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

[reloves]

[ Why were you assuming you might get into a fight on a holy day of love, Chikusa!! And would that even be an ayakashi fight? Do ayakashi bleed? There are so many questions that ought to be asked about that, especially since Minako does not know about the slightly more murderous side of Chikusa, but that's not the main issue here. ]

But I like wearing these kinds of clothes though..

[ At least she doesn't sound like she's outright rejecting his advice. She mostly just seems kind of pouty about it. ]

Can you even imagine me wearing something that isn't bright?

[kokuyoyo]

[Listen. He never said anything about just fighting ayakashi. Chikusa is ready to throw down with monsters, his dad's ex (????) boyfriend, yakuza, random thugs, at least a couple other people he can think of in the Far Shore, literally anyone who bugs him...]

[Feral shitteen life says be prepared for a throw down at any time.]

[Checking himself over, he makes the faintest sort of nod.]

Pretty easily... Something, like, I guess... Black turtleneck and leggings, a skirt... And red boots? [Because she has a red hair bow.] And I guess a jacket for the weather.

Anyone can look like anything... It's not big a deal. If you like wearing those clothes more than following someone, then don't follow them.

[reloves]

[ Minako does imagine herself in those kinds of clothes for a moment, but she's such a 90s Kid™ that it's really hard to do so. Let her live with her bright obnoxious color combinations, that's what she loves.. ]

That's so cruel.. [ Yes, just because he's suggesting she wears something that doesn't make her stand out like a neon lamp in the dark. Clearly that's cruel. But Minako is acting so pouty about it that it's pretty obvious she's just moping and not being 100% serious about it. ]

There has to be a way for me to watch them while still looking cute..

[kokuyoyo]

...What?

[Other people truly are mysterious. Chikusa isn't entirely sure what is so cruel about wearing clothes different than what you're used to, after all. Sure, he would murder anyone who touched one of his hats, but that's something entirely different. He can wear any sort of hat, as long as it's a hat, and stays on his head. (Just one of many reasons of why beanies are superior.)]

[But to get upset just over dark clothing...]

...Wouldn't... you still look cute in other clothes? I don't understand at all...

[reloves]

[ She was about to give him the most teary-eyed melodramatic answer, a whole spiel about how she needs these colorful clothes to look beautiful and bright and energetic, but there's something about what he's saying that totally distracts her.

It's the faint smell of a compliment. Even though it's mostly just him repeating her, but whatever, she'll take what she can get! ]

Chikusa.. Are you saying I look cute?

[ She looks more starry-eyed than wibbly now. ]

[kokuyoyo]

...Yes?

[Sure? He doesn't understand what's happening here. Minako sure seems to match the kind of 'cute' which he sees being complimented in the streets, or on fashion magazines, that kind of thing. So it matches, doesn't it? And it feels like it would match even if she just wore darker colors.]

[Chikusa shifts back a little, wondering if he'll need to escape.]

[reloves]

[ He might just have to. ]

Chikusa..!

[ Since Minako's face just lights up with sheer joy at the answer. And then there's the telltale sign - her suddenly getting even closer, opening up her arms as she just keeps moving closer and closer.. Yes, there's an incoming hug. Are you going to dodge it and let her fall, Chikusa? This is a trust fall hug!! ]

[kokuyoyo]

[He surrenders.]

[He just got here from the restaurant. Running would be too much of a bother, especially since the two of them still have at least a little while to work with each other. And she's the person who has been trying to work on helping Hakkai get better taste, too...]

[But, mostly, Chikusa just doesn't want to run.]

[Although Minako probably deserves some kind of apology. Chikusa isn't very good at hugs, even for people he's inclined to. Limply, he lets her hug him, and wonders what the hell he should even do here.]

[reloves]

[ Thanks for giving in to your fate, Chikusa. It seems to have made Minako very content at the very least. Even though he's a total limp noodle in her arms, it's like she either doesn't notice that or just doesn't care, since she giggles happily while hugging him.

Even when she lets go of him and pulls away again, she's still smiling. ]

Thank you so much! I knew I could count on you to give me a compliment on this beautiful day!

[ Valentine's Day is supposed to be a day of love, sure, not friendship, but Minako will take compliments from any source. Friends matter more when she's literally incapable of having a relationship anyway. ]

[kokuyoyo]

...Yeah.

[Sorry, Minako. No matter how many times his tiny good god has hugged him or what he's been thanked for, manners and hugs are things that are currently beyond him. Reaching up, he adjusts his glasses. Maybe he should just... move past this... for lack of any better idea of what to do.]

So are you still interested in how it's done...?

[Maybe he should just avoid mentioning anything about clothes...]

[reloves]

Yes!

[ Still completely unbothered. Minako must just be used to encountering emotional brick walls even when she's practically overflowing with emotion and affection herself, since she doesn't seem to think anything is weird about Chikusa's reaction at all. ]

I'll even try to buy some more subtle clothes someday. But only since you said it! [ Apparently a one-sided hug was all she needed to change her mind that quickly, huh.. ]

[kokuyoyo]

[That's all it really needed, huh... Chikusa only grows more and more befused. Is it really because he said she's cute? Does this work on all girls, or just Minako? ...Would this work on Nanako? He has a lot of questions, and he's not entirely sure he's ever going to get the answers.]

Let me know if you go, since I need more things too... [Maybe he'd find more beanies... Oh, right, stalking lessons.] Anyway...

[Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out his phone and flicks through it.]

One of the things to keep in mind about trailing people... is that you don't want them to think you're doing it, no matter when they look over at you. If you're staring at them with binoculars in a crowded room... It's kind of obvious.

[Finding what he's looking for, Chikusa looks up at her.]

So, watch what I do, alright...? I'll pick- [Leeeeeet's see... Chikusa glances through the crowd and picks out another obvious couple, one that has nothing to do with their whole event. They won't be able to see him anyway, since he's from the Far Shore, but he's just demonstrating the techniques more than anything right now anyway. It's fine.]

Them. So that you know where to look...

[reloves]

[ It's probably better to never generalize stuff you learn through Minako, Chikusa.. She's rather unique.

It's a good thing that he quickly continues the lesson though, or he would have had another moment of Minako going all starry eyed on him and wanting to hug him for offering to go shopping together with her. But she's being good now, paying attention to what he's saying and everything! (She's still kind of excited in the back of her mind over him offering to go together though.)

So she nods when he points out the couple. ]

Alright, I'm watching! I'm paying real close attention!

[ And she doesn't have the binoculars out this time either, even if in this case it'd just be to pay attention to what he does. ]

[kokuyoyo]

[Thank god he kept his eye on the prize and forged ahead with lessons. There is only so much physical contact he can handle in a day, and Minako is liable to use up all of it within the space of an hour. Maybe even sooner. Chikusa would be a liar if he said there wasn't at least a little bit of relief in being able to step away for a moment.]

[And, as soon as he does that, well... Even without the innate ability that denizens of the Far Shore have, to become completely unnoticeable to those still living, Chikusa just seems to... fade into the crowd. It's just something in the way he holds himself, slouched down, shuffling just slow enough to not be a huge nuisance, eyes apparently on his phone and no one else. Sure, he's tall, but he's by far not standing up to his full height. Helps be a little less noticeable. It's not exactly something that will be useful to Nanako, but, listen.]

[This is just his regular posture.]

[Please do not inquire into the state of Chikusa Kakimoto's spine.]

[Instead of staying so far at a distance that he needs binoculars, Chikusa actually just... seems to straight up approach the couple. Well, not them, directly- merely the immediate area they're in. He's practically right besides them, but he doesn't even bother to look at them. Instead, he lazily alternates his attention between the phone he has in his hand and the large display before him. When they leave, still cheerfully chatting with their heads bowed, Chikusa lingers behind as if he hasn't even noticed their presence It's only a couple of seconds later that he seems to notice something on his phone and turns away, "coincidentally" trailing after them as he puts the phone to his ear.]

[Cell phones really do make trailing after people easier, he has to admit... Whether it's pretending to use the internet or making fake calls. Props always help.]

[He keeps up the act for a little while longer, staying in their general vicinity even when he's not right next to them, not seeming to pay them any mind, but eventually he finishes up. Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he wanders back over in Minako's direction. As soon as he's in earshot, he speaks up.]

Sakimoto Eisaku and Katagiri Ano. He has family on the coast and will take her visiting in the summer, to give her a break from class president duties. They'll go see a penguin show, although they're not decided if after or before lunch. Her school is an all-girls one. Apparently she likes puns a lot...

[All of this to show that, even if he didn't look interested- and he honestly wasn't but that's not the point- he was still managing to pay attention to what they were going on about. With that shown, he raises up one finger.]

Name one thing that helped me not get noticed.

[...Besides being dead. Don't worry about it.]

[reloves]

[ It's hard even for Minako to follow him with her gaze, really. It helps that he pointed out to her which couple he was going to spy on - that way she can scan the crowd near them to find him playing with his phone.

It does take a little bit before he returns, but just when she starts feeling impatient and hops from foot to foot due to a general dislike of inaction in these situations, he's suddenly back and speaking up.

And the information he's giving immediately makes Minako's eyes light up. ]

It's so cute that they're going on vacation together..! It must be so much fun together at the sea with your lover.. And a penguin show, that's just--

[ ...

Wait.. He just asked her something. Right? She has to rewind her brain for a moment to figure out what it was.. ]

Oh..! Um.. You didn't talk to them?

[kokuyoyo]

[...Well, at least she was paying attention, up until he opened his mouth. Chikusa will take that as some sort of victory, he guesses. Coming back to where he dumped his stuff, he leans against the wall.]

Mm. I didn't look like I was paying them any attention at all, even when I went up right besides them. In a crowded place like this... You can do that at couple of times. You just have to not make it obvious. I mean... Unless they do something that gets other people's attention, I guess, like yell or something.