thenearshore | 24 - Autumn Reception

[On the other hand, Ayumu has dressed up for the occasion in wine red dress she'd purchased on Heaven's yen during the shopping center mission. She's even had her hair styled especially for the event. Though her expression is a good deal more subdued than her date's, there is a noticeable gleam of displeasure in her good eye.

First they disturb their rest and now they treat them like they're lower class on top of it? Shame on the Heavens. Haven't they earned a place on the guest list in their own right?]

Come on, Gojyo. We'll find something else to do to celebrate.

[Or they can case the place until she finds another way to break in. Whichever comes first.]

No way.

[ Sorry, as hot as Ayumu looks, and as unlikely as it is that he's going to succeed, Gojyo isn't the kind of guy who backs down. Especially not when he's pissed.

He shakes his head at Ayumu and jabs his finger into the shinki's face. ]

You brought us here, you turned us into weapons, you took our memories away and made us work for those fucking gods, and you are gonna let us in to eat fancy tiny sandwiches and get drunk on free champagne!

[ Yes he's raising his voice. Yes he's making a scene. Who's gonna say anything about it? ]

Let us pass!

[It's not as if she disagrees with him. Not at all, really. Gojyo isn't saying anything she doesn't think herself about this ridiculous situation but this isn't the way to go about dealing with it. Words like these are better saved for the ears of those with greater political influence than the doormen.

This is happening, however, and perhaps with the right spin and framing, she can still use this to further the cause. But for now, she just kind of lifts her hands in a display of helplessness and disappointment, sighing heavily.]

Gojyo, they're just servants themselves. They don't have any more power or control over this situation than we do.

[She isn't dismissing their potential usefulness, however. Somehow she knows that inconspicuous allies can be the most effective. Ayumu tries to meet the doorman's eye, giving him a look of pained sympathy. Maybe they come from different places but they're still in the same boat, aren't they?]

There you are.

[Sharak cuts in, with all the ease and confidence of a woman who knows exactly what's going on. The doorman looks relieved for a second, before realising it's not one of the old gods come to rescue him. She gives him one dismissive look- somehow even more effective than usual, in her veil and crown- before turning to Ayumu.]

We've been waiting for you. Hurry up, both of you- it's fine, don't worry about them. [Just an aside to the doorman with a wave of her hand, yes these are totally her shinki only just now catching up to the rest of her retinue. Her eyes barely pass over Gojyo and his unusual appearance.] Come along, you two.

[Ever the opportunist, Ayumu's not going to let this chance go to waste. She'll gladly play along with the charade if it gets them inside.]

Sorry for the delay, Sanzo-sama. It took a little longer to get ready than I anticipated. Perhaps I should have picked something different to wear... but I wanted to try something different this time. Given how it's a special occasion and all.

[Without a second thought, she reaches over to take Gojyo's hand, smiling demurely as she does so.]

Shall we get going then?

[ What? ]

What?

[ No, fuck that. He yanks away from Ayumu and shakes his fist at Sharak instead. ]

...Oi!

[ Storming after Sharak just happens to bring him into the party, under the watchful eye of the doorman. He's not coming in because Sharak said he could. He's chasing her, and nobody is stopping him. It's totally different. ]

I'm not your damn shinki anymore. [ --he hisses, grabbing Sharak's arm. ] I didn't ask you to do that.

You look lovely, Ayumu.

[Gojyo, who's Gojyo? Sharak's just here to lead Ayumu into the ballroom, and if someone else happens to follow... She stops when Gojyo grabs her, turning to look at him over her shoulder with a deadpan expression.]

I did it anyway. Is that a problem?

[If Gojyo's determined to blow his cover, she supposes that it's his choice but now that she's in, there's no way she's going to allow the same thing to happen to her. As long as there are officials around with the authority to throw her out, congratulations on your brand new shinki for the evening, Sharak.]

Thank you very much. I've hoped for a chance to wear this dress for a while now.

[It'd just looked so pretty at the store while she was spending Heaven's money, you know? Ayumu sidles back up to Gojyo, rather decisively hooking his remaining arm with hers and beams.

Is she going to have to put a hand over her date's mouth to keep this evening from ending in total disaster before it can even begin? She's fully prepared to do just that if she has to.]

[ Is that a problem are fighting words, and his muscles bunch under Ayumu's hands as he really strongly considers his odds if he were to just pick Sharak up and throw her across the hallway right this second.

The odds aren't very good. And, as Ayumu's gentle chiding touch reminds him, their goal was to get into the party. It'd be pretty stupid to get tossed out again just because he didn't care for the way they got in.

Still. ]

Stop sticking your nose in where it's not wanted.

[The odds are very bad, should Gojyo decide to take that course. Sharak can't even entertain the possibility of losing in front of an audience.]

I'm afraid that's not my speciality. [Everything is Sanzo's business, if they decide it is. At least, by Sharak's rules. Gojyo being pissy about it isn't her fault.

But she just turns back to Ayumu, the much more charming conversation partner.] I'll talk to you later, perhaps? I hear there's going to be dancing.

[Since Gojyo isn't in the mood to chat.]

Of course, Sanzo-sama. It would be my pleasure.

[Whether they met up for a chat or a dance, either way it'd be nice to spend a little time catching up with Sharak later. Given the rocky start the party's gotten off to already, Ayumu's quite certain she'll need to take a break from her escort at some point in the evening.

She might have seen the wisdom in coming to the party armed just in case an emergency arose but she's there to relax and try to take her mind off all the unpleasantness in her life lately, not get into fights with anyone.

Ayumu turns to her date, inclining her head toward the refreshment table.]

How about we go try some of those sandwiches and that champagne now, hmm?

[ Gojyo being pissy is absolutely Sharak's fault. Everything is Sharak's fault. Accept responsibility, monk, goddamn.

But if he gets himself and Ayumu thrown out of the party, not only will he no longer be able to snoop around the party, but Ayumu will probably kick his ass. And that's just not something he wants to deal with right now.

With a huff -- and glaring a couple more daggers Sharak's direction, just for good measure -- he lets Ayumu lead him off toward the promise of free food. ]

I don't know how you put up with that. Nosy gods piss you off just as much as they do me, I know it.

They do. I guess I'm just used to managing my anger more efficiently.

[Her tone's calm and matter-of-fact; she's not saying this to flaunt any sort of superiority. But it's important to pick and choose one's battles in her opinion. She's not in the habit of making a stand unless she's likely to win.]

But one could argue that isn't always a good thing. You seem to have an easier time expressing it than I do.

[Or at least, less prone to bottling things up to the point they reach murderous rage like she does. It's... a problem she's more aware of now. And one she's trying to work on.]

[ It's easy to forget, sometimes, that he's not the only one struggling with only being half a person. It's so damn hard, knowing things -- really knowing them, knowing them with every fiber of your being, knowing them like you know how to breathe -- but not having any idea where that awareness came from. Why does he have an easier time being angry than Ayumu? Is it just because he's a man and she's a woman, or is it something residual from their lives?

They'll never know, and that really grates at him. ]

We can work on that, y'know.

[ There's a pretty good crowd at the table -- it looks like food hasn't been out long, and everyone's starving. He stops a few paces back from the table, turning slightly to indicate that she should do the same. ]

If you feel like yellin', then you should yell. You wanna hit somebody, hit 'em.

[Ayumu's expression is deeply thoughtful as she considers that advice. From the weight she's giving it, one could assume this was a completely novel concept being presented to her. And sadly, in many ways it is. Even as a small child in life, she'd never once been encouraged to do such a thing nor had it even been presented as an acceptable option to her.

Finally, she nods in agreement, following his lead. Sometimes she wonders there's even enough of her to qualify for half a person. While she's not mindless, when simply being alive feels almost like an unbearable burden, any kind of guidance at all is a major relief.]

That makes sense. I suppose that'd make the injuries less severe in the long run.

[As it stands, the loss of her temper generally involves broken bones or assault with a deadly weapon. At this point, anything less than that would be a substantial improvement, wouldn't it?]

The food looks really good, doesn't it?

[ Injuries...? He missed something in there, somewhere, didn't he? But it's not the time to ask her to clarify -- she's got an idea in her head that'll lead to less injuries, and that's good enough for him.

His stomach answers for him, rumbling audibly, but he's not even going to bother being ashamed of that. Instead he just laughs, and nods. ]

Like somebody took a perfectly good sandwich and cut it up mouse-sized. [ Shall they head over? ] I don't get the appeal of all this tiny food. [ Or the unacceptably tiny plates, for that matter. He holds one up, frowning at it. ] Who th'hell gets full eatin' off something like this?

I don't think it's meant to substitute a full meal. They're just meant to be snacks. You know - whet the appetite for the main course. The banquet's later.

[Ayumu's not quite sure how to go about all of this. It's not like she really thought much further than getting into the party or that she's even looking for a suitor. Really, she'd invited him as a friend and dates don't feel like something she has much experience with without some kind of agenda in mind.]

Still, they look quite tasty. Let's try some.

[She reaches for one of the plates.]

[ Well, dates usually involve the guy doing gentlemanly things, right? Pulling out her chair when they sit, dancing with her, bringing her flowers, that thing with the boombox... They're zero for four so far, and it's not even like he can serve her finger foods.

Once the fighting starts, though, then he'll be able to be useful to her. Then they'll have some fun.

...Meanwhile, things that are not fun? Having to set his tiny plate down, put some food on it, move it a few inches down the table to the next chafing dish, load up there... Davesprite knows how to make things float with his mind, he remembers, piling fat glistening shrimp onto a plate already overflowing with paste sandwiches and little chocolate-looking things. If that bridge hasn't been burned, maybe he can get lessons in how to do telepathy. That seems like it'd come in handy.

Handy. ]

I'm not seeing any weapons. [ He keeps his voice low, leaning over to murmur in her ear as they round the table. ] All the shinki just look like waiters. Are they really not expecting shit to get crazy again?

[Ayumu brightens just a bit. It is a little difficult watching Gojyo struggle with his plate like that but male pride can be a tricky thing sometimes, she feels. Would an offer of help offend him and aggravate the situation? Or should she just leave him to do what he can to the best of his ability? She just doesn't know.

However, strategy is a safe topic. Talk about weapons and potential armed conflict comes to her much more easily. Ayumu gives one of the waiters a critical once over and murmurs back.]

They could be concealing weapons. Or have other means of fighting we don't know about. Magic is an unpredictable element that changes the battlefield.

[It's really annoying, frustrating, and just plain unfair. Ayumu doesn't like magic. Magic is cheating.]

But maybe the banquet really is secure.

[ His masculinity is pretty fragile, okay? Best to let him struggle through on his own.

Gojyo pops a shrimp into his mouth and chews thoughtfully, trying to appear casual as he scans the room. ]

Maybe.

[ There's one -- no, two -- groups of old gods and their shinki already here, sticking together in tight little color-coded groups. That's interesting. ]

That lot certainly don't show up to most of the regular parties. Maybe they know something we don't.

[ Then there's the invitation-only door... he glances up, pretending to admire the, what, ceiling? Architecture? But really seeing if he can spot any additional security measures. Not that he can see magical barriers. ]

I bet this whole place is shielded. [ And that's not really a comfort, is it? ] Think that'll stop folks from gettin' out, too?

[ Maybe they should, ah. Go identify a couple more exit points. ]

I'm not sure. I don't think I know much about magic.

[Magic, technology... A lot of things still go over her head. About all she can manage on subject is to smile and nod.]

But perhaps eliminating the caster would have an effect? Though that would involve finding them first.

[If there are any magical barriers in place in the first place. She doesn't have any idea either.]

Perhaps familiarizing ourselves with the environment would be wise. It's always good to have an exit strategy just in case and if that's not an option, a defensible position.

[Ayumu nibbles daintily on one of the little sandwiches.]

[ The caster? ...Oh, that's the person casting the spell, huh? Okay, yeah, that's a good thought. Bet they'd be hiding someplace good and secure, though. ]

In that case... [ He's got a full plate. Is she done picking out snacks, too? Carefully balancing his plate, he holds out his elbow to her -- see, he can pretend to be a gentleman! ] Feel like takin' a stroll?

Sure.

[Ayumu takes his arm carefully with a demure smile befitting any lady acquaintance on a date. She glances down at her plate then back up again, surveying the crowd from under her lashes. She'd had a little bit of time to get used to how quickly and easily subterfuge comes to her, where she learned it doesn't matter, just slip between in and out of character is seamless.

To all outward appearances, she's simply a shy young Japanese woman accompanying a gentleman on a date, regardless of how rugged or uncouth he might seem.]

The pillars seem sturdy. They might be difficult to take out and offer reasonable cover if we have to flee. The other guests as well. With a good diversion to gather them in one place, they'd be useful for obstructing an enemy's view.

So long as we don't get attacked by something that could go around them, like fire. Or gas.

[ Or magic, but if it's a magical attack they're pretty much fucked regardless.

Still, he has to admit it. This is kinda fun! It's easier to look at the room and imagine how he'd attack it rather than thinking about ways he'd defend himself here, and he's pointedly not going to consider that what says about him. ]

That's a good spot to defend against ayakashi though, don't you think? The columns are close enough together than it shouldn't take too much effort to put borderlines between them, and the wall behind looks sturdy enough.

[ There's no way out of a defended position like that -- if they end up back there, they'll be trapped, but it's probably good to consider all the options. ]

Want to steal knives from the snack table when we get back over there and hide 'em all around the room?

Sounds like a good time.

[There'd been so many little things she'd wanted to do like that at the temple but Hakkai kept telling her that his enemies would likely just teleport in. In the end, she hadn't even gotten to trapping the outer walls. Sometimes her ex-god could be a real stick in the mud and not any fun at all.]

It's a shame everything's so secure. With fewer eyes and access to more of their supplies, I'm sure we could set up some really nasty surprises where they least expect them, too.

[She giggles a bit, oddly carefree and girlish, given the subject matter.]

They could be fun to make.

[Ayumu's made it a habit not to question where she learned most of the things she knows or why she seems to have so many rather strange hobbies outside of cooking. Maybe there's perfectly reasonable explanation for it all but she certainly can't fathom what it could be.]

24 - Autumn Reception

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