Minato "Minakami" Suizenji (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
watermemory) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
jigokulogs2022-05-08 07:00 pm
watermemory) wrote in jigokulogs2022-05-08 07:00 pm
[ OPEN ] double trouble
Who ⬤ Tamamori, Minakami, and whomstever (that's you)
What ⬤ Substory 2 and 4, and a couple other options
When ⬤ Throughout May
Where ⬤ All over
Content Warnings ⬤ None that I can foresee. Will edit if it crops up.
This is a duo open post involvingfuckdogramagra and watermemory, because these two idiots are stapled at the hip at the moment. Harass one or the other or both, though let us know if you’d rather not have threadjacking occur.
Starters are in prose, but can tag in brackets if you prefer.
[ A: Substory #2: Vend Me A Dream ]
[ Location: Various (see below) ]
If anyone asks, this is Minakami's fault for agreeing to lend the shirime a hand—in his defense, he was startled and doesn't know how to say no to these things. Also in his defense, it sounded like a simple favour at the time.
Minakami and Tamamori can be found going round in circles downtown:
— ...in an arcade, trying to win a specific plushie from a crane game for an inugami's chew toy.
— ...at a drugstore, looking for a particular brand of hair conditioner for a nozuchi (What's the difference between regular and leave-in? Did it say what fragrance it wanted? What does hair porosity even mean?).
— ...down sidestreets and alleyways, chasing down a hapless tsurubebi to catch in a lava lamp. Sounds like some cabaret owner is redecorating and insists she needs it for atmosphere.
— ...trying, and seemingly failing, to help a hinnagami take a selfie. It’s likely they’ve forgotten exactly why they were doing this one, but they sure are giving it their all still.
— ...and generally getting hopelessly lost. Tamamori’s complaining that his feet hurt and Minakami’s usual good humour is bleeding away at the seams.
-
[ B: Substory #4: Haniwhat? ]
[ Location: A plaza in Sutoku territory. ]
Well, this one’s Tamamori’s fault, though Mina’s not free of sin for going along with it either. Despite getting cranky and tired by the end of the shirime’s runaround, it’s done its job at getting them situated in Jigoku-cho, and Minakami’s unease at seeing yokai everywhere (when he’s only been told cautionary tales about them and has had nothing but bad experiences with the one spirit he’s had contact with) has somewhat abated. Maybe things are less weird and bad than they seem!!
Which is why the duo can be found at an outdoor table not far from Tamamori’s apartment building. Normally there’s street performers or some kind of noisy event at this plaza, but right now it’s relatively quiet. There’s the remains of konbini snacks and onigiri on the table, and way too many soda cans for just two people.
Minakami has a small stack of books next to him (he’s already found a lending library willing to give a Lost Soul a library card), peacefully reading up on burial customs and ancient pottery. Tamamori has one of the haniwa figurines propped up on the table, rather having a very intense staring match with it, or trying to examine it. Not that he has any reason to be more suited to that than Minakami, but he’s apparently taken this self-appointed task very seriously. At odds with that is maybe the haniwa’s ‘embellishments’—the clay figurine appears to have a very small black felt cap, that looks like it would be from an old-fashioned school uniform. There’s even a tiny badge on the hat brim made from foil.
Spiritual sensitivity? Awful nightmare vibes? What’s that? It’s just a little guy.
-
[ C: Other: this was easier to pull off when they were kids ]
[ Location: Around the Sutoku apartment complex; the hallways, or lobby, or wherever else. ]
There’s no real rule saying that people from other factions can’t hang out. However, ‘hang out’ is a little too generous of a term for the ongoing shenanigans in Tama’s shiny, new Sutoku apartment. Mumbling voices at all hours, that quiet down just before the building superintendent makes their rounds, Tama poking his head out of his room’s door and checking down either end of the hallway before opening it for any reason at all... there’s even an incident with music playing a touch too loud, complete with the muffled sounds of people trying desperately to quiet it down.
It’s all pretty suspicious, and frankly, painfully obvious to his neighbors, no doubt. You could say something, give the duo tips on how to actually pull this stupid grift off, or just complain about the noise.
-
[ D: Other: happy birthday to the ground ]
[ Minakami-specific ]
[ Location: Shuten apartment foyer. ]
Despite the fact that he's made other living arrangements, Minakami been ducking back into his assigned flat every so often, whether to keep up appearances of abiding by the residency rules, or respond to Shuten obligations when they come calling, or store stuff that doesn't fit in Tama's place, or—in this case—to check his mailbox. There's rarely anything there, which he supposes is a consequence of doing everything through the telephone thing, but this time...
Jigoku-cho has adapted fast to the influx of "Lost Souls", and for a functioning, thriving modern city, that means marketing. And mailing lists. Truly, Hell is where data harvesters go. Somehow, his personal details got into the system, and after a little confusion of dates (it's June where he comes from, but May here), eventually the backlog of spam had to go somewhere.
Minakami can be found at the dingy foyer, his mailbox open and overflowing with advertisement fliers and promotional cardstock. He's carrying a shoulder-bag with one hand, and in the other hand he has a cheery-looking card recommending he spend his special day at a Tamamo-run spa (price 25% off for couples!). A tinny little mechanism is singing a legally-distinct version of Happy Birthday.
While his face is a difficult read at the best of times, it is more inscrutable now than ever.
What ⬤ Substory 2 and 4, and a couple other options
When ⬤ Throughout May
Where ⬤ All over
Content Warnings ⬤ None that I can foresee. Will edit if it crops up.
This is a duo open post involving
fuckdogramagra and watermemory, because these two idiots are stapled at the hip at the moment. Harass one or the other or both, though let us know if you’d rather not have threadjacking occur.Starters are in prose, but can tag in brackets if you prefer.
[ A: Substory #2: Vend Me A Dream ]
[ Location: Various (see below) ]
If anyone asks, this is Minakami's fault for agreeing to lend the shirime a hand—in his defense, he was startled and doesn't know how to say no to these things. Also in his defense, it sounded like a simple favour at the time.
Minakami and Tamamori can be found going round in circles downtown:
— ...in an arcade, trying to win a specific plushie from a crane game for an inugami's chew toy.
— ...at a drugstore, looking for a particular brand of hair conditioner for a nozuchi (What's the difference between regular and leave-in? Did it say what fragrance it wanted? What does hair porosity even mean?).
— ...down sidestreets and alleyways, chasing down a hapless tsurubebi to catch in a lava lamp. Sounds like some cabaret owner is redecorating and insists she needs it for atmosphere.
— ...trying, and seemingly failing, to help a hinnagami take a selfie. It’s likely they’ve forgotten exactly why they were doing this one, but they sure are giving it their all still.
— ...and generally getting hopelessly lost. Tamamori’s complaining that his feet hurt and Minakami’s usual good humour is bleeding away at the seams.
-
[ B: Substory #4: Haniwhat? ]
[ Location: A plaza in Sutoku territory. ]
Well, this one’s Tamamori’s fault, though Mina’s not free of sin for going along with it either. Despite getting cranky and tired by the end of the shirime’s runaround, it’s done its job at getting them situated in Jigoku-cho, and Minakami’s unease at seeing yokai everywhere (when he’s only been told cautionary tales about them and has had nothing but bad experiences with the one spirit he’s had contact with) has somewhat abated. Maybe things are less weird and bad than they seem!!
Which is why the duo can be found at an outdoor table not far from Tamamori’s apartment building. Normally there’s street performers or some kind of noisy event at this plaza, but right now it’s relatively quiet. There’s the remains of konbini snacks and onigiri on the table, and way too many soda cans for just two people.
Minakami has a small stack of books next to him (he’s already found a lending library willing to give a Lost Soul a library card), peacefully reading up on burial customs and ancient pottery. Tamamori has one of the haniwa figurines propped up on the table, rather having a very intense staring match with it, or trying to examine it. Not that he has any reason to be more suited to that than Minakami, but he’s apparently taken this self-appointed task very seriously. At odds with that is maybe the haniwa’s ‘embellishments’—the clay figurine appears to have a very small black felt cap, that looks like it would be from an old-fashioned school uniform. There’s even a tiny badge on the hat brim made from foil.
Spiritual sensitivity? Awful nightmare vibes? What’s that? It’s just a little guy.
-
[ C: Other: this was easier to pull off when they were kids ]
[ Location: Around the Sutoku apartment complex; the hallways, or lobby, or wherever else. ]
There’s no real rule saying that people from other factions can’t hang out. However, ‘hang out’ is a little too generous of a term for the ongoing shenanigans in Tama’s shiny, new Sutoku apartment. Mumbling voices at all hours, that quiet down just before the building superintendent makes their rounds, Tama poking his head out of his room’s door and checking down either end of the hallway before opening it for any reason at all... there’s even an incident with music playing a touch too loud, complete with the muffled sounds of people trying desperately to quiet it down.
It’s all pretty suspicious, and frankly, painfully obvious to his neighbors, no doubt. You could say something, give the duo tips on how to actually pull this stupid grift off, or just complain about the noise.
-
[ D: Other: happy birthday to the ground ]
[ Minakami-specific ]
[ Location: Shuten apartment foyer. ]
Despite the fact that he's made other living arrangements, Minakami been ducking back into his assigned flat every so often, whether to keep up appearances of abiding by the residency rules, or respond to Shuten obligations when they come calling, or store stuff that doesn't fit in Tama's place, or—in this case—to check his mailbox. There's rarely anything there, which he supposes is a consequence of doing everything through the telephone thing, but this time...
Jigoku-cho has adapted fast to the influx of "Lost Souls", and for a functioning, thriving modern city, that means marketing. And mailing lists. Truly, Hell is where data harvesters go. Somehow, his personal details got into the system, and after a little confusion of dates (it's June where he comes from, but May here), eventually the backlog of spam had to go somewhere.
Minakami can be found at the dingy foyer, his mailbox open and overflowing with advertisement fliers and promotional cardstock. He's carrying a shoulder-bag with one hand, and in the other hand he has a cheery-looking card recommending he spend his special day at a Tamamo-run spa (price 25% off for couples!). A tinny little mechanism is singing a legally-distinct version of Happy Birthday.
While his face is a difficult read at the best of times, it is more inscrutable now than ever.
no subject
However, Tamamori does look up, partly to ask Minakami about trying to find 'Kawako' a coffee mug, but his eyes slide up, confused, to Artemy. And then, to his own bundle, which is roughly the same shape and size as 'Kawako'. "Ah," This isn't someone collecting the haiwa or whatever people said they're meant to do, right?? No, he didn't look like the sort. "I mean, making...friends?"
no subject
So he does look up, especially when the odd bundle is placed next to him, and he gives a polite smile to the stranger. "Hello -- my friend and I were having lunch, but we're finished, you see." He nods at Tama, not refuting the 'making friends' thing one bit. "Is something the matter?"
What's wrong with their third roommate, Artemy.
no subject
"I see." Is what he says; he finally notes the amount of litter that is around. "No, there is nothing that is wrong."
He rests his hand over the bundle that he has set on the table. "I'm also attempting to make a friend, but mine is not so chatty or as friendly to me as Kawako is to you." A beat. "I suppose it is my face. It is one that tends to shut people up rather than implores them to speak."
Which is to say? Is Kawako the name that they were able to gather from the haniwa?
no subject
But more importantly, he also doesn't want a stranger thinking he's somehow cracked the haniwa code. So, instead, he just lamely skewed his face up in a frown. "Actually, I gave her the nickname because it felt rude to just say hey, you all the time." It's still stated matter-of-factly, unfortunately. "She hasn't communicated anything to us yet, even though we've tried to give her offerings..."
no subject
third wheelmember of their travelling circusfriend (alleged)friend (derogatory)friend (apparently non-platonic this is still something he's fitting his head around it's just a lot to take in)friend. He knows Kawase is independent, but that's not always a good thing.Outwardly, he simply nods; Artemy's rigid manner and unspoken questions aren't lost on him, but an unfortunate reality is that he's used to reactions like this around Tamamori. He's learned the only response sometimes is simply to carry on as if nothing's wrong. "I suppose they should go to a temple, or a burial ground, but that wouldn't explain where they've all come from."
no subject
There is a touch of disappointment in his voice. He carefully unwraps the bundle that he set to expose the face of the haniwa figurine that he has been carrying about. In truth, he feels nothing strange in looking at the object; he cut his ties with miracles and so many things became quiet for him. But he does not think that they should fall into the hands of those that simply call them "unsettling."
"Perhaps, they sprung from the earth itself." His tone is just as serious as the young man's was before. "In any case, they do not seem like terribly evil things." He shifts his tone to something almost soft, like he is having the haniwa listen into the conversation and have them know he thinks well of them.
"Even if they may do evil, I do not think we can judge them as human."
no subject
Though, the thought of neighbors...it makes Tama cock his head, leaning his chin on the table to look level at Artemy's friend. "Maybe they're all scattered and lost, and we should be bringing them together? Not to destroy them, obviously, but they must have been scattered by something, right?"
no subject
He does give Tama a wry look, though. "Well... when we're rude to neighbours, we can apologize, and be understood. We don't know if Kawako understands us." Considering in their childhood, more often than not it would have been Minakami apologizing on Tamamori's behalf.
That said, Minakami does firmly shake his head at the notion of destroying the figurines. "It'd be disrespectful to damage them, for sure, whatever their purpose. Tama found this one not far from his lodgings -- where did you find yours?"
no subject
But he offers a nod in agreement to both. "What you're saying is right. Neither one of you is wrong." His smile becomes wry. "There is no way to know what would be considered a polite gesture and what would be seen as a hostile one."
Artemy shakes his head. His shoulders drop before he rests his hand on the haniwa he brought. "Even though we are trying to keep them safe, will they understand what we're doing? Or will they curse us for having moved them at all?" No way of knowing.
A beat before he answers, "I found them by a line of trees." He gestures in the direction that he came; he tries to describe the trees where the flower viewing had been done, but uncertain if he gave enough of a description on the location.
no subject
All that said, of course, Tama isn't any closer to understanding 'Kawako', though he does look off when Artemy points. He hasn't been here long, but he does remember there's a few tree-rows around the Sutoku area, and the idea alone is enough to tickle. "So many of them seem to be out and about enjoying nature like that. Though there have also been several who have been lined to head up the stairs in the apartments..." If he were more organized, he might wonder about if there really are more in different parts of hell.
no subject
"If they are alive in any sense, then I do believe that kind intentions can transmit... If they "sprung from the earth", as you suggest, perhaps they'd be happier closer to nature after all?" Though that presents another problem: Good luck finding a place like that, besides small scraps of parkland and cultivated garden (where the Enma would just round them up anyway), in the heart of a city like this...
He hesitates, before raising another question to Artemy. "It sounds as though... Have you had any experience with beings like this? That fall out of-- human morality?"
no subject
"But... there are times that people have been kind but those intentions and feelings did not transmit as they would like." At least, he has experienced that in his own life. The good that people wanted to do; it may look like sheer selfishness to others.
"I have had some experience with beings that fall out of human morality, yes. There was an entity I encountered that wished to infect others with a disease." His expression darkens; he is not sure how he feels about the Sand Pest. In another world, in another life, he may have agreed to live with it. He may have agreed to live in the world that it offered -- among the miracles.
"It wanted to be helpful... to make people stronger... it did not care that the mortality of the disease they gave was high. Death did not really weigh much on its mind." A beat. "It made a mockery of death often in cruel jokes and games. But there was no true malice in its actions. There was no hatred for the people. It had love for them... but the love it had could be seen only as evil by others."
A longer pause follows. "Such serious talking and I have not even given my name. I am Artemy Burakh. A healer in this city."
no subject
"You're a healer of things like that?" Maybe not completely, but- if someone was dealing with something supernatural and able to cause such a damning illness, yet still was calling himself a healer...that was beyond what his mind could even conceptualize as an exorcist or a spiritualist. That was, like. Purification? Was that closer? Tama leaned in to the table, painfully earnest himself. "Ah, Tama Mizumori- but, but being able to understand that much from personal experiences...that's a precious skill." This guy, Artemy, had explained it after all. That implied he'd come to some capacity to understand this...disease-bearer at least in a way, didn't it? "It's never wrong to protect life, of course, but you were still able to learn something about the expressions of otherworldly beings! That only makes me want to try harder with the haniwa...I wouldn't want to give up on them, and leave them to make similar mistakes."
Of course, looking at Kawako sort of...brought him back from the more philosophical edge of their musings. Right. His soul is willing, but his brain is
smoothstruggling to come up with any ideas. "...this would be easier if I was better in supernatural matters, but I don't have nearly as much experience."1/2 im sorry this is only bc your artemy is extremely on point but also im crying
2/2
"Minato Suizenji," he says, after the man's and Tama's introductions. "Tama and I are students --" A gross oversimplification in many respects, but this conversation doesn't need more complications "-- and... what we are to this city remains to be seen, I suppose."
The thought of there being a named being connected to the haniwa, similar to the plaguebearing entity Artemy described, acting out of some misplaced, detached benevolence rather than a more understandable malice... For the first time, Minakami really wonders about the bigger picture in this world, outside of the factional disputes that, for the moment, seem small.
"I... think I understand your perspective, now." He rests his eyes on 'Kawako', though not with the same focused intent Tamamori has been. "If it's a matter of experience in the supernatural, it would be safer to give them to the Department, but... perhaps they wouldn't approach them with this understanding."
i loved that picture so much
His response is almost immediate. There is only so much that he can do for miracles. The same could be said for the youkai and other Lost Souls that have come to exist in this city. But that does not mean that he won’t do what he can for them.
“Tama.” Artemy feels like his impression on the young man had increased tremendously. It means a lot to him that he wants to be able to understand the haniwa more than the praise that he is given. There are those that would encounter the supernatural or strange and brush it off as incomprehensible. But to hear Tama say that he is willing to experience more and come to understand these “incomprehensible” entities means a lot.
“The experience may leave you scarred and strange to others once it is over, but it is better to know than to simply call it the unknowable.”
The stern, unfriendly face that Artemy has – and unfortunately cannot do much about because it is his face – almost seems to soften just a little. He turns his attention to their companion. “It is good that you’re leaving your heart open to decide what the city will make of you, Minato.”
Did he talk like the city was alive? Yes, yes he did.
Again, his impression of the young men increases. It would be easier and simpler to give them to the Department. He understands that while he has experience with the miracles that does not mean he is an expert or knowledgeable of the miracles that are in this world. The culture is still something that he is trying to understand; he stumbles through it like an uncoordinated bull, but he is always willing and always wanting to try to come to some middle-ground.
And that is the problem he has come to find with the Department.
“With the Enma, there does not seem to be a middle-ground. There is no sympathy or understanding in their hearts.” That was what he had come to understand of them; they were cruel and heartless toward the Kappa and he does not forgive anyone who tries to harm his “family.”
The Sutoku are his Kin. He will defend them to the bitter end; he sneers and distrusts any attempt to harm them. To him, the Enma are no different than the Kains, Saburovas, or Olgimskys. They think of their own good and their own power before they think of the people; it is important to have an iron grip on what is “order” than what is “right.”
He sees no justice in what they do, but a cold, heartless desire for control.
“I fear they may attempt to destroy these miracles.” He has no proof of it; and in truth, destroying them may cause more misfortune and powers to go out of control. So, if they were destroyed, it would cause worse problems. But it is what he fears.
`i lost my original response to this tag, im very sorry for the delay`
"...things are only unknowable if you give up, right?" He's already filled to the brim with memories of an 'unknowable' future, so why not replace those stressful things with something more positive? "I agree, the Enma doesn't seem very sympathetic to what they're asking of people. For those who know that these are burial urns, it's a callous way to request them, and to those who don't know that, it's asking them to handle something quite private like it's merely something to be discarded. I would hope those with the Enma would research things on their own, but it might be difficult for those without someone they can talk to about these things..." He turns his head to Minakami, brows knitting seriously. "Do you think it would be possible for us to write up a, a manual or something like that, for those unfamiliar with Japanese culture? It would be a huge undertaking, I know that, and it would be always out of date...but we have the time and the means to try. It might prevent situations like this in the future, if more people are educated about customs and the like!"
your tag.......lost within the polyhedron.........................
"To be fair, the Lost Souls with the Enma are only following orders -- though that would be indifferent action, instead of ideologically-driven." Even if he's trying to play devil's advocate, there's a careful neutrality to his voice, instead of his usual mild tone.
Minakami opens his mouth at Tamamori's idea, then closes it, tapping his chin. "Everyone says that a greater proportion of Japanese souls to others have been drawn here... though that only means more people who could offer their perspectives..." Tama might say it's a big undertaking, but Minakami has a better idea than most the scale of what he's suggesting, collating all that information into something comprehensible, especially by people of faraway worlds and times. "...if you're serious, then -- of course I'm in."
i died within the polyhedron..........
Yet again, there is something like pride in the way that he speaks to Tama. There is much that he doesn't understand about the culture of this world, but has been wanting to learn more about it. Unlike a certain healer from the Capital, he did not want to close his eyes and ears to the world that he was living in.
He wanted to live with everything and know it as well as his own town. He wanted to hold it as dearly as the city seems to hold each life.
They may be in Hell, but there is so much warmth in it. There is so much warmth and love in it, that he cannot let all those feelings be ignored and unknowable because of where they find themselves.
"There is something terrible about that way of thinking, though." There is no upset with Minakami; he only sounds firm. He recognizes the tone of someone who does not want blame to be shoved on those following orders, but -- "To only think of following orders instead of what they could mean, it could lead them to do horrible things with nowhere to turn."
Artemy does not wish that for the Lost Souls or youkai that live in this world. He does not wish for them to be without a haven. If they must make choices that he disagree with, that he will fight them on; he wants them to know what they are fighting for, as well. That is only what is fair and gives those people a haven that they can go to -- they can live in knowing they did what they felt was right instead of hide behind the hollow words of "just following orders."
That was why everyone was given a heart, after all.
"I can't do much, but I am willing to learn from both of you." And he bows his head.