[Open] just as innocent as roses in May

[theunluckygirl]

Who: Jennifer & U
What: Jennifer walking dogs (or attempting to), sleeping on park benches, trying to plant roses, it's fine everything's fine.
When: 5/11
Where: Around the near shore
Warnings: None as far as I can see!

[A]

[Sometimes, you know... Sometimes things happen. Jennifer just likes to be out and about, making herself useful or exploring what the world has to offer now. It's no wonder she gets roped into helping out here and there though, but this job is at least pretty nice compared to anything else she could be doing.

The dogs she volunteers (or is volunteered) to walk around the city are generally pretty well-behaved, just, you know, enthusiastic. Which Jennifer can handle! Except this time.

Who has two great danes?? Apparently this guy, because that's how Jennifer nervously finds herself walking the massive dogs around the park. But the longer things go without anything bad happening, the more Jennifer is lulled into a false sense of security, which proves to be her downfall when, distracted by something else, the dogs' attention getting caught by something goes unnoticed by her. Unable to pull the dogs' attention away in time, they both suddenly bolt after a squirrel in the park, pulling Jennifer right off her feet with a scream of surprise.

Thankfully she lets go before she can be dragged off, but she's definitely faceplanted into the dirt. The dogs don't go too far, just sort of running around the immediate area, while Jennifer lays there with a groan, rolling over onto her back, dazed and trying to remember how breathing works. Ow, her ribs. Ow, her everything.]

[B]

[Wandering around the near shore and walking dogs and stuff can be exhausting, alright? Being more or less invisible has its perks for sure, since it means that she doesn't have to worry about someone trying to pick her pockets or kidnap her or something if she naps out in public.

Which she's totally doing right now, laid out on a bench in the park. There's a bag of hard candies from a near-by shop dangling loosely from her right hand, the back of which features a bright red character (血 -- bloody) that clearly marks her as someone's shinki. For those that have met her in person before, they'll notice that it's a totally different kanji from before...

So why is she napping here and not, you know, back at her home? Is she lost?? Kicked out??? Who knows! Still, invisible shinki or not, it probably still isn't a good idea to go sleeping on random park benches and it can't be too comfortable anyhow, right?]

[C]

[Honestly, Jennifer loves flowers. She loves gardens, the blissful repetition of weeding and caring for flowers and plants. It's comforting, somehow.

And she's taken to taking care of the flowers in the park here and there, just to give her something to do, and it makes her feel all happy and proud to see the normal humans' faces light up in delight when they see her handiwork. But that manages to catch some others' attention as well, namely whoever's in charge of actually doing upkeep on the park.

Which is how Jennifer gets handed several pots of roses for replanting, despite her protests.] Wait, please, I-- ['Just start over here!' the man says, spinning Jennifer around and giving her a little push in the direction she's supposed to go.

She struggles to not drop the roses, arms straining under the weight-- there about 5, with two balanced precariously on top of the other two, and one on top of that in a pyramid shape, which she can barely see around. This is fine. This isn't at all a safety concern.

Please help.]

[D]

[WILD CARD. If you have another situation in mind, feel free to write it out or PM me with an idea! Jennifer can be found all over, either wandering around looking at temples (especially any with a 'fairy tale' feel or gardens) or you know, giving out sweets to children or whatever!]

Comments

B

[bussounoshima]

[Sleeping on random park benches does, indeed, look like a bad idea. Sharak approaches with the intention of gently waking the girl and telling her to go home, but she hesitates when she sees the character on her hand. A shinki then. Who names a girl "blood"?]

... Hey. You going to sleep all day?

[theunluckygirl]

[Her eyes snap open and she's sitting up in an instant, the bag of candies slipping from her grasp and to the ground. For a moment, still caught between wakefulness and sleep, Jennifer just stares dumbly back and forth between the woman and the candy, trying to decide which needs her attention first.]

I- I'm sorry. [An almost automatic apology it seems, given that she barely glances at Sharak as she says it, despite her sincerity. She looks at the bag, then decides that it should wait. Jennifer clasps her hands uncertainly at her throat and glances at Sharak] Did you...want to sit here? I can move.

[bussounoshima]

You're fine where you are, if you like it.

[Sharak leans over for a second to pick the bag up and hold it out for Jennifer.]

But it doesn't look like a very comfortable place to sleep.

A

[shockshot]

[Oh. Ow. That was her face.

Masaki had mostly been checking out the park to make sure that everything was normal, less like they were...things that were about to happen. Sure, there had been something that had been laid on another gods doorstep but you know. Still...seeing that poor woman go down like that, Masaki had to wince, and jog over, kneeling when she was close enough.]

Are you all right? It looked like you took a nasty fall.

[theunluckygirl]

I'm-- alright. [Her voice comes out a slight wheeze, and she reaches up to press a hand against her ribs, wincing. Nothing bruised, she thinks, but there's dirt streaking her ace and dress, and breathing is slightly painful. Just winded, it seems, thankfully. Perhaps a scrape or two.]

S-sorry. I didn't, ah... I didn't mean to be a bother...

[shockshot]

[Masaki winces at the sight of her. No bones broken, but still. Bruises no doubt.]

You're not a bother. Not at all.

[Gingerly, she came closer to brush off Jennifer's dress free of dirt. She needed a wash off, she thought. And maybe have some tea.]

Here, let me help you up.

[And she offers her hand, like it's the most natural thing to do. Because...well, what else can she do but be kind? Especially to someone who landed on their face.]

C/D

[volksdaemon]

[Flowers. Why does it always have to be flowers. He starts to reflect on if flowers were somehow special to this girl - and if they were, goddamnit his aversion to them is strong. The fact that her death came on the heels of a love confession just stuck in his craw as extra sappy.

It's because he finds her among a garden that he makes a sort of snap sound in her mind, as if someone had snapped their fingers very very close to her left ear. Closer to that hand of hers, with the pretty symbol on it.]

'Hey! How'd you get all the way down to the Near Shore on your own?'

[theunluckygirl]

[Jennifer's at least managed to put most of the pots down to start working on the garden, so when Schuldig literally snaps to get her attention (a bit like a dog, which would be rather fitting), Jennifer only fumbles and drops the one pot in her surprise.

She looks down at it with mild dismay--poor flower--and resolves to get it in the ground as fast as possible before the roots or leaves could be crushed any further. She just uses her hands, trying to move quickly, and looks around for him in confusion.

Does she think back to him?? Speaking out loud would make her look kinda crazy, right?]

'Schu-- Loki?' [best, probably, to keep up the name even in her own mind, just in case it irritated him. She was still figuring out what kind of responses worked best for him, tailoring herself to try and fit the expectations and whatever she needed to keep him pleased with her.]

'Shinki can go from the Near and Far shores using the god's shrines. I...' [She hesitates a moment, uncertain] 'Was I not supposed to leave...?'

[volksdaemon]

[The submissive desire to please him - in a completely platonic way - keeps her in his good graces, despite his initial anger flare. At least she's figuring out the telepathic communication part and not fighting it.]

'You weren't supposed to leave and not say where you were going.'

[That's the big difference. Given his druthers, he'd keep all of them on a leash and locked in the Hollow until he needed them, but that isn't practical and he knows it.]

'At a moment's notice, I can teleport anywhere, but if I have to scan for you first, then that's extra time that I don't want to have to bother with.'

[He's not going to mention that he genuinely didn't know the shinki could travel like that. The Messenger hadn't mentioned it.]

C

[subtract]

Add is still getting used to this whole "god" business. With a bit of experimentation, he figures out that he can spy on different places, so of course he has to test the limits of that ability. Maybe if he keeps watch on a few key locations, there might still be a chance he'll find Roxas...

But he spies someone else instead, and Jennifer might notice the small suspicious cube hovering in the air a couple feet above her. Jennifer... she existed in Monad as well, didn't she? Is it possible she might be the same person? He thinks about it for awhile, idly watching her struggle with some potted plants before making up his mind. Well, he won't learn anything just from watching.

Without any warning, Add suddenly appears next to her. He might be invading her personal space. "You could just put those down and move along, you know. You're not obligated to do anything with them."

[theunluckygirl]

Add, why are you like this.

The suddenness of his arrival combined with how close he is makes her cry out in surprise, fumbling with the pots but no, nope there they go. "Oh...! Oh no!" She managed to save two of them, anyhow, but she stares in dismay down at the pots before looking for the culprit of why this happened in the first place.

Not that she'd really scold him or anything, but she certainly looks disapproving, biting on her bottom lip to keep herself from saying something that might be considered too bold. "He wanted me to help," is what she finally says at length, moving to set the unbroken pots down and try to save the flowers from the broken ones.

A

[redotiertwo]

[Davesprite's been chilling out with the park birds today, and the girl walking two dogs that look like they'd probably be as big as her standing up doesn't take long to catch his eye. It seems like this has almost too much slapstick potential for him to not comment, and he's about to offer some kind of help when the dogs bolt and the girl drops like a sack of potatoes.

With a quiet, parting caw to the birds, Davesprite glides over to Jennifer, leaning down a little over her. Given his general neon orangeness, his feathered wings and ruff, and ghostly tail, the offer of a taloned hand is remarkably normal in comparison.]

Look, I know physical comedy is a fine art form worthy of dedicated practitioners such as yourself, but you might want to leave the big pay-off for the stage. Also maybe train the dogs to take the cues instead of giving them.

[theunluckygirl]

[Jennifer groans softly in response, sitting up some as she rubs at her ribs with one hand. Some bruises on the skin, she thinks, but her ribs themselves seem to be fine, thankfully. She takes the taloned hand without thinking, then pulls back in alarm]

Oh! [Ah shit that was rude though, wasn't it? Looking terribly embarrassed, Jennifer takes his hand again and helps herself to her feet, shaking her head] I-I'm sorry. [About, you know. Everything ever. Is that a sword through his stomach? Should she be concerned?? He doesn't seem concerned. Dear lord.]

Um. [What does she do with this strange bird-person. She doesn't want to be rude by this is, you know, bizarre?]

B!!

[spes_phthisica]

[Oh. Hello. He's met her before, back during the fire. And there was that thing with the network post and how furious Hijikata had been with her God. Souji had ached for her, too. To not be wanted by her God, not welcomed, not respected... he can't imagine anything more lonely and painful.

She looks pretty forlorn now too, curled up on a park bench like this. Surely that must be uncomfortable?

At the Near Shore, Souji dresses like a rather strange teenager, all leggings, sweatpants and oversized shirts in layers, all in white and pastels. That comes in rather handy now, as he swrugs off the hoodie he's wearing and drapes it over the sleeping young woman. Too bad he manages to bump her shoulder while so doing. Whoops.]

Ah...

souji bb....

[theunluckygirl]

[Even when trying to adapt to the Near Shore fashion, Jennifer tended to go conservative, with long dresses and sensible shoes that made her look more like some vintage housewife than an actually fashionable young woman. Oops.

Still, she's comfortable in it, but something like a blanket would still be nice-- A sweater is fine too, though. She stirs slightly when it's draped over her, but her eyes snap open when he bumps her shoulder.]

H-huh...? [Sleepily she rubs at one eye, sitting up slightly to look at him. In her sleepy haze she doesn't she to recognize him or realize what's going on, but after a moment she snaps to attention, sitting up in alarm, making his sweater fall off of her to a heap next to her on the bench] Oh! I-I'm sorry!

A

[thirdbeauty]

[Natsuru's out looking around, still dressed in the outfit her god had picked out for their prayer today... fluffy, curly twintails and all. It'd probably be getting her a lot of attention if she were one of the living and not a shinki.

She passes by the girl walking the dogs, glancing curiously at her. Aren't those dogs pretty big? They must be hard to cont-...

It's literally while she's thinking that when the dogs suddenly make a dash for the squirrel. Natsuru gasps, unable to intervene before Jennifer screams and takes what looks like a pretty nasty fall.]

H-... Hey!

[Forgetting about the escaped dogs, she rushes to Jennifer's side. The way she kneels down next to her, Jennifer could probably see the name (青 - blue) branded on her left inner thigh, not far under the hem of her skirt.]

Are you alright?!

[theunluckygirl]

[Jennifer has her eyes closed for the moment, waving a hand dismissively--she's fine, really everything's fine!!-- and gives a wheeze as answer.

After a moment she opens her eyes with a wince and-- oh my, that's not a much of a skirt and the kanji draws her attention briefly before she hastily averts her eyes with a red face.] I- I... [She struggles to sit up a moment and avoid looking at Natsuru-- she's a bit of a prude, sorry bruh.]

I'm alright, really, I'm sorry--

D

[soothes]

[ Outside of the main orchard this temple is surrounded by gardens and woodlands full of a secret little places to hideaway. It certainly screams fairy tale with the little streams, birds singing and comfortable nooks to just rest. Freyja finds it fitting considering her sole shinki was a fairy queen and her own new position as a goddess associated with apples.

She does not expect to find someone here besides the two of them and it shows as she teleports to the smaller garden space filled with a rainbow of colorful flowers. Although shocked, it gives way after a moment and she smiles brightly. ]

Hi there! Are you a friend of Nightshade?

[theunluckygirl]

[Jennifer knows better than to trespass, really she does. But the gardens and orchard are too much for her to resist, it honestly looks like something out of a picture book and she's too much in awe to stop herself from wandering about.

It also doesn't stop her from looking incredibly embarrassed at being caught, scrambling to her feet once Freyja pops in.]

I-- [She stammers and trails off, wringing her hands nervously.] I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to-- I mean, that is, I did wander in here on my own, but I... [Her face seems to get redder and more concerned with every word until she finally just squeaks another:] I'm sorry.

B

[fullcowl]

[Izuku's out doing his usual grocery shopping for the week. There's a canvas bag full of his purchases and he can't help being worried when he sees somebody asleep on a park bench. Axel talked to him about not being able to get into his goddess's temple, and he has to worry if she couldn't manage to get in either.]

Excuse me... are you alright?

[theunluckygirl]

H-hmm...? [She yawns and stretches a little, sitting up and rubbing at her eyes. She blinks at him a moment, not quite understanding the question, before she suddenly sits up fully, wide awake.]

Oh! I-I'm so sorry, did you need this bench? [Just answers his question with another question, nbd.]

A

[dominatriarch]

[ As Jennifer lies there, she might hear a young girl going "We'll get them, ane-sama!" and a young boy going "Please leave it to us" before they run off.

Bishamon, meanwhile is going to crouch over Jennifer slightly and offer her her hand. ]

My shinki insisted on trying to get your dogs back so please don't worry. Are you alright?

[theunluckygirl]

[Jennifer cracks one eye open to stare at Bishamon for a moment in bleary incomprehension ] An angel...? [That seems like a perfectly logical conclusion to make here and she blinks a few times before realizing it couldn't be.

'My shinki'? So, she was one of the gods? Jennifer averts her eyes in embarrassment, hesitating even as she reaches out, but doesn't take Bishamon's hand yet. Instead her tone grows shy and reluctant in her protest] Your hand will get dirty...

A

[savemeomi]

[ Ouka likes dogs, but she prefers smaller, easier to handle dogs. Not the huge ones that were running in her direction. She manages to jump out of the way just in time. Thankfully, they weren't looking to hurt anyone. Except squirrels, maybe.

She hears the scream and rushes over. ]

Are you okay?! Are those your dogs?

[ Seriously though, who owns two huge dogs? ]

[theunluckygirl]

Ow...

[Jennifer groans and slowly forces herself to sit up, rubbing at her head and then her ribs. Ow, indeed.]

I-I'm alright, I think... I was just walking the dogs for someone else. [She sighs and looks around, dismayed] They didn't get too far, did they? I can't lose them!