[Wherever he may be, whatever he may be doing, Seimei is hit hard with a chill-- the striking foreboding of death. A herald appears before him soon enough that demands his attention: a dark-eyed, rust colored snake. Those signs alone should be enough to inform him that something terrible has happened. The snake leads him to the forest, now leaking a dark mist past every tree and bush. So many more serpents varying size and colors slide along the ground, dispersing from the perimeter, and headed towards town. They all ignore Seimei while his guide stays in front, although they'll snap and hiss at him if he were to step out from following its path.
The pressure from his initial meeting with Dara is nothing compared to now. Any normal person would be crippled, gasping on the ground, or crying in pain. And the mist only grows darker, thickening with miasma the deeper he travels. Splintering trees, crumbling rocks, and a deep groaning begins to filter through the silence until he finally breaks through into the eye of the storm. Visibility clears but the miasma's strain remains.
At the center of it all is the expected curse god. Miasma pours off her skin and from the gaping hole in her torso; split from rib cage to abdomen, black blood spills from her gut accompanied with the sickening squelching and wet thuds of snakes creeping out from inside her. Dara's groans are of pain and despair. To be expected of someone who has survived evisceration. With her hair awry and levitating, it catches in the surrounding branches like a spider web while obscuring her face simultaneously. It's hard to tell if she's looking at him or preoccupied. Distracted with her tail lashing out against the trees and boulders. Two sets of arms seem to be trying to hold the incision closed, but it all continues to pour out. Her last two hands are obscured by her hair while pressed to her face.
With Seimei's appearance, the anguished noises die down...only for a low, echoing voice to resound:]
Sister...Sister...Did you take from me again? Where are they?
[ This isn't a snake native to this world, that's for certain right away. While that could mean a number of things, the simplest answer is usually the most likely one, and the only foreign force he's met thus far that has anything to do with snakes would be it.
Before setting off, though, he'll be making a simple protection charm for staving off miasma. No doubt she'd sense it under his clothes, but he sees no point in posturing and pretending it doesn't effect him at all when he could just be a little more comfortable and clear thinking in her chosen territory for an important summons
He should have made something stronger.
No doubt air thick with such profound hate is going to be squeezing at his head and his lungs long after he's gone, but he continues forward regardless. And the scene he finds is...disquieting. Gods are not invincible, but they are damn difficult to even scratch, and here lays one on her back gutted like a common fish. Just what in the world happened here...?
He doesn't approach any further than necessary, hands hidden in his sleeves just in case he needs to defend himself from a clouded, pain-drunk mind. ]
Then, a gurgling sound. Like someone trying to breathe through bubbles of blood and filled lungs. The god's thrashing tail stills its ruckus to lift herself up, slowly but surely, as if recognizing Seimei's voice. The hands desperately holding herself together visibly tighten with knuckles whitening while she looms above him. Dara speaks from beneath her curtain of hair, but her voice isn't along in its utterance:]
Seimei...sama...
Where Ẅ̸̢̡̛͙̖͈͚̭̩͕̹͇̝́͌͒̓̈́̿̀̀̑̍̓̅̑ḣ̸̡̢̝̫̗̜̦̞̲̭̤̣͒̊̆͊̌͝͝͝͠e̸̺̬̜̤̼͂̆́̾̆͜r̷͊̆̉̏͆͒͑̒̾ͅȩ̷̤̰̰̩̭͙̺͐̄́̎̚͝͝ are ị̷̛͈̯͋s̷̢̟̪̟͆ my M̴͎̪̞̜̘͋́́̃͝Ỷ̵͈̪̺̥̃̇ insides H̷̢̢̙̪͈̹̞͉̲̱̲̫̯̹͍̦̠̙̍̾́̐̈́̈́̏̀͆̆̉̕̚͜E̴͙̝̯̖͕̲̲͕͋A̴̳̖̟͍̲̲̯̙͍͇̫̩͍̻͕̘̥̠̓̉̑̋̌̿͊̒̊͜͝D̸͉͎̱̫͈̥̮͔͔͔̀͑̃́̋͂̈́̈́͊̌͆̎̓̓ ...?...?!
[It's not just miasma and viscera she's trying to hold in. Between the folds of skin, hands, and darkness...the gleaming eyes of snakes inside her seem to swirl and fuse. The collective melt together until one large, yellow eye fills the space where her intestines would be. The slitted pupil jerks this way and that, trying to peer through the cracks of Dara's being to take in the new world around it.]
[ Although Seimei admitted to having no experience with the previous Yamatagi Madara, Dara's story had given him all the puzzle pieces he needs for this moment.
Though he doesn't like working without the why or the how, it doesn't look like time to get all that sorted out is a luxury he can afford here. Probably doesn't even have enough of it to go back and fetch more appropriate tools so he could have the time, but, not a lot of use in being frustrated about that right this second.
He'll need all the energy he can spare. ]
Dara-sama. I don't know what's happened to you, but you have my word I will do all I can to find out.
[ He doesn't approach her directly, not yet. Instead he starts walking in a slow, steady circle, occasionally bending down to grab up stones big enough to cover his palm and carefully wiping the earth from them. ]
All I need of you is to do as you have been. Do you understand?
[To be ripped apart from the outside-in and to be eaten away inside-out. Of course it hurts, and it's immensely difficult to hold onto any bit of consciousness. Seimei's voice is a murky light reflecting off a dark sea, but it's just a little too late. If she could save one more person before fading...
Doubling-over, a heaving wave of ichor splashes against the cave's floor, and there's a pause in the flow of serpents born from her chest cavity; the only good sign when the stench of death thickens. Then, Dara lets out a rattling cough that echoes through the chamber before wretching outright. One last snake slips from her mouth and is made known when it emerges from the curtain of hair. Its scales match Seimei's guide, but it doesn't linger for him. Instead, it races for the exit to find its destined target.
Dara's last bit of willpower dissolves to the pain, and all six arms drop limp at her sides like a broken doll. Yamatagi Madara's eye practically spins with glee within the socket of her flesh before his gaze falls on Seimei.]
[SOMETIME AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, an awkwardly formal text hits his tablet--]
Greetings, Abe no Seimei-sama. I would like to request an audience with you whenever convenient. To your good health, Dara
[.........This girl may have written an essay, edited it 6x, and boiled it down to this simple message after several hours. IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE SHE'S HAD TO WRITE LETTERS TO HIGHER-UPS.]
It just so happens my afternoon and evening are free of any prior engagements. My home is within view of the city's Easternmost road, in a roof lined with red. Please arrive at your leisure.
Abe no Seimei
[ While typing isn't too hard to figure out, it's still weird, so maybe Dara can attribute the brevity to that.
["Please arrive at your leisure"-- SO GRACIOUS, UGH!!!!! Which Dara immediately drops everything she's doing to shift into a human form, get dressed, and lug a giant gift basket to his place with a little extra something included. TIME TO HUNT DOWN HIS PLACE!!!
When Seimei comes to the door after her knocking, it's very apparent that the god has been fretting with stupid thoughts-- like "what if he doesn't like floral tones" or "what if he doesn't like cheese" and "WHAT IF I ACCIDENTALLY KILL ABE NO SEIMEI BECAUSE HE'S ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS?!". That sort of stuff.]
A-ah....! [Her eyes lock on him, and before he can say a word, Dara's thrusting the basket towards him as she bows the full 70° right there--]
I-I-I-I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR ALL THE TROUBLE I'VE CAUSED YOU!!! THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK!!!
[Girl, the neighbors are gonna call the cops. Nailed it. Also she is not going to be standing up straight anytime soon. Gotta show all the respect and sincerity!!!]
[ Ah, a knock on the door. That must be Dara, wonder what it is she wants to discu--uuuuuuuh??????
There's a very noticeable pause where Dara will just be left like that for a little bit while Seimei takes it in. Even back at court where anyone and everyone begging for his services had the means to outshine each other in terms of extravagance, this one woman and an overstuffed basket has to be one of the most enthusiastic thanks he's ever received.
Sooo maybe he should save her from it, considering she's still recovering and all and this can't be a comfortable position to keep for too long. He'll take the basket with little fanfare, stepping to the side to make room in the doorway. ]
Please, come inside. The entryway is a poor place to talk at any length.
[At the invitation, Dara finally rights herself.......with probably the most anxious uwu face ever. Mainly for the fact that Seimei didn't comment on the basket yet still took it. Does it suit his tastes? She has no clue.
A true 180°, the god's lips are sealed while giving another lightning-quick bow as confirmation. Unfortunately, she cannot control the effect of her divine presence, and Seimei will feel the air pressure shift when she passes the threshold; her "territory" expands into the boundary of his home. Which is why Dara lingers briefly just in case he wants her to leave.]
Sorry for disturbing you...
[She may only have 2 arms visible, but they make up the amount of awkward fidgeting for the 4 other suppressed hands. And of course she will be extremely obedient in following any directions Seimei gives.]
[ Dara's order to give flowers to Seimei was pretty vague wasn't it? One evening Seimei is going to receive a perky knock on his door! Should he open the door he won't see anyone there immediately but there will be a vase of pretty flowers. Oh, how nice. A bunch of orange lilies and red spider lilies, oh... still nice?
Better watch out though. There are shards of glass carefully placed in the arrangement. ]
Special delivery!
[ Oh there he is- already part way away from the door but paused to wave an arm around and cheer at a distance. ]
[ Sometimes he misses having attendants for things like this, but some things need to be seen to be believed.
Like the audacity on display here.
Seimei takes a good few moments to look at the vase on his doorstep, then at the supposed deliveryman a safe distance away. He raises his hand, nice and slow enough for it to be a casual wave of acknowledgement or something, until only two fingers are up and cutting a horizontal line in the air.
Gogol will feel his muscles tighten, straining as they all lock against each other, rendering him stiff and still as Seimei takes his sweet time picking up the vase and bringing it over to where Gogol is standing. ]
[ Wow gotta love this development! Sure is a confusing one at that. For the record he does tries to push against his tightening muscles to no avail. He can only assume it might have something to do with that gesture cut through the air a second ago. ]
I'm making a delivery on behalf of someone else is all! Since I'm just the delivery guy you should file any complaints you have with someone who is not me. I'm only doing exactly what was asked, y'know?
[ If it's anything sinister, he can't imagine asking 'who' would get him a straight answer just yet. Then again, there's no guarantee this will be any clearer, but, we take our chances how we see fit. ]
[The river runs red, but in Seimei's eyes, the water's tinged with black currents like oil rising to the surface. His guess about the emulsion's contamination source would be correct-- just like all the times that Dara has run into some emotional turmoil. They must stop meeting like this.
But unlike the previous encounters of her meditating beneath the falls, the curse god seems to be taking more active measures than just a simple cleansing bath. With several pumice stones occupying all her hands, she seems to be scrubbing viciously at her bare skin and scales. Her tail hardly takes a beating, but that can't be said about her upper body. Rivulets of blood stream from her body as she rubs and rubs, practically sloughing off skin before it immediately heals back to new.
Her expression does not seem pained at all. In fact, she looks disgusted to the point where she hurls a stone away with a mighty crack when it hits a tree. That same hand reaches down her throat to retrieve a knife from her insides, and the blade cuts smoothly through her gathered hair...which also ends up floating down the river.
Dissatisfied, Dara's unhappy ecpression persists while continuing her "cleansing" scrub.]
[ He harbors no judgement for the way they continue to meet. It isn't a kind existance, being a god of curses, as like is wont to attract like no matter how pleasant the woman herself is in contrast to her nature. Seeing to the care and comfort of the gods and the land they inhabit is just one part of his duties.
And, though he won't admit as much to himself just yet, seeing to someone in clear distress is what a friend does. He's only equipped with as much cleansing gear as he is on a day to day basis, the contents of his canvas bag instead largely being carefully chosen and wrapped food and drink. He can't be sure Dara will be in much of a mood to talk, but at the very least he can leave her even slightly better than he found her.
There's no attempt at hiding his steps when he approaches. Only the ever-serene presence and the silent question of if he is permitted closer once he's well enough within her eyesight. ]
[It's hard to miss Seimei's presence despite the amount of intense scrubbing to the majority of her body. Yet, it's that same presence that allows her to pause the desperate exfoliation process; the onmyoji is far more important than the amount of disgust she feels towards her contaminated self. Dara moves towards the shoreline while simultaneously sheathing her knife. No need for that right now. It rests atop a partially submerged boulder, and the rest of the rocks plop back into the water.]
Sorry for showing you all these low moments of mine, Seimei-sama.
[At least this apology is more mild compared to every other frantic one that he's had to experience. She is simply too tired mentally, which is another reason why the god refrains from transforming her tail. Well, it'd be no good either way since she's not sure where she dumped her clothes. Dara was kind of in a rush to de-clownify herself.]
This place seems bound and determined to create them.
[ If it's her respect of him that makes her discard the knife and rocks, he's grateful for it this time. Not only for the water's sake, but her own--continuously mutilating yourself in a fugue state like that for heaven knows how long isn't good for anyone, not even gods.
He tilts his head toward the shoreline, raising the bag as if that explains enough about his intentions. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forward dated to April
The pressure from his initial meeting with Dara is nothing compared to now. Any normal person would be crippled, gasping on the ground, or crying in pain. And the mist only grows darker, thickening with miasma the deeper he travels. Splintering trees, crumbling rocks, and a deep groaning begins to filter through the silence until he finally breaks through into the eye of the storm. Visibility clears but the miasma's strain remains.
At the center of it all is the expected curse god. Miasma pours off her skin and from the gaping hole in her torso; split from rib cage to abdomen, black blood spills from her gut accompanied with the sickening squelching and wet thuds of snakes creeping out from inside her. Dara's groans are of pain and despair. To be expected of someone who has survived evisceration. With her hair awry and levitating, it catches in the surrounding branches like a spider web while obscuring her face simultaneously. It's hard to tell if she's looking at him or preoccupied. Distracted with her tail lashing out against the trees and boulders. Two sets of arms seem to be trying to hold the incision closed, but it all continues to pour out. Her last two hands are obscured by her hair while pressed to her face.
With Seimei's appearance, the anguished noises die down...only for a low, echoing voice to resound:]
Sister...Sister...Did you take from me again? Where are they?
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Before setting off, though, he'll be making a simple protection charm for staving off miasma. No doubt she'd sense it under his clothes, but he sees no point in posturing and pretending it doesn't effect him at all when he could just be a little more comfortable and clear thinking in her chosen territory for an important summons
He should have made something stronger.
No doubt air thick with such profound hate is going to be squeezing at his head and his lungs long after he's gone, but he continues forward regardless. And the scene he finds is...disquieting. Gods are not invincible, but they are damn difficult to even scratch, and here lays one on her back gutted like a common fish. Just what in the world happened here...?
He doesn't approach any further than necessary, hands hidden in his sleeves just in case he needs to defend himself from a clouded, pain-drunk mind. ]
Dara-sama? Can you hear me?
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Then, a gurgling sound. Like someone trying to breathe through bubbles of blood and filled lungs. The god's thrashing tail stills its ruckus to lift herself up, slowly but surely, as if recognizing Seimei's voice. The hands desperately holding herself together visibly tighten with knuckles whitening while she looms above him. Dara speaks from beneath her curtain of hair, but her voice isn't along in its utterance:]
Seimei...sama...
Where Ẅ̸̢̡̛͙̖͈͚̭̩͕̹͇̝́͌͒̓̈́̿̀̀̑̍̓̅̑ḣ̸̡̢̝̫̗̜̦̞̲̭̤̣͒̊̆͊̌͝͝͝͠e̸̺̬̜̤̼͂̆́̾̆͜r̷͊̆̉̏͆͒͑̒̾ͅȩ̷̤̰̰̩̭͙̺͐̄́̎̚͝͝
are ị̷̛͈̯͋s̷̢̟̪̟͆
my M̴͎̪̞̜̘͋́́̃͝Ỷ̵͈̪̺̥̃̇
insides H̷̢̢̙̪͈̹̞͉̲̱̲̫̯̹͍̦̠̙̍̾́̐̈́̈́̏̀͆̆̉̕̚͜E̴͙̝̯̖͕̲̲͕͋A̴̳̖̟͍̲̲̯̙͍͇̫̩͍̻͕̘̥̠̓̉̑̋̌̿͊̒̊͜͝D̸͉͎̱̫͈̥̮͔͔͔̀͑̃́̋͂̈́̈́͊̌͆̎̓̓
...? ...?!
[It's not just miasma and viscera she's trying to hold in. Between the folds of skin, hands, and darkness...the gleaming eyes of snakes inside her seem to swirl and fuse. The collective melt together until one large, yellow eye fills the space where her intestines would be. The slitted pupil jerks this way and that, trying to peer through the cracks of Dara's being to take in the new world around it.]
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Though he doesn't like working without the why or the how, it doesn't look like time to get all that sorted out is a luxury he can afford here. Probably doesn't even have enough of it to go back and fetch more appropriate tools so he could have the time, but, not a lot of use in being frustrated about that right this second.
He'll need all the energy he can spare. ]
Dara-sama. I don't know what's happened to you, but you have my word I will do all I can to find out.
[ He doesn't approach her directly, not yet. Instead he starts walking in a slow, steady circle, occasionally bending down to grab up stones big enough to cover his palm and carefully wiping the earth from them. ]
All I need of you is to do as you have been. Do you understand?
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[To be ripped apart from the outside-in and to be eaten away inside-out. Of course it hurts, and it's immensely difficult to hold onto any bit of consciousness. Seimei's voice is a murky light reflecting off a dark sea, but it's just a little too late. If she could save one more person before fading...
Doubling-over, a heaving wave of ichor splashes against the cave's floor, and there's a pause in the flow of serpents born from her chest cavity; the only good sign when the stench of death thickens. Then, Dara lets out a rattling cough that echoes through the chamber before wretching outright. One last snake slips from her mouth and is made known when it emerges from the curtain of hair. Its scales match Seimei's guide, but it doesn't linger for him. Instead, it races for the exit to find its destined target.
Dara's last bit of willpower dissolves to the pain, and all six arms drop limp at her sides like a broken doll. Yamatagi Madara's eye practically spins with glee within the socket of her flesh before his gaze falls on Seimei.]
Ẇ̶̖̫͚̮̝͓̂͌̈̓̌h̴̡̗͚̤͆̕e̷͓̎̀͆r̸̺͕͕̅̋̆̓e̷̳͚̩̯̱͊̍ ̷̡̂d̸̨̞̗̓̔i̶̼̼͎̖̓d̸͍̠͇̹͕̳̈́͝ ̴͈̰̤̼̿͋͋͆͛́T̴͙͗H̷͎̙̊̎̌̅Ę̷̦̭͓͓̉̑͋̾̇Y̵̢̨̛͚͎̼̑ ̷̻̥̣̤̫̇ḧ̷̨͙̘̱͕̘̋̏i̵̥͎̗̠̘̓̄͐͊͜͝d̸̗̄̿ē̶̢̻̯̭̙̱͐̚ ̸͇̙̦̈́͊̀̆̕͝Ì̴̡̛͈̮̓͒͊T̵̯̄̃̿.̴͚͑̎́̈́̇.̶͎̠̬̳̏̀̅ͅͅ.̷̢̫͇̣̩̲͒̎̆͝͠!̸͓͕͝
W̷̡̲͔̺̰͖̎̀Ḥ̴̨̛̼̓̓̀́Ế̵̙̗̝̳̑Ṟ̸̳͕̭̦͕̈́E̵̯͙̬̜͇͚̒͑̇̄͠ ̸̹̽̆Í̵̳̝̲̣̐͂̿͋S̷̥̦͒ ̵̜̭̩̱̜̻̕͠M̷̳̺͗̈́͠Ỹ̶̨̢̨̟̗͚̓̚ ̷̢̨̳̥̭̯̔̃̈́H̵̪͙͎̗́͛̀ͅE̴̬̤̠̥̊͛̈́́͆Ȃ̵̲͙̤̣̝͓̽͝D̶͍̽͌͜?̸̌ͅ
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text; misfire — AU.
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???????
Well he has, so... ]
I have. What have you seen?
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Missing buildings as well. I could swear there were at least two more on the main strip.
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i think we're dreaming.
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me living in your inbox, getting the ball rolling [text]
Greetings, Abe no Seimei-sama.
I would like to request an audience with you whenever convenient.
To your good health,
Dara
[.........This girl may have written an essay, edited it 6x, and boiled it down to this simple message after several hours. IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE SHE'S HAD TO WRITE LETTERS TO HIGHER-UPS.]
you are the wind beneath my wings
It just so happens my afternoon and evening are free of any prior engagements.
My home is within view of the city's Easternmost road, in a roof lined with red. Please arrive at your leisure.
Abe no Seimei
[ While typing isn't too hard to figure out, it's still weird, so maybe Dara can attribute the brevity to that.
Or maybe he is just Like That. ]
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When Seimei comes to the door after her knocking, it's very apparent that the god has been fretting with stupid thoughts-- like "what if he doesn't like floral tones" or "what if he doesn't like cheese" and "WHAT IF I ACCIDENTALLY KILL ABE NO SEIMEI BECAUSE HE'S ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS?!". That sort of stuff.]
A-ah....! [Her eyes lock on him, and before he can say a word, Dara's thrusting the basket towards him as she bows the full 70° right there--]
I-I-I-I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR ALL THE TROUBLE I'VE CAUSED YOU!!! THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK!!!
[
Girl, the neighbors are gonna call the cops.Nailed it. Also she is not going to be standing up straight anytime soon. Gotta show all the respect and sincerity!!!]no subject
There's a very noticeable pause where Dara will just be left like that for a little bit while Seimei takes it in. Even back at court where anyone and everyone begging for his services had the means to outshine each other in terms of extravagance, this one woman and an overstuffed basket has to be one of the most enthusiastic thanks he's ever received.
Sooo maybe he should save her from it, considering she's still recovering and all and this can't be a comfortable position to keep for too long. He'll take the basket with little fanfare, stepping to the side to make room in the doorway. ]
Please, come inside. The entryway is a poor place to talk at any length.
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A true 180°, the god's lips are sealed while giving another lightning-quick bow as confirmation. Unfortunately, she cannot control the effect of her divine presence, and Seimei will feel the air pressure shift when she passes the threshold; her "territory" expands into the boundary of his home. Which is why Dara lingers briefly just in case he wants her to leave.]
Sorry for disturbing you...
[She may only have 2 arms visible, but they make up the amount of awkward fidgeting for the 4 other suppressed hands. And of course she will be extremely obedient in following any directions Seimei gives.]
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accidental text | un: unknown
saadajidj
gdsgdsdsg
gsd
sssssssssssssss
,lkj,kj,
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Is this meant to be comprehensible?
Sometime after he was compelled to do this
Better watch out though. There are shards of glass carefully placed in the arrangement. ]
Special delivery!
[ Oh there he is- already part way away from the door but paused to wave an arm around and cheer at a distance. ]
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Like the audacity on display here.
Seimei takes a good few moments to look at the vase on his doorstep, then at the supposed deliveryman a safe distance away. He raises his hand, nice and slow enough for it to be a casual wave of acknowledgement or something, until only two fingers are up and cutting a horizontal line in the air.
Gogol will feel his muscles tighten, straining as they all lock against each other, rendering him stiff and still as Seimei takes his sweet time picking up the vase and bringing it over to where Gogol is standing. ]
Why are you here?
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I'm making a delivery on behalf of someone else is all! Since I'm just the delivery guy you should file any complaints you have with someone who is not me. I'm only doing exactly what was asked, y'know?
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[ If it's anything sinister, he can't imagine asking 'who' would get him a straight answer just yet. Then again, there's no guarantee this will be any clearer, but, we take our chances how we see fit. ]
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sometime after Sha-Ming's post, cw self-harm
But unlike the previous encounters of her meditating beneath the falls, the curse god seems to be taking more active measures than just a simple cleansing bath. With several pumice stones occupying all her hands, she seems to be scrubbing viciously at her bare skin and scales. Her tail hardly takes a beating, but that can't be said about her upper body. Rivulets of blood stream from her body as she rubs and rubs, practically sloughing off skin before it immediately heals back to new.
Her expression does not seem pained at all. In fact, she looks disgusted to the point where she hurls a stone away with a mighty crack when it hits a tree. That same hand reaches down her throat to retrieve a knife from her insides, and the blade cuts smoothly through her gathered hair...which also ends up floating down the river.
Dissatisfied, Dara's unhappy ecpression persists while continuing her "cleansing" scrub.]
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And, though he won't admit as much to himself just yet, seeing to someone in clear distress is what a friend does. He's only equipped with as much cleansing gear as he is on a day to day basis, the contents of his canvas bag instead largely being carefully chosen and wrapped food and drink. He can't be sure Dara will be in much of a mood to talk, but at the very least he can leave her even slightly better than he found her.
There's no attempt at hiding his steps when he approaches. Only the ever-serene presence and the silent question of if he is permitted closer once he's well enough within her eyesight. ]
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Sorry for showing you all these low moments of mine, Seimei-sama.
[At least this apology is more mild compared to every other frantic one that he's had to experience. She is simply too tired mentally, which is another reason why the god refrains from transforming her tail. Well, it'd be no good either way since she's not sure where she dumped her clothes. Dara was kind of in a rush to de-clownify herself.]
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[ If it's her respect of him that makes her discard the knife and rocks, he's grateful for it this time. Not only for the water's sake, but her own--continuously mutilating yourself in a fugue state like that for heaven knows how long isn't good for anyone, not even gods.
He tilts his head toward the shoreline, raising the bag as if that explains enough about his intentions. ]
Sit with me?
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