OPEN ➸ Two ⦿ Circles

[worldbent]

Who ⬤ Matoba Seiji and you! with mixed OTA/limited prompts
What ⬤ The first attack of the Matoba curse, selling charms, and various business™
When ⬤ Between the 2nd and 3rd weeks of April, roughly (more than a week after Night Parade, before the Daitengu's funeral, basically)
Where ⬤ Sutoku territory
Content Warnings ⬤ Violence/blood likely from first prompt, will warn for anything specific in tag headers!



A1 ➸ FIRST STRIKE - limited to the first 3 tag-ins, new CR for now please!
[(OOC; Before tagging in to these prompts, please read through this information and feel free to ask questions there or via PM! I will be NPCing the attacker for these threads.)]

[Despite the Daitengu's untimely demise and the uncertainty surrounding the Alliance, Sutoku territory was back to business as usual for the most part by the week after the Night Parade. The streets are bustling with shoppers and workers like nothing untoward had even occurred, and although everyone remains suspicious behind closed doors, few seem to be on much of a high alert.]

[...Which is likely why none of the youkai around you blink an eye at the stumbling, muttering Kawatengu pushing past people on the sidewalk and menacingly growling. He's probably just had too much to drink- that's the most likely excuse, right? Even though it's the middle of the afternoon, but in big cities like this you learn to keep to yourself and not worry much about weirdos on the street around you.]

[Except that if you look at him closely, his right eye is blotted out as if possessed by something, and if you have any supernatural senses at all you can just barely feel something awful and malicious emanating from him. Too late, it becomes obvious that he's not just shambling about randomly- he has a target, and the black-haired man walking a few paces in front of you both seems to have no idea what's coming when the Tengu lunges forward with a nasty hiss--]

RiGHt...EYe......


A2 ➸ What the hell was THAT - OTA!

[After the sudden scuffle that erupts in the middle of the street, something black and hideous like a huge mass of sludge erupted out from the mouth of a Tengu and lashed itself away through the street, scrambling up the side of a brick building and slithering off to parts unknown. Whatever that thing was, it just attacked a man on the street in broad daylight, and to the spiritually sensitive had an oppressively awful, malicious aura that may be unlike anything you've felt. Youkai are left knocked back on the sidewalk in the wake of its escape, and some were sent scrambling to get away.]

[The man who was attacked, however, seems more calm than anyone. He ignores the panic of the youkai around him, and even the Tengu that's now left knocked out cold on the sidewalk. Instead, he seems to take notice your stare first and simply smiles- wiping away whatever blood was drawn from him in the scuffle with little concern.]

I do apologize for the commotion. It's probably not used to big cities like this.

--

B1 ➸ Souvenir Shop - OTA!

[With great power came great... opportunities. Or so he'd been told by the Tengu Elders upon being granted back both his spiritual senses, and his ability to create protective charms. Opportunities, in this case, meant a job offer to help mass-produce the tacky little souvenir good-luck charms sold at the gates of the Tengu Temple for any desperate enough for luck that they would even buy a trinket for their troubles.]

[Well, far be it for Matoba to judge a good scam. It was excellent business and a good dog and pony show for the weak and Sightless, both in the human realm and this one.]

[Since the Night Parade had just gone by and no-doubt plenty of festival goers had drawn bad to terrible luck in the Hadaka, there was plenty of business, which meant that Matoba had plenty to do as he sat manning a stall, carefully inking charms on strips of paper to go in the bright little pouches lining the counter. When he notices his new customer, he glances up, and flashes you a bright and cheerful smile.]

In need of a bit of luck?

B2 ➸ Protection Racket - Open to Sutoku Alliance and those with Spiritual Senses

[If he recognizes you as an ally, or if you're the spiritually sensitive sort, he might notice that you're unlikely to be tricked by these useless little trinkets- but that just meant that he had an opportunity to do a little... under the table business. His eye will then sharpen on you, and he gestures you away from the pouches.]

Not those ones. I have something else for you.

--
[ooc; questions/plotting/etc! Hit me up via PM or kitsoru!]

Comments

A2 🍿

[kikuichi]

[When he's not working, Norimune likes to wander into the Sutoku Territory. After all, there's plenty of convenience stores and fast food to feed the mass. It's the perfect location for a normal, busy yet mundane day. Or as mundane as the youkai knows it.

The malicious aura he picked up made him pause on the street, before he went to check it out. His senses aren't what they're used to, but it's difficult to ignore the feeling. Norimune unfold his fan in response, as he simply watches with pure curiosity and intrigue.

Until he notice someone, a familiar someone. He take note of the blood being wiped away.]

"Not used to"? I take it you know what this is?

[Are you responsible for it?]

[worldbent]

[Responsible is............ a strong word, Nori-jiji.]

[Matoba has sustained some deep scratches to his right arm- the left one, hidden under the dark sleeve of his haori, was still bandaged and bound to heal from the gunshot he suffered during the Night Parade attack. Down an arm, some scratches wasn't a bad deal.]

[He smiles at the spirit, and internally chuckles to himself that this one was drawn by the ayakashi's aura.]

Yes. Did you see its attack? [He gestures towards the tengu, who finally had some good samaritans trying to wake him up and, failing that, drag him off somewhere.] Or perhaps I should say, that one's attack. Now, that was new....

[kikuichi]

I heard the commotion and came to see. I didn't see the attack.

[He felt the aura first, really. His eyes look down at Matoba's right arm. Most likely from the attack. They seem fresh enough to his eyes. Norimune glances over towards the tengu, watching him being dragged away.

His sleeping body would just get in the way. But there's the other odd thing from where the tengu was, and his gaze linger on that spot. Remnants of the attack?]

Can you tell me about it?

[He's asking as a curious old man, not as an Enma member. He's off-duty, anyway.]

[worldbent]

I see....

[Matoba unwinds some bandages from his sleeves and carefully wraps his forearm- bandages up both arms now, what is he- some sort of cage fighter?? But it was best to take care of these things quickly, lest some smallfry think that fresh exorcist blood was an invitation to a meal.]

[Especially such potent blood. Perhaps that could be why that malice-filled ayakashi was so attracted to him- there is certainly a different, oppressively cold aura to Matoba now than there was the last few times Norimune had come across him, although he holds it skillfully under tap.]

That one is... a legacy of my clan, you might call it. For centuries, it has targeted us- or more specifically, targeted the right eye of the clanhead.

[Matoba chuckles, grinning back up at Norimune as he tucks the end of his bandage.] It seems that not even Hell will come between its attacks. Interesting, isn't it?

A1

[sharpestsword]

[ There hadn't been much for her to do on her shift. Perhaps Department presence can be enough of a deterrent sometimes. An uneventful day is a good thing. Just as she starts contemplating what she'll do after work she notices this one youkai. She's not sure if he's trying to start a fight with that other guy or what but that's not happening on her watch. Without hesitation she runs and tackles him to the ground before he can attack. The crowd gives them some space while she holds him down. ]

We're not doing this today.

[worldbent]

[It had been a good month or so that Matoba had been in Hell without hide or hair of that monster- he had been asked of it in hushed tones, the morning after the Night Parade attack: has it come? At that time, he wasn't sure if it ever would....]

[Then the Tengu leadership unsealed his power, and told him in grave voices that he should take care to protect himself from now on. It was an inevitability at this point, and honestly, he's surprised it took even this long.]

[Possessions were very difficult things to sense, even for someone of his power- and it was only when he felt the sharp spike of malice emanating from behind him that he had begun to turn around so that his left side and his unshrouded eye were exposed first--]

[--Only to bear witness to a woman full-body tackling a Tengu into the sidewalk. Oof. That looked like it hurt.] Oh my. Are you alright? [While the crowd scatters in confusion and the Tengu thrashes and hisses in an attempt to escape, Matoba finally gets a look at the face of his attacker and draws in a sharp breath.]

Get away from it.

[sharpestsword]

[ She caught him. Now she just has to make sure he doesn't get away. She fights against the flailing, working to get arms behind his back. Nothing more than a few scrapes for her since she landed on top but he's looking worse for wear. Breathing heavily she looks up at the man who would have been his target. The way he's speaking she takes that to mean the Tengu has got some sort of weapon she was unaware of. She checks over what she can but doesn't find much other than something very wrong with his eye. ]

What...

A1

[metafictions]

[Some shambling drunkard isn't enough to catch Kamui's attention, particularly not with his own abilities so drastically muffled in hell. All he wants to do is get back to Shuten territory and to go home today, so he doesn't pay the kawatengu much mind at all.

Until, of course, he begins to lurch closer.

In the hustle and bustle, all that Kamui makes out is eye. His senses certainly don't need to be active for the hair on his neck to stand on end, for his heart to start racing at that-- how was it possible for some youkai on the street to know anything about him, much less feel the power slumbering in his own left eye?

So in the panic of his fight or flight response, he leaps forward, too, reaching out to pull Matoba aside sharply by the arm--]

Look out!

[worldbent]

[The sudden spike of malicious energy from behind him was so instantaneously familiar that Matoba was already reaching for the paper parasol tucked into his obi; instead, that hand is getting snatched by someone else (a human?? he isn't sure, but he doesn't have time to tell). Matoba lurches to the side with Kamui's yank just in time for the kawatengu's swipe to miss, claws slicing at nothing but air; but as Matoba is wheeled around by the motion, Kamui gets to look at his face and his covered right eye.]

[And his very nasty smirk.]

Thank you, [He says to Kamui, polite but less relieved than might perhaps be expected, before drawing the parasol out to slam it into the right side of the kawatengu's face. It staggers backwards from the force of the hit, but in that movement, its blackened right eye becomes visible, like flickering TV static.] OoouGHhhh...

[metafictions]

[Something here— belligerent youkai aside— isn’t right, that much is certain. Kamui releases Matoba, then follows the singular motion of his parasol slamming against the kawatengu and driving it backward. It’s difficult not to catch a glimpse of that eye, to take in how unnatural their movements really are.

Kamui’s gaze returns to Matoba. Hold on…]

It’s after you?

[There’s a gun concealed on his person, but he won’t break it out. Yet. Not in a crowd like this, not unless he needs to.]

b1

[rainswords]

[ While he shouldn't feel any amount of surprise to see this particular man working, after all, they all had to find some way to make a living here. The sight is still strange to him, there is something of a contrast in watching Matoba work so diligently to ink the strips of paper, the brightly colored charms about don't really help the image. Finally, when he is noted he receives a smile he wasn't expecting, it's far too radiant to really go on the man's face. Maybe that's why he doesn't reciprocate the expression and only stares. ]

No...?

I mean no. Not at all. I was just inspecting your craftmanship. That's all.

In regards to your handwriting, it is impressive how detailed you managed to make each character despite the size of the canvas.

[worldbent]

[Matoba and color: name a less iconic duo?? Xingqiu certainly couldn't be blamed for thinking that, given how the man seemed to only dress in dour blacks and dark grays, so he really was a funny sight amongst the cheery displays of charms. Even funnier with that mismatched smile.]

...Is something the matter? [The man's head tilts curiously at Xingqiu's apparent fluster, in a way that does not reveal in any way whether it was genuine or not.] Ahaha, well, my schoolteachers used to say the same thing. You could say I have a lot of practice.

[He slips his brush against the inkstone stationed beside him, and starts on a new one with precise, careful movements.] The hairs of the brush, the amount of ink taken onto it... There are small details which affect the outcome of the calligraphy greatly. Have you much experience with it yourself, Xingqiu-kun?

[rainswords]

[ Easy: Matoba and that smile!!!!

But yeah, that expression, he had to take a moment to decide whether or not to be disturbed. No, wait, he doesn't really have to think about it and he will be filing that away for later. Very strange. His attention is once again on the array of colors surrounding the man, the many charms that give a content and joyful vibe, and that brings him back to the smile.

He ends up shaking his head. Why even think about it? ]

A lot... I can see it in your work. [ Calligraphy isn't his forte, actually nothing involving putting any type of writing onto paper bodes well for him. Then again, perhaps Matoba never did get a glimpse of his handwriting, thank goodness. ]

And I've heard much the same, but my only experience with calligraphy is attending some classes...

[ That's not completely true, but he isn't going to go on about how he pridefully spent the whole of a day perfecting a signature for an event far from the shores of home. And then in relevance to the classes attended, well his focus ended up elsewhere. The bits and pieces he picked up during the lessons were mixed in with the novels his full attention was taken with, basically, he set himself up for failure although his poor calligraphy skills don't really explain his horrible handwriting. That's just him. ]

CLOSED TO NATORI;

[worldbent]

[Matoba considered it good business to offer one's wares to other clans in need of his power, even for clans who counted themselves as his rivals. Since he had heard no improvement from Natori on this front, Matoba decides to take it upon himself to make a business trip into Tamamo territory and make an offer the other exorcist couldn't refuse.]

[Well. He could refuse. Matoba even expected it. But he'd never let that stop him before, now had he?]

[And besides, he did owe the man a debt.... Natori owed him several by his estimation at this point, so what he should really do is call it even. But if he knew Natori Shuichi (and he did), he knew that the man would try and use that unasked-for help as an excuse to quibble over his own debts, and Matoba didn't intend to give him the chance.]

[Inviting himself into a Tamamo apartment building was a simple task with his newly regained power, silencing the protest of whatever resistance he met with a smile and a slight show of strength, and it takes little time to find the signature of Natori's aura, a sensation he knew as well as his own. He raps his knuckles on Natori's door a few times.]

[See, Natori. Some people knock.]

[paperpusher]

[A moment after Matoba knocks, a paper doll slips through the crack between the door and the floor. It bends upwards as if taking Matoba in, then silently slides back into the apartment to report back. Natori certainly knows who to expect when he opens the door a few seconds later.]

Matoba-san, [he says, cordially but reserved, like greeting a colleague at a business trip. Then after a moment, he blinks and says] Ah. So there's enough of a leadership in the Alliance to give out rewards?

[He says "rewards" with just the slightest drawl of sarcasm; something rankles about the ayakashi magnanimously 'gifting' them with things that had already been theirs. After a moment, Natori makes a decision, and opens the door wider to invite Matoba in.]

I guess this saves me a trip. I got your [ridiculous, expensive] matcha.

[worldbent]

[Oh? Hello. Matoba raises a pleased eyebrow at the sight of the little paper doll, and thinks to hold his hand out for it to rest upon, but it zips back under the door before he can do so.]

[A good sign, he thinks, and indeed he hears the soft tmp-tmp of footsteps to the door before it opens.] Natori-san, [He greets likewise, bloodless of them as usual,] Yes. I see we have both been the lucky recipients of our clans' good graces.

[He fucking better have. He got shot for these bitches.]

I thought, that being the case, that I ought to share the wealth a little.... [Ominously generous.] Ah, that was quick. Perhaps I can enjoy a cup while I'm here and setting up. Then, may I come in?

a2

[nya]

( the commotion would draw anyone's attention, really — she might not be as spiritually sensitive as matoba, especially with her powers still sealed, but she feels... a presence, regardless — something unpleasant in the air, like a stench you can't quite locate. when she runs out of the building and out on the street to check what's happening, there's — a black mass of something, tearing itself out of a tengu's throat and disappearing behind the corner.

she stares — at the collapsing yokai, and then at matoba, who happens to be here, too.

and then it clicks. )

Oh! It was the... the thing! ( she points at the corner where it disappeared, and then runs up to seiji, pointing at the blood. ) Are you okay?! Is... that guy okay?

( the tengu... can she heal him? )

[worldbent]

[Matoba is flexing his right fist with apparent irritation when Nia runs out, but as soon as he notices her presence, his face fixes itself into friendly recognition.] Ahh, it seems you were able to become acquainted with it after all.

[There's a tear in his sleeve where the possessed Tengu's claws had caught him, and the scent of blood confirms he'd gotten some scratches from it, but he seems otherwise unharried. The Tengu, who has some (rather brave) concerned citizens gathering around him, seems unconscious but alive, at least. As to whether he could be healed...]

If he wasn't too weak, he will wake up on his own, [Matoba reassures her, then thoughtfully adds,] And if not....... Well, sometimes possessions that are removed unnaturally may cause permanent damage, but since that one left willingly, it's probably fine.

[Probably. Matoba totally ignores her asking about his own wound on purpose. Tis a scratch.]

[nya]

I see... ( there's a lot of people gathered there, now. more than likely, she can't help fix a possession — that seems more like a spiritual wound, rather than physical. there's not much she can do about these, with only a sliver of her power available.

scratches, in the other hand...

she can smell the blood coming off matoba; she's a cat, you know. without thinking, she reaches to grab his wrist, raising his arm above her head to examine the tear and the subsequent wounds beneath it. )

I can take care of this, at least. It won't take long.

OTA: DAITENGU'S FUNERAL

[worldbent]

[There have been murmurs of suspicion and doubt towards the Daitengu's death since the beginning amongst the Sutoku, and so Matoba notes a distinct lack of abject shock coming from their ranks as it goes through the crowd at the Daitengu's theatric reveal.]

[Matoba rankles. Later, he will consider each and every piece of what has happened, and the result, and decide that in the Daitengu's shoes he may have also played everyone for a fool in order to flush out his enemy.... But in the moment, annoyance wins out.]

[One of the benefits to being low-ranked enough in the clan as to barely matter was that the Lost Souls were lined up towards the back of the crowd. As the riled-up crowd turns to aggression, Matoba immediately takes a step back, draws his eye across the crowd to locate any of his acquaintances, and dips out. Having worked in the Tengu Temple for the last couple of weeks, he was at least somewhat familiar with the grounds, and wanted no part in whatever meaningless havoc was about to unfold.]

[If you caught his eye- feel free to join him.]

...The Enma, huh.

[psionicmolotov]

[ Kimmuriel catches Matoba's eye and smoothly detaches from the ranks to follow. When he catches up, he just looks.......kind of exhausted and distinctly unimpressed. He can't say he was expecting this but he can't say he didn't rule it out entirely, either? So he's settled on 'tired and slightly confused'. ]

Our leader has such a charming personality, do they not. [ He sounds downright acerbic. He's not as stonefaced as he usually is, because he's still got a lot of bruising to recover from. ]

[worldbent]

[Stuffing his hand in his pants pocket, Matoba lets out a sigh of exasperation. He'll allow himself that much.] I will still accept it over the brute and the beast, [He says after a pause of actual consideration, because he isn't self-unaware enough not to know who he is.] But I do hope that something of worth is gained out of all of this.

[Because if it wasn't, then it was all rather wasteful, wasn't it? Matoba turns to glance towards Kimmuriel.] I didn't see you in the mess of that night, but... I can't say this wasn't a suspicion of mine. Given what has just occurred, what do you think the Department will do, now?

[For starters, he's hoping the cops aren't waiting for them just outside the Temple.]

A2

[harimaya]

(There's a disgusting feeling in the air.

It's something that immediately alerts him and for just a moment, he wonders if the enemy has somehow found its way into the city. No, this doesn't feel exactly right, though. It's lacking that distinct, distorted pressure that comes from space and time being twisted because of them. Since he regained his senses he's certain he'd be able to tell the difference. This is something else.

He goes to investigate. He knows it's going to be trouble but he can't help it. Call it a sense of duty or something. He arrives just in time to watch something emerge from the body of a tengu.

Possession? He wonders and he starts to chase it until it scurries up the wall of a building. There's no real way to follow it up like that. He'd never be able to catch up with it by just climbing on whatever he can to. No, it's going to escape and he stops short, looking back at it's former-host-slash-victim and sees--)

... You.

(The exorcist. Matoba.)

[worldbent]

Oh, Hizen-kun. Just in time.

[Matoba is poised as ever, but even though that thing has scurried away, there's a trace of it hanging in the air- it's centered on Matoba.]

[Whatever prickling sensation Hizen may have gotten from his eye before, it's easy to make the connection between its oppressive, disgusting presence just now and the unseeable thread that connects it to Matoba's eye. He smiles, wrapping a bandage over the cuts in his arm like he's trimming roses, and tilts his head in greeting.]

Were you going to follow it? I don't recommend it.

[harimaya]

Hizen.

(Not Hizen-kun. Because his priorities are definitely in order.

The silence means he was definitely going to follow it and he doesn't at all seem bothered by however strong it might have been. His eyes narrow and he watches Matoba. It's his first time meeting him since he regained his strength and ability to sense things. The feeling is a lot more clear now, instead of that fuzzy, vaguely uncomfortable feeling he had before.

He begins to walk over... and kneels down to check on the unconscious tengu.)

... What was that?