23 - Crazy Cat Shuffle

[godsoffortune]

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 Shibuya scramble crossing is always busy, but it's especially wild today. Ten new Crazy Cat vending machines have been installed at the mouth of the alley across from Shibuya Station's exit. Rumors are flying that these machines have extra Blue-Star Cats in them: the very rarest kind! A crowd of hundreds of excited fans have gathered, but the people at the front of the lines are buying lots of cats, and the mood is starting to grow sour as the people at the back of the lines begin to wonder if there will be any left by the time it's their turn.

This crowd needs crossing guards... or just someone who can snag some of those ultra-rare Cats and sell them to the back of the line for crazy cash. Everything a god does is righteous, after all.

Sunshine Struggle

Crazy Cat machines dot the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro. The machines here are attracting some particularly nasty ayakashi: jealous little purple creatures with too many legs that stoke buyers' envy and need for more and better collectibles. Under their influence, it's not just the Cats going fast. The local stores are selling out of everything cute on the shelves.

Worse, some of the ayakashi victims are turning to theft when they run out of pocket money. Time to exterminate those bugs before they start a new crime wave.

Taking Stock

Accident? Sabotage? No one's telling, but a delivery truck carrying boxes of new keychains to restock the machines blew a tire and overturned on a major street. Under the influence of those greedy little ayakashi, collectors are descending on the wreck to snag their favorites before the police show up.

The dazed driver doesn't know what to do, the crowd is starting to get violent, and those Cats do look amazingly cute. And appealing. And, for that matter, valuable.

Bad Kitty

The cat keychains are super cute! Even gods or shinki might be tempted to buy one and take it home, but taking these keychains back to the Far Shore will give away their hidden secret. It's not just human envy that's attracting ayakashi to the Crazy Cats. There are ayakashi hiding inside this batch of cute kitty dolls, and bringing them through a shrine to the Far Shore will force the hidden creatures out of their plushie prisons.

They're big, they're mad, and they're hungry. And the Heavens are full of souls that smell delicious.

The ayakashi escaping from Crazy Cat dolls on the Far Shore resemble gigantic (taller than a person at the shoulder) versions of the cute plushie cats, with very real and sharp teeth and claws. They run and attack at random once released from the dolls, so even gods and shinki who did not bring the toys back could be faced with a fight. The patrolling shinki will do their best to hold them back with borderlines, but they need help to rend these crazy cats before they do too much damage!

In Summary:

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

Comments

[darkestbefore]

[ For a moment, they're airborne and it reminds her so sharply of Jae-Ha that for a moment, she can only clutch her fingers in the front of his shirt and bury her face against his shoulder as she tries to catch her breath and slow her racing pulse. Her eyes sting, the moment of panic followed so swiftly by a wave of homesickness that it leaves her dizzy. ]

I... S-sorry...

[futhark]

It's okay, shh. [ He gives her a small hug, and an encouraging pat on the head. The crowd is already busy with the cats and the machines-- no one seems to be hurt, but he can't be sure. Still, if the appearances say everything is okay, that's what he's going with. He's more concerned about Yona's wellbeing than the anonymous gachamaniacs-

Yeah, he's kind of shit of a god.

And so he carries her away, into the calm part of the park, finding an empty bench for them ]

Better now?

[darkestbefore]

[ She manages a nod, still trying to catch her breath after the momentary panic of being caught and swept away by the crowd. ]

I... yes. I think so. I don't know what happened.

[ And recalling she had shoved everyone in reaction with her magic, her head comes up, eyes suddenly wide and alarmed for another reason. ]

I didn't hurt anyone, did I?

[futhark]

They're fine,- [ and very much not of his concern ] -already lining up for those blasted machines.

[ No ambulances in sight, no one lying on the ground. Maybe some of them got shaken a bit, maybe something worse - but if so, none is showing that. Or it's just easy to overlook in the bunch of people gathering crazily around the gacha machine ]

Don't worry about them... You want anything to drink? [ Not that magic causes dehydration - sure it might, who knows, that's not the point - it's distraction tactics ] Water, tea, juice, take your pick.

[darkestbefore]

[ She slumps forward a little in relief at his words, lifting a hand to rub at her temples. ]

Oh, thank goodness. I could have... At least it was only wind. But still. Thank you, Caster. I think I'm okay now. Just... give me a moment to catch my breath.

oh god i lost this notif

[futhark]

[ "Only" wind. So there could be other after effects. He blinks at that wording and gaze focused on her as if he was studying something that maybe could be seen or not- then he closes his eyes ]

Troubles with magic? [ A hum sneak outs of him. He doesn't go out of his way to offer help- he's not sure if he can, being a warrior at heart he didn't gave his magic studies that much heart.

But maybe, just maybe it falls within the scope of his capabilities. And if it doesn't, he can always offer an ear to listen. ]

it's okay! ;)

[darkestbefore]

[ She gives him an apologetic glance as she lifts a hand to brush her hair back from her face, trying to ignore the way it trembles a little. ]

Something I was... gifted with, when I arrived here as a god. I'm still... It can be a little... tempermental, at times. It hasn't been as easy to master as a weapon, although I've been trying. But it only works when I'm feeling an emotion strongly. It's like it reacts to it. Which means it's not always an easy thing to train or practice, and when I do, it's very draining.

[futhark]

[ What a curious gift to give someone. The forces that be here surely have some interesting ideas ]

So it ain't magic you're familiar with- Makes sense. [ Magic is a tricky thing to control - double so if it's entirely unfamiliar. And untrained mages left alone for themselves... ahh, that's why people like that should be taught.

Emotion, temperament, sounds like something based on most troublesome things to control. ]

Do they offer training for new gods? They should.

[darkestbefore]

Most of the training I've seen for the gods has been in physical fighting - which is also necessary. But it seems like many of the gods here were given a gift that is unique to each of them. With all those options so varied and different, I can see why it might be hard to organize some instruction for it. [ She gives a sigh, rubbing fingers against her temple for a moment. ] I hadn't realized it would be something I would lose control of so quickly in a moment of panic. I'll have to be more careful.

[futhark]

Geez, what are they thinking? [ This sounds so irresponsible. Sure, it evens out things, what god even is without powers? But leaving people in the dark is potential for disaster ] That's not good. You can't grant such gifts without saying what's it about.

[ He taps his chin thoughtfully and stays silent for a moment before standing up from the bench and stretching ]

Eh, fine. [ The decision is made ] If you want someone to practice them on, I volunteer.

[ He's sturdy enough, familiar with magic, and while he never was a teacher, but he could try and channel Scáthach a bit - you don't forget that kind of training. Not to mention, isn't that a role of a druid?

"Druid" ha ha ha... ]

[darkestbefore]

[ She blinks at him in surprise, her hands dropping back to her lap. ]

I can't practice on you!

[futhark]

Why not? Trust me I can take a punch.

[ Or set magical defenses up. Also innate magic resistance skill-- he'll be okay

Or at least, so he thinks. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona gestures emphatically, trying to express why that would be such a terrible idea. ]

It's not a punch! I mean, it could be, sometimes it is. But other times it's setting something on fire, or freezing everything around me or making me invisible. it's never quite the same thing, although sometimes I can duplicate what I did before if I concentrate on whichever emotion triggered it the first time. Sometimes that's easier said than done, however.

[futhark]

Fire, ice- protection from the elements those are some basic runic writings. Besides, I have- [ HOW TO EXPLAIN SERVANT BULLSHIT ] -a natural magic resistance. [ Yeah, sure, that works ]

And having two heads to figure that out is always better, no?

[ Bring it on. If stuff exploded even better ]

[darkestbefore]

[ Caster, she's going to start questioning all your life choices at this rate. ]

Basic...? You mean that's what your power is? [ She still looks worried about the possibility of accidentally hurting him, with her lack of control. ] I... Well. Yes, maybe, but... It's very unpredictable, Caster.

[futhark]

[ They are Very Bad by default ]

One of several, yeah. [ Skills are weird, okay? So are Servants. And all this bullshit ] It's not a full nullification, but with a little warding I can shake off most of magical effects.

[ He sounds very confident in himself at least ]

[darkestbefore]

[ She takes a moment to breathe a deep sigh, finally nodding reluctantly. ]

Alright. If you're certain. Having someone who is familiar with magic to help me understand this would certainly be helpful. I've felt very much like I've been fumbling blind, I admit.

[futhark]

[ Being useful get!! ]

Then it's a date. [ Not that kind of date- ah, oh well ] Don't worry, we'll figure your power out.

[darkestbefore]

[ Her eyes widen a little, a flush creeping across her cheek before she gives a soft laugh and waves that off, because of course he doesn't mean that. ]

It is. I will owe you a great deal for this, Caster. Thank you. It means more than I can say.