(semi-)OPEN

[sweetdeath]

Who: Asato Tsuzuki & you!
What: Tsuzuki's been on vacation long enough: it's time for him to actually do a little investigating.
When: 3/9/16, various times
Where: Various - see prompts
Warnings: None anticipated! Will update if necessary.

Afternoon, March 9th - Nakashima Shrine, Hyogo prefecture [CLOSED to NPC]

[It's a quiet weekday at the shrine, with a chilly drizzle falling. Tsuzuki folds the collar of his coat up against it as a cold droplet slides down the back of his neck and glances around.

So his shrine isn't all that big. He still has a weird feeling of pride, seeing it and realizing that it's his. Pride and, besides that, a sobering sense of responsibility. People are actually counting on him to help them out.

He pauses by a prayer board, turning over one of the wooden plaques hanging there. Someone wants their handmade chocolate business to prosper, so they can leave their job as a pastry chef. Now there, Tsuzuki thinks, is a cause he can really get behind.

Collecting prayers isn't what he's here for, though. What he's here for is to find out if any of the priests know what happened to the guy who ought to be doing it... or when it happened, for that matter.

He turns the plaque back, and heads further into the shrine.]

Evening, March 9th - Tokyo [Dinner open to Hisoka & Battler - Park open to all]

[A good day's work, in Tsuzuki's opinion, calls for a night putting his feet up, and that's what he plans to do. The other great thing about being a god with his own shrines -- even one whose shrines aren't the huge, fancy sort -- is that his income is way better than it was as a lowly, debt-ridden shinigami. He can afford a night out on the town! He can even afford a night out on the town for three, which is why he's stopping back by the Far Shore first to invite Hisoka and Battler out for Chinese food and drinks.

After dinner, he's going to see them home, especially if Hisoka got any bright ideas about drinking more than half a glass of wine, and go walk some of the wine off in a nearby park. Anybody could find him there, huddled in his long coat and looking like any drunken young salaryman except for the distant look in his purple eyes.]

Comments

Nakashima Shrine

[godsoffortune]

[There is the quiet sound of murmured prayers and a bell softly chimes. It being a relatively modest shrine, as soon as Tsuzuki enters the building he finds the old priest in traditional long golden robes and black hat setting an offering before the idol.

With that task accomplished he bows as he steps backwards. At the threshold he turns, and his eyes slip right past the young man standing there- then snap back. There is an uncertain furrow to the priest's brow as he looks again. It takes some effort to keep his attention on him, but at the same time he is drawn to him...]

Can I help you?

Nakashima Shrine

[sweetdeath]

Yeah, actually!

[Tsuzuki steps forward with a smile. He'd been hoping there would be a priest here with some spiritual abilities. The proportion tends to be way higher among priests than the general population, but it's not all of them.

He glances around the shrine.]

I'm Tsuzuki Asato, and I'm -- [Whoops, he forgot to think of a cover.

Does he actually need one, though? Well, he won't bring up the whole story up front, at least. It wouldn't reinforce the poor old guy's faith in the gods to have things under control any.]

-- I'm looking for information about something that happened about a month ago!

Did you notice anything strange around the the temple then?

[godsoffortune]

[The old priest looks a bit surprised.]

Oh? You aren't a frequent visitor here, but you are asking about something like that?

[He shifts his stance slightly and pauses, as if searching within himself for how much to say, and what to say.]

You're right. In tangible terms, the number of visitors here has dropped dramatically since then. Literally overnight. It's quite unusual.

[sweetdeath]

... Really?

[Tsuzuki blanches a little despite himself. Has he been doing that awful of a job? Did he lose all of those followers for his position?

Wait-- but.]

You said it was overnight. Do you remember what day it happened?

[Maybe it was before he got here! As long as it was before February 15th, then he's in the clear.

Man, he's got to start answering more prayers.]

[godsoffortune]

[Without hesitation the man nods.]

Of course. February the 15th.

[sweetdeath]

So, like... the 15th was the first day when everybody stopped coming, or was it the last day you got a normal crowd?

[He's grasping at straws here, old man. Please tell him it wasn't exactly at the moment he showed up.

-- On the other hand... that's kind of weird, isn't it? That it would be exactly at the moment the old Tajimamori vanished and he showed up?

How much of a god's power is really based on belief?]

[godsoffortune]

It was the day that people stopped coming. Around, and even just after Valentine's is one of the busiest times, so there was no mistaking it.

... You seem rather worried, young man. Are you quite all right?

[sweetdeath]

Oh, uh, yeah, I'm fine! I'm just... well. You know!

[He really should have come up with a cover story first. Winging it never really works for him. He looks around the shrine, a bit of a frown growing on his face. If nobody's been coming for nearly a month, how long is this place going to last?]

Do you know the names of any of the usual visitors who's stopped coming?

[The priest might not know what's going on with them if they haven't been in to talk about it, but if Tsuzuki can go find one of the former faithful, maybe they can explain.]

[godsoffortune]

[While the old priest is a bit confused by Tsuzuki's (slightly suspicious) answer, his expression becomes more guarded at that question.]

Of course I do. But what would you do with such confidential information, Tsuzuki-san? Further, what reason do you have to be so curious about the happenings of this shrine, particularly around one month ago?

[His tone is not accusatory, but he is very curious. He knows that this shrine was not the only one to have been hit by a sudden decrease in visitors since the 15th. Could it be someone had reason to investigate it?]

I'm lame and i can never get enough of pestering all your chars

[birdstheword]

[There's no set time Hajime is ever not roaming around. Morning, afternoon or the evening...it doesn't matter. Her temple is nice. Rise-chan is adorable but she's restless. Exploring the city at all times of the day gives an idea to what the town is like. There didn't seem to be a curfew or at least not for gods and shinki. It was so strange being almost like a ghost to every other passerby. Knowing she was almost invisible to everyone in less she forced their attention on her. Even without the effect of her NOTE was so weird. It had it's perks but especially during the day when passing students she noticed it the most. But she was adjusting. She still wanted to protect everyone.

She made her way through the park, humming a merry tune and chirping 'Gaaatchaaa~ GatchaGatchaGatchaaa~' words here and there.

It's when she passes by Tsuzuki that she pauses. Her foot hangs mid step as she looks over to the huddled up man curiously. Was that Tsuzuki? It looked like him! Even huddled up and everything she wouldn't miss that eye-catching purple hue! She pivots on her leg to spin around and stop in front of him]

Hey Tsu-zu-kun~. [ Hajime chimes, giving a quick wave.] What are you doing?

Hajime is so cute though I love it

[sweetdeath]

Oh-- hi there, Hajime!

Just taking a walk... [His smile is a little distracted, but still sincere.]

It's kind of a nice night, isn't it?

[Actually, it's kind of cold. It's not raining, though, and the flowers on the trees are hanging determinedly on.]

What was that song you were singing?

Tsuzuki is too you know. In his own way~

[birdstheword]

It is! It is!

[Cold or not, it didn't take away from the calm night. It almost felt strange for it to be so calm since it was usually plagued by some sort of ayakashi. Maybe even phantoms took breaks?]

Hm? Oh! I made it up. It's a fun song that doesn't have any other words. Just a upbeat tune. Gatcha~! Maybe...I'll come up with one for here too since I made that when I became a Gatchaman!

[She bounces a bit at that, putting her arm over her chest as if giving some strange salute]

Gatcha!

[Hajime lowers it after a moment though and looks up at him]

Hey Tsuzu-kun, do you have any songs you sing or like?

[sweetdeath]

Sure! All the karaoke classics, you know....

[He breaks into a slightly off-key chorus of "Linda Linda."]

-- Haha, your song's pretty cute too! What's a gatchaman?

[birdstheword]

[ Slightly off-key or not, Hajime claps for him. If it's something he enjoys the talent behind it doesn't matter. Besides, Tsuzuki has a nice voice]

Encore~! Encore!!

[Hajime giggles a bit. He's fun. Maybe after they do an art night, then Karaoke night would be the next thing that would need to happen.]

I'm a Gatchaman! We're heroes! I told you before but...

[She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small white notebook with a strange symbol on it and holds out to him so he can see.]

...I didn't have this before. My NOTE! It wasn't with me when I arrived but it was at my new home. Weird, huh? Now I don't have to just bait for Susu-san.

[sweetdeath]

Oh yeah, that's right, you mentioned it before... I still don't get it, though.

[Heroes? So is it like a military group or something? It's kind of a weird job description. It sounds more like a kid's show. He's distracted by the Note, though.]

Whoa, cool! They just left it at your house for you?

[Tsuzuki leans in, examining the strange symbol. It's nothing he recognizes -- not a demon circle, not a star chart. It looks more like some kind of logo.]

What's it do?

[birdstheword]

Yep! I was super surprised to! It was just sitting there on my pillow. If I knew it was there I would stopped by there first. But it makes things a lot easier now!

[She pulls the NOTE back from him once he gets a good look at it and rest it by her cheek and holds up two fingers.]

Lots of things, Tsuzu-kun! It's how I turn into a Gatchaman, you know! It's great. How about you Tsuzu-kun?

[sweetdeath]

Whoa, you transform with that thing? But it just looks like a notebook! Is it magic?

[He gapes, impressed, then -- oh yeah, she asked a question. He blinks.]

Wait, how about me what?

[birdstheword]

...I have no idea!

[Hajime gives a small shrug, smiling all the while. Really, she doesn't, but at least she's honest about it. This NOTE is her actual soul turned into a physical item that gives her abilities. It's a lot of food for thought but easy enough to adjust to.]

It works though! I can show you if you want. Easy!

[He'll see it eventually anyway and its no secret. Hajime is very open about the whole thing. Here and back home.]

How about you! I know you can make neat Spell paper-things. Can you do more magic things? Tell me more about Tsuzu-kun!

Dinner dinner dinnerrrrr

[zenzendameda]

[Battler is honestly more than delighted to accompany his god to dinner. And hey, if he can get someone to give him drinks, he'll be more than happy to take that too, honestly.]

You know, you are one nice god, Tsuzuki-san! I always thought of gods as like... these big, awful, terrifying sorts of things. But you're kind of...

[He gestures vaguely, trying to find the right word.]

...not.

[Nailed it.]

[outwardinsight]

It's true. He's entirely lowly and unimpressive all around. [ That's one point to agree on, certainly, and Hisoka says as much with a near deadpan delivery.

It's probably the safe bet to stick close with these two. He's not sold on the idea that Battler can keep someone like Tsuzuki out of trouble. For as new as he is to this shinki business himself, it feels like he has something of a well honed instinct for that sort of thing. ]

[sweetdeath]

Hisoka... that's mean.

[Man, can't he enjoy a compliment for five seconds without getting shot down? Tsuzuki pulls a tragic face as the first platter of appetizers arrives.]

Anyway, I'm trying to work my way up! There's all those candymakers out there! I can't let them down.

[He clenches a fist dramatically, and grins at the two of them.]

I think I'll skip the whole awful and terrifying thing, though. Casual's more fun!

[And now that he's the boss there's no paperwork at all. He snags the wine list from its spot at the middle of the table and flips it open, picking up his chopsticks to go for one of the gyoza.]

[zenzendameda]

[Whoa man, shots fired! Battler blinks a couple of times at Hisoka. He hasn't really gotten used to this guy's attitude yet, he's so... straight-laced!]

Well, as long as you're giving me good food and drinks, I think you're doing a pretty good job!

[He grins at Tsuzuki and starts to munch on the food himself, making delighted noises as he chews.]

[outwardinsight]

[ Hisoka's not unused to being somewhat disconcerting. He huffs rather indelicately at the idea that Tsuzuki was 'skipping' being awful and terrifying. As if anyone could think such a low-rent confectioner's god would be. ]

Just don't get too loose with the household budget, you two. We might be in a situation where this is the busy season, and it drops off after.

[ Maybe they ought to track these kinds of things? Now that he thinks about it, industry statistics might be useful... but, ugh, that'd be a pain in the ass. He isn't sure he wants to suggest it yet. It might become his task.

Either way, he's not going to let those two annihilate the appetizers by themselves. He's a downer sometimes, but he's not missing out here. ]

[sweetdeath]

Yeah, plus, I'm still coasting on the old Tajimamori's goodwill... from here on out I'll have to make my own.

[He makes a face, and snags a pork bun for his plate.]

But we've got enough for dinner out sometimes! So it's fine. Hey, Battler, how've you been doing so far? I mean, I should help you settle in here too, and stuff.

Hopefully we won't have any more of those ayakashi storms.

[That last one had involved way too many close calls. For Tsuzuki and for Hisoka, too. Without a weapon shinki, he's going to stay off the front lines from now on.]

[zenzendameda]

[Battler waves a dismissive hand at Hisoka. Don't be such a worrywart with money, yo! Battler you come from a bankrupt affluent family HUSH.]

It's fine! I won't buy anything Tsuzuki-san doesn't want, promise.

[He tilts his head a little at Tsuzuki's question and then grins at him.]

I'm doing okay! I mean, it's weird, yeah, but I think I'm getting used to this... I'm dead and serving a god thing!