jigokulogs | ( open ) 003

Entry tags:

( open ) 003

Who ⬤ Hizen Tadahiro & you
What ⬤ Catchall for May & June
When ⬤ May
Where ⬤ See prompts
Content Warnings ⬤ N/A for now

SUBSTORY 1: MOON MEDICINE

(It was just mochi. How dangerous could mochi be? There's a reason why mochi is up high on Hizens' list of favorite foods and it's because mochi has never done him wrong.

… Yeah, this definitely isn't his brightest moment and in his defense, he never pretended to be particularly smart.

It's a warm, sunny spring day but Hizen is bundled up in his hoodie and a scarf. No matter what does, he can't fight off this chill and even being out in the sun isn't helping. Desperate, he tries to buy a hot drink from a vending machine if only so he can have something to warm his hands with and

it just takes his money without giving him anything. He tries one more time and gets the exact same result! He can be found sticking his arm up the slot, shaking the machine, or punching it. Sensitive to being watched, he turns his head to see you. Yes, you and snaps, teeth chattering,)

What?! (He's defensive,) Stop looking!

(And please don't perceive the fact that he's literally shaking while he yells at you.)

SUBSTORY 2: VEND ME A DREAM

(They had to retrieve a photograph of a certain host and then bring a hitobashira some takoyaki from a particular vendor that required waiting in an obscenely long line that never seemed to move. After getting the takoyaki, they had to go to a cafe and find a kitsune who was actually a very offended tanuki who asked them if they tried the vending machine alley on the other side of the city. When they get to the alley, they find a strange vending machine in the place that should have had the vending machine they were looking for. It looks like it's been replaced with one that just gives ominous mystery items instead.

His body is small and can only hold so much frustration before he explodes. He lets out a yell when he sees the vending machine,)

Aaaaaaaah! (He kicks at it which makes it beep and flicker,) Where the hell is it?!

(An entire floor full of vending machines and the right one isn't even here.

Maybe you were already with Hizen on his quest. Or maybe you were also led to the hall of vending machines. Or you just heard about this weird place and want to try your luck for unrelated reasons.)

SUBSTORY 4: HANIWHAT?

(He isn't the most sensitive person, even back home when he knows what to look out for. It's easy for most things to slip past him if he isn't paying attention, especially in Jigoku-cho where there are so many things happening, a strange occurrence here and there can be overlooked. But these dolls are strange. He isn't an expert on them but he recognizes them for what they are. They're old; far beyond in his time or knowledge. At first, he hadn't thought much of them but the more he noticed them, the more uncomfortable he became.

These things just feel bad to him. They make him uncomfortable and put him on edge and when he hears that the Enma are calling for them, he's relieved. Good riddance. He has no idea what they're up to but it isn't going to be his problem.

But everyone is so nosy. Everyone wants to push their luck and see what they are. They touch them, they move them around, they treat them roughly, and it just makes him feel anxious. When he sees you checking one out, he snaps,)

Oi. Leave it alone.

(He's clearly irritated,)

You're gonna get in trouble if you keep messing with it.

GENERAL: SHUTEN TERRITORY

(Hizen can be found checking out some of the weapons stores in Shuten territory. He isn't looking for a new weapon— he's perfectly content with his own sword, thank you very much. But when your true form is your sword, weapon maintenance is important. He's shopping for oil, cloth, and other things to take care of himself and he's also asking around to see if anyone can recommend a good smith but no one really wants to give out their source. Instead, they keep trying to sell him a new sword,)

I told ya already, I'm not interested.

(Yeah, but they really don't want to give out their suppliers. It's bad for business, you know?)

I don't give a shit about that. I'm just looking for a guy that can fix things.

(Well, if your sword is broken then might they recommend this one here? It's quite popular with the new recruits—)

I'm not broke!

(Kind of a weird thing to yell but yeah.)

OPEN TOP LEVELS

I'll be adding more top-levels and linking them here so they don't end up lost in the other comments,

⟡ Post-Intro Mingle: (It's raining, it's pouring)

WILDCARD

❀ If you have another idea for a prompt or would like to plot anything out, let me know
❀ Plotting comment here
❀ contact; eski | discord: eski#9874 | PM

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You do get into the most difficult situations, don't you?

[Out of the gloom of the rain tips a familiar bullseye-patterned parasol- holding up remarkably well for being made of paper- and Matoba's smiling face beneath it. Was the little sword on his way back from the Shuten shindig...? Well, no matter.]

You don't have anything for the rain? [Matoba looks him up and down. Obviously not, and... he doesn't really expect that of him, either, but after a moment, Matoba seems to come to a decision and gives a little sigh, tilting his parasol towards Hizen.]

...Very well. Shall we head to the stores to find you something?

(It's a familiar sight and Hizen scowls. It's times like this that he really hates being seen.)

It's just rain.

(He downplays it. He refuses to make a bigger deal out of it than it really is. It's not like he's going to rust standing out here in the rain for a little while.

He looks at Matoba's umbrella, eyes narrowing and regarding it and him carefully. He knows better than to think Matoba is kind. (He reminds him too much of that man and Hizen will never forget what he did.) He doesn't move, feet firmly planted where he is.)

Aren't you going somewhere?

(Why go out of his way?)

It is, [Matoba agrees. He glances up at the sky thoughtfully, fingertips held to the air past the edge of his parasol- it didn't look like the rain was going to let up anytime soon, but at least there was no lightning and little wind driving it.]

[He glances back down to catch that aggressive glare from the sword, and feels his smile twitch wider, just the bit. Always with his hackles up, this one. It was almost cute.]

Yes, [He agrees, tilting his head to motion down the road.] I am headed back to Sutoku territory for the night. It would be on my way to accompany you to one of the 100-yen shops to get yourself a proper covering, but if you'd rather stand under this awning all night.......

[Maybe he would. What a shame... Perhaps he'd overestimated this one's sense of gratitude.]

(He looks out at the rain. It doesn't look like it's going to let up any time and he wonders how bad it would be to just run back to the apartments. He'd pass the same stores along the way so he could buy an umbrella if he really wanted to. Does he want to? He doesn't really need one, he thinks.

... But it would be nicer to not get so wet on the way home. He'd have to hang everything out to dry and if the rain went on into the next day, it would be more a pain waiting.

He tugs at one of the cords on his hoodie thoughtfully and then steps out under the cover of Matoba's umbrella. He mumbles but doesn't make eye contact,)

... Thanks.

[Ah, so he has finally fed the stray enough to be able to lead him along a little? It's progress, he notes, even with Hizen's averted eyes and sullen slump under his parasol. The parasol was very wet, but it was holding up the rain so far. Hopefully it would stay that way.]

[Matoba turns and continues on his way down the road that led eventually into Sutoku territory, not particularly trying to keep an easier pace to account for Hizen- he'd better keep up, if he wants to stay dry.]

Did the Shuten also induct a new crop of recruits? [Might as well make some little smalltalk! That's Hizen's favorite thing, right?] Had a little get-together, did you?

(He can keep up. He doesn't mind that he's still getting a little wet in that way that happens when two people share an umbrella, either. It's far better than being without one.)

Mhm. (A hum in affirmation because Hizen is so great at small talk!) Went to some dumb casino.

(New management or not, that casino is dead to him until they can prove it's better than before! He's tired of going back there. No comment on the actual recruits, though. As prickly as he is, he really isn't the type to talk about people who haven't really done anything wrong to him yet.)

Had some drinks. (And then everything got loud and wild as Shuten gatherings do.) ... Not really a party person.

(Obviously.)

Oh? Do you gamble, Hizen-kun?

[The rain was really coming down, resulting in some deep puddles throughout where there were potholes or dips in elevation in the street. Matoba weaves back and forth on the road to sidestep them, and past youkai rushing past out of the rain.] That doesn't seem like it suits you.

[The drinking does. Matoba smirks a little at his self-aware quip.]

Parties can be quite useful, though. Even if you don't enjoy mingling, there is always the people-watching.

You seem like you would be talented at that.

Sometimes.

(It's fun having stakes when he has matches with others. There's no harm in a few casual bets over drinks. But he doesn't really enjoy some of the more structured and organized ways.

Ah, but that last little comment is very on the mark. He is, in fact, quite skilled when it comes to watching people. All of the wakizashi seemed to have a knack for spying and sneaking around. Hizen, a natural assassin, had taken to the role quickly and easily after being summoned. He wonders if that's why the government chose him for summoning. Being able to observe others and give evaluations and reports was helpful when he worked for them directly.)

...

(He's quiet; not entirely sure how to respond to Matoba.

He might not be the brightest spirit but his skills in observation are sharp. He casts a glance over at the exorcist. He watches him for a moment and replies,)

You're being friendly. (An observation,) What d'ya really wanna know?

(Because it certainly isn't his likes or interests.)

Hahaha, am I?

[What a rude little brat. Maybe he was a little too observant, sometimes, but that was a skill that Matobe valued; it was a skill that he could make use of.]

[Matoba smiles brightly despite the gloom of the rain. He also is not ever going to answer that directly, so:] Was there anyone interesting at your little get-together? The Alliance has some interesting new folks, as well.

We all got to watch a movie. Have you heard of films, motion pictures?

Mhm.

(He sure is being friendly and he absolutely will not elabroate on what brought him to that conclusion out loud.)

It's probably the same.

(No, he isn't going to share any information about Shuten's ranks, even the new ones. Nice try, Matoba.)

Yeah. It's not like they're anything new...

(Films have been around for awhile! Even if he hasn't actually enjoyed any because Hizen doesn't do fun things.)

[Clamming up so soon.... Matoba sighs, frowning in Hizen's direction (for his benefit), and turns forward again.] Well, I am sure you will meet them soon, either way.

[Spoil-sport! Matoba will talk about the movie instead, then, fine!]

Ahaha, you say that, but I have even met a human tonight who was not familiar with modern films... In any case, the movie was fine enough, but I had a lot of fun watching it.

Have you seen it? It's called Fiancé of the Funeral Procession.

... Guess there're people from different times here.

(Which isn't really weird to him considering he's a time traveler and all. He wonders if Matoba thinks he's from the past or the same time as him. Hm.)

It was okay. (Just okay. The fact that Hizen isn't ripping into it is proof enough that he enjoyed it, though; he's just bad at expressing hiimself as usual.) Saw it a little while ago.

I suppose so, huh?

[Matoba assumes Hizen is old enough that it doesn't really matter. What was a century forward or backward, to an ayakashi several centuries old?]

[Hizen's appraisal of the film makes Matoba grin.] Oh, you've seen it already? I suppose I didn't expect that. Are you a fan of cinema?

In any case, it seems that film was "imported" here from somewhere else. Don't you think it's interesting that they are able to do that? But then again, I suppose we are all here, too.

I was just curious. (Because even Hizen gets curious and wants to try things from time to time. ) Everyone was talking about it.

(It is interesting that they're able to bring things from another world here, though. It's something Hizen has wondered about since Natori mentioned his movie being brought here,)

... There used to be a bunch of stories about crossing into other worlds. People getting taken or ending up in strange places. If a place can bring all of us, a movie's probably nothing, especially when they've already taken something from the other place.

It does seem to have become popular rather quickly. I wonder if that is because the lead belongs to the beasts? Perhaps that Tenkohime is fanning the flames of popularity for her benefit.

[It's hard to tell if he's being serious or just joking to be mocking about it. He wonders if Hizen had made the same connection that others had, between them.] But if she brought them both here in the first place, I suppose it was all to her benefit, anyway. [Did that mean the Daitengu had done the same to him? Originally he had wondered if their arrivals had been the fault of the clan leaders, or the Enma's shinigami, but....]

...Humans stumbling into the ayakashi realm has always been a problem. Paths that should not appear to normal humans, beckoning them to be devoured by some hungry thing that has managed to find its way. [Matoba glances down a dark alleyway as they pass, as if it exemplified precisely the sort of path he might be talking about.]

Of course, when it comes to us exorcists, they always seem to be quite secretive about their little hiding spots. [Teehee. Wonder why.]

(He knows Natori is with the Tamamo clan and thinks about this for a second. Matoba knows too? Well, they've been here long enough that it would make sense for them to run into each other but... that weirdo is also an exorcist.

Ah. He thinks he understands now. It isn't important so there's no reason to say it out loud but it's a piece of information he can tuck away and save for another time. It also helps that the more Matoba speaks, the more Hizen feels like he can understand his relationship with spirits (or as he likes to call them, ayakashi). It seems like they're quite malicious where he's from. It makes sense. The troublesome ones are always the most active ones but...

Not all spirits were bad. He knows plenty of good ones.

(And maybe someday, he can be good, too.))

Because spirits and humans don't understand each other.

(It's why even the good spirits hide away, choosing to watch from afar and study in some vague attempt to find understanding.)

Even the good ones that watch people for forever don't get you guys 'cause... (How does he explain this. His voice trails slightly and he frowns, trying to find the right words.) No matter how human we look, we aren't. And we never were.

[Walking in the dark gloom, Hizen's words are almost swallowed up by the roar of the downpour, but Matoba attentively hears them, each and every one, and feels some small bit of pity for the spirit of a human tool, who must lament that he cannot ever truly understand his Master. Whoever it was. Had been.]

That is so. [If there is one thing that he will ever agree upon with an ayakashi, it was that: they were incompatible beings. Even one that had been created with servitude to a human in mind.... A human would never be able to understand the feelings of something that had been made in service to them. A human would never understand the desires of a thing which viewed a world so different from their own.]

[Matoba tilts the edge of the umbrella a bit to glance at the sky above, as if to see if it was letting up any, before tilting it back down over them again. They had crossed into Sutoku territory already, so it would be a short while until they arrived at the wide avenue with all the main shops.]

Perhaps we should not have been brought here, don't you think?

(It's all depressing, really. The weather, the conversation, the company. He would have preferred to just walk in silence, he thinks.

There are spirits who certainly have a better grasp on humans than others. That guy is so familiar with humans and so aware of his own humanity that one might think he might eventually take down that wall that divides them and achieve real understanding. In comparison, Hizen finds himself stuck in a box, surrounded by walls on all side with an untouchable ceiling above him. He doesn't get people. He doesn't even get himself anymore now that he has these pesky human burdens to deal with.)

I ain't human. I don't waste my time thinking about stuff like that.

(Like why he was summoned or contracted in the first place. He's a sword-- a touken danshi, at that. He answers when he's called and he does what he's told.

After a night of drinking, there are slips of an accent here and there, especially as he... seems to relax? Not that he trusts or really likes Matoba in particular but he's used to his company now.)

Edited (yeah sure i can slip some tosaben in) 2022-05-16 03:02 (UTC)

Haha, nor should you, [Whatever thoughtfulness had been in Matoba's tone is gone again; back in its place is his normal flippancy.] Since you are not human.

[He belongs here, just fine. Matoba heard that slip of the accent in Hizen's words, and glances towards him. Peculiar, indeed... It was certainly not the accent of his namesake, which Matoba knew relatively well.]

[They walk for a few moments longer, and Matoba chews on that contemplatively.]

Hizen.............. You have certainly gotten around, haven't you?

(He expected to hear that annoying, -kun at the end and as ever, he'd been ready to correct Matoba. If he were a little more sober, he would understand what exactly Matoba was asking but as far as he's concerned, when his head is filled with just enough cotton to stop him from thinking too hard and that's just the way he likes it usually. Not too far gone he's lost but just enough that he can stress less.

He finds himself just looking over at him, clearly confused and wondering where the question had come from.)

[Hizen's blank stare is met with Matoba's smile. For a moment of silence they just look at each other, but then Matoba looks forward again and continues, slipping into a lazier and casual Kumamoto-ben.]

For a while I wondered since you are reluctant to talk about much of anything. But... Since Hizen is a close neighbor of Higo I thought there might be some fun stories I could get out of you about the area.

But in the end you aren't really a neighbor after all. Too bad.

[He almost seems disappointed.]

(He looks surprised. He didn't expect to hear Matoba switch so suddenly. He's never thought of where he might come from. It wasn't particularly important to him and he doubted it would change much of anything. Kumamoto is unexpected though. )

Ya never asked.

(There's information he's willing to share rather freely, especially once people know what he is. But very few ever actually ask him. Or they want to know things he can't say instead.)

... My smith was from Hizen. (He shrugs. He doesn't mind.) Someone else picked me up.

Iss'at all? I guess goods traveled to different domains all the time.

[Okay, that's enough of that. Matoba sighs, and slips back into his more formal manner, adding,] I don't know very much about swords and their smiths, obviously. We Matoba have never used blades beyond what is practically necessary. If you had been the spirit of a pottery, or a figurine, then I might have known a bit more.

...Have you ever visited there, just to see? You spirits seem to either tie yourself down to a single place you cannot leave, or wander endlessly, with no inbetween.

(He's quiet.

Yes, he's been to Hizen province. He's been to Higo, too. Kyoto. Edo. Tosa. Hakodate. Sendai. He's crossed the country through time. Of course, he can't explain that.)

'S not like I'm going on vacation. (He doesn't go places just to see.) I go where I'm s'posed to. That's all.

Some of us travel around more... but 's not really the place that's important. It's just part of a story.

Where your Master commands you?

[What little Matoba has been able to glean from Hizen's situation, anyway, was that all he did was what he was told, like a good little servant. A perfect spirit of a tool.]

[But he says something strange, and Matoba's head tilts, in response.] A story, hm.

[Whatever could he mean by that?]

[He ponders as they arrive in front of the huge, brightly lit front of the Sutoku main street shops- a Daiso, a Don Quixote, a McDonalds-- all in succession, more or less. He stops under the overhang of the huge building, and turns to Hizen.] Shall we find you something suitable?

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