[Open]

[kagenonadeshiko]

Who: Ayumu Yamazaki and temple residents and/or visitors
What: Catch-all post for threads occurring in or around Ayumu's temple this month. After dealing with blight, illness/lethargy from a distressed shinki, and injuries sustained during the player event, she's recovering at home.
Where: Vesta's Villa (Description/floor plan here.)
When: April 21st - 30th
Warnings: None yet but will add as they come up!


A. April 21st - 23rd

[It's rare to see Ayumu taking it easy but that's exactly what she's been doing since the ayakashi assault. The stinging's lessened considerably since Yamato's made a new friend but another problem has risen up to replace it - Satoshi. There's a palpable tension in the air between them after their fight. Ayumu still has no idea what to do with him but it's a problem she's willing to put aside while she recovers.

She hasn't seen or heard from Axel in some time now but with her health as it is, she simply hasn't had the energy to go to him. After a bit more rest, Ayumu will certainly pay a visit to Pippa's temple. She's wanted to introduce herself to Axel's other goddess for quite some time now, anyway.

In the meantime, she can be found lounging around in various parts of the temple, reading various cookbooks, poetry books, and books on parenting she'd picked up on the Near Shore, or fiddling with her smartphone as she tries once again to master the internet. The housework might be piling up without her doing it all or it might not if her shinki have opted to fill in for her instead. ]


B. Mealtimes

[Despite Ayumu's lethargy and fatigue, she still prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, compared to the usual elaborate feasts she cooks, meals these days are very simple and minimal effort. Hope everyone likes rice and steamed vegetables because that's all anyone's getting unless they chip in to help in the kitchen.]


C. Evenings/Nighttime

[Ayumu's private chamber is off-limits, not because she has anything particularly incriminating or even interesting lying around. Aside from a few classic romance novels and some volumes of erotic poetry by poets from a time even older than hers. Judging from the tomes lying around, Ayumu appears to have a fondness for stuff from the Heian era in particular.

There's an unspoken rule in effect that once Ayumu retreats to her room for the night, she's not to be disturbed unless there's an emergency or urgent matter that requires her attention. Feel free to bother her after hours or snoop around through her things. But be warned - if she catches your character doing it, they may wind up with some bruises for their trouble.]


D. Adventures in Childproofing

[Apparently, Ayumu has taken whatever she's been learning in those parenting books she's been reading to heart and has spent some of the funds obtained through selling off her urns on assorted safety devices designed to deter adventurous babies and toddlers from self-destruction. It's too bad they're mostly an annoying hindrance for anyone over the age of five. Feel free to destroy them if your character gets just a little too impatient or frustrated with them. The mistress of the house might be displeased but she'll deal.]


E. Wild card

[Feel free to treat this as a casual mingle and make your own top-levels! Or ping/PM me if you have an idea!]

Comments

[April 21]

[doestheickyjobs]

[It's been a week and a half since Axel stopped by. He hasn't heard anything else from Ayumu, but she's probably been busy helping Yamato settle in, right? Right. Sure.

After that nasty ayakashi fight, though, he's got to make sure she's actually okay, so he's trailing up the front walk of her temple in the morning, badly concealing the worried look on his face.

He raps loudly at the front door.]

Hey! Ayumu! You in?

[kagenonadeshiko]

[It takes her a couple of minutes to answer the door but as soon as she opens it and sees who's there, her previously grim expression brightens instantly. For a moment, she just looks at him as if committing his visage to memory with a soft smile on her face.

There's dark circles under her eyes and she's looking a little pale. But at least, the blight stopped when the stinging did and she was able to take care of it along with the rest she sustained after the fight. Too bad the shrine water hasn't done much for her fatigue.]

Axel.

[The way she says his name is almost a sigh of relief in itself.]

Hello. Please come in.

[doestheickyjobs]

Hey. [There's worry on his face instantly as he sees how exhausted she looks: that's not just from being in a fight, that's more than that. She really has had her hands full, hasn't she?

He represses a pang of guilt (oh, shit: she probably felt that) and steps in, crossing his arms.]

You're not looking so good. Are you okay? You didn't get in too much trouble in that fight the other day, did you?

[kagenonadeshiko]

[She does but doesn't pay it any mind. Thanks to the situation she's in, Ayumu's gotten used to the stings. And just as she's done with her shinki, she simply endures it without comment or complaint. Besides, why would she want to waste her time with him dwelling on sad, depressing things? Too much of her life's been consumed by unpleasant darkness already.

And of course, she doesn't want him to worry about her too much. Ayumu will be just fine. She musters up just enough energy to steal a quick kiss before answering.]

Nothing Yamato and I couldn't handle. And I had some help from other gods.

[Her expression brightens once again, as another thought occurs to her.]

Something wonderful happened. Two of my friends from home are here now - my commander and his companion.

[Companion seems like the most polite and discreet way to describe it, anyway. Then suddenly she glances down shyly, settling down from her sudden outburst.]

I'd love for you to meet them sometime. And for them to meet you.

[doestheickyjobs]

Hey, seriously?

[He looks down at her, and then, clearing his throat in an attempt to be casual, leans closer so he can drop an arm around her shoulders in a half-hug. She's cheering up, but she still seriously looks like she needs a hug.]

Yeah, you should introduce me. I'd like to meet them. What're their names?

[He's still worried, a low-key hum in the bond between them, but he's trying to suppress that, too. He should've come by way before now. Somebody's got to keep an eye on her.

Shit, this is the real problem with being a stray. He just doesn't have enough time to look after all of his gods.]

[April 22nd I do what I want]

[okitactless]

[Yamato isn't the most mature shinki in heaven.

Everyone knows that. He's weird, he's tactless, and just about the only thing going for him is his loyalty, which Axel got the full brunt of that night. Things still aren't exactly easy, but after the attack, they've at least started to settle into something more-or-less peaceful. A truce, perhaps.

Yamato isn't very mature, but he knows when he needs to apologize, even if he doesn't like to admit it. So even though he'd much rather run off and spend time with Souji, someone who really understands his feelings... he stays put.

Axel comes to Ayumu, which is convenient, because he wouldn't have even known where to start looking. Who is Axel's god, anyway? Someday, he thinks, he'd like to find out. But for now, he's just glad to find Axel on the temple grounds.

The look on his face isn't exactly contrite, but... it's as close as he can get when he still believes, in the deepest part of his heart, that his devotion is perfectly righteous.]

Hello, Axel-kun. Do you have a minute?

[April 22!]

[doestheickyjobs]

[Axel pauses, turning towards Yamato, and blinks.

Okay. So, that's a thing. He scratches the back of his neck, eyeing the other shinki uncertainly. What's Yamato want with him anyway?]

Yeah, sure, I guess.

... What's up?

[okitactless]

[Yamato might know what needs to be said, but that doesn't mean he knows how to say it. So even though he was the one to strike up conversation, he looks away, fidgeting with his sleeve.

He brought Tsuzuki snacks when he went to "apologize" for angering Hisoka, should he have brought Axel something too? But the kitchen here is Ayumu's domain, and it would seem awfully ridiculous to bring Axel something Ayumu made, that he could easily get for himelf.

Hngh. This is hard.]

The night before I came to stay here with Ayumu-san... [Stay, not live, because he doesn't really belong here. Still, he bows his head, a clear sign of apology.] I wanted you to know that I never intended to hurt her. I'm sorry I made you get involved. [Whether he could have or not is a moot point; this is about intent. Ayumu must've seen his face, seen the way he moved back from her, recoiling, not lunging for an attack. Even if they'd gotten in a proper fight, Yamato has no doubt that Ayumu could've handled him--she's a god, after all.

But he isn't sure how much of that Axel picked up on, and... he'd been there as a favor, after all. To make him step in like that, when he hadn't even had to be there in the first place... that much was definitely uncalled for.]

[doestheickyjobs]

Oh, that? Seriously, don't worry about it.

[Axel reaches up to scratch the back of his neck, a little embarrassed, and glances away. There's a red character inscribed on his neck under the edge of his hand, clearly visible now that his hand's lifting his hair out of the way.]

You were freaking out. Nobody got hurt, that's the important thing.

... You're doing better lately, right?

[Shepard's not back yet, though. That's not going to get better: sure, some missing gods have reappeared, but it's not something that Axel's willing to bet on.]

B sort of

[spes_phthisica]

[He wanders into her temple uninvited as if it's the most natural thing in the world. He still doesn't understand why that is, but he's not going to examine the feeling either, because it's not like it matters. This is a safe space, a home space, because it belongs to Ayumu. Maybe it's just because that's the kind of Goddess she is, and who is he to question it?

He does however dip into a low, respectful bow as he finds her in the kitchen, apparently only just starting on the preparations for dinner.]

Ah, there you are, Ayunee-sama. [He looks up and beams at her.] I was looking for you. If you permit it, could I maybe help you with something?

[kagenonadeshiko]

[Ayumu still recognizes the sound of Souji's footsteps before she turns to greet him with a warm, maternal smile. Even back at the compound, he was one of the few that Ayumu permitted to approach her this way in her own domain. So just as natural as it is for Souji to wander in uninvited, it's natural for her to simply include him into her routine.]

Oh, hello, Souji-kun.

[She looks and sounds a bit tired but she's very pleased to see him nonetheless.]

I was just about to get started on the rice. There's some vegetables over there that need chopping. What brings you by?

[spes_phthisica]

[Back then, it might have been partially because even before getting sick, Souji never had the ravenous appetite of some of the men, and wouldn't try to steal any food before it was ready. And now, with only the knowledge that Ayumu is a God firmly in place, he would of course never do such a thing... unless it looked really tasty. Maybe.

Without hesitating for a moment, he crosses the kitchen and picks up one of the sharpest knives, handling it like an afterthought.]

I just wanted to come here. [A pause, then:] Ayunee-sama must've had it hard for a while, right? I think it can't be easy, things having been what they are with Yamato-kun. I've been trying to make him feel better, but I think I should help you too, you know?

[kagenonadeshiko]

[It's good to see Souji's sweetness hasn't gone away with his memories.]

Things were a little tough around here but they've gotten better! Thanks for being such a good friend to Yamato-kun. He seems much happier now.

[The reprieve from stinging has made it easier to deal with other matters. Like the Satoshi issue, for instance. Ayumu pours the rice into the pot, expression thoughtful, before speaking up again.]

There is something else I could use some advice on though. How do you feel about children, Souji-kun?

[It's an honest question but this also a good opportunity to get more insight into the mind of a shinki in general.]

B- April 25th

[oathkeeper]

[A few days after everything has settled down from the attack on the heavens and Sora’s return from Alucard’s underground temple, Sora decides that he wants to go see Ayumu for a little while. He hadn’t seen her in a long time and after meeting Hijikata, he kind of misses her. Time to go check on her and see how she’s doing.

With a tray of bubble teas in his arms he makes his way to her temple. Being his first time here he’s pretty impressed with the Roman villa. Very different from his temple but has the same mixture between Japanese influence and their godhood influences.

With a smile, he knocks on her door.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

[Ayumu's a bit slow to answer the door these days so there's a brief delay before she opens up. Her expression brightens at the sight of Sora. It's been a while since they'd talked, much to her chagrin.]

Oh, hello, Sora-kun! Please come in.

[Ayumu steps aside to let him pass through, gaze shifting curiously to the drinks. What a peculiar colors but they're pretty.]

What are those? And how have you been? It's been a while since I've seen you.

[oathkeeper]

It has been! I'm sorry it took me so long to come by and see you.

[Sora smiles brightly at her, happy to see her just as much. He does notice she looks a little tired which concerns him, though.]

These are bubble teas, cold fruit drinks with pieces of tapioca pearls in it. I wasn't sure what flavor you'd like so I got a bunch. There's strawberry, green apple and taro.

[He likes all three so he's fine with whatever she doesn't pick and the last one can be left for whoever grabs it first.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

Oh! They all look good.

[Ayumu smiles and reaches out for the green apple one, more based on the pretty shade of green it is than the flavor itself.]

I've never tried these before.

[First, he gave her panda cookies and pocky and now he's introducing her to a new drink! It seems she's always discovering something new around Sora. As she sips the drink, her smile widens.]

Oh, this is good! A very unique texture.

26 April; B

[fingerbangs]

[It's strange; living in a temple. Not quite what he expected either, but a step up from sleeping on the streets. Or he guesses he could have always crashed at Kurama's temple, even though that's weird enough having a friend you don't remember.

But free room, free food. He can't complain. Well, that's a lie: he can and will...had his god not turned out to be some hot goddess.

He's leaning against the door frame, watching her cook and trying to think up a way to start a conversation that isn't completely stupid.]

Yo.

[There's obviously a brilliant mind at work here. Having already screwed that up, he goes ahead and jumps right into it.]

So, how's this gonna work?

[kagenonadeshiko]

How's what gonna work?

[It's not that Ayumu minds her new shinki. Not at all. It's always good to have more options in battle. The recent ayakashi assault on Takamagahara really drove that point home. However, Ayumu's hands have been full with the shinki she already has so the sudden arrival of a strange young man just appearing in her home out of nowhere on the tail end of so much upheaval and change, well, it took her off guard.]

Ah, sorry. I suppose you'll help me fight ayakashi.

[She's hesitant to take a new, untested shinki with her on prayers, especially when that's generally a domain she leaves for Satoshi. Or really into battle for that matter. The young man looks fit enough but would he be a liability in a fight? After a moment, she adds.]

Well, after a trial period, of course. We both have a chance to learn what you're capable of first.

[During her time here in this world, Ayumu's gained some practical insight when it comes to finding a use for new shinki. The first step to making the most of their potential is to learn their limits.]

[fingerbangs]

Just because I'm new to this whole shinki crap, doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing.

[Even though it's just a feeling he has that he can take people in a fight as evidenced by all the fights he almost got into yesterday. He's only entirely sure of the fact that he's been itching to actually fight something. But this is his god...person. Thing. Owner? Whatever, not that important to him at the moment. So he's trying his best to be somewhat respectful. He has manners. Sometimes.]

And I got that part about the aya-whatevers. I'm talking about just in general. Stuff like that. I'd feel bad if I was just freeloading off you.

[He scratches his head and looks pointedly at a wall. It's only because she's a woman and he's supposed to be the one helping her that he even mentions it. Plus, they are strangers. Granted, he can't say he knows anyone, but the point stands.

And he can't sit on his hands, doing nothing but trolling people on the network most days. He has to keep active.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

Hmm.

[Well, Ayumu can appreciate a straightforward reply, even if she still has no intention of taking him into combat untested. Whether he knows what he's doing or not, she doesn't know how much is action and how much is talk. At least, this one appears to be of an age to look after himself. It's kind of a relief, really.]

How are you at cooking or cleaning? Gardening? There's always chores to be done and I'd welcome some help keeping up the place. Unfortunately, my health isn't the best right now.

[Ayumu busies herself with some chopping for a moment.]

Some assistance keeping Satoshi entertained and out of trouble would be helpful as well.

[An extra set of eyes looking after the boy to prevent any further ayakashi mishaps definitely couldn't hurt.]

I'M LATE I'M SORRY

[okitactless]

((late on the 23rd/early on the 24th?))

[They need to talk.

They need to talk about a lot of things. Yamato's known that for a while, but it's never been anything he's wanted to talk about, and Ayumu had seemed content (or at least, too exhausted) to push it. But certain things have come to light recently, and Yamato can't just sit back and let them be. No matter how rocky their relationship has been recently, Ayumu is still his friend. And he's concerned.

He seeks her out when he's sure she'll be alone. He doesn't need to announce his presence, so he doesn't bother, simply keeping his voice down so as not to alert Satoshi.]

Ayumu-san? Are you busy? I'd like to talk to you.

IT'S FINE I'VE BEEN SLOW LATELY /LOVES ON

[kagenonadeshiko]

[It's late. Satoshi's been put to bed, Axel's gone back to his temple for the night, and Ayumu's on her way back to her room to retire for the evening when Yamato approaches. Even as fatigued as she's been, Ayumu's been smiling more the past couple of days since Axel's started hanging around the temple. And now, that peaceful smile and soft look is still on her face when she turns to respond.]

Oh, no. I was just going to read for a bit and get some sleep. Did you need something, Yamato-kun?

[She doesn't invite him into her room just yet but if he asks for privacy, she will.]

[okitactless]

[In contrast, the troubled look on Yamato's face only clouds over further. It isn't that he's upset Ayumu is happy--quite the contrary. He's found such a good friend in Souji himself, after all, and with him, Hijikata and Axel around, they've both been looking better than they've been since Shepard's disappearance. Yamato's oblivious to the blight he's marked her with, and even though he still misses Shepard dearly, it's gotten much easier to wait for her return in recent days. He's noticed she's still not at 100%, of course, but neither is he, and he's confident that with a little time, things will even out. Maybe they can even tackle a prayer together, he's begun to think, but that will have to wait until they're more comfortable fighting together. Still, it's something he's started, very tentatively, to want.

He doesn't want to make her unhappy. He never has. That's where the blighting came from in the first place, after all--his guilt over dragging her down with him, over being unable to serve her, because he isn't hers. This conversation is going to upset her, which makes Yamato hesitate and fidget, but he doesn't run. In the end, if it means helping or protecting her, he's willing to take some of her anger or sadness.]

It's about Axel-kun. [He doesn't ask to go somewhere else, but the look on his face is serious; it's clear this isn't going to be a casual chat.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

[To her credit, Ayumu's expression doesn't change aside from a slight narrowing of her eyes. Really, it was only a matter of time before someone asked and she's not particularly surprised that it's Yamato doing the asking considering who she'd called the day Shepard went missing. It probably isn't going to be an easy or particularly pleasant conversation but it's better to get it out of the way now before it has a chance to fester and complicate matters between them even more.]

'Kay. We can talk in my room.

[The same room she's spent quite a bit of time with Axel in lately. Maybe it's not an entirely appropriate setting for this conversation but it's her sanctuary and if they're going to talk about Axel, she'd prefer it to be somewhere private and safe. She simply leads him into the room and gestures to her low-sitting table.]

Please. Have a seat.