[ As you wake up - you may not have even remembered falling asleep. You just know now that you’re waking up, in the early morning before it’s even light out, shades of the dawn tinting the sky you can see outside of the window of the small house you’re all gathered in. You’re so exhausted that you must have just fallen asleep curled up on the floor, right on the tatami mats.
But when you look up, someone is speaking to you. A shrine maiden in a smiling fox mask. Her voice is steady, and gentle.
`Good morning.
You traveled a long way to be here, on this most important of days. I know you must be tired from the journey. But it’s time to get up now. Well– we’re already running a bit late. We’ll have to make up the time. There’s work to be done.`
Your belongings are piled by the door, and she gestures to them. Each of you is one of the following - there is no overlap:
A BOW AND ARROW. The stalwart TENGU. Known for their skill in the air, and ability to hit a distant target. A RITUAL BELL. The tricky KITSUNE. Known for their adept use of elemental magic. A SPIKED CLUB. The mighty ONI. Known for their strength and fortitude. A SWORD. The rather ordinary HUMAN. Not known for anything in particular, except perhaps their tenacity.
Decide amongst yourselves OOC and return here with your choice. ]
[ The shrine maiden waits, patient, for you to finish collecting your things.
As Nogiku picks up the sword … she won’t feel much different, actually. But this sword is familiar. She knows how to use it well. It’s been with her for a very long time, a constant companion. Maybe it used to belong to an ancestor or was handed down by someone she loved, once.
As Jiuqing picks up the bow and arrow, she’ll feel the dark wings on her back stretch out as she fully wakes up. This too, is a familiar weapon. She’s been trained well, and has served faithfully in the Shogun’s army for a long time. Another duty she must complete.
As Itsuki picks up the ritual bell, his fox ears flick a little with the familiar thrum of magic … what was the element he prefers again? It’s so hard to remember these things so early in the morning. The shrine he works at normally always wants you to be up so early, it’s annoying.
As Clarte hefts the weight of the club, they’ll find it easy to sling over one shoulder. It isn’t as if their form is any different than they’re used to, but there’s a hidden strength there that they’ve always felt. Careful not to bump your horns on the way of the door though. Red or Blue?
The shrine maiden nods at Clarte’s response though, hands in her sleeves, and heads out the door herself, leading them outside if they’ll follow. It’s still mostly dark out, but the rolling landscape, green grass and swaying trees, life abundant - is all dwarfed by the majesty of the enormous sakura tree growing from a jagged mountain. Delicate petals float through the air, even as far away as you are from it, sweet-smelling in the morning air. The highest point in the land. It has always been here, and you feel recognition easily, and at the same time, not? You’ve obviously never been here before.
The shrine maiden leads you down a winding path, stone steps, away from the tree in the distance.
`Don't worry. It is a sacred duty, but one I'm sure you will all handle adeptly. As I'm sure you already know, the time has come once again - you must cleanse the filth from the roots of the Sacred Sakura. It's a bit overdue ... but I'm grateful for your help. I've been assured you're all rather impressive. We have a bit of a walk ahead of us, if you have any questions?` ]
Does the sword come with its own sheathe? If not, guess Nogiku is just hefting it around JRPG style. She glances at the group after they've made their selection, following after the shrine maiden — and nearly stumbles in surprise when she lays her eyes on the gang.]
Huh? You've... changed? [Why does she sound unsure. This is, apparently, both new and familiar. What a headache.
She furrows her brows, turning her attention back to the shrine maiden.]
the wings should feel unfamiliar to her, but they don't, really. or rather - they do, but when jiuqing tries to focus on that unfamiliarity, it slides away from her. the weight of the wings on her back, the feeling of the bow in her hand, should feel strange, but they don't.
this is fine. it's normal.]
...how overdue are we talking?
[they have to get back to -
they have to accomplish this task -
so she doesn't want to ask too many questions. but knowing how overdue this is may help inform them of the dangers they're going to face, purging this filth.]
[Itsuki reaches for -- what he thinks has changed, which are his new ears, apparently. The bell is clasped loosely in his other hand, and he makes a little face like 'damn if i had to be come a furry then i wish i'd gotten to pick my own fursona....' don't worry about it,
he follows the group, because of course he has to, even if he doesn't want to... he has to play along with the story, no matter how it ends. that's how all dreams work.]
...So this is the scenario, huh? [to himself, then] Wait, what do you mean by cleansing exactly?
[is he gonna have to fight... with his... elemental power...]
[wouldn't it be funny if su jiuqing could fly while clarte can't. anyway.
even without the effect, clarte is not hugely weirded out by growing new parts because this happens to them ALL THE TIME, so. it's still a little weird, but you know. also red, because red is their colour.
but the others have the questions taken care of, so they listen.]
[ funnily enough, jiuqing ... does feel as if she could fly, if she so chose. clarte, well. oni don't typically fly.
they keep walking. It isn't a hurried pace, just a nice stroll through the beautiful countryside. A little idyllic village is off across the way as you walk down the road - a few kids even peek at the warriors all walking down the road before being called back by their parents - who also wave as you go by. The shrine maiden doesn't seem to take notice of it, but she does keep speaking to you all:
Oh– You’re right! I’m sorry, I did forget to introduce myself. I am Kazari. I will be helping you - or, more accurately, you will be helping me. And the rest of Inazuma. Don't worry ... things have been peaceful lately. I wouldn't expect resistance. A few tofu boys at most and I'm sure you can all handle that much. The Narukami Shrine tends to overreact and send heavier arms than are really necessary.
As for the cleansing ritual. As the Sakura watches over the land, it absorbs filth into its roots, to protect us from that energy. What you are doing will ask the gods to help us dissipate some of that cursed filth. I cannot perform the ritual myself, but you will be able to. I'll be here to help, to guide you in the prayers.`
She leads you, eventually, to the entrance of a cave, pausing to make sure you're all following before she continues downwards. There are rough-hewn stone steps, down into the darkness. There isn't much light, but you can still see enough from the dim purple glow of strange crystals embedded in the rock face, seeing small roots start to twist into the cracks.
... I see. [Does she? It feels like she knows exactly what Kazari is talking about, and yet...] Well, just in case, could you refresh our memories, Kazari-san?
[This would all be so pretty, if it weren't so strange.]
yeah she isn't going to be walking. she'll be flying along with them, but she'll be sticking close enough to be able to take part in their discussion - though once they do get to the entrance to the cave, she'll land. probably better not to just fly right in there.
she glances from kazari to the rest of them. prayers. uhhhh.]
...yes, I think it would be best to have them fresh in our memories before we begin.
[ You feel yourself drifting. You've gone somewhere very, very far away, you feel like. It's lucky you made it here. Few people have the ability to navigate all of this time and space and memory and energy unaided, it's why it's safer, to give up your physical form and place it into an object if you wish to reside here. You don't know how you know this.
But you're here now. And you feel safe, at last. You may still be injured, and your life has been long and hard, but the pain for this moment has faded. You can stand and speak. A ways off, a young tree has sprouted, petals scattering to the wind. You may not remember everything yet, but you do remember who you really are. Where you have to get back to. The last of the feeling of being someone else shakes loose, finally. Everyone is waiting for you, but first, maybe ...
Someone is standing at the base of the tree, watching you. Turning to face you, if you approach. You don't know why, but you feel as if you are in the presence of someone very familiar. Maybe it's just the tone of their voice. ]
she is herself, su jiuqing. a doctor, not a member of the shogun's army. she's supposed to save lives, not take them. her eyes widen, and she looks down at her hands (hands again, not claws, thank god, but she still managed to hurt people she cares about with them, when she was supposed to--) and shudders.]
What did I... Why did I...
[she feels like she shouldn't be able to stand. didn't she fall? didn't her body slam into the side of the mountain, didn't her neck get tangled up in the vines - before she could hit the ground, didn't those vines strangle the breath out of her? wasn't she just hanging there, lifeless, until -
her gaze wanders to the tree. it's not the first time she's woken up to a tree, when she shouldn't be waking up to anything.
[Itsuki touches his hands first, clasping them in between him, and then touches his arms. He's... himself. He's not -- a monster. And now, he's here? He remembers what happened so clearly,
The moment he sees Jiuqing and Clarte -- relief breaks across his expression.]
Jiu-chan! Te-kun!
[and if he's not in their vicinity before then he is now, moving closer -- not stopping until he's near, even when he sees the other person apparently... waiting for them?]
Where's Nogiku-san?
[HE DIDN"T FCKING SEE CLARTE JUMP OFF LIKE POCAHONTAS]
[waking up from death isn't new, although it's always a little disorienting.
their first thought is that they failed. it's not surprising—they knew there was a good chance they wouldn't be able to reach jiuqing. (they couldn't even really save itsuki either, though at least this was probably a lot less traumatic than forcing him to live with the memory of clarte murdering him.) and ultimately, clarte is used to failure. after all, including all the timelines they've gone through, they've watched people die far more often than they've been able to save them.
still, it leaves a bitter taste in their mouth, and not just because of any blood they're tasting—from the lung injury that killed them, caused by what was probably the distant relative of the rock that got nogiku's leg.]
[ the woman (?) waits patiently for you all to gather yourselves, reorient to the surroundings. it must be confusing. it's alright. they have all the time in the world, for this moment.
`She is safe. She's with a dear friend of mine. I'm sure that you will all see her again soon. But right now, you're in my realm of consciousness.
I'm grateful, for everything you did ... Don't worry. I'm here to help you return.` ]
[they're both well. ...well enough to be here, which - given that she died pretty horrifically, may not mean a lot. the pain may have ceased for now, but the memory of it won't go away.
she bows to them, her head lowered.]
...I'm so sorry.
[she hurt them, after all. well - clarte, mostly. but she certainly didn't stop itsuki from attacking his friends, either.
[he's still relieved beyond measure to see the two of them, and hearing that Nogiku is alright (she's crying in the club in the thread above) reassures him some too. ...He can't forget how he wanted to kill Clarte and Nogiku so badly -- how that rage hadn't even been calculating, but more mindless.
But the only things on his back are -- tails still, which he'll accept over spider limbs.
He shakes his head quickly when Jiuqing apologizes, but before he can protest she's asking the lady (?) a question]
[they also shake their head. no need for apologies.]
I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you. [like stop her from dying horrifically, yikes! trying and failing to get her out of the vines wasn't a good time.] You as well, Itsuki.
[ Something like a dream. Or maybe not. I've always been a bit fascinated with mortal dreams, and I'm not sure this is quite the same thing ...
But it doesn't really matter. You won't be here long. And there's no price - if anything, I think I am already deeply indebted to you. ... Yet I still have to ask one more favor. Will you bring this back with you?
[...no need for apologies, but jiuqing can't help but feel guilty about it, anyway. still, she won't push it, and she returns her attention fully to the woman, her eyes coming to rest on the sword.
that is the prettiest sword she's ever seen. she reaches out as if to touch it.]
[EVERYONE PLEASE STOP APOLOGIZING IT WAS NO ONE'S FAULT but Itsuki decides to relay this by gently touching Clarte's shoulder instead, a moment of reassurance for them.
He looks at the sword -- he has no experience with swords, besides Buzen's and 9S's, but it is very pretty. It seems special -- like it's a sword made for someone in mind.]
Back to the Sakura?
[how are they gonna get back..... flying........? he glances at Jiuqing's wounded wings,]
[they smile at itsuki, before looking at the sword, half-wondering if this sword will be a memory trigger. well, they'll have to see—first things first, getting out of here and returning to poor nogiku who might be having a breakdown right now.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
saturations) wrote2022-03-07 12:36 am
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But when you look up, someone is speaking to you. A shrine maiden in a smiling fox mask. Her voice is steady, and gentle.
`Good morning.
You traveled a long way to be here, on this most important of days. I know you must be tired from the journey. But it’s time to get up now. Well– we’re already running a bit late. We’ll have to make up the time. There’s work to be done.`
Your belongings are piled by the door, and she gestures to them. Each of you is one of the following - there is no overlap:
A BOW AND ARROW. The stalwart TENGU. Known for their skill in the air, and ability to hit a distant target.
A RITUAL BELL. The tricky KITSUNE. Known for their adept use of elemental magic.
A SPIKED CLUB. The mighty ONI. Known for their strength and fortitude.
A SWORD. The rather ordinary HUMAN. Not known for anything in particular, except perhaps their tenacity.
Decide amongst yourselves OOC and return here with your choice. ]
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but nogiku will, eventually, choose the sword.]
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jiuqing's eyes narrow, and she chooses bow and arrow.]
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Itsuki will pick up the ritual bell.]
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clarte takes the spiked club by process of elimination.]
... We'll figure this out.
[everything will be Just Fine]
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As Nogiku picks up the sword … she won’t feel much different, actually. But this sword is familiar. She knows how to use it well. It’s been with her for a very long time, a constant companion. Maybe it used to belong to an ancestor or was handed down by someone she loved, once.
As Jiuqing picks up the bow and arrow, she’ll feel the dark wings on her back stretch out as she fully wakes up. This too, is a familiar weapon. She’s been trained well, and has served faithfully in the Shogun’s army for a long time. Another duty she must complete.
As Itsuki picks up the ritual bell, his fox ears flick a little with the familiar thrum of magic … what was the element he prefers again? It’s so hard to remember these things so early in the morning. The shrine he works at normally always wants you to be up so early, it’s annoying.
As Clarte hefts the weight of the club, they’ll find it easy to sling over one shoulder. It isn’t as if their form is any different than they’re used to, but there’s a hidden strength there that they’ve always felt. Careful not to bump your horns on the way of the door though. Red or Blue?
The shrine maiden nods at Clarte’s response though, hands in her sleeves, and heads out the door herself, leading them outside if they’ll follow. It’s still mostly dark out, but the rolling landscape, green grass and swaying trees, life abundant - is all dwarfed by the majesty of the enormous sakura tree growing from a jagged mountain. Delicate petals float through the air, even as far away as you are from it, sweet-smelling in the morning air. The highest point in the land. It has always been here, and you feel recognition easily, and at the same time, not? You’ve obviously never been here before.
The shrine maiden leads you down a winding path, stone steps, away from the tree in the distance.
`Don't worry. It is a sacred duty, but one I'm sure you will all handle adeptly. As I'm sure you already know, the time has come once again - you must cleanse the filth from the roots of the Sacred Sakura. It's a bit overdue ... but I'm grateful for your help. I've been assured you're all rather impressive. We have a bit of a walk ahead of us, if you have any questions?` ]
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Does the sword come with its own sheathe? If not, guess Nogiku is just hefting it around JRPG style. She glances at the group after they've made their selection, following after the shrine maiden — and nearly stumbles in surprise when she lays her eyes on the gang.]
Huh? You've... changed? [Why does she sound unsure. This is, apparently, both new and familiar. What a headache.
She furrows her brows, turning her attention back to the shrine maiden.]
Um... Excuse me. But who are you again?
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the wings should feel unfamiliar to her, but they don't, really. or rather - they do, but when jiuqing tries to focus on that unfamiliarity, it slides away from her. the weight of the wings on her back, the feeling of the bow in her hand, should feel strange, but they don't.
this is fine. it's normal.]
...how overdue are we talking?
[they have to get back to -
they have to accomplish this task -
so she doesn't want to ask too many questions. but knowing how overdue this is may help inform them of the dangers they're going to face, purging this filth.]
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he follows the group, because of course he has to, even if he doesn't want to... he has to play along with the story, no matter how it ends. that's how all dreams work.]
...So this is the scenario, huh? [to himself, then] Wait, what do you mean by cleansing exactly?
[is he gonna have to fight... with his... elemental power...]
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even without the effect, clarte is not hugely weirded out by growing new parts because this happens to them ALL THE TIME, so. it's still a little weird, but you know. also red, because red is their colour.
but the others have the questions taken care of, so they listen.]
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they keep walking. It isn't a hurried pace, just a nice stroll through the beautiful countryside. A little idyllic village is off across the way as you walk down the road - a few kids even peek at the warriors all walking down the road before being called back by their parents - who also wave as you go by. The shrine maiden doesn't seem to take notice of it, but she does keep speaking to you all:
Oh– You’re right! I’m sorry, I did forget to introduce myself. I am Kazari. I will be helping you - or, more accurately, you will be helping me. And the rest of Inazuma. Don't worry ... things have been peaceful lately. I wouldn't expect resistance. A few tofu boys at most and I'm sure you can all handle that much. The Narukami Shrine tends to overreact and send heavier arms than are really necessary.
As for the cleansing ritual. As the Sakura watches over the land, it absorbs filth into its roots, to protect us from that energy. What you are doing will ask the gods to help us dissipate some of that cursed filth. I cannot perform the ritual myself, but you will be able to. I'll be here to help, to guide you in the prayers.`
She leads you, eventually, to the entrance of a cave, pausing to make sure you're all following before she continues downwards. There are rough-hewn stone steps, down into the darkness. There isn't much light, but you can still see enough from the dim purple glow of strange crystals embedded in the rock face, seeing small roots start to twist into the cracks.
`You do have the prayers memorized, correct?`]
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[This would all be so pretty, if it weren't so strange.]
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yeah she isn't going to be walking. she'll be flying along with them, but she'll be sticking close enough to be able to take part in their discussion - though once they do get to the entrance to the cave, she'll land. probably better not to just fly right in there.
she glances from kazari to the rest of them. prayers. uhhhh.]
...yes, I think it would be best to have them fresh in our memories before we begin.
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SPOOKY GHOST CONTAINMENT ZONE
[ You feel yourself drifting. You've gone somewhere very, very far away, you feel like. It's lucky you made it here. Few people have the ability to navigate all of this time and space and memory and energy unaided, it's why it's safer, to give up your physical form and place it into an object if you wish to reside here. You don't know how you know this.
But you're here now. And you feel safe, at last. You may still be injured, and your life has been long and hard, but the pain for this moment has faded. You can stand and speak. A ways off, a young tree has sprouted, petals scattering to the wind. You may not remember everything yet, but you do remember who you really are. Where you have to get back to. The last of the feeling of being someone else shakes loose, finally. Everyone is waiting for you, but first, maybe ...
Someone is standing at the base of the tree, watching you. Turning to face you, if you approach. You don't know why, but you feel as if you are in the presence of someone very familiar. Maybe it's just the tone of their voice. ]
... I'm glad to see you've made it.
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she is herself, su jiuqing. a doctor, not a member of the shogun's army. she's supposed to save lives, not take them. her eyes widen, and she looks down at her hands (hands again, not claws, thank god, but she still managed to hurt people she cares about with them, when she was supposed to--) and shudders.]
What did I... Why did I...
[she feels like she shouldn't be able to stand. didn't she fall? didn't her body slam into the side of the mountain, didn't her neck get tangled up in the vines - before she could hit the ground, didn't those vines strangle the breath out of her? wasn't she just hanging there, lifeless, until -
her gaze wanders to the tree. it's not the first time she's woken up to a tree, when she shouldn't be waking up to anything.
...and then the person.]
Where are we...?
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The moment he sees Jiuqing and Clarte -- relief breaks across his expression.]
Jiu-chan! Te-kun!
[and if he's not in their vicinity before then he is now, moving closer -- not stopping until he's near, even when he sees the other person apparently... waiting for them?]
Where's Nogiku-san?
[HE DIDN"T FCKING SEE CLARTE JUMP OFF LIKE POCAHONTAS]
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their first thought is that they failed. it's not surprising—they knew there was a good chance they wouldn't be able to reach jiuqing. (they couldn't even really save itsuki either, though at least this was probably a lot less traumatic than forcing him to live with the memory of clarte murdering him.) and ultimately, clarte is used to failure. after all, including all the timelines they've gone through, they've watched people die far more often than they've been able to save them.
still, it leaves a bitter taste in their mouth, and not just because of any blood they're tasting—from the lung injury that killed them, caused by what was probably the distant relative of the rock that got nogiku's leg.]
... She should be safe.
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`She is safe. She's with a dear friend of mine. I'm sure that you will all see her again soon. But right now, you're in my realm of consciousness.
I'm grateful, for everything you did ... Don't worry. I'm here to help you return.` ]
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Itsuki... Clarte...
[they're both well. ...well enough to be here, which - given that she died pretty horrifically, may not mean a lot. the pain may have ceased for now, but the memory of it won't go away.
she bows to them, her head lowered.]
...I'm so sorry.
[she hurt them, after all. well - clarte, mostly. but she certainly didn't stop itsuki from attacking his friends, either.
and then to the woman (?)...]
...you can help us get back?
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But the only things on his back are -- tails still, which he'll accept over spider limbs.
He shakes his head quickly when Jiuqing apologizes, but before he can protest she's asking the lady (?) a question]
...Your realm of consciousness? ...Like a dream?
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I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you. [like stop her from dying horrifically, yikes! trying and failing to get her out of the vines wasn't a good time.] You as well, Itsuki.
[but they look to the strange woman (?).]
Is there a price?
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But it doesn't really matter. You won't be here long. And there's no price - if anything, I think I am already deeply indebted to you. ... Yet I still have to ask one more favor. Will you bring this back with you?
And she offers out a sword. ]
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that is the prettiest sword she's ever seen. she reaches out as if to touch it.]
...of course.
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He looks at the sword -- he has no experience with swords, besides Buzen's and 9S's, but it is very pretty. It seems special -- like it's a sword made for someone in mind.]
Back to the Sakura?
[how are they gonna get back..... flying........? he glances at Jiuqing's wounded wings,]
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