A Gold Seal and Another Deal [closed]

[subconmodo]

Who: Snatcher and Hat Kid
When: March 23, 25
Where: Skuld's Temple, then the Near Shore
What: Turning in contracts for chocolate and fashion, doing prayers for bragging rights



March 23: A Gold Seal

[When Hat Kid enters into the private, sacred sanctum of her temple's bedroom, she meets with what must be, to her, an uncomfortably familiar sight: Snatcher's made himself at home in the corner, perched just above the ocean of pillows, candles lit all around him to provide a certain ambience to his newly made home-in-someone-else's home.]

What's up, kiddo? Haven't heard from you in awhile. [abomination that was the 10 hour nyancat video aside] Thought I might as well make sure you haven't died on me yet. Especially when we've got a good contract going!

Speaking of...

[He clasps his hands in front of himself and leans forward, staring down at her expectantly.]


March 25: Another Deal

[It's doubtful Hat Kid thought she'd be rid of him, especially when he'd left his candles there (and a general spooky vibe to the corner that would never truly be cleansed), but considering the ghost's determination to climb the ranks of godhood, it might be a little surprising to see him back so soon.]

Hey, kid! Looking happy and healthy as ever, I see. Good! That's the kind of attitude I want to see. We're going on an adventure!

[Sorry, Hat Kid. Did you have plans?]

Comments

March 23rd

[hattersgonnahat]

[On one end, she had been starting to get used to that corner of the room being accessible again. But the other, seeing it empty just never felt right either. How convenient that it would be filled up again.]

[But Snatcher did arrive at just the right time. She did have something for him, and that is probably what is all about.]

Oh, right! [The kid fished around in a pocket. A couple of polaroid photographs, don't even ask where she got the copies from. But it has a bunch of successful photobombs of a rather unfortunate Hibiki.]

I did the thing.

[subconmodo]

[He immediately zips over and grabs the polaroids out of her hands, laughing with sheer, maniacal glee as he looks each one over.]

Perfect! I've seen that delightful bit of vandalism you did, too. All that's left is to answer one question: did you make her suffer?

[hattersgonnahat]

She was really bothered that I found the temple and wouldn't leave.

[Never even seen someone react that way, with the freezing up and all. The movies really sucked but at least the popcorn was good.]

[subconmodo]

Wait. What?

You just went there and she freaked out?

[He shouldn't be surprised. She's a walking, talking, pint-sized force of malevolence. But to be powerful enough to break Hibiki's smug sense of superiority with her mere presence...]

[Maybe he's been underestimating the brat.]

[hattersgonnahat]

[Never give godhood to a being of pure chaotic power, clearly.]

Yeah, I didn't even have to do anything!

[subconmodo]

Well then. Terrifying implications aside, looks like you completed all three tasks included in our contact. Congratulations!

[A box filled with her brand new magical girl costume and some kinder surprise eggs appears in front of her in a puff of smoke as her completed contract burns to ashes in front of them.]

You earned it!

[hattersgonnahat]

[Had to immediately hurry over to open the box and take a peek inside. Sure enough, it was all here and perfect. This might've been the best Death Wish reward yet, if those chocolates really are as believed.]

[The tiny terror is pleased at this exchange.]

[subconmodo]

Glad to see you're pleased.

[Clothes and chocolate are the way to go in the future, then. Maybe he can up the ante later when he actually wants to kill her sometime.]

Oh. I almost forgot. One more thing, kiddo. We need to have... a little talk.

[Oh dear. He sounds serious.]

[hattersgonnahat]

[Had just pulled one of the chocolate eggs out to open right away. But uh, apparently that could wait just one second now.] ...Talk about what?

[subconmodo]

[He poofs a bottle into his hand.]

[What should be a very, very familiar bottle. Of many.]

Have you been drinking marinara sauce?

[Yes, Hat Kid. He found the "meatball wine."]

[hattersgonnahat]

[......]

[Considering no such wine does seem to exist on this planet (For whatever reason. What simpletons), it very well could be a repurposed bottle of marinara sauce, actually.]

...Doesn't everyone?

[subconmodo]

[He opens his mouth and closes it again. Open. Close. And then he sets the bottle aside and clasps his hands in front of himself, index fingers extended, and takes a deep breath through his non-existent nose.]

Okay... Okay.

Look, kid. I'm going to be honest with you. Completely up front. I know you and I have had our.... disagreements. But this? This is just unhealthy!

[hattersgonnahat]

What? I only have it some of the time.

[Like a mature, responsible person would!]

[subconmodo]

It's not--. It--!

[stop. STOP. REWIND.]

[He holds up his hands]

Let's try a different route. Hold this for a moment. Right hand.

[he picks the "meatball wine" back up and shoves it in her hand. Then he poofs up a sign that says "I got caught drinking marinara sauce and apparently do so 'some of the time,'" and hands that to her too.]

Now stay still.

[He pulls out his phone, snaps a picture, and fiddles a bit before putting it away again.]

Okay. Now... Now we decide this matter in court. The court of public opinion!

[hattersgonnahat]

[Wait... Wait what]

What did you just do?!

[Pretty sure she has an idea what just happened. That sound of a camera was distinctive enough.]

[subconmodo]

I'm doing you a favor kid! Your normal meter's seriously broken!

[hattersgonnahat]

There isn't anything wrong with it!

March 25th

[hattersgonnahat]

[Well, if there were other plans, it seems they were long gone now. ...Why was he here and wasn't happy and healthy usually the two things he didn't want to see?]

[Regardless, Snatcher might have said the magic A word.] An...adventure?

[Cautiously optimistic and confused. It had been rare to see the BFF twice in one week like this and it probably meant he was up to something. ...Potentially good or bad.]

[subconmodo]

An adventure!

[You'd think he'd never heard of personal space the way he's all up in her business]

You know... a chance to try out that new costume of yours. To be the weird, overly colorful, big-eyed cartoon character you've always wanted to be!

All we need to do is take care of a teeny-tiny, insignificant little pest plaguing some people on the Near Shore. What do you say, kid? Live out your dreams! Be a hero! Right wrongs and triumph over evil (or whatever)!

[hattersgonnahat]

--Already? [But she had just gotten that costume. Then again, ayakashi and all...]

[Had to think long and hard about this. What better time would there be to use that costume? But also... hm..]

[Good thing the kid was completely used to the shadow noodle literally hovering over.]

...What kind of pest?

[subconmodo]

Nothing that can't be fixed with a little gardening on your part.

[hattersgonnahat]

[Gardening is an interesting way to put it... Very few of her skills had anything to do with it and she tilts her head to figure out what that even means. On the other hand, Snatcher had made her do weirder things before. And this one doesn't sound so bad?]

[...But he also did try to humiliate her earlier too. Not that it actually worked, but she was a little skeptic where this was going now.]

[But she did make a new book friend...]

Alright, I'll go.

[Famous regretful words]

[subconmodo]

Good! Just was I was hoping you'd say.

[As if he'd let her have a choice.]

Come along now, and make sure to keep that shinki close by. Sure would suck if you were to end up dying on this adventure of ours right off the bat, wouldn't it?

[Ah. He'd slipped right into the usual banter without thinking, but he did kind of need her around. Even if it was just for the ribbon on her umbrella.]

So no missteps, got it? I expect you to come out of this in one piece.

[hattersgonnahat]

Wha- [Did... He actually wants her to stay alive? Did someone replace the BFF without her noticing?]

Oh, right! [The kid had to go get Kini before they left. Not that the shinki was that hard to find, like most soulless ones she did not do or talk a whole lot. Something that a lot of newer gods probably found a little creepy.]

Kenki. [The slightly older teen with ribbons in her hair glanced up, nodding approvingly. In an instant she transformed to a ribbon of pure light. Magically it wrapped itself to the base of the umbrella and made a nice little bow for it. As the light faded it looked like just an ordinary yellow one.]

[See? She's already destined to the anime lifestyle before that costume existed.]

[subconmodo]

Perfect! Now we're all set. Make sure to keep that shinki close by. You wouldn't want to lose it!

[Someone should probably tell Snatcher not to call shinki "it," but any complaints would probably just fall on deaf ears. After all, if soulless shinki couldn't be used as weaponry, he'd probably yeet them so hard their heads would spin.]

[hattersgonnahat]

[Probably not the best way to address them, no. But the kid was not going to even try correcting him, just hold the umbrella a little more closely towards her. ...What, he did just say not to loose 'it'. Or maybe there was another reason why.]

You did say this was supposed to be easy, right?