[open] purple burst of paper birds

[revolutionfalcon]

Who: A: Shun, Temeraire and you, B: Shun and you
When: A: Backdated to September 16th, B: September 19th
Where: A: Central District, B: Heavens' Library
What: Shun reads the news to a dragon, and practices making ofuda that actually work.

[A: Central District, September 16th]

[Ah, an autumn morning. Birds chirping, leaves starting to change, the sound of...something extremely large and scaly in the grass...

Shun usually does this in his garden, but his vultures appear to be having some kind of congregation there today, so instead, he's sitting on a large rock near the main path that runs in front of his temple. From a distance, he probably looks uncharacteristically distracted, thumbing through his phone, and especially so considering that taking up the grass in front of him is an extremely large, black dragon.

The dragon leans over more closely, massive head tilting close to Shun's as though he is conspiring, or possibly as though he is about to bite Shun's head right off like an hors d'ouvre.

He rumbles curiously, and tilts his head again, one eye's pupil dilating until the blue is almost drowned in black.]

Is catnip particularly good to eat? Does it taste of cat?

[Shun blinks and looks up from his phone at that, looking like he hadn't expected the question, but still giving it somewhat of a deadpan response. Slowly, his gaze travels over to the nearby path to spot for any passerby.]

I don't suppose you know anything more about catnip than what it does to cats. [Save him from this disaster he's resigned himself to.]

--

[B: Heavens' Library, September 19th]

[Ever since he mercifully managed to find this book after several days of finding corny shojo manga instead, Shun's been trying to decipher the not particularly clear instructions on how to make functional ofuda. He's been interested ever since Obon, and even more so since Wendy suggested she was looking into it, but ended up getting impatient enough to go looking himself. At least it paid off in some way, though there's still the most important point of practice, practice, practice.

Which is why he's taking up a rather large table in the library, most of it being covered in strips of paper, some of them already marked. He doesn't feel there's a great deal of point in completing the charms until he knows they work, so there's no fabric slips to put them in for now; he's just working on the charm itself. He seems to be going through different varieties of ofuda in sequence, but protection against evil and accidents seem to be represented a bit more frequently than the other charms, considering he figures those are the most broadly useful against ayakashi for if he can get them working. Letting out a slight hiss through his teeth, he dips his calligraphy brush into the ink again and writes another set of kanji on one of the slips. If nothing else, he's getting neater - the first two dozen or so charms are written in incredibly rusty handwriting, as if he hasn't had need to write, or at least write neatly, regularly in a very long time.

As usual, though, Shun is extremely prone to noticing any approach, and if anyone comes out of the shelves near him, he'll immediately look up from his work to eye them off.]

If you're looking for a table, find somewhere else. [He's not moving all this mess now that he's started.]

Comments

A!

[shadowrevenger]

[This isn't one of the days he'd usually be coming to see Shun, but the Heavens do have an annoying habit of having their training days on some of the days he trains with Shun (one of these days, he's actually going to suggest that they do something about that, instead of just grumbling to himself every time) and he does try to make those days up as often as possible--and it's not like he really needs an excuse to go on a morning walk to see his boyfriend anyway.

And he sure is glad that he did as soon as he gets close enough to see that the big black shape next to the Shun shape is a dragon. He claps his hands together with a small, but very delighted, gasp and immediately picks up the pace so the long tail of his black vest and his unruly hair are fluttering a bit behind him. He's not quite as much of a dragon person as Kai, but he does have a certain fondest for them, especially if they happen to be black.

He gives Shun a cheery, if distracted, wave as soon as he's spotted, and it's a good thing Shun asked that question right away because it gives him something to concentrate on other than being very excited about a dragon as he stops nearby.]

Mmm...I think you can make tea out of it...?

[But it doesn't distract him for long, and soon enough he's giving the dragon a bright wave too.]

Hi! I haven't seen you before~!

[impetuouswind]

Why, hello!

[Temeraire looks up from the screen, which he has a great deal of trouble seeing in any case (it's just so small, and while he can pick up the flickers of movement, reading is too much) and focuses his wide blue eyes on the newcomer. It's true, he hasn't seen this human before, but even if his hair is a bit mussed by the wind, it's a very attractive color, deep ruby-red.]

It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Temeraire. Can you make tea of many things that are not tea?

[He crosses his forehands, and dips his head in a sort-of bow to the newcomer, trying to keep his manners intact as he considers the person's appearance. His robe isn't an unflattering style at all, even if it's dreadfully sober black, and could use more color, or embroidery at least. It could be some sort of uniform, Temeraire supposes.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun was kind of hoping Ren might have more answers on catnip considering the whole "owning five cats" thing, but he supposes it being used for tea is technically new information. He does wave a little to Ren, the motion somewhat awkward in the manner of someone not used to it as his formalities tend to be, but he's definitely not surprised that Ren takes about half a second to get distracted by Temeraire.

Putting his phone down for the moment, Shun eyes the tails of Ren's vest in that overly intent way he does when Ren's wearing something he likes but doesn't know how to phrase that he likes. But at the very least, the question about tea is one he has at least a partial answer to, or at least more of an answer than the one about catnip, so he pulls his attention away to address that instead.]

Herbal and fruit teas aren't that uncommon, though it's all just making tea out of other plants. Things like mint and chamomile seem to be popular since they're supposed to calm you down.

[Shun's never found chamomile does that much for him, but he drinks it anyway now out of habit.]

[shadowrevenger]

[How is he supposed to choose between being delighted that Shun waved back or delighted by Temeraire being very polite...

Ren doesn't wave again since he...already did that, and he doesn't bow either, but he does give Temeraire a bright smile as he stops next to Shun with his hands clasped behind his back.]

It's nice to meet you too, Temeraire-san~! I'm Suzugamori Ren. Oh, but just Ren is fine. [And Shun already answered the tea question, but he figures it wouldn't hurt to add onto it. Even if it is just. repeating what he said.] Tea is tea, but tea is also things that are made like tea.

[That does make him wonder why the question of catnip even came up, though, so he leans over to look at Shun's phone somewhat upside down.] Why were you asking about catnip?

[impetuouswind]

Someone wrote that he wanted catnip, and I was not sure why he would want an herb, if it were not for putting in something.

[Herbs are for food, aren't they? Food, and tea, apparently. Temeraire isn't sure what else humans might use them for, although Ren and Shun seem to have a better understanding of the matter, and he's quite curious to hear what it may be.

As an afterthought, he adds:]

Is that a uniform you are wearing?

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun turns his phone so Ren can see it - it's displaying the front page of the Heavens' BBS.] I've been reading him the news and what's on the BBS, since the screen is too small for him.

[Then he turns his attention to Temeraire to answer the remark on catnip. He does, at least, know catnip's main use even if he couldn't answer Temeraire's question on the taste.] Catnip has an effect on cat behaviour, that's why it's called that. Considering how many people here own cats, that's probably why he wants it.

[And...well, he's pretty sure that what Ren's wearing isn't any kind of uniform, but he'll let Ren answer that question.]

A

[royaltyloyalty]

[He'd thought he'd seen it all in the Far Shore, but nope his youkai senses pick up something large while he's meandering around the district and his curiosity leads him to Shun's temple. Now, dragons aren't something he's phased by - but that's when they're the size of a horse, meant for traveling, or the size of a bat... that turns into a jeep, but as a dragon it's pretty tiny. Dragons that big weren't supposed to exist anymore--

But that was where he came from, not wherever plenty of other beings came from.

Granted, he'd never been by Shun's temple, only spoken to him elsewhere in person, but as he sticks his head into the pathway he recognizes Shun at least.]

Yo...

[Yep, sure is a dragon.]

[impetuouswind]

[Unquestionably a dragon. Temeraire looks around at the newcomer, eyes bright with curiosity. He doesn't think he knows that human (is he a human? There's something a little strange about his smell.)]

Good morning. Are you a friend of Shun's?

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun glances up at the voice, frowning a bit. It's been a fairly long while since he's spoken to Dokugakuji, but at the same time, the youkai's never made himself an enemy, so Shun is less bothered than he could be by him showing up on his temple grounds.

He does correct Temeraire on that pretty quickly, though.] Friend is too strong a word, but we've met a few times.

[On that note, he turns his attention to the other god.] Do you want something?

[It seems odd for him to show up without reason, and he definitely seems a little cautious about the whole thing.]

[royaltyloyalty]

[He nods at Shun.]

Guy's right about that. No friends for the scary youkai.

[But he turns to the dragon in kind, since apparently it can speak - and at this point it's just so weird to him his tone is kinda incredulous.]

What about you? A friend of Shun's?

[impetuouswind]

We are certainly acquaintances.

[Is friend too strong a word? He gives Shun a sidelong glance, not quite certain. He is certainly scarier than the other small human, after all.

Who -- he returns his gaze curiously to Dokugakuji. Who really does appear human. Two arms, two legs, not an unusual shape or size, and although there are markings on his face, he sees no reason why markings should make a difference. He has markings on his wings, after all.]

... You do not look like a youkai.

[Aren't they supposed to be strange creatures?]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun hums slightly in agreement with Temeraire's summation of the situation.] It takes a while for me to use "friend" for anyone. Being "scary" doesn't come into it.

[Said in the tone of someone who doesn't consider either of them particularly scary. They're definitely both significant threats if he ever had to fight them, but that's a different matter.

With that remark, Shun's gaze turns back to Dokugakuji. It is true that he doesn't really look like the traditional image of a youkai, but then, this isn't new information for Shun.]

The other one here looks even less like one. Must be different in some worlds. [He'd like to know how Hakkai suddenly went from sharing those odd features of Dokugakuji's to looking human, but he's never actually asked considering what their relationship is like.]

[royaltyloyalty]

Other one? Do you mean Celty, or... what was that girl's name...

[He keeps forgetting that Hakkai is youkai at all, truth be told. Probably the way Hakkai would prefer it. The girl, Hannah, he eventually decided might not be youkai at all. Celty however admitted that Dullahan and Youkai might share some features.

And not like he was about to volunteer Gojyo being half.

Dokugakuji crosses his arms in thought, leaning up into his full height as he considers the dragon's point and Shun's agreement.]

Well, you're right at any rate, that even humans can look different from world to world, so I guess it makes sense youkai would too.

library

[minogame]

( Urashima is a simple soul and he mostly comes to the library to read stories. ... That is, if he can find them. When he stumbles onto Shun, he has a book of myths and legends from some foreign country in his arms. And he wasn't really planning to sit down or make Shun move! He'd just wanted to say hello and ended up distracted by all of the charms on the table, )

... Are you trying to protect someone?

[revolutionfalcon]

[At least Urashima isn't trying to make him go somewhere else, and Shun's tension dips a bit in that knowledge. Still, he sighs in mild annoyance and taps a book sitting a little away from him on the table. The book itself looks pretty old and worn, but there's a fresh piece of paper on top of it containing some kind of instruction list in Shun's deteriorated handwriting. Not shown: the several other versions of the list he had to go through in the last not-quite-a-week to actually get an accurate idea of what was in the book in his own words.]

I'm trying to make these things actually work instead of just being trinkets. There's obviously a way to do it, but the way it's written in this book is confusing as hell, and needs practice.

[Hence the charm attempts all over the table.]

[minogame]

( He's trying to read the list but that's some pretty awful handwriting, Shun. )

Can I see? ( He isn't sure how much he can help if at all but he's naturally curious. ) I've never made one before... ( And the more he thinks about it, ) I didn't know you could learn to make them, either.

( Which is silly since they're clearly being made some how. )

[revolutionfalcon]

[Once upon a time his handwriting was good, before his hometown got invaded and good handwriting was suddenly at the bottom of his priority list.

Shun doesn't answer that question directly, instead just turning the book and list around and shoving it in Urashima's general direction across the table before going back to writing another slightly neater set of kanji.]

Someone I know suggested there might be some kind of method to making ones that work. I decided to look into it. The worst it could be was a waste of time.

[minogame]

( Urashima's isn't any better. You don't have to write much when you're in a display case and even when he got a body, he rarely ever had to write reports. He opens the book and begins to flip through the pages. It's not impossible but reading sure does make his head hurt. What's all this kanji? With Shun's notes, he's able to understand it a little more but... )

... So none of these work?

( He's honest, albeit, blunt. )

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun isn't really paying attention to Urashima reading, which is probably reasonably noteworthy of itself. His almost aggravated focus on his work may give away how bothered he is by the fact that he hasn't managed to get it working properly yet.]

I wouldn't be doing it here if they were. [He'd likely be making them individually in his temple instead. There's just more room here to throw things across a table, and less to worry about if something goes wrong.]

B

[kokuyoyo]

[The usual resident quiet ghost of the library that is Chikusa Kakimoto pauses from where he was stepping out from the shelves, and looks over everything slowly. It's clearly the kind of judgmental gaze that's taking its sweet ass time.]

[Finally, he speaks up.]

If you make any messes.....

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun just glares at Chikusa right back, as if daring him to make a remark. When he finally does, Shun somehow looks even less impressed than he did a moment ago.]

Do you seriously think I'd come here just to make a mess? I'm busy. [And, unsurprisingly, not in the best mood to deal with getting library policed.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Then he should have checked out the books instead of come in here, because Chikusa is here to be a pain in the ass. His gaze goes pointedly to the ink.]

Not "just". [But it sure seems like it could happen easily.]

[revolutionfalcon]

Ink isn't hard to clean off something like this, even if I did manage to spill it. [From the sound of things, Chikusa just thinks he's going to leave any mess he makes there, which seems stupid to him. As if to make that point, he simply pulls another blank slip across the table and starts writing another set of kanji on it as if Chikusa had never remarked in the first place.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Unfortunately for Shun, this is the kind of thing Chikusa practically needs to have in writing, so he doesn't get rid of the shitty teenager that quickly.]

So that means you'd clean it up?

[revolutionfalcon]

There's no reason I wouldn't clean it up. [Shun says that very bluntly, still focused on his work. It smacks a bit too much of being treated like a child for his liking.]