thenearshore | 34 - Love is in the Air

34 - Love is in the Air

Who: Everyone!
What: An enterprising pair of shinki is trying to spread love throughout the Far Shore with exciting blind dates.
When: February 14
Where: Hot romantic spots throughout Tokyo
Summary: Blind dates on Valentine's Day? Sounds like fun (or possibly a disaster, but everyone needs some good disaster stories.) That's not all that's going on, though. Ayakashi are looking to chow down on the negative emotions that a romantic holiday can generate, and those who aren't busy with their own dates might be sucked into helping out followers who need help to make the day go well.

The Dates

Blind Date Matchups

Date One: The Romantic Brunch.
Couples will find themselves with reservations (and pre-paid coupons for the prix fixe menu) at a swanky French restaurant with a wide balcony overlooking the lake in a central Tokyo park. They can dine on dainty pastries, sweet milk coffees, bowls of grapes and hothouse strawberries, and a selection of fancy chocolates and petit-fours-- plus, some of the trees in the park are blooming in holiday-appropriate red and white!

Date Two: The Aquarium.
Couples scheduled for this date have tickets to a rooftop aquarium in Ikebukuro: brightly colored fish, animals including penguins, seals and pelicans, a small petting zoo and plenty of shadowy, secluded nooks to cuddle in make for a fun lunchtime date. The tickets even include admission to the one o'clock penguin and seal show!

Date Three: The Amusement Park.
This date sends couples to spend the evening enjoying themselves at a seaside amusement park. Ride the roller coasters! Take selfies with the costumed attendants! Share an overpriced ice cream cone while you watch the fireworks after sunset, then wind up the night with a ride on the colorfully lit Ferris wheel with a romantic view of the Tokyo skyline.

Ayakashi Menace

dove

shadow

teddy bear

need

Praying for Love

Wild Card

In Summary:

Enjoy your dates
Fight some ayakashi
Make sure to answer prayers for a good Valentine's Day
Have fun~

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I was hoping I could get you out of its way too, sis, but if you're volunteering I'm not going to turn down a helping hand.

[That glow that had had her moving fast enough to dodge every attack he'd tried is stealing over her body again, and he casts her an understanding nod.]

I'll be right behind you. You keep its attention, I'll handle borderlines if it gets too close?

Ah! That sounds amazing!

[Looking up the tower and its beautiful lattice, and just grins. Oh, that sounds like a good time. If they get up, he might want to bring some other friends to this too.

But today? It's all for Ginia.]

Shall we go together then?

No trouble at all, little lady.

[He almost fumbles the pistol as it starts changing shape in his hand, but he gets a better grip fast, shifting to aim it more firmly at the ayakashi right in front of Hibiki. It's fumbling for its severed head.

Zhao lines up his shot and fires a stream of water (it's a lot more powerful, he notes, than the little pistol had been) straight at the bear's torso.]

Hmm, that sounds like a problem... [He rubs his chin slowly.] Well... I do have a bit of time, if you would like some help with anything.

[And he is standing right here, all handsome.]

[Gojyo goes so pale so fast it leaves his face looking almost greenish in the restaurant's homey yellow light. Hakkai looks up at him and thinks, wearily, that he must have been misunderstood again.

I won't ever bring it up again... he's gone and sounded delicate after all, hasn't he?]

It's really all right if you bring it up. I just don't want you to think that, if I say no for a little while, it's because of you.

[He really isn't ready: not when he doesn't feel secure yet, not when he knows -- he knows, he's done it -- that making himself so vulnerable when he doesn't feel secure leaves him ready to explode at the first misstep. He's never been very good at vulnerability, either. He's been feeling too fragile for it for quite a while, now, and he's opened himself up to out out of that same fragility. With Ayumu, with Gojyo; it had been a stupid mistake both times, born out of loneliness, grief, and a desperate desire to hold someone close.

He doesn't want it to be a mistake when they do it again.]

Okay! [Romeo has an idea!] I need to go and get something! [And off he rushes off in the direction of the kitchen and soon he is back, his magic bento box in hand.] We can use some of the things out of this!

Elfnein! [Romeo was so relieved to see her, whilst Zhao throws up the borderline he rushes to her side.] It's trying to ruin everyone's valentines day! We got to stop it!

[Between the three of them, they could definitely make sure this ayakashi hurt no one else!]

...That is an excellent idea.

[And without much warning, he kicks off from the ground and shoots into the air before landing directly onto a traffic light.]

Alright! Let us begin!

[Hey, he's eager, that's good.]

[Fucked doesn't even begin to describe this, but the borderline does seem to help a bit. They just need 500 more of those, and they might actually stall it for more than a minute. He stands beside him, one foot on the ground and the other ready to just kick off.]

Shinki!

[He spins his spear around and watches closely.]

I'll distract it if you can keep doing that to it.

No, it's not. It's just as hard for the shinki, I think, sometimes.

But if you're planning to bring one of them here for the sharks, it sounds as though your relationship with them isn't too bad?

[Not many people seem to make mistakes as drastic as Hakkai's have been. At least he hasn't said too much.]

[There's something he has to do to keep him close without causing himself to get all tangled up in the tendrils. He takes a moment to think on it as he prepares again to strike. His fingers spinning the spear before his leg officially kicks off and shoots towards him.

The blades are a problem, but he's started blocking them with his spear, knocking them away and attempting to get closer and closer.

He'll do his best to stop any wounds from appearing on his body. That, he can handle.]

[There's no denying they work well together. As much as her opinion of Shun has shifted in regards to personal matters, he's still as dependable professionally. It's unlikely that'll change. That is a relief, but also a pang of sadness she can't explain.

With the ayakashi rended, Ginia drops the borderline and the spell, popping back into visibility.]

Understandable given the day. Positive emotions can turn fast on a day as delicate as this. I wouldn't be surprised if there were high amounts of ayakashi tomorrow too.

"Oh." Suzaku is not really sure what to say to that. He still doesn't let the borderline drop though not until the owl, who has decided it's work here is done, flies away.

"Are you here waiting for someone?" He might of course just have come to enjoy the amusement park.

We just call them "monsters" in my world. It's not very specific, but it's what I'm used to.

[It also has slightly more plausible deniability than "Duel Monsters" - even if everyone from his world and those connected to his are gone, getting out of the habit of keeping that information vague just in case is going to take a while.

The bird's head rotates slightly in the meantime, as if it's considering Ain in some way.]

[It's not a bad idea, and Shun shifts his weight to circle his mount back towards the skies again.] Works for me. It'll cover more area than trying to hunt them down as a pair, anyway.

[There's the possibility of coming under their influence, but Shun considers that the kind of scenario that's only likely if there's so many of the ayakashi that they'd have trouble handling them just between the two of them anyway.]

I was figuring they'd just be attracted to the positive emotions in general anyway, but I think we already established that I don't understand delicate matters well.

[It's...not quite blunt, in consideration of how that last conversation went, more just a simple statement of fact that's not trying to be anything else. He's not here to make excuses, even if he has some trouble with those sorts of matters.

He is giving her a somewhat calculating eye at this point, though.] I expected you to be angrier with me.

[There's something almost cautious about that - the tone of someone who's had friends turn on him for conflicts in ideology before.]

Um..

[ It's a little less instant of a reaction than Minako would usually have, but the gears in her head are turning so much that it's hard to even find words between running, glancing at the ayakashi behind them and still trying to keep her mental map in mind. So for a few moments she runs without answering just yet. ]

I think we're about halfway now..?

[ She glances over her shoulder at the bear as it gets closer to them again, letting out a small groan. ]

Why did it have to be such a fast one?!

[ It’s just a glance, but Hakkai looks… annoyed? Is that what Gojyo’s seeing? That set expression, somewhere between tired and angry… it was just for a second, but Gojyo thinks he’s getting better at reading Hakkai’s tiny little tells. And he’s pretty sure that look was annoyance.

And he’s pretty sure it’s making him annoyed.

Why would Hakkai be annoyed? Because he apologized? Because he said he wouldn’t talk about it again, but then Hakkai’s okay with talking about it? (But he’s not, he’s never okay with talking, Gojyo thinks, irritably. It’s always pulling teeth to get the man to share what he’s feeling, and he’s so tired of having to fight his way to any answers.) ]

So what do you want? [ To have a nice dinner, maybe a goodnight kiss, yes, he was listening, but there has to be more than that. Even if that’s enough for Hakkai, he needs more than that. ] You don’t want to break up so there’s something here, you want to be-- [ god he hates the word, it sounds like a kid’s word ] --boyfriends, but you don’t want to screw, you don’t ever kiss me... you don’t ever touch me, I think I can count on one hand the number of times you’ve touched me in the last three months when you weren’t bandagin’ me up, you don’t talk to me like we’re datin’, I don’t think you’ve ever called me honey or, or babe. [ This is just getting ridiculous, but he can’t stop. ] And I’m not doin’ any of that because I’m followin’ your lead here! I don’t know when you’re bein’ shy and want me to come pull you out of your shell, and when you’re really not feelin’ it, I don’t…...

[ He raises his hand, halfway ready with another round of problems, but then let it fall wearily onto the tabletop. He’s not sure where most of that came from, but it felt true. Feels true, still. Hakkai doesn’t touch him, not a hand on his shoulder or a hug or anything, and it’s... he hates it. ]

I hate it.

[ Honesty, right? ]

[ Drinks? Yeah, okay, that's not a bad idea. Does this place do those coffee drinks with the chocolate and orange and vanilla so it's basically a milkshake but with a little buzz? Because he wants one of those. With some of those cookies that are super crispy and rolled up like a straw.

Or a cup of black coffee, if the rest is too much to ask for. ]

There's good moments, sure, but mostly every time there's a festival or a party or anything else that gets us all together, something explodes. Are you sayin' you haven't noticed it?

...I mean, I wouldn't care.

[Ken is more debatable, since Ken gets flustered around girls and has no idea how to interact with them, but Chikusa is pretty sure he could handle that. Ken is as easily distracted by things as he is easily worked up. It's handy, in certain situations.]

[For now, however, he reaches over to gently nudge at her binoculars.]

Watching from a distance with binoculars... is best suited for when you're tailing in large spaces, away from other people. Like in the wilderness... or rural towns, where things aren't so crowded together. It can work in cities... but usually working in tandem with another person, who can move in closer for details and relay them to you.

[Trust him, he knows. He's had to tail mafia scumbags for years, often working with Ken.]

Busting them out in a building like here... That's too conspicuous. In cases like this, you actually want to approach the target if you want to keep an eye on them...

[Did she ask for a lesson on stalking people? No? Chikusa is here to give a lesson anyway.]

[They do in fact have all of those things! The luxury of being in a high class restaurant. Garry is inclined to similar, honestly, because why not treat yourself to something like that. It'll help take the edge off of what is clearly becoming quite a downer conversation, along with the pastries and fresh fruits that have been left for them.]

I've noticed, of course, but I rather think you're putting too much doom into all the circumstances. After all, New Years came and passed without there being anything too horrific, didn't it?

[Hm. Garry nibbles on a strawberry thoughtfully. Or perhaps that doesn't count, since they were all so focused on their own individual shrines, like he was for Komaeda's...]

Oh, everyone visited that bathhouse. Nothing bad there, for all that I was certain something would. [He had to leave early for that exact reason. Listen... Creepy places are creepy, whether anything bad happens or not.] And there was that reception in autumn, before the Gods Meeting happened.

I mean, it's good to be prepared, and everything... but I think going to every event just waiting for it to happen isn't any way to spend our time, don't you think? Why, I would think that would just make us all outright miserable.

[Honey. Babe? Hakkai shapes the words in his mind, decides against either of them, and reaches out to put his hand deliberately over Gojyo's on the table.

It's the lightest touch imaginable; it's still uncomfortable, sending anxious sparks skittering up his nerves. At least, since he's reaching out himself, he expects it, and doesn't flinch.]

I can count on one hand the number of times I've touched anyone else in years without meaning to heal them or kill them.

[But nothing Gojyo's saying is unfair at all, is it? And that Hakkai is like that with everyone, that it's not personal, that what he's willing to offer Gojyo is more of him than he's willing to give anyone else... that doesn't make what he gives come any closer to what it is that Gojyo wants.]

What do you want from me? [He asks it honestly, a question and not an accusation. If he knows, then he'll know what it is he can give, how to negotiate their needs: if their needs can be negotiated in a way that won't leave them constantly hurting one another when they try to do this.

Then, with a tiny quirk of his mouth, he adds:] I'm afraid I don't think I can call you 'babe.'

Then it's settled!

[Unhooking her weight, she leaps off weightlessly from her perch. Honestly, one of the best things about being a shinki has to be how she can just jump and perch in impossible ways. Her particular skillset is completely suited for it.]

I'll call you if I find anything. I'll start heading north from here!

[And there she goes, swinging through the air like some sort of spider themed superhero. With what Shun is riding, she honestly expect him to find things first, just because he has the faster method of transport... but she's sure she'll find something as well, if she just looks long enough.]

I can keep this up all day. Problem is, I've tried it on a few of these things, and so can they. How well does that spear of yours work?

[He punctuates his question with another borderline, slashing through the bear and bringing it down just as it starts to lumber to its feet again. If they're both shinki, and they're going to have to do something to get this bear permanently distracted...]

Maybe we should be luring it away from all these people here. There's gotta be some shitty abandoned warehouse nearby we can leave it in.

[ Mordred's attention snaps to the wall that Minako indicates. ]

Got it!

[ As much fun as it is to hit these people they aren't the real enemy here. Now that she has a target Mordred begins wading through the crowd toward the wall. Unfortunately, it seems like the Ayakashi has taken notice and the mob under its thrall redouble their efforts against her.

She grits her teeth as she continues pushing through the swarm of people now doing everything they can to slow her down. Mordred knocks a couple of them aside but it quickly becomes apparent that the press of bodies is too much for her to break through without causing serious harm. In any other circumstance, she would happily bludgeon this crowd into submission but the fact that they aren't in control makes her hesitate to use her full strength. ]

Shit! I can't reach it with these bastards in the way! Antlers—!

[ There's an implied "It's up to you" in there. ]

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34 - Love is in the Air

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