Log

[sing_for_me]

Who: Emizel & Alex
What: An unexpected encounter after some time
When: Sometime between March 10-17
Where: Thanatos shrine in the near shore

Vandalism was a common sight in Ergastulum, and Alex wouldn't even bat an eye at it normally. However, after arriving at the far shore and learning the care put into shrines and temples, as well as knowing the people those shrines became dedicated too, she found it difficult to turn a blind eye on any messes left behind. It was like seeing someone litter at your friend's home.

Although this was more than a little mess... It was as if people really didn't like this particular god. Wrappers and empty bottles and cans lay about the grounds, graffiti on the walls of the shrine, some messed up boards, the works really.

She leaves, only to return with some paint, tools, and trash bags. Repairs can come after some clean up, she figures, so she starts by picking up whatever trash she could find. She hums to herself as she does so to fill up the silence surrounding the area. There was something satisfying about this task, like the ones she used to do with the Benriya back in Ergastulum. Hopefully she could get everything fixed up before anyone visited.

Comments

[trademark_skull]

It's another day and another time to see how the shrine was doing as the Death God appeared inside. Stepping out and spotting some chipped paint that Alex had missed by the arch, and one that hadn't been there before. Emizel sighed, it must have happened again.

He wandered further out to get a few things to fix that before the early followers arrived, just now realizing that somebody was already here. And...they were already cleaning?

Come to think of it, that wasn't even a follower either. Pretty sure they were another god. "What?"

[sing_for_me]

Alex was just tying up the trashbag when she noticed someone emerge from within the temple. She knew this boy—

“Emi..zel?” It had been some time since they last interacted.

“Is this your shrine?”

[trademark_skull]

"It is...but why are you here?"

And why is there a trashbag?

[sing_for_me]

She’d actually thought it might’ve been abandoned.

“I was walking by and saw this place and..I just thought it could use a little cleaning.”

If that was okay with him, was what her face said.

[trademark_skull]

There was always a little bit of humiliation letting other gods see it like this.

"...Yeah, I know it ain't quite as great as other shrines."

[sing_for_me]

“It just needs a few repairs,” she gives a slight shrug and a small smile.

She grew up in the slums, so as far as she could tell, a bit of fixing here and there and it’d look just fine.

“Would you like to give it your own personal touch?”

[trademark_skull]

"Well I was here to work on it anyway. ...But yanno, it's only going to be ruined again."

[sing_for_me]

"That hasn't stopped you from coming back and working on it." Or that's what it sounds like since he said 'again'.

[trademark_skull]

"That's because I still have a certain image to keep, no matter how temporary it is."

[sing_for_me]

“Then let’s keep it then.”

She needed to remove the broken boards before replacing them. “Once I replace the boards, we can paint?”

[trademark_skull]

He let a tiny flustered noise. Gods should be more concerned about their own problems. Not to mention, this was something he should be resolving on his own.

But...

"Ahh, s-sure. It...would look nicer that way."

[sing_for_me]

She was worried for a second that she had over stepped until he gave his approval.

"We should get you some gloves, then. It's not safe to use your barehands. And maybe while we're there you could pick out the paint you'd like to use?"

[trademark_skull]

"Please, I'mma demon and a god now. I can handle it."

Though no matter how tough Emizel tried to be, he was a little troubled by something that Alex brought up. "...But I don't think we got any spare paint. And I should stay put for a bit in case someone shows up."

[sing_for_me]

"You still need to be safe." And there was no debating that with her.

But he had a point there. She looks around for a moment then moves closer to Emizel. Pulling out her handkerchief, she covers Emizel's nose and mouth. "Excuse me for a sec."

He won't see anything, and he won't be affected either since he's covered, but Alex let out some pheromones that should repel anyone from wanting to come into the area for a little while. She..may need to get Emi a mask while they're out.

"Okay, that should we fine. Keep your nose covered until we get out of here, okay?"

[trademark_skull]

It is not every day that someone comes close to you and suddenly covers your face. As such, a bit of panic swept in. Was this a smothering attempt? Chloroform? These things don't work that well on a demon, but...it doesn't stop others from trying.

Despite this Emizel was fairly obedient when he was told to keep it on. He had forgotten what Alex's power even was. So just, what, did she even do? What happened? Does he even want to know? This may have been less of a nefarious scheme, and more so to keep him protected from something.

[sing_for_me]

Once they’re a good distance, she’ll pull back. She realizes that she kind of just invaded his personal space there.

“Sorry for grabbing you like that.” Hopefully it didn’t bother him too much.

“The store’s not too far, and if the stuff’s too heavy we can always teleport back.”

[trademark_skull]

Teleporting would be ideal even if it wasn't that heavy. Why bother walking back when you could do that?

"...What happened back there anyway?"

[sing_for_me]

Alex glances from him, to back to the path.

“Ahh..I just made it so people won’t really want to approach.” She wasn’t sure how to explain it exactly. “But it should wear off by the time we get back.”

[trademark_skull]

"You stunk it up?!"

Explained why he had to hold his breath now...

[sing_for_me]

“What—“

Oh, right, her wording wasn’t exactly the best.

“No! I didn’t—I mean it has that effect I guess..but that’s not what it was!!”

But how could he think that that’s what she did!

“It’s not something you can really smell—“ That’s not helping. “It affects feelings! So people will feel like they have to stay out.”

[trademark_skull]

Nope, none of that is really making things better.

However.

Something he remembered was starting to come back.

"...What power did ya have again?"

[sing_for_me]

Oh right, they had a talk about this before, didn’t they?

“I um...use pheremones to affect how others feel.”

[trademark_skull]

"To anything at all?"

He was starting to remember this conversation, but still, it's technically more flexible than what he could do.

[sing_for_me]

"I haven't tested it on many things, but so far, yes."

Ayakashi, animals, people, gods...Did that make him uncomfortable, maybe? She wouldn't blame him. It took her some time, and even now she wasn't totally comfortable with her power.

[trademark_skull]

"That's...still something."

And a little bit scary, Emizel wouldn't lie.

[sing_for_me]

"I still don't understand it that well, but it hasn't been all bad. It's actually been helpful." She's not sure how comforting that was, but it helped her a little.

"I don't use it that often."

[trademark_skull]

"Mine is pretty useful too, but I don't like using it either."

For...certain reasons.

"So that thing you did is really gonna keep my followers away?"

[sing_for_me]

"You did mention it before..What exactly does it do?" She hadn't really discussed her ability with other people, other than explaining what it does. It sounded like he had similar feelings about it too.

"For a little bit. It won't last that long."

[trademark_skull]

"Mine..." even just admitting what it does felt kind of like a disgrace. "Mine makes people fearless."

And it sucks.

[sing_for_me]

"That..sounds kind of useful. Though I can..see how that can be a problem sometimes."

Fearless people end up doing things they shouldn't.

"You don't sound too happy about it."

[trademark_skull]

It was a fitting power for Death. Mortals either make poor life choices when they don't fear death, or they needed to come over their fears after they died. It's both interconnected.

"Demons are supposed to make humans afraid, not not make them afraid." And yes, he spoke it as poorly as that.

[sing_for_me]

"....Is..that what you want to do?" At least, that's not what she was getting from him.

[trademark_skull]

"Yeah it's what I want to do!" Emizel answers to that rather quickly if he was having any doubts about it.

"--I mean, if I don't do it then it makes me a terrible demon."

And maybe, just maybe, that's what he was really worried about.

[sing_for_me]

It probably shouldn't be taken as a good thing if he insists on wanting to make people miserable, but then he talks about it like it's his duty. Can she really fault him for wanting to do what he's..supposed to?

"Does it..? I was..kind of thinking that you're a pretty good one." Not that she knows many demons. Actual ones anyway.

"Oh, what color did you want for the paint?"

[trademark_skull]

Good as in actually good, or good as in he was doing a good job with it? Either way, Emizel was unsure if he should be flattered or feel embarrassed. He was somewhere in the middle now. "W-well I--"

Let's...let's focus on something else. Like paint, yeah.

"Aren't most of them painted red around here? Although, we could use something else. That way it'll stand out more."

[sing_for_me]

Alex thought about it. It is true that most of them were red..Maybe it was the standard.

"I don't see why you can't paint it something else? What did you have in mind?"

[trademark_skull]

Good question.

"...I like green. Or maybe blue..."

They aren't exactly death colors though. Kind of worried if painting it black would give him more of a bad image.

[sing_for_me]

"That sounds really nice actually. It's like giving it your own touch!" They were tones that seemed to suit him.

"Maybe we can do both?"

[trademark_skull]

"It might look good with some of the gifts I get too."

Bright, colorful butterflies of any sort of material. And flowers.

You know, Emizel's never thought what would happen if he brought his own poppies to the Near Shore. ...Then again maybe that's not such a good idea given what they do.

[sing_for_me]

"Oh yeah? What type of gifts do you get?"

She hadn't really asked what other offerings other gods got, so now she was a bit curious.

She was also picking out different swatches of blues and greens, holding them out for Emizel to pick from.

[trademark_skull]

"Uh..." he is just now realizing how cheesy it was going to sound. "...Flowers, and things. Some of the followers have gotten really good at making these metal butterflies too."

There was also the occasional cat toy. And no, Emizel still doesn't know how they found out about that.

[sing_for_me]

"I think it's sweet." Sounded like cute things to give a god of death. She does tilt her head curiously at the last one.

"Metal butterflies?"

[trademark_skull]

"Like the ones you put out in gardens, or whatever. The ones at my temple seem to really like them..."

And so Emizel keeps them all. He was thankful his temple covered a lot of ground now.

[sing_for_me]

"It sounds like they put a lot of effort into it...Sounds like you like them too."

Really, was this supposed to be a demon that wanted people miserable?

[trademark_skull]

What no. He is dangerous and fierce and not at all soft.

And his face was not at all redder than before.

"...They didn't need to give me anything."

[sing_for_me]

Oh, was he getting embarrassed?

"I think they did it because they wanted to."

[trademark_skull]

"R-right... So I should appreciate that."

He attempts to keep a straight face.

[sing_for_me]

"What better way than to make the temple more welcoming and fresh?"

She holds out the paint colors again, since he has yet to pick.