thenearshore | 007 | Clean Up Your Act

Entry tags:

007 | Clean Up Your Act

Who: Everyone!
What: Spring cleaning
When: All day April 15
Where: All around the Heavens
Summary: The Heavens don't like things being cluttered, so it's time to clean up a little bit.

Main Hall

While the main hall of the Heavens seems spotlessly clean at all times, that's not the case at all. In fact, it's been at least a decade since the last time they actually cleaned everything out properly. There are a lot of hidden closets and back rooms that have layers of dust and dozens of boxes filled with nothing but junk. Who knows, though! You might find something interesting and useful in there along with all the garbage.

Suprises

Unfortunately, some of the older temples on the Far Shore seem to have some interesting surprises tucked away, ranging from cursed artifacts all the way to magical creatures locked up in long-forgotten rooms. You are free to be creative with this as a way to get your characters into trouble while cleaning.

Complimentary Dinner

After all of your hard work, you deserve to have some tasty food and refreshing beverages. So the Heavens have provided that for you, so that you can wind down after a long day. It's not as fancy as the banquets they often put on, but there is a nice array of food and drinks for everyone to enjoy.

Counselling

As usual, there is a white-robed shinki bearing the gold chrysanthemum of Amaterasu sitting at a table in the Main Hall. There is a small sign that denotes her as the counselling shinki. Anyone is welcome to approach her, and she will smile serenely at anyone passing by as well.

In Summary:

Clean up your home
Help clean others' homes
Get the main hall clean too!
Hope no hidden magic jumps out
Seek counselling if you need it
Enjoy your complimentary dinner
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ayumu pauses in her annihilation of the chicken skewer, actually blushing a little. She swallows her mouthful of chicken, takes a drink of the sake she'd decided to indulge in, then turns to answer with a slightly embarrassed smile.]

I am. I worked very hard today.

[As tired as she is, there's a healthier glow to Ayumu's cheeks than there's been in a while.]

Have you tried these yet? They're really good.

[Or maybe she's just really hungry. Ayumu hasn't had much of an appetite lately despite the stress induced cooking spree she's been going on since Yamato's reassignment to her.]

[Her laughter eventually dies off while the smile is still retained on her face, all despite how tired she seems to be otherwise. She takes one more nibble of her chicken before responding.]

Mmm! I'd say it's good enough of a reason to treat yourself.

[Granted Sheryl could've worked a lot harder in her cleaning duties, but the temples weren't her own (if they were, she'd give it her all). She casts her eyes on more chicken, then nods. The cooking must be so delicious if Ayumu's cheeks look like they're glowing right now.]

I tried the barbeque flavor, but not the spicy ones just yet.

Hmm, how spicy are the barbecue ones?

[Ayumu tilts her head a bit. If they're really that good, she should point them out to Axel if he's around somewhere. But not right now though. It's been a while since she's spoken to Sheryl, much to her chagrin, and she's in a good mood to socialize today. Or at least, try to.]

And I think so, too. I should probably do it more often - treat myself. I don't, usually.

[Especially here. Until today, she'd felt so guilty about enjoying her new life when her friends and family were gone but after speaking with Hijikata and Okita today, it's like a dark cloud that had been hovering over her all this time has been lifted.]

It's like the insides of my cheeks are getting very warm!

[Sheryl, please. You and your descriptions, though she's not off the mark, actually. The barbecue ones that she tried earlier have a surprising zing to the flavor, the kind that reminds her of the spicy chili dogs she tried with Alto back in Frontier. It's this memory that causes her cheeks to turn pink.

How nostalgic.]

You don't usually treat yourself? Don't deprive yourself of nice things!

[Luckily the color on her cheeks fades away, just in time for her to pout at Ayumu. Hardworking people are allowed to spoil themselves once in a while, that's what she firmly believes.]

Edited 2016-08-19 04:58 (UTC)

[She looks thoughtful, musing over her new friend's words and what she herself had just said. Ayumu does have a habit of perpetual restraint, a vestige of her training and occupation. The path of a shinobi demanded a great amount of sacrifice. In her youth, she'd simply accepted it as her lot in life just as she'd accepted the Oniwaban's rules about socializing outside work.

Things were different now. As she'd told Sheryl once before, Ayumu truly did want to try living for herself a change and finding real happiness for herself.]

You're right. I do deserve to be happy, don't I?

[Her eyes drift to the spicy barbecue skewers and her mind wanders to Axel. A slightly dreamy expression surfaces a little and she touches her lips unconsciously, remembering how nice the kisses they'd shared the other night had been.]

Sheryl-san, have you ever had someone you cared for? Someone close to you? But they're not family and they might be more than a friend?

[As she speaks, she looks down at her plate shyly, a faint blush rising in her cheeks. For all her experience in seduction, Ayumu doesn't have much experience in actual romance. If this even is a romance. She truly doesn't know. Even genuine friendship is new territory for her.]

Edited 2016-08-19 05:38 (UTC)

You do.

[She says with all the conviction she can squeeze into two words. Ayumu is a woman who deserves her happiness and to take advantage of it with all the hard work she's done in her life. Sheryl is 100% certain of it.

Her blue eyes widen a little at the question, taken completely by surprise. It's very easy to notice the light tinge of pink across Ayumu's cheeks and how she casts her gaze down at her plate. The classic look of shyness, the kind that Ranka occasionally uses whenever she can't say how she truly feels.

Both Sheryl and Ranka are in love with the same man, one who's far more interested in reaching for the skies than settling down.]

O-Oh! Well, aaah...

[She drops her chicken skewer on the plate, her own cheeks now matching her vibrant hair.]

[How many people has Sheryl mentioned Alto to? She hasn't bothered to count, frankly, because the reminders of his absence would just be unbearable... but she estimates about five to six. Ayumu won't be the first or the last for sure.

She sighs, a rueful smile on her face.]

That man... He can be so infuriating with how dense he is sometimes, I swear! But there are so many things to like about him, too. Unlike most men, at least he treats me like Sheryl. [Read: a normal person] He wants to reach for something, not letting the circumstances of his birth stop him.

[For once, Sheryl allows herself to be candid about this. Only a little, though, as she looks up at the ceiling.]

He'll do whatever it takes to protect what he values the most. [Which, ironically, almost led to the decision of killing Ranka. If Sheryl hadn't convinced him to save her instead...]

He sounds like an admirable man. You must be very proud of him.

[Ayumu feels something like pride toward Axel since naming him and seeing his willing sacrifice to aid a friend. Or at least, that's how she's come to think of it. After living so detached from others and from her own emotions for so long, it's like she's clearing out the cobwebs in her own heart and finding lost needs and desires she'd forgotten she had.]

Those challenges aren't easy to overcome. It takes great strength and courage to go after the life you want.

[Especially when one's used to living one certain way. Changing that doesn't come easily at all.]

— But Alto is so annoying! Why can't I stop thinking about that sky-loving idiot?!

[A rhetorical question, but it's not like she's in love with him or anything! Except Sheryl isn't denying it... and she knows. Quickly hiding her flushed cheeks from Ayumu, she covers them with both hands, muffling a heavy sigh at the same time.]

No, they're not easy. I know this from experience.

[One other reason why she relates to Alto so much on that level. They both escaped their expected circumstances to achieve what they desire the most.]

[It must be so painful for Sheryl to remain separate from the one she cares for. Ayumu's no stranger to the pain of loss. Hadn't she been in mourning herself until today? And even now, her feelings are still in disarray. She reaches over and rests a comforting hand on Sheryl's shoulder.

She doesn't know what to say. It feels wrong to tell her of her own good fortune now. Ayumu lowers her gaze.]

Sometimes things happen beyond our control. But I hope you'll see him again.

[The warm, comforting hand on her shoulder causes Sheryl to lift her head, a sheepish smile on her lips. Ayumu seems to have found someone to make her blush, and yet Sheryl feels like she dragged the other goddess into her problems. Oh, boy.

Time to rectify this.]

I will. [In a more determined tone this time:] Alto and I will be reunited once more, you'll see.

[And now for a happier topic... her voice shifts into a jovial one this time as she clasps her hands together.]

But enough about me~. Let's focus on you!

[And there's that shyness again but Ayumu's smiling in a way she hasn't since coming to this place.]

I believe you'll see him again, Sheryl-san. I ran into some friends from home today. I'd lost hope I'd ever see them again but here they are. In time, you might experience the same good fortune.

[Mortals pray to gods but who do gods pray to? Regardless, Ayumu will pray to whatever powers that exist above them that Sheryl will be reunited with Alto.]

You did? How lucky, Yumi!

[This actually gives Sheryl some hope, from the way her eyes are now lighting up, a happy gleam to them. If Ayumu can be reunited with her friends, then Sheryl might see Alto and Ranka again, or even the rest of Frontier.]

Perhaps I'll get to meet them soon. [She pauses with a smirk, propping a hand on her cheek, elbow on the table.] But oh, you still haven't told me who the lucky man is. Is he from back home?

[There she goes blushing again. Really, the boys back home would never let her live it down if they saw her like this. But Ayumu can't help it. This is a completely new experience for her and even if it wasn't, it's not like she has a habit of talking about her feelings much. Or at all.

Ayumu's out of her depth here, though, and she knows it. Even if it turns out that Sheryl doesn't know much more about matters of the heart than she does, well, surely she can't know less.]

Oh, no. It's no one from back home. They're like brothers to me. It's someone I met here.

[Why is this so awkward? Hasn't she told Susumu more than once that there's no point to feeling embarrassed?]

A friend of mine. I suppose we've grown closer than I realized...

[If they're close? It's not like Ayumu has much experience with that concept either.]

[Being the curious person that Sheryl is, of course she's going to immediately latch on to the prospect of Ayumu having a potential boyfriend. She deserves good things in life, both in the romantic department and in everywhere else. Even love can bloom in Takamagahara, after all.

A small chortle ensues as Sheryl keeps her gaze locked on to Ayumu, humming melodically.]

I wonder who your mystery man is. [ufufufufu] Tell me more about this friend of yours!

Ah, well, it's...

[Ayumu trails off a moment. Should she tell her the truth? That Axel's her shinki? She hasn't exactly told anyone yet he serves her, too. He hasn't exactly asked her to keep quiet about their arrangement but it doesn't seem like something she should necessarily advertise without consulting him first. But then again, he does tend to seek new allies so maybe she could be up front about it?]

It's someone I've been working with since I first arrived here. A friend.

[There's that word again 'friend'. But is he really? Ayumu doesn't really know. Her cheeks are faintly pink; it's clear she's flustered.]

He's very nice. Do you know Axel-kun?

[Why are matters of the heart so embarrassing to talk about?]

Axel?

[That name strikes Sheryl as familiar, somehow, repeating his name a few times under her breath as she taps her chin with her index finger. Didn't she spoke to him before?

Oh.]

That's the annoying guy I talked to at the BBS once! I remember him teasing me about something once.

[She proclaims, curling her lips into a pout like she accidentally ate a super sour candy piece. Not exactly the most adequate reaction, however... so she clears her throat. Ayumu must have discovered something positive about Axel to have a crush on him, of course. Love is unpredictable like that.

As soon as she remembers one more thing, her expression shifts into confusion, furrowing her lips.]

But wait a second, I thought he was Pippa's shinki. Did something happen?

[Oh. Right. Pippa.

That might be an issue for other people. Maybe she should keep quiet about the shinki part until she has a chance to talk to Axel again. Ayumu might know about his other gods but how many of his other gods know about her? He's never mentioned it and it's never really occurred to her to ask.]

Oh, he's still Pippa-san's shinki. That hasn't changed. But sometimes we help each other out when we need it.

[There. It's a vague version of the truth but it's the truth, nonetheless.]

He's been a good friend to me since we arrived. A very good friend.

[There's a slightly uncertain air to the way she says 'friend' though, as if it's a foreign word she's not quite sure she's using correctly.]

[Her brows furrow, a thoughtful expression settling across her features. It doesn't take long for Sheryl to figure out the hidden meaning: Axel is a nora, a shinki with multiple gods. According to Kazuma, if a god finds out that a shinki is a nora, they can be exiled or have their name revoked if desired.

This is the second time she has seen a goddess fall for a shinki, only it's someone else's. And that shinki is a nora.

Time to rub it in Slaine's face for later, but for now, she puts her focus on Ayumu.]

It sounds to me like he's a lot more than a "very good friend".

[She laces her fingers together and leans her chin on top of them, keeping her gaze riveted on the fellow goddess.]

Have you told this man about how you feel?

[Ayumu's the one who initiated this conversation but even so, it's hard to curb the impulse to withdraw. She's never been one to talk about her feelings or even acknowledge she had them. But she turned to Sheryl because this matter is out of her area of experience. Of course, she's well acquainted with the physical aspects of what goes on between a man and a woman but the emotional side of things has always been a mystery.

And so Ayumu pushes on regardless, as she would with any other challenge.]

In a way. I kissed him and he kissed me back. But we haven't seen each other or spoken with each other since. A new shinki came to me recently and there's been complications with him. I've been busy.

[Mostly getting stung and making sure Yamato doesn't just sit and stare at the wall.]

Just one kiss and that's it?

[She hikes her eyebrow at that, disbelief in her glimpse. If they haven't seen each other since then... that sounds like an awkward sign to Sheryl. Maybe they both needed a break to sort their feelings out, but with another shinki to the mix, more complications are to be expected.

There's no way Sheryl plans to leave things as they are, not when romance is right within Ayumu's grasp.]

You know what I think? [Certainty slips through in her tone.] That you should make more time with Axel when you can. It's only fair!

Really?

[It makes perfect sense to her. Of course, Ayumu doesn't know what those kisses to either. How could she? She's not even quite sure what they mean to herself, just that they meant something. Ayumu's been with many men in her life and gone much further than just kissing with them but it'd always been work-related. Maybe that's why this time felt different and why she's still thinking about it a week later.]

He hasn't called me or stopped by to visit... I didn't expect him to. He knows that things are awkward with my new shinki but...

[Still, she values Sheryl's input. She seems to know what she's talking about more than Ayumu does. She sits there a moment, briefly collecting her thoughts.]

I'll try. We should talk about it. Or do something together.

[Ayumu's skeptical about whether a couple of kisses and some mutual touching constitutes a relationship but she's also wise enough to know her past experiences aren't exactly normal either.]

Edited 2016-08-31 22:01 (UTC)

What? Then make him come! That idiot needs to know what he's about to miss out on if you don't!

[While it's nice of him to know what transpired between Ayumu and this mystery shinki, Sheryl admits, she thinks he could spend a little more time with Ayumu for a change.

After a moment she nods in acknowledgment.]

Communication is as important as spending time with each other. [And then a pause, a melodramatic sigh:] Only then can romance truly bloom, like a rose with outstretched petals after being watered.

[It's all so interesting and a little humbling. Sheryl seems so much more knowledgeable than herself about things are supposed to work with real suitors. If Ayumu had her eye on a man from her own country and time period, she's confident in her charms. However, Axel's nothing anyone she's known before. Now that she's thinking about it more, it's part of what makes him attractive.]

You're right.

[There's a pause.]

How do I make him come? He's different from the men I know.

[She's never had much experience with real suitors, only targets.]

Edited 2016-09-02 04:21 (UTC)

007 | Clean Up Your Act

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