009 | Where Your Demons Hide

[godsoffortune]

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~

Comments

[socials]

[ Before he met Yosuke, and Teddie, Chie, Yukiko. Kanji, Rise, Naoto. Before he met the Dojimas. Before he met everyone in Inaba, Souji didn't think that there was any reason for him to trust people, either. To know them, to befriend them. He was just going to move away again, after all, so what would have been the point to hurt himself that way?

So he understands in a way, even if it's not quite so drastic as Homura's experiences. And he knows that there's ways of changing that, because his life changed, and for the better. ]

The look on your face, and how you hold yourself... it reminds me of how I used to be. [ That, and more, the memories of loneliness. ] When I didn't know what partnership meant, when there wasn't anyone I could turn to. And then I met people that gave me a chance, that offered their trust to me. It didn't make everything better over night, but we grew from strangers into family.

It's up to you, in the end, what you want to do. But I'd like to see what might happen if we worked together.

[timeshields]

[She doesn't know quite what it's like to trust someone so fully. The things that Souji describes... a part of her wants it. But most of her thinks that's dangerous. To give herself to someone so completely when she barely knows him.

But the more he talks the easier it seems to take that chance. They've both been lonely.]

If I agree now and we don't work together well? What happens then?

[Just how binding will this be?]

[socials]

[ Loneliness can be cloying, and Souji knows it. But he also knows that it's smart to be wary, and to be able to rely on yourself when you're not certain. If you know your true self, then you'll be able to stand on your own two feet.

It's just nice to know that there's someone that'd be willing to help you, if you needed it. ]

If we aren't compatible, then I'll do my best to help you find someone that you feel is. No judgement, no hard feelings. Your choices and comfort are important.

[timeshields]

[Self-reliance is her greatest strength and weakness in life, and it's set to carry over to her afterlife.

But she considers his words. He doesn't seem like the type who would lie, there's a certain kinship between them... They both seem to understand loneliness, at the very least. And it's she knows it's still dangerous to trust somebody so completely.

It's also strange to hear that her comfort is important. She's fairly certain that's not true, even with nothing to back it.

Souji seems kind and that could be an act. Does he have a reason to lie to her like this? She doesn't know him well enough to tell just yet.

Still, he's been here longer. She inclines her head as she weighs her options.]

... I'll work with you. Keep that promise.

[socials]

[ No matter what happens, he has it in his head, now, to make sure that Homura at least has an easier afterlife. He's not sure what happens to the people that disappear from this place, whether they go home or are simply just sent somewhere else, but... while she's here, he'll help her.

After what he's been through, he'd have liked it if someone did the same for him. No matter how uncertain or reluctant he might have been about their intentions and what he was getting himself into.

So, he tries.

Without hesitating, Souji extends his hand towards her, pinky out. ]

A promise is a promise, no matter what it is. [ The gesture reminds him of Nanako, of something more innocent than battling monsters to the death, facing down witches and goddesses. But it's still binding, in a way. ]

[timeshields]

[Of all the things she was expecting, that wasn't one of them. So she looks at his hand in surprise, a mess of emotions she just can't sort through. Not right now.

She doesn't move for a moment, but eventually she brings her pinky out to lock around his.

It doesn't feel familiar in the least. But... it's nice, in a way.]

It is.

[She won't say this out loud, not yet, but she hopes their partnership goes well. Souji seems kind and she hopes it's true and not a deception.]

[socials]

[ There are a few things that Souji has learned in the past year: patience, hope, and friendship. All of these he makes use of, now, as he waits her out, not in the least bit bothered by the fact that she has to take a moment before she properly reacts.

When she does, he secures their pinkies together, binding the promise. And then he releases, smile still soft on his face. He wasn't a child that made pinky promises, either. Nanako was the one to give him that.

He'll give it to Homura, then. ]

Then I'll do my best. Starting with explaining things as well as I can, and answering any questions you might have.

[timeshields]

[A moment to look at her hand and her pinky, where they'd made their promise. It's... childish, she thinks, but it's reassuring at the same time.

Her expression goes back to it's standard neutral.]

I know I've died. And now I know we're partners. What is a shinki to a god? What responsibilities do we have to each other?

[socials]

[ Something about Homura reminds him a little of Naoto, when they first met her. But he doesn't comment on it, and instead considers these questions. Always trying to give them the answers that they deserve. ]

Most people I've talked to have described that a shinki is the moral guide for their god. A reminder of how we're meant to be just and protect others. And in exchange, a god provides safety and a second chance at life to shinki. [ Souji tilts his head, slight disapproval edging into his expression. ] Some gods treat shinki as just tools, or weapons, to be used. But no matter what, a shinki is still a person, with thoughts and emotions of their own that should be respected. That's why I'd rather be partners with my shinki than anything like that.

[timeshields]

[She's already given her agreement- but tools or weapons... that sounds more like her than a person. Hasn't she already given that up... somehow?

It seems best to keep that thought to herself.]

Weapons? I don't look like much of one.

[socials]

[ Souji laughs, softly. ]

No, I suppose not. But gods give shinki a second name, and that allows them to take on a vessel form. Sometimes it's a weapon, sometimes it's something else. It allows them to fight the ayakashi without getting hurt - or blighted, because touching an ayakashi when you don't have a means of protection or aren't a shinki in vessel form will result in something called a blight.

[timeshields]

A second name?

[She'll look at him for a moment.]

I'd like... if I could help you like that. To make sure you don't get hurt.

[socials]

Mm. Something that links a god and shinki together. A shinki can get many names from different gods, and that makes them a nora, but each name is particular to the god that gave it to them.

[ He dips his head a little, gratitude and acknowledgment all at once. Thank you for working with me, and I'll do my best. ]

I'd appreciate that a lot.

[timeshields]

I don't want more than one god.

[And right there is the point where she's decided to work for and with him.]

... Is this the part where you give me my second name?

[socials]

[ Welp, guess you have a duckling now, Souji.

But he regards her thoughtfully. ]

How do you write your name? [ Because he's curious, and wants to give her second name meaning. ]

[timeshields]

[A very clingy duckling.

She kneels down and writes it into the ground. 暁美 ほむら]

It's like this.

[socials]

[ Instead of remaining above her, Souji crouches down so they're on the same level, tilting his head to look at it. He takes all the components into consideration, and: ]

You have a really cool name, Homura.

[timeshields]

[She doesn't think she's heard that very often. There's a light flush on her cheeks as mentions her name.]

... Thank you.

[socials]

[ Cute. He doesn't comment on it, though, and instead looks down at her name. After a moment, he traces out the writing with his own finger. ]

I think I know what to give you. [ With Reiji, it'd been more based off his personality than anything else. With Homura, he thinks this suits her role in her life. ]

[timeshields]

You do?

[She watches him trace out the kanji and hiragana of her name.]

I'm ready to hear it.

[socials]

[ Carefully, he writes out ホウ in the dirt, after dissecting her first name. A part of him - a very large part, actually - hates what they're supposed to recite. He wishes they didn't have to. ]

I'm not fond of the phrasing in this, but... [ Souji looks back up at her, holding his hand out. ] Grasping thy true name, I bind thee here. With borrowed name, I dub thee my servant. The name answers, the vessel to sound. I call thee as my divine instrument. The name, Akemi Homura. The vessel, Hou. Come, Houki.

[timeshields]

[And there's a strange feeling coming over her- and there she is a shield. It's not familiar to her, but it's the same she had as a magical girl.]

This feels strange.

[socials]

[ Hup - Souji makes sure that he takes her into both hands so that she's properly supported the second she changes. Once he gets a good look at her, recognizing it from the memories he inherited, he rocks up to his feet, straightening. ]

So I've been told. Are you all right?

[timeshields]

[The buckler/sand timer is his hands now.]

It's strange not to have limbs. Other than that, I feel fine.

[socials]

[ Well, as someone that uses swords, a shield is certainly useful. The problem is that Souji's never actually used a shield. Maybe someone who has will show up to the study groups... ]

Good. Would you like me to change you back now, or do you want to try and see what your abilities like this might be?