his exemplar, then she would probably know best how to convince him if we get on her good side.... [She glances up at both Dust and Takumi.] Right?

Makes sense. Better then busting in and going straight for the head.

[He chews his lip, wondering what kind of person the god his divine weapon back home was named after was.]

Right... I like the idea of appealing to a shinki first, even if... [Even if it seems like it will drag this whole process out a lot longer than he likes.]

It'll all work out in the end. [Reaching over, she pats Dust on the arm.] What does she look like anyway? Does anyone know before we get there?

[Because they're only getting closer.]

I haven't met her before now, but I'd think there wouldn't be too many people around his temple other then her, right?

We have to request an audience, I think. Even with her. The older gods and shinki sure do things differently...

[Well, they'll know soon enough. Fuujin's temple isn't a long walk from where he and Takumi had met up with Wendy and Dust had started telling the story at length, so by this point they'd reached the front gates. Despite everything, Dust couldn't help but shiver just a little.]

Rich people habits....

[Trust her. She knows. Don't ask her how she knows, she just does. As they stop before the gate, Wendy crosses her arms as she surveys it before letting her hands fall down to her sides.]

But in that case... The god should probably start things off among us, right?

Put me on the spot why don't you.

[She's not wrong though: he has the higher 'ranking' here, and it's not like he's unused to this kind of thing as a prince. Doesn't mean he has to like it. So he approached, calling out but not yelling. Or at least, trying not to]

This is Prince Takumi of Hoshido, current Ninigi-no-Mikoto. Myself and my two companions would like to request an audience!

[Don't get him started about how this annoys him. But they're right; the god probably should take the lead, and so Dust contents himself with a frown that could easily be attributed to how serious their mission is.]

[The shinki minding the gate take a moment to consult, then motion the group in. Thanks to Orihime, they're expected.]

So far so good...

Well, we're just walking so far.

[Wendy is innocuous on her own, sending a patently innocent smile to whoever else looks at her. The less suspect she is, the better.]

Hard to mess that up.

Sure there'll be plenty of chances for us to mess up once we're inside...

Edited 2017-09-08 05:48 (UTC)

[It's not very often people or a group of people stop by Fuujin's temple. It does raise some red flags for a few of Fuujin's shinki even with word of Orihime being the reason why. The shinki leads them towards the double-door entrance to the large temple where a female shinki is standing there waiting.]

Thank you Kilik, I'll take them from here.

[She smiles to the group politely as the shinki that lead them in walks off back towards the gate. Her eyes fall over each one before stopping on Takumi, looking curious.]

I am Kaede, exemplar to Fuujin-sama. Nice to meet you. [She doesn't bow to them, but does hive a slow nod.]

This is the second time I've heard of guests of Lady Orihime have requested audience with Fuujin-sama.

[Dust takes his best shot at a slight bow, which his general outfit helps, since it hides his eyes and a little of his motion.]

It was the first time many of the new gods and shinki ever met her, or heard her story. It isn't surprising she'd have drawn a lot of interest.

[From around Takumi, Wendy gives her best wide-eyes and bright smile look. Get in good with the person at the front door before all else- that feels like common sense. Besides, if it turns out that Fuujin is just as annoying as Shun thinks he is, then it wouldn't be fair to be rude to the people who have to work under him.]

Nice to meet you, Kaede-neesama! Do other people not visit Fuujin-sama a lot?

[Takumi nods as well, leaving it to the shinki to bow even the slight amount- not as any insult, but to make the hierarchy clear, though he does lower his head lower then Kaede did, as the invading guest. He doesn't like it, but growing up in the court meant he knew how to act when he had to.

He doesn't say anything though, so she can have a chance to answer the other two, if she decided to]

[They all certainly seem like an odd bunch but with all the gods coming from different worlds, Kaede isn't too surprised. Orihime had already spoken about a unicorn being a god or something of the sort.

But she is charmed by Wendy. She's cute and those manners... She smiles to the trio and nods again respectfully to Takumi before her attention settles on Wendy and Dust.]

It's rare for us to have guest. Fuujin-sama isn't the most....sociable and he's often in a sour mood from disagreements with Raijin-sama. Lady Orihime has been in good standing with this shrine though so if I may......I am curious to what you all would like to meet with him for?

That's something we hoped you could help us with. [How to approach this delicately... Well, he's probably already overstepping his bounds as a shinki anyway.] It's about Orihime's punishment. We wanted to see if we could... negotiate a way for it to be lifted, at some point. I have the impression it's been going on for quite a while.

[Pressing her fingers together, Wendy nods. That's really just the best way to talk about it, she thinks, since saying "this is stupid as all hell" probably is a little too rude. Ha.]

She recommended Fuujin-sama, so here we are, Kaede-neesama! They must be good friends.

[If now's the time to be corrected... "Good standing" could just be a polite way of saying friends, or it could mean strictly business. Wendy figures it can't hurt to figure out which first before they talk with him. That'll help figure out their angle... or something. She hopes.]

Lady Orihime's punishment...?

[She actually has to think for a moment on that. Unlike the newer gods and shinki finding out, it was fairly old news to them. It's hard to remember something that is such old news.]

It has...Lady Orihime has been in the same predicament for as long as I can remember. Hundreds and hundreds of years. Or is it thousands...?

[She hums thoughtfully before shaking her head]

For even longer than I've worked with Fuujin-sama, Lady Orihime has had the same....restrictions bound to her. No one has really looked into it. It has just been...the way things are. Did she send you to ask in her place?

[Her gaze shifts back to Wendy]

Lord Fuujin does visit her place often. They talk about events going on in the Far Shore and he enjoys her food. I suppose they friends in a sense...

[That's hard to say when it comes to the God of Wind. Kaede can't help but look a bit worried. Most of the guest Fuujin has spoken too have ended on a bad note out side of Nanako and Kairi.]

As long as you all remain polite and respectful, I believe there would not be an issue in asking him about it. He would know more then I... Though, please do keep that in mind. Lord Fuujin does have a temper when it comes to others losing their manners and he is known to hold grudges.

No... she didn't ask. I -- we're doing this of our own free will, because we believe it's right.

[Here his instincts are at war; on the one hand, proper manners and respect mean including the others, especially his god, in his statements. But he worries still that repercussions will come of this, and that Wendy and Takumi will endure them when this is his crusade.]

[It isn't in his nature, he's certain, to drag others into his troubles.]

Thank you for the advice. Is there anything else you might be able to tell us that could help us? Otherwise... I think we had better make our case.

Thousands of years is a pretty long time, after all, so we thought things might have changed!

[But "just the way things are"... Oh boy. She can already tell this is going to be a discussion. Still, Wendy gives her best optimistic beam.]

We'll be on our best manners, Kaede-neesama~. Takumi-sama is a prince, so he knows all about those!

That is all I can really offer. Perhaps remind Fuujin-sama who Lady Orihime is as a person....? I know it sounds poor of me to say but Fuujin-sama's mood will affect his willingness to give aide. I am not even sure if he is the one to go to for this....

[No one as ever asked for such a thing. Kaede considers Dust for a moment, she even leans down a little bit to try and get a glance at his face but Wendy is quick to grab her attention once again]

Is he? Then your manners should be spot on. I....truly hope for the success.

[She smiles warmly at the trio]

I shall be your guide to Fuujin-sama. Please follow me.

[With that, she starts to lead the way]

Thank you, Kaede.

[He may not have perfect manners or perfect social social skills, but is gratitude is sincere. Kaede's help seems both sincere and unstinting, when he'd had no idea what to expect from her.]

[Curling, then uncurling his fingers to try to relax a little, Dust follows. This isn't a discussion he wants to enter feeling like it's a confrontation.]

It's not bad to be honest~.

[Especially when it gets them such answers like that. Wendy keeps a smile on her face as she follows after everyone. Since she's not technically Takumi's shinki, she probably shouldn't be up front anyway.... Oh well, they'll figure things out.]

[Kaede leads the way into and through the temple. It's not hard for her to locate the wind god since he's usually in only one or two places on the shrine's grounds. Despite walking through the building they end up outside once again once she sides open the doors that lead to the center garden. Despite being in the center of the shrine and walled off due to the building being built around it, it's a fairly spacious area showing off just how big Fuujin's estate is while keeping to a traditional theme. A couple of trees even take up some of the area.
Two of the closer trees have a hammock strung between them with a god laid out casually.

Kaede closes the door behind them, standing there with her hands folded in front. Her smile keeps in place though it seems a little more strained when she spots the god lazing around. He was alerted to their visitors before they reached the garden and yet...

Letting out a small sigh, she continues to lead them through the garden and stopping just a few feet short of the hammock. She clears her throat.]

Ahem. Fuujin-sama, you have visitors that would like speak with you.

Yeah, yeah.

[Fuujin grumbles something before turning over on his side to look over the trio. He gives them all a rather lazy look. Takumi doesn't get much of a glance, his brows raise a bit at Wendy and Dust....he's not sure what the hell Dust is.]

Looks like a weird bunch to me.

[He pushes himself to sit up, somehow without moving the hammock too much.]

Why are you bothering me?

Lord Fuujin. [Dust clasps his wrists and bows, taking a stab at protocol. Maybe if he's lucky, the god will interpret his persistent lack of eye contact as proper respect.] Our thanks for agreeing to see us. We have come to petition your aid in the matter of the goddess Orihime, whose circumstances you know.

[That's a pretty good opener, Wendy thinks, so she doesn't have to say much just yet. When things start going south, maybe then, but for now she simply bows as well and sizes Fuujin up even as she smiles.]

[Takumi too keeps his mouth shut, but he is fighting back a clear glare. This is the god his divine bow was named after? He's not impressed]

[He shoots Kaede a brief glance which is only answered with a smile. Letting out a small sigh, he looks back to the trio not looking overly impressed. But hey, they're starting off better then most.]

Yeah I know about Orihime, she's been around way longer then any of you but what exactly are you asking of me?

[He gets it but it's such a strange request]

And why do you care? No one has ever bothered before...did she promise you something?

[Wendy please help with Takumi]

[Dust keeps his gaze lowered, which is his natural state but hopefully continues to seem respectful.]

She offered us nothing, Lord Fuujin. In fact, she counseled against this course of action. She has accepted her fate...

And I think that's why I care. Her punishment has become the only life she knows. I understand she transgressed against the Far Shore, I do not question the wisdom of the gods in laying judgment upon her... But she's paid for her sin, and knows the price of defiance. And so I ask if there is a path she can walk, to prove that she has learned, and to be returned to the Far Shore's good graces once more.

[He's spent a long time working up this speech, tempering his natural inclination to strike like a sharpened sword. He isn't the best with diplomatic words, and he's struggled to temper his natural ferocity. The result may not be the cleanest... but he's trying.]

[No worries, she's on it. From behind Dust's back, Wendy smashes her first into the side of Takumi's leg. One would think, being ~~the size of~~ a small child, it wouldn't hurt as much. Yet she's not even slightly holding back.]

[She's also still smiling.]

[Hopefully Dust's talking hid the sound of that impact. Either way, Wendy pipes up as well.]

It sucks being grounded for so long! I think anyone could get concerned all on their own~.

[takumi grunts in surprise, giving a muffled "hey!" before refocusing on Fuujin]

What they said. Punishment has to be tempered with mercy or it's just abuse.

[He listens, letting the trio plead their case to him. Though Takumi does get a bit of a narrowed look.]

You say that like you know anything about any of this and all elements concerning it. Our punishments are not the same as those from your worlds. You could use some guidance from this shinki over here.

[He scoffs lightly, jabbing his finger in Dust's direction. There's a brief strong gust of wind that picks up around the group. While noticeable i disperses as quickly as it starts.

Wendy is young and thus excused, for now, from being on his nerves with her own thoughts on the matter. Takumi is annoying. That much he has decided. His gaze shifts back to Dust. He sits silently for a moment, considering.]

You're good with your words. I still don't understand why you want to help her. She's nice but it really doesn't gain you anything in return if she hasn't promised you anything...

[They can't all be doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. He sighs, running his fingers through his hair. There's a brief glance to Kaede before his eyes run over the group once more.]

...However, your intentions seem noble and do hold some merit, I suppose that is something rare and worth some effort. I can't decide it all on my own so I'll discuss it with the other Gods of Fortune and we'll decide from there what can be done about Orihime's situation.

[And Kaede says he's not kind enough to the godlings and their shinki...]

However, for this favor...each of you will be in debt to me. Got it? I don't do anything for free.

When I came here, and several times after, I was told... the purpose of a shinki is to remind the gods what it is to be human, Lord Fuujin. Doing this is my duty, and doing my duty is reward enough.

I hear and understand your terms and the price you ask of me. [He bows slightly, managing to hide his true emotions beneath quiet conviction and intensity.]

[But he won't speak for Takumi, or Wendy.]

[Wow... Gods can't even understand just wanting to be nice. Somehow, Wendy can't even be surprised. Still, judging by his words, it looks like they've found some success, and she grins up to Dust.]

[That there's a price isn't surprising either... But she still nods, tilting her head to the side.]

I guess I don't mind... but I have a question. Or two. What kind of favors do you want to ask?

And will mine be different from theirs? Because, uh... [A simple point to Takumi.] I don't know this guy.

[Takumi turns bright read at both Fuujin and Wendy calling him out, and bites his lip hard enough for it to turn white- he promised Dust he wouldn't screw this up, so he doesn't argue or yell. But it's difficult]

I'm fine with paying my dues.

You're right. That is a shinki's duty.

[Kaede cuts in before Fuujin can respond to that. He frowns a bit but gives a slow shrug. Fair enough. Dust is respectful enough to keep his temperament mild but he isn't surprise when Wendy does ask for more information. Smart girl.]

If there's a messy prayer or something else I don't feel like doing then I'll call one of you to get to it. It won't be anything I think you won't be able to handle and I'm not going to be Noraing anybody either.

[No way is he risking getting blighted by any weird shinki]

I call, you come and take care of what I ask you. Then we're even. Simple as that.

[He smiles at the trio, looking pleased with the result. Maybe it's just something about having people in debt to him.]

Unless there's anything else, Kaede can show you all out.

[Dust doesn't actually believe that will be too bad. Fuujin gives every impression of being lazy and selfish, expanding the number of prayers he would consider 'messy' or 'something he doesn't feel like doing' to a very broad number, many of which Dust wouldn't find objectionable.]

Thank you, Lord Fuujin, for your time and consideration. We'll await the verdict of the gods.

[Fuujin probably doesn't recognize just how worrying Dust's absolute apparent calm is. Wendy and Takumi probably ought to. His bow is fluid and precise, which says he's calculating every movement the same way he would in the depths of a fight.]

[Well, not like she'd want to be nora'd to this loser anyway, so no loss on her end. Wendy merely beams brightly, pleased that she only had to punch someone once throughout this whole encounter.]

Thanks for seeing us! We really appreciate it~.

[Mostly she appreciates Kaede cutting in. Boy she doesn't envy her...]

More That One Day A Year [Closed]

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sorry lost this for a bit

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[1/2]

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guess who's back

welcome back

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