thenearshore | 32 - Blow Your Top

He's also recently reincarnated, so he's extra clueless about lava. At least he's not clueless about basic safety, however. Ebisu stays right where he is, giving Sotero all the room he needs for what he's about to demonstrate.

...That doesn't mean he doesn't lean forward in immense curiosity as Sotero holds his hands out, however, causing Kimi to patiently put his hand down against his shoulder to keep him from possibly pitching forward. Kunimi might be there, sure, but better safe than sorry. As the rock begins to sag around the curves of Sotero's palms, red hot and brilliant, Ebisu raises his own to applaud him.

"Wow! That's really amazing! And then, cooling it off...?"

"That's easy," Sotero says, and tilts both his hands, dropping the lump of molten rock towards the ground. It goes from blazing-red to dulling black almost at once, and hits the ground as a solid stone again, just a different shape.

Dusting his palms off, he looks up at Ebisu. "Part of it is just stopping heating it up, but part of it is taking the heat back in, too. That's why I can't do it with a whole volcano, especially 'cause I'm not the one heating it up."

"Oh, of course," Ebisu says, in the bland accepting tone of voice that says he honestly doesn't believe Sotero at all. He really is a horrible liar. A part of him, while probably a part that Heaven would disapprove of, says at least his previous incarnation- incarnations? no one has really ever said- had the sense to be better liars. At least, that would explain a lot, in his opinion.

But he can think about that later. For now, he goes back to typing. "Then, by taking in some of the heat, that would stop as much lava from flowing out, and have it flow out slower...?"

"Uh..." Sotero opens his mouth, clearly about to launch into a detailed explanation, before giving Ebisu a dubious sidelong glance.

What he says, after a quick reevaluation, is, "Yeah, it won't be as explosive and the lava will slow down. It's more complicated than that, though, so all I can really say is it won't be as bad."

Ebisu blink over at him.

"...You can say more, I like listening to complicated things. It will help with the contract, too."

Kimi lifts his fingers to pat his god on the shoulder, drawing his attention back to what's in front of him. "Well, I guess we can take care of that in a moment. Then, adjusting the contract for that..." A few more rapid fire clicks of the keyboard. "In exchange, I will allow you to stay in one of my minor shrines at any point you wish to so long as you contact me or one of my shinki to let us know that you are staying and when you leave. I have a lot of shinki, and there's a department which works at the shrines, so it shouldn't be hard..." A pause as something occurs to him. "Oh, do you want food and clothing to be included?"

"It's complicated so I don't want you to get out of letting me stay just because the volcano didn't react the way I thought it would," Sotero declares, still squinting at the computer screen. "As long as the eruption gets better that'll be enough, right?

"And I can just tell one of your shinki at the shrine when I stay there? Oh, um, it's okay not to have food and clothing. I can get that."

"I wouldn't do that," Ebisu says, declining to mention that he'd just add more onto Sotero's side of the contract in that case. It's fine, don't worry about it. Ignorance is bliss. "Still, you should tell me when you come over to stay."

It'll be a good way to get information and give him an opportunity to learn more about his probable guest. "Anyway, yeah. They'll be able to tell me. We're all very connected." He'll have to make sure all of his shinki are caught up on this whole agreement after they're done with this volcano, especially those working in the shrines... And without letting Heaven catch onto what's going on. Hm.

"Are you sure about that? If you're going to be running from your own temple or shrine to stay at one of mine, then I'd think it would be difficult for you, for whatever reason..." You know, like hiding from Heaven. "And you don't have a shinki, right?"

Sotero shakes his head. "I don't have a shinki, and I don't really have many shrines. 'Cause I'm new."

That's not the only reason, but it's an understandable reason, isn't it? Surely.

"The one I do have isn't too good to stay at, so, anyway, I just want the option. Not like I'm going to use it for sure. I can get my own food and clothes if I have to."

Although, if Ebisu's trying to keep his presence there a secret, it might be easier for Ebisu to provide food and clothing... Sotero eyes the other god, uncertain.

Ebisu eyes him right back, although the gasmask on his face kind of diminishes any effect it could have for better or worse. It would definitely be easier on him if he were the one in charge of providing food or clothing. After all, it's glaringly obvious that this god wants to avoid dealing with Heaven too much, or even helping out at all. But if he's too pushy, will that just drive him away, or put him in a worse position later on for a different deal...?

The sound of fingers fumbling against rubber snaps him out of it, and Ebisu blinks up at Kimi. His shinki is working on the mask around his face, and he makes a small noise of alarm. "Kimi, you have to be careful of the gas!"

"I know, I know-" With the gas mask free off of his face, it's a lot easier to talk- no muffled reverb or the like. "It'll just be for a moment, young master. I want to make a suggestion." With the mask off, he leans in closer to the younger god and cups his hand around his mouth as he begins to whisper something.

Ebisu listens attentively, not showing much on his face for most of it... until the last bit, as Kimi pulls away, and Ebisu turns to look at him. "Are you sure...?" Concern leaks into the question, but Kimi simply makes a small motion with his hand for Ebisu to continue on. After a second, the god nods, and looks back to Sotero.

"Kimi is in my tourism department... So, he said that it wouldn't be out of character if he dropped by the shrines to help you out with anything. You're going to be our guest, so it's only proper if we provide for you while you stay. And..." Another pause as he looks up at Kimi again.

"So, in other words, he's gonna show up when I tell whoever's at your shrine that I want to stay there? And set things up for me?"

Slowly, and cautiously, Sotero nods.

"...Okay. How long can I stay?"

He could negotiate for that, he guesses, but he wants to know what Ebisu's willing to offer first.

"That's right." Ebisu nods. There's still more he wants to say, but he'll answer questions first. "I'm willing to let you stay up to three months at maximum, but we can always discuss extending that time at any point. However, this is with the assumption that you will be following the rules set down in my shrines while you are staying there, along with not bringing any danger onto my temple and shrine grounds." He raises a finger. "This doesn't mean that I would evict you on that basis. Rather, in that case, I'd like you to be upfront and honest about what's happening, whether that's a problem with an ayakashi or an argument with another god."

Or, you know. All of Heaven.

"Kimi also said that-" Another glance up at his shinki before he continues. "If you needed to nora him, to help keep you safe against ayakashi while you're staying in the vicinity of my temple, he wouldn't mind being made part of the agreement as well." Kimi waggles his fingers, making sure to smile now that the mask is temporarily off of his face, although it's an effect ruined when he has to cough into his fist. The gas up here really doesn't do an ordinary shinki favors.

"...That's fair," Sotero concedes, and gives Kimi a startled look. "You'd really let me name you? Hey, you should put your mask back on."

Not that he's more concerned about the welfare of a shinki who might be willing to be his shinki too, but, well. He is.

"I'm okay with that," he says to Ebisu, and nods, firmly.

"Yeah, you have to put it on right away, Kimi!" And so, pressured by two small children, Kimi obeys, stuck between laughing and coughing sporadically. Ebisu watches him carefully, making sure he puts it on correctly, before he finally eases up.

At least not being lovingly harassed gives Kimi a chance to finally speak up, although that might be the mask at work. "Yes, I'd let you name me. It would be easier for me to come help you get things if I were named, right? I'm already a nora, after all." It would also help him keep an eye on the kid, as well... A nora is a lot easier to ignore or miss in comparison to his God of Fortune master. Hopefully Heaven will continue to remain stubborn on that front, anyway. "I'll only help against ayakashi. I don't like hurting other people."

Or, rather, he doesn't care himself if it actually comes to the rest of Heaven, but just thinking of betraying Ebisu's trust would kill him inside. Literally.

Said god reaches up to squeeze his hand for a moment, concerned, before he gets back to finishing the rest of the contract. "I'll finish up with the rules of staying at my shrines." It will be basic stuff, nothing that Sotero should have any issues against.

...Unless being a god of fire means he's opposed to regular baths and basic hygiene.

"If you're okay with it," Sotero says, slowly, glancing back and forth between Kimi and Ebisu again to be sure, "then, okay. I don't have any shinki. But that's only if I'm staying in Ebisu's temple, right?"

He chews on his lower lip, watching as Ebisu types up the rules of staying at his shrine. From his silence, he doesn't seem to have any problems with basic hygiene.

"I'm sure," Kimi promises, muffled through the gas mask, and Ebisu pauses for only a moment before nodding as well.

"If the two of you make a decision for anything more long term, then that's your business, but this would only be for the duration of time that you're interested in staying in my temple." Finishing off with the contract, he twists around to face Sotero. "But! You have to be very careful when it comes to taking care of Kimi!"

"Young Master...."

"He's the type of person who, if you're not paying attention, he'll not let you know that he's actually really worried about something because he smiles a lot. We still need him to work at my temple a lot since we're so understaffed, but if you take him out for an entire day, be careful how many energy drinks he has. If he drinks more than five in a day, then he ends up sleeping really badly later in the week. You also need to make sure he eats well. He can cook on his own, but, when he does that, he tends to just sneak food from what he's cooking instead of having a full meal. Eat together with him if you're going to be together for extended periods of time."

"Young master, I'm not a gerbil you have to leave detailed caretaking instructions for, I promise." He sounds more amused than anything, however.

Sotero is intent on Ebisu for the whole series of instructions, nodding earnestly at each sentence. As Kimi objects, he looks up at him and reaches out to pat his forearm reassuringly.

"But it's important to take care of you, isn't it?"

Especially if Kimi forgets to eat and drinks too many energy drinks. If he's going to have a shinki even for a short time, he has to take great care.

"Yeah, it's important, Kimi," Ebisu tells him earnestly, patting him as well. "It will be alright." It has to be alright. If he lost another one of his shinki... It'd be horrible, especially if he didn't try anything to help keep it from happening.

"Yes, yes..." Kimi surrenders, eyes shining with amusement. "Then, do you want to name me now, or wait until you come to one of the shrines?"

"Oh, I need to make sure this is on the contract too..." But it will only take a moment. It's all mostly written out, after all.

"I'll do it now," Sotero says, and takes a step back, lifting his hand as he looks up at Kimi. It hadn't been much of a touch on Kimi's forearm, but he may notice, over the next few hours, that he feels more emotional than usual, and self-control is more challenging.

"My name is Sotero. Grasping thy true name, I bind thee here; with borrowed name, I dub thee my servant. The name answers, the vessel to sound. The name, Kiyoshi. The vessel, Chuu. Come, Chuuki!"

As the spell is said, Ebisu squeezes Kimi's hand one more time before the kanji of his new name burns bright and his body dissolves into light. It goes straight into Sotero's hand, solidifying neatly into carefully tempered metal- and the feelings of a new bond, a shimmering nervousness that's now gotten stronger as the seconds have passed. Ebisu was absolutely right on that "hides his feelings with a smile" part.

Edited 2018-09-22 02:41 (UTC)

"You can't be serious?"

A hushed whisper, rough with exhaustion- Kimi's voice the source. Although... Not "Kimi" right now. Not "Kiyoshi" either. There is no one else to hear him, not out here in the woods where even trees are fallen against one another and upturned from their place in the earth. There is no one else to hear him save for one other person, standing before him. He looks the way "Kimi" sounds: haggard, bags heavy under his eyes, and clothes ruined with dirt and ash. Clothes that are far from modern, in fact. They're the traditional kind of clothes from history, for that of a common man.

And there's no doubt that, here in the woods with only themselves in dirty clothing, they're both common men.

The other man gestures frantically, tossing his hands toward the earth, gesturing his words as if they'll bear seed. "I'm not! Masao, you're too soft-"

A flare of aggravation flickers through him. "Were you saying that when I helped put out the fire in your home, Maon?"

Maon talks over him, not noticing or perhaps even ignoring what he's saying. "-but even you have to think that it's suspicious that the wells have become so unclean! The earth shook because we displeased the gods, that much is obvious, but for this, too? It has to be the work of those outsiders, conspiring against us."

Yet again, another burst of aggravation, stronger now. Hotter. "Or perhaps that, too, is the gods."

"We have been punished enough by them! They would not-"

"Susanoo-no-Mikoto threw a dead horse in his beloved and honorable sister's loom," he says, temper snapping, and he pushes himself up to his feet. "Just like you are trying to throw a rotting carcass into the strings of our village. We have enough disaster to deal with, alright?" Making his way past his friend roughly, Masao raises up a hand. "I came out here because you said you had something important and secret to tell me, but this is ridiculous. I am going back to help everyone clean up. Cool your head and then do the same."

He's almost at the point where the trees manage to still form a line around the disaster-born clearing when Maon speaks up again. "So that's how it is... I'll have to do it on my own, then."

Masao jolt to a stop, heat flushing ice cold throughout the whole of him. "Maon..." He twists around, face contorted into concern and betrayal both. "What are you thinking of doing, exactly?"

There's no eye contact, only a shadowed gazed and set jaw. "What's needed to be done for all of us."

"All of us but a single family." His own jaw is so tight that it hurts past all the exhaustion in his body. Masao twists on his heel, mind already set, but he only makes it a few feet before there's rushing footsteps behind him and a grip snapping around his arm. He jolts forward, feet nearly going out beneath himeslf. "Hey-!"

"Don't! Masao, don't you dare go tell them what I've told you-"

"Maon, let go of me!"

"-those people were never any friends of ours, and I can't-"

"Maon!"

But it's no use. Temper too heated, paranoia too stoked, and that grip too strong- Masao can't get free no matter how much he bargains or struggles. The woods echo with their scuffle. Desperate, Masao tries to twist and their feet tangle together clumsily. The fall, inevitable... and so, too, the result.

Earthquakes bring up so much that's been buried up to the surface. The only blessing was that when his head cracks against upturned rock, the pain is sharp for only for a moment... before the darkness washes over like a tide, dragging him under. Distantly, he can feel his body being moved, can hear Maon's voice going from bonfire paranoia to horrified shock, but it's all so distant. He's sinking, sinking, sinking...

The light fades, revealing a nicely polished frying pan now in Sotero's hand, and Ebisu inches closer. "Ah.... So it's like that?"

There's the feeling, almost like a sound but not quite, of someone taking a deep breath through the connection Sotero now has. I guess third time means it's definitely not a coincidence, ha ha.

Being betrayed by his own family-- Sotero looks stricken as he stares down at the frying pan in his hand, that new thread of nervous tension in his mind hardly registering. His eyes well up, and he sniffles, scrubbing his nose with the arm of his hoodie. It leaves a wide ash streak across his face.

After a moment, swallowing, he gets enough composure back to look up at Ebisu and speak in a nearly normal tone.

"Third time? Hey--" He looks down at Kiyoshi. "--are you always a frying pan?"

He can't cook. He wonders if that's going to be a problem.

Oh. Oh, he knows what this is about. After all, he's just recently named a new shinki as well. Ebisu digs through his pockets, which is a little harder considering what he's wearing. Thus, he's rather belated when he offers the handkerchief out. Well, better late than never

"Well, he's the knife when he's with me," Ebisu says plainly. "But I don't know what he was when he was named by his first god."

Fortunately, Kiyoshi can answer that for himself. I was a rolling mat for her. You know, like for sushi? I don't think she particularly cared for me like that.

"He says he was a sushi rolling mat," Sotero reports, and reaches out to accept the belated handkerchief, blowing his nose loudly on it. He looks down at the frying pan again.

"Hey, Kiyoshi, can you cook?"

Because, obviously, if everything he turns into is a kitchen utensil, he must be a great chef himself-- right?

"Oh!" Ebisu sounds pleasantly surprised. "I bet one of my past incarnations must have known that." He had named him, after all, although Ebisu is only vaguely aware of the details of that time. Kimi is one of his younger shinki, although only relatively, and really only barely.

Meanwhile, even as he nods in answer to Sotero's own question, Kiyoshi answers himself. Ah, yeah. I cook for the- well, Ebisu-sama's temple as well. Well, me and some other people. One man alone cannot cook for a temple as big as Ebisu's. That's asking to die for a second time.

32 - Blow Your Top

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