thenearshore | [Closed] You have heard the pleading of your followers

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[Closed] You have heard the pleading of your followers

Who: Goku and Nephenee, Goku and Nia.
When: December 23rd and December 24th
Where: The Near Shore
What: Prayers 56 and 72.

December 25th
And the guy said- He said, if he catches a bunch he'll cook 'em up and give 'em to me!

[Goku bounces along the path leading to the lake happily, occasionally slipping on a patch of ice and quickly righting himself. It hasn't been a long walk from the nearest shrine, but they are a bit out of the way here. This side of the huge fishing lake is practically deserted; most signs of civilisation are far off on the other side. But here is where Huitzilopochtli's follower likes to set sail from, so this is where Goku is headed. Hopefully Nephenee doesn't mind the hike.]

If you help, I bet he'll give you some too! We just gotta figure out what's scarin' all the fish away or somethin'. You'll help, right?

[This is what happens when your shrine is the closest to the site, Neph, you get a monkey knocking on your door asking permission to travel through your temple grounds. At least he asked first and invited you along for the ride. They're coming up on a car with an empty boat trailer hitched to the back, parked next to the pristine lake.]

I bet the fish'll taste real good!

December 24th

Woah.

[Christmas Eve in downtown Tokyo is an amazing sight. There's more people on the street than Goku has ever seen in his life- or it sure feels that way. There's a market going on, with cute gifts and food on sale, and navigating through the crowd looks near impossible. Especially when you're a good couple of inches shorter than most people there.]

Um, okay- [Goku ducks to the side to avoid being run into by a lovestruck couple, more focused on staring into each others eyes than paying attention to where they're walking.] I'm supposed ta find a lady here- she's tryin' to do some shopping but she doesn't speak Japanese!

[Hopefully she speaks Chinese or... Welsh... or this is going to be a real comedy of errors. Goku grins at Nia cheerfully. Getting back up had just seemed like a smart idea, after how things had gone the last few times Goku ventured to the Near Shore. He might have asked Gojyo, but he probably would have just ended up flirting with the poor woman and Goku can't allow that. Ken and Chikusa are busy with each other and that leaves-]

You'll help, right? We just gotta find her and help her get some stuff! It'll be easy!

[Nia is so nice and generous. Who knows what Goku actually said over the phone to get her to come along.]

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[Actually, Nia has to agree. Downtown Tokyo is amazing.]

[Too many people, that's no lie. If they were inside her skin would crawl, but out on the street she's just mildly uncomfortable, and even that she can ignore for the sake of the spectacle. These displays! With the trees and the fat bearded man in red -- Nia practically has to haul herself back to Goku's words.]

You know, I'm normally not one for shopping, but here and now this seems like it'll be an adventure. Looks like the biggest challenge is going to be the lines.

[Even Nia can have unwarranted optimism at times...]

Do you think we can cut in line? No one's paying attention to us...

[It's rude, but hey. Their cause is a noble one. Goku stands on his tip toes, trying to look over the crowd and find his follower and failing miserably.]

I dunno what she wants though! So we gotta find her first.

If we rely on that too much the clerk won't notice us either, and then where are we?

[Nia's not even TRYING to peer over people. She's well aware of her own physical limitations, and isn't going to pretend otherwise.]

Don't you have some sort of prayer sense or something? I thought that came with being a god.

We can shout!

[Goku finally jumps in the air, putting him head, shoulders and knees above everyone else in the crowd. He lands with a thud and barely misses seriously ruining some girl's day.] I dunno how that stuff works! It's weird.

[Does he look like the kind of god that knows what he's doing? Goku looks around and furrows his brow in concentration... And then abruptly points in one direction with one hand and grabs Nia's wrist with the other.]

This way!

[It's as good as any other way.]

[Nia reflexively yanks back when he grabs her wrist. It isn't even that she minds so much, as that she wants to be the one who picks when physical contact occurs. But she doesn't put any actual strength into it, legs and back staying out of it, and after a moment lets him tug her along.]

You know what this person looks like at least? Or are we just hoping really hard?

[Just punch him, Nia, he'll learn eventually. Maybe.]

Uh, hopin'? I kinda know what her voice sounds like, I think...

[Judging by how Goku is still looking every which way while he drags Nia along, he doesn't really know where they're going.]

Um, she was real upset! And confused and couldn't get anyone to listen! So, look for someone like that.

Guess that might stand out just a little bit. [She'd suggest they listen instead of look in normal circumstances, but that sure isn't going to help...] Hey, why don't you get up high? You can probably see better if you hopped up on a light or a sign or something, right?

Oh, hey, good idea!

[As a reward, Nia gets to not be dragged along down the street anymore. Goku stops in his tracks and grins at her.]

Hey, cats are really good at climbing right? Can you get up high?

I'm not a cat. [Why does everyone keep saying that? She's just got different ears!] Gods are really good at ridiculous jumps, why don't you just spring up there?

I don't need ta be a god to get up there...

[He can jump he can climb he can get anywhere he wants!!]

I just didn't wanna leave ya behind!

[But then Goku bends his knees and jumps up- and up- until his hand catches the steel bar of the street light above them. Goku climbs up and balances on top carefully, surveying the crowd.]

Then come back down when you're done. [Nope, Nia isn't going to go clambering up there like the monkey he is. She does take the chance to peer around herself, trying to listen more than look. The noise is something else, but she's got pretty keen ears, maybe she can hear that -- whatever language that isn't what she's mostly hearing.]

I will!

[Goku can't quite put his finger on what it is about Nia that he likes, even after only knowing her a little while. Is it just because she's cute? Maybe it's because she can fight pretty good. It's probably just because she's so nice!

He takes a minute to look over the street. It really is an amazing view. So many people, so many smells, so many sounds- ah! He points to the other side of the street.]

That lady over there looks a little upset. She seems angry too.

[There's a woman muttering frustratedly to herself in Spanish, pressed up against the wall to avoid being pushed around by the crowd. She does stand out a fair bit among the throngs of Japanese, especially when she drops her empty shopping back and presses her hands against her eyes. "I'm so far from home, God..."]

[Nia nods, then hurries across the street before they can lose track of her. Easy enough, being a Far Shore resident, to just get through the crowd without any shouting or rudeness (on her part, too), close enough so she can hear the words muttered in a language she doesn't recognize.]

[She sticks one hand up over her head to give Goku the thumbs-up. Looks like they have their worshipper in need!]

[Goku gives a thumbs-up back and jumps from the street light, across the crowd, and lands near by.]

Uh, ma'am? [Someone, at some point, has tried to teach Goku manners. Someone has tried repeatedly. Occasionally he almost remembers.] Are you doin' okay?

[But whatever language Goku is speaking, it's not the same one his worshipper is. Hopefully his concerned expression does the work for him.]

Oh boy. This is gonna be trouble. [But no backing out now. Nia steps up to Goku's side, putting on her best encouraging smile as well. She even offers a thumbs-up, slaps Goku on the back, and does everything she can to emphasize: they're here to help.]

Maybe we should have got some outfits.

Dunno what dressing up would do. She didn't sound like she cared about that stuff.

[The woman looks at Goku and Nia with obvious confusion for a second before straightening up and wiping her eyes dry, smiling a little through her embarrassment. "Yes. I am fine." She does speak some Japanese, apparently, though she sounds like it's a phrase she's memorised.]

Are ya lookin' for somethin'? We can help! [She looks confused again.] Uh- help! [She looks alarmed.]

We would've looked like holiday spirits or something...

[Trying to defuse the situation, Nia throws an arm around Goku with reluctance that only shows on the inside, then smiles her broadest and offers a thumbs-up. We're here on your side.]

We help people far from home.

[He's being touched. Why is he being touched. Goku doesn't understand.

... Oh, well! Goku grins brightly at the woman and her alarm defuses to simple confusion.]

Can we help you?

[Okay, that she understands. The woman nods and holds out a shopping list. "I... flour... and... po... tatoes?" There's a bunch of other things on the list, but those must be the two most important things that had her crying when the grocery staff lost patience with her and went to help the other hundred people crowding around.]

[Look, she doesn't like it either. Maybe even less than Goku does, she's not touchy with people she isn't close to. But they've got to come off like they're harmless and helpful... and that little trick may have done it.]

All right, this is easy enough. You go get the flour and I'll go get the potatoes?

[People just confuse Goku a lot. They're weird.]

Got it! [Goku points at the woman.] You stay right here and we'll be back in just a second! Okay? See ya!

[And with that Goku runs into the grocery store, vanishing from view and leaving his follower rather flustered and unsure of what she's meant to be doing.]

[Note to self, injure Goku.]

[Nia gently reaches out to fold the list in the woman's hand up, then brings her hand back to tap it on her own chest with her best reassuring smile.]

[Then she motions to a seat nearby, patting her chest again. Everything will be okay.]

[She can try.]

[Nia's sign language is a little more effective. The woman still looks a little confused, but she sits down obediently anyway. Fuck it, she's tired. What can she do but trust that these strange teens will look after her?

Inside the store, Goku is ducking through the crowds and trying to find flour. He just needs to find the right aisle- ooh, there's candy in this aisle. Just what that lady needs to cheer herself up. He'll just grab a couple of bars. Then he's in the right aisle but hey! They've got cereal here too! He likes that brand over there, he bets she'll love it too. It's just one box. Oh, but that other one has such bright packaging; her family will definitely love it!

Maybe he should have grabbed a basket.]

[Oblivious to the harm she's wrought by leaving Goku unattended, Nia heads down to the produce aisles to hunt for potatoes. Not that she knows a thing about potatoes, but how hard can it be? All she has to do is grab a few nice-looking ones, toss them in a bag, and call it good, right?]

[Hm. What does Goku like, she wonders? Ought to do something nice for him... even if she's the one helping him out, it's kinda nice of him to think of her. And it's better than sitting around bored all evening. But he doesn't seem that big a fruits-and-vegetables guy. Or more like they're not his favorites except that eating seems to be a favorite pastime of his.]

[Maybe she can think of something subtly when they meet back up.]

[Okay, Goku's found the flour. It's a little tricky, what with having to peer around the boxes already in his arms, but he's found it. One problem: this is a very well stocked grocery store. There are many different kinds and brands of flour.]

Plain... Wheat... Self-raising... [Muttering to himself as he goes down the aisle. Which one does Hakkai usually get? Goku can't remember.] Rye... Bread...

[This is confusing. Did she specify on the list? He should have taken it with him. Instead, his only option is to take a bag of each. They're kind of heavy, but he can manage! Just gotta be careful to balance them properly on top of the boxes of cereal.]

[Wait, hold on. There are just whole bags of potatoes here in the bins below the loose ones! Hell, why does this have to be like this...]

[Dumping out her selection, Nia grabs a bag and heaves it over her shoulder, then heads back for the front, aaand -- wait, where's Goku?]

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