thenearshore | ( closed ) ❀ marigold

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( closed ) ❀ marigold

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.

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( She'll also take a seat across from her, glancing around a bit awkwardly as she tries to figure out the right way to handle this. She's never met another shinki like this before. Is there... some sort of routine? )

I know... you probably aren't used to this. ( This style. This realm. This situation. This everything. ) Right now things a-are a little... busy now but if there's anything I can do to help m-make things more comfortable, please, let me know.

... After all, this is your home now too.

( And she truly does want Charlotte to enjoy her time here. But onto business! )

What should I call you...?

... You really mean that, huh?

[This is her home now, according to Sakura. Just like that. Someone dumped her here and this girl is all ready for her to make herself comfortable. It's all a little too easy. But then they're onto business and Charlotte remembers she's expecting to hold up her end of the deal too.]

Well, the only name I have is Charlotte- but you meant for when you need to use me, right, my lady?

I do.

( And she nods. She does her best to say only what she means and never what she'd rather not be held accountable for if she can help it.

For now, it's a relief that Charlotte understands how things work. )

Yes, I mean your shinki name. If you have s-something in mind, I'd like for you to choose but... if not, we can decide on something that suits you.

( A moment, )

Something beautiful, I-I think...

[Sakura hits the nail on the head right away. Charlotte smiles briefly.]

Well, if you think that would be suitable, my lady. [Heh, yes, something beautiful.] It will be written on my skin, after all. I'd like something cute!

[...]

Or maybe something tough.

[Since she is going to be a weapon. She doesn't want to turn into something lame like a tiny dagger or a bow.]

( She nods. Yes, even if it wasn't going to appear on her, Sakura would rather give her a name that suits her,
one that she wouldn't mind being called. )

One moment.

( She'll just dip into the next room real quick and come out with a small (cute) notebook and pen. She begins to write at something that... honestly takes awhile to write. There are quite a few strokes to make but each one is neat and careful so when she presents the characters to Charlotte, it might look complicated but at least it looks nice, )

薔薇

This one is "ba" and this one is "ra." ( She points to the first and second kanji respectively, ) This one... is a type of plant from my home country. It grows near rivers and has... a sharp taste. ( Pointing to the second kanji, ) And this one i-is a type of fern, I believe. And this stroke right here m-means... ( She has to think about it, ) "briar."

But together, ( circling her finger around both, ) they both spell, "bara" which means, "rose."

S-since there are two characters I suppose you can p-pick the one you like most.

[Why is everything about this girl so cute?? She can't be for real, not entirely. Look at that notebook, that's gotta be some kind of ploy.

Charlotte leans forward to look at the writing, a little baffled by the characters. They're pretty complicated. She points at the first, then the second, then kind of waffles between them.]

I like this one, but it's a little boxy... Hm... A briar rose though... [That sounds more like her. Beautiful, but sharp. Ready to make someone bleed.]

So they make rose together, but the second one is the closest, right? I'd like to be a rose!

( Just let her be a teenage girl, Charlotte.

Sakura smiles at Charlotte. She'd been worried that the characters would be too difficult and that the individual meanings wouldn't be any good but... she likes it! Once Charlotte has chosen, she stands up. If Charlotte tries, she'll insist it's okay for her to sit. She just... she just wants to stand beacuse it doesn't feel proper to bestow something upon someone while sitting,, )

Uhm... j-just in case... ( She gives Charlotte a quick bow, ) For you, I give the name... Raki.

[Charlotte's late to try to stand, only realising belatedly that she shouldn't be sitting in the presence of her goddess- but then Sakura insists she should sit and by the end of it, Charlotte is awkwardly on one knee, ready to receive her title.

Raki. Charlotte closes her eyes, taking an odd comfort in the ceremony. ("I'm on it!" People shouting and metal clashing against metal.) Finally, someone's taking her seriously as their shinki. ("What a pain in the butt." The whistle of daggers and shuriken through the air.) She can plan now. ("You're nobody-" Ice cracking.) She can figure out what she's doing.

("No... Seriously?")

When she opens her eyes again, she no longer has any. That should make her panic, but it doesn't, not yet. She's cold and- she thinks- large. An axe- no, bigger, a lance? Something like that, she thinks.]

Sakura?

( She braces herself.

She recognizes the memory from her vision and it's all much more clear now. Yes, she definitely remembers the battle and she remembers everyone who was hurt that day... but she doesn't remember Charlotte. Had Elise tended to her? No, that isn't it... something feels different here.

Before she can think about it anymore, she watches Charlotte die. Sakura winces, hands tightening around... around...?

She opens one eye nervously. She's holding onto something. Something long and silver. A lance? She looks up... )

Ah... ( And laughs, ) H-hahaha!

( There's a thought in her head that isn't her own and she tries to compose herself, )

I-I'm sorry! I don't m-mean to laugh, really...!

What? What the hell is so funny?

[The rougher language slips out without Charlotte noticing. Hopefully her lady will excuse her while she adjusts to speaking with her mind. Right now she's more focused on figuring out what she is. Long, metal- silver, even, that's not bad- but not so heavy that Sakura can't carry her... She can see her surroundings but getting a view of herself is a little...]

How am I supposed to- ... Aaah! What is this? What is this crap?! Who carries a giant spoon?!

( She yelps. She's really unused to being spoken to like this and she jumps, holding the spoon close to her and... oh. Oh, maybe she shouldn't hold it too close? )

S-sorry! I really didn't m-mean to laugh!

( Aaaaah, )

You are! B-but please, it's okay, really!

Please don't worry, my lady, I'm sure this is just fine but hell I wanted to be something useful!

[Charlotte groans internally. She's never had to watch her thoughts before. She's always had a rather strong internal monologue as well. Rather than speaking usually over the connection they share, the words she means to say and the words she's thinking to herself come out as a long jumble. ]

I mean, I guess we could crack some skulls open like this but seriously? We'll just have to work extra hard, hee hee! Ugh those assholes tell us we're supposed to fight monsters just because they say so and then they tell me I can't fight myself and then they don't even turn me into a weapon? Do they even want us to fight or are they just you can hear me you can hear all of that can't you?

[And she only just noticed.]

Shitshitdamnit- I mean, my lady- Sakura- fuck- I only- turn me back turn me back!

( What are these thoughts in her head? Its overwhelming and she just feels embarrassed? Scandalized?! Cracking skulls?! )

Oh, please, no. ( And then she's just.... quiet. Quietly letting Charlotte rant all of her frustrations. It sure is something having to wait on the thoughts in your own head and she's never really had to do this with Tsuzuki or Yamanbagiri before so it's a new experience for her. When she finishes she... she nods. ) Y-yes...

I... I think that's enough anyway, Miss Charlotte.

( And she should change back! Sakura can't really look at her though-- she's too shy. She feels like she's been eavesdropping on someone else and in a sense, she was!!! )

Sorry... I-I really didn't mean to listen to so much...

[Charlotte stumbles as she turns back, taking a few seconds to readjust to having legs again. She needs those few seconds before turning to face Sakura again.]

... It's- [Can she save this? Can she possibly save this? Sakura can't even stand to look at her.]

I don't know what came over me! That wasn't like me at all... It must have been the shock...

( She isn't that easy to fool, Charlotte. She's more or less begun to figure out her facade now but she isn't sure if she should mention it or not. )

Uhm... ( Uh... ) I admit, i-it was a little shocking....

( To put it lightly, )

But if we're going to be living together then I think... I'd like for you to speak... truly.

( Which ever side of her is really true... )

[Charlotte cringes and stares at Sakura for a minute in silence. Then her shoulders slump.]

Ugh, fine! [She tosses her hair back and glares at the ceiling for a second before looking back at her goddess.] You got me, all right? That was the real me.

[Huffs and puts her hands on her hips.] I just wanted to make a good impression...

I'm sorry if you thought you had to act differently in for me.

( She can't help but feel somewhat to blame. She's used to people treating her differently and acting like different people because she's a princess. She shouldn't be surprised someone would do the same because she was a goddess. )

I don't really think of myself as much of a g-goddess. And before I came here I w-was a princess but that means nothing here. So I really hope we can get along as if we're the same.

( She's basically just rephrasing what she said at the banquet... )

And besides.... I already feel like I can trust you, Miss Charlotte.

( For reasons Charlotte can never know but reasons all the same. )

You're fucking royalty on top of everything else?!

[Charlotte may have focused on the wrong thing there. Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh! She screwed up, she talked like a total brute in front of a cute goddess princess and she's not sure why Sakura being royalty matters so much but it just sounds so wonderful... She could have been a royal retainer, serving a princess and rubbing shoulders with all kinds of fancy people and showing those old shinki up. She can kiss that goodbye now.

Except Sakura is still acting like they should be getting along.]

... You sure about that? I'm still figuring myself out, but I don't think I'm... like you.

[She's loud, she's violent, and she's completely uncute.]

( was that a mistake should she have not mentioned it she's sorry please stop yelling please be more gentle, she's a timid and polite princess!!! )

( I N H A L E S )

I do.

( She doesn't even sound uncertain! )

And I-I think we have some things in common already! For example... we're both ladies. It'll be nice to have a-another girl around the temple...

[It was probably a mistake but. It's fine, they're fine.]

Well... Okay. I guess I can do... girl stuff. [She doesn't feel particularly feminine, but she knows how to be stylish. She'll figure it out.] You don't mind if I drop the whole.. "Oh my, I'm so sweet and sugary, hee hee!" thing, right? I can keep it up, but it's kind of exhausting.

[And it's not like Sakura's going to fall for it again.]

( Look, she really wants to braid your hair, Charlotte... It looks like it would be fun to brush and it already looks so cute with that ribbon so how would a pretty red one look? Or what about a pearl clip? )

Uhm... ( She's a little shy about answering but, ) I-I don't mind but do you think... we could maybe... take it easy just a little? A-at least when you're, you know... in my head?

[Sharak hesitates for a second, but then she smiles sweetly.]

For you, my lady, I'll do my best. [Still not Charlotte on full blast, but a toned down version of her act. That's an acceptable compromise.]

I might need a little time to learn how to act as a... vessel. [She's a fucking spoon, what the fuck.] But I'm sure I will!

Wonderful! I'm sure we'll get along well...!

( But now that that's all settled. )

Oh! Shall I... show you to your room?

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( closed ) ❀ marigold

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