Business Round the Far Shore

[fortune_detective]

Who: Naoto, Izumo, Shizuo, Hibiki, AND YOU!

When: August 18-20

Where: Various locations around the Far Shore

What: Naoto inquires about receiving further training from her shinki senpai, and also confronts a certain someone about a certain phantom thief incident




A. Shinki Spellwork (closed to Izumo)

[Recently, it's become more and more obvious to Naoto that she needs to beef up her repertoire of skills as a shinki. While her borderline training has been rather fruitful, she knows she can't keep relying on them forever as the only tool in her belt. She has her vessel form, yes, but that requires being with her god. She wants more capability to defend herself when she's out on her own.]

[Given how helpful Izumo was in training her borderline, he is one of the first people she thinks to approach about possible further practice and education on what shinki can do. She decides to ask him in person, and so goes to visit him at his bar. It's a location she's been to a few times, but she still feels compelled for some reason to knock on the door to announce her presence before entering.]

Izumo-san, are you in? May I trouble you for a moment?


B. How to Fisticuffs (closed to Shizuo and his temple's residents)

[In addition to building on her abilities as a shinki, Naoto feels it would also behoove her to perhaps work on just basic self defense in general. At the very least, she figures it will constitute a good, physical workout. And a healthy mind needs a healthy body.]

[Again, while there are a few people she can think of to approach about learning how to fight, there's one person in particular who's made a bit of an impact on her as someone who likely knows their way around a brawl. And so, Naoto arrives outside Shizuo's shrine of residence one day, knocking on its front door.]

Hello? Is Heiwajima-san available?


C. A Playful Game of Cat and Mouse (closed to Hibiki and her temple's residents)

[Her errands completed for the day, Naoto makes her way home, quite content with how the day's events panned out. And although she's ready to retire for the afternoon, perhaps enjoy a good book and the sunshine out on the back deck of the Izanagi temple, she instead decides to stop and visit one last temple. It was more or less a spur of the moment decision, as her path home brought her across the front of the temple. It was one she'd visited a while ago, back during the strange fluctuations in Far Shore residents' age. She'd actually been meaning to visit again for a few days now, but other plans had gotten in the way at the time. Right now, though, she has plenty of time.]

[With a slight smirk on her face, Naoto walks up to the temple's entrance and gives it a knock. If its resident god was absent, it was of no major concern, but, if she was in, then perhaps she'd be up for a chat. Naoto will greet anyone who answers the door with a polite smile and bow in greeting.]

Good afternoon.


D. Look Like You've Been Through the Ringer (Open)

[Over the next few days, anyone who happens to cross paths with Naoto will likely notice she's looking a little more bruised up lately. Yet, despite the black and blue, she seems otherwise cheerful. She greets anyone she meets with her typical soft smile and wave. Happy to stop and chat with anyone who wishes to talk or inquire as to what exactly she's been getting into to give her such injuries.]

Comments

B

[bartenderizing]

[ He wasn't at the door when hearing the voice, but instead at the balcony hall off to the side towards one of the other wings. He happened to be just tall enough that his head was over the gold and red dividers, making it easy to spot the teen. ]

Yo. It's been a while.

[ He should... Let her in, yeah. He'll just walk on down towards the front. ]

Uh, gimme a sec and I'll get the door. Something wrong?

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto smiles and waves when she spots Shizuo's head peaking out from around the corner. She'll wait till he comes to open the door before she explains the reason for visit.]

It's good to see you again, Heiwajima-san. I was hoping I could ask a favor of you?

[bartenderizing]

[ Opening the door, he leaves it open enough as a gesture to come inside. ]

Yeah, no harm in asking. Something going on that you need help with?

[fortune_detective]

[She nods and gives a short bow in thanks before entering. She'll stand just in the entrance way though for now, as she's not certain if Shizuo will simply show her the door again if he's not interested in what she's about to ask.]

Essentially, yes.

That is, I was hoping you could train me.

D

[challengesfate]

[Someone walking around with bruises like that is definitely something that catches Lucina's attention, even with how short her time here on the Far Shore has been, compared to others'. Lucina notices the other person up ahead of her on the path as she's walking, just trying to get more of a handle on what's around her temple, what's in this area, where is it safe to be. She returns the wave with a hesitant, curious smile.]

Hello. I don't believe we've met before, have we?

[fortune_detective]

[From a distance, Naoto had actually mistaken the long haired girl for another similarly blue-haired friend of her's which explains her wave hello. Seeing she's mistaken the stranger for Natsuru, Naoto blushes slightly in embarrassment as she nears the other girl.]

Ah, my apologies. You look similar to a friend of mine, and so I mistook you for her.

[Naoto then clears her throat awkardly, before offering a formal bow by way of greeting and apology.]

My name is Naoto Shirogane.

[challengesfate]

Oh...that's alright.

[She was more concerned with those bruises, but, eh.]

It's nice to meet you - mine is Lucina. Er, you needn't bow, you know...

[fortune_detective]

Hm? Oh! [She stands up at that, still blushing in embarrassment underneath the brim of her hat.] It just felt appropriate to add onto my apology since I'm the one who mistook you for someone else.

[She clears her throat, attempting to try and defuse some of her anxiety.]

It's very nice to meet you as well, Lucina-san. Are you new to the Far Shore? I don't recall ever seeing you around before.

A

[toremainbehind]

Naoto.

[He looks up from where he was doing some paperwork. Since it hasn't been particularly a closing day, it gave him some time to do some proper work before he had to get ready and get some more supplies.

Of course, he never protests to anyone stopping by the bar, anyway, to visit.

And seeing Naoto again has him smiling.]

How can I help you?

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto smiles back, glad to see Izumo again and in much better shape than when she'd last seen him in. Him and his bar actually.]

It's good to see you. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important?

[She was already planning to ask a big favor of him, so Naoto doesn't want to intrude further if he's busy at the moment.]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo chuckles, shaking his head.]

Not at all. You came on a good day, actually.

[fortune_detective]

I'm glad.

[She lets out a small sigh of relief, entering the bar more fully now and walking over to stand opposite from him at the bar.]

I was hoping you could help me with something. That is, if you have the time and feel up for it.

C

[priforprince]

That temple is appointment-only.

[ Says a voice not from behind the door but from behind Naoto.

Behold: a prince on a....purple.....horse. Riding up behind her unexpected guest and assessing her carefully. Isn't that...?

Well, she can't be here for anything important. ]

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto turns, taking a step backward and blinking up at Hibiki in surprise. Not only had she managed to sneak up on Naoto, but she'd done it while riding a horse?! Naoto coughs, clears her throat, attempting to regain her cool despite that initial shock.]

I see. In that case, do I need to set up an appointment with you first before I may speak with the temple's god?

[priforprince]

That's a contradiction in terms.

[ Did you really not know.....Hibiki sighs. ] It can't be helped. Come in.

[ She'll tie Maxie up by the door for now. He knows not to disobey her, and the only person he listens to over her isn't here.

She'll try not to focus on that, since it gives her this irritating pang in her chest. ]

[fortune_detective]

[Oh, she knew. She just wanted to hear Hibiki confirm it out loud herself. You know, "for the record" and all. ;) ]

I appreciate it. I promise not to impose upon your time for very long.

[Naoto waits for Hibiki to dismount and will then follow her inside. She follows proper etiquette as she enters, giving a quick yet polite bow and removing her shoes before entering into the temple proper.]

D

[lookingforhead]

[Celty can be found tending to her bike outside the gates of the temple to Aditi. She doesn't make any noise of surprise or distress, as usual, but the way she perks up as she notices Naoto approaching with those bruises shows some clear concern. She stands up quickly, offering her phone out as the other Shinki draws near.]

Are you okay? Who did this?

[She hopes the reply is something along the lines of 'you should see the other guy'.]

[fortune_detective]

[There's another familiar face Naoto hasn't seen in a while. She can't help but chuckle softly as she approaches and Celty pulls out her phone already ready with a response.]

It's nice to see you again, Celty-san.

[She then reads the questions on the phone's screen.]

I'm guessing I probably look worse than I feel, but I can assure you that I'm fine. These are... [She gestures up to a bruise on her cheek to which she's assuming Celty's referring. She hesitates a moment, but decides there's really no reason to keep her activities a secret from Celty. If anything, it'd probably seem worse if she didn't tell the woman what had happened.] well, they're from training.

[lookingforhead]

[Well at least it's nice to hear that she's in good spirits. The short hesitation makes Celty briefly suspicious but a look in Naoto's eyes tell her she's being honest about it. She doesn't know all the gods and shinki about but coming out of training looking that beaten up leads to a short list in her mind.]

By any chance were you training with Sharak or Shizuo?

B!

[darkestbefore]

[ At the sound of an unfamiliar voice, Yona comes to investigate, peeking her head out of one of the doors and spotting the girl waiting outside.

Stepping into view, she beckons for her to enter. ]

Hello! You're looking for Shizuo?

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto looks over at the other girl beckoning her to enter. She nods in thanks, and steps inside the temple. However, she'll stay hovering just inside the entrance way. Not quite entering the temple proper yet.]

Hello. Yes, I was hoping to ask Heiwajima-san for a favor. I don't wish to take up too much of his time though if there are other matters which require his attention.

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona just gives her a warm smile, folding her hands in front of her. ]

I'm sure it will be no trouble at all. He should be home soon, I think, if you'd like to come wait for him? Would you like some tea?

D!

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako arrives home around the same time one day as Naoto but stops short to blink at the other girl in surprise before rushing over. ]

You're hurt! What happened?

[fortune_detective]

[Oh, crap. Now she has Nanako worried, too. She really must look a lot worse than she thought. It's not that the training hasn't been brutal. It's just that Naoto's been too satisfied with the results she's already seeing to notice how much of a beating she's apparently been taking in the process. She reaches up and scratches the back of her neck nervously. How to explain this to Nanako so the poor girl doesn't worry about her?]

I'm okay, Nanako-chan. Really. I've just been, um... practicing a few things with friends.

[Naoto winces slightly at her own answer. Boy, she was really obviously beating around the bush about this.]

[welcome_home]

[ Surprisingly enough, Nanako takes that answer in stride, her head cocking to the side as she studies Naoto seriously.

That answer might be more shocking if she didn't hang out with people like Goten and Izumo and Shun on a regular basis. ]

You were training?