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

[replicatedform]

[He saw that look, and it simultaneously made him feel self-conscious and annoyed. Leave his cloak alone!

After a quick glance at Aymeric, he looks back at Ryou with a hard frown.]

Don't bother. The police can't catch us.

[He sounds quite certain of it. Because well, Yamanbagiri is pretty sure the police from the Near Shore probably have no means to contain them.

So technically, they're powerless against them. Which Ryou might assume for a different reason.]

Look, all we want are answers. If you don't tell us...

[Yamanbagiri did consider the idea of threatening Ryou. With his free hand, he slide it towards his sword's hilt. The one trapping Ryou down tighten its grip.]

... I don't mind keeping you down, but I rather not hurt you too much.

[onedrinkwithme]

I do not like to resort to violence if the situation does not call for it. However, my comrade is correct that the local authorities will not be able to do their civic duty. [I mean, he did get chased by cops in a gang van so he's pretty damn sure of it.]

But alas, it seems that I have no other choice in this nor do I take any pleasure so please forgive me.

[His hands switch again from holding Ryou's wrist but mainly because a punch from the opposite fist would not cause much of an impact so he has to switch back and do the deed. And said punch aims right between the man's eyes. Since Aymeric does use swords, it is easy to realize that he never skips Arm Day.]

[godsoffortune]

[Ryou's head snaps back against the pavement, and he yelps, voice cracking with pain, and goes limp. It takes him several seconds to reopen his eyes, and his nose is already starting to bleed and go red when he does.

He tries to pull a hand away and bring it protectively to his face, as he watches Aymeric with new and real fear.]

Wha-- what the fuck?

The shrine fell over! That's what I saw! I wasn't anywhere close to it!

[He's done with the dramatics: now it sounds like he's desperately trying to convince them.]

[replicatedform]

[Now they're getting somewhere. Although he doesn't like it, that punch definitely helps cut out the dramatics.]

Is that really all? Nothing else?

[With a quick flick of his thumb, Yamanbagiri's sword slide out of his sheath a little. For all anyone knows, it might as well be a real sword. Which it is, but Yamanbagiri had meet people who thought he's a cosplayer.]

Because if we find out you're lying...

[For a moment, he let go of Ryou's hand. Only to swiftly unsheathe his sword and stab the spot right next to Ryou's head. From how close it is, Ryou can see it's undeniably a real sword made of real steel.

Which is also really beautiful as well, regardless if someone have an eye for weapons or not.]

[onedrinkwithme]

[Excuse you, it's 'whomst the fuck'. And while he's not pleased with the punching, Aymeric is glad that the bravado is done; politics aside, he hates bullshit. And despite it all, after seeing the bit of blood come out of Ryou's nose, Aymeric actually tears off a small piece of the inside of his yukata and cleans it off...before sticking it in the bleeding nostril. What?]

I would exercise caution if I were you; 'twould seem enough that a fist is preferable to steel [Yeah he sees that blade.] and as I said, I do not enjoy doing such things.

[He's tempted to say the words but that would be a gamble. It is easy for him to say 'I know who you are Mitsui Ryou and the organization you belong to' but at what cost?]

Now tell us exactly why you are here and why you seem to run away at nothing if you claim to be innocent. And trust me ser, I will know if you are lying to us. Saying that you were simply in the area will not work on one who is...how should I put it in this tongue...'used to the bullshite'?

[A bluff? No, it's politics. Actually, he also has an idea as he turns to Yamanbagiri.]

Just in case, check his pockets. All of them.

[replicatedform]

Got it. And remember this... I'm fast.

[As it making it obvious what he means, he slowly sheathe his sword in front of Ryou's eyes. Doing this just to instill fear into someone isn't his style, but it will do.

It's either this and free both of his hands, or keep holding his sword and use one hand to search.

With both his hands, Yamanbagiri start checking Ryou's pockets. No matter where they are.]

[godsoffortune]

[Unfortunately, Ryou is in no position to appreciate the beauty of the sword. He's more interested in the fact that it's really sharp, and really close to his face.

He opens his mouth, as if to keep denying, when Yamanbagiri starts checking his pockets instead. Then, he slumps, giving up the effort.

It won't take long for Yamanbagiri to find, in his left coat pocket, a couple of embroidered charms. They have a clear resemblance to the bad-luck charms that appeared around other gods' shrines during the New Year. His right coat pocket is empty, but there's something repulsive about it-- it's clean, and touching it won't cause any blight to appear on Yamanbagiri's fingers, but something about it seems foul, as offputting as the close presence of an ayakashi.

It might have held one for a while, perhaps. Or something associated with one.

Ryou slumps, avoiding both of their gazes, as the search continues.]

Fine. I put something in the shrine before the parade. But that didn't have anything to do with it falling over! It couldn't have. It was just a trinket.

[onedrinkwithme]

Aye and you obviously did not realize that your actions have put innocent people in danger.

[His tone does hold sarcasm because he knows better.]

If I were to know better, I would think you may have a grudge against something. Why else would you blindly agree with trying to sabotage a parade? [Well, one not involving a human.]

[replicatedform]

[Yamanbagiri frowned, looking almost angry even, when he found the charms. He can see the resemblance to the charms he found in Sakura's—his previous god—temple around New Year. But when he searched the right pocket, he jerked his hand back.

For a moment, he glance at his hand and at the right pocket he just checked with a confused look.]

... Nothing in there. Just these charms in his other pocket.

[He'd love to question more about that... foul feeling. But the charms seem more important right now. With that decision, his angry looking frown returns as he looks at Ryou.]

So why did you place it there? Trinket or not, you must have a reason for it. [His eyes narrow at Ryou.] It better not be "just a whim" or something.

[godsoffortune]

[Ryou flinches as Yamanbagiri jerks his hand back, but settles-- only a little, because they're still both giving him looks like he's about to get punched again. Especially the one wearing the sheet.]

It wasn't my idea! It was orders.

[Shaking his head, and wincing, he shoots a glance at the taller guy, barely hiding his nervousness.]

Anyway, it wasn't sabotage. Like I said, it was just a little trinket. It was just supposed to-- It couldn't have done all that!

[His tone isn't quite as certain as his words.]

[onedrinkwithme]

[Scared Ryou? Good.]

Orders?[A small shrug.] I suppose the name of who told you to do this simply slipped your mind?

[Hell no he wouldn't believe that. But as he listens more and more to the man's words, Aymeric cannot help but question the man's leader not being so forthcoming with his information.]

What was it supposed to do then? [He does not need to be told to speak the truth since there is still matters of that sword and his fists.]

Thread Fast-Forward Summary

[godsoffortune]

Upon being asked by Aymeric and Yamanbagiri who put up the talisman, Ryou finds he is unable to give the name of the person who ordered him to put the cursed charm in the shrine. Once he tries, he quickly starts to appear as if he's choking: it looks like there's some kind of spell on him that means he literally can't give that information. This is news to him as well - he looks shocked and scared about it.

After finding out he's cursed to die if he gives away that person's secrets he'll be able to give them a loose description of someplace "they should try to find" -- he can't say why, but it ends up being the cult compound from the February event. He also doesn't realize that gods and shinki won't be able to enter the compound on their own, since he's never had any trouble, as a mortal human, getting in, so he doesn't warn them about it.

He admits that he knew the charm would cause bad luck but he didn't know it would be so extreme or that anyone's life would be in danger. However, he says out loud to have no regrets because he believes their goals are worth it. His expression, on the other hand, proves that he doesn't look too confident about this assertion.

Now what should happen to him hence...?

basically what would happen, idk if this counts as a wrap up but I wanted to at least leave a thing

[onedrinkwithme]

Personally for Aymeric, he wants to know why Ryou joined. Obviously something happened to make him think as such; he doesn't seem to be the type to want to watch the world burn for funsies. Besides, his expression gives away his true feelings: words mean shit when your actions contradict but he's more polite in his observation. Who is he, Estinien?

He still doesn't condone the actions Ryou and his comrades have done, especially when children were a part of the group they hurt but he wants the entire truth behind it all.

But he will wait with him until the white robed shinki show up if they ever do. And probably stick another tissue up his bloody nostril, first one's probably a little soaked up. And by tissue, we mean more torn up under yukata pieces.

Motive

[godsoffortune]

Ryou joined because he'd already been dabbling in magical experiments by the time the they recruited him - he supposes it might even have BEEN why they recruited him, if they'd found out before approaching him. His curiosity became a desire for proper magical training and, he admits sheepishly, maybe he just liked feeling more powerful than the things that the cult said were out there to get them - things like ayakashi. Abe no Seimei is his idol.

He would ask why Aymeric isn't going to kill him if they wait around long enough. He was told by the cult that if the Heavens found one of them again, with real magical powers, they would kill the human to silence them and set back the cult's efforts.

since I'll be on a trip soon, feel free to wrap up/keep going w/o me

[replicatedform]

Until the white robed shinki arrive, Yamanbagiri stay with Ryou and Aymeric. Once they arrive, he will stay around for a while before his sense of duty compel him to go to his god's side.

While waiting, he'd hear Ryou's question and stay quiet for a moment. Before he speak up: Yamanbagiri personally want answers, he have no interest in killing someone if there's no point. Especially since it's obvious that Ryou doesn't seem... well, that high in ranking or important.

have fun on your trip! o/

[onedrinkwithme]

There are a couple questions Aymeric asks and one may sound strange, perhaps a hint of something weird on in Heaven: what kinds of experiments does he do and who is Abe no Seimei. If asked if he's serious or anything like it, he will confirm. How can he know about the truth if the idea or the person is dead?

Besides, he would also add if Ryou knew magic, he would have been able to defend against them and to evade capture. So it's kind of a reverse question. But he will also keep an eye out for the shinki searching for him after he hears of the mention of someone dying due to Heaven knowing of magic within humans. Something's off because of the creed of Heaven mentions not to harm humans and yet here is this claim. Aymeric will then ask what proof he and the cult has in order to verify this. That he wants nothing but the truth.