34 - Love is in the Air

[godsoffortune]

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

Those who have signed up -- or whose friends and colleagues have signed them up -- for dates will get cards with specified times and meeting places inside for the big event. The cards don't list their dates' names, but instead have a matching symbol to allow everyone to find their proper partner. If anyone tries to stand up their date, they can expect a small and angry owl to harass them until they give in.


• 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

There's more than just romantic couples out to enjoy themselves today. Romantic holidays can be tough for those whose love lives aren't so rosy, and as always, those negative feelings draw in ayakashi who are ready to ruin everybody's day.

All across the city, besides the usual ayakashi, characters might encounter the following:

Flocks of dove ayakashi whose mournful call induces self-doubt, suspicion and paranoia in everyone who hears it. Are your friends really your friends? Is your lover betraying you? Shouldn't you hurry up and stab them in the back before they can do it to you? These ayakashi are small and agile, difficult to catch but easy to destroy once they're caught... if you can overcome the urge to turn on your allies first.

Long-fingered shadow ayakashi, large and powerful, and capable of sneaking around by blending into genuine shadows. These ayakashi draw those who are alone into their clutches, filling them with resentment and despair. Anyone battling them needs to watch out for the humans they might already have influenced, who may become unpredictable and violent as the ayakashi influencing them grows more desperate.

Cute teddy bear ayakashi, that influence anyone they cling to into greedy obsession: they need attention, affection and gifts, and they can never have enough. When attacked, the teddy bears turn out to fight a little more like a grizzly bear than a stuffed toy, so gods and shinki beware!

Praying for Love

Those who aren't busy with their own dates might find themselves busy taking care of other people's instead. On a day like this one, everyone's praying that things turn out perfectly! Prayers gods might hear include:

"He's just got to ask me out! I made him the biggest box of chocolates... please, let senpai notice me!"

"Does she really like me? Please, give me a sign."

"I got concert tickets for our date, but it's supposed to rain. Please let me find a way to make this work out anyway!"

"The restaurant I wanted to take him to isn't taking any more reservations for tonight. What can I do? I can't cook!"

Wild Card -- players are free to make up their own romance-adjacent prayers for their characters to fulfill.

In Summary:

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

Comments

[priforprince]

Your contribution could never be anything but welcome.

[ Hibiki has learned from last encounter (kind of). She holds up the prayer she's chosen so Ovelia can read it: "I got overexcited and made three dozen kinds of chocolate! How will I pick the tastiest to give to my special someone?!" ]

Do you care for sweets?

[ It's okay if you don't remember. That's something they can figure out. ]

[ofnovalue]

[ It seemed like a silly prayer, but a lot of them had been, she figured. Still, it seemed like something she could manage without Agrias around, which was important... ]

I do not truly know. I suppose we shall find out.

[priforprince]

[ As expected of a shinki. Well, learning something new ought to prove interesting. Hibiki holds out a hand to Ovelia, more welcoming than demanding now. The supplicant has included an address in case "box office god-sama" doesn't know where to bestow Their blessings, so teleportation is possible... ]

Take my hand.

[ofnovalue]

Ah... M-must I? [ Ah, there was that nervousness again, Ovelia tightly grasping her own hand, knuckles going briefly white. ]

[priforprince]

It's for transport.

[ Is it touch she's nervous about? Hibiki considers this. ]

Of course, if you prefer a more leisurely trip, that can be arranged.

[ofnovalue]

I... would prefer not to be a burden. [ Ovelia hemmed, rubbing her knuckles, before gingerly reaching to take the offered hand, her touch feather light. ]

Tis for ease of our travel, so I shall set aside my fears for the moment.

[priforprince]

Then, we'll be swift.

[ Hibiki ascertains there's enough touch for this to work, then snaps her fingers. It's not necessary for this, of course, but simply teleporting wouldn't suit her in the slightest.

And thus it is that she teleports them right where they need to land, right outside her worshipper's flat, in a swirl of purple sparkles and a faint (very faint) trumpet fanfare. She's here as a God, after all. She should use her God powers.

Heh. ]

[ofnovalue]

[ A little warning would have been appreciated. The fanfare inspires a deep flinch from Ovelia, whom immediately releases Hibiki's hand to duck her head, covering herself. ]

[priforprince]

[ .....Is it a fear of magnificence? Could such a thing be possible?!

If so, what a horrific fate.....

Hibiki tables her musings to lift a finger to the doorbell. ] Fear not. Henceforth, the only echo is this bell.

[ ...."hibiki" means "echo" in japanese

she never tires of that one

In any case, here we go. Ding-dong. ]

[ofnovalue]

I appreciate your consideration... I apologize for flinching. [ How embarrassing. She really was painting the image of an anxious wreck, wasn't she? Such a terrible impression... ]

[priforprince]

[ Whatever Hibiki might have said in reply to that is interrupted by a girl pulling open the door and frowning. Really? Ding-dong-ditched on Valentine's Day, of all days? When she still hasn't been able to pick the best chocolate....

Hibiki clears her throat and begins to sparkle. Notice them. NOTICE THEM! ]

Bonjour, mademoiselle.

[ofnovalue]

[ Ovelia's heart seemed to bolster, at least a little, once their source of the prayer answered the door, straightening out her dress and offering a small bow. ]

A faire greetings to you this day, milady. Milord and I have come at your behest to aide you in your task. Prithee, may we cross your threshold?

[priforprince]

[ Glare? At this hour of the day? The sun shouldn't be...

No, wait, there are people here, the supplicant realizes! And they're talking!

"Prith...." A confused expression crosses her face.

Hibiki takes that as invitation enough. ]

We'll have you yield to us the use of your kitchen.

This way. [ That was to Ovelia, as Hibiki enters the house. The door is open. That's all the cue she needs. ]

[ofnovalue]

!! [ Ovelia could only gasp as Hibiki just pushed ahead, leaving the shinki a bit stunned.

She gave another bow to the woman, apologizing. ]

P-please forgive us! [ And dashed behind Hibiki, still a bit aghast as to what had happened. ]

That was incredibly rude, you know!

[priforprince]

Our future actions will act as a salve on any abraded parts of her heart.

[ Hibiki isn't concerned. In fact, she smiles back at the owner of the apartment. ] You don't mind, do you?

[ There's that...sunlight...glare again. The girl blinks, stammers, unsure what's going on. This person is...rude but...handsome? There is a rude but handsome person in her house? Who wants to...help?

That's a thing now?

"I...guess...." ]

[ofnovalue]

[ She was really starting to wonder about Hibiki's princely manners. A forceful personality was one thing, but... ]

Regardless, we shall to the kitchen. We've fineries to examine.

[priforprince]

[ Shikyoin Hibiki lives life on her own terms, no one else's. This could be an admirable trait if she were not a dreadful snob about it.

Still, she can take a cue. That statement gets a nod and then she continues on her way, pausing in the doorway to take in the....heaps of chocolate....sitting everywhere....here.

The owner of the chocolate piles fidgets, having followed the two sudden helpers (putting a prayer in the movie theater box office sends FANTASY LADIES and RUDE HANDSOME PEOPLE TO YOUR HOUSE?! The more she thinks about this, the more amazing that is, but she's still nervous). She just....really doesn't know. She tried to keep each batch and flavor separate, but - which is best? ]

All will be well. My palate is exquisite.

[ Hibiki steps aside so Ovelia may enter the kitchen, as well. She appears deep in thought about the optimal way to approach this challenge. ]

[ofnovalue]

Milord's confidence is ever unshaken. [ Ovelia gave a small sigh, turning her attention to the worshiper. ]

Milady, we'll need a palate cleanser to truly be able to judge your works. Have you any lemon?

[priforprince]

[ "Oh! Ah! Y-yes...."

The worshipper bustles about, trying to prepare things for her guests. This is...because she prayed. She has caught onto that much. She was not expecting that to merit being a "Milady", but that is actually kind of fun... ]

We'll begin at opposite ends.

[ While Ovelia and the worshipper were getting things actually ready, Hibiki has hit upon The Ideal Chocolate Consumption Order. This is truly a team where everyone contributes useful information. ]

[ofnovalue]

[ Ovelia takes the offered lemon slices with a gracious bow, setting aside one for herself and one for Hibiki. The plan of attack didn't particularly matter for her, since that was the whole point of having palate cleansers... But hey, at this point, she was starting to get the impression she should just let Hibiki be Hibiki. ]

Shall we, then?

[priforprince]

Bon appetit.

[ And thus, with their worshipper in need hovering nervously in the wings, it's time to begin!

Hibiki is certainly taking her sweet (hah) time with this, though. ]

[ofnovalue]

[ Ovelia also paces herself rather slowly, making certain to take small bites, and chew thoughtfully, to try and discern various flavors and textures. ]

[priforprince]

[ On the other side of the kitchen, Hibiki starts. A teacup that she sure didn't seem to have brought with her, but is here now, falls off the counter and breaks. ]

T-this is....

[ Trembling fingers go to her lips. ]

[ofnovalue]

[ Both Ovelia and the worshiper just sort of... stared at Hibiki. Where was she going with this? ]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki marches hurriedly to the sink. She turns it on.

She glugs down water right out of the faucet, which is a grievous blow only an emergency could merit. Then, twisting the flow shut with a wrenching motion, she turns to the worshipper. ]

WITH WHAT DID YOU FILL THAT LAST CONFECTION?!

[ "Ah...." the girl says, looking sheepish. "That was the one where I thought it was green tea....but it was wasabi paste. There's another over there....somewhere."

And she gestures to the pile of chocolates closer to Ovelia. ]