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

[abgrund]

[ A familiar face means more ideas to contribute to the pool, and her input is very much welcome. Ain had considered that idea, but did not wish to act upon it yet. If this area were to suddenly darken, then it might cause alarm. ]

I can. It might attract some attention, however I do not think we have a more efficient solution.

[ Maybe Ginia's god is close by. ]

Can you end them with your partner if I do?

[unlucky7]

[Ginia huffs softly. Alex she knew was out on a date and didn't want to bother her on a nice day. Ebisu was at the temple, but he's not a god meant for fighting, even with Kunimi's help. She'd rather not put him at risk.

Which leaves another option.]

What if you name me?

[abgrund]

[ That's a no, then. Most people are out today on important personal things and Ginia would not want to disturb them. That he understands. ]

It's alright.

[ There's something about claiming another that he does not quite like. He already has two people under his charge; one a shelled husk of a sibling to him, the other was foisted on him. Those are two more than what he would prefer. ]

Come help me, Kyoki.

[ Ain opens his hand, and a lantern appears hooked between his fingers. The lantern appears to contain three fireflies; red, blue and yellow. ]

I will make a net to corral them. You can help me herd them inside.

[ Nothing seems to happen for a few moments before the shadow he casts elongates, stretching out across the floor to cover about a building's length before rising up to form a bubble. He'll be able to close it reasonably fast, but the ayakashi are able to fly, and a couple of them are flitting above the trees. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia does not take it personally when Ain declines the offer. There are many reasons and none of them her business. When he calls the name and a lantern appears, it's a reason enough. She nods at Ain, watching a moment more before she launches herself after the bird ayakashi opposite of him, hoping to catch them in a pincer attack as she slashes out with attacks.

Two flit toward Ain, a third heading toward Ginia's direction. She swats at it as it dives at her. The burn of blight stings on her arm as its claws rake through her sleeve. Ginia ignores the pain as she falls back down, quickly dropping a borderline to bounce off of to slash at the fleeing ayakashi.]

[abgrund]

[ With their combined effort, most of the ayakashi are redirected towards the ground and into the net. The bubble shrinks as soon as it forms a complete sphere, trapping the ayakashi in a smaller and smaller area. Ginia's use of her borderline speeds up the process, and she'll find that the net passes through her harmlessly, so that she can leave it without problems.

After a while, they're left looking at a dark sphere about two metres in diameter. The chirping of the ayakashi is audible from within as they throw themselves at its wall and try to peck through. Ain holds up the lantern in his hand, and a tricoloured beam pierces through the net from the fireflies and their light. Fragments of feathers and other things fall out from the net as part of the ayakashi swarm fades away.

He'll try to do this as many times as is needed. Hopefully this will be the end of those birds ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia throws borderline slashes at the ayakashi, aiming for their wings to slow them down, throwing up borderlines in their way to force them to turn toward Ain and his shadow net. With the last ayakashi is rounded up and rended, their haunting chips fading, Ginia comes back to Ain's side.]

Give me a moment.

[She signs quickly as she pulls a silver flask out of her purse, rolling up her sleeves and dumping blessed water on the patches of blight left from the claws. As the blight and burning pain fades, Ginia turns to Ain and holds up the flask toward him.]

Need water?

[abgrund]

[ Since the ayakashi came into contact with his shadow instead of with his body, it's not that much of a problem. There's some marks left on him, but they are concealed behind his illusion and he can deal with them later. ]

I'm alright. Thank you.

[ That was quite the workout, especially for Ginia who is a human. Maybe they can end off this with something more relaxing. ]

Are you busy? We should take a rest after this.

[unlucky7]

[The flask goes back into Ginia's purse. It'll need a refill later, but there are plenty of shrines around to get water from.]

I'm free.

[There's a bit that feels like maybe she should go back to the temple and put in a few hours of work... but isn't clearing ayakashi a service for the greater good? Also the pile of chocolate on her desk Zhao hinted at is maybe a bit intimidating to face today.]

Rest sounds good. Hungry?

[She's human, but she's barely broken a sweat from the nanites running through her. That said, her shoes aren't the best for fighting ayakashi in. Sigh. Such is the sacrifice for fashion.]

[abgrund]

[ He had worried a little due to Ginia not appearing winded despite fighting in heels. Maybe she's one of strong will and is trying to push herself, but he decides he will trust her judgement and go along with it. ]

I'll have some tea, [ Ain adds as his various shadow appendages retract into the silhouette he casts, returning his glamour to one that's not out of place at all. ] Do you have a place in mind?

[unlucky7]

[She is absolutely the kind of strong-willed person that pushes herself, too far at times, but she's resilient. Tea, tea sounds good. Ginia checks the map on her phone to see what's in the area.]

There's a cafe not too far from here. How's that sound?

[abgrund]

That works for me.

[ He technically doesn't need to eat, so he's always claimed to like tea in place of disguising his true nature. ]

Do you go there often?

[unlucky7]

[They begin walking, Ginia easily juggling watching where she's going and typing out a message. She's used to it.]

Never been, but it's close by and the reviews are good. Is there a place you'd like to go to?

[abgrund]

No. I would be glad to follow your choice.

[ He doesn't have a lot of preferences, and it's more interesting to see what others prefer and what could possibly cause it. ]

[unlucky7]

[To the cafe then! As they walk, Ginia observes the couples and groups out enjoying the day around them.]

Is there anything like Valentine's Day where you're from?

laughs I had to google 'is there valentines day in elrios'

[abgrund]

[ As always, he's aware of the people around them, but not as individuals. Rather, it is their life force that stands out to him the most, still burning bright like candle flames. ]

Not exactly. The humans have a festival of love, but it is not named the same way. The custom of confectionary is the same, however.

[ They were never really things that applied to him, so it wasn't something that he noticed very much. ]

[unlucky7]

Constants in the universe where people are involved, so it seems.

[Where there are people, there are emotions, where there are emotions, there is love. Ginia is quiet for a bit, watching the people around them, before she ventures another question through her phone.]

Have you ever been in love?

[abgrund]

[ Ain closes his eyes for a moment; a faintly catlike blink. ]

I'm afraid not. Such a sentiment is alien to me.

[ Angels did not need that sort of capacity. They weren't meant to have children, nor really exist permanently. Just do their job and then disappear. ]

I find it interesting to observe.

[unlucky7]

Is there anything you like a lot here? Or people you care about?

[There is romantic love, but there is also familial love, or the love for friends. Complicated and sometimes Ginia wonder if she's conflated them.]

[abgrund]

I value the people who have given me their time. That includes you, too.

[ There is something to be said about the unique brand of affection that an abyssal being might produce. He's long past the point of forming romantic attachment - none of it will matter in a century, when the mortals have all died. And a century after that, the humans will come and go, a rhythm inscribed by the wheel of time.

But that doesn't imply they don't have value now. There is meaning while it lasts, even if all will turn to ash. The trails that they leave, minute beings smaller than a grain of sand - to their own perception, it can be as big as the vastness of time itself. That's what he's learned since coming here. ]

[unlucky7]

I'm honored.

[There's a slight tilt of her head to hide the touched expression. Reasonably Ginia knows, she knows she's left an impression on people in a way or another, but it still catches her off-guard to have it confirmed. Most days it's easy to think she's useful but forgettable.

They reach the cafe, a long line already wrapping slightly out the door. Ginia grimaces a little at the line, but that can only mean the place is good, right?]

Consider this my treat if you want anything.

[abgrund]

[ Time is a limited resource for many people. For mortals, this day might very well be their last. It's hard to predict when one would die, so every moment must count and be treasured. Might be strange for an immortal entity like him to count what would be minuscule numbers to him, but that is the way of the people he will have to work with. ]

It's alright. I'd like to buy you something instead.

[ She's talking to Hades, the god of money wealth. It feels more appropriate for him to buy it instead of a shinki. ]

[unlucky7]

[When you work for Ebisu, you end up with a substantial paycheck and what does a shinki really need? Ginia considers arguing back, but it also feels a bit futile.]

I'll let you have this one, but definitely my treat next time.

[The line is long, but it moves. There's a menu posted outside and they eventually find themselves next to it.]

Good selection of desserts and teas here. The seasonal fruit cake with cream sounds good.

[abgrund]

[ It is unfortunately a bit futile, as Ain doesn't really consider the possibility that he's wrong. But this is a small matter so he'll nod and accept the compromise. ]

Is that your favourite?

[ Not quite commenting on his own opinion just yet... because he can't really taste things, but he can appreciate food via the appearance and what other people tell him it tastes like. ]

[unlucky7]

[Favorite is a good question. The inclination is to say she likes all things sweet, but doesn't everyone have preferences when forced to decide. Instead of signing, she uses her phone again, wanting to make sure all her words are understood.]

One of them, I think. I think it's interesting seeing what fruits are used and how the lightness of the cream balances out the sweet or tart fruit. Even if two difference places use the same fruit, there are always subtle differences in flavor. It's reliable, but exciting.

[abgrund]

[ Small exciting things. It's a sustainable source of interest for a restricted existence like theirs... something to be filed away and think about later. ]

It certainly seems so. I didn't think of that either.

[ Jakob probably looks after Add well but he can't expect him to do everything. He should think about using food as a means to keep the mood of people focused. ]