Shop Visits! (Open post!)

[foundfate]

[Maybe you stumbled upon the front gate to a strange house while walking in your neighborhood. Maybe you found it nestled between skyscrapers in a downtown area. Or maybe you didn't stumble across it at all, and instead fell into the backyard or something. The way you got there matters little. What really counts is that you're there for one reason: a wish.

A want. A desire. Something you can't get on your own. Something you want so badly that you would do anything to get it.

Well, you've come to the right place.

There's plenty to see in the house. The foyer is nice, and the kitchen is well-stocked. There's several other rooms as well: a sitting room, a dining room, a couple bedrooms for the people who wander upstairs to look, and a rather luxurious bathroom too. Several rooms open to the outside as well, so it's easy to come inside by many different paths.

But ultimately, you will end up face-to-face with a screen that opens into a room with a table and two chairs which overlooks the backyard.

And in that room, you will find the shopkeeper.]



[What happens now? Well, that's up to you, isn't it?]

Comments

brb ignoring everything terrible going on in canon

[exaomori]

[So fine, maybe she was expecting too much out of that little matchmaking party, and maybe she was just impatient when it came to the two blind dates she had snagged. She couldn't expect to meet a guy on the first try, right? This was just a matter of time, and now she had plenty of that now. Patience was a virtue, and she just had to repeat that to herself until she believed it.

But still, it sucked. Having just left her third date that had gone wrong, Shura isn't feeling terribly optimistic about her prospects. She means to just drop by a convenience store and pick up a few drinks to console her, but she's distracted by a ghoul she spies on the corner, a the mangy looking remains of a cat that seemed ready to lash out at whoever came close. On most any other day, Shura would have let most demons be if they weren't causing immediate harm, but damn it, she's pissed and the bugger might cause her a headache later if she lets it go.

In the end, she has to chase the little shit down a few alleys, but once she has it cornered in a garden, she takes care of it easily. Unfortunately, it leaves behind a stinking corpse and Shura realizes that she really doesn't know where this garden suddenly came from. Well. Crap.

Fine. She can do the right thing and tell the owner she accidentally broke into their yard and ask for a bag to dispose of the dead cat. It's strange, though. She doesn't have to look far for one of the house's inhabitants, he's standing right there on a patio. Was he watching her the entire time?]

Ah, yeah. Sorry 'bout this. You got somethin' I can wrap that up with?

[foundfate]

[Well it was less 'watching' and more 'getting ready to kick a ghoul out of his yard', but details.

Shura's way might have been a bit more finite than what Watanuki had planned- the broom in his hands is a good indication of that- but it works nonetheless. The cleanup is just going to be different, that's all.

Speaking of which, Watanuki indicates to a pile of wood nearby.]

This place is a nexus of energy. To kill something here means it needs a proper funeral.

[Or else negative energy will settle in. Yes, even from a cat, of all things. Everything deserves some respect, or so Watanuki thinks.]

You prepare a cremation pyre, and I will get the offerings ready.

[exaomori]

Wait--seriously? [No good dead goes unpunished!! She should have left the stupid thing to the exwires or something.

She's not going to start building that pyre quite yet. Nexus of energy? She didn't know anything about that. ]

What are you, some kind of medium? Y'know it was dead before I got to it, righ'?

[She just.... rekilled it. ]

[exaomori]

[Annnd there's another demon not more than two weeks later. Well, there's been lots of demons with Mephisto's seal on the artificial Gehenna Gate weakening, and it means more work for Shura. Who, by the way, still hasn't received her demotion, so she's still getting assignments that she's no longer capable of handling on her own. To makes things worse, there really is no backup to call on with the Order stretched thin across the world.

It really is a giant pain. It means harder fights, bigger risks, and more collateral damage. And so when a high level goblin decides to go on a rampage, Shura's forced to try and tackle the problem on her own. Just her and Fang. Great.

It becomes tricky though, when she finds herself chasing the goblin down a certain street, and Shura realizes that it isn't running from her but running to something, and that something happens to be a now-familiar wish shop. Well, crap. If something happened there, she couldn't just tell the guy to have the Order reimburse him for damages.

Fine. She can plan around this. She just has to corner the little turd in the background and stab him really hard. Nothing can go wrong with this plan, and with some careful maneuvering, she's managing to shepherd him around the shop instead of right through it, and there, right there is an opening to just slash his stupid body through--

Wait, crap, was there someone in the back?]

Oi, oi--outta the way!

[foundfate]

[Watanuki had been expecting the goblin's arrival. It hadn't been a vision that told him about it, though. No, he just sensed the strong power as it moved closer. A headache to deal with, to be sure, but nothing he couldn't handle.

He had to wait for the goblin to make it onto the shop grounds, though. He had no intention of ever setting foot in Shura's world, so he couldn't act until it came to him. Annoying, and he would have to up the protective barriers later, just in case this was one of Satan's kin sending scouts out looking for him.

The goblin didn't move predictably, and there seemed to be someone chasing it. An exorcist, probably. Watanuki didn't pay much mind to the person, he would worry about them once his shop was safe. And once the goblin and the person were running around his front yard, he raised his hand, and he fired off a rather powerful fire spell, burning a hole right through the goblin. It was risky, because he hadn't prepared payment for that magic ahead of time. He could do it as soon as the shop was cleaned up, so long as 'fate' didn't demand payment before then.

Unfortunately, 'fate' did demand payment at that exact moment. Because that warning comes a half-second before Shura's sword sinks right into Watanuki's chest, cutting a shallow-but-long cut from left shoulder to right hip.

And then as he falls, he wonders if the girls know enough on their own to patch him up, or if they will have to call in a doctor for him.]

[exaomori]

[There were several things Shura hadn't accounted for that maybe she should have. First, that she and the goblin might not be alone. Second, that this guy would have some kind of offensive skills. Third, that this could backfire on her. She wasn't overconfident, but this guy was unknown and unpredictable. It should have been one of things she accounted for while planning.

She can react quickly to the fact that something that is not Fang kills the goblin. What she doesn't know to anticipate is the way things change, and it's not longer the goblin's flesh that Fang is biting into but it's that damn shopkeeper's body. Shura recoils, but it's too late to stop the downward stroke.

The how and why of the situation escape her. She could question that later. The important thing is that the goblin is no longer a threat and that someone needs medical treatment. She drops Fang to the side and rushes to Watanuki as he falls, letting out a sharp curse.]

The crap--oi, you awake? C'mon, say something.

[He's bleeding. He's hurt, so she has to investigate, pull at his robe of his shirt, whatever he's wearing to see how badly she had hit him. It's only a slight relief to see that it was largely superficial.]

[function]

[ whenever 2b suddenly regains consciousness, it's usually within her room on the bunker, lying on her back as she readjusts herself to the familiar settings. it's usually the sleek white walls that confirm her surroundings; the cold and rigid uniformity of androids' rooms is oddly, paradoxically comforting.

that's normal. this isn't.

she wakes up in the backyard to something that is the complete opposite of everything she has ever known. the landscape is too pristine; the buildings are in perfect shape; humanity is present.

she doesn't care for the eccentricities of the house she feels compelled to enter. no, she heads straight for the room her sensors are picking up an organic life reading from, and draws her sword as she slides the frame open. ]

Explain yourself.

[foundfate]

[Watanuki glances up to the woman standing there, sword drawn.

He glances down to the tea he was preparing before he got so rudely interrupted.

Then he looks back to the woman again.]

Would you like some tea?

[As if that's an explanation.]

[function]

[ she stares him down, gaze unwavering (which is kind of hard to tell, given her visor). she tightens her grip around the sword's hilt. despite her threatening stance, her voice is even and calm. ]

I don't want to ask again.

[ohrlyeh]

[He should be on the job. He should be doing what his contract says. But Lovecraft is a fickle being, prone to doing what he wants to do. Even under the contract, he has some wiggle room, some momentary lapses of freedom from an exhausting, tiring line of work.]

[Destructive work.]

[He would be lying to say that he had stumbled on this house merely by chance - he had felt it, that pull, that tug, like an old friend clasping him on the shoulder. Not to say that he was a being who knew much about having friends in the first place, practical hermit that he is, but it's not a feeling he could have simply just ignored. He follows it, trodding down the sidewalk, eyebrows knitted together as he tries to understand what it is. It reminds him of the old times. But the old times, ah, they were so long ago...His memory comes and goes, like fog surrounding a port-side town.]

[He finally turns the corner, finds himself standing in the front yard of this strange house, and he stares at it for a long moment. He doesn't recognize it. Part of him thinks he should.]

Hm.

[And without further ado, he just plops down onto the ground, face first. Don't look now, Watanuki, but there's a man just...sleeping in front of the house. Yeah. Sorry about that.]

[foundfate]

...well hello to you too.

[But it's alright, it's not the first time someone has passed out here at the shop. He knows what to do.

Within moments a pair of girls are there and hauling Lovecraft off to a room somewhere. A room with a futon in it, so he can rest comfortably.

Lovecraft can wake up during transportation, or just later in the bed itself. Regardless of when he wakes up, Watanuki will be ready for him.]

[ohrlyeh]

[He does eventually wake up on the futon, instantly frowning like he's disappointed he's even waking up in the first place. Without moving his head, his dark eyes pore over the room around him, before he notices he's not alone.]

...Who are you?

[Not that he particularly cares about waking up in a strange place, but he's more interesting in the man who (supposedly) is the one who brought him here. His hands move to intertwine on top of his chest, his expressionless gaze asking for an answer.]

[reflash]

[He's seen it for months, a house on the edge of town that keeps catching his eye and drawing his focus in a way that can't be anything other than demonic.

Eventually, he gives in and walks into the front yard, then into the house itself, pushing the door open with his good arm.]

Hello? [He doesn't come any further into the house, not until he's invited.]

[foundfate]

Hmm?

[There is a young man there in the hall, either close to Yukio's age or just slightly older. He has a stack of blankets in his arms, and given the open storage area nearby it's probably safe to say he's putting them away currently. But when he catches sight of Yukio, his eyes light up in recognition.]

Ah! So you came in after all.

[If it's any consolation, while he does have a powerful presence, it doesn't feel demonic? And he's lacking the usual traits of a demon too. No tail, no pointy ears, no fangs. But it does seem like he was expecting Yukio.]

[reflash]

[This is... extremely unnerving. Something about the stranger's presence feels wrong, even though he isn't a demon.

And... wait.]

I didn't know you were expecting me.

[That's the most polite way Yukio can possibly phrase that response.]

[oflifefourfold]

[Perhaps years ago, before she quit being a military doctor and accepted the invitation to join to the Agency, Yosano would've encountered this place for the want of a wish.

Today, all she really wanted was a drink, sensible company, and sensible company to drink with. Getting back to the normal swing of things after they captured the virus ability user was tough. Retail therapy wasn't enough to wind down after the most stressful 48 hours of recent memory.

So when she found herself at a gatepost leading to what looked like a European teahouse with an engawa, she was confused. Had she taken the wrong turn on her way to the usual bar?

Yosano looked behind her to check her route, and saw unfamiliar streets.]

Tch.

[She squeezed her eyes shut and pinched her nosebridge. Did she really get that tired without her noticing?]

Back to square one, is it?

[foundfate]

[The drive for a drink is most definitely a strong enough wish to make the shop appear, especially after the stressful time Yosano has just gone through. Watanuki can't begrudge her of that.

That's partially why Watanuki already has sake and cups out on the front porch, in view of the gate and waiting for Yosano's arrival. It's an easy request to fulfill, so he's going to be ready for it.

(The other part is that he's picked up Yuuko's drinking habits and is a bit of a lush himself at times.)

So when he sees Yosano there near the gates, he smiles and gives her a friendly wave, inviting her in. The unconsious pull of the shop is enough to get her this close, so he will invite her in the rest of the way.]

[oflifefourfold]

[Elsewhere, she would've been wary of the circumstances. Frighteningly intelligent individuals like Mori and Dazai went through great lengths to craft seeming coincidences, and they'd just recovered from such an attack. Yosano might've been cautious of the harmless appearance of her to-be host, and would've tried to remember if Ranpo or Dazai cautioned the possibility of being picked off now that Kunikida was detained.

Yet she didn't, and those possibilities barely had occurred to her before they melted away.

For how distant he should've been from her, a yard's length between the gate she was at and his seat at the porch, she could picture his welcoming expression clearly, and her gut told her there was nothing to worry about.

She'd been walking for a while, hadn't she? Now she was being invited in, and she got the impression this was the kind of place with zero chances of encountering entitled assholes she'd have to punch if they didn't back down.

Yosano clasped her bag in front as she entered, giving the rest of the building exterior a cursory glance before tipping her head at the man.]

Pardon the intrusion. [Yosano might be blunt, but she did mind her manners.] What sort of place is this?

[thedevilrebukingsin]

[All he needed was the location of a particular item.

Fyodor had heard of this wish-granting shop through rumor, though he was unable to find the source. Regardless, this possible ability was worth assessing, both for the purpose of gaining an upper hand in this conflict and to see what sort of person he might need to eliminate down the line should this one seen interested in joining the opposition.

So it was that one autumn morning, the shop's gates were darkened by an approaching shadow.

(Hello, Shopkeeper. You're about to have a terrible guest.)]

[foundfate]

[It always starts as a rumor, though the source of said rumor can never be found. That's the magic of the wish-granting shop: anybody who needs it can find it, while those who have no need of its services remain unaware of it.

On this day, the girls who usually greet visitors are not present. Instead, only Watanuki is, sitting on the front porch of the shop. It's not his usual spot, but he doesn't want this particular guest wandering through the building. He's already well aware of who Dostoevsky is and just what he is capable of, which is why Watanuki is cautious.]

My, it's unusual for a customer to come this early in the morning. I trust your trip went well?

[Always polite, but still cautious. He has no interest in joining either side of that conflict, but he is also not interested in getting dragged in by someone else.]

[thedevilrebukingsin]

Well enough.

[No hindrances, no unnecessarily helpful pedestrians, no loud noises. This spot was a good distance from the highway, and the only regrettable thing about this trip was that to avoid being seen, he had to leave early and forego tea.

(If the shop served it the traditional Russian way including the homemade concentrated brew, color him surprised.

And suspicious on how far that ability extended.)]

You don't exactly advertise your business hours, nor is there readily available information on your establishment.

[clearities]

[ One could say that the small middle schooler had walked upon the store by accident, but accidents don't exactly happen in this world. But when she's suddenly greeted, Sakura is caught off guard by it all, jumping in a way that's a little bit startling for a second before her shoulders relax a bit, trying her best to smile and come up with something ー anything, really, to say.

In the end she winds up bowing a little awkwardly before straightening herself out. ]

I didn't know there was a store around here. . . ah, what kind of store is it? It's really pretty.

[ . . . nailed it? You can't fault her for trying, especially given how enthusiastic she seems to be, glancing the whole place over with interest. ]

[foundfate]

['This is another version of her', that's Watanuki's first thought. It's not the Sakura he met many, many years ago, nor is it the princess he heard of some time after that. Strange, how in an ever-changing universe he can manage to keep coming across the same person over and over.

But he doesn't mention any of that. No, he just gives this Sakura a warm smile.]

It's different for each person. For some people, they find objects they need. For others, they find people, or places. Ultimately it depends on what you're looking for.

[clearities]

[ There's a bit of a surprised noise at his explanation, her bright emrald green eyes growing wide in a childlike, innocent surprise. ]

That sounds really amazing!

[ She sounds rather impressed and in awe. However, as for what she's looking for, she can't help but rest a hand under her chin thoughtfully, not entirely certain how to answer. ]

What if you're not sure about what you're looking for?

casually strolls on back in

[exaomori]

[Several weeks have passed since Shura last came by the shop. There's not really a reason why she hasn't been back it, but if Shura was going to be honest, she would have to admit she may be avoiding it. It's a weird sort of feeling--she had no business with the shop, and so it shouldn't be something that she should be going out of her way to avoid.

Whatever the reason may be, Shura does eventually find herself in front of the shop. She could just keep walking. But her ankle hurts from a misstep in the morning, she's hungry, and it's snowing. If she went back to the dorms now, what would she end up doing?

She can't find a satisfying answer to that, so fine. She'll pay Watanuki a visit, if only to get out of the snow for a minute. She calls out when she enters, sliding the door shut behind her and leaving behind the cold air.]

Hey, Pervert Prophet, you in?