![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[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?
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. ]
Dara-sama? Can you hear me?
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?
[Silence again.
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.]
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?
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?
It hurts.
[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?̸̌ͅ
[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?̸̌ͅ
[ Shit.
The only answer the voice gets is fast, fervent chanting beneath Seimei's breath. Sparks crackle where muscled snake tail meet the ground, the chant stoking them into a proper flame as it continues, white-hot, filling the cave with a harsh blue light. A simple exorcism without any tools other than his voice and his will doesn't stand a chance of actually putting down a god, he doesn't think, but he'll have a better chance at collecting just a few more stones to make a rudimentary barrier if he can hurt this thing enough to keep it still for a few moments.
There's no way he can immediately see to keep this from harming Dara as well, but he's hoping he made the right judgement call in assuming she'd be fine with doing whatever it takes. ]
The only answer the voice gets is fast, fervent chanting beneath Seimei's breath. Sparks crackle where muscled snake tail meet the ground, the chant stoking them into a proper flame as it continues, white-hot, filling the cave with a harsh blue light. A simple exorcism without any tools other than his voice and his will doesn't stand a chance of actually putting down a god, he doesn't think, but he'll have a better chance at collecting just a few more stones to make a rudimentary barrier if he can hurt this thing enough to keep it still for a few moments.
There's no way he can immediately see to keep this from harming Dara as well, but he's hoping he made the right judgement call in assuming she'd be fine with doing whatever it takes. ]
[When the purifying flame sets upon the monster, it lets out a screech of the merged voices. The blasted noise is practically deafening as it bounces of the cave's walls. Unfortunately, it does the exact opposite of what Seimei wants-- the cursed god whips its tail about blindly, toppling stalagmites and shaking the earth with heavy strikes. It's all it can do before it begins to acclimate to the exorcism.
The miasma thickens around Yamatagi Madara, snuffing out the light with pure darkness. Maybe if he wielded a blade and binding talismans this could of went differently. Instead, the screeching transforms into a high cackle, and the puppet-like Dara throws her head back unveiling her face; mouth spread wide with fangs glistening and five unfocused eyes opened as slits.]
A̷̡͎̬͔͗̓͆͋͒n̸̹̖̱̘̗̂̂̇̊o̴͓̺̞̝̫̍̂͊̆̋t̴̛̤̭͕̩̪̖̎̉̆̅̓h̵͕̻̤̝͚̳͂͐͗e̶̞̾͊̓̌́̇ŗ̷̻̑͑̿̋͗̋ ̵̯͓̚p̵̦͐̎̚e̷̢̬̊͛͠s̸̬̣͌k̵͓̫̻̆̍̚͜ý̸̜̗͔̃̒̑ ̸̝̓̈́̉̿͝f̴̧̮͈̟̹̼̿͆l̸͉̯̰̞͆̓̍ȳ̴͚̘͖͎̻!̸̥͖̞͇͂͘͘͝
The miasma thickens around Yamatagi Madara, snuffing out the light with pure darkness. Maybe if he wielded a blade and binding talismans this could of went differently. Instead, the screeching transforms into a high cackle, and the puppet-like Dara throws her head back unveiling her face; mouth spread wide with fangs glistening and five unfocused eyes opened as slits.]
A̷̡͎̬͔͗̓͆͋͒n̸̹̖̱̘̗̂̂̇̊o̴͓̺̞̝̫̍̂͊̆̋t̴̛̤̭͕̩̪̖̎̉̆̅̓h̵͕̻̤̝͚̳͂͐͗e̶̞̾͊̓̌́̇ŗ̷̻̑͑̿̋͗̋ ̵̯͓̚p̵̦͐̎̚e̷̢̬̊͛͠s̸̬̣͌k̵͓̫̻̆̍̚͜ý̸̜̗͔̃̒̑ ̸̝̓̈́̉̿͝f̴̧̮͈̟̹̼̿͆l̸͉̯̰̞͆̓̍ȳ̴͚̘͖͎̻!̸̥͖̞͇͂͘͘͝
[ Of course it wouldn't be that easy. At the very least he's got some momentum started up and plenty of willpower left to make this a war of attrition.
And if that isn't enough by itself, he can always improvise.
If there's enough cave to improvise in by the end of this as well. There's an idea, though, hm. He'll get some quick distance between himself and the grotesque puppet, keeping a quiet, calm count to himself as he maneuvers around fallen stone. One...two...three...four...five...six...seven...eight.
And he begins the same chant again. How pesky can he be, Yamatagi Madara? Will you swat him? ]
And if that isn't enough by itself, he can always improvise.
If there's enough cave to improvise in by the end of this as well. There's an idea, though, hm. He'll get some quick distance between himself and the grotesque puppet, keeping a quiet, calm count to himself as he maneuvers around fallen stone. One...two...three...four...five...six...seven...eight.
And he begins the same chant again. How pesky can he be, Yamatagi Madara? Will you swat him? ]
̵̺̗̿Y̷̟̾ô̸͕̓ú̷͕̙̌'̴͕͝ͅr̵̘̂e̸̙̹͐ ̷̌ͅo̷̩̝̽̚n̴̩̈̕l̸̪̥͊͐y̷̤̖̓ ̴̲͝P̶͈͇̈́R̵͓͎̕O̵̱͋͠L̸͎͐O̵͇͆N̸̝̅Ĝ̷̩İ̵̟̳̍N̶͈͊͠G̴̱̹̈́̒ ̵͈̘̔ŷ̷͕̂o̵͕̓̂ṷ̶̀r̴͇̹̍̋ ̶̝̿̕D̸̉E̷̛͓M̴͎͂I̶̢̟͑͋S̵̪͍̀͂È̴̗!̶͈̔
[The downside to being a giant snake god is the fact that there's less room in the cave to lash out. Seimei has the terrain advantage even if Yamatagi Madara's tail keeps the ground quaking and rocks continue to topple as it whips around. Nevertheless, Dara had previously warned him that the god was a cunning bastard; if bludgeoning doesn't work due to inaccuracy, then a different method must be used.
There's an audible crack as Dara's jaw splits apart at her chin, and she lunges at him with all six arms ready to capture the onmyouji. A grapple will spell the death of him, especially when her mouth ends up opening wide enough that she could cleave his head in one bite.]
[The downside to being a giant snake god is the fact that there's less room in the cave to lash out. Seimei has the terrain advantage even if Yamatagi Madara's tail keeps the ground quaking and rocks continue to topple as it whips around. Nevertheless, Dara had previously warned him that the god was a cunning bastard; if bludgeoning doesn't work due to inaccuracy, then a different method must be used.
There's an audible crack as Dara's jaw splits apart at her chin, and she lunges at him with all six arms ready to capture the onmyouji. A grapple will spell the death of him, especially when her mouth ends up opening wide enough that she could cleave his head in one bite.]
[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.]
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.]
Dara-sama,
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. ]
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. ]
["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!!!]
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!!!
[
Page 1 of 3