thenearshore | 23 - Crazy Cat Shuffle

23 - Crazy Cat Shuffle

Who: Everyone!
What: Crazy Cat Shuffle
When: September 20
Where: Shibuya & Ikebukuro, as well as the Far Shore
Summary: The new Crazy Cat mascot keychains are sparking real passion in Tokyo's hot spots. Brawls have broken out over the extra-rare versions, and all of this angst is attracting ayakashi. The gods have been asked to step in before things get out of control.

Crossing Crisis

the very rarest kind!

Sunshine Struggle

Taking Stock

Bad Kitty

In Summary:

Placate the crowds
Squash bitty ayakashi
Struggle with temptation
Defeat the cat invasion
Have fun~

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[It's not like he ran off to fight any ayakashi on purpose. He was only planning to drop by and see what the Heavens were fussing about this time, it'd be a waste of time to drag Rin along for something like that! And what if he tried to get Add to actually help or something? It was a much better idea to just slip out for a bit and come back on his own.

It seemed like a better idea, anyway, but after nearly losing his head to a giant cat monster, maybe next time he'll at least put Rin on speed-dial first...

Especially since Rin isn't even home when Add returns to the temple. Did he hear about the Heavens' request and leave to investigate alone? Does he know about the ayakashi roaming around? That idiot, just because he can draw a border doesn't mean he can run off on his own like that! He could get hurt or killed! Add has no choice but to go back to look for him.

So, this is the fourth time today Add has ended up in this stupid situation. As worried as he is about his shinki, he probably should've been a bit more worried for himself. The repeat encounters are starting to wear him down, and he's about ready to let the field drop and take the blow when a voice calls out. He looks up to see Rin, of all people, rushing over to save him with a borderline.]

Where the hell have you been? [he sounds frustrated, but really, he's relieved that Rin is okay. And maybe a bit annoyed that he went out to make sure Rin was safe but still ended up being the one that needed saving... what a wonderful impression he's giving here.]

Huh? Were you looking for me?

[ Add was nowhere to be found when he woke up. Rin figured that the god had gone on his own somewhere, and maybe he wanted to be left alone. His god didn't bother to wake him up, so it must not have been really important. Rin's still new to this shinki thing, so he didn't think that Add wanted him to stay put. He grew restless, not being the sort to wait at home, Rin just decided to see what was going on. There certainly was a lot of things happening. Not only in the Near shore, but the Far shore too.

With all the cat ayakashi running rampant, it really wasn't a good idea for either of them to be separate. Luckily, nothing bad had happened, and Rin was able to evade injury. Still that wouldn't mean anything if he couldn't be useful to Add when he really needed him.

He's glad he doesn't fail to fabricate the barrier, but it only maintains a distance between the ayakashi and where they stand. At least, it can buy them some time if they want to make a speedy getaway. Though that will allow the spirit to roam about the far shore once the borderline comes down.]

Anyway, I'm here now. You're not hurt, are ya? Don't be shy, I have no problem givin' you a piggy back ride back.

[ Add doesn't look like he's physically hurt, but he does seem fatigued. What did he go off to do on his own?]

[There are so many things he could say to that, but Add just sighs loudly and drags a hand down his face. This guy... he's being 100% earnest right now, isn't he? He's so oblivious Add can't even get mad about it.

The field at his feet fades, releasing the ayakashi to claw furiously at Rin's borderline. Add is totally drained right now, but he can push through for a little longer. He sways for a moment before grabbing onto one of the floating drones for support, pausing to catch his breath before turning to Rin.]

Consider this a pop quiz. We're going to take that thing down for good, so brace yourself and follow my lead.

[He hasn't seen Rin's vessel yet, but after having a serving plate for a shinki for several months, he's confident that he'll find a way to wield Rin no matter how ridiculous his form is. If it can Rend, it'll work out somehow. Add reaches out an arm to his shinki, shouting his name to summon his vessel form.]

Come to me, Kaki!

[ Rin does braces himself. He's not sure what to expect when changing into his vessel form. As far as he knows, it doesn't hurt. Though he also hopes he doesn't transform into anything stupid either.

So when Add calls his vessel name, he sees the kanji illuminate in front of him before it crashes into his body. A warm light engulfs him and he can feel himself transform. It doesn't hurt at all, but it's definitely an experience since he's still conscious throughout the whole process. Though it's almost like he's taking a backseat in his observations, watching it unfold without participating.

The light dances around Add, before seating itself at the god's feet, since he's not exactly a shape that a person can easily hold in their hand. Rin's vessel form appears to be a full grown dog. Rin's black fur bristles as it glares at the cat ayakashi, baring fangs. He waits for Add's direction.]

[He starts to get suspicious when Rin's vessel starts to form next to him, rather than in his hand. Is Rin really going to leave him hanging right after he said follow my lead? But then the vessel takes shape, and Add remembers that animal vessels are totally a thing.

... maybe he shouldn't have commanded Rin to follow him, because he has no idea how to fight with a dog. He only gets a couple of seconds to stare in blank confusion before he's reminded of the ayakashi, though, and the fact that Rin's borderline can't stay up while he's in vessel form. The cat is already crouched across from them, ears flat against its head and tail swaying, as the line starts to flicker and fade.

He hisses a curse under his breath, his six dynamos swooping down to form a pair of platforms for him to stand on. He then hastily grabs Rin around the chest with some difficulty (Dynamo is doing all the real lifting here, like hell Add can lift a dog on his own with his pitiful muscles) before careening out of the way, just in time before the cat comes crashing through the barrier.

There's pretty much no way this escape would work in the long-term, though, so he drops Rin after the initial pounce is clear, spinning himself around on his floating platforms to face their foe. His plan has been completely thrown out the window, but that doesn't mean he's ready to give up yet.]

You should still be resistant to the blight! Keep it distracted! [if he can chant out the Rend spell maybe Rin will be able to bite it to death or something, that's his best guess at how this works right now]

[ Rin waits for further instruction, except he doesn't get any. He doesn't catch on that Add is at a lost of how to wield him, until it's too late for Rin to react. The cat ayakashi pounces towards them as his borderline fades away, and Rin feels almost frozen in place. Luckily, Add manages to pick up him, and evade the incoming attack.

Geez, that's too close for comfort.

Once Add releases him, Rin jumps down from the platform, and runs up to the ayakashi. Distract it? The shinki believes it shouldn't be hard to do. The best way to try out his new form is to learn his limitations and strengths. Much like his approach to most things, he charges in with little hesitation. The cat ayakashi looks as if it's about to claw at him with it's paws. Rin dodges various swipes from the demented feline, keeping on his toes and able to keep up his agility. Though, he knows he won't be able to keep up this momentum for long. He needs to fight back.

When ayakashi tries to catch him in it's paws, Rin launches himself off the ground and using the claws as leverage. He's able to land on the ayakashi's head, and bites down on one of the kitty's ears.The ayakashi gives out a wail as Rin's mouth clamps down. Despite the cat's best efforts to shake the pooch off, Rin seems to be stronger. Somehow Rin is able to overwhelm the creature by yanking down on the ear hard enough to make it collapse on it's side.

Wait...are dogs normally this strong?]

[He's a little apprehensive at first about sending Rin in to fight on his own, but his worries are quickly assuaged when the dog easily overpowers the creature five times its size. Is superstrength his special ability, or is this just how effective a vessel is against ayakashi?

It's something he'll have to figure out later—right now they still have bigger concerns, like making sure this monster stays down. Add begins to chant out the spell, his hand forming the halberd as energy builds at his fingertips.]

... Rend! [at the spell's completion, he swipes his hand through the air to send a wave of energy to Rin. Their combined powers should be enough to deal a fatal blow to the ayakashi.]

[ Rin can feel it,his form overflowing with power. He's not really sure what to do with all this energy, but it needs to be released. His mind doesn't have a clear method of how to harness this power, but as soon as Add shouts out, Rend, his body is moving on it's own. He crouches down on his legs as if preparing to launch forward. There's this overwhelming warmth that surrounds his body, almost like he's burning up with a fever.

His body surges forward and his canine fangs piercing through beast as if he's some sort of rocket. Once his paws touch the ground again, the ayakashi is no more. The material form disperses into the air, and a blinding light signifying the exorcism of the spirit within. It all happens so fast, Rin's mind doesn't quite keep up. Yet, with the threat gone, he feels they can relax a little. Plus, he was able to get rid of ayakashi without incident, that's a reason to celebrate!

It doesn't seem as if Rin can talk in his vessel form, but he does show his excitement by wagging his curled tail, running and jumping around Add and his dynamos. As if to say,'We did that!'.]

[That... worked way better than he would've expected. Add sighs heavily, relieved to finally have the creature slain and dealt with. Though there are surely more of them still roaming around and attacking the Far Shore...

But that's not his problem. He's never thought of himself as a dog person, but Add has to admit it's pretty cute how Rin is running around so excitedly right now, and he can sense his shinki's joy through their connection. As angry (worried) as he might have been before, now that the danger is passed he finds it easy to relax into a small smile.]

Good work, Rin. [and with that, he should be able to change back into his normal body again.] For a first attempt, that could've gone a lot worse.

[As soon as Add says his name, he feels himself revert back into his normal body. Though he still has to check himself to make sure he's all there. Yep, all here. It was a weird out of body experience, but he's not turned off by it.]

Yeah, we totally kicked ass! [Wait...did he say that could have gone much worse? Well...it could have, but it didn't, so!]

Well, it took a while to figure things out, but it turned out fine! We got this!

[Add was holding his own until he arrived, but he wonders if Add knew about the danger of the cat keychains. He's smart, so he probably wouldn't have been carrying any of those around.]

Those cat things are everywhere! I heard people were bringin' them from the Near Shore. Have you seen anyone with those cat key chains? We probably should pass on the message that they are dangerous.

[He's not sure if that ayakashi was one of his, but Add absolutely brought a bunch of those keychains in. He chuckles awkwardly, trying not to show his embarrassment.]

By now I'd be surprised if anyone didn't know. It should've been obvious from the start that this was a trap. [yet Add still fell for it. Whoops.] I think I've had enough excitement for one day, someone else can deal with the clean up...

[He's still standing on his dynamos, though there's an increasingly noticeable sway in the machines' hover. Now that the adrenaline's starting to wear off again, he's absolutely beat. He's lucky he didn't have to use his powers too much this time around, but the repeated use has still taken its toll on his body. He's pretty sure he'd just fall over if he tried to use his legs right now. Although, he's not sure how good his flying with Dynamo is going to be like this, either...

Maybe he should've taken Rin up on that piggyback offer, but there's no way in hell he's bringing it up now.]

[This has been going on most of the day.The word must be out about the key chains, since it wouldn't take anyone long to put two and two together. So Rin agrees that there's no need to alert the Far Shore, unless someone's been sleeping under a rock, unaware of the chaos.

It looks as if Add's ready to return to the temple. Though, the esper seems to be acting a bit weird. It's not really obvious, but Add does seem a bit fatigued. His dynamo does waver a bit as he rides on it. Rin decides not to point it out because he's sure that Add will deny it. To spare his god's pride, he won't bring up the piggyback ride either.

Instead, Rin stretches his limbs as if he's the one who's exhausted.]

Boy, I wish there was a faster way to get back. Like poof! You're there!

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23 - Crazy Cat Shuffle

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