[D1 LM, A Tiny Shrine] Blowin' in the Wind

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

There always was one somewhere... it took Karasu-san's assistance, but Myo-en found it, a tiny shrine no bigger than a child's playhouse tucked into a prosperous alley near the western gate. Beneath the snowy roof shingles where the crow thumps down to a showier-than necessary landing, four weathered stone images shelter: lesser Fortunes, the Guardians of the Four Winds. Myo-en burrows her hands into the loose sleeves of her padded jacket and produces a small cache of dried fruit, which she arranges in front of each of the statues--it isn't polite to be too partial, after all--but with a slightly bigger pile, augmented with a piece of dried mochi, set out before grim Tamon of the North Wind.

She claps her hands and bows her head, lips moving silently. The crow hops to the edge of the shrine roof and eyes the dried fruit, but restrains itself... for now.

Bayushi Setsuna · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:17 am **Posts:** 201

Setsuna was going about their day of plotting vengeance when they spotted a woman, a monk, loitering in a shrine. At least, that's what it appeared to be, until Setsuna's masked eyes were better able to catch the fruit.

Of course, that meant the Bayushi was now closer. Rather than say hello, as was courteous and ordinary, the Bayushi merely observed.

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

The monk's weight shifts subtly on her feet in a way that suggests she's aware someone else is nearby, but she doesn't break off her prayer. The crow, whose religious observance is both more continuous and more casual, does react to Setsuna's arrival, resettling itself on the edge of the shrine roof with a small shower of snow and fixing the Scorpion with one beady black eye.

After a few long moments, the monk bows reverently and steps back, only turning away from the little shrine once she's properly in the alleyway once more. Then she bows more shallowly to Setsuna, left hand over right fist. Gods before mortals, right? "Good morning, Scorpion-san."

Bayushi Setsuna · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:17 am **Posts:** 201

The Bayushi dipped their head too in a bit of prayer, a bit of reverence. Perhaps it was not wise to be flippant with the divine. Well, at least too flippant.

With all that pomp and circumstance complete, Setsuna mimics the bowing style for some reason. "Greetings," they replied with a peppiness unlike their own demeanor. They step forward, staring at the bird...

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

It is an exceptionally large crow, and resplendently glossy. Surely a kuge among crows... or something. It also has a twist of bright red yarn looped around its neck, almost like the red cotton that might be used to hang a prayer tabled or amulet at a shrine.

The crow seems quite aware of Setsuna's interest. It preens a bit.

Myo-en watches the interaction, the corner of her mouth quirking upward.

Bayushi Setsuna · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:17 am **Posts:** 201

"Eh... this crow is not simply random then?" Setsuna pondered out loud. They turned back to the Togashi then stood upright. Clearly they were not to be made a fool out of by a bird. "How long has this bird been your follower?"

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

"Two years, nearly enough." Myo-en chuckles softly to herself. "Is anything that happens truly random, though, Scorpion-san?"

The crow grumbles in its throat and hops from the edge of the shrine roof, gliding down onto the small altar. It watches Setsuna out of one eye, while the other eye inspects the tasty-looking dried fruit.

Bayushi Setsuna · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:17 am **Posts:** 201

"Perhaps 'unplanned' is the better word then, Togashi-sama." Setsuna turned away from the crow as seemingly all interest had passed. "Am I going to hear a proverbial speech about that word too?"

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

"Unplanned..." Myo-en considers the word solemnly. "If something is unplanned, that does suggest a planner. Or many planners. If nothing else, my friend here would have planned to land on this shrine before acting. Not least because it planned to eat some of those apricots." She arches a brow at the bird, which fluffs its feathers with an innocent air.

Bayushi Setsuna · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:17 am **Posts:** 201

"How about... Expect?" Setsuna interlaced their fingers together, fidgeting afterwards. They stared, perhaps glared, at the Togashi through the eye slots of their mask. "Is a bird eating your offerings a bad omen?"

Asahime · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 2:55 am **Posts:** 27

A cat comes walking down the street and stops a good distance from the shrine. Nothing to see here.

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

"Usually, no." Myo-en shrugs. "Birds are messengers. The gods don't mind if their emissaries keep their bellies filled."

The crow's black beak darts out to seize a piece of fruit... then a second piece, without even swallowing the first. It hops off the altar and flaps back up into the eaves of the shrine to enjoy its snack with vicious enthusiasm, making a soft hoarse rattling sound.

"I am Myo-en, by the way. A monk of the Togashi order."

Bayushi Setsuna · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:17 am **Posts:** 201

"Is that so? I am fortunate to have a monk to educate me indeed." Setsuna glanced at the shrine and then back to the Togashi for any signs of recognition.

"Bayushi Setsuna," the Scorpion grunted. They then gave another bow, this one with hands in front of their legs instead of at their side.

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

"Good morning to you, Bayushi Setsuna." The monk's alert black eyes survey the Scorpion's well-dressed but almost aggressively androgynous form. Some people, woman or man, became terribly offended if you misidentified them as the complimentary gender, but surely in this case the ambiguity has to be deliberate. Doesn't it?

"On a day of dangerous travel, did you also come seeking the Guardians of the Four Winds?" Setsuna is surely too neat and well-rested to be a refugee arrived this morning, but he... they? might share Myo-en's worry for those still on the road.

Bayushi Setsuna · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:17 am **Posts:** 201

The Bayushi rocked on their heels, hands behind their back, as if in thought. "I cannot say I planned on coming to this shrine this morning. But surely it came to mind."

Asahime · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 2:55 am **Posts:** 27

The cat takes a few steps closer and meows.

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

"I won't stand between you and the Fortunes, Bayushi-san." Myo-en rolls her shoulders and steps a little further out of the way, straw shoes scrunching in the thin dry snow at the edge of the swept dirt of the alley. "If you--"

But the cat's cry distracts from whatever other pleasantry she meant to add. "Hello... sorry, I don't eat fish or fowl, little one. I have no snacks you would like." Dark eyes regard the creature bemusedly, then slide back to Setsuna. "Friend of yours, Bayushi-san? Or else it's time to pay our respects to the neighborhood committee, maybe."

Asahime · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 2:55 am **Posts:** 27

The cat glances at the Togashi, but its eyes fixate on the Scorpion as its tail twitches.

Bayushi Setsuna · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:17 am **Posts:** 201

"I cannot claim this one as my friend but I will not deny its potential as one." Setsuna crouched down, offering their hand to the cat. Certainly not a dangerous prospect.

Togashi Myo-en · **Joined:** Mon Apr 06, 2020 4:27 am **Posts:** 418

"A sage presumes on no one but is generous to everyone." That seems to indicate approval? Myo-en crosses her arms to tuck her hands inside the sleeves of her jacket, watching cat and Scorpion with detached curiosity.

The sharp clack of a beak can be heard up under the eaves of the small shrine, as a crumb of dried apricot falls down to the stone paving below.

[D1 LM, A Tiny Shrine] Blowin' in the Wind

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