[closed] you set me free

[miraculo]

Who: Sanae and Lu Meng
What: Prayer no. 10
Where: Around the city!
When: April 16th, Noon
Warnings: None!

[ The requester has prayed in dismay, "I know that my daughter has been gone for more than a year, but I still can't bring myself to let her go. Please give me the strength and hope to keep waiting for her."

And those words continue to echo within Sanae's mind all morning as they make their way to the requester's house, and even throughout their ensuing conversation. As a god in her own world, she has always felt other's prayers in her heart to some extent. But today is the first day that she's actually felt them pull at her heart-- a sort of strange, commanding inspiration that drives her to relieve this woman of her pain. Especially because the woman's daughter is never coming back, as she died years ago. While Sanae herself has dealt with other's grief before, she's dealt with it in a way that requires more action on her part: slay the youkai who killed a villager's son. Seal the oni that ate the villager's grandfather. That sort of thing that's required of a priestess.

To actually stay and comfort those who have lost someone precious is much more difficult than she anticipated. So perhaps for a good portion of their time spent talking to the mother, Sanae struggles to do anything but be overly empathetic. At one point, she's brought to tears herself because the story is just so sad, and it gets worse when the mother brings out an old photo album. Those water works definitely do not stop by the time they come around to the daughter's grave.

Lu Meng will probably be comforting both of them by the time this request is over, and Sanae herself once they bid the mother farewell. ]

Comments

[miraculo]

[ Ouch, yes, that was quite the high-five, but IT'S OKAY, THIS IS WHAT SHE WAS WAITING FOR! She look back at him determinedly, the gold in her eyes flaring proudly. He's done more than oblige her-- he's impressed her with his high-five. ] WHOOOA-- you did it, Lu Meng! Just like that!

[ But let's keep this energy going! ] Now again! Other hand! [ Lifts the other one up. ] And the other! Now criss-cross! [ THEY'RE GOING TO GET THIS ROUTINE DOWN. ] You got it, don't give up now!

[young_oldman]

[If this was a shonen manga, this would be the moment when Lu Meng goes "UOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAHHHHH!!!!" But since he is a mature adult, he won't do that!]

At once!!

[...though it is also highly debatable if a mature adult would take high-fives so seriously. But yes, here they go! High-five number 2! High five number 3! And BAM, COMBO! CRISS-CROSS HIGH FIVE.]

[miraculo]

[ CRISS CROSS UP AND DOWN ONE OVER THE OTHER SIDE TO SIDE CLAP TOGETHER ONCE FIST BUMP THEN YOU DO THE CHA CHA SLIDE

Okay so no cha cha slide is included in this one, but Sanae shouts the commands of the complex and intricate handshake one after the other, finding that they're successfully flowing about the steps thanks to their shared enthusiasm.

And perhaps because of that enthusiasm, the wind does pick up around her, tossing her hair. It was her first element she learned to create, so it's no wonder it reacts naturally when she's excited about something. But now there's something extra-- an added glow to her skin as she shines with her happiness and enthusiasm because she's a god.

Finally they end the handshake on a double, loud high five the resounds to the sky, and Sanae beams at him enthusiastically. But because of all of that! shonen! exertion! Her fingers curls over his in an almost exhausted manner, and she gives his hands a firm squeeze. She laughs merrily. ]....S--...see? You did it.

We now have our own friendship handshake.

[young_oldman]

[Who knew that the years of reflexes honed on the battlefield would be so useful with following instructions for complex handshakes? It's easy to get caught up with her energy, and perhaps it is the ease that obeying orders comes to Lu Meng, that helps him to keep up in-time with her.

With the final double loud high five, he finds himself looking down at his god, and it slowly sinks in that he's just, inadvertently completed a friendship handshake. It's...actually not as complicated as he thought it'd be!

And yet it is the simple things that make his god shine with all the brilliance of a sun. His serious composure cracks, and a slight smile makes its way onto his lips.]

We do indeed.

[He doesn't even mind so much that her fingers are over his, because they've done so many high fives and even a fist bump that this? This is OK. High-fives and fist bumps are OK.

Friendship handshakes are definitely OK.

But still, old habits die hard, and his height over hers probably has her arms tired to reach his hands for the high fives. He pulls his hands away from hers and steps back. His hands instead return to that ancient salute of his, and he bows towards her again.]

Thank you for the handshake and your guidance, my lady.

[miraculo]

[ With that, they've now cemented their friendship handshake. She's learned a good lesson in comforting others today, and he's learned a lesson in how to fulfill a handshake. ] And... thank you for yours. [ Similarly, Sanae takes a step back and mimics the bow he's done to her, but when she looks up from it, she's still smiling.

She's lucky, she thinks, to have a shinki like him. She doesn't want to let him down. ]

Let's go find out more about that support group, alright?