jigokulogs | semi-open 🍵 our crazy hazes

I'm not sure if they're possessed. It could also be a curse, an enchantment, or just their nature ... whatever it is, I don't like it.

[ He picks one up as well. It's quiet, and it seems to have lost whatever dark influence it's had for now ... how long his seals will last, he can't say. While Tenkohime did grant him a fraction of his powers back, they're that—a fraction. The strength of the haniwa is also unknown. Can they change over time? Does the amount of them matter? So much he doesn't know.

He looks over to the one in her hand. ]

I have some power now, but it's nowhere near enough to seal all the ones I keep finding. [ he sighs. ] They may as well be rabbits...

True. They've really increased in the past few days and—...

[She inadvertently glances back at the trashcan and she sees it again.

A twisted body, limp, unmoving, and the neck all wrong. There's a dry streak of blood trailing from her head and some between her lips There are a pair of eyes blinking at her, those are her eyes. She's not dead, she's staring back at her as if telling her, DO SOMETHING. I CAN'T FEEL ANYTHING. I CAN'T MOVE.

I HATE THIS.

Crack.

Marianna's grip around the haniwa figure had tightened to the point that a small crack appeared on its torso. The sharp sound snaps her out of that reverie and she quickly drops the haniwa.]

... Chongyun, I... Yeah. I shouldn't have done that.

[Monts purses her lips and drops to the ground in a squat and grips her umbrella for dear life.]

These are bad news.

[ He's worried—the moment she spaces out, he spies it. Her face changes, and her knuckles pale from her tightening grip around the figurine. Even with his seal it manages to leak. Or, he quickly assesses, is it because there's something in her that it can dig out? That reacts badly? These sorts of curses—they know how to target people. Find the ones they can gut the most.

Chongyun is quick to collect the haniwa from her. His spirit might be suppressed, but its pure yang nature makes it impossible for it to try the same tricks. But she's certainly right: these things are bad news.

Then, he crouches beside her, pressing a hand over her back. ]

One moment.

[ Her qi is unbalanced. Why, he doesn't know, but the matter of settling her is more important. So, with a breath, he channels the flow of his spiritual energy toward her. Faint blue glows beneath his fingertips; it's gentle, like the lapping of the sea on a calm day. ]

Does this help?

Hey, don't—...

[There's no real resistance behind her protest, not after Chongyun puts his hand over her back. She feels the energy he's emitting and she flinches, not out of pain, but out of the unfamiliarity. It reminds her of magic. Perhaps it might as well be.

But Marianna is no longer trembling and her breathing is steadier.]

... That's fine. I think I'm... I'm seeing things, Chongyun.

[Her voice is barely a whisper.]

That's really bad isn't it? Let's get out of here.

Let's go.

[ He nods, putting aside investigative curiosity as he gently holds onto her elbow to guide her away. The well-being of people comes first and foremost to an exorcist, so the haniwa are left for him to deal with after Monts is situated somewhere else—a cafe on the corner, which remains diligently open despite the rain. It's small and quiet. There are no other customers at the moment.

He urges her to take a seat. Even if his spiritual energy has ushered away some of the effects, she still should take a rest. ]

You may be more attuned to the supernatural, which also makes you more susceptible. [ he pauses, before sitting down across from her. ] What did you see?

[Monts lets Chongyun lead her away from the spot they were occupying, silent the whole time until they reach the empty cafe. As she sits down, her gaze is fixed on the rain outside, distant and in a world of her own.

When he speaks to her though, she gives the young exorcist her attention again, trying to settle her thoughts.]

I am actually. Attuned I mean. [Her hands are in her lap, fingers clasped together tightly.]

It's not as strong right now, on account of everyone's abilities not starting off where they're supposed to be. As for what I saw...

[Silence once again. She looks away.]

Chongyun? What's supposed to happen to people who die where you're from?

[ Ah, so she's aware. Does that make it better or worse? Those who are plagued by the supernatural and who know it ... unless they're exorcists, it isn't usually for a good reason. It can be a heavy burden.

He watches her, blue eyes steadfast, before answering her question. ]

In Liyue, traditionally we have funeral rites to send them on to the next world. Normally spirits will pass on peacefully, but sometimes they do linger and become ghosts or mischievous spirits if they have unfinished business or resentment. But ideally, they should move on and, possibly, reincarnate someday.

... I guess it's not that different from other places. Passing on I mean.

[She looks out the window, staring at the raindrops. Thinking about home again, she recalls the promises of a better afterlife that her grandparents steadfastly believed in and how they and the rest of the family would also celebrate the Day of the Dead.

It's a celebration of both life and death and although she honored and observed the day with reverence there was always that hollow feeling...

Marianna looks back at Chongyun, her smile thin, but not unkind. Just resigned.]

That seems like such a luxury. We're in an afterlife, but we're hardly resting, are we?

It just means it isn't our time yet.

[ Monts has always struck him as upbeat. Watching her now, with the backdrop of rain hitting the window, and that thin smile ... quieter, tired, there's something regretful there. He doesn't know why, of course not, and part of him wants to ask ... but he doesn't in the end. He likes Monts a great deal, but he isn't sure they're close enough for that yet. ]

There's more for us to do.

[ He looks away, glancing down at his own hands for a moment. Even if they might not be close enough for him to pry—... ]

But when you're tired, you can always call me. I'll help you however I can if you need time to rest.

... That means a lot to me Chongyun.

[Her smile softens into a more sincere gentleness.]

You're already a lot more dependable than I am.

[In her mind, she goes through the list of people who are aware of her insensitivity to pain, who at least have an idea of how that missing crucial piece seems to inform the way she is. She wonders if she could tell him now.]

Don't stretch yourself out too thinly ok?

[She doesn't.]

But I'll trust you on how to deal with spirits and curses. I'm not gonna act like I know anything on that front.

I'll do my best. Honestly, I'm glad that my job has been so useful here in Hell. I didn't know if it would be when we first arrived.

[ An exorcist in Hell—some people had even laughed at first, asking what good an exorcist would be in a city run by youkai. Even if it's to curb little curses like this, it's nice to be able to apply his knowledge to something. Exorcisms had been so much of his life back home ... most of his life, with little experience outside of it. ]

My family protected Liyue for generations. I'm glad I can continue their work here, for the people that need it.

[ Those haniwa... he's certainly not done with them, that's for sure. ]

[And you know what? She reaches over to ruffle his hair slightly in addition to a head pat. Monts felt like it was okay and that she kind of needed it.]

... Thanks. Buddy.

[It's a bit awkward even for her and yet, that's what he is to her. A buddy.]

It's like you're a hero or something.

[ Oh, hair ruffles … Chongyun flushes in a bit of pleasure at the gesture, even if he tries to pretend that he isn’t kind of happy about it. He’s a big boy, after all. A professional.

After clearing his throat, ]

I’m just doing my job is all.

[ Hero feels like a bit too much.

He nods at her, resolute. If she is susceptible to the supernatural, she shouldn’t stay out while those haniwa are popping up all over the place. ]

If you’re feeling better, how about I walk you home?

[Monts nods and stands up from her seat.]

Yeah. I would like that.

[It's nice that she wasn't totally alone even though she's by herself. Chongyun was one of the people here who made it easier. And if she had been the same as she was the year before...

No. Stop thinking about the what-ifs and what would have been.

She makes it to the door, beckoning to her younger friend.]

Make sure not to get too wet from the rain, okay? I'll get another umbrella for you if I have to.

semi-open 🍵 our crazy hazes

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cw: light body horror

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