36 - Dragon Dance

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Help the Heavens cover for a missing goddess at her temple festival.
When: March 18
Where: Near the Sensou-ji temple in Asakusa
Summary: After Kannon's disappearance last year, the Heavens are concerned that things might go wrong at her temple's March 18 omikoshi festival. They've asked new gods and shinki to attend the festival and keep an eye out for trouble. Meanwhile, trusted newcomers and older gods and shinki alike are watching over the cultists that have been identified.






The Festival

Shrine-carriers, musicians and dancers congregate early in the morning in their matching outfits to get organized into their parade. Luckily, all of the parade participants this time are alive and well. There aren't even any troublesome ayakashi hanging around... so why is everyone having such bad luck?! Laces are breaking, costumes tearing, small children are getting sick from nerves, and even the drums seem to have gone out of tune. It looks like this parade is going to need a whole lot of help to prevent disaster.

For those who aren't busy with the parade preparations, food and souvenir booths throng the area in front of the temple. There's traveling games, too, and plenty of people showing up early with their families to find a good spot to watch the parade. This is one of Tokyo's most popular temples, so it's quite a crowd!

The Stakeouts

Any gods or shinki who were told about the cult problem by Amaterasu -- or anyone who might have heard from friends and allies about the plans -- can help Amaterasu's shinki keep a tight watch on all of the known cult members. Her shinki are looking for any sign of the young gods who she believes are behind all of this trouble, but are there other clues that might be found by a keen observer? Join in on staking out a cult member, and see what you can see.

Current cult members that the shinki are watching include:

• Mitsui Ryou - lives alone in a medium-sized apartment, appears to work a 9 - 5 schedule with occasional late nights.
• Imai Takeru - lives in a small two-story house by himself, has an unpredictable schedule.
• Shimoda Tsuki - lives alone in a small apartment with a lot of plants, works retail with varying shifts.
• Oota Saburo- lives in a medium-sized apartment with his wife and two young children, works a 9 - 5 schedule with frequent work trips.
• Maeda Shinnosuke - lives alone in a small, messy apartment, works construction (early mornings, long days.)
If your character is taking part in the surveillance of any of these people, please feel free to comment to the Cult Clues thread below with the name of the character they're watching, and the times that they're watching that character, in order to learn what they might see. (Note: surveillance doesn't have to take place only on the 18th. Characters can take part in watching the cult members at any time after Amaterasu's announcement on March 8.)

The Parade

At noon, the parade begins. Misfortune is still dogging the participants and the crowds around them, but it looks as though everything will go all right up until the final turn as the heavy, gilded shrine turns back towards the main temple building, tips, and slowly falls over sideways, straight for the crowd.

What's worse, when the shrine hits the ground, it cracks open -- and a huge, jellyfish-like ayakashi wearing a giant white mask with a single black eye inscribed on it heaves its way out and begins lashing its tentacles in every direction. People stung by the tentacles are driven into a furious frenzy, and fights are breaking out everywhere. Stop the humans from fighting, take care of the injured, and destroy the ayakashi before the situation gets any worse.

The Pursuit

In the middle of the fighting crowd, two white-robed shinki are chasing after a very average-looking salaryman in a tan coat. He doesn't seem to know that the shinki are chasing him, but he is moving fast, and they're in danger of losing track of him. They're calling out to any Far Shore denizen close enough to hear, shinki or god:

"Don't let that guy get away! He knows what happened!"

Anyone who has met or spent time staking out Mitsui Ryou will recognize him as the escaping salaryman. If your character takes part in the pursuit, please comment to the Cult Clues thread with a link to your thread - the character who successfully catches Mitsui will be determined by RNG on January 6, 2019.

In Summary:

• Attend the Sensou-ji festival
• Enjoy food and games
• Help Amaterasu's shinki stake out the cult
• Fight a masked ayakashi
• Have fun~

Comments

Festival - take two

[unlucky7]

Ebisu is a child, Ebisu is a god, and sometimes one matters more than the other. Ginia is making her rounds, checking with her fellow shinki and her gods to see who needs help at the moment. She smiles as she watches Ebisu and the children, comforting them in the way only a fellow child could. Happy at the sight and proud of her god, the emotion is a burst of warmth.

As he addresses her, Ginia bows her head and produces her phone.

"Of course. What do you want me to get?"

[chibisu]

It's really a good thing that Jitsumi was able to pass him by just in time, although he supposes that could be a bit of luck in its own way. The skills of his shinki, however, have nothing to do with fortune and all their own ability. Jitsumi especially has shown herself to be quite talented despite only having jointed rather recently.

So Ebisu beams up at her. "Could you find somewhere that has something with dark chocolate in it? There are some other foods that I think would be good, but there aren't any stalls that would have them on hand."

[unlucky7]

Something with dark chocolate? Ginia recalls the stands she passed, remembering a few selling candy and other confections. If nothing else, she's pretty sure she run off to a convenience store. She grins and nods, giving a quick salute. Normally she'd bound off, but between the children and crowd, Ginia jogs off and weaves through the crowd.

It's about ten minutes before she returns with a bag of mixed squares of milk and dark chocolate. The tie on the bag is also a little loose and she's definitely eaten a few of the milk chocolate pieces.

[chibisu]

By the time Ginia comes back, Ebish has gotten a few of the kids to sit down and has continued to patiently talk them through the passing time. When she comes back, he holds his hand out expectantly.

"Thank you, Jitsumi." It's fine if she had some of the milk chocolate. It's not like it's necessary for what he's thinking of, after all. Instead, he just starts patiently digging through to take out pieces of the dark squares to begin handing out to the children. "Here! Have some of this." Handing out chocolate is something he can do without adult supervision! Probably.

"I was told by Kimi that this is one of the foods that's good to eat when you're nervous. It reduces stress! And anyway-" He tilts his head back to smile at Ginia. "It's much nicer to eat chocolate instead of sitting and waiting."

[unlucky7]

Ginia's the adult supervision, everything is fine. She keeps an eye on Ebisu just to make sure he doesn't trip in the process of handing out chocolate. With how things have been today, it'd be tough to say whether it was his own clumsiness or bad luck striking.

(Probably his own clumsiness.)

She returns Ebisu's smile and pats his head lightly, fishing out her phone. First thing, impromptu picture of her god. Awww. Second thing, typing time.

"Chocolate is great. It's the perfect thing to ease the stress of today." As the message plays, she takes the bag back to grab another piece of chocolate. "Having fun, kids?"

[chibisu]

Definitely his own clumsiness.

While Ebisu is still patiently divying out chocolate, some of the other kids look up at her. They're still young enough to see those of the Far Shore easily, and it doesn't seem surprising to them that a foreigner is around. After all, who doesn't come to see festivals?

"Mom is really stressed," grumbles one child, while his sister leans up with her cheek puffed up with chocolate.

"Is that you talking through the phone?"

[unlucky7]

Ginia wouldn't say she's great with kids, but she's fond of them. Tall as she is, she kneels down to be at a closer eye-level to them. She gives the boy a sympathetic smile and nods at the girl.

"Yes, that's correct. I can't talk so I use my phone." Ginia types out the message and presses play, holding up her so the kids can see the text-to-speech program tracking the text.

[chibisu]

If there's one thing that helps with anxious nerves, it's the introduction of something new and never before experienced. That has the kids scoot a little closer inwards, munching on chocolate and watching her phone attentively. "The phone's like a seeing eye dog," says one child with quiet awe. "But for your mouth."

Ebisu tilts his head to the side curiously. That's never a description he's heard before, but he... thinks he gets it?

[unlucky7]

It's a description she's never heard before. Ginia huffs, surprised and delighted. The thoughts and honesty of children are a wonder.

"Yes, that's a way to put it. I also know sign language. For example, the sentence "Hello, my name is Ginia" looks like this."

Ginia sets down her phone and signs the sentence, slowing down her signs to show off each movement.

[chibisu]

Some of the children eat their chocolate more slowly than the others, transfixed by the sight. One of them tries to mimic the gesture with a vague degree of success. "My momma says one of our cousins does this... I think?"

"I hope this isn't too much of a bother, Jitsumi," Ebisu says, as the rest of the kids are briefly distracted by their companion's mimic attempts.

[unlucky7]

Ginia repeats the signs, making small corrections with the child's signing.

"What does my name look like?" It's a simple request, but what one child wants, the rest want too. Ginia signs each name in turn, making small corrections until each interested kid can sign their name. As the kids show off each other and determine which name looks 'coolest,' she's able to turn her attention back to Ebisu.

"Not at all. We're here to help, aren't we? I like kids, anyway."

[chibisu]

"That's good to hear!" Children don't often come up in their line of work but, for some of the departments, it's good to have that sort of patience on hand. Besides, retail work very clearly states that sometimes dealing with customers is very much like dealing with children. But worse.

"The people who work in the kitchen told me that chocolate is one of the thing which is good for stress! There were other things as well that would probably be slightly more healthy than chocolate, but they would be difficult to find at a festival."

[unlucky7]

"Chocolate is the tastiest." Ginia is competent enough in the kitchen to help out with minor tasks without slowing them down. She's pretty heard she's heard the food for stress spiel too. Her phone taps against her chin as she tries to remember some of the other foods.

"Berries and oranges are good too, though harder to find here. Same with salmon. Tea would be messy to carry for a group." So chocolate wins.

Ginia settles on her knees and watches the kids. She quickly looks around to make sure there's nothing that could break and fall on them.

"My other two gods have domains involving children." Fertility specifically, but Oshun is a guardian of women and children. "Alex visits orphanages and children hospitals to help out so I help when I can. Mostly I donate my salary to the organizations in her name."

[chibisu]

"Oh, then I should have asked you for even more advice." He beams over to her, pleased with this new information. Not only is it very useful and relevant, but it sates a little bit of his neverending curiosity as well. Perhaps one day he'll get a proper introduction to her other gods. You know, when there's time, and the whole of Heaven isn't being overworked on matters like this.

"I'm glad to see that you're using your salary as well. Money only has value so long as it is circulated."

[unlucky7]

They might have domains related to children, she may be their shinki, but please do not ask Ginia for advice on children. She's not even sure if Chris is good with children. Alex is definitely the one living up to the goddess she's representing though.

"It's not like I need to save for anything." Well, not entirely true. She's been eyeing getting a motorcycle for herself, but it's an entirely superfluous purchase. It's not like she has the time to go riding around either. And keeping some stored away for emergencies and special occasions isn't a bad idea even when no shortage of it.

"If I have so much, I might as well help others with it. I also donate some to the shrines of my friends."

Except you, Shun. You make enough money already.

[chibisu]

"That's a very generous view to have. I know many others in the temple use their paychecks in a variety of different ways." After having been a part of the temple for a good few months, Ginia has probably come to overhear some of those different ways. Even in the face of such a busy schedule, the shinki of Ebisu's temple still manage to keep in mind their own hobbies. Some have a terrible gacha addiction, while others make a steady stack of games or gaming systems that they'll get to one day... And then there are others who make sure to keep up with light novels or manga, to binge read at calmer times than the one they're in right now.

It's all fairly open knowledge. After all, not every shinki can have the opportunity to go out into the Near Shore without losing progress on more of their work. So in the end, it's easier if they just ask those who do, to bring them back a snack or book or game. What little free time they'll get in the future can't be wasted on catching up on what they want to get.... Especially since who knows if it'll go out of stock for who knows how long in the blink of an eye. When one is immortal, living detached in the Far Shore, that sort of mistake is easy to stumble into.

Turning a piece of chocolate in his hand, Ebisu considers things. "I've never really wondered what I would do with my money... It all goes to my shinki anyway, and maintaining the temple."

[unlucky7]

In her time in the temple, Ginia has been drawn in deep into the geekier hobbies of the temple and knows very well how people spend their money. She's also more than happy to act as personal shopper on her trips to the Near Shore. It helps to alleviate some of the light guilt she's one of the few able to leave and spend time working (or not) outside the temple.

Helping alleviate mild disasters and keep an eye on their god is working! Even if she's taken a few breaks to play some games and shop for presents.

"We appreciate the money." And they're doing their job putting it back into the economy in their own ways too. "And maintaining the temple is very important. Beyond that, I suppose there's always giving back to your followers."

[chibisu]

"I do try to ensure it gets back to the economy..." Or else, well. Money is only useful when it's being used. It would be the opposite of help. Still, Ebisu scruffs his feet against the ground.

"...But it feels as though I'm cheating, if I give it to mortals myself..."

[unlucky7]

"Is it cheating if you're answering their wishes or helping them?"

Ginia looks at the gathered children, having calmed down between the chocolate and something new to focus on.

"I think the question is less whether it's cheating and more what's most helpful. What do you think would happen if you gave each of the children 1000 yen? Or even 10000 yen?"

[chibisu]

What would happen.... Ebisu thinks carefully, fingers rubbing at his chin. "...If... what I've heard is true..." He blinks up at Ginia. "They would probably buy a lot of sweets and then get sick again after eating them all, because Aomi says children often lack self control or discipline or experience, with the first two being tied to the third."

A pause, and he lowers his voice.

"Kimi says it's because they're thick headed, just a little bit, but I believe he was simplifying the issue."

Still, that's not exactly the point of this conversation, exactly. "As for your other question... That's when they're asking me for something. It's different, then." At least, it feels different for him. Ebisu looks back to the children, thinking further. "If I'm too reckless in my giving... Then I'm not sure how much I'm actually helping. Especially since I'm still new to this incarnation, right now. If I'm reckless... Then all I'm doing is making it harder for them to make connections in the world."

[unlucky7]

Ginia snorts lightly. Those are indeed answers Aomi and Kimi would give.

"My seniors are right. That's assuming they even get to spend the money. I think if their parents found out, they'd be concerned where they got so much money from."

It's a lesson she's had to learn herself. There's a time and place to give, but sometimes giving freely can cause problems. It's a problem solved in an instant, but not one that addresses greater problem.

With the guidance of his shinki and his own innate knowledge and wisdom, Ebisu is fine. He cares, that will never change. Ginia gives Ebisu's head a fond pat.

"Seek out the root of problems and address it there. And if you're unsure, it's our job as shinki to help guide you."

[chibisu]

Accepting the head pat readily, Ebisu tilts his head back a little to smile at her. "Then I'll be in your guidance," he says, apparently happy enough with that idea being forever. As long as his temple is together and healthy, it's all he could ever ask for.

"I'll do my best for the humans as I can. However, they can do more than even I can, I think."

[unlucky7]

Oh, look at that cute smile. Is this what being a parent is like? Taking care of someone and making sure they go on the right path so when they're old enough, they can be responsible and make decisions? Happy because they're happy and safe? Sad when they aren't? He's better off in the hands of his older and more responsible shinki, but she has to try to do her best while she's here.

"Humans are smart and adaptable. They're capable of great things."

But the traits that can bring them toward greatness are the same ones that can bring them toward disaster. Confidence, pride. Compassion, distrust. Generosity, greed. Humans are the greatest dangers to themselves even without ayakashi.

It's why they're here, aren't they?

"They're still fortunate to have you watching over them."

[chibisu]

This is absolutely what being a parent is like, so Ginia can probably understand so much of the feelings in her temple. Ebisu even seems to glow a little bit with the praise, and he turns his attention back to all the hustle and bustle going on.

"I hope so. It's the only thing a god can hope, isn't it? So, even when it's difficult, I'll keep working for as long as they'll believe in my existence."

[unlucky7]

Will there ever be a day when humans no longer believe in Ebisu's existence? It's hard to believe, but if that day comes, it is because humans can finally stand on their own? Would Ebisu be happy if that day comes?

"May it be a long and happy existence."