new prayer

[miraculo]

Who: Sanae and Lu Meng
What: Prayer no. 9
Where: Around the city!
When: April 26th, Noon
Warnings: None!


"How could I lose it!? I don't understand; it was right there in my wallet. It's the only thing I have left to remember him by. Please. You have to find it for me."

[ Today's the day after the cherry-blossom-viewing-turned-hellfire, and Sanae has definitely suffered the after effects of the petals. And she's assuming that it's because of the petals and not how much she drank because, really, she didn't drink that much, and she swears she's not a light weight!

Anyone can put that thought up for debate.

Regardless, Sanae has decided that to prove that it's not that bad of a hangover this noon, and that she's going to answer a prayer. Besides, who is she to say no to a prayer just because of the drinking too much-- er. She means being under those trees for so long! Yeah! Yes, she is determined to see this prayer through. ] The last place Takenaka -san was at was at.... this train station.

[ UUUggh. It's so bright out. She wishes she brought some sunglasses. ] A small locket with his photo in it.

[ She turns to Lu Meng. ] Have you found anything yet?

Comments

[young_oldman]

I told you to watch your alcohol intake yesterday. [Is the unimpressed reply from her shinki, who's regarding her with a very deep disapproving scowl. There has probably been a long stream of "I-told-you-so"s since she was up this morning nursing a hangover.

Lu Meng had been looking after her since, and perhaps he shouldn't have scolded her so much because now she's trying to prove that she can!!! Answer a prayer!!! She's not that hungover!!!

In the words of today's generation? Bullshit.] My lady, your health is far more important than your pride. I must insist that you go home and rest!

[miraculo]

N--nonsense, Lu Meng! You can't answer a prayer by yourself. That's my duty, as a god!

[ Issss it under this bench? No? Going to check over here instead, then. ]

[young_oldman]

[He follows her, still not joining the search properly because he really does not agree with her taking up this prayer request so soon after yesterday's intoxicated mess.]

Please my lady, you haven't fully recovered. [He's already apologized the night before, and apologized again in the morning, but he feels the need to apologize again, especially if his temper is what's spurring her to prove herself to him.]

You don't have to prove that you can handle your liquor to me. The words I spoke yesterday were mostly out of anger, and they were wrong.

[miraculo]

[ Her hair is frazzled. There are bags underneath her eyes. And her skin doesn't have that same shine.

But when she straightens up again, she's putting a hand on her hip and smiling at him. ] It's okay, it's okay!

Rain or shine, this isn't about me. Or you. [ Although yes she does want to prove to him that she can. ] This is about Ms. Takanaka.

[ She turns from him again, clasping her hands behind her back. He voice quiets, as if the softer tone could hide the lingering guilt still laced within it. ] Besides... there will be plenty of other days we can make up for a cherry blossom viewing on our own.

[young_oldman]

[The scowl slips from his face, features softening from the guilt and regret. Even worse; he has to fight this remorse so that she won't be stung by him.]

Alright, my lady. [He says to her, tone equally as quiet. Neither of them want to argue after yesterday's huge row and although he still disagrees with her being up and about, he doesn't want to distress her any further.]

Please let me know if you need to sit down and rest though. Don't over-exert yourself.

[miraculo]

[ Although she feels no prick at the back of her neck, she can understand what he's feeling. She hears it in his voice.

And so as she continues to look for the locket, she casually says: ] ....You know what would really help?

Crepes. We should go for crepes after this. Have you ever had one? They're delicious!

[young_oldman]

I don't know what crepes are, but if they come on my lady's recommendation then I must give them a try. [He's also joining the search now, looking underneath benches and among the bushes and flower-beds for a hidden glint of metal.]

[miraculo]

They're desserts! Street vendors can sell them, and they're absolutely delicious. [ She hasn't had one since she's been to Gensokyo. ] If you haven't tried one, then you absolutely must. They're French.

[ She's only talking for the sake of conversation, keeping the topic light. She doesn't want their argument to weigh them down any longer than it has to, although she's still feeling bad about it herself. Aaaah, normally she'd be fine by this time! It would have been behind her! Why hasn't that happened yet? What about what happened bothers her so much? ]

[young_oldman]

French...that's from a western country. France, I believe?

[Small talk. Oh how he hates small talk, especially in moments like now when it stinks of attempts to keep the situation light-hearted after a heavy argument. But for her sake he'll bear it.]

In the days of the Han Empire, the furthest country to the West was known as "The Great Qin". It was said that the people from this land were tall and honest, conducted much trade on land and sea, and had many vessel states. Interestingly, the king of the country was selected and appointed by the people. If a great calamity struck the nation, the people would gather and elect a new leader while the old would accept the decision without a mummer.

OH MY GOD i lost this tag

[miraculo]

[ He might hate small talk, but this is rather interesting to her. ] I never heard of it. [ She says, looking under another bench. ] I wouldn't have thought that a democracy or a republic would be popular back in ancient times.

[ No offense, ancient person who lived in feudal era. ] I mean-- if you had something like that, then you wouldn't have ancient stories about princes and princesses! [ See, that's what concerns her most. ]

[young_oldman]

I thought it was a strange idea as well. I can't imagine handing the fate of the Empire to an uneducated farmer. What would a farmer know of building roads and storing enough grain to feed a city during a hard winter?

But I suppose there are some merits to it. Too often has a despot been allowed to thrive because it is believed he has the right to rule.

[Annnd. Oh. Well. That was fast.] My lady, here. [Surprisingly didn't take them too long to find the locket; it had indeed fallen into one of the nearby bushes.]

[miraculo]

[ Sanae looks over her shoulder, surprised that they've found the locket so quickly. ] Oh, wonderful! [ She walks over. ]

Ehh, it's so cute too! Does it open up to have someone's picture in it?

[ She's often seen such lockets in film, but has never really seen on in real life. They're antiques, and too clunky to wear casually. ]

NOW IN THE RIGHT PLACE LOL

[young_oldman]

If it's a memento then we shouldn't pry. [His thumb traces the smooth surface of the locket. Cheap metal, no doubt about it. Yet it's importance to its owner is not in doubt. It felt wrong to intrude on such precious memories.

He holds it out to her to take. As the god, she needs to be the one to give it back.]

[miraculo]

Ah, you're right. [ She takes the locket back, noting the heart-and-swirl silver engraving on the front, and then pockets it. ]

Looks like we've solved another prayer. [ She says, suppressing a tired yawn. She needs coffee. Or tea. And maybe sunglasses for this hangover. ] These little things can mean a lot to a person-- I've glad that we've found it. [ And she's glad that he allowed them to go down to the Near Shore this day to do so. That woman shouldn't be without her locket! ] Shall we head back?

[young_oldman]

If there is nothing left for us to do here, then we should return this locket at once.

[Also, Sanae looks like she could do with a nap. The sooner they head back, the better it would be for her.

They find Sanae's devotee without much trouble. Fat tears squeeze out of her eyes as she takes the locket with trembling hands, and she bows deeply towards the both of them, thanking them over and over again. She even offers to pay the two of them for their services; that's how much the locket meant to her.]

[miraculo]

[ Sanae absolutely refuses any payment, saying that the reward is only the woman's happiness for having the locket returned. She can't help but give a kind but mysterious smile as she tells the woman that she'll continue to look after her and bless her in the future. Sanae bows to her politely before bidding farewell, and then the two are back on their way down the street. ]

...This is the start of a good day. [ She says, content. ] Doing good for others always makes a day better.

[young_oldman]

No truer words have ever been spoken. [He concurs.] But we should really head home, my lady. You need your sleep.

[And the path they're walking down now to the closest shrine happens to go by a loud place, with bright lights and blaring sounds. Lu Meng stops to look at the place, inclining his head a little out of curiosity.] My lady...is that not a pachinko gambling den? Why are children going in and out of that place?

1/2

[miraculo]

[ She had just been rubbing her eyes when he mentions gambling, and Sanae turns to look. ] --Oh! That's not gambling. [ Both of her energy and spirits seem to pick up on the spot as she watches both children and teenagers-- as well as some young adults-- enter and exit. ]

That's an arcade! [ Her feet seem to move on their own, and she takes a few steps towards it. ] It's a place to play video games on these big machines and on big screens, and some have special controllers like if you're playing a first person shooter, or a steering wheel for a racing game!

[miraculo]

[ Aaaand then she stops herself from rambling on, looking away. ] So, um..... mm.

It's not gambling. [ She reminds herself that he thinks it childish... and that she should be behaving more of her age. ]

[young_oldman]

[Oh. His expression softens, thinking back to the harsh words he'd thrown at her yesterday. She...she would really like to go in, wouldn't she?]

Why would people play there instead of using a video game console? Is there any difference between the machines there and the ones you have at home?

[miraculo]

Er-- the controllers are different. [ Like she just explained. ] And the screens are larger, and-- there's more to do. Playing a dancing game at home isn't the same as playing on a stage in an arcade. There are also prizes you can win, and more people you can compete against!

[ .......But why is she even explaining this to him. ] A-anyway, you don't need to concern yourself with it. It's just an arcade. [ "Just". ]

[young_oldman]

...Actually. I would like to see this arcade. I would like to learn as much as possible about all these modern locations, and we may be called to answer a prayer in there someday

And I want to learn more about video games. [He coughs a little, a blush spreading up to his ears.] I still don't understand why you enjoy them so much...but the best way for me to understand, is to experience it for myself. You'll have to teach me how to use those machines though.

[miraculo]

[ She appears hesitant. He's not just saying this because he wants to be nice to her, is he? ] Are you sure...?

[ What harm can it do. She doubts she'd get another chance to spend time at an arcade with him. ] W-well, I suppose it couldn't hurt. There might be some games you'd like there, too! [ Like fake hunting games. And maybe zombie shoot-em-up games. ] We can start with something simple and work our way up to the danc-- [ Lu Meng dancing? Nope. She's not going to put him through that, not so soon. ] I mean, to the racing games.

[young_oldman]

[And he follows behind her. Once they enter the arcade his eyes go wide at all the visual and audio overload. All the bright flashing lights, all the chirpy noises, the shouting and the laughing. He's admittedly a little uncomfortable with all the banging about, but no. He's not here for himself. He's here for her.]

Are the racing games...over there?

[And by that, he's talking about the racing car booths. There are a couple of young men there, all hollering and cheering and jeering. He immediately tenses inside; Sanae will be the only young lady there. Will it be fine...?]

[miraculo]

Yes! And the thing is with arcades, you have to challenge the winner to have access to the game. Here, watch-- [ To her credit, she waits until the boys are finished with their one round, the loser hanging his head and the winner jeering. But she doesn't waste a second longer than that when she places a hand on her hips. ] Move over, boys, and let me show you how it's really done!

[ At first the boys' reaction is one of disbelief and laughter. No way a girl could beam the King of Speedster Turbo 2! Aw, that's cute that she brought her dad with her; she'll need him when she starts to cry after how badly they beat her! But Sanae stares them, and plops herself upon the racing booth. It seems she's used to such smack talk. It's par for the course. ] You're gonna eat my virtual dust, loser!

[ The counter marks down to one, and the race begins! Sanae paces herself on the track, and to Lu Meng's trained eye it may seem as if she's holding herself back. But then by the second lap, she's already ten second ahead. And during the final lap? She's already half way done with the course by the time they even begin theirs!

It's a complete victory, and although the boys curse at their loss, a loss is a loss, and they make way for Lu Meng. Sanae smiles triumphantly. She's proud of herself, if a little embarrassed. Lu Meng gets to see the ruthless side of her when they fight ayakashi, and that ruthlessness turns into a strong competitiveness with gaming. ] What did you think? Now it's your turn.