backyardbbq | tiger fun! (closed)

tiger fun! (closed)

[The funny thing about Yokohama is that there are so, so many nooks and crannies that contain evidence of its wild past. It's not uncommon to see a small patch of earth full of trees and nature, but for it to be framed on all sides by apartment buildings or shops. It's a strange amalgamation of 'nature' and 'infrastructure' that is only possible in cities like this, which have existed for centuries and have gradually encroached on the surrounding forests.

Deep within Yokohama exists one such patch of nature, a 'park' about the size of three city blocks. To the north, a train station. The east contains some shops. To the south is a river. And finally, to the west, a school. But interestingly enough, this 'park' has remained undeveloped. No paths run through it, other than the dirt paths made by teenagers cutting through it to get to the stores on the other side. The road that had once existed there had been paved over some time ago, and the stone path from the road to the shrine remains half-hidden under plant growth and dirt.

But should anyone try to follow that stone path, eventually they will reach a small shrine. It's probably about 40 square meters at most, and with much of the interior taken up by the necessities for running a shrine, it's obviously not meant to be a home. But something has made its home there. Something has managed to crawl through the broken rice paper and nestle in to what little space inside is available.

The shrine's exterior is in really bad shape, too. It looks like nobody has tended to it in a hundred years, if not longer. The roof tiles are in dire need of repair, much of the exterior is covered in vines and fallen leaves, and the wood is showing signs of weathering and rot. Even the collection box out front has a busted top, revealing the small cache of coins still located inside.

Yes, this shrine is in a terrible state. Hopefully someone can find it and notice this.]

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[The cat seems happy to have the pictures taken! And in fact, it's going to jump onto a little table by the painting and stand big and proud, just like how the tiger is standing.

This is the cat attempting to communicate something, but it might also possibly be a cat just being a cat. Still, a good photo opportunity, right?

Then, at the mention of money, the cat jumps down and goes back out front, to the offering box. There are indeed some coins in there! They're probably not enough to buy much on face value alone, but. Um. At least a few are a very, very old style of money, and Inaba could possibly sell them at a coin collector shop for some cash. Not a whole lot, given all the weathering they experienced over the years, but at least a little bit.]

[ The fact that it seems to be happy and even give her a chance at a good photo opportunity is... good, actually. She actually thinks that it's kind of cute to the point where she wants to gush a bit, but no. She can't. She's not that kind of person.

After snapping that photo, she notices how the cat jumps down and goes back and follows it back to where the offering box is.

She peers into it, humming inquisitively but here's the dilemma. ]

I can't just take this. . .it'd be like stealing, wouldn't it? Even if nobody's touched this place in years, probably.

[The cat meows again, and then starts trying to dig the money out with a paw. It's not a successful attempt, because Cat, but he's trying.

Besides, that's what donations are for: the maintaining of a shrine. It's fine, the cat is giving his OK here.

The cat is also too small for this and is falling into the donation box. Whoops.]

[ You tried, poor cat...

Although the fact that he's falling into the donation shrine box is both a little hilarious and also. Uh.

Does cat need Life Alert? ]

Ah-

[ Just let her go into the donation box and grab him out of there because staying in there wouldn't be too good. ]

Are you okay?

[ She's genuinely concerned, here. ]

[The cat seems a little grumpy at having fallen into the donations box. But it did manage to snag one of the coins in its mouth, so when Inaba picks it up it will attempt to give her the coin.]

Sorry, I should have caught you before then... but you're pretty smart, aren't you?

[Yes, this cat is indeed smart. And if Inaba looks at his face, there's something very human there. Maybe a human intelligence in a cat?

Whatever the case, this cat is now attached to Inaba. Inaba is friend-shaped, kitty likes her!]

[ She does pay attention to the details, so when she does note it, she finds herself wondering how it's possible. . . although given that she's dealt with supernatural shit before, so this is nothing different.

Although the fact that the cat seems to be attached to her is.

It's definitely a thing. ]

Okay, I'll help you out. But this better worth it.

[Oh, it'll definitely be worth it. As Inaba will find out, once she gets some more cleaning and repairs done. Because while this cat will remain a cat for the time being, if she keeps making trips and tidying up she will eventually find a person there instead of a cat.

A person dressed in a grey and white yukata, who is carrying a sword and looks like something out of a history book. One who also has a white tiger's mask hanging off of his obi.

One who is admiring the work she has done on the shrine so far, and is smiling contently.]

[ Yeah, she'll keep going back and forth to get some of the basic cleaning and stuff but eventually when she finds the person she's just looking exhausted and is laying on the floor, looking almost dead even as he admires everything. ]

I'm not imagining things, right. . .?

You look tired enough, it could be delirium.

[He says that with a joking tone, and the smile he gives is another sign that he's teasing. But when he looks at her, she'll be able to see that his eyes look quite familiar...]

It's been ages since anyone has cleaned up my home this much. I suppose I should say 'thank you', but even that wouldn't be enough to express my gratitude.

Pinch me to wake me up, then.

[ She wouldn't be surprised if she was tired in general, to be honest. ]

Well, I'm surprised how you could even live in this place when it was like that. I just did this on a whim; I'm not the type of person who'd help like this. . .

Maybe you're charmed by cats?

[His cat form is quite cute, after all.

And he's not going to pinch her, but he will go over to where she is and crouch down near her. Close enough that he can poke at her forehead a few times.]

You can't sleep here, it's going to be night soon.

Are you making fun of me?

[ It's true that cats are cute, but that doesn't mean that she would completely go out of her way for one!! Although she does pout a little when he pokes her on the forehead. ]

And I know that, just- [ Let her get up first. ] Who are you, anyway?

Maybe, maybe not.

[Yes, he is. But he'll lighten up after that, and ultimately offer out a hand to help her up.]

I have a few names, but 'Atsushi' will be fine, I think.

[ She knows he's messing with her, but she isn't going to say anything, instead just easily taking that hand to pull herself up. ]

Atsushi, then. Thanks. You said this was 'your home', right? I can't believe I have to ask this but does that mean you're the deity here?

That's right! You're a clever one, much smarter than the last human who found me.

[That's going to be a story and a half to share at some point.]

It's so refreshing to be able to use this form again too. You don't want to know how long I was stuck in my small form.

. . .

[ To be honest, she actually had to ask because she didn't want to sound crazy. She usually isn't the type of person that would believe in this sort of thing, anyway. ]

I won't ask, so I'll go straight to my next question. What kind of deity?

[To answer her question, he just. Points to the shrine.]

What do you think lives in a place like that?

[ ... ]

Don't fuck with me. Based off the stuff I saw, it's a tiger deity, but that doesn't really answer my question.

[Okay, now he's doing the Nyah face.]

[ . . . ]

[ There's no words, she's just going to attempt to karate chop him on the head. ]

[Unfortunately, he is still very much lacking in power, so he gets chopped.]

C'mon, be serious, Atsushi.

[ She wouldn't have to whack him if he didn't shitpost like that. ]

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