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

Garry - ota

[artificialrose]

[While he has his day planned out for a variety of dates- hey, it's a fun way to meet people- Garry isn't so busy that he can't spare a little bit of time for desperate prayers to his god of fortune and disaster, or to battle ayakashi away from what should be a happy holiday.]

A - Mournful Doves

[Taking in a deep breath, perched on the branch over an already bickering couple, a warped bird with far too many eyes along its wings takes in a deep breath, lets out the beginnings of a long deep coo- ]

[And then is thwacked out of the tree by a long plain wooden staff with an unbecoming squawk.]

[That would be Garry, brows furrowed, and he hastily shoots a line after the bird. Already the pair seem to be calming down a little bit without that sound harassing them, but while it's still alive...]

Come here, you little...

[Please help this poor person running after a bird, one hand with a stick, the other trying to shoot it out of the sky with a line.]

B - Concert Love

[Along with someone else- perhaps who'd gotten a similar prayer, perhaps who just heard and decided to help out- Garry is scouting out the concert venue with a faint frown. The prayer is a little tricky:

"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!"]

[Well, he really does want to help, but...]

Do you think they'll even still hold a concert in the rain...?

C - Wildcard

[I'm good for any other prayers or ayakashi you want to go with!]

Dates

[artificialrose]

Brunch - Sha Gojyo

[Garry... is so glad that he thought to dress up a little bit.]

[It's all clothing picked out in mind of the aquarium date he has after this, which he figures will match well enough for a waterfront amusement park as well. A simple button up shirt open a little bit to reveal the black camisole underneath, a matching long black skirt with some transparent fabric layered over it, a blue-green resin ring on one hand, and a simple teardrop pendant to match it. He's kept makeup low for this, although there's still features of it.]

[Sure, it's not completely fancy, but it shows he's made an effort, and that counts for something, right?]

[With his invitation in hand, Garry glances around the tables for anyone else sitting on their own and, hopefully, their invitation in sight. It would make it easier if he could spot someone right away... but he can also get a seat himself to wait at if need be.]

Aquarium - Shen Wei

[This feels much more his speed, and Garry is a little bit excited as he waits right in the lobby of the aquarium. Hopefully his matching date comes inside out of the cold, or they might miss each other. How awkward would that be...]

[While he waits, however, he holds his invitation behind his back with both hands, idly flicking it back and forth while he inspects the way one of the walls has been designed. Places like museums and aquariums really can be amazing with how they're designed...]

Amusement Park - Son Goku

[The restaurant was warm. The aquarium was pretty decent. But outside an amusement park? As it becomes darker and colder, even as they're slowly warming up to March? Nope, Garry has busted out his usual long jacket for this one even as he stands on the tips of his shoes (boots, really) to try and look for his last partner of the day. In the hand held over his eyes, he's made sure to display his invitation with the proper symbol. It should help, hopefully.]

There really are a lot of people here today.... I hope they don't get lost.

it's a date?

[cloakedinruins]

[ Shen Wei's last attempt at a date - before Zhao Yunlan had reappeared after centuries - had ended with the other grad student telling him that he was going to die a lonely nerd. Granted he had been in the middle of writing his thesis and his hyper-focus habit was in full swing, but that observation had hurt. So he avoided dating and buried himself in his work and when he looked up one day to see Zhao Yunlan hanging out of a window, he had thought that he was never going to date again.

(Which was true since he and Zhao Yunlan were many things together, but dating never really happened; they just went from a handshake to marriage.)

So when the owl appeared with invitations for these blind dates, Shen Wei decided to ignore them. The owl did not like that and after being harassed and annoyed by the bird, he gave in. It wasn't worth the energy.

Because he wasn't use to anything like a date, he dressed in one of his better suits and pulled the shaggy mess of his hair back (with everything that had happened, he hasn't gotten around to getting it trimmed). Spotting the invitation that matched the one on his, he came up behind him and cleared his throat. ]

Are you here for the blind date?

against shen wei's will lmao but yup

[artificialrose]

Hm?

[Actually being spoken to is often a sign that someone is from the Far Shore; Garry has certainly cottoned onto that much in the time that he's been a shinki. Straightening up he turns around and automatically gives a soft smile.]

Oh, yes, I am. [Just to be more clear, he holds up his invitation with the symbol on it. It doesn't take long to find its matching partner.] Then, it looks like the two of us are matched for here? I'm Garry, and it's a pleasure to meet you.

[He seems pretty nice, after all... A little quiet, definitely attractive. An aquarium seems like the perfect fit for him.]

it's not the first time tbh XD

[cloakedinruins]

[ Shen Wei held his up just to confirm that yes, he was the date for this location. Then tucking the invitation into his jacket, he held out his hand. ]

I'm Shen Wei. I hope you don't mind that I am unuse to this dating idea.

what is it about you, shen wei

[artificialrose]

[Oh, thank goodness, they're using western greetings. Garry has been trying to accumulate to the culture of the Far Shore, but it's been a little tricky. While bowing seem to be the normal in some ways in Japan, it also seems to not be exactly kosher among shinki... So, with some relief, he uses his free hand to accept the handshake.]

Oh, it's fine. I'm not quite sure what to do myself. [It's not like he can remember if he's had any dates before he died, after all...] We can figure it out together, I'm sure. An aquarium isn't really a place where things get rushed.

[rockthemonkey]

[ It may be cold out and Goku may have ruined whatever efforts Hokuto made towards making him fashionable by shoving a hoodie on over his clothes, but he's still walking around happily with an ice cream cone in one hand. It's never too chilly for food! He's so pleased with his day that he's almost forgotten he's supposed to be meeting someone. ]

Oh, man, this is so cool!

[ So many people and rides and music and awesome stuff!! Yeah, Goku's not doing much to stop himself from looking like a kid. Luckily he has his invitation held loosely in his free hand, symbol visible to anyone walking past. ]

[artificialrose]

[It's a good thing, honestly, that Garry's one visible eye is decently sharp, especially when he's actively looking for someone. He still does a double-take, admittedly, brain almost not registering what he's just seen.]

Ah- excuse me!

[Turning on his heel, he hurries after the younger figure. Jeez, younger? Well, maybe appearances are deceiving.]

[rockthemonkey]

[ He's (probably) older than almost everyone else here, geez!! Goku freezes mid-step when he hears someone calling out. ]

Huh? [ Turns, looks at Garry. Smiles at him, with just a little confusion. ] Hey! What's up?

[artificialrose]

[Garry will wisely not say anything about age for the time being... mostly because he's holding up his card with some confusion of his own in his smile. This guy hadn't even seemed like he was looking for anyone, but...]

You signed up for that blind date thing, didn't you...? [He holds up his card.] Ah, we appear to match.

[erogappa]

[ Wearing a clean shirt is just like dressing up, right?

Gojyo's got a nice outfit picked out for his date with Hakkai later tonight, but given that he trusts Minako and Chikusa jointly about half as far as he could throw them, he's showing up to his blind dates in much more casual attire: his sturdy brown work pants (it was either that or his pair of ripped jeans), and a plain black button-down -- they're clothes he can eat in, fight in, and if they get trashed he's not going to sweat it.

Besides. Maybe his date won't even show up? He arrived early, thanks to misreading the time on his invitation, but really he wouldn't put it past Minako to have decided that he doesn't get to participate after all. In fact, he's just started wondering if he should leave when he spots the twin to his card's symbol in the hand of somebody he doesn't know.

How about that. Minako was true to her word.

Now what? ]

Over here. [ The next time his date looks his way, Gojyo waves at her, card held up so that she can see the matching symbol. He should probably be a gentleman and get up, greet her in person, but this isn't a real date. It wouldn't be right to give her the wrong impression right off. ] Hi.

[artificialrose]

Oh- [So Garry is the later one to arrive. Hastily waving a hand back, he quickens his steps a little bit.] I'm terribly sorry, did I keep you waiting for long?

[Making his way over, Garry casts a quick glance over his date. Well, he certainly seems a little rough... Scars on his face, the dye job could use some touching up, and he hasn't dressed his nicest... But it's rude to base things completely on appearances. Besides, some of that could just be a matter of cash. Garry can understand that. He's also made the effort of arriving first, so that's a good sign, isn't it?]

[And, hey. Maybe they can bond over hair dye. Stranger things happen around the Far Shore.]

[Once he's close enough, Garry gives a soft smile.]

I'm Garry, by the way.

[erogappa]

[ Gojyo shakes his head -- no, he hasn't been waiting long. ]

I'm Gojyo. [ Garry. Isn't Garry a boy's name? But that's not the kind of thing you can just ask somebody, and he's determined to be on his best behavior, so Gojyo just smiles back and gestures to the chair opposite him. ] I should probably warn you right off, I don't really date much.

A

[irishfriskey]

[oh my god.

Lancer sighs. He also only has a stick, and probably won't be able to do much more. He also has swords. But mostly a stick. A real big, fuck off stick.

He does move to run after him and try to catch up.]

Perhaps we might want to try a different method?

[This is only doing so much, after all.]

[artificialrose]

[Listen, for a guy with no actual super powers besides what being a shinki naturally gives him, he's doing his best over here, at least until Nagito or another god-shinki pair shows up. Sure, being a shinki means he could try to jump up at them... but Garry isn't particularly confident yet that he can do it while aiming to get these pesky dove ayakashi, either.]

[So he's pretty surprised when he's joined, however, glancing over at the other man besides him.]

Oh- that would be good. If there's two of us, we can guide it into a corner or something a little better, right?

[irishfriskey]

I think that'd be the best idea.

[He's a shinki himself, yes, but they can at least have a plan of what to do next. He looks up at the birds that they follow.]

Of course, with it being higher up... we have to get it down.

[But he's still chasing it with you, Garry!]

[artificialrose]

And that's part of the problem...

[Ugh. Still, as he runs, Garry tries to get a good look of their surroundings. Being a park, it's mostly trees and statues, things like that, but...]

Maybe... One of us can get on top of a traffic light, or sign, and the other one can chase them in that direction, and we work from there?

b

[creepface]

[ Rasu doesn't find it quite as tricky, for once in his life and afterlife. ]

If, if the electrical things are safe from the r-rain, yes, I think s-so. I've b-been to concerts when it's b-been raining, it's v-very special.

[ A bit cold, very wet, but very special, still.

They should clearly check out the stage area. ]

[artificialrose]

Then, that's good to hear!

[Both on the level of the prayer, and that the person besides him has a nice memory like that. Considering the kind of dates he's been going through, well, it's left him a little sentimental. Carefully gathering his skirt around so that it doesn't go flying all over the place, he begins to carefully leap down. Being a shinki sure is handy sometimes.]

We'll do a double check of everything they have gathered, then. That can be Step 1. It still might take her a little bit to be convinced of a rainy concert, however...

[creepface]

Is there a w-webpage for the concert? Does the tick-tickets say anything about rain or sh-shine? If it d-does it'll definitely n-not be any problems even if- if it rains.

[ Rasu's own dates have gone, well... it's been an experience, to say the least. Two out of three were definitely with people he's not attracted to, even after Goku told him he's not a child. ]

O-open air concerts always h-have a risk of bad weather, m-maybe she could get a rain c-coat to wear? Th-there should be some she finds c-cute or wh-whatever style sh-she likes.

[artificialrose]

Now that's something. These days, everything is on the internet. So let's see...

[Thank goodness for the phones Heaven has given them. He always seems to get internet service. As he flicks through, searching for it, he hums.]

That's an idea. But how would you feel if your Valentine's present was a rain coat?

B

[deniles]

If everything is safe and dry, probably.

[He doesn't really know, he's just taking a random guess. Also hi Garry.]

Then again, they might not for whatever reason. It's hard to say with these sorts of things.

[Maybe they can find a tarp or something.]

[artificialrose]

[hi niles]

Well, I think making the entire place dry is a little outside my ability, but we can at least check on the equipment...

[Just in case. Still, as he begins to make his way over there with casual abuse of shinki acrobatics, he glances over at the man.]

...I have to admit, I didn't think this was the kind of prayer you had any interest in.

[deniles]

Trust me, I don't. But it's too sappy and romantic for me anywhere else.

[Don't start, he's being nice to you for once, you take it and like it.]

So, I'm doing something productive.

[artificialrose]

[Sorry, sorry, he's taking it, he promises, but... He can't help staring over at Niles for a moment with wide blank eyes- ]

[Before he has to quickly turn his head away, one hand covering his mouth in an attempt to hide a smile.]

Oh, I see, then!