( open ) 003

[harimaya]

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

Comments

[worldbent]

Is that so?

[Matoba watches him thoughtfully for a long moment; there's another one of those strange expressions on his face again, with a smile that isn't real.]

Do you think you are not free to do so?

[harimaya]

...

(This isn't the direction he'd imagined a conversation with Matoba going and he wonders if he should change what he might have thought about him before. He's quiet for a moment, really considering for a moment.

He knows he's free to. Mutsunokami has his photography and all of his other interests. Sensei has his experiments and research. There are other touken danshi with interests in things like fashion and cooking and even... stranger desires. But they all have things they're good at. They all have better characters than him. They aren't gloomy and mean or awkward like him (he's very self-aware).)

... No one would believe me if I said so.

[worldbent]

What a foolish thing to say.

[Matoba's eyes drop to his ice with a dry scoff, dismissing what he sees as an excuse. He chips away at the ice in his bowl.]

You see, Hizen-kun, I can get away with so many things because my clan's reputation is not known to the ayakashi here. It's quite convenient to me. [He scoops a bite of ice into his mouth, chewing delightedly as he continues,] I can take advantage of so many who will be useful to my plans.

[Hizen included, of course, it goes without saying. But he's said the same before; it wasn't like Hizen didn't already know what sort of person he was, so admitting it doesn't matter.]

However, the same applies to you. If you choose it, there are surely not too many people present who will know or care about your reputation enough to prevent you from doing things you would otherwise not be able to do. You do not seem to be like me. I choose to continue to operate as I have, because it benefits me. [Sort of. It benefits the clan, his future heirs, and that was-- enough, for him--] As a tool, surely you feel that you must continue your function. I'd expect a clan like yours will make use of you, as well.

But as long as it does not interfere with the purpose that has been assigned to you, there is no reason not to partake in any manner of indulgences that pique your interest.

[Like, for example, sweets. Videogames. Or cats. Cats are good.]

[harimaya]

(Things he absolutely doesn't expect to hear from Matoba and yet... when he says it, it sure does sound like something he would say. Focusing on himself is awkward though. He still can't really do it and its not something that is going to change over night or even in a few days. There's centuries of baggage to unload and it's going to be a process to get him there.

But something does catch his attention through everything Matoba says and he wonders if he should ask it. It looks like he could ask something right now but ultimately, he bites down on his tongue. Asking Matoba "then what do you want?" feels like opening the door to his own desires and he isn't ready to do that just yet.

Instead, he's quiet, looking down at his ice slush in contemplative silence. He might not say anything but Matoba should be able to get the impression that Hizen heard everything he said. Really listened and is considering it all and how it fits in with his own philosophies and beliefs. Matoba is right enough that Hizen isn't going to try to argue against it.)