thenearshore | [Open] just as innocent as roses in May

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[Open] just as innocent as roses in May

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!]

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[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?

[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.

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.

[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.

[It's sad, really, how even that small gesture of kindness seems to completely baffle Jennifer. She reaches out with shaking hands to take the bag and holds it close, as if half-concerned Sharak might change her mind and snatch it away from her suddenly.]

I, um. It's a little... [She trails off, not sure how to end the sentence. It's not comfortable, but she feels like she's slept on worse. It isn't so bad, a sort of 'take it or leave it' need to catch sleep where she can. Did she sleep on benches a lot, when she was alive? Was she homeless or something?

She can't think or wonder about these topics much, of course. Being a shinki sucked. Jennifer just shakes her head and offers what she hopes is a reassuring smile] It's alright, for ['someone like'] me. I don't really mind, I suppose... Usually no one bothers me, but, you must be from the Far Shore as well, right?

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...

[Sharak snatches the candy back and throws it for the dogs- no, obviously not. She gently puts the bag in Jennifer's hands and watches her carefully. Jennifer's nerves are obvious and Sharak wonders if she really looks that intimidating right now...]

If you're tired enough to fall asleep here, you should go find somewhere nicer to sleep.

[Or at least lay down on the grass and make it look a little more intentional. Somehow the park bench is the weird part of this.]

I am, my name is Sharak Sanzo.

[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.]

[Jennifer tilts her head head at that. Somewhere nicer?] But then I might get grass stains on my dress... [But she's smiling, albeit shyly, as she says it, resting the candy bag briefly on her lap] The gardens would be nice too, I suppose. I'm sure the flowers wouldn't mind.

[It's an odd name, but she's heard stranger things since she's arrived here.] Oh, um-- [She gets up hastily and gives a curtsy of greeting, which seems a little too formal but whatever] My name is Jennifer. Pleased to meet you, Miss Sanzo. Um, are you...? [She waves her hand a little with her mark to indicate her question--shinki or god?]

If you really want to nap outside, you could bring a rug with you. [Ah, good, she's smiling now. Maybe Sharak isn't so scary after all.] I doubt the flowers would mind, so long as you don't crush them.

[Sharak nods back at the curtsy- she's had more formal greetings before.] Please to meet you as well, Jennifer. I'm a god- Aditi, for all that it's worth.

I suppose if I plan ahead... [Otherwise she might just be carrying a rug around under her arm all the time, and that'd be kind weird?? She sets her bag of candy on the bench as she listens]

A go- Oh! [Her eyes go wide and she clasps her hands at her throat again, looking a little anxious.] I-I'm sorry! [For???] I really shouldn't have wasted your time like this-- You have more important things to be doing, surely, than bothering with a shinki like me! [Stop...]

[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?'

Unplanned naps are more commonly called "passing out"... [Don't pass out in the park, Jennifer.

But she's upset again. Sharak frowns slightly when Jennifer's hands go to her throat, but she quickly smooths out her expression again into something more gentle.] Not at all. Aditi is the goddess of protection and guidance, so this is exactly my job.

[Not... an accurate description of Aditi, but it'll do. She seems more like an all-around helpful goddess, she won't mind.]

[Jennifer forces herself to sit up with a wince, waving a hand in light protest when Masai starts trying to brush her dress off.] You don't have to-- [It's filthy, she thinks; people shouldn't have to dirty their hands with the likes of Jennifer.

The extended hand too, is a surprise, and Jennifer looks a bit bewildered, looking at Masaki's hand like there's a trap here she's not seeing. She looks at it, then her own dirt smudged hand, and then up at Masaki again helplessly.] But... My hands are dirty...? [it's a weak protest, but it's all she's got]

[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...?'

[Look.... Things happen. She blushes darkly and looks down at the ground a moment, fidgeting. The nap on the bench hadn't exactly been planned either, but she doesn't know if she'd call it passing out. Just, uh. Spontaneous?

ANYWAY.

She looks up uncertainly. Protection and guidance sounds nice, at least, and Sharak hasn't shown herself to be anything undeserving of this domain. Jennifer relaxes somewhat, albeit with caution.] Still... There really are better options. I'm nothing. [She smiles when she says it, as if, somehow, that's a reassuring thing to say.] So... Um... [Not that she's trying to push Sharak away, exactly, but she's one of the gods here, after all, and Jennifer is just, well, Jennifer.]

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."

That's okay. So are mine!

[She grins at Jennifer, all at ease. Maybe she can see about getting Jennifer cleaned up. She doesn't think Dio would mind if she brought Jennifer back to the temple, unless he took her to his room or something. Which is very unlikely.]

We can try to clean up somewhere. Maybe at my temple, if we can't find a public restroom.

[Jennifer stares in wide-eyed wonder, looking to Masaki's hands like she can't really believe that. If they are dirty, surely it's because of Jennifer, right? It's her fault anyway?

She frets, a little, but in the end decides that maybe continuing to refuse is being more rude and at this point it's a "which of the lesser evils." So at length she takes the offered hand.] Your temple? Are-- Are you a god?

[The back of Jennifer's hand sports the symbol that marks her as a shinki, so at least she's always got an easy way for anyone to tell at a glance. She sort of wishes the gods has special, obvious, markings of their own too so Jennifer could tell just how much respect and semi-groveling she was required to do here.]

[Oh Jennifer, if you only knew. Hands always get dirty; sometimes it was just so difficult to see.

Masaki brightens though when Jennifer accepts, and takes a few steps back, pulling her gently onto her feet.]

Nope! I'm a shinki. It's kind of hard to tell, isn't it?

[She can't display her symbol so easily. It's bigger, she knows, then Jennifer's; but then hers is on the small of her back.]

Sorry. That mark-that means you're a shinki too right? Who's your god?

[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.

[Sharak frowns at that, because what the fuck. Somehow, the fact that Jennifer actually seems more relaxed and comfortable saying that makes it even worse.]

... Who told you that you're nothing?

[Maybe she doesn't remember. But if she does remember, then Sharak can find the guy and punch him in the face for messing with girl's heads.]

[She looks briefly started and confused by the question.] I...No one... I think? [It's not something she ever questioned before; no one needed to have said it to her, because she just knew, like how she knew the sky was blue and gravity existed and the earth revolved around the sun.

She wrings her hands anxiously, trying to think, but that's met with a sense of dread and a Do Not Go There feeling and she shakes her head.] It must have been when I was a-alive, but... I can't remember anything, so I don't know how true it might be or not. But I feel it must be, so...

[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...

Edited 2016-11-03 16:35 (UTC)

Oh. [Jennifer seems to relax somewhat at that; while she still considered herself below even other shinki, it was still more comfortable to be talking to another one than a god.]

Mm, I am. My god... [Here Jennifer hesitates, because Schuldig had been specific in telling her that she couldn't tell anyone his real name] He's Loki, a Norse god, if that means anything to you.

Um, what about you...? Who do you belong to?

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[Open] just as innocent as roses in May

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