thenearshore | A god, a shinki and a dog, bring all the food

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A god, a shinki and a dog, bring all the food

Who: Ginia, Caster and a special guest later
What: Caster and Ginia try to find Votelli
When: January 6th
Where: "Mysterious" forest back on the Near Shore
Warnings: None for now, will update if needed

[ Dropping by the forest has become some of a ritual by now. Archer makes a box full of food, riceballs, vegetables, octopus-shaped sausage- whatever he feels like making that day. Let's not stifle his creativity in the kitchen. Then when all is done Caster and Ginia take them, sometimes taking a dog, Regal, along with them.

Today is no different, Caster warps them all into the wintery forest. It's been really cold lately, maybe they should have brought something warm for her to wear instead? If that's the case, they can always leave parts of what they have now. His spell being enough to give protection of the cold for the time being.

Caster gives Regal a pat on her head and starts walking, she matches his tempo immediately. ]

Hmm, Ginia, think we should wander in a different direction today? [ He turns around to see advice from his shinki. ]

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[Votelli rounds on her, eyes widening before they narrow with fury, and the trees shake violently overhead.]

That was you?

Why did you tell them!?

[ Oho, trees. They do listen to her- Caster puts a hand on Regal's head to calm her down. Good thing she's a well-trained dog. ]

Many of those other people have met you anyway, miss. [ If the intense argument that happened was ] The rest does not wish you ill.

[Yep. Gojyo was definitely here. Ginia holds her ground as she glances up at the rattling trees, banking on Caster grabbing her and Regal and teleporting them out if Votelli attacks.]

I trust the people in that room, none of them want to hurt you, most want to keep you safe. They aren't the kind to run off to tell the old gods.

[Ginia glances at the trees again. Some of those branches are pretty sharp. What did Gojyo tell her?]

You're lying. He said you told Heaven all about me.

[Her hands are clenched tight, and her mouth set in a stubborn scowl. All right, Heaven hasn't been searching any more regularly in her forest since Gojyo warned her, but--]

[Wait, what? Ginia's eyes widen at the accusation, mouth pressing into a frown.]

The only people present were new gods and shinki. None of the old gods and shinki were present.

[Though if they all reside in Heaven, they are a part of Heaven by definition. Ginia grumbles inwardly at Gojyo, still aware of the branches.]

Unless someone else spread information outside of that room, and for that I'll take responsibility for, I don't think the greater Heavens are any more aware of you.

[ Caster moves closer to Ginia so the sides of their shoulders touch. If he has to he will teleport them away, but maybe this misunderstanding can be cleared. ]

I think I might get idea who told you- let me guess, long red-hair, kind of loud? He got really upset when people started talking about you, it's clear he cares of you a great deal miss. [ There's a respect in his tone when he says that. Looking back, he can understand why Gojyo reacted the way he did. Caster's youth was full of intense anger sparks, and while years tampered him, or just taught him how to keep temperament on a tighter leash, he can understanding losing shit when someone you cares might be in danger.

That understanding doesn't make Gojyo's relation of "told all the Heavens" any less dramatic. But from one ragemonster to another, yep, #relatable ]

But if he stayed a bit to listen, he'd learn that majority of people there are concerned of your well-being. You've warmed your way to many hearts that day, there are people who want to help you and keep you out of Heaven's reach.

[ He sighs and shrugs ]

Look, if anyone told Heavens, they'd be swarming this forest for past week.

[Votelli cools a little, her expression still dubious, but no longer as angry. She looks between the two of them.]

There've been some of those shinki here. The ones with the white robes and the swords.

[But it's true: there haven't been more since Gojyo warned her. Fewer, in fact, day by day.]

Who was there?

[Ginia nods in full agreement at Caster's words, relieved when Votelli yields. Even if the brunt of Gojyo's anger was directed at her and Archer initially, she doesn't fault him for getting upset. Like her, he wanted to protect Votelli even if their methods were at odds. That she can respect.

Amaterasu's shinki. It's not surprising they're in the forest considering how they directed everyone there first. Yet it doesn't seem like they've noticed Votelli while she's noticed them enough.

At Votelli's question, Ginia racks her mind for an answer. She gave them Votelli's name and face, it's only fair to give some names in return. But honor is only good if both sides adhere to it. Trying to remember who was all there, Ginia goes with a calculated risk.]

Shun, Goku, Gojyo, Suzaku, our exemplar, Archer.

[People that met Votelli already, people she knows can take care of themselves or otherwise if Votelli finds them for any reason. She looks to Caster, letting him add names if he wishes, or otherwise further smooth the situation.]

[ Caster interprets it of who was there were Votelli name was dropped, and he helpfully - or unhelpfully adds - ]

Zelda and Hakkai too, though they didn't speak much. [ Only when the situation exploded ]

Maybe it's the underdog rooting for underdog thing- but people are sympathetic to your plight. [ Is there a way to help the small goddess and destroy the cult at the same time though? Unfortunately, life isn't easy and neither it is nice. She might be an old god reincarnated in this form, not remembering anything and groomed to do the cult biding- or maybe she sprang into being like those myriads of gods that show up to answer people's wishes. If it's the latter case, wouldn't wiping out the cult destroy a big base of her followers? ] But the question is, do you want help?

[ Probably the most important question here. ]

I don't know some of them. Archer, Zelda, Hakkai...

... Are they going to tell anyone?

[Shun hadn't exactly been the most comforting, either, and Suzaku was friends with that loud person on the horse who made all the threats...

But she hasn't seen more of Heaven's foot soldiers out here. She chews on her lip.]

I don't know what kind of help you're going to give me.

I don't think so. They're careful people and they don't want to see anyone hurt.

[It's the most charitable statement at least. Archer she's certain of, Zelda to some degree. Hakkai she believes is cautious, but with ties to Gojyo, Goku, and Chikusa, who can tell. None of them are malicious though.]

Perhaps we can help find somewhere else for you to stay? The Near Shore is vast and if you have other places to go, it'll be harder for the Heavens to find you.

[And maybe, if they can get her out the influence of 'Sensei,' it'll be safer overall.]

Even if you'll prefer to stick to the forest, there is still a lot of various places to see everywhere

[ They could help with making shelters, but Caster gets a feeling that Votelli can take of that part herself. Given her power over trees. ]

But being around people is a pretty nice experience too. [ But he is a very social creature. If anything, that makes the job easier. On the other hand more humans, more ayakashi, so it's probably best if this girl doesn't explore big cities from a get-go ]

Maybe I could go somewhere else.

[She clenches her hands, looking down.]

In the Near Shore, anyway. Maybe that would be okay.

If you wanted to stay in Japan, Mount Takao could work. It's a common hiking area so you'd be able to see more people.

[Which could work well in staving off loneliness and finding more people to believe in her outside of the cult. On the other hand, it might draw attention from the Heavens more.

She looks at Caster, phone tapping against her chin before she types.]

Could you find a place for her in Ireland?

[ The mention of Ireland surprises him ]

Sure, I could but- that's on the other end of the world. [ It's also noticeably colder than here, the winter lasts longer in Ulster. He's not sure if uprooting a small goddess for far away from her home country would be a good idea ]

Question is, where would you want to go- [ he turns to Votelli with a genuine question ]

I want to stay here. It's my home. But I don't want the Heavens to find me.

[And maybe, if she has a shrine, she wants to be close by that, too. She chews her lip doubtfully.]

I haven't been to Mount Takao. Where is it? Is there already a god there?

[Ginia pulls up a map on her phone and plots out Mount Takao relative to their current location. It's further south from where they are, almost two hours by car. She turns the phone around and moves in to show Votelli the screen. There are also other mountains and forests around to move to.

As for the second part of her question, Ginia reclaims her phone to do a quick search.]

There are some shrines for tengu on Mount Takao. Is it a problem for gods to share an area, or is more you might be more noticeable to the Heavens?

If you wanna stay, then you stay.

[ The moment where Votelli says she wants to stay here, is the moment where all ideas need to be revalued. He puts his hand on Ginia's shoulder. The map won't hurt, sure, but is this really their place to suggest her to leave her homeland? Homeland is important. ]

Do you have a shelter here? Somewhere to live in.

[Votelli nods at the second half of Ginia's question.] If I'm living around other gods I don't know, any of them might see me. It's different with humans. -- Or with gods and shinki I know won't turn me in.

[The glance she shoots Ginia and Caster is uncertain. She thinks they won't turn her in, but Ginia did tell other people, and she admitted as much.

Maybe this isn't safe, but they're nice, so it's worth a try.]

I can make a place to stay wherever.

[She glances at Caster as he sets a hand on her shoulder, her ideas tempering. Safety is important, but so is home. Making the best of the current location it is then.

The uncertain glance is a mark Ginia can bear. She knows what she did and can live with the consequences. Above all, her desire to help and protect is genuine.]

You can make a shelter anywhere I'm sure, but is it safe? There's ayakashi around, do they give you trouble?

Hey, that's good. As long as you get place to sleep [ For a second he got worried she didn't have anywhere to sleep and just traversed the forest. In that case, he'd suggest they make a shelter first. But since she got taken care of that.

The mention of ayakashi from Ginia sours his smile. The sensei doesn't want her to get a shinki, but doesn't that really makes her more susceptible to his control? ]

So deep in the forest ayakashi are probably less active then where there are more people. But then you probably should want to see more people- [ To help them and make more followers for once, that's always a big thing for a god, right? Also human trails means she might meet a soul she could name as a shinki ] -hey... have you tried watching over mountain trails?

Yes. But humans don't notice me, so it doesn't really matter.

[She shakes her head, lacing her fingers together, and looks away.]

And there aren't too many ayakashi here. When there are, I can hide.... Are you really worrying about me?

Yes, I am.

[The answer comes quick and it's honest. She's not entirely innocent, but most of Votelli's actions can be traced back to Sensei and the cult's influence. Without them, would she be merely another minor god living her life?]

I know you can take care of yourself, but what happens if you're injured? Or blighted by ayakashi? I can't say I trust Sensei either. He could do a better job taking care of you.

Humans might not notice you, but your actions will stay with them. [ Caster walks closer towards her, Regal following him with interest and tilt of the head. ] If someone gets lost in the woods, on a mountain trail- lead them back home, tell them your name.

[ Caster's quite new to the whole- "being an active God" thing. But he respects his followers, he heeds their wishes if he can, and somehow, for some reason- there is more and more of them. It's not hard to make the connection. He produces a small bottle with water out of his robe- another crazy-prepared thing his Exemplar does - and offers it to Votelli. ]

They might return with offering for you when they return to the woods for another trip. [ That's how you get followers, even if they can't really see you, right? If he guesses right, the cult members are only people who believe in her, and their leader keeping her sheltered and only for their own use. They are the ones who put her at odds with the Heavens. If she could gain a footing in followers outside of them, and the cult was to be obliterated - would she still be a "rogue god"? Is she really the one in the first place? Or do they walk a dangerous road by getting involved with her- ] Here- This bottle holds purifying water from the spring in my forest. Use it to heal yourself if you get hurt by ayakashi.

[ He worries, yes. But he's also conflicted if they are not accidentally doing something that is very against Heavens. But- they are not letting her travel through shrines, they are not letting her into the Heavens, so they are not going against the official orders.

Being a capricious (heroic) spirit, being a capricious god, same thing. ]

I'm big enough to take care of myself now, so he doesn't need to, anyway. [She puts her hands behind her back, looking at them a little dubiously.]

And I know how to wash off blight. There's a spring...

[Still... it's a nice gift, isn't it? She unclasps her hands from each other, and reaches out, slowly, to take the bottle.]

I don't have a shrine yet, so they wouldn't have anywhere to leave an offering, anyway.

[Gojyo'd said he'd make one, and maybe he will, but he hasn't yet.]

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