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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[Sorry Inaba, but he's not sorry. And he's got his arms wrapped around her waist as he props his chin up on her shoulder.]

I can't stay anywhere else for a long period of time, not without worshippers. But with what you and your friends have done, I could go on short trips to visit other places for a few hours. Especially during nights with a strong moon.

[ This is actually really nice and all, even if she barely even knows him. But it's also really really embarrassing. ]

Even if you could go out, I can't just bring you home. My brother and parents would see you and ask questions. Now can you let go of me? This is kind of...

[ It's.

It's really intimate. ]

[As soon as she asks, he'll let go of her.]

We don't have to go to your place. Is there a festival going on? I haven't been to a festival in a long time, it would be nice to go to one.

It's too early in the year for festivals, unfortunately. Everyone is mostly preparing for a completely different holiday.

Yeah? What holiday?

[Someone has lost track of what day it is.]

Valentine's Day.

[ She just says it as nonchalantly as possible as if she could not give a single flying fuck about it. ]

Vaentine's Day! I know about that holiday! Dazai-san was very popular with the ladies, so he always got tons of chocolates. But he wasn't interested in any of it, so he usually gave it all to me.

You like chocolate?

[ She says that in a way that sounds a little baffled; Inaba didn't expect a deity to like chocolate. Even more so since he's a tiger deity. ]

Anyway, you keep mentioning this 'Dazai', was he the person who visited you before me...?

I like all food.

[It is the best offering to give him honestly.]

Yeah, he used to visit me a lot. He stopped coming around a while ago though, so I guess he moved somewhere else. Or died.

[He pauses, tapping his chin thoughtfully.]

I can't remember what date he said it was back then...It was definitely after the war though. How long ago was the war?

I'll remember to bring you food next time.

[ ALSO I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO LOOK UP JAPANESE WARS NOW

which is when she finds herself humming inquisitively as she rests a hand under her chin, thinking a bit. ]

Also which war? There's a few that Japan was involved in, but the most recent one was the Battle of Amami-Oshima which was... about nine years ago? In 2001. Unless you're talking about the really huge one - ah, World War II, and that ended in 1945. It's 2010 now.

I dunno which war. I just remember people coming to my shrine and praying for their husbands and sons to come home. It was probably more than one battle, though.

. . .

[ She's quiet for a moment before clapping her hands together. ]

Let's not talk about all that sort of depressing stuff right now. Valentine's Day is coming up and we should be talking about cheerier things! Like. Did you ever have romantic feelings with anyone?

[ Inaba Himeko: here for the gossip. ]

[He's suspicious of you, Inaba. But she just gets a raised eyebrow before he answers.]

It depends on what you mean. Do you mean for humans? Because for other gods and spirits, it's a bit more complicated than 'romantic feelings'.

I mean just in general. But I guess I can jump off of that - what do you mean by "it's more complicated"...?

Well, we all live a lot longer than you'd expect, so relationships have to keep that in mind. spirits and gods fall in and out of love all the time, and it can get awkward if you don't follow certain rules about it. Rules about who can date whom, if you can have sex or not, what to do about children made from specific unions, stuff like that. I usually avoid it, for the most part.

['For the most part'.]

"For the most part"...?

[ Although she is definitely listening to all of this carefully and keeping it in the back of her mind for future reference. ]

[Oh boy, someone looks a bit embarrassed now.]

I-It's not important. We're fighting right now, and our fights can last for a century or more. You probably won't see him.

Oh, so there is somebody.

[ She sounds pretty interested, a smirk sliding onto her features a little bit. ]

Must be nice...

I already said it's complicated!

[Oh look, he gets up on his heckles like a cat too.

Also, he's jumping up onto the roof of his shrine to pout a bit.]

[ Oh my god is actually really accurate at this moment and she can't help but snicker a little bit. ]

I'm sorry! I just wanted to tease you a bit!

[ Just going to yell that out for him to hear. Besides, teasing someone about their love life is better than thinking about her own nonexistent one. ]

[Atsushi is still grumpy.]

Well, you've teased me! I've been with more humans than spirits anyway, so it's pointless teasing.

It's still more than I have been with, so you're better than I am.

[ Just going to admit that by sheer accident, oops. ]

It's fine, you're still young.

[He's waving her off as he says that. Surely someone as cute as her will have lovers in the future!]

Even if I'm going, it doesn't mean that I'm going to have anybody in the future.

You sound a bit sad about that thought. Are you struggling in your love life? Love isn't something I influence, but I know a couple spirits that might be able to help.

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