text

[trustheart]

From: Ishtar
When: March 5th [frontdated]

... So I went to sleep last night, and found myself home. Went through a whole couple months, a bunch of shit happened, and then I wake up here again after it's all over. Kinda feeling jerked around a bit, but what's happened has happened.

Anyway, I've been hearing prayers from people whose relationships are in trouble lately, and if this place is going to insist I be a love goddess, then I guess I'd better do something about it. Problem is, the soulless shinki this place assigned me and I haven't been getting on at all, and considering it's been a few months since I saw him from my perspective, I don't think it'd be a good idea to try and force it.

This isn't easy to admit, but if I'm gonna do this, I need help. Would anyone be willing to help me stake out the Tokyo Museum for a few nights? There's definitely ayakashi involved, so I definitely know I shouldn't go it alone.

Comments

[trustheart]

That's right. I haven't been here long, even though it's been a few months from my perspective since I first saw this place.

[unlucky7]

Welcome, I guess. I've heard about people falling asleep for long periods of time. Shinki also sometimes remember things through dreams. What you experienced must be linked to all that.

Tokyo Museum, there's a new exhibit on dolls there, right?

[trustheart]

I went to bed, woke up back home, spent a few months there, fought some bad guys, and woke up here again when it was all over, and it was "the next morning" for everyone else here. I'm not saying you're wrong but it feels like something that should have happened after I'd been here a lot longer. [That sound you hear is the fourth wall creaking under the weight of Chris's semi-aware critique of her mun's creative decisions.] And yeah. Except someone left them up after the third. You'd think in a place that gets the kind of problems this one does someone would f@#$ing know better.

[unlucky7]

Whatever weirdness happens here waits for no one. You have my condolences though.

Even if the holiday is past, I get why the museum still has the exhibit up. Gives everyone a chance to see it and all. Good draw to the museum. But humans don't notice ayakashi so if a lot of break ups happen, no one is going to blame the dolls or museum.

I have some business I need to handle at the museum . If you want to clear out ayakashi or any other problems there, sounds like we're working toward a common goal.

[trustheart]

... I guess that makes sense, but that doesn't mean you ignore tradition. Even when it's more superstition. It's asking for trouble. [Chris may or may not be the type who gets scared by ghosts and scary stories in real life.] ... So you'll help. Good. I figure I'll keep watch over several nights, until the exhibit gets taken down, but you don't gotta be there for all of 'em. Sound good?

[unlucky7]

A lot of things ask for trouble, on the Near and Far.

No need to watch over several nights if you take care of the source of the problem. If it's an ayakashi, a rending will take care of things. Unless you think there's more going on?

[trustheart]

I just prefer to be thorough. If I make sure to stake it out I can make sure whether or not "something more" is the case or not. That's one of the things they taught me back home, you never leave right away after finishing a mission.

[unlucky7]

I can respect that. Military background?

[trustheart]

Sort of but not exactly. I can't talk about any specifics, cuz it's classified. But I know I also can't ignore my powers here so not giving any context is probably a bad idea.

[unlucky7]

You'd be surprised what people keep to themselves here. I'm not going to ask for specifics on what you can do unless you think there's something I need to know in advance for a fight.

[trustheart]

I'll give you a rough run down of my tactical abilities when we get started tomorrow. Just promise not to try and reverse engineer them or anything. ... That last bit was a joke, by the way. But seriously, don't.

[unlucky7]

Now you have me intrigued, but all right, I won't.

By the way, what's your actual name? Unless you want to go by Ishtar.

[trustheart]

Chris Yukine. Call me Chris, and Chris-san or Mrs. Chris if you feel the need to be formal, but that doesn't seem like your style. And yourself?

[unlucky7]

Nice to meet you, Chris.

I'm Ginia. Just Ginia. In the service of Alex Benedetto, the goddess Oshun. She's also a love goddess so I'm used to love-related prayers.

[trustheart]

I see. If you're okay with this team up being a one time thing, I understand, if you don't want to take on too many responsibilities.

[unlucky7]

Speaking plainly, I get your reasoning why you don't want to work with your soulless shinki, getting yanked around is rough for someone new, and you seem sincere in wanting to do good. So I'm willing to help out a good cause.

But I don't know you and you don't know me. Maybe this job won't work out between us. If that's the case, no harm, you release my name, we go our separate ways. Maybe we don't even need a naming, maybe a few borderlines and splashes of blessed water can shoo the problem away.

There's weight behind names, the emotional connection and all. Who you serve and what you stand for and all. Let's see how this goes.

[trustheart]

That makes sense. You can't just put your faith in someone like that. It needs to be earned. I'm perfectly fine with this arrangement.

[unlucky7]

Like I said, we'll see how it goes. If things work out, maybe keeping the name won't be a problem.

What time are we meeting tomorrow?

[trustheart]

When the museum closes their doors. Looks like that's at 8:00 PM.

[unlucky7]

Sounds good. I'm going to show up a little early to get a look at the layout.

[trustheart]

Good idea. I'll see you then?

[unlucky7]

See you then.