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

[revolutionfalcon]

But something about it is still bothering you anyway. [Shun can read that much out of her reaction so far, and he's been repeatedly learning his lesson about letting things fester recently.]

Now might not be the time for it, but letting things lie like that hasn't been going well for me. So whenever you want to discuss it, I'll listen.

[It's straightforward, as usual, but genuine enough. He's ruined enough friendships of late. But as he said, now isn't the time, and he glances back out of the alleyway.]

Have you seen if there's much of anything else lurking around these streets? I came here chasing that thing we just got rid of.

[unlucky7]

[No, now really isn't the time. Ginia nods, happy to let the topic drop, but also a little happy he's willing to discuss things later. Maybe by then she'll have pinpointed the problem or sorted out enough of her feelings.

Right now, ayakashi. Ginia whips out her phone from her purse and pulls up a map. A solo shinki can only do so much damage control, so she's been marking particularly troublesome locations as she moves. She moves closer, showing him one of the points on her phone.]

There was a gift shop nearby with people with fairly agitated behavior. I chased off a few ayakashi with borderlines, but I imagine they're back by now or others have settled in.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun leans in to look at the map, scanning over what other points he might be able to see on the map before focusing on the one she's directed his attention to. A relatively confined location like that could definitely spell bad news if enough ayakashi get loose in there, and he gives a short nod.]

Might as well deal with that if it's nearby, then. An enclosed space is a hell of a lot more dangerous for that kind of discord than an open one.

[People don't have the space to simply avoid each other there, and others don't have the ability to just put their heads down and walk on by. It might not be so bad yet, but there's no reason to let it get any worse.]

[unlucky7]

I can set up a borderline at the door so any people coming or going will shed any clinging ayakashi. I'm worried about keeping the ayakashi contained inside, but it'll be easier to manage and we can always take the fight outside depending on how big or many there are.

[She slides her phone back into her purse and pauses to rub the top edge of her boots.]

These are the worst to fight in. Well, shall we?

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun nods slightly at that - it's a decent idea, and probably easier to deal with in terms of making sure the ayakashi don't cause trouble for anyone else.

At the remark, Shun glances down slightly before shrugging and starting to head in the direction the map reference indicated.] I usually try to keep outing clothes practical with the expectation this sort of thing is going to happen, but that's easier if you know what the other person is interested in.

[It's a little bit surreal to have Shun give advice on dating clothes, especially considering it's as straightforward and disaffected as everything else he says is.]

[unlucky7]

[It's very surreal. For a moment, there's a brief smile and a small huff.]

For the record, I didn't sign up for this, my coworkers did. I was going to change shoes, but ayakashi don't wait.

[It's good practice anyway. Who knows when something like the God's Meeting will break out again. And speaking of ayakashi, best to move to the new spot. Ginia walks out the alley, checking the area for any nearby ayakashi before setting off on a brisk run across lampposts and traffic signs.

The designated store is a cute little gift shop, currently full of people coming and going with bags of last minute goods. A bit of a line has formed up and through the windows, it's clear it's packed inside.

In the window, a teddy bear fixes its gaze on them, too many eyeballs across its body.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[That makes Shun's brow raise in the sense of someone who's about ready to kick someone's ass on her behalf.] You mean someone else signed you up for the dates? Who the hell does something like that without asking?

[There's some sense of him almost being offended on her behalf, which is stunningly ironic considering the timing, crossed with confusion as to why anyone would even do that in the first place. But Shun is already opposed to this sort of thing on the principle that he doesn't feel like a relationship of any meaning comes out of a setup, so doing something like that just feels stupid and petty to him.

Nonetheless, he doesn't hesitate to follow towards the shop, eying it as they get closer. It's definitely busy, which isn't going to help...and his grip tightens on his weapon as he spots that bear in the window.]

Don't suppose there's a good way we can clear the people out.

[unlucky7]

[His indignation would be more touching if the timing was better. Instead, Ginia is more inclined to drop the topic. It was a surprise, a disruption to her schedule, but she understands why her fellow shinki did it. It was fun, and while she didn't go in looking for a love match or anything of the sort, meeting a new person and getting to know someone better is nice. It was what she needed ultimately to move on.

She perches on a post, frowning at the crowd of people. It's only going to get worse.]

Not without being disruptive to the business, unfortunately. Setting off the fire alarm will be the quickest way to force an evacuation.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun doesn't care enough for the topic to pursue it, so he leaves it be in favour of the important thing right now, which is dealing with the situation at the shop. As for Ginia's suggestion, he shrugs slightly.]

Fire alarm might disrupt it for an hour at most while they explain what happened, so it's probably the best option. I'll take it over trying to fight them around the people in here, and if people have reason to leave through your borderline, then it means we don't have to try and fight anything that's clinging to someone.

[unlucky7]

That ayakashi in the window will probably attack as soon as we're in there. I'll keep it at bay while you pull the alarm.

[She glances at the bear, not at all fooled by its appearance. The last time a teddy bear-like ayakashi attacked her, it opened its mouth four times its size and tried to swallow her whole. No thanks. She takes out her flask and loosens the cap before leaping to the door of the gift shop. Time to get this mess started.]

[revolutionfalcon]

Alright. [Shun's got one hand on Kotori's vessel form already, so if any try to jump him while he's on the way through, he should at least be able to deal with smaller ones. It'd help get them other with this a bit quicker.

As it is, he scans over the interior of the shop quickly to get an idea of where the easiest route through would be, then nods slightly to Ginia as he crosses the threshold, starting to dodge between people. The bear ayakashi's head turns completely around to look at him, but he's relying on Ginia to deal with that for now.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia follows and traces a borderline across the door, tracing and signing to give it as much stability as possible, willing it to let humans through and keep all ayakashi out. It does mean she can't defend herself, but she places herself directly in the line of sight of the bear, sending two attacks slashing across its face. It screeches in pain, lurching forward. Ginia keeps up her attacks, aiming at its joints and face to slow it down.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun moves through the crowd as efficiently as he can to the back of the store - he's not quite sure where the alarm would be precisely, but it's not a large shop, and it has to be somewhere that would pick up on a fire but not be too accessible to customers.

He spots it behind the registers - it's a roof-mounted one, which means he'll probably need smoke to activate it. With a slight hiss of annoyance, he grabs a bunch of flowers wrapped in crepe paper on the way past, then pulls out his lighter and sets the end on fire as he gets out of the crowd. The cashier is apparently getting something from the back right now, leaving him free to hold the quickly catching and smoking flowers up under the alarm.

After a few moments, the smoke picks up and the alarm goes off, and Shun immediately ducks somewhere out of the way as attention starts to turn to it and, just as quickly, people start to run.]

[unlucky7]

[A borderline could hold the ayakashi at bay, but Ginia doesn't want to risk lifting the one on the door. She keeps up a flurry of slashes, cutting its limbs and separating them enough it can only flop over and flail as its flesh tries to knit back together.

The alarm goes off. Ginia sighs in relief as the confused clerks direct people out the door. A few small coin purse ayakashi bounce off the barrier, scrambling about in confusion. As the last person exits, Ginia splashes her flask of water in a wide arc, stunning the smaller ayakashi and splashing a fair amount in the teddy bear's face.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[As soon as people start fleeing, Shun snuffs the small fire and brings his hammer to the ready, eying the coin purse ayakashi dropping here and there. When Ginia stuns them, he takes the opportunity to attack while they're still stunned, sweeping through quite a few of the little purses in one swipe.

He's got one eye on the bear, though, since that one seems to be a bit more stubborn.] We should check the store once we've dealt with these ones. Make sure we get rid of any that are hiding.

[unlucky7]

[Once the last person is out of the room and the smaller ayakashi taken care of, Ginia moves her borderline to put up a shield in front of the bear as it charges. It slams the barrier with surprising force, held back, but hitting with more intensity than a creature its size should.]

Agreed. I'll keep the bear focused on me, you hit it from behind.

[As the bear moves to go to the side of the borderline, Ginia drops and resets the barrier, slashing at its flank to draw its attention back onto her.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun nods slightly at that, and ducks to one side as the bear starts going for Ginia. With its attention elsewhere, he has no trouble sweeping his hammer into its back and bursting it into white light...though as soon as that brighter burst of it emerges, the display of flowers Shun had pulled the bouquet he set alight from starts to flicker and ripple with movement.]

...Seems like some of them aren't content to just be found, then.

[unlucky7]

[One problem down, countless others to discover. Ginia hisses in annoyance and turns toward the flower display. Her fingers drop into the halberd position and she focuses on slicing only the ayakashi and not the flowers, cutting on the exhale.

There's a flutter of movement as an oily substance shapes together and takes neon form. A gecko-like ayakashi skitters away with lightning speed from the display and toward a shelf, a cut along its back already beginning to knit together.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[As Shun sees the gecko move, his eyes narrow slightly, observing the movement and pulling his bottle of blessed water from his belt. He throws a line of the water between the gecko and the shelf it's trying to reach, causing it to reel back and hiss as it skitters just as quickly back towards Ginia.]

We're going to need to pin this one in.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia throws down a borderline to cover the shelves and splashes an arc of blessed water in front of her feet. The ayakashi recoils from the puddle of water, eyes twitching in agitation. Taking advantage of its confusion, Ginia slashes two borderlines on its hind legs. The borderlines cut deep and it runs left, slower from its injury, though its flesh knits back fast.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun takes advantage of it having been slowed, throwing another line of blessed water where it tries to veer left. With the injury, it can't veer back quickly enough to avoid it, and ends up drenched and momentarily stunned. It's long enough of a pause for Shun to swing his hammer down, getting rid of it.

Things go quiet again, but it definitely doesn't feel quite like the place is clear to Shun.] Now we might actually get the chance to check things over.

[unlucky7]

Agreed. I wouldn't be surprised if there's something hiding in the employee-only areas.

[Ginia's gaze falls over to the hammer. Hey there, Kotori.]

Can you call Kotori out for a few minutes? Having a second borderline to secure the back could help.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun frowns slightly, as if weighing the advantages and disadvantages of that, but figures he can call her back in again if they run into something in the back.] Return, Kotori.

[The hammer glows white for a moment and reforms, turning back into the shape of a woman with hair in a messy curl on one side of her head and wearing a somewhat rumpled kimono. Kotori offers a brief wave of greeting as Shun starts to head towards the back, scanning over the store as he goes.]

Keep an eye out behind as well, in case there's anything else that's concealed itself like that lizard.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia returns the wave before surveying the store front. Ayakashi can gather anywhere, but they're drawn to spots with where negativity can concentrate. Ginia pours a bit of blessed water onto her hand and sprinkles it around the checkout counter, waiting to see if anything stirs. Nothing, thought that doesn't mean something isn't around.]

Never ends, doesn't it.

[Ginia changes to text-to-speech on her phone as she brings up the rear.]

We rend, we chase off ayakashi, they eventually return or gather elsewhere.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Kotori splits off once they get near the back area to go and cast a borderline back there, while Shun glances back as Ginia sprinkles water over the counter just in case anything comes up. When it doesn't, he keeps heading on through.]

They're created from negative emotions, aren't they? Negativity isn't going to disappear, so if it's some kind of innate part of this world that it turns into ayakashi, then they're never going to vanish.

[Though he hasn't really spoken to the other pantheons about whether that sort of thing comes up where they're from.] We just have to keep getting rid of them as they come.