thenearshore | Just a spoonful of sugar

Just a spoonful of sugar

Who: Sanae Kochiya and Lu Meng
What: Prayer 13
When: April 20th
Where: Around the city
Warnings: None

[Journeys to the near shore are always as exhilarating as they are exhausting. It's easy to be overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds of the modern world, to gape at every new marvel and stare at every feat once deemed impossible to man, but lo and behold! Men can now fly into the sky on metal carts that can lift themselves up into the air and soar seemingly with ease.

So much to see, to observe, to take in and experience. And all so temptingly within reach.

He resolves to someday come to this world on his own time. But for today there's work to be done, and he's keeping his attention focused solely on the latest prayer that's made it's way to his god's ears:

"I can't stop sneezing and I'm not getting nearly enough sleep. If I don't get my allergies under control soon, things are going to start getting bad, ugh."

It had taken only a little explanation on what allergies are. The issue was that the man didn't have enough money to go see a doctor...which was how the two of them ended up pouring over books and websites featuring both traditional and modern medication for a bad case of sinus. Finding a book on traditional Chinese medicine gave him a jolt of familiarity and nostalgia; it's heartening to know that the knowledge from this time has lived on even until today. He doesn't dwell too long on it though lest his thoughts take a less favourable turn; he doesn't want to risk wondering too much about the past. Instead he must dedicate his mind and focus to the time he has now and the task ahead of him.

It's Sanae that discovers a potential cure, though the strange reaction she had when she first spoke up about it made him a little wary.]

I didn't know you were familiar with a healer's art as well, Lady Kochiya. [An innocent enough remark to get this round of interrogation started. He sticks close to her as they cross the road, passing out apologies as unsuspecting passer-bys accidentally bump into him. To his side he can hear and see the metal carriages that run without horses, held at bay by the red light above the pedestrian walk. Seeing them all lined up, rumbling and ready to screech forward at the first flash of green makes him slightly nervous, but he does a good job hiding it, focusing instead on the list of items they were going to need to make this home cure for allergies.]

Nor did I know that ivy comes in more colours than just green. Blue ivy...I wonder how it turned such a strange shade.

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Only three? Are you getting tired of them already?

[Behold, the rare teasing Lu Meng has appeared. So rare is this side of the shinki, and so subtle in appearance (the same serious, strict voice, with just the barest of smiles), it can still easily be mistaken for the more common no-fun Lu Meng.]

[ Alas she hasn't known him long enough to pick up on this subtleness.

She's treating this and him seriously. ] ---You're right about that, too. There should be at least ten!

...I was only speaking in jest, my lady. Three frogs are more than enough.

[He's honestly surprised that her temple isn't full of frogs just yet, surrounded by all that water and all.]

But three frogs wouldn't be eno--

[ Wait. ]

[ Did he just-- ]

[ OMG HE DID. ]

---You were joking! Ah, I mean "jesting"!

[ WOW is this the first time? Maybe? Well, either way Sanae is ecstatic, and her mood has now been recovered. She beams at him, bouncing closing to him. ] Aaaaah, I couldn't even tell, you have such a straight-man poker face! You could have gone on joking for hours and I wouldn't have even known...!

[Personal space PERSONAL SPACE. He immediately leans away from her the moment she bounces closer. That's...quite a reaction to a joke. What's the big deal, it's not like he came up with a cure for allergies or something.]

Yes, it was a small joke about your fascination with frogs. I don't see what the fuss is about.

[ She laughs. ] But that you-- you joked! That's wonderful-- that means you're having fun, right?

[ Leaning closer. Obnoxiously. ] Riiiiight?

[Leaning away. Warily.] Of course. I enjoy the time I spend with you, Lady Kochiya. Every excursion to the Near Shore we've had so far has been educational and pleasant, or at least they have always ended on a positive note, with us learning more about each other and how best to serve the people that worship you.

[ He says it so calmly. Like he's writing a conclusion to a report. So she reaches a little more-- ] But...! But. You haven't joked every time we have been out, so this means this trip is special.

[ Hands on her hips, leans even closer. More obnoxiously. ] Riiiight?

[OK, that's really too close for comfort, and if he leans backwards any further he's probably going to topple over. He firmly grabs her by the shoulders and gently pushes her away.]

There's nothing special about this trip. But I suppose it does means that I have gotten to know you more, my lady. I wouldn't joke around with someone I am not familiar with.

Now, shall we look for that frog cup? That man's allergies must be seen to as soon as possible.

[ "I wouldn't joke with someone I am not familiar with."

....That is something she can see to be as true for him. And it warms her heart to know that he does consider her to be someone with whom he is familiar, at the very least. ] --Oh, yes! There are some cute shops around here that may carry some. [ Hopefully he's noticed by now that she likes to laugh and giggle and smile. ] And.... I hope to hear more of your jokes. [ She adds softly, glancing at him as she walks. ] Don't be shy if you have any more!

[ She'll lead the way, and lo and behold, there is a convenient glass shop they can browse just a few blocks down. Entering it, she bows towards the shopkeeper before she begins browsing. There are all sorts of trinkets and glass engravings, hand-made too. She begin in the nature-themed section, believing that that area may be her best bet to find some frog-themed glass vials. ]

If an occasion presents itself, then I shall keep your words in mind. [Whiiiich translates to once in a rainbow coloured moon. Honestly she made such a big thing out of a little joke.

The old man that minds the shop notices Sanae since she set the little windcharms attached to the door off, but he doesn't even give Lu Meng a second glance when Lu Meng follows behind her. To be polite Lu Meng still bows to the shopkeeper, but it is rather strange to do so to a person that can't see you.

While Sanae peruses the cups, Lu Meng wonders around the store, peering at the colourful display of knick knacks, snacks and drinks, as well as stationaries. He'd just been experimenting with the different pens on sale when he spots a green package tucked away on the lower shelf amidst all the white and blue. Bending down, he pulls it out to discover its an origami set...with instructions on how to fold different animals, including frogs.

By the time Sanae has found her cup and paid, Lu Meng will be outside waiting for her, the origami set in hand.]

Would my lady like to have this? In case you couldn't find a cup sufficiently to your liking, we could fold a paper frog instead.

[ In the end, Sanae does find a cute glass with a couple of frogs on the exterior, and she unwraps it once she exits the shop to show to Lu Meng. It will do nicely.

That isn't to say she doesn't acknowledge the origami set. ] --Oh. I used to make origami all the time back in middle school! That's how we'd pass notes to each other. [ She giggles, remembering that they made of game of how far their paper frogs could "hop" with a press of the folds from one desk to the next. ] Did you want to learn how to, yourself...?

Your offer is kind, but I have no interest in folding paper animals.

[Shot down!!]

Shall we dispense the medicine then?

[ .......Wait really. No lessons in origami?? He's shot her down, and now she's clearly bleeding because of it. After he had been obliging of the handshake, she was so very excited in teaching him a New Thing, too!

But she respects his refusal after a moment, and she gets to working on the medication. Like all of her miracles, they contain no excess pomp, no lights, no drawing of power. It simply is a shift in what lies before hand: first, an empty vial to contain the medication. Then, it's the wish and hope of the young man that wishes to be cured of his allergies-- or whatever the true cause of his sinus problems is. Sanae herself has an idea of the ingredients she had worked on before hand, and one by one they appear in the vial as if they were meant to be there, but the true factor is the prayer itself. The want to be cured.

In the end, she could have used water. Or rock. Or nothing at all. The miracle works with any of these factors because it behaves by the will of the recipient, granting them exactly for which they wish. What appears in the vial is a viscous, blue-green syrup. She holds it up, letting the light reflect off of the bottle's contents. ] ...This should be it.

[His god swings from emotional highs to lows and back again in a heartbeat. He's slowly coming to understand that she puts everything she has into each task and offer she makes; but it also means that when there is an error or a refusal, she takes it very hard.

He's glad she respects his choice, but it doesn't sit well with him as she works in silence. Normally she'd be chattering all about the different ingredients and the science behind everything, but her disappointment bears down on him like divine judgement. It bothers him like a never-ending itch; he could simply give her time to get over it. They'll find something cute along the way home, her eyes will light up and it'll be like this never happened.

But it's not right, he thinks. They do need to draw a line, of course, of how much she can push on him, but right now it doesn't costs him much to learn how to fold a paper frog. And it ties back to something else that he's been thinking about as well. Might as well bring up the suggestion to her now.

He's made up his mind when her voice draws his attention to the cure in her hand. He nods at her.]

Let's get it to that man then. But before we do so...I have been thinking. Some gods are associated with certain symbols that take on the form of multiple objects or living beings. Any sightings of those symbols around miraculous acts often point to the god's intervention.

Would my lady like to adopt the frog as her symbol? We already have the cup, but a paper frog would be easier to create and leave behind after every completed prayer. And if that would be the case, then I would most certainly need to learn how to fold a paper frog.

[ She thinks over his suggestion as she examines the contents of the glass, shutting one eye to peer at it closely. ] A frog as a symbol...?

[ She ponders openly. But the frog isn't her symbol, as much as the snake charm in her hair isn't her symbol either. She simply thinks they are cute. Furthermore, frogs are more closely associated with disease and floods than they are of miracles. As it is, Sanae already has a sigil of her own: a star. Although, it's not as if she's used it as a symbol before. ] Ah, like a calling card?

[ She supposes its appropriate. Frogs are cute! And making origami frogs are fun! She can't exactly say no to frogs, really. And so after finishing examining the contents of the glass she looks back to Lu Meng brightly. ] That's a wonderful idea! [ She'll explain to him one day that the frog symbol doesn't "belong" to her. Not really. And she'll explain about her ancestor, too. And how her own symbol is that star. But for right now, she is perfectly fine with a frog. ] I'll fold the first one for this prayer, um-- [ Scans a place to sit down. ] There! [ There's a small bench. ]

Edited 2016-09-05 02:38 (UTC)

[And just like that, she's back to being happy. He'll gladly follow his god to the bench and open the origami pack for her. The kit comes with a small instructions booklet on how to fold multiple shapes, as well as a small stack of different coloured paper. The paper quality is flimsy and cheap, which explains the discount price when he'd had it checked out. He's careful when he pulls out a green sheet and hands it over to her.]

Here you go, my lady.

[And while she's folding the frog he's flipping idly through the booklet. But really, he's not focusing so much on the contents of the booklet as he is...somewhat troubled by how easy it is to cheer his god up. He doesn't quite like that she's so easily distracted with new cute things, that her previous sadness is so easily discarded. It could open her up for manipulation in the future.

He'll probably need to have another discussion with her later.]

[ She takes the piece of paper and begins folding. ] Let's see... We start with this, and then I believe this is next, and--

[ Ooh, whoops, wrong way.

It'll take her one attempt to recall how exactly to fold a frog out of paper, but then after the first few folds, she completes the rest of the frog smoothly. ] Back in my world, origami is also a type of magic. Powerful priests and exorcists have used origami to capture or slay youkai before, even nue. It's not something I've ever been good at, but... [ One last fold, and she puff up the frog with a breath into a corner. ] These are just calling cards.

[ She scoots away from him some, and then sets the frog down on the bench. Pressing down on the "tail" of the frog, it "hops" towards him once. ]

Such customs are not unusual during my time either. The Taoists would often use paper charms with special writing on them to seal demons and ghosts. And during the Month of the Hungry Ghost, we would often fold paper into the form of gold ingots, to be burned and sent down to the inhabitants of Hell.

[He snaps the booklet shut and sets it down to the side.]

Religious uses aside...I can certainly see how such activities have such an appeal to you, Lady Kochiya.

[He picks up the frog, careful not to crunch it beneath his fingers, then turns it around to face her. Likewise he presses down on the frog to produce a hop back towards her.]

I hope that man will treasure this frog and your gift to him.

[ She nods to him, and then she sets up glass vial down beside the frog. ] Even if he doesn't... that he's helped and feels better is good enough for me.

[ She says contently, and then she clasps her hands together. ] ...I hope he'll feel better after this. [ And with that small prayer, she uses a miracle to deliver and fulfill the prayer request, sending both the frog and the vial directly to the young man. ] There.

Another prayer accomplished.

[Once the vial and frog have disappeared, Lu Meng gathers up the origami set and packs it all back in. It's only then that he stands up and brings one hand up, palm facing her.]

Then, I believe this is the correct moment for a friendship handshake to celebrate our success?

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