( open ) 001

[harimaya]

Who ⬤ Hizen & you
What ⬤ Catchall for March. Open prompts in main post for substories. Closed starters in comments.
When ⬤ All of march!
Where ⬤ See prompts.
Content Warnings ⬤ TBA

SUBSTORY: WELCOME TO THE NIGHT PARADE (I)

("Outta the way, outta the way!"

A group of smaller youkai yell. They might not be big but what they lack in size, they make up for in number in spirit. They push their way through the crowd carrying a portable shrine. It's a diverse group made up of smaller youkai and spirits— little oni, cats walking on hind legs, a one eyed umbrella, something with a face as large as its body, and fish-looking creature that flails across the ground as it makes its way through.

Do you get out of the way? Or do you miss the warning in all of the hustle and bustle?

In the case of the latter, you can expect one of several things to happen…)

A.
(Hizen loudly snaps at you,)

Oi! Pay attention and get out of the way!

(You probably don't want to get caught up with these little guys. Their patience is as little as they are. The shorter the person, the shorter their temper. If you'd like to avoid confrontation, Hizen can suddenly grab your character by the arm and pull the aside. Alternatively, you can just let the crowd crash into you. Maybe he'll help?)

B.
(Or maybe you're helping Hizen with setting up for someone's game stand. Have you noticed that the owner won't actually let either of you help with getting the game part together? Leave that part to them (so they can rig it). You and Hizen can set up the prize wall made up of different masks and toy weapons.

As the little procession goes by, Hizen stops for a moment to stare and mutters,)

The "parade of a hundred demons," huh...

(He sounds like he might know something?)

SUBSTORY: WELCOME TO THE NIGHT PARADE (II)

(It's security detail!

… Or really, it's more like crosswalk duty.

On the night of the parade, you and Hizen will be expected to keep the pedestrians from crossing the street before their turn. Instead, you'll wait for scheduled stops in the parade that will give enough time for people to get to the other side.

Before the parade begins, you'll have to help set up the barrier using cones or barrels or what have you. And the person in charge of overseeing? It's a long-necked woman that keeps looking over your shoulder and telling you the barriers are too close or too far from the street. The crosswalk openings are too narrow or too wide. She keeps picking at everything you're doing! Is this your first night parade? Do you have any idea what you're doing? She asks for help and she gets sent a bunch of fresh lost souls who have no idea what they're doing!

She doesn't even have the courtesy to say this behind your back. She's right there with her long neck, complaining right in your ear. Or Hizen's ear.

And he looks like he's going to snap. )

SUBSTORY: LOOK AT THIS SWEET JACKET

(The first step to any assignment is gathering information. It's time to get to find the bridge in question and meet the client. Hizen checks the writing on one of the columns at the end of the bridge and looks over to you,)

This is it. (This is the bridge.)Looks pretty normal.

(He's unimpressed. But because timing is comedic, as soon as he finishes speaking, a man gets tossed back across the bridge, rolls like a ball, and stops right in front of them.)

...

(Hizen looks down and... looks away. He sure is going to make you take care of the talking first)

WILDCARD.

❀ Hizen is in the Shuten Clan.
❀ If you have another idea for a prompt or would like to plot anything out, let me know
❀ You can check out my intro comment for some ideas, too.
❀ contact; eski | discord: eski#9874 | PM

Comments

[diesuki]

[Dazai is always on the mark! ... Sometimes even more than he, himself expects. But that part, if applicable, he can hide well enough.]

Don't you? I wonder...

[Time for another professor-level Deep Thinky Face.]

Maybe not consciously, but...

[harimaya]

I don't!

(Tongue loose from all of the alcohol tonight, he begins to complain,)

I really don't! They're the ones always inviting themselves. Like you. You're the one that came over!

[diesuki]

Of course I didn't include myself in that statement.

[How dare you suggest he's a terrible drinking partner!? Even if he sort of jokingly suggested the same thing, himself. How dare?!]

Have you ever heard of Ockham's razor? [Dazai focuses on his drink, casually pouring himself another.] If it's a matter of everyone else individually being the cause for it, or only you being the cause for it, logic dictates that it's the latter.

Apparently you attract them.

[harimaya]

What?

(No, he doesn't get it, Dazai. He's... not smart sometimes? A lot of times, really. )

I'm not even doing anything!

(He's just minding his own business when people come over and make trouble for him???)

[diesuki]

Or so you think!

[It's fine, Hizzy Fit. Being smart isn't the be all and end all, either. Or at least, it's not exactly a guarantee for happiness!]

No - perhaps it's that there's something you should be doing that you're not doing.

[harimaya]

... What?

(Dazai, what? He's not following.)

[diesuki]

[Bruh.

You're not very sharp, for a sword.]

Like I said before: it's much less likely that the problem lies with everyone else than that the problem lies with one person - namely: you.

Perhaps you should think about what you're doing that attracts a crowd you dislike?

[In addition to being kind of dull, clearly.]

[harimaya]

(Stop, he's not smart. All of his smarts are in a different area and after a night of drinks, none of his brain cells are coming in for work. )

I told you already. Nothing.

(And he's rude and grumpy and tired and prickly and he yells at people and loses his temper. He's depressing to talk to, he's unfriendly, he's quick to fight, and he's just bad company but everyone back home keeps putting up with him? And it's the same damned thing here and he just doesn't get it. )

Ask them instead if you're curious. Why the hell are you here?

[diesuki]

[So all two of his brain cells are on vacation, Dazai gets it.

As the resident Wise One (l o l no), he merely offers a smile at that question.]

Because I wanted to drink, of course~!

[It's true! It doesn't answer the question, though.]

[harimaya]

(They are all taking a break.)

Then go somewhere else!

(Let him drink in peace!!! This and eating is all that makes him happy??? Please?)

[diesuki]

[Hizen's braincells, approximately five minutes from now.]

Fine, fine... I'll go somewhere else.

[He was planning to be more subtle about it, but at this point, does he really need to be? It doesn't seem like it!

Dazai regretfully stands up, fixing his coat a bit.]

Have a lovely evening~!

[He's just going to walk out, very calmly and naturally. Enjoy your drinks!

And enjoy the bill.]

[harimaya]

(Good hecking riddance. Hizen enjoys his peace! And quiet!

After he's finished drinking, he pays, gets ready to leave and... get a whole other bill? By then, Dazai is long gone so he lives tonight but Hizen is never forgiving this. He's going to track this man down and make him pay.)