thenearshore | 009 | Where Your Demons Hide

009 | Where Your Demons Hide

Who: Everyone!
What: Emergency demon fighting
When: Late May 5-Early May 6
Where: Just outside of Tokyo
Summary: The demon from the school has reared its ugly head again and needs to be taken down.

On the evening of May 5, the Heavens suddenly receive an influx of prayers from people in and around a certain town just outside of Tokyo. There seem to be a lot of people in the area that have suddenly stopped responding normally (or at all). The situation continues to spread as the night goes on until not only is the whole town suffering from this malady, but the neighboring towns are starting to become affected as well.

With so many gods and shinki on hand - including new ones that have just appeared - the Heavens have issued a request for any available gods and shinki to go investigate what might be happening down on the Near Shore. New gods and shinki will be given the low-down on what's happening, but not much more than that.

The situation will continue to expand until just a little before dawn, when the demon finally has enough power to revive.

Drained Humans

Many humans in the affected areas are walking around despondently. Oftentimes, they are just walking into things or getting hit by things. There have been a few car-related incidents as well. Anyone who was present for the high school incident will recognize these symptoms as something that was happening to people in the school. The glazed looks, the spiritless responses and reactions. So this should be fairly familiar to some.

No One's Safe

Unfortunately, being in the town will start to wear on anyone who is there. Gods and shinki alike will find themselves growing more despondent the longer they spend in the town. All of their energy will be slowly sapped from their bodies, and shinki in particular will feel almost like their existence is draining away.

Hellish Circle

There is a large park in the center of the town. Drawn all around this park is a magic circle, large enough to encompass the whole park. There are candles around the edges of the circle, and in the center there is a cup filled with blood covered by a mask with a swirling eye pattern on it. Stepping into this circle will not only make you extremely tired and suddenly drained, but it will also bring bat-like ayakashi bearing down on you.

The Demon

The Demon itself rears its ugly head just a little before dawn, springing out from the center of the magic circle and looking right pleased with itself. It stands about 5'8" tall, so it is largely unimposing, but there is an aura about it that makes it undeniable that it is powerful. The demon will gladly fight anyone who comes at it, though most he will just shove out of the way without a second thought.

In Summary:

Help the drained people
Try not to get drained yourself
Be careful about being corrupted
Fight the demon
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His words made her pause, and she pressed her hands together-as if to pray or to clap, it was hard to tell. Home. Home, a place that would be safe for her and her partner.

She looked forward to making memories in this place.]

I will-I'll come to your room or wherever you are when I'm done.

[She was near about glowing with happiness.]

Just-thank you Dio. So much.

[For finding her, giving her a room. She'd hug you but she's p sure she's kinda gross right now.

So she'll flit off to find the bathroom and towels instead. And soap! And shampoo! GLORIOUS SHAMPOO.]

[As much as it still hurt, knowing she had died, knowing she had forgotten him and knowing he could not remind her... he couldn't help but feel somewhat happy. He didn't know how permanent this all was, but for the time being they had a place to call home. A place they were safe and could be comfortable.

A place with running water and electricity. And nice furniture, too.]

Thank you, Masaki.

[He doesn't fault her for not hugging him, even if he was more than okay with how gross she currently was. He'd needed to wash too when he first arrived, after all.]

See you soon.

[And with that, he ducked out, heading to the living room to wait. Maybe he could even find some non-smut books to flip through.]

[She was just thrilled to be somewhere warm and safe. And having Dio be happy-that made her happy too.

Though she didn't know what he was thanking her for-she hadn't done anything yet! She shook her head, and watched him for a moment as he left. He really was nice to her.

This was going to be good, she thought. But first, shower.

And it felt amazing. While Dio was looking for books, Masaki was having a great time getting cleaned up. She shampooed her hair three times at least. At least. It was great!

But while she was able, miracle of miracles, able to find an outfit in the closet, along with shoes...something was missing. It was kind of important.

So she ended up searching for Dio, peeking into rooms. There was his master suite (and boy was it a master suite) knocking on his bathroom door, and wandered until she found him.]

There you are!

[She brightened up. Maybe it helped that it was so dark, or it was only the two of them, but she was glad to find him again. Or maybe it had to do with that faint scent of blood? Maybe.]

[Dio rather enjoyed his current home, though it still felt impermanent to him. He was having a hard time believing others when they told him that this was simply where he would exist from now on. It'd been too long in Between, things were only as they were perceived.

He could not fight to remain in a false world before, and he could not remain in this one either, right?

There was a bitterness lingering in his heart as he sat in the living room with the first book he'd found, one leg crossing over the other as he flipped through it. He didn't get far before Masaki returned, Dio looking up to her upon hearing her voice.]

Ah, yes. Ready to go, then?

[He closed the book without another thought, moving to stand up once more and looking over her. She looked much more comfortable now, after having cleaned up.]

We've got to return to my shrine in the living world in order to come back here, just remember that.

[It wasn't a mansion, it wasn't like anything she knew of. It was kind of neat! She looked forward to playing in the kitchen. She had no idea that there was a place where memories could be used against them, bubbles of Unreality.

She just knew she was cleaned up, he was waiting and he liked books? Who knew what he was reading. He could have been reading porn, for all she knew.]

Yeah, I'm ready. So I guess our shrine...shrines? Are our anchor. Huh.

[She was thoughtful for a moment, before she perked up.]

Ok, one thing before we teleport or anything. I think this is overdue, and I don't stink so...

[She came forward, and if he let her, she'd give him a hug. It was a thank you hug, just because she appreciated not feeling so lost.]

[It had been some dusty old tome on the religion that he was supposedly some reincarnated god of. The Aztec Pantheon. It was somewhat confusing still, but he'd study it some more in time. For now, it was time to take care of Masaki.

But then she caught him in that hold... the embrace. A hug. He couldn't help it then, sniffling a little and then letting the waterworks go. He'd been holding it in since he got here. Losing everyone, waking up in this new place that looked so similar to the Earth he'd left behind(albeit Japan), and finding Masaki again. He couldn't hold it in any longer, no matter how strange it would be.]

MMmmmasaki...

[He couldn't say it. He couldn't say 'I was so afraid I'd never see you again'. He couldn't tell her how happy he was that she was safe or that he was afraid that this would all disappear, so he just... sobbed.]

[Hey, that's something she needs to read too! It'd be useful, maybe. Or they could...at least understand some of the lore and why the place smelt like blood. She was going to febreeze the place once she learned about the stuff, really.

But...she didn't know what to make of this, this sudden...burst of tears. She knew he'd been shutting himself off but not how much.]

What's wrong?

[This is kind of alarming. She didn't want to let him go either but she...kind of made to nudge him back into a couch or chair.]

It's okay. Whatever it is, it's okay. I'm here. I'm not going to leave. After all-we're partners, right?

[Dio held her close still, sucking a slow but shaky breath in and then out. He needed to calm himself down. Everything was so much, and he couldn't talk about that, but he could tell her one thing...]

I'm just... happy. Do not worry.

[He sniffled, letting go of Masaki and wiping at his eyes, being nudged onto the couch. He needed to calm himself down before he went out in public anyway, and Dio slumped a little.]

I've just been through a lot lately, and having you here is a relief.

[It was pretty overwhelming. Losing friends, losing a world again, not being sure it was real...

A lot a lot. But Masaki was mostly confused. She had been freaking out quietly, but now she needed to look out for him.]

Of course. I'm here for you.

[She smiled a little, and made to stand over him. Sorta. She just tried to move so she could stand between his legs. Easier to wrap her arm around him, and brush his hair out of his face.]

I guess it was pretty lonely without someone around huh? I'm sorry I wasn't there with you from the start. How long have you been alone?

[Dio wasn't going to bring her down if he could help it. He was happy to be with her, even in a less than optimal situation. She was here. She had died, but she was here, and as safe as she could be. Through his tears, he smiled at her. If he had no one else in this world, he'd still have her. If not as his lover, then as his partner.]

I know you are. [He didn't reach back for her, still not wanting to initiate too much physical affection, but craving it so badly even so.]

It wasn't long, but I'd... lost someone important to me recently. It's easier to deal with when you aren't alone, you know?

But enough about that. We were going shopping.

[And who knew? If he was lucky, if he was careful, hd could havd partner and lover once again. Masaki patted down her pockets, and sighed.]

No, I'm sure it hurts. I'm sorry, I don't...I can't really compare.

But I'll be here for you. And...you're right, we do need to go shopping.

You need tissues and...um...

[She blushed, glancing away.]

I need something important.

[Dio could not help but laugh at that. He could probably guess what it was that she needed... considering what she needed the last time he'd seen her in his shirt.]

I do need tissues, don't I? [He sniffled again, patting lightly at Masaki's shoulder.]

We'll get you whatever you need, not to worry. [He smiled, getting up from his spot after trying to convince her to step aside so that he would not just have to pick her up to get up.]

[His laughter made her blush harder, and she stepped back a few steps, letting him get up. That touch though. He had powerful hands, she realised. Or at least big, if still...surprisingly graceful?]

Tissues, or hankies. Depends on what you like.

[And if they had access to a laundry. But she smiled up at him again, a little uncertain as to what they were to do next.]

Som do we teleport to our shrine from here? Or do we go outside?

[Dio brushed himself off somewhat, looking around.]

MMmh, I guess we can just do it from here? I don't see why not. [Also ,he was told that he could teleport to a specific place if he had some sort of connection to it. He didn't really know the area, though, so he would just stick to teleporting to and from his shrine on 'the near shore' or whatever they called it.]

I think you can learn to do it? I'm... not sure. But either way, it's probably best to just hold my hand for now.

[And with that he extended his hand to her. He didn't know exactly what lie in store, but this would be an adventure for the both of them, together, and they were safe enough as a team.]

Mm!

[She agrees with him. Going around to the front seems silly. But she's not so certain she can do it by herself so...she'll take his hand again, and if he lets her, twine their fingers together.]

Maybe. We'll have to ask around, maybe.

[It might be a bit of a pain if can't, but they'll work with it.

But just before they teleport to the near shore (as she doesn't know what it's called) she takes a moment to stare down at their hands. It's funny. She didn't realize her hands were so small. Could a tiny thing like her be his weapon, his shield...?

She wanted to try. She wanted so badly to keep him safe. After all, he saved her by giving her purpose.]

[Dio is only too happy to allow their fingers to tangle together, looking down at them himself. He could only wonder what kind of weapon she would be, but right now he was thinking about how nice it was that they were partnered. Even if she didn't remember him.]

Of course. It'd be good to know, in case you ever need it.

[With that, his fingers squeezed hers a little bit before they teleported, ending up outside a small, Japanese-styled shrine, despite his own affiliations.]

Now, this is where we have to return when we are ready to head home.

[She was glad to have him for her partner. He was so nice! Who knew what kind of weapon she'd be though, when the time came. She didn't know how it was decided.

But it was still kind of exciting to teleport, and she hoped she'd get to learn! She couldn't depend on rides all the time after all. Especially if she just went out to get groceries or something.]

So this is our touchbase.

[She glanced at it, curious. She didn't question the style, though it didn't seem very...like him, or so she thought.]

It needs more jaguars.

[She's joking. It's perfect. Now, what direction should they go...?]

[Dio couldn't help but laugh a little at her proclamation that the shrine needed more jaguars, looking back at it.]

It could certainly use some. It's strange, how it is... Japanese styled.

[He wasn't Japanese himself, and the god he was want Japanese either, but here they were. At least he had a shrine now, and maybe people would actually pay attention to it.]

I've ah... admittedly never been to this area. So I guess it's time to explore! [And with that, Dio sighed and tugged her along with him by her arm.]

[She grinned up at him. She'd like to see a few in the Japanese style. It'd be rather...pretty, even nice, she thinks.]

Maybe it's so it'll blend in? Who knows!

[She laughs a little, and bumps against him as he tugs her along. It makes her laugh again, just because...well, she was giddy. It was a whole new world for both of them. It was great!]

What do you want to try and find first Dio?

[Her own needs could wait, especially if he wanted to find something. Like...she wasn't sure what he liked.]

What sort of stuff do you like?

[Dio had never seen much of traditional Japanese-styled anything, considering his lifestyle and geography before coming here. It was certainly something new, and he was curious to see some more of it.]

Mmh? I ah... I don't know. Some sort of clothing store?

[He could use a few changes of clothes, and some makeup. And some nice-smelling stuff! Soap or cologne or something. Not that he was thinking overmuch about his own things. It was Masaki who needed food and the like.]

What do you mean by 'stuff'? I like a lot of 'stuff'. [He laughed a little at that. Always thinking of others, wasn't she? Yeah, that was Masaki.]

[They could have a Near Shore tour if they wanted to! It'd be fun. But...they did need to pick up clothing and food for her. Not important. Actually is but...well, Masaki is being herself.]

Then we'll look for a clothing store!

[She smiled up at him. She could use...socks, tights, and figure out how to dress according to local fashion. But Dio needed that too, she thought. Can't have him feeling uncomfortable!]

Well...I was thinking like...since we're out, we're going to look at stuff for you too, right? So clothing, shoes...whatever stuff you'd be interested in.

Oh! Like dinner! Are you hungry? I could make something.

[Oh right... Food. Dio had been thinking about everything else, and forgot about the fact that Masaki wouldn't remember his vampirism.]

Ah, uhm, actually Masaki... [He was a vampire, but didn't that sound too far-fetched? A god and a vampire?]

I have a very special diet. We don't have to take care of it right now, though. I want to get you situated first, alright?

[Though clothes would be super fun too.]

[She tilts her head, curious. Vampire god? What is that?]

Well...all right. We'll talk about it later.

[She bit her lip and nodded.]

Clothes first, then groceries. And...maybe we can pick up a snack on the way.

[She might be a bit hungry. A little.]

[If she wanted, he would promise to talk about it later. He needed to be honest with her about this, after all. As much as he felt like it was too soon to be telling her about his bloody diet.]

We'll get to it, not to worry. But before then... [She was hungry, huh? It was nice to be able to provide for her, he decided, and he was more than interested in getting her comfortable.] What kind of snack would you like? I'm sure I can find something...

[He dug into a pocket, pulling out what looked like a mirror that had been torn off of something- because Dio had pulled it off of a car not long ago as he helped a man find the homes of some children.]

[She'd like that, the honesty. Even if she would pause for a few moments about the blood diet.

Speaking of things to eat...she did want something, but she paused for a moment. Why was he taking out a mirror...? Maybe he wanted to floof his hair? She had no idea.

But back to what she wanted to eat. That was important, because now that she was thinking about it...she was really hungry. Like she hadn't eaten in a long time.]

Um...meat sounds nice?

[Does that sound weird? It might sound weird.]

Maybe a meat bun? With coffee? I kind of want something warm for some reason. Heh.

009 | Where Your Demons Hide

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)