( 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

[harimaya]

(Don't smile at him like that.)

"One flower?"

(Someone saw Norimune on the network.)

[kikuichi]

It's the simplest one I can think of.

[His other ideas are too fanciful, grandiose, to use. He opens his fan, moving it slightly.]

My ears are open.

[If Hizen wants to say something, he better speak.]

[harimaya]

How much are you going to tell people?

(There's no point trying to hide the fact they're from Japan. Their names, their dress, the swords they carry... it's obvious already and if it wasn't, it would surely come out naturally given some of their familiarity with things here. But the year they're from? The fact that it's far enough in the future that others might find it worth noting...)

[kikuichi]

The year is the most I'll say on there. Who knew there are quite a wide range of people here with us?

[He's willing to play the act of an old man, living in more "rural" areas. It's not that far off from staying in the enclosed citadel, until they're deployed on their missions. He stares at Hizen.]

Among the Enma, I wouldn't mind telling them I retired from our old workplace.

[That he used to work for the government in their world, since that's basically what their reassignment is. Whether they believe it or not, they're all in the same boat here. Only their words and whatever they have on them as proof of it.]

1/2

[harimaya]

...

(Is it really going to be all? He watches Norimune for a moment. He's watching you, old man. But fine, he concedes that the year isn't terribly offensive as long as that's all they're sharing. His shoulders relax some,)

Everyone's from all over the place. I've never heard of anything like this before.

(They're truly in foreign territory here. As for that last bit though...)

[harimaya]

You're with the big guy?

(Enma?)

1/2

[kikuichi]

Indeed. It's certainly a first for me as well.

[At most, there's those distorted timelines. But those stick to people that's actually around in that time period.]

[kikuichi]

[He close his fan with a light snap.]

In the Department of the Emma, yes. That's where they put me in.

[From one government to another, why. Oh, he'll do his best to do (less) work, but he's already wondering if it's even entertaining.]

[harimaya]

... Heh.

(Was that... a laugh? It isn't much but for Hizen standards, that half chuckle is a lot. He's clearly amused hearing about Norimune's faction.)

[kikuichi]

[With sudden speed, he bop Hizen on the head with his folded fan. He would appreciate the rare Hizen's chuckle, but not at his expense!]

And where did you end up in?

[harimaya]

(Quickly, he reaches to try and snatch that fan away. He's a half second too slow,)

Take a guess.

[kikuichi]

[His fan is still in his hand. Better luck next time, boy.]

Hmm... well, I did overhear "some Shuten punk" was looking for me earlier. I almost wonder what did I do, but that's you, isn't it?

[Because he's been behaving! Mostly! His actions so far haven't breed any grudges, only mild annoyances.]

[harimaya]

(He's going to take it and toss it into the river some day,)

You better not have done anything.

(This a threat and a promise.)

You weren't at the Shuten party and it's a big city.

(So all he could really do was ask around? He was able to narrow it down with some work but it took him awhile! He worked hard to find Norimune!)

[kikuichi]

Why, I'm simply on my best behaviour. I'm still new, you know.

[At this point. It's too early for him to make any moves. He'll abide by the rules for now as a new employee.]

I was at the party for the Enma people, which was quite rich and fanciful. They have some of the finest wines I've ever drank there.

[He's not kidding. The level of opulent felt like the Heian nobility, based on his vague recollection of that time. It gave him a glimpse at how his faction seems to conduct themselves.]

[harimaya]

(A rich and fanciful feast with the best wines one could taste... He's curious but he's also very aware of the fact of how uncomfortable he would be in a place like that.)

Sounds like you had fun.

[kikuichi]

[Just ask, and maybe Norimune might find a way of getting you wine.]

I did. It's almost like the old days.

[Maybe, maybe not. He looks over at the next store over, already done looking at the store in front of him.]

Come with me, I want to look over there.

[And you know, walk around. Unless they're going to stand in this one spot, talking about everything.]

[harimaya]

(He just stays quiet. He can't really relate to fancy parties with expensive drinks. But he does give Norimune an acknowledging glance and follows along with him easily enough; always behind him. Like a prickly shadow.)

What're you looking for?

(Because the idea of just looking at things for the sake of looking... is, well...)

[kikuichi]

Oh, I wants to see what's around here. Who knows what fun things we might find? This isn't like back home, you know.

[Despite his jovial tone, his next words are more serious. He stops in front of a shop, his eyes glancing over at the stocks on display. All of which are arranged carefully, to draw potential customers' eyes to the special sales sign.]

And if we happen to find what we need here, all the better, Hizen.

[harimaya]

(Hizen is entirely too direct to be looking for answers in weird places so Norimune... just shows him a different perspective.)

... Find the answer while shopping?

[kikuichi]

That's right. You never know what might be hidden. Like a hidden treasure.

[Although, this area probably isn't the type for what he's looking for.]

Among other things, I am looking for a place where we can get supplies. It would be nice to get sword polish.

[He's already carrying his sword with him. Worrying about upkeep should be fine.]

[harimaya]

...!

(Oh. A very fair point. For Hizen, who really doesn't think much about himself... he truly hadn't thought about what to do in case of repairs.)

Have you found any leads?

[kikuichi]

[Please think about yourself a little more, Hizen... If nothing else, who would look after Nankaitarou?]

I've been asking around whenever I can. I'll let you know once I do.

[After he find the lead, and maybe look into it. Or maybe send Hizen to check? Hm, that's a little tempting.]

[harimaya]

(Stop don't remind him.)

... I'll ask around too.

(And if Norimune ends up sending Hizen to check things out for himself then... well, Hizen wouldn't be surprised.)

I'd tell you to stay out of trouble 'til we find someone but... it looks like you're working for the boring guys.

[kikuichi]

[Good. He would Hizen to do that anyway, since they're in different factions. Norimune chuckles.]

Seems like it. But who knows, maybe I might befriend some interesting people in the department? A good company might make the work more bearable.

[Uuuuuugh, government work again. Even if the contents are different this time.]

Hm, before I forget... do you have a place yet?

[harimaya]

The same rundown place as everyone else.

(More or less. )

You?