[OPEN] Prompts & [CLOSED] Prompt

[the_fourteenth]

WHO: Raidou Kuzunoha XIV and YOU (prompts #1, 2, 3); Closed prompt for Lucy & Tsurumaru (#4)
WHAT: New Years shenanigans, fun (?) in the cold, TDM prompts
WHERE: Various
WHEN: January 1st and 2nd (prompts #1, 2, 3); January 4th (#4)
WARNINGS: None yet?




▶001. New Year’s Day morning
[It’s the new year, and Raidou is working. Surprise, surprise. He started an after-school job volunteering at the local shrine, and this is the busiest time of year. The place is packed with people, everyone out and about in their new year’s finest. While the definition of what that might be has shifted some since Raidou’s time, it’s still a pretty familiar sight to him. That familiarity is one of the reasons he decided to work here. He spent most of his time growing up training in the Nameless Shrine back home. He’s also been outfitted in some traditional wear thanks to his new style chip - in all black and dark purple, of course.

If you’re joining the festivities and making your new year’s pilgrimage, you might pass by some older shrine workers chuckling with each other about the new kid, and how now they get why there seems to be more high school students showing up lately. Not much further down the path is Raidou surrounded by a small gaggle of teenagers, who are coming up with more questions on the spot to keep talking to the pretty, soft-spoken new volunteer. Raidou’s clutching a broom, interrupted from cleaning duties to chat. Still fairly new, trying to learn about this shrine himself, he’s earnestly trying field questions or help interpret what their fortunes mean.

He really has no clue what's happening here.

Care to step in and help? Or maybe make things worse?]

▶002. January 02 early evening
[Out in a more touristy part of the city, there is an ice skating rink which Raidou overheard some of the other high schoolers talking about. Tonight, he decides to go check it out. The heat’s still on the fritz at the base, so why not go out and make the most of the cold instead of fighting it?

Most of the people on the rink are inexperienced, holding hands or the railing and slowly moving around, laughing as they wobble and slide over the ice, which is illuminated softly underneath by cool white light. Some others are a little more experienced and adventurous, skating smoothly through their turns, or even trying jumps. Some are more successful at it than others.

Raidou quietly watches everyone enjoying themselves for a while, arms folded on the railing. After some time, he decides to rent a pair of skates and join. Even 350 years later, ice skates haven’t changed too much since his time. It seems like ages since he’s done this, on frozen ponds as a child in the Shinoda mountains, but he doesn’t have too much trouble getting on the ice and getting moving. There’s only a minimal amount of wobbling from him until he remembers how it works. He’s pretty athletic, luckily.

This fact will be demonstrated after a little while, when he decides to be adventurous himself. He gets some good speed going around the oval, and tries for a toe loop. He’s been watching how other people do it, so why not? An untrained landing isn’t the most graceful, but Raidou gets pretty good air, and manages to stay upright. He looks as surprised as anyone else at this fact. There’s a smattering of applause from some of the other people on the rink. In true Raidou fashion, he responds to this with a shy smile, tip of the hat, and a slight bow.

Feel free to approach him while he watches to chat, or join him out on the ice.]

▶003. January 02 nighttime
[Back at base, things are still pretty chilly. Raidou has done his best to layer up, his quilt wrapped over him as wanders around the base to check on folks. A lot of people are bunked up together already, which is what he should be doing too. Instead, being the kind of person who would quite literally give you the shirt off his back if you were showing signs of being too cold. Luckily he has something else he can offer you instead for now. If you look like you could use some extra warmth, he hands you something, something soft and gray and warm. Thanks for the precinct Christmas gift, LILITH.]

Here. This should help.

[Later, deep into the night, Raidou can be found pacing up and down the hallways of Everlight, shivering, trying to keep moving in order to keep warm.]





▶4. January 4th; Locked to Tsurumaru & Lucy
[Now that it's warmed up, Raidou has some work to do. He is most often found in his room in the evenings, and tonight is no different. At the moment, however, he steps out to get some air. Maybe a drink. He just needs to walk away from his desk for a few minutes, which is why he doesn’t bother to lock the door on his way out. All that’s really in there are some clothes, and his sword, which he’s not expecting anyone to take. His room is still quite sparse.

Inside, on his desk, are the only other objects: a notebook and pen. It took awhile for him to track these down, not exactly common items in 2277. But, it’s the only way for him to get his thoughts in order. On the open page on his desk is what looks like an unfinished letter. The handwriting is, unsurprisingly, precise. But the longer it goes on, the distress seems to seep in and it becomes rougher, ending unsigned.]

Narumi-san,
I don’t think this will reach you. Not just because I’m not sure if a letter can be sent back to where I came from, but because I’m not sure if there is still a Capital for it to go to.

The idea that it might not be has been keeping me up at night in this place. A lot of things are. It’s called Neo Tokyo, and our duty here is to exterminate kaiju that are threatening the city. Not much different than home. But it’s not me that I’m worried about, or why I’m writing this.

This will most likely feel empty by the time you might receive this, but I wanted to extend my deepest apologies for the failure of my duties. For years I had served the Kuzunoha clan, the Yatagarasu Organization, and even the Narumi Detective Agency with everything I had. Being the protector of the Capital was my absolute honor and greatest joy.

I may not be there for the fallout, but I understand the ramifications of my failure. The Lone Marebito will have gained a foothold with Seimei’s Abe’s command, and his true plans would have taken the Capital by surprise as they had me. I never, not for a moment, suspected him of being behind it. I played into his hands the entire time, trusting him as an ally, as a friend. As someone who understood what it was I was up against every day. My failure didn’t lie with my skills, training, or weapons. It was because someone reached out in a way no one else could, and became blind to what was really in front of me. For that, I am truly sorry. It has cost us everything.

I pray every day here that the other summoners of the Kuzunoha clan have been able to step in and correct my mistakes before the Lone Marebito could enact their plans. I have no doubt that Nagi and Ayame will continue to do excellent work as always. Please reassure Nagi when you can. I know I wasn’t very good at doing that. But, I know she will be a fine successor to her title.

I don’t know what my life will be like going forward, or why I was saved to be put amongst these ranks. I will fight, I will protect people just as I always have. It is the single thing in my life that hasn’t changed. Every time someone addresses me by my title, though, it feels like a mockery. It would have been stripped from me back home. The sword is here, but I do not feel worthy of wielding it. It would be taken away as well. Yet somehow I still have both despite being undeserving of holding them. Without them I am nothing, but as a punishment for my failure, nothing is what I have earned. I knew the risks and I knew the rules.

I’ve been given a second chance that should have been given to someone else. I also do not plan to squander it. I will still be a blade for the people here who need the help. But I will be doing it as something else, not as the fourteenth Raidou Kuzunoha. That Kuzunoha has died. Whatever I am now, it is something else. It is something that doesn’t fit in here, that is different from the others, but that doesn’t matter. My will is for the people of Neo Tokyo. Let them call me what they may. I will not make the same mistake again.

I do not have the words for how sorry I am for my failures. For the danger I have put everyone in with my mistake. I think about you all every day. Nagi will keep Kushinada safe. Gouto will move on. Be kind to Tae. You can finally go back to taking normal cases again. Please be well. Be safe.

Comments

003

[likemybooks]

[Taryon could have gone back to his quarters to work, where he had all of the pillows and blankets he could ever need, but that would mean picking up every paper and bit of metal he had scattered on the floor while he worked. He was so close to figuring out how to get these gauntlets to add more power! But the night won't let him focus!

One of the four roombas roaming around the floor beep at Raidou's entering the common room, but Taryon is laser-focused on finishing his work, just five more minutes...

Something warm is wrapped around his shoulders. He finally looks up to see the grey blanket and the quiet kid standing next to him.] Oh.

You don't have to do that, kid. I was going to leave soon.

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou can relate. Sometimes you just get in the zone, right? Elements be damned.]

You're shivering.

[Well, so is he, but whatever. He watches the roombas as they do their thinking.
Why would anyone need so many?]

Nowhere else on the base has heat, though, either.

[likemybooks]

[Taryon shrugs with one shoulder as he gathers up his notes. This is his cue to start packing and get a full night's rest.]

This isn't too bad. Back home, things got way below freezing for weeks. We had carpets and curtains to help - which this base sorely needs. The interior decoration needs more colors.

[All these greys and lights are kind of ugly.]

Did they say when the heat will be back on?

[the_fourteenth]

I've been through worse, sure. But like you said, there didn't seem to be a back-up plan for this.

[Come on LILITH, would it kill to install a fire place?]

I haven't heard yet, no. So be sure to take some breaks and take some laps while working, okay?

[likemybooks]

I guess their funding coverings fighting and not much else.

[He taps a stack of notes on his knee and straightens them out. To of the roombas seem to take this as a cue to clean and start moving around the couch.]

If you can, stay under a bunch of covers until things get warm again. Don't wait until you're too cold. [Says the guy that was just shivering.]

[the_fourteenth]

[He watches the Roombas curiously for a moment.]

Why are there so many of those in here...?

[Oh right, the cold. Raidou adjusts his blanket, nodding. He's also shivering but doing a pretty decent job of ignoring it. Which is good, he'd given away his other spare. The only one he has now is the one he's wearing.]

Keeping moving helps. I've been doing a lot of laps.

[likemybooks]

Oh, these are all mine. [He picks up one of the roombas that was excitedly running circles around Raidou's legs.] I thought it'd be fun to have more than one to work with. They're really sweet, aren't they?

[He says, cradling the roomba in his arms like one would a puppy.]

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou's still in the very beginning phase of being able to anthropomorphize little robots. Which is to say, he is still at zero. He's not very judgmental, but this does get a raised eyebrow.]

Ah... are they? Why do you need so many?

[likemybooks]

If I'm going to enchant them to help me with work, I'll need more than one, right? [He sets the roomba onto the floor and tucks the stack of papers under his arm.] Come one, haven't you had multiple pets before? They have so much more enrichment as a group.

Come on. [He steps into the hallway leading to the Redemption quarters. The roombas line up like ducklings and slowly glide after Taryon.] Oh, and thank you for this clock! Do you want me to enchant it? I want to pay you back for lending it to me.

4

[saudadist]

[ As she promised, Lucy stops by Raidou's room later in the evening with the french press in hand. Or, tucked under her arm is more accurate to describe it. She's perplexed to find the door unlocked yet no sign of him anywhere. Maybe he stepped out for a moment?

She's tempted to just leave the press and head back out. Small talk is never her strong suit, and it's less awkward to follow up later with "left it there while you were gone" than have to find something to talk about for...god, who knows how many minutes.

That is, until she spots the letter in the opened notebook on his desk. Curiosity gets the better of her and she steps closer to look over the letter. Or, more accurately, skim it from a close enough distance. With the precise, neat penmanship, it looks almost like poetry. That's what she likens it to in any case. Her kanji skills are only slowly growing, no thanks to the translator in the implant, so much of the proper nouns escape her. Yet even without proper education, the writing makes her stomach twist up strangely. Pity, she thinks, is that what it is?

"I’ve been given a second chance that should have been given to someone else."

That. That she understands perfectly well. Her shoulders droop some as she glances away, all of a sudden painfully aware of how intimate this writing is. She should've stopped a while ago.

Lucy finally tears her gaze away from the notebook in favor of glancing about for...honestly, any place to put the press that is nowhere near the desk. ]

[the_fourteenth]

[When Lucy turns around to find a place to set down her gift, Raidou is standing silent in the doorway. He's very good at going undetected, even without the help of his demons, and has been there for several moments, waiting for her to turn around. His expression is flat, and hard to read.]

... How much did you read.

[saudadist]

[ She really should've expected him to be there. She should have, and yet she jumps nearly a mile in the air upon seeing him. Complete with an unflattering bleat as she tries not to drop the press in her surprise.

Aw, damn. How long has he been there? Her face feels unbearably hot all of a sudden, almost like she's been caught doing something she shouldn't have. Technically she wasn't supposed to go snooping, she knows that much, but even so...

Lucy clears her throat and pointedly looks away, her voice small. ]

I couldn't understand a lot of it.

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou has almost no reaction to Lucy's jump. The only emotion coming from him at this moment is his hand tightening on the doorframe where he stands. His stoniness is disconcerting, but he doesn't seem angry.

He's not sure what that means, and isn't sure he wants to press.]

I see. Then I suppose there's nothing to discuss.

[He looks at the press in her hands, and there's a faint look of sadness on his face. She'd only come by to drop him off a gift.]

... I'm sorry. Thank you for bringing that.

[saudadist]

[ She messed up. She messed up she messed up she messed up. And why is he saying sorry? She's the one who was snooping around! Lucy can feel a sweat building around her hairline, but it's a cold sweat that leaves her trying not to fidget. ]

I thought it was poetry. The writing is beautiful. [ Her voice stays soft and is almost drowned out by the light tapping of her fingernail against the press in her hands.

Ah, right. She's still holding it. She should fix...that.

By holding it out straight in front of her and refusing to meet his gaze. ]

Anyway, this's what I got. Manager said it's old but it looks new. I don't get it.

[the_fourteenth]

[He's not sure what to say to that, either. He feels lately like he has no idea how to respond to anyone like he's a human being. Getting these thoughts down coherently took a lot out of him, even if he has no real hopes of the letter ever making it to Narumi. But if he didn't do it, they would only continue to weigh him down.

In this moment, he doesn't feel much lighter. If she couldn't read it, however, then all he has to do is act normal.

So. Start acting normal, he tells himself.]

Thank you. For this as well.

[Raidou gently takes the coffee press from Lucy, and turns it over in his hands.]

It'll be good. Just needs some better cleaning. I can take care of it.

[saudadist]

[ This is awkward. Their muted voices, the clipped words, and this pressure in the air she swears will just suffocate her if she doesn't say something.

It's not the heaviest apology she's ever had to make either, but actually getting the words out feels like her tongue is swollen in her mouth. Probably best to just blurt it out. ]

Sorry. I should've just waited outside.

[the_fourteenth]

It's okay. Really. The door was open.

[Raidou steps over to the desk, avoiding eye contact, and sets the press down next to the notebook. He takes brief glance at the page before quietly closing the cover.]

It's just a letter. It probably can't be sent, so... I suppose I'm done with it anyway.

4

[cranekin]

(Tsurumaru is, no doubt, up to no good when he runs down Everlight's halls and decides to slip into the first open room he can find, closing the door behind him. No one would think to look for him in here and even if they did, they couldn't force their way without making trouble for the true occupant. He can just hide out here for an hour or two until whatever he did is forgotten and then he'll slip out like nothing happened.

He recognizes the room he's in right away. He'd hidden here once before during that party he'd thrown. He recognizes the sword first and comes over to give it a curious look while still keeping his distance. He then goes over to the desk and notices that someone has written quite a bit.

The first thing he notices is how the writing changes towards the end, growing more emotional and distraught as it goes on. He doesn't mean to read everything but some things catch his attention and he finds himself reading more.

Yatagarasu? Seimei? As in, Abe no Seimei? Gold eyes narrow sharply and he studies the letter even more. Ah, but instead of learning more about these curious characters, he's left with more questions than he had before. One thing he knows for certain, when Raidou finally returns is that the writer carries--)

Such a heavy burden...

[the_fourteenth]

[It's probably a little surprising that this usually quiet kid can be so wordy. The letter takes a full page.

Raidou makes one step into the room before he notices someone inside. He was only gone for a few minutes. Next time he'll lock his door. Lesson learned.

He stands there looking slightly shocked, before, in typical usual fashion, tips his hat down to cover any emotions that might get out. His words are delivered flatly.]

...Why. Why are you in here.

[cranekin]

Ah, sorry, sorry. (He holds up a hand in front of him in an apologetic motion,) I was hiding.

I didn't mean to intrude so severely.

(And he steps back from the desk. He feels like he should offer some explanation,)

I saw a familiar name.

[the_fourteenth]

From who?

[And why in here... Forget that, though. That news is surprising, especially since there are several names mentioned. He peeks up at Tsurumaru from under his hat brim.]

... You did?

[cranekin]

Before, you said you were a summoner.

(A detail that had stood out to Tsurumaru at the time,)

... Well, it's not surprising the name Abe no Seimei persists in other worlds. It would appear we may know of different people, though.

(And he shakes his head,)

Sorry.

[the_fourteenth]

[He figured that was the one. He hesitates for a moment, looking away as he debates continuing.]

A direct descendent, in this case. Another summoner. [And a traitor.

Raidou walks over, and after taking a wistful glance at the page, closes the notebook.]

It's fine. I'm not sure why I wrote it. Even if they could, they'd never send it. [LILITH really can't be trusted for that sort of thing, in his mind.]

[cranekin]

I see.

(Just "I see." It isn't his place to press or ask for more details. He's already seen more than he should have. He doesn't move. He knows when to leave space and he watches as Raidou closes the notebook.

He only observes him for a moment and then he takes a step forward, reaching out to place his hand on top of Raidou's if he'll let him,)

For centuries, humans have written their letters on paper. Letter by letter, word by word, line by line... writing stories without ever speaking them out loud.

("Humans" he says as if he isn't one himself. The way he speaks is careful and deliberate, like an old poem,)

If you simply kept those words locked in your chest, it would be as if nothing existed; neither your feelings or a heart.

[the_fourteenth]

[He almost pulls away, reflexively, but he stops once Tsurumaru speaks. He tenses as he listens.]

It doesn't change anything anyway. What happened, happened.

[He finally pulls his hand away, more sharply than he intended to, back to Tsurumaru now.]

No matter how I feel about it.