[ OPEN ] double trouble

[watermemory]

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 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.

Comments

[worldbent]

[Thank god one of them gets it. Matoba passes Tama a raised-eyebrow look as Minakami, in the same moment, acknowledges.]

[It was nothing personal- just business. But when it came to this particular business, Matoba was not at liberty to give details away even if he wanted to. The circumstances surrounding the attack on the Daitengu, and its lasting implications, was something far too politically fraught to be loose-lipped about, especially given the ongoing turf war that had erupted between Shuten and Tamamo. He was sure they would piece it together eventually on their own.]

[At least he is capable of making inspired connections of other kinds. Matoba tilts his head with a pleased smile as Tama calls out his ruminations, but says nothing on the subject. Instead:] Doesn't it make you wonder who or why we were all drawn here? If it if counter to the Enma's interests in maintaining balance?

Although, I do not think the leaders themselves are involved in our summoning, either. [He adds.] They are powerful... But I think if they were capable of choosing, they may not have acquired some of the thorns in their sides they have found themselves with.

[...He's seen some interactions that would make him think so, anyway.]

As for the haniwa..... That, I cannot say. But I think it may be one of these 'outcasts' that is summoning them into the city. And if their creator is not inside of the city, and they are this powerful...

That is a problem for every faction.

[fuckdogramagra]

[ Well, he had certainly wondered a lot about why they were here. Or, at least, why he was here, and Minakami was here, but not Kawase. Certainly if this had any bearing on the world they came from, it should have been himself and Kawase, or maybe Minakami and Kawase without him, not this particular orientation, at this specific time. ] I'd wondered, when we first arrived, if it was because we had challenged the natural order back home, but I don't think that's the case anymore. [ Y'know, gotta say that before Minakami decides to blame himself for it- ] Many people here are now lacking capabilities they had in their own worlds, right? But they can come back in to those abilities. The strength to be able to sap that strength, but also return it... [ He doesn't know what to make of it. What else had such a total control over natural order than the likes of the Enma? ]

Ah, but we can't go out and simply ask about these 'outcasts', can we? If it's dangerous to go there, and even the four clans won't venture to such a discussion... [ Tama frowns, sighing laboriously. Thinking hurmt. ] At least it's clear the haniwa aren't going to give an answer on their own. I'd sort of hoped they would after that weird dream, though... [ Yes, he decided to mess around with a haniwa after having a nightmare about one. This is entirely because of Sutoku hoarding them like Rae Dunn trinkets, and clearly no longer his fault. ]

[watermemory]

[Minakami looks away, at the mention of challenging the natural order. He's not going to say anything, he knows it bothers Tama, but it's still hard to kick a lifetime habit.]

...if we're brought here to... seed chaos in Hell, then it seems to be slow-going, even taking the sapping of people's strength into account. You say there are thorns, but most that I've seen [present company included] feel content to simply -- find a normal life here. Or an escape from their "normal."

Besides... [Not that Minakami has been speaking loudly, but he lowers his voice anyway. He hasn't wanted to bring this up, even besides the matter of his own contract, but it feels somehow taboo.] ...why promise us a reward, carte blanche, if we're a disruptive force?

[His head jerks back up, startled, at the mention of weird dreams. Even if he doesn't say anything, that's a clear "You, too?" ]

I-- well. What do you suggest, then? Cooperating with the Department's efforts to capture them? [He doesn't sound particularly for or against the idea, but there hasn't been any call to action from Shuten on the matter, that he's aware of.]

[worldbent]

In the beginning, the Department claimed it was a mysterious phenomena they had not yet solved. We have been left to interpret the meaning of that on our own, [Matoba shrugs, letting his continued skepticism of the Enma's intentions hang in the air unspoken.] The seals placed on our power, as I understand it, is a function of crossing into the Underworld. It seems the Enma himself may not be directly behind that.

...That said, none of us have properly "paid the toll" to cross over as it were, [He looks between the two,] Unless either of you can say otherwise.

[Glancing to Minakami, he chuckles softly. It was nothing as serious as the other man was thinking, but then again, the way Matoba viewed his 'mission' here was perhaps different from those who were somewhat lost for purpose.] Oh, those troublesome ones were..... Ah, you both likely would not know this. Did you know you can go back and view various recorded message posts from before your arrival? Think of it as an archive. You might find some amusing reads and useful information, if you do that. [That's the only hint he's going to give about that, but maybe it will shine a different perspective on their clan leaders (and maybe even some of the Lost Souls around them), reading those.]

[Matoba sighs and rests his gaze back onto the haniwa.] For the time being, the Enma may be the only one equipped to deal with them, but ... [He trails off, seemingly having changed his mind about what he was going to say. From the current perspective of a Sutoku operative, trusting the Enma with something this dangerous felt wrong.] ...Certainly, leaving them to those who cannot protect themselves against these curses is the greater evil, so I would leave it to them.

You two should certainly steer clear of them. [Matoba rustles into his sleeve and pulls out a paper ofuda, holding it out over the haniwa. Whatever it is he's doing, murmuring, sounds like a Buddhist monk's chant- but the effect is intangible to them both. Only the slightest, sudden stir of wind from seemingly nowhere, and the paper animating to wrap itself over the figure, belies the ward he has cast on it, sealing its malice for the time being.] ...Take this to be collected.

[fuckdogramagra]

I mean, I wouldn't trust the word of anyone in a position of such supreme power, period... [ He's got his own baggage certainly, but Tama's fun time spent hanging around the military of his age hadn't made him any more inclined to authority figures. To say nothing of, well, certain other factors. So he's not going to suddenly try and be nice about the Enma, even if he is an imposing figure in theory. ] And I'm certain we're not here as true dead souls, either way. I made sure of-

[ But the rest of his youthful anarchism is out the window when Matoba pulls out the ofuda. He'd seen him do his exorcist thing before, but this was the first time he wasn't hiding in a tree. Also, he's not Buddhist enough to even try to parse the chanting. ] -it stopped. [ Sadly, Tama's a being of automatic responses and the like, so he doesn't quite realize what he said. Instead, he wants immediately to fidget with the figurine again, try to examine the ofuda or something, but he doesn't pick Kawako back up. Maybe once Matoba has disappeared in to whatever dark alleys he haunts, he'll get a better look at it, but for now he's presently worried he would be slapped on the wrist for trying. ] Ah, an exorcist would be able to do such a thing... [ Tama glances up at Minakami, aware this isn't going to be something he likes but unable to avoid the sarcasm. ] Why can't hashihime do things like that. It'd be much more useful...!

[watermemory]

An archive? [He hasn't been keeping much eye on the posted messages, not after his own ill-fated run-in with EMBER, but he frowns as he retrieves his phone, thumbing down the page... aha. The stream of unfamiliar names/pseudonyms looks like word soup right now, and he'd normally like to dig into a backlog the moment he sees it, but. For once, he refrains.]

[Phone tucked away again, Minakami just. Sighs, with a shake of his head. Whether that's at the prospect of acquiescing to the Department of the Enma's enigmatic authority, or the implications of everything said really starting to filter in, or simply the slow-growing headache he is starting to identify as coming from the haniwa, or all of the above.]

Ah, well. The best of a bad situation. If we don't run into one of their people, Tama or I can find...

[He trails off at Matoba's binding of the sculpture; he does recognize the intonation, but certainly not its very visible effects. It's not that he disbelieves such things are possible (the opposite, even) -- but any commentary or genuine interest he would have, is derailed at Tamamori's comment. Even as sauced as he's been through half of this conversation, he can't bring himself to direct his annoyance at his friend. Instead he just mutters:]

...The hashihime isn't there to be used like a tool. It's a curse.

[worldbent]

[He notices Tama's insistence, despite realizing himself.] ...Well, then we are all in the same boat. Or not in it, perhaps. [He smirks at his own joke,] Whatever the case may be, I am certain there is a path back to the human realm, even if it requires us to go back up the river.

[But in order to do that.... He would simply bide his time, amass power, and plan.]

...Curses can also be useful tools. [He says as his chant comes to an end; this to Minakami, mostly, but it's directed at them both. Somehow, his smile seems even more darkened than usual by the strange tag over his eye.] If one knows how to make use of them. That one seems quite spoiled. Perhaps you have simply never had the knowledge to properly bring it under heel?

[Or the power, maybe- but he wonders about that.]

[fuckdogramagra]

[ Tama wants to mumble a soft little 'I know' to Minakami's annoyance, to alleviate some of the obvious tension there, because he does understand it of course...but he also can't deny that Matoba has a point, either. It's a strange position for him to be in, because it's not as if he wants to have this kind of moral debate in, well, semi-public. Is it public if it's three people? Matoba's a big enough presence to count for six, so- ]

'Spoiled' is one word for the hashihime. [ Tama airquotes the word thank you Ydris for teaching him my life is salvageable, frowning as dryly as he possibly can, but is quick to return back to looking painfully earnest. ] But I don't know if she's nearly as existent as the yokai, ayakashi, etcetera that you deal in. There's a fee they charge of those they possess, but...she's not a danger here, since she can't do that. [ They'd tested the puddles, and they hadn't fallen through time, so was it really a curse and not just a weird thing that makes his eyes blue at this point?? ] ...and it's hard for me to think of something as a curse when it lets me protect people.

[watermemory]

[This isn't a topic he wants to talk about. Not even to Tamamori, really. Minakami pushes himself up from the table, and for a second he seriously debates just walking away to cool off. It's such a nice day, after all, besides the whole "learned you and your roommate were keeping a nightmare box in your apartment as a paperweight" part.]

[The only thing staying his hand (besides a deep-down, fundamental desire to not make a scene) is not wanting to make matters awkward for his friend. Instead, Minakami stands up to look Matoba in the eye (and now he's seen the man's binding of the haniwa, he can wonder what that eyepatch might be concealing).]

Matoba. However such matters work in the world you're from, please don't make the assumption they function the same way for us. The "spoiled" one, as you call her, has been passed on through my family for generations. If there was a way to speak or negotiate with her, trust me that we would have found a way by now.

[He still sounds calm, at least?]

[worldbent]

...Is that so.

[That's all he really has to say, to-- both men, really. To Tama's sentiment in particular, he has more to add; but he intuits that he should say it when his more shrewd friend is not around.]

[So he will stay that thought, for the moment.]

[As to the pertinent information he's just received, he levels his gaze with Minakami and smiles. He likes this tension; he has nudged a bruise, somewhere.] Then it seems we have something in common, Minakami-san. I will defer to your knowledge, humbly. [Despite the little bow of his head that accompanies that, and the overly polite speech, it comes off as anything but humble.]

[He really is just a troublemaker to the core.]

Well, I must be going. Since you two now know the true nature of these figures, I trust that there will be no more endangering yourselves and those around you with playing house, hm?

[Another small bow out of propriety.] Stay safe, gentlemen.

[fuckdogramagra]

Matoba-san...? [ It might not be obvious to the person he's speaking to, but at least for Minakami that tone is painfully obvious- it's the lilt of worrying if he's messed something up. Not that Tama can understand why he puts so much stock in to others' opinions of him- no, that's not true anymore, is it? -but his expression skews up in to a rather pathetically confused look, even when Matoba bows. He's not going to stop him from leaving, but...did he offend Matoba, somewhere?

It's only when he's certain that he's alone with Minakami again that he turns to him, a little forlorn, but suddenly desperate to not show it. ] ...we should probably take care of Kawako now rather than later, then. Even if she's all sealed up, she's still my responsibility. [ It's fine! He'll just bounce back like he always does. ] I'll take her- do you want to leave your books in my room?

[watermemory]

...

[He doesn't regret saying his piece, not really, especially when faced with Matoba's not-deferential-in-the-least tone. A part of him might regret drawing this boundary with someone that, at the very last second, he recognizes as a possible kindred spirit... but what's done is done. Minakami gives a stiff, equally-polite bow in return, watching as the exorcist goes on his way.]

[The lost look on Tamamori's face, though -- he shouldn't have done that.]

...yeah. That would be best. [Mina starts to say something, he's not sure what, but... if Tama wants to move on from this, he doesn't want to put his foot in his mouth any more than he already has. ] Don't worry about this mess, Tamamori, I'll tidy up. Meet up with you later?

[He needs to be alone with his thoughts for now, if only for a little bit.]

[fuckdogramagra]

[ 'Meet up with you later'. For a second he looks more worried than he ought to be, but Tama is quick to to be overtaken by something else- that same tone. ] Minakami... [ But, no. He doesn't have to make a big deal of this. He gets up from the table, still clutching the haniwa. ]

Okay. Let me know if you need anything else while I'm gone. [ It's fine.

Right? ]