thenearshore | 25 - Troubled Waters

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Orihime's Meadows

[Hakkai is pausing by the tent for Li Tieguai, and eyeing the sigil embroidered on the flag with a critical gaze.

It's not so much that he minds it, really, but this all seems a bit...

Well. Can't a god die in peace?

He has a large duffel bag with him, which he's setting on a table next to the tent while he picks up a few of the prayer tablets and skims over them. The bag clinks loudly, clearly full of something in jars.]

Flu Season

[Reluctantly, here he is. He'd prefer to resolve whatever it was that Loki's assassination set loose, but he does have a certain responsibility to his own followers, too. After all, he was the one who chose to dash off and get carelessly killed.

Answering prayers, on its own, isn't going to be enough to fix that: so here he is, in Ueno Park, with his medicine-carrying duffel bag. He's stopping by each improvised shelter to check on its occupant, clearing his throat loudly before he does. That doesn't always get their attention. This person, for example, seems to be quite soundly asleep, though their feverish flush suggests that when Hakkai manages to wake them they'll probably need some of the medications he's brought.]

Excuse me, ma'am. Excuse me!

[Maybe if he shakes her shoulder....]

Prank War

[This? This is an entire street with bags of kitchen trash thrown into the road and burst open, all the way down for several blocks. Hakkai is standing at one end, staring down the trash-strewn thoroughfare, with a handkerchief held primly to his nose. It might be October, but it's not cold enough yet that all that trash doesn't reek.]

... Hmm, do you suppose cleaning this up might be a good way to start rehabilitating them?

[He's certainly not about to do it himself.]

[A. Orihime's Meadows]

[There is some irony here for Izumo to notice Loki’s and Li Tieguai’s flags in the air. He actually has to hold back a snort upon realizing just what it could mean.

Well, it seems Loki’s dead, at least.

He does go around the tents, seeing what’s been offered as supplies and can be seen picking up a wooden prayer tablet, reading it.]

[B. Flu Season]

[Without their god’s protection over them, it’s easy to see how quickly the sickness has afflicted everyone within the city.

Izumo seems almost at ease being around the homeless, crouching beside people and checking their temperature. While he may not be skilled in medicine, he still knows enough to help out. All that matters is getting these people rested and cared for well. It’s easy to spot him helping a few of the elderly, giving them tea and keeping them warm with a few blankets he had brought.

However, his attention is brought to the crows that seems to suddenly hover around, keeping a close eye on them as he works.

Eventually, he looks over at someone and waves them over.]

Come help me out. Some of the children needs to be brought to the hospital immediately.

[C. Wild Hounds]

[It has been very alarming to see wild dogs running around. While Izumo has nothing against dogs in particular, he’s also working to ensure that they don’t hurt anyone either. It’s not surprising to see small orbs of flame scaring the dogs back from attacking other humans, though at one point, one had managed to surprise Izumo enough to bite him hard enough on the hand, causing him to bleed.

After managing to ward the dog off of him, Izumo breathes out and wraps his tie around his hand.]

This is annoying.

[He looks around, watching the dogs run off into the trees and he clicks his tongue.]

Damn it.

[D. Wildcard]

[He can be seen helping people or whatnot. Feel free to make a prompt of your own!]

Edited 2018-02-02 02:12 (UTC)

[A: Orihime's Meadows]

[Shun is not heading for a specific tent, instead picking up a map and a prayer tablet from each of them to be sure he knows what he's dealing with. He's got his own supplies - he's even brought an extra canteen of blessed water this time - so he doesn't need to dip into that, but he is glancing over to the paltry number of shinki helpers she's been given with a faint hiss.]

Almost looks like they want her to fail. [Which, he supposes, is only going to make the new gods and shinki more determined to help her succeed.]

--

[B: Flu Season]

[The situation on the streets of Tokyo is brutal, and Shun can't help but be sympathetic. He's seen people have to live in camps and on the streets, had to live in one himself because there was nowhere else to go, and now that these displaced residents all falling ill, it's only a limited number of people who've come to help them.

The volunteers are doing their best, but the number with actual experience in this seems woefully limited, and regardless of how out-of-place he looks in that half-shredded coat of his, once Shun steps up and starts helping divide up the groups to send to different areas in a tone that clearly expresses experience with the situation, they just look thankful for the extra help.

Of course, he's not going to limit himself to just ordering people around - he ends up part of the group he's directing, carrying supplies as efficiently as he can to be distributed around a nearby park crowded with people trying to seek what little shelter they can.

It's only a shame he can't teleport a mortal, because some of them are definitely too far gone for this kind of care to work, and Shun approaches the nearest Far Shore resident he can see as soon as he spots any of the ill in that situation.]

There's one here that needs to be moved to the hospital, or they're probably not going to last the night.

--

[C: Prank War]

[Last time Shun dealt with teenage vandals, it was just a bunch of idiot kids who needed a good scare. This time, though, they're acting like they're actually tough customers, which Shun is only too happy to correct them on.

He goes out late, given their apparent habits of trying to intimidate or rob people at those times, and sure enough, he grabs the attention of one of the gangs. Either they don't recognise the signs of someone ready for them or don't care, because he lets them surround him, a few of them laughing unpleasantly as the members at the front come out of the circle and reach out a hand almost casually.]

You don't look like much, but how about you give us your--

[The sentence turns into a shocked yell as Shun darts forward and kicks the guy in the stomach hard enough to send him flying back into the person in the circle behind him. The one that was kicked is already out cold, but the one underneath is just struggling to crawl out. A ripple runs through the circle, but right now, the kids just look like they're ready to start a fight, and Shun sighs quietly and cracks his knuckles.]

So you really are that blind right now. [Someone might want to stop him before he beats the hell out of everyone in the circle. Or join him, because the gang is already starting to surge in.

However, people who come to assist may also notice a woman in a rumpled, carelessly-worn yukata lying in wait just beyond the next turn of the street. She's keeping a very close eye on Shun's situation, but not moving to assist unless she thinks he needs it.]

--

[D: Child's Play (closed to Fubuki)]

[This isn't their usual stomping ground for prayers, but Shun seems as confident as ever as he approaches the window of one of the affected houses. The sound of a child crying is audible even from outside, but there's no light on in the nursery to indicate the parents trying to quiet it either.]

Be ready to divert it when it comes out. [Shun glances back to Fubuki as he heads up to the building and starts climbing the wall so he can open the right window.]

--

[E: Wild Hounds (closed to Chinatsu)]

[This is one of the more disastrous ayakashi breakouts Shun's seen in his time here, and he watches a couple of tourists run screaming out of a street as the savage barking of dogs follows them. It's not something that can be left to lie long before someone's going to get severely injured, and he beckons Chinatsu to follow with a brief gesture as he starts towards the street. Might as well clean this one up first.]

We'll have to be careful about how we do this, if they're possessed.

Edited 2018-02-02 03:57 (UTC)

[Okay let's be honest there may be a small line waiting to talk to her with how quickly she threw all of this together. Sometimes she's still talking into her phone in answer to people on the BBS. However, if you're looking for Orihime herself before heading out to one of the tents, or not sure which tent to go to, that sort of thing, here she is to bring a bit more order to the chaos.

She doesn't leave this area save to go back to her home and return again; she doesn't go down to the Near Shore - not yet. It's still not about the reward that she's been promised; she's got her eyes on the problems at hand because there are definitely enough of them to go around.]

[FLU SEASON - I]

[Mai's heart was literally aching.]

[As the goddess of children, she felt an extra special connection to the little ones she'd sworn to protect. Taking on rogue ayakashi? Not a problem, as long as she had her partner with her. But this? Fatigued limbs...aching tummies...coughing...high fevers...]

[Even a goddess' powers were limited.]

[Still, she steeled herself. First Aid was not unknown to her, and while she did not possess the necessary medical background to accurately diagnose illness or prescribe any strong medications, she knew her basics. Recognized the signs. Knew exactly which over-the-counter antidotes to bring with her.]

[So when she came upon yet another six year old with flushed cheeks and heavy breathing, laying down on the grassy ground of her school yard, she knew just what to do. A hand to her forehead, unsurprised to find it burning despite the girl's visible shivering. Reaching for a thermometer. Touching the end to her forehead--it was a newer mode, which only required a light skin contact for a few seconds' time to give a reading--and frowning deeply when she saw the number flash across the screen. High. Too high.]

39.2

This is bad. She needs a doctor.

[FLU SEASON - II]

[It was an epidemic.]

[Mai had no idea whether or not goddesses could catch the flu, but she hadn't wanted to risk it. Donning one of the white masks offered to her in the midst of seeing the several patients. The doctors were overwhelmed, and many of the lesser cases were being momentarily overlooked. Not ignored. Just...not prioritized.]

[Some of the younger ones were crying.]

[It was these tears she saw to first. Refreshing the cold compress on the young boy's head as she murmured something that passed for a lullaby. Soothing enough for him to soon drift into a much needed sleep. A hand gently brushing some of the damp locks from his forehead, she smiled sadly behind the mask.]

[A. Orihime’s Meadows]

[When he heard of the mission Orihime has been given by the old gods, it left a bad taste in his mouth. While he isn’t unaccustomed to such large missions being given to one person in particular (he’s handled many of his own before), what made him frown mostly was how if she succeeded, she’d have a good standing among the old gods once more.

Of course, it does provide enough of an incentive to have the new gods and shinki help out.

Toushirou can be seen examining the tents and the wooden tablets, a slight frown on his face as he reads its contents.]

[B. Child’s Play]

[There are ayakashi scaring the children and it’s easy to see how traumatizing it’s becoming for all that’s involved.

When one of the stuffed animals comes after one of the wailing babies, a sword suddenly slices through them and Toushirou stands in front of the destroyed teddy bear, holding a wailing child in one arm. He breathes out, the sight of black petals falling down from the sky and effectively putting the child to sleep. Placing it in a crib, he notices more of the monsters growing, the ayakashi slowly beginning to come out.]

Want something to eat? Come catch me.

[The ayakashi seem to growl at the issued challenge, chasing after the god as he lures them away from the children.

Feel free to help him out and draw their attention, too. Or if you’re Alibaba, be prepared to be summoned.]

[C. Flu Season]

[With the number of the sickly growing, it’s not surprising Toushirou can be seen around helping out with them. Given his own affinity for ice, the cold doesn’t affect him too much, so he moves around with ease, draping blankets over those who seem to be shuddering from the weather. Yoon can also be spotted, helping out with the sickness and trying to keep some of the worst ones from accumulating.

He can be found crouching a few people, a hand over a young girl’s forehead and he seems to be concentrating.

Upon hearing someone approach, he looks over.]

Mind helping me out?

[D. Wildcard]

[Hit me with a prompt of your own!]

A - Orihime Meadows

[Standing just near the red tent that's for Cu Chulainn, Goten looks ready to go! Or at least he is for the most part. Naturally he's lacking his phone but this time he's sporting a pair of gloves tied around his black belt. He's got a prayer tablet or two on the ground next to him but he only needed to read them once to get the idea. It's all about helping out his friend Kuu and protecting people. That's exactly what Goten intends to do!

Currently, he's busy stretching his limbs like he's getting ready for a big run or a fight. First his legs and then his arms. Despite being on his own, he doesn't seem worried from the looks of it. Though that maybe because he's just focusing on what he's doing.

After a bit more stretching, he start tossing a few practice punches before swinging around with some quick kicks---- without looking to be sure no one is in the way. Oops.]

B - Wild Hounds

[Even though he's always been naturally good with animals, it doesn't seem to matter at all to these dogs. His attempts at making friends have been answered with snarls.

But Goten feels bad hurting them so he's trying to play more on the defensive by using his borderline to block off the dogs off of victims. He's quick with them but it's also exhausting to keep up continuously.

There are also a few times his focus wavers and a Ki blast or two accidentally shoots out instead of a borderline. Luckily it's always aimed between the dogs and their prey but Goten is starting to make a few craters. But it seems to be scaring them off at least!]

C - Wild Hounds pt2

[He's had just about enough of playing defensive. With gloves now on, for once, he starts fending the packs off with his fists. Nothing lethal, just a good jab here, a shove there and a toss here. He really doesn't want to hurt the animals but he also is focused on protecting people.

Unfortunately while his intentions are good, this isn't the most thought out plan. Tossing another dog away, he ends up surrounded by a large pack. He tenses a bit, looking this way and that. Just as the dogs move to lunge, Goten shoots up into the air and easily dodges the attack. But one of the larger and more determined dogs jump up and catch him by the ankle.]

Ahhowww!

[He hisses and lowers a bit toward the ground before starts swinging his leg instinctively in attempt to get the dangling dog to let go. He's just low enough that the fall won't hurt the dog too much but those jaws just stubbornly lock down that much harder and dig more.]

L-Let go!

[Goten isn't paying any mind as the pack starts to reform and look ready to gang up again.]

[ Orihime's Meadows ]

[Over to by the blue tent is Hajime. She's sitting crossed legged on the ground seemingly playing cat's cradle with various bits of glowing string twirled around her fingers. There is a prayer tablet or two resting in her lap as she keeps herself occupied.

Anyone passing by may notice one of those glowing threads are linked to them. It's long and maybe a bit tangled but there is no denying it's coming from the center of their chest. This can come with a 'Someone is walking over your grave' feeling accompanied by a bit of a chill to those not use to her god power. While tangible between her fingers, any effort to pull it out with fail.

She glances over, flashing a bright smile]

Are you ready to go? This is pretty big huh? I haven't seen anything on scale with this in awhile! Let's do our best!

[ Child's play - Locked to Davesprite & Kairi]

[Hajime skips down the hallway of a decent sized home. The crying of babies leading them on. She looks this way and that curiously before spinning around to face Davesprite and Kairi.]

I got a strange feeling about this one. Be super careful, okay?

[She smiles to them both though, confident in her shinki. She does give a small pat to her skirt pocket where her NOTE is just for good luck. It's nearing the nursery and looking inside that reveals this house doesn't just have one baby. No, it's home to a set of very upset Quadruplets with their mother passed out in a nearby rocking chair. The room has a eerie darkness to it, making it hard to make out everything in the room besides the mother and the multiple cribs lining the wall. The cutesy-animal theme mobiles that hang over the cribs start to turn together but chime inconsistently against they children's wailing.]

[ Flu Season- Locked to Davesprite]

[Hajime expected a lot of sick people but this is much more then even she imagined. Even with the various Far Shore residence and other volunteers helping out there just doesn't seem to be enough help for everyone. She frowns a little and reaches out to give the gentlest of tugs to one of Davesprites wings.]

With so many sick, what oh what do you think is the best thing we can do?

[She knows the basics. Give blankets out, join in with just comforting people and possibly transporting but she wants to know if he has a better idea. She wants to rack his brain. It's hard to figure where to even start.]

[A: Flu Season]

[As one of the gods gifted with healing powers, Maria considers it a responsibility to help out with the situation in Tokyo. She's determined to raise the mood even a little, staying with some of the more destitute patients so they have a little company with their warm meal and blanket, and some of the children she can even be heard singing to on occasion.

However, whenever she finds one of the particularly ill, she makes sure to take their hands as she talks with them. The gesture both enables and covers up her godly ability, which slowly eats away at the sickness and reduces it the longer they're in contact. If she cures it completely, she won't have the energy left for everyone else, but she can at least drastically lessen the danger many of these people are in, and bring the ones further gone into the recovery stages of the sickness.

After waving goodbye to a now much happier person who'd been covered in sweat and on the border of passing out before she'd started talking to them, Maria grabs the attention of anyone passing by. Lingering a respectful distance behind her as she works is a woman around thirty in a scrupulously neat kimono, looking very serious with the situation as it is.]

Have you seen any others who are in the worse stages of the sickness?

--

[B: Wild Hounds]

[Maria's been getting the occasional prayer about curtailing wild dogs among her Irish followers, but she hadn't realised it was tied up in all this. As a Celtic god, it's also her duty to cover for the other gods in her homeland, and though she certainly has some questions for Caster when next she sees him, for now she needs to focus on her work.

She's hoping the use of a shinki against the dogs will help dispel the hold over them, so this time, Uta is in her vessel form, a short sword in Maria's hand that she brings to meet the mouth of one of the dogs as it leaps to try and bite her. She turns in specifically so it drives into the bony teeth rather than any part of the gums or mouth itself. She doesn't want to do any permanent damage.]

Where's the leader...? [She grits it out as she throws the dog off her, back into the still-snarling pack.]

[ Orihime’s Meadows ]
[ It’s eerily peaceful here, especially given there’s something so ominous just on the horizon. The gentle white noise of the river’s flow seems an ill-fitting backdrop for the tasks at-hand.

And boy, are there a lot of those! ]

So, she really wasn’t kidding about needing the help...!

[ Said perhaps a bit too cheerily as he plucks a wooden tablet and reads it over. ]

[ Flu Season ]
A. [ Amid a seemingly hungry murder of observing crows is a veritable minefield of misery -- a sea of sickness ranging from those who just need a warm meal and rest, to those who struggle just to breathe. And though he’s a healer by trade here, Tatara can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by it all. Of course, the good news here is that, if nothing else, at least he can use some of his clan-given powers to warm mugs of tea or soup bowls in his hands -- or blankets, if wrapped around his shoulders -- before handing them off to the sick and hungry.

That is, of course, pending they still have those things available. Turning to the person nearest him, then: ]

Do we have any more blankets left?

B. [ But for one in particular, it looks as though all of that won’t be quite enough. Wrapped in a warmed blanket first, a young girl is swept into his arms in a feverish, shivering bundle. ]

Everything’s fine, don’t sweat it, okay? [ He tells her, but angles his head away to speak to someone else. ] I’m going to take her to the clinic to see if there’s a way to help her, alright? I’ll be right back!

[ Or, better yet-- ]

...Unless you want to come with me! She could probably use the help...!

[ Wild Hounds ]
[ He’s not a fighter. Never has been, never will be. But he has, in his (recent?) past, been a tamer of wild beasts. So, by that merit, this should be a straight shot, shouldn’t it?

Well. One can hope. Tatara sure has a lot of that to go around, if nothing else.

So, he’ll venture into the darkened, mysterious groves, a tiny bird of flame hovering over his palm lighting the way. ]

Do me a favor, will you? [ A wry smile to the person next to him. ] ...Keep track of the way we came in, so we can retrace our steps...? I, um, didn’t exactly bring breadcrumbs, eheh.

[ And if he had, perhaps the dogs would have eaten them already. So, maybe that’s a good thing! ~~#optimism!~~ ]

[Orihime's Meadow]

[Before the troops head out, Hijikata can be found going from one tent to the next, often settling down to light a cigarette and scrawl on one of the printed-out maps of the affected areas that he's got with him. Fortune might favor the bold, but not nearly as much as it does the well-prepared.]

[On the whole, he seems rather calm -- not high-spirited, but focused and filled with a quiet sort of energy. It's only in the vicinity of the green tent that people might spot him looking uncharacteristically disquieted, or even taking a break from his compulsive plotting to take long, slightly shaky drags on his cigarette.]

[Wild Hounds]

[Whatever it is that Hijikata signed up for, he feels reasonably sure that it wasn't this.]

[That is to say, he somehow didn't adequately imagine what it would feel like to be backed into an alley by about a dozen very angry small dogs of various breeds, without any real idea of how to get them to calm the Hell down.]

...I suppose it would be bad form to just kill them.

[Prank War]

[Dealing with unruly youth, fortunately, is far more within the range of his experience.]

[Arguably less fortunately, he's not exactly known for his subtlety and gentleness in these matters.]

[Right now, he's got a teenage boy by the collar and is staring him dead in the eye, rather apparently putting the fear of (a) god into him. There's a small array of fireworks a few feet away, aimed squarely at the window of a nearby house.]

And just what the Hell do you think you're doing?

[Child's Play]

[Once Hijikata sees the situation in Xi'an, he's not about to go anywhere else.]

[It's likely he'll blame it on the quiet determination to protect the children that he can feel radiating off of Souji, but the truth is, he feels it, too. Ayakashi preying on the most helpless of humans, and the tired parents who try to protect them...]

[They're not about to let that stand.]

[Hijikata lets go of his sword's hilt with one hand, reaching up to brush the sweat from his brow. He's been up and down the city already, hunting down all the ayakashi he can find, but they just keep coming... Right now, he's near a daycare, where he's managed to push a small cluster of shadowy creatures out of the building and is trying to keep them from getting back in. There's a borderline blocking the most obvious entrances, but they're starting to look for ways around already... From inside, the shrieks of small children are still deafening.]

[He puts his hand back on the sword, shifting his stance slightly as he begins the incantation for Rending. The moment the words are spoken, he strikes out, tearing through one of the creatures and leaving it to shatter in Baiki's wake. A hint of a smile flickers around his lips as he turns towards the creatures again, eyes narrow and sharp and alight with the heat of battle.]

Now, then... who's next?

[Child's Play II - Support]

[Not ever battle is meant to be fought head-on, though -- sometimes, you have to get to the root of things another way.]

[In between moments of action, Hijikata spots a young father carrying a wailing infant. The young man looks completely exhausted, like he's just been drained of everything, and ayakashi are beginning to loom around corners nearby, sensing an easy snack...]

[Hijikata steps up to him, closing his eyes and reaching out a hand. In moments, the young man's posture changes, his tired resignation giving way to fierce, protective determination as Hijikata bolsters his will, turns up the man's feeling of I'll take care of him, no matter what until nothing else can withstand it. Disappointed, the ayakashi slink away, and Hijikata sinks onto a bench to catch his breath. He may be overextending himself slightly... but at the sight of a Far Shore resident nearby, he starts to stand again, nodding to them in greeting.]

How are you holding up?

[OOC: Have Emi's permission to handwave Souji being a sword here and there. You can HMU if you'd like to do a wildcard option -- he's going to be just about everywhere besides dealing with the Flu Season stuff!]

► Flu Season
[So many sick people, it's getting to him. For a moment, he briefly appreciate having a place to stay in Konohanasakuya's Temple. But he didn't dwell on that thought for long, before he start to get down to work.

Whether he's with Sakura, fellow shinkis or anyone who joined in handling these problems, Yamanbagiri is doing his part to help out.

In one shelter, he's handing out various items to the sick people. As he pick up some soup, he listens to the shelter's helper, who was pouring them into bowls, with a frown.]

Running low?

[She nods, before she lower her voice. They're doing their best to stretch it out, but their ingredients is going to run out at this rate. Yamanbagiri nods in understanding, before glancing over when he notice someone's approaching. Ah, someone from the Far Shore as well.]

Hey.

[He wonders if they overhear?]

► Prank War
[Why did he come here? Something about the request calls to him.

The good thing about being a Far Shore resident is that people never really notice him. Unless they're spiritually sensitive. But a bunch of hooligan teens on the loose may or may not even have that sensitivity.

Anyway, he's now trailing a group of teenagers, who look all too suspicious with the bucket of crates and inks they're carrying. He haven't try attracting their attention yet. Yamanbagiri need to see if they're going to cause a mess or vandalise property first.

With a fluttering sound of his cloak, he gesture to whoever's with him before following the group. They seem to be heading towards a building in the general, specialised shopping district.]

Prank wars - closed

[ Elfnein asked Eliot to help with the on-going trouble that the kids in the nearby area have gotten into. If they can find the source of the problem then maybe the pranks will stop, maybe...]

I don't want to be on their level and use a prank to get them to notice things, so we need to find another way.

Flu season

[ Elfnein is helping pass out supplies to those suffering with the flu. Though instead of the normal over the counter meds she has the super cure mixture she made to try and help those suffering. Only problem is said super cure mixture hasn't been tested yet. ]

Edited 2018-02-02 15:09 (UTC)

orihime's meadows;
[Zelda has been rather scarce since the... incident with Add's temple, and one look at her as she drifts from tent to tent might reveal why; her eyes, normally sharp and focused, now seem vacant and dull. There is no real purpose or drive behind her movements either, despite the scurrying of other gods and shinki around her, taking in everything with a quiet sort of indifference. She mostly just followed Hitsugaya down here, really, but...

Something itches in the back of her mind. A tiny flickering of an ember in the burned out husk of her heart. She is an extra pair of hands, she thinks. It would be a shame to let them go to waste.

She picks up a prayer tablet and mumbles absently:]

"Conflict in Heaven brings conflict on earth"...

[So. This is what Amaterasu meant.]

flu season;
[She is not a healer, by any means. But it is healers who have cared for her in the aftermath of the expedition into Henir's core, and it is healers she owes a debt to, so, here she is. She is an assistant at best, following around the more experienced caretakers and acting as a obedient gofer, darting back and forth to fetch the supplies they need in order to maximize their time with their patients. However, if you so happen to be the type to overextend yourself in situations such as these, she will not hesitate to point it out in a monotonous voice--]

You will not be able to help anyone should you pass out from exhaustion.

[--otherwise, if there is a moment where she is unneeded, she can be found at the bedside of sleeping patients, two softly glowing fingers pressed against their foreheads as she closes her eyes in apparent concentration. The state of their illness doesn't change as she does this, but some of the stress that might strain their expressions melts away, allowing them a more restful sleep.

Nightmares can be a plague like any other, so perhaps in that respect she is a healer after all.]

wild hounds;
[But, truthfully, this is the issue she feels drawn to the most. Which is weird, and also a little unfortunate, as she is currently without a shinki whose vessel form can easily rend the ayakashi provoking the dogs, but oh well. That just means she has to be a little more creative.

"Creative" in this case means buying up some cheap cuts from the local butchery (and probably getting mistaken for a fae by said local butcher, but whatever), laying out those cheap cuts somewhere out of the way, and then lying in wait with several bottles of holy water on stand by. It's definitely not efficient, but a sudden splash of holy water is usually enough to smoke out the phantom possessing the 'leader of the pack' once they've sniffed out an easy snack (though the godscent may very well be more enticing to the ayakashi than the meat is), and a swift kick sends it flying to who knows where. A temporary solution at best, to be sure, but hopefully another god-shinki pair will dispose of the ayakashi before it possesses another poor creature.

Maybe she could use some help here.]

A. Orihime's Meadows -- Blue Tent

['Dust' is an excellent synonym for 'intense' on the best of days. On a day like today, when Dust is intense, well. If any trees were nearby to drop leaves, said leaves would split the moment they came within a dozen feet of the Sen-Mithrarin, so sharp and strong is the quiet ferocity he's wrapped himself in.]

[The worst part is trusting everyone else. If anyone screws up, if anyone makes a mistake, it could set back everything he's worked for. No matter how unfair that is to Orihime. He knows he'd get it done or die trying. He WILL make this part of it succeed. But every other part...]

[Luckily Dust can't glare at everyone nearby, but the fierce and almost hostile frown ought to signify his attitude easily enough.]

Child's Play

Rend them!

[This is Dust's most common call, a warning and an alert for those gods and shinki who had come in pairs to deal the finishing blows. Dust cuts through ayakashi like a tornado of blades unleashed with tactical precision, an awesome fury of overkill that spits out shattered spirits into streets and alleys where they can be destroyed without hesitation or danger. Just now, another brutalized pair comes flying out the open window of a child's room, followed shortly behind by Dust.]

[He pays no attention to his victory, instead jerking his head around swiftly in search of another target.] Come on... there's someone in charge here...

Edited 2018-02-02 18:41 (UTC)

Meadows

[It's been a while since there was something interesting to do in the heavens, and this definitely counts as interesting. Leo heads down there a bit of ahead of Niles to scout out what's going on and where they'll be most helpful. He's stopping at each of the tents to talk, though in the end he gravitates towards the prank wars.]

Prank Wars

[Leo is sitting on a bench, watching a particularly rowdy bunch of students arguing over what to tag this particular building with. He's got Brynhildr in his lap, tapping on her spine.]

We can do this one of two ways. Either we try to do this like normal people, or I scare them straight. Which do you think is more effective?

Orihime's Meadows

[Princess Celestia always stands out in a crowd, what with being a princess pony and all -- but today she's making an extra effort to be seen, because she's got supplies. Specifically, she has raided a cafe or three, and has a host of sandwiches and bottled drinks ready to go. In fact, she's practically pushing them on people, all with a gentle smile.]

If you're going to get into a fight or some disaster, you had better be prepared.

[Somepony has to look out for these people after all. Also, hope you don't mind vegetarian sandwiches!]

Prank Wars

So, they like to torment animals, do they?

[With an intense frown, Celestia peers around the corner at the oncoming gang, before pulling her head back.]

I will approach them and... well, perhaps teach them a lesson they badly need. Will you watch for ayakashi or other dangers?

Orihime's Meadows:

[He may have not replied to the lady's message, but he replies by arriving to the meadows upon the appointed hour. Sukomi the soulless shinki dutifully follows her god as he packs up some various items such as his familiar long gloves, a couple vials of holy water, and his trusty satchel that he uses regularly for his trips between Germany and Heligoland. Looking at the tent set ups, he takes a couple prayer tablets from a couple of them and reads them over. While he may not enjoy needless bloodshed, Aymeric knows he is not fit for helping the sick nor stopping pranks. Fighting ayakashi seems to be his only choice but if it fits his skillset for now, he will use it.

But before he heads off, he may spot someone he recognizes and gives them a small smile of encouragement.]

Are you nervous?

Child's Play

[While children may find it hard to sleep at night and try to stay near their parents for comfort, someone else decides that it might be a good idea to try and lure any ayakashi away from the homes. It just so happens that what is causing the distraction is a well timed light show and a tall pointy eared man with a sword being the cause. He is also ensuring those ayakashi following him instead of the children...

If anyone is looking for some enemies to Rend, Aymeric has folks covered. He can distract while others can hit with any surprise attacks.]

Wild Hounds

[Unlike the nightmare fueled comrades, facing off dogs is a different matter. It also didn't help that any pup in the vicinity of Aymeric could smell his cat on his clothes that they immediately decided to pounce. With Sukomi in shinki form, the elezen rolls and dodges the claws and bites. He's unsure how to face this kind of enemy when they don't seem to be ayakashi. But better him than an innocent.]

Of all times to notice Mandragora's scent on me...

A - Orihime's Meadow

[Chikusa arrives with Hakkai, looking about as annoyed as one can expect from the usually dull teen. While it's not unusual for him to slump or look dead eyed- in fact that's his basic state of being for anyone who has known him for more than five minutes- both things seem especially bad today.]

[And the cause of this is the tent to Li Tieugai that he's staring right at.]

...It was troublesome enough as it was... [He sighs, bowing his head and keeping his eyes momentarily hidden from underneath his gray beanie.]

....Are we going to keep this thing...

[Because what else is Orihime going to do with a giant tent dedicated to this asshole?]

B - Flu Season

[The overwhelming presence of the crows can be unsettling to a lot of people. They seem to be everywhere for those trying to help the sick and homeless, watching them with too bright eyes. Are they following the gods and shinki, or are the numbers simply that great?]

[One thing is for certain...]

[A fuck-off giant crane has just divebombed the latest group of them watching some wayward shinki or god.]

[The Sarus crane, somehow, has a simple black beanie attached to its head, flopping around wildly.]

[You're welcome.]

C - Prank War

[When teenagers are cocky and reckless enough, they think they can take on anything, especially when they're up to being little assholes. In regular city life, that's probably true.]

[When the wild comes to play, however, they're a lot more uncertain.]

[Anyone searching around for these wild punks will find a group of them clustered uncertainly near the mouth of an alley. They've been backed up nearly out of it by... Oh, look, it's that same Sarus crane with the same black beanie somehow attached to it. The kids are muttering to each other, sometimes about how to deal with this bird larger than some of them are, sometimes to dare another teen to try and grab the beanie off.]

[Whenever one of them makes a move forward, however, the crane lashes out, snapping out with a sharp beak and making the teens scurry back with mixed yells and (nervous) laughter.]

[Well. The bird is keeping them out of the alleys, at least.]

Wild Hounds
[There wasn’t any fun in picking on Schnauzers and Terriers, so Kamui either trapped them in crates or tossed them into bins they couldn’t climb out of. Not worth the time.

OThe strays, however, he had some respect for. They were more in tune with their natural instincts compared to the pampered house hold pets who had long forgotten what they really were. They were beasts, true beasts, and it only seemed proper to return the ferocity they gave.

He stands in the center of the pack, none daring to strike yet as they gauge the threat. There was a dominating aura about him despite his pleasant demeanor that made them apprehensive, but also even more determined to take him down.

Kamui slides a foot back, bringing his hands up into a stance. There were no sarcastic remarks or taunts this time, but the smile remained.]

I’ll be in your care.

[With a threatening snarl the dogs push off the ground to attack him. One went straight for his neck, an appropriate and lethal move, and another went for his left leg. He simultaneously brings up a hand to catch the first by the snout and slam its head into the ground while his leg folds to knee the other’s jaw. A high pitched whine comes for the dog he kneed as he twists in the air, landing on another leg to regain his balance.

The moment he lands, another stray manages to clamp its jaw down on Kamui’s calf. He can feels sharp teeth tearing through his pant leg and breaking his skin. He turns to look down at the canine, but there is not hatred or contempt in his eyes. Rather, he looks impressed.]

That’s more like it.

[As another pounces towards him, Kamui swings the leg the other dog is currently locked onto and crashes their bodies together. This causes the dog to let go as both roll across the floor. Blood drips from the leg Kamui still had raised, and slowly he brings it back down.

They weren’t done yet as the others got back up and began to circle him again.]

That’s it. Don’t back down yet.

[His lips curl into a smile, baring his own teeth at the pack. Something about this was...exciting. More so than any of the trainings he had participated in. Unlike those people, these opponents had every intention of killing him.

And Kamui liked that.]

Prank War

[Kamui finds himself surrounded here too, except this time around, he isn’t being treated as a threat.

He’s seated comfortable atop a turned over car, the teenagers armed with their home brought weapons watching him in earnest as he spoke.]

See, if you really want to rule this town, you can’t be sharing your territory with other gangs. People here won’t know who to answer to otherwise. You gotta aim big. It only makes sense to take out the gangs first, doesn’t it?

[This wasn’t in the instructions given to them, but when Kamui happened upon what these punks were up to...there was a sense of pity and disappointment that came over him. He’d much rather take down people worth getting beat up, and what they were up to was nothing but petty crimes in his eyes.]

Picking on pets is beneath even you guys. That’s child’s play. Aren’t you bored with that?

[There was some murmuring as the spoke amongst themselves, some nodding in agreement. One of them raises a hand.]

Yes, the four eyes in the back—good on you for breaking stereotypes.

[If he was gonna take down some bad guys, might as well help them the best delinquents they could be first.]

Edited 2018-02-03 03:27 (UTC)

A - Orihime's Meadows

[No matter the feeling in the air, Wendy seems determined to make sure things go right. So as people are passing through to the various tents or to go see Orihime, Wendy herself pops up nearby with a determined grin on her face.]

You'll do your best, right? This is really important to make sure those other gods don't look down on anyone here! [And that includes Orihime.]

B - Child's Play

[This neighborhood is obviously a family one... That much anyone can tell from all the screaming and crying coming more than a few houses down this block. On the street, dress in overalls and her hair pulled back into two long ponytails, Wendy screws her mouth up.]

Alright. Do you think I would make good bait?

[That's the best thing to do here, right? At least she can handle herself.]

[ A - Orihime's Meadows ]

[Ren has come armed and ready to go, with both his shinki in tow for once and a couple of blessed water guns strapped on under his long, black cardigan. Now all that's left is just to figure out where to go. He'd really like to go help with everything...but it becomes pretty clear after a preliminary walk among the tents that he's much more suited to come problems than others.

As he circles his way back through the tents, he pauses at the green one to stare up at its flag for a couple minutes. He'd especially like to help here, but...it's just not his strong suit. He'd be a lot more helpful elsewhere. And also it's just unpleasant to think about why it's even there for long.

Eventually, he shakes his head and set off again to go grab some maps and prayer tablets from the red and brown tents instead.]

[ B - Wild Hounds ]

[Groves of trees that are dark and shadowy and seem like the kind of place most people would instinctively avoid? Of course that's the place Ren is most interested in checking out.

For the moment, though, he's being fairly cautious about it, if only so he doesn't worry Shun too much when he's telling him all about this later. Instead of just running in after the pack he'd followed here, he's slowly pacing in front of the trees with a black poleaxe balanced in his hands behind his back.]

I guess I probably shouldn't go in there alone...

[Said very much like someone who usually goes running into spooky dark forests alone and is only sort of trying to convince himself not to this time.]

[ C - Prank War ]

[The easiest way to get a bunch of miscreant teenagers to stop causing so much trouble--or, at the very least, get them to focus on competing with each other and leave other people and animals out of it--is to just go and talk to them, right? Of course it is. Nothing could possibly go wrong with a plan like that.

Of course, now that he's here in the middle of a bunch of guys cracking their knuckles and being generally intimidating, he's much more interesting in what's already talking to them than he is in doing any talking himself. Which has led to him getting uncomfortably close to the leader of the group, who's looking like he isn't sure if he should be more pissed off or unnerved by Ren's inspection of his collar, but very quickly decides on "pissed off."]

--the hell are you doin', you--

[Ren casually ducks under his flying fist and steps around him to tug at the back of his collar with the tip of his finger.]

Mmm, I don't see it here either...

[Guess how well that'll go over with the rest of the group...]

Edited 2018-02-03 06:15 (UTC)

A. Orihime's meadows
[Rin isn't sure what to expect when he get to the meadows. Though he sees the tents at a distance. Four of them in different colors fitted with their own flags, and it feels very official. Despite the urgency of the goddess's message there doesn't seem to be hostility among those who've gathered. Everyone is very cooperative, probably rallying together since everyone believes Orihime is being set up for failure. That makes it even more apparent how much they need to succeed in their missions.

The young shinki can't seem to contain his excitement though. As he prepares for one objective, he has to blurt out something to his neighbor.]

I know this is supposed to be serious, but I'm pumped. I hope everyone kicks ass today!

B. Wild Hounds
[ Unfortunately, Add isn't around, so he can't use his vessel form. It's a shame because he feels he could have engaged the pack leaders in that state. No matter, he can only do what he can as a shinki. For now his main focus is protecting the people the stray dogs are attacking. His main approach is taunting! He sees a pair of dogs ganging up on a woman and her young child.]

Hey!

[Rin provokes them further, before he starts running away, encourage the two dogs to follow him. Luckily, Rin is a fast runner, so he can avoid being captured. However, he didn't think of anything further than getting their attention and having the dogs chase him. Maybe someone who can formulate a plan can help him out!]

C. Prank Wars
[There's few things in this world that Rin can ignore. However, the deliberate harm to animals or people isn't one of them. Though, it's one of the scenes that Rin walks in on. A few kids in an alley are holding down a stray puppy. He hears the pup yelp and whimper as the deviant teens take turns burning the dog with a cigarette. The laughter that mingles along with the puppy's cry, just sets Rin off.

Before, he could figure out how to defuse the situation, he's already charging in. His fists clenched, pulling back to punch the first delinquent in the face. Before long, there's five other teens jumping in to engage Rin. The shinki is able to hold his own, his movements are adrenaline driven and unpredictable. Almost as if he's not entirely human.]

D. Prank Wars [Closed to Yukio and Emizel]
[ Rin isn't really good at investigating, but he does have awesome "luck". Without really trying to find the vandals of Chiba, Rin comes across a group of them throwing rocks into the windows of a local high school. From afar, he's able to overhear the teen aggravation towards the principal, who expelled them for repeated misconduct. As retaliation, they were knocking in the windows. On top of that planning to set the courtyard on fire. In the cover of night, teens feel confident and invincible. No one's here to witness their misdeeds. At least that's what they thought!]

Stop!

[Rin is already approaching them, and the shinki is hard to ignore since he has this wild look in his eyes. The gang of teens pause for a moment, unsure of what to make of Rin's confrontation. Then one person finds an easy solution, hurling a brick at Rin, and telling him to mind his business. The stone hits Rin's chest, it's bound to leave a mark, but otherwise it bounces off and it doesn't faze him. The gang as a whole finds that off-putting.]

I said, stop! And you don't want me to make you!

[The leader of the group reveals himself, coming into Rin's field of vision with his hands out in surrender. However it's a ruse as he sees something flash against the light. A knife? While Rin is distracted two other teens come up from behind and grab him by his arms. Pinning him in place as the leader draws closer, pulling out his blade. Rin struggles, but he's not too worried. He knows he has back up. A little help here, guys!]

Wild Hounds closed to Celty

[Arguably, the best way for an Indian goddess and her shinki to get to Ireland is by asking one of the Celtic gods if they can borrow one of their shrines for the day. However, that involves actually knowing many of them which puts Sharak at a disadvantage. She prefers her own method, of using one of Aditi's shrines to get as close as possible and then teleport from there. She already knows how to get to the Isle of Man. It's only a few, comparatively short jumps from there to Drogheda in Ireland.]

"Shadow" is a popular pet name, if you're trying to think of something to call it. [Sharak keeps conversation going quite comfortably on her own, apparently unbothered by her few misjudged teleports on the way over. They're only a little wet, it's fine. This is practically a coastal town anyway, it was inevitable. Still probably safer to walk into town though.] A little on the nose, perhaps, but that's not a bad thing.

[This is why Sharak never bothered to name the chickens. She doesn't give the horse following them up the road a glance, keeping stride ahead of it and Celty.]

It looks pretty intent on being yours, after all.

[She probably should have expected that her headless horsewoman of a shinki would eventually get her steed showing up, but she wasn't quite expecting it while feeding the chickens that morning... And on a day when they have to go to work too.]

"Shadow", "Stalker", "Yakitori"...

[One of those suggestions is not like the others.]

Wildcard

[Anything we've plotted on plurk- Sharak's in Ireland fighting dogs but she'll be in Orihime's meadow too and can be found other places. Just let me know!]

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