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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[It's not the first time they've dropped by the forest and if today turns out to be fruitless too, it won't be the last. Each failed attempt to connect with Votelli wears on Ginia, though she squishes her uncertainty and and frustration down so Caster doesn't notice. If she was warned and moved from the area, then maybe it's for the best. If she's avoiding them for any reason, she can live with that.

(If this trip doesn't work, maybe Caster should take the next one alone. Maybe the problem is her.)

Ginia's hand wraps around the backpack strap carrying all the food - she's insisted on carrying the food every time - and looks around the forest, lips pressed tight. A few strands of ribbons (blue, silver) mark the directions they've gone on their last attempts. She consults the compassing dangling from a cord around her neck.]

Let's try west. Opposite our last trip and if this one doesn't pan out, we can head east and see if we can find the bento box we left behind before we leave.

[ Or maybe the problem is the dog. Caster does wonder if next time they should go alone instead. But he trusts Regal senses and perceptiveness. There is not just a little goddess here- this is also a ground for the cult, isn't it? If she can warn them about humans in the area it gives them an edge.

So maybe the humans can't notice them, but some clearly can. ]

Let's. I guess we could cover a bigger ground if we split but I'd rather not risk us getting lost around here.

[ Finding the bento box though, that's a smart idea. ]

Good thing Archer uses boxes with bright colours, huh?

[With the possibility of Votelli not happy to see her, the cult around, or even meeting her mysterious "sensei," even if the forest wasn't vast, sticking together is the best option. Selfishly, it's also nice being with him. Her arm loops lightly around his as if this was just a casual hike through the forest. She changes to her phone; easier to type with one hand and he can keep his eyes forward.]

A good thing. They're really cute boxes too. I'm really surprised at how much Archer likes making cute food.

[ Minako wondered if he is working through something by feeding fucking everybody, and wow, maybe the girl was onto something ]

He's evolving, it's on a completely different level. One day we won't be able to stop him!

[ Maybe he's going overboard because it's food made for a little girl? That would be the most obvious explanation. ]

I hope the recipient got them. [ If Votelli picked the food after they left that would be best scenario. Kind of a shame if the forest animals got to the food first instead. ]

I hope she did too.

[Votelli probably doesn't need to scrounge for food, but knowing she had a good meal would give some peace of mind. It'd also mean she's not mad or wary enough to refuse food offered by them. Time will tell what the answer ends up being.]

Archer has a soft and cute side he should show more often.

[He's a mother hen wrapped up in the guise of a cool and aloof renaissance man. Ginia moves in front so she can sign at Caster.]

I bet if we asked him about the boxes, he'd say something like... [Ginia straightens up and squares her shoulders, smoothing her hair back and cocking her head, a held wink as she smirks.]

'Don't you think food is more appetizing when it's also appealing to the eyes?'

[ Caster slows down until he stops, so Ginia can perform what she needs. And thank the gods he did that because he would risk tripping and falling face first into the snow. The impression is already perfect, but the wording of the line gets to him more than he should- he let's out a quiet pfffft- noise into his scarf, but it's not enough. Soon he's laughing his heart out loudly. ]

That was amazing- [ He's almost crying really, but he calms himself down because he got an idea too. ] But you know what's next?

[ He relaxes his posture trying to find the right one. While he can't do the "large doe eyes" trick, he can imitate the coy swag Ginia carries when she teases either of them. But especially Archer. The Boom Headshot type of one. With a tilt of his head, eyebrows moving up, a smile playing on his lips and tinies of shrugs he says ]

'I'm not choosy. I'll accept any food provided by such an appetizing and appealing cook'.

[Ginia didn't expect to get an impression of herself in return. Her cheeks redden even as she chuffs, a hand pressing to her mouth as she loses herself to soft giggles. Is that really what she looks like? Is it really?

...Yeah, probably. She can't even argue with the words. Which means there's only one possible path for the response. Ginia flips up the hood of her coat so it covers her eyes. Her posture loosens into something a bit more casual, a bit cocky, grin wide and toothy.]

'What's this, a two-course meal all for me?'

[ Caster flips up his own hood and covers his face with it. Barely stifling the laugh. This is so embarrassing. This is something that he would very much say. Embarrassing or not, it's good they can have a laugh like that. ]

You win, you win, I give up! [ He raises his hand in an expression of surrender. A thought occurs to him, that he could now make an impression of Lancer as a surprise attack- but then Regal takes few steps in front of them. Looking a bit more alert than she usually is.

Is there a bunny hiding in the bushes? Regal is not a hunting dog, but who knows when the instinct kicks so he holds the leash stronger and says gives a simple command. ]

Woah, stay. [ If they were running trying to catch the dog through their forest, that would certainly not help their case! Regal being well behaved as she is listens ]

[May Archer never find out about the impressions. Or maybe he should if only to nudge him into doing his own impressions. Ginia's impression dissolves back into giggles, the light moment fading as Regal snaps into an alert state. Animal? Ayakashi? Votelli? Her hand drops instinctively toward her ever present knife, but she holds herself back. If it's Votelli, they need to give a good impression.

Instead, Ginia slides the pack off and takes out one of the boxes of food. Cute apple bunnies, sausage octopi, sleepy rice cats, all protected under a plastic cover. See? They come bearing gifts. Hopefully it helps.]

[The leaves rustle above them, very quietly, and Votelli steps out of the underbrush at least twenty feet away. Her face is set in a suspicious scowl, and the bushes are holding their branches out of the way, leaving an escape route open just to her left.]

What are you here for?

[ Caster assumes a relaxed posture, albeit he's on guard. There she is. She could have been here the entire time if the forest truly guards her. They're on her domain where she is most powerful so they have to thread carefully. ]

To bring gifts, it's a tradition around this time of the year. [ He points at the box of food. He'd never thought he'll use Christmas tradition in this fashion since he doesn't care of it, but here he is. ] And to talk.

[It isn't a friendly greeting, but not overtly hostile either, guarded in a way that's logical. She's giving them a chance and that much Ginia is grateful for.

Steps measured, Ginia walks to the the halfway point between them and sets the box of food down. Apple rabbits, rice balls shaped like animals, flowers cut from seaweed and vegetables, the food is colorful and cute, like the other boxes of food brought and left for her.

Ginia backs away and pulls out her phone, the digitized voice breaking the quiet of the forest.]

How have you been? Sorry it's taken longer than I intended to return.

[She hesitates, considering her options before going for the truth.]

I was injured and unable to travel.

You were hurt? [She jolts forward a step, worried gaze fixed on Ginia.]

What happened? Who hurt you!

[--And, with a sudden suspicious glance through half-lowered eyelids at Caster:] Is he your god?

[The one who'd wanted to sneak up on her before? Although he hadn't tried to sneak. They'd come here a few times, but not sneaking.]

[ Caster makes few steps forward to catch Ginia's hand. Just for a moment, she needs to answer, but he wants to give her hand a small, supportive squeeze. It's not his place to tell the details of what happened so instead he confirms Votelli suspicions ]

Aye, that's right. Ginia wanted my company so I'm here. We also brought Regal- [ he again pets the head of the dog that also just leveled with them. She's calm and in no way hostile, albeit she lacks the aggressively friendly demeanor of two other dogs like Pal and Lucky ] -if you wanted to play with her.

[Ginia didn't expect Votelli to care, not like that. The change in reaction leaves Ginia dumbfounded for a moment, at a loss at how to respond. Caster's hand finds hers and the gentle strength and warmth grounds her, waiting for Caster to finish speaking before she answers.]

I was careless and attacked by ayakashi. I'm fine now, but I had to rest up.

[There, the truth in the broadest strokes. Ginia puts on a smile.]

Have you been okay since then? Has anyone else come through the forest? Besides us, we came through recently but didn't see you. We left food for you, if you saw.

Oh. Just ayakashi? [Her tension bleeds away, her shoulders sagging back down to their normal slouch as she gives Caster another dubious -- but much less hostile -- glance.]

It's good you're better. I saw the food.

[She hadn't eaten any of it, because she hadn't been entirely sure it wasn't a trap, but they wouldn't try to trap her like this, would they? In person?

Ginia was nice before.]

... Are you looking for somebody? Who might've come here? I don't see everyone.

[Her tone is cagey; she seems to be trying to sound nonchalant, but it's not a convincing attempt.]

[ It was a shinki that turned ayakashi, but Caster can see why this detail is to be omitted. Those wounds are still fresh. Still, the girl seems a lot more guarded than before.

Something must have happened-

Maybe they are not alone in the forest, and she's wary with the other possible guests being around. Or maybe it's truly just them. She was willing to talk with him and Shun, but that doesn't mean they're friends or any kind of welcome presence. Maybe he should offer to set up that silence spell again. ]

Nah, we're here to see how you're faring. And to share the food. [ And there is something Ginia wants to talk about, but best to leave it for her. ]

Caster's right. We're here to talk and keep you company.

[How nice will Votelli think Ginia is when Ginia admits she broke her promise? In the days following the meeting, Ginia's kept an eye on the network and the general mood. No chatter on the network, no announcements from the Heavens, the shinki at training didn't seem any more harried or agitated than usual, and Votelli is still here.

So something is currently in their favor.]

Why don't you try the food now? If you're hungry. Archer tried to make a little of everything, we weren't sure what you liked. There are sweets too.

[Ginia digs through her bag again, pulling out two small boxes. One box of assorted mochi - from the store, still wrapped - and another small box of wagashi, also made by Archer. She sets the sweets down on the bento box.]

[She edges forward, just enough to pick up the box of wrapped mochi, and turn it in her hands, looking at the contents.

After a moment, she opens it, picks out two, and holds one of them out to Archer and one to Ginia.]

You have some, too.

[A third, she picks out of the box, and keeps in her hand, watching the two of them before she unwraps it. If they put something in it, they won't both eat it themselves, right? Even if it's a sleeping potion or something instead of poison, that would knock them both out. If they eat it, maybe they're really just here to help.

They haven't said anything yet about what Gojyo told her, either -- that the Heavens know where she is and might be coming for her.]

[ Caster walks closer and takes the mochi as well. He unpacks it and bites into it unhurriedly. He's a big guy™ so the mochi gets devoured quickly. Probably before Ginia chooses her treat ]

We don't want to intrude, though. [ He says when he finishes ] If it's a bad moment we could return sometime else.

[ "Or not at all, if you don't want to see us at all" but if that's the case, she should say it herself. It's hard not to notice how tense the atmosphere is. ]

[The caution is understood. Ginia takes the piece of mochi and bites into it without any hesitation, chewing the sweet, sticky rice - mmm, strawberry - and finishing off the piece. The food is only food, a peace offering with no ill intent.

So she's not continuing to loom over Votelli, Ginia brushes leaves and twigs away with her foot and takes a seat. Regal sits next to her, upright and alert, though non-threatening.]

We're happy to see you're okay. I want to talk about something, but as Caster said, we can always come back.

[She glances at Votelli's clothes, still no more appropriate for the weather than before.]

Are you cold?

You can stay.

[They both ate their mochi. She unwraps her own, and bites into it, relaxing a little.]

... Is it cold?

[She plucks at her sleeve, looking a little blank.] I'm okay.

[It's cold by any standard degree of weather, but with her own thermoregulation controlled by nanotechnology, Ginia doesn't feel the chill under her coat. Caster doesn't seem bothered either.

Maybe it's a god thing. Ginia picks at a twig on the ground, fingers tapping against her phone. Right. Best to be out with it.]

I need to apologize to you. I broke my promise and told other people about you. I'm sorry.

[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.

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

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