( closed ) ❀ marigold

[festal]

Who: Sakura, Tsuzuki, Yamanbagiri, Add, Charlotte, Zelda, Hitsugaya... and probably more tbh.
When: 3-6 October
Where: mostly Konohanasakuya's temple
What: After Add ruins everything, the temple is unexpectedly caught up in the aftermath. A new shinki also appears and really, no one at this temple is allowed to rest for awhile.



1 ❀ (3/10) late morning, closed to Tsuzuki ( sweetdeath ) and Yamanbagiri ( replicatedform )

( Sakura has been a mess since she returned home the previous evening. Unable to reach Add and unsure of who else to contact, she'd accepted that she needed to let things play out for a bit. Since returning home, both Tsuzuki and Yamanbagiri will definitely be able to tell something is wrong with their goddess. She's visibly upset and unable to speak at all without crying and easily cries herself to sleep.

When she wakes up on the third, not much has changed. She wakes up late— much later than usual and when she decides to reveal herself to everyone, it's obvious she's still been crying despite her best efforts to hide it. She's made herself some green tea to try to clear her mind but when she reaches for the cup, she's distracted and knocks it over, spilling it on the table's surface. )

O-oh! I'm s-s-so sorry…!

( She can get a cloth to wipe it up. Oh, where is one? In the kitchen? She can go… Her eyes begin to well up with tears all over again and it's less about the tea but more everything else. )

2 ❀ (4/10) Morning, closed to Add ( subtract )

( On the morning of the 4th, she wakes up from another poor night. Having spent the entire previous day a complete wreck, a sense of guilt weighs heavily on her for inconveniencing Tsuzuki and Yamanbagiri. She's probably worried them terribly and that's the last thing she wants to do. So when she wakes up, she takes a moment to collect herself and tries to get it together. Her face is still a little puffy from crying but again, she's tried to cover it up. Does it still look bad? Or is it just in her mind? Maybe a little of both.

But if she can just clean herself up enough and try to go about the day... that might be good. Maybe she'll make everyone breakfast? Or clean up a little. A clean environment can clear the mind, after all. She's careful not to disturb Tsuzuki or Yamanbagiri if they're still around.

The residential part of her temple is open with open air hallways and large windows and doors to make it easy to see into the grounds. As she passes the front gardens, she sees someone. A visitor? It's not uncommon but she really wonders who it could be now of all times... )

3 ❀ (5/10) Morning, closed to Charlotte ( appealingdame )

( Her mind is put to ease a little now that Add's returned, albeit, suffering some sort of effects. It's still stresssful but it's better than it was before. That said, she really isn't prepared to startled awake so early in the morning by a vision of all things. And such a familiar one at that! She'd recognized the uniforms and even some of the faces in the memory. In fact, she was quite certain she'd recognized the person she was dreaming about…

It's difficult waking up but she can't sit back idly when someone needs her. She gets dressed quickly and puts on her shoes, ready to head to… well, Bishamon's temple? That's where everyone meets their shinki these days, right?

But as soon as she steps into the garden, she stops just short. )

—M-miss Charlotte?!

( She's never had someone appear at her temple before?! )

4 ❀ (5/10) afternoon, closed to Zelda ( sageprincess )

( After learning from Add about some of the people involved, Sakura tries to reach who she can. Starting with Princess Zelda since it's a familiar name. It's a blessing that she's able to reach Zelda at all after trying to contact her and Sakura is quick to teleport to her side— focusing on meeting Zelda to do so. )

Princess Zelda! ( Sakura is immediately beginning to fuss over her, ) Are you hurt?

5 ❀ (6/10) morning, closed to Hitsugaya ( freezetheheavens )

( She still doesn't know the entire story but she's managed to learn just enough to know that it's probably for the best that she find better accommodations for Princess Zelda. Something had happened with her and Add and though neither seemed to really… care, she wonders how that will change once the shock and effects of whatever they'd meddled with pass.

She's uncertain who to really call at first, thinking about it carefully for a moment. Who should she call? And who should she even explain too? Given that Zelda will need to be cared for for an uncertain amount of time… a healer of some sort would be best. And perhaps one who could reason with her?

It's a bit of a long shot but she contacts Hitsugaya and requests to see him. If it isn't too much trouble, of course. She gives the location of her temple and waits nervously at the entrance.

She's doing much better than she has in recent days but she still looks tired. Really, she should probably rest but she hasn't had a chance yet. When Hitsugaya arrives, she gives a nervous bow, )

Thank you for coming, Hitsugaya-san.

Comments

3

[appealingdame]

["Someone beat me? Is this... a trick?"

Bishamon's temple had been a little too intimidating to enter outside of an open event, so looking for Charlotte there wouldn't have done much good. The night before, finding herself suddenly homeless, she'd considered it though. Stood outside the temple grounds for a moment before retreating. She'd completely failed to make any useful connections at the banquet and the old shinki have a different vibe than the ones she arrived with. Charlotte couldn't quite bring herself to approach them.

Anyway, it's still warm out, really. A night on a park bench isn't the worst hardship. Perhaps she could have contacted one of her acquaintances but the thought of putting on her act at that hour was just... Too much.

Still, she was expecting a rough morning once she woke up. She wasn't expecting a soft futon, blankets, and a peaceful temple.]

... What the fuck?

[Well, at least she kept what memories she had after this kidnapping. Maybe... she'd been rescued? It doesn't quite click how early it is, as she explores the apparently empty temple. Eventually, she ends up outside. Irritation has been building up steadily since she woke, irritation and confusion, and seriously, if someone doesn't show up to explain things right now she's going to turn that stupid wall covered in paper into rubble-

Sakura catches her with a brick in one hand, aimed at the wall of ema. Charlotte freezes, turns to look at her, and drops the brick.]

... Lady Sakura?!

[festal]

( Was that a brick?! Why did she have a brick?! What was she going to do with-- )

Oh! P-please, don't--! ( She's already dropped it though. Thank goodness. It's too early in the morning and there's entirely too much going on to deal with so much right now. Not that it's her fault, she reminds herself. She isn't one to take things out on others to begin with but she makes a note to herself to not do it now especially. Sakura looks more tired than she had at the banquet but part of that can easily be attributed to the early hour, ) I didn't e-expect to see you so soon...

[appealingdame]

Wait- wait, is this your temple?

[Somehow, it seems to suit what she knows of Sakura so far. The vibe is similar. Charlotte doesn't know much about Japan- or, frankly, Hoshido- but she knows all the imagery kind of... fits together. Sakura doesn't look out of place here.]

I wasn't expecting to see you at all! [She's still a little too alarmed and confused to put on her act. That'll come back in a minute. For the moment, she's still openly confused, indignant and ready to fight someone though probably not Sakura. Probably.] Did you bring me here? Why didn't you just wake me up?!

[festal]

It is! ( So please, calm down... ) I didn't bring you here, though, r-really!

B-but if you're here... ( Wait, let her make sure! ) What happened to your god?

1

[replicatedform]

[Something's wrong and it worries Yamanbagiri. He try to keep his emotions under control, but it's not perfect yet.
Some of them might have spill over for Sakura to feel.

But the next morning, he manages to get a hold of himself for her sake. And watching Sakura carefully until she spills her tea.
And she's... tearing up.]

Sakura—No! It's fine. I'll get a cloth.

[Yamanbagiri stands up from the table and start going to get a cloth.]

[festal]

( Even if they weren't here shinki, she'd be able to sense their concern. She's always been sensitive to the emotions of others and it certainly isn't helping now. She's trying her best to try to keep herself together and she's doing poorly. their )

N-no, it's alright, I can... ( But he's already going to get one now. When he leaves, she brings the sleeves of her kimono to her face, taking a shaking breath to try and calm herself. ) I'm s-sorry.

I don't m-mean to worry you, really...

[replicatedform]

[He's back with a cloth in his hand. Kneeling down at the table, he starts to wipe up the spilled tea. The liquid's all absorbed by the cloth, but he'll probably need to clean it again with some spray later. His concern right now is Sakura, more than just cleaning up.]

No, it's fine. I don't mind cleaning this up. [A simple task like this? Trivial. But he looks up at her, worried and wondering how to ask.] But... what's wrong?

[He asks as someone who cares, not just because they're god and shinki.]

[festal]

( She bites down on her lip, holding her breath at the question. What's wrong? She isn't really sure how to answer given how little she knows. She tenses, hands now curling in her lap as she twists at the fabric of her skirt.

He's worried. He's really worried about her and she knows that and it's the last thing she wants him to do. )

Y-yesterday... ( She speaks quietly, trying to contain the shake in her voice, ) All of those things th-that happened with the tears a-and the ayakashi...

A lot of p-people were hurt.

( But there's more. There's a lot more. )

5

[freezetheheavens]

It wasn’t any trouble.

[Even if he had to reassure Yoon and Alibaba that no, he isn’t doing anything reckless. Though he can’t help but be curious as to why Sakura had called him. They have worked together before in the clinic but never outside of it.

He eyes her curiously.]

You sounded urgent, however. What’s wrong?

[festal]

( He says it wasn't any trouble but she knows she's going to be asking him for quite the favor. )

I... I wish I could say n-nothing was wrong but... the truth is...

( She begins to play with her fingers nervously, )

Are you f-familiar with what happened a few days ago? W-with the tears and the strange a-ayakashi...?

[freezetheheavens]

....I am.

[He got in trouble with his own shinki for his reckless behavior during that.]

Why do you ask?

[festal]

( Knowing saves the explanation but it also makes avoiding any potential questions all the more difficult. )

Two of the people involved a-are currently in my care. Princess Zelda and... Add...

2

[subtract]

[Add is standing in the middle of the temple grounds, staring up at a cherry tree as petals flutter gently to the ground. He's still wearing the same outfit he wore to the banquet, though the glowing tiara and other decorations are faded and gone now. He holds out a hand to catch the falling petals, his expression blank.

He's not sure why he's here... no, he knows why he came here. The phone in his back pocket exploded with messages as soon as he left the core. The name "Sakura" seems familiar, strangely, and he found his way to the temple with some help from the purple cube that kept following him. He still doesn't understand why he's been brought out here instead of staying in the core, but finding this Sakura person seems... important.

She was looking for him. Worried. Why was she worried? Have they met somewhere before?

He catches movement from the corner of his eye, turning his head to look towards the temple. He stares at the girl standing by the windows.

Is that Sakura? His arm slowly falls back down to his side, but he doesn't move from where he's standing.]

[festal]

( It's not who she expected to see at all after all of the silence. She gapes for a moment, looking at him almost like she's seeing a ghost and covers her mouth, )

Add...? ( That's definitely Add. He looks almost exactly like she remembered seeing him last, even. She can feel herself starting to shake and there's that feeling in her throat like she's going to start crying again.

She barely manages to get her slippers on as she steps out into the garden, making a dash towards him. ) Is it...? Add!

( Her eyes are starting to water and when she catches up to him, she reaches to start checking on him but stops short. )

W-w-what happened?!

( She's upset all over again. So much for trying to be better today. But what happened? Where did he go? Why couldn't he answer her? )

[subtract]

[Add remains silent and unmoving throughout all of this, passively watching as Sakura rushes towards him. She's acting very strangely... his mouth tilts into a slight frown. The tears welling in her eyes bother him for some reason.

"What happened" is an extremely broad question, and he hesitates to give an answer. The "what" could be any number of things. Eventually, he reaches into his pocket to retrieve his cellphone, holding it out to her like it might serve as an explanation.]

You sent me messages. [so... here he is. answering her.]

[festal]

( She's waiting for an answer that doesn't seem to come. She's beginning to sense that something isn't quite right but it's hard to put her finger on it. He seems fine right now; physically, at least. Perhaps his reaction is a little off but... he isn't very good at emotions, isn't that right? )

That's right. ( She nods, ) After those tears a-appeared, someone posted on the network about how... ( It was your fault. ) You were involved and... i-it wasn't good...

( She can't quite bring herself to say it. Hurt people? Killed someone? She knows she'll have to ask sooner or later but she can't right now. )

I was so worried!

4

[sageprincess]

[Sakura will find herself outside Add's temple, now remarkably at peace after the literal chaos that has surrounded it in the past few days. Zelda is seated against the stonework when Sakura appears at her side, still and silent as the grave. She's not dead, fortunately, but the few fallen leaves stuck in her hair and on her lap suggest she hasn't moved from this spot in a while. Dried tear stains streak her cheeks, and she seems to have lost her left glove somewhere along the way, but otherwise there are no visible injuries on her person.

She looks up, slowly - too slowly, considering how quick she was to dodge that magic ram the first time they met in the waking world - when Sakura begins to fuss over her. Her eyes seem... hollow, somehow.]

Princess Sakura. Hello.

[The other princess might find the lack of inflection in Zelda's voice more familiar than she'd like...]

[festal]

( At least she recognizes her.

Even if there doesn7t appear to be anything wrong physically right away, that doesn't stop her from checking, reaching to check her forehead for things like fever and checking her pulse. It's the look in her eyes and how far her voice sounds that makes her bite her lip anxiously before she nervously asks, )

Do you r-remember what happened?

[sageprincess]

We... tried to go home.

[Because for all that her mind is a dull and hazy fog, of course she would remember what their original goal was. What her goal always is. Her kingdom, her country-- it's etched into her very soul, and it will take more than sentient darkness to burn that out of her.

She doesn't bat Sakura's hands away as she checks on her. She simply watches.]

It hurt... but it doesn't anymore.

[So it's fine???]

1

[sweetdeath]

Hey, no, don't -- Sakura, it's fine! I'll get the tea, don't worry about it.

[Oh no. Oh no, she's starting to cry: Tsuzuki stares for a moment with his hands half-raised in a helpless gesture. Then, determined, he leans forward and sweeps her into a hug.]

[festal]

( It isn't what she's expecting but it's something that she finds she needs. There's a sound that sounds like a mix between a yelp and a sob and she's quiet and still for a moment. She doesn't want to cry anymore, especially on Tsuzuki but after a few seconds pass, her shoulders start to shake and she reaches to grab onto his shirt, crying all over again. )

I-I didn't know people w-were going to be hurt. ( She really didn't. She'd never thought people were going to get hurt when Add promised to figure things out. ) I r-r-really didn't know!

And he s-still hasn't answered me a-and I don't know what...

( She hiccups. What happened. She doesn't know what's happened to him or anyone else involved or what exactly happened or anything. )

[sweetdeath]

[Forget the tea. She grabs his shirt, stammering into it, and Tsuzuki leaves his arms comfortingly around her, settling back onto his heels and patting her on the shoulder as she cries.

It had been a disaster. All of it had been a disaster: Tsuzuki's been worried about Sakura more than anything else, but people had died. He doesn't even know if they all came back.

After a moment, he pats her shoulder again, pulling back enough to look down at her face.]

You mean, Add hasn't?

[hellskitchen]

[ It takes a couple of days for the side effects of being within the core to wear off. The experience was so surreal, Rin needed a bit of time to process everything. It was almost as if he dreamed everything,but the remnants of the nightmare remains even when he's awake. It's all he could hear, everyone talking about the tears of time and space appearing all over the Far shore, and the residual damage as a result. His ears isn't deaf to the resentment towards his god for being the cause. The shinki could only gather that's the main reason why Add disappeared.

It might have been simpler to try to contact Add with a message, but it seems too impersonal for Rin. Especially since he's concerned about the esper, and wants to confirm Add's well being for himself. Despite Yukio's disapproval, Rin left Satan's temple in search of his master. He goes back to Add's temple first, since that's the first place he could think of. Though the area was locked down, and there's no way for the shinki to access it. For awhile he walks aimlessly around the Far shore,before he remembers a conversation he had with Sakura at the banquet. From the words they exchanged, Rin figured that she was one of Add's few friends.

The hunch leads him over to Sakura's temple, and he doesn't hesitate to go to the front entrance, peeking in for any source of movement.]

Hello? Is anyone home? [ He calls out to announce his presence, hoping someone will come out to greet him. He doesn't want to just walk in to someone else's place without permission.]

[festal]

( She's just hanging out some laundry to dry when she hears a guest approach her temple. Their home had grown from three people to six and back to five in such a short period of time, there's just a lot more to take care of... Not that she minds! Even washing and hanging some bedding to dry is a welcome distraction after the mess they've all been through. She peeks out from around a comforter and gasps, )

Rin...!

[hellskitchen]

[ He didn't notice the laundry, or Sakura tending to sheets outside. When she pokes her head to the side of a comforter, Rin automatically recognizes her. He smiles at her,despite feeling a bit anxious.]

Hey, Sakura! Glad to see you're okay.

[He walks up to her, since he doesn't want to yell out what he wants to ask of her. His smile falters into something more neutral as he goes straight to the point of his visit.]

I don't mean to barge in like this, but I thought you could help me. I was wonderin' if you've seen Add,since...y'know the whole mess.