Video: Heavens BBS

[kagenonadeshiko]

From: Ayumu Yamazaki
Date: September 22nd

[In all the time that Ayumu's resided on the Far Shore, both as a goddess and a shinki, she's never once started her own thread on the BBS. It's very rare for her to even comment and it wasn't until her tenure as a shinki that she bothered to check it occasionally. She's deeply uncomfortable with using modern technology outside of emergency situations unless it involves browsing cute animal pictures and videos.

So for Ayumu to put her aversion aside long enough to make a post, it has to be for something really damn important to her. And this announcement is.

As soon as the video starts, it shows Ayumu seated at the kitchen table. She's wearing a long sleeved blouse with a high collar and her hair's loose but been neatly brushed. Usually, her body language radiates confidence and self-assurance but today, she's hugging her arms in an unusual display of shyness and uncertainty.

It takes her a few moments to start speaking; the view wavers back and forth briefly as she reaches out to adjust her phone, trying to get it properly centered for her recording. Once satisfied, she breaks out into a bright, cheerful smile and starts talking in a rather animated fashion.]

Hello! I hope everyone is having a good day. My name is Yamazaki Ayumu. Some of you may know me as Hakkai-sama's exemplar but many of you I have yet to meet.

[She gives a slight self-deprecating laugh before continuing.]

I'm making this video to inform you all of a personal project of mine that I'm working on. I'm sure that most of you know that a shinki's life can be an unstable and unpredictable one as their gods and homes vanish can vanish without warning. I believe the solution to this problem is to build community resources outside the gods they are bound to.

[The longer Ayumu talks about this, the more confident and passionate she seems. There's a slight sparkle of excitement in her good eye. She reaches for something out of view and there's the sound of papers rustling before Ayumu is replaced with a close up of a somewhat clumsily drawn but surprisingly detailed sketch of an idyllic temple. Kairi might recognize it as the one she'd spent time cleaning up but Ayumu added cutesy little doodles of what are presumably supposed to be happy, carefree shinki frolicking with cats and other animals.]

This is the Community Home for Lost Shinki, a shelter designed to provide a safe sanctuary for any shinki who finds themselves suddenly bereft of their god or feels unsafe in the service of the god they've been assigned to. My goal is to lessen the anxiety of shinki who are uncertain or uncomfortable about their future here on the Far Shore.

[There's a brief pause as another idea occurs to her on the spot. Oh, she should sell the potential benefits to the new gods as well, shouldn't she? Her tone becomes very grave and serious as she goes on.]

It will also ease the strain on gods who are unfit or unwilling to be responsible for a shinki. As I'm sure many of us are aware, none of us have arrived here of our own free will. But it's imperative that we cope and manage the best we can in this situation as a community.

[Ayumu pulls the drawing back and she's visible again, a genuine, sweet smile on her face. This is the essence of who she is - a woman who's dedicated her life to the service of others.]

As a member of this community, I propose a charity event to raise funds for this project. Perhaps a swap meet?

['Swap meet' comes out a little awkwardly on her tongue; it's not as unfamiliar as it was when she first heard but it's still a relatively new phrase and concept to her. The video cuts off here rather abruptly. Maybe she ran out of recording time?]

Comments

text, from: Davesprite

[redotiertwo]

[redotiertwo]

ok but seriously this is a cool idea
i know a ton of people whove gotten fucked over by the whole no god thing
if you want musical entertainment for your charity event i can play free of charge
good cause and all

text

[kagenonadeshiko]

thank you.
music sounds like a wonderful idea.
can i ask what that creature is called?

[For all of Ayumu's browsing for cute animal pictures to look at, she's never seen an animal like this before and it's adorable. Shinki in the modern age or not, she'll always be old fashioned when it comes to learning.]

text, from: Nekhbet

[revolutionfalcon]

Do you have plans on how to protect the temple you're using? This kind of thing is something we've needed for a while, but a group of unnamed shinki in one place could attract ayakashi. It might be worth setting up patrols or something in the area before it becomes a problem.

text

[kagenonadeshiko]

i agree.
the soulless shinki temple is vulnerable.
if there's enough manpower, routine patrols and posting sentries would be wise.
i know very little about the mystical
but if it exists, perhaps a magical barrier.

[revolutionfalcon]

I'd be willing to help with patrols, since I do broader ones anyway. One of my shinki had a close call while she was unnamed because of an ayakashi coming after her, so I'll talk to her about coming with me to make sure it doesn't happen to these shinki.

You'd have to look into that more, because I've never heard of anything like it here before. But the library in the Heavens might have information on magic like that if you can find it.

video;

[hellskitchen]

[ More than enough people have been warning him about the very real possibility, of being either disowned by his god, or having them disappear on him. So Ayumu's video definitely catches his attention. If there could be a place that misplaced shinki could go and be safe, he supports it.

So have a teenage boy smiling from a way too close camera angle.]

That's an awesome idea! I'm not good at many things, but I would like to help you gather funds. If you're going to have a swap meet, you gotta have food. Shopping makes people hungry!

video;

[kagenonadeshiko]

[The video gets a chuckle out of Ayumu. Boys at that age are just the cutest thing sometimes. It takes a bit for her to reply but when she does, her attire's slightly changed. Now she's wearing an apron and a kerchief over her hair as she gets ready to start cooking dinner for herself and your junior shinki. She beams back.]

Thank you! I'd really appreciate that. Ah! There was something else I heard about.... I think it's called a 'bake sale'? Maybe that could be a part of it, too.

[Ayumu's not sure how well that's go over since technically none of them has to eat but the boxes of cookies she's been making with her junior shinki have been going fast.]

I gather you cook, too?

[It's always a pleasure to meet fellow cooks!]

video;

[hellskitchen]

Bake sale? Yeah that's a good idea. I'm not really big on sweets, but if it's appetizing enough, i'll sure people will buy it. Especially girls.

[ They didn't need to eat, but that hasn't stopped Rin from chowing down. Maybe it makes him feel as if he's closer to the living by eating. You eat to sustain your life. Maybe he's trying to do the same with this second chance.]

I believe I am. While I'm in the kitchen, some things seem almost like second nature. Although, I still make mistakes, it's nice to learn from them and get better. Plus, I like eating, so it works out to know how to cook for yourself.

voice, from: Takumi

[tacomeme]

This is an ingenious idea, actually. I'm constantly worried about what will happen to my Shinki if something happens to me... the fact that the Heavens didn't already have measures in mind other then just reassigning them IF a new god arrives always bothered me.

voice

[kagenonadeshiko]

Thank you. I was a little surprised, too, that there wasn't anything like it already in place. It seems like such a major oversight!

[Lacking foresight seems to be a recurring problem with those in charge, it seems.]

But that's all the more reason to take care of the problem ourselves, isn't it?

voice

[tacomeme]

It's not like we have a choice in being here, so we might as well regulate ourselves. If you need any help setting this up I'm willing.

(Text - From: Dali)

[stonebird]

I support you wholeheartedly and I offer my temple for any who need shelter no matter the reasoning. I will not inquire. The heavens know I have the room to spare!

text

[kagenonadeshiko]

thank you very much!
that is a very kind offer.
i'm sure it will come in quite handy.
kairi-san and i've worked hard to clean up the place but i fear it will be some time yet before it can truly be considered a home.

video

[waitingforhope]

Is that sort of thing...really that large of a concern?

[She wasn't doubting, but merely inquiring. Her own experiences with god-shinki pairings thus far, both her own and those of her closest relationships, seemed to be mainly positive. Although she did think back to what Goten said about his current god not being his first...and she started to wonder....]

video

[kagenonadeshiko]

I'm afraid so. I've often heard tales of gods and temples disappearing without a trace, leaving their shinki homeless. I've personally met a number of shinki this has happened to. Not only once for some.

[Ayumu's expression tenses with worry, her eyebrows furrowing.]

It's appalling. This is a vulnerable world for a shinki. Without gods, we have no shelter or means of providing for ourselves on our own. Some of us cannot defend ourselves at all unless we are bound to someone.

[She sighs deeply, looking almost sorrowful. It's not an act to gain sympathy; these issues have been weighing heavily on her mind since she first arrived.]

We have limited freedom.

video

[waitingforhope]

How awful.

[Her lips pressed together in a tight, grim expression. Mind flashing back to the remaining survivors of Earth, and unable to shake the potential parallel. In terms of homelessness and inability to defend, in certain instances.]

I'd like to contribute however I can. My temple isn't very large, but the fields surrounding it are always open for anyone who wishes to stop by.

Video

[clothes_make_the_man]

That's a wonderful idea! If there's anything I can do to help, I'd be happy to lend a hand.

Video

[kagenonadeshiko]

Thanks, Forrest-sama.

[Ayumu's smile is bright if a little shy. There is one thing that she can think of that he could help with once things are underway. It's been a rather dire concern of hers in her early days after all.]

The temple is in need of some repairs still but if you could assist by providing clothing to those in need, it would be a great contribution. It'd be an opportunity to show off your talents, too.

Video

[clothes_make_the_man]

I'd be happy to. Just because these shinki don't have a god to pair with or a permanent home to live in doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to look and feel their best.

[If there's one thing Forrest has strong feelings about, it's that.]

action

[kokuyoyo]

[Chikusa is really only stopping by this time around but he... can't help but notice something. So it's as Ayumu finishes up her video that he makes his presence known.]

There are.... numbers on a lot of the stuff here...

action

[kagenonadeshiko]

[Ayumu's grown so accustomed to having the boys around lately, she doesn't even blink when Chikusa wanders into the kitchen. It's become every bit as ordinary of an occurrence as the household pets roaming throughout the temple. She simply closes her phone and sets it aside, turning toward his voice.]

Yes, they're price tags. I'm preparing for a sale.

video

[nopixiedust]

That's a great idea!

[And there what appears to be a young girl on the screen, beaming.]

Hey- Archer told me about you! I'm Wendy!

video

[kagenonadeshiko]

Oh, Wendy-san! It's nice to meet you. Archer-san mentioned you as well.

[He'd also warned her about Wendy's condition as well, hence Ayumu's use of an honorific more suited to someone older than her apparent age. The smile on her face is one she'd give a peer rather than a junior as well. For all of Ayumu's suspicion and difficulty adjusting to things that are unfamiliar, she's taking this particular idiosyncrasy pretty well.]

I believe he mentioned that you had something in mind that he was helping you with?

Text

[light_of_willpower]

[It's taken him a few days to respond to this post, mostly because he's been giving it thought. Hakkai had warned Trunks, and been a helpful teacher so far, but there was still so much going on he didn't know. Nor had any easy way to find out, given he was still trying to relearn things he clearly knew how to do but couldn't remember.]

It's a nice idea, Ms. Yamazaki. Given the inherent power-differential between gods and shinki though, what resources will the shelter have to prevent retribution? What's to stop a God from simply recalling their Shinki, or taking them from the temple?

I'm lucky, as I have a good relationship with my own Goddess. We're fairly united in our ideals and goals, and she views it as part of her responsibility to take good care of me. But I'm aware not everyone has that luxury--so more than simply providing shelter, what steps for security and aid are being taken?

I'm hoping you and Hakkai have thought about this, since he's been helpful to me before. If not, I wanted to make sure the idea was brought up.

Thank you.