HEAVEN'S BBS | VIDEO

[socials]

Posted: 11 July
From: Izanagi

[ When the video starts, it's on Souji specifically. He gives the camera a bit of a wave with the hand not holding his phone, his temple's open kitchen and dining area behind him. ]

Hello, everyone. I've been working on lists for study groups, and references for them as well as investigative notes, but I wanted to pose a different offer this time. Hence, why this post will have attachments in the form of photos rather than text this time.

[ Follow his trek, everyone, through the kitchen and under the free standing stairs, to one of his numerous tatami rooms that lead outside on the first floor. He's immediately greeted by a chorus of meows and chirps, any sort of noise a cat might make when pleased at a person, and that's where he comes to a stop. ]

I've been picking up stray cats, as well as cats from the shelter that were having a hard time finding families, and have been working on socializing them. All of them are in good health at the moment, have had all their vaccines and the like, and are fixed - except one, but more on her in a moment. You see, I've been hoping to find them permanent homes, either here or on the other Shore. Pretty much all of the ones I have are currently ready for that, so I was wondering if there was anyone that was maybe considering a cat for a companion.

Anyone that isn't homed is going to go up for adoption to the other Shore, but I figured you all could have first dibs.

If you just want to come and see them, you can do that, too. The aforementioned special cat is actually a new mother, so there are newborn kittens here now.

[ This is when he turns the phone around, camera focused on the cats around his feet. That's the end of the video!

As mentioned, there are pictures attached. What these cats look like are up to dealer's choice, if they wanted to adopt one or coo over one in particular, and Souji literally has enough variety that any picture would do.

... he also probably has enough cats for anybody that would want one. It's gotten to that point now. ]

Comments

[gentilitea]

Ludger was the one who looked after her!
I cannot expect you to do the same properly, nor do I have the time to spare from my duties to care for one!
Anyway, why don’t YOU visit May if you really crave such companionship? She’s doing well enough with Sora.

[subtract]

As if Ludger did everything. I offered her valuable companionship, and she also liked to sleep ontop of Apocalypse sometimes. If you're concerned about the more menial duties I can program Rin to take care of those, it'll be a piece of cake.

I get to see May plenty, but it's not the same thing as having a cat in the temple. Really she should've ended up with us instead of Sora but it's too late to correct that mistake now.

[gentilitea]

It'll be a disaster! I don't trust any of your inventions at all. [ EXCEPT…for Apocalypse, but he isn't going to admit to it now. ]
May is safe and happy right where she is.
Lord Izanagi, I implore you to keep the creatures away from him. It will do no one any good, otherwise!

[subtract]

There's nothing wrong with any of my inventions, if you weren't so old fashioned and stubborn you'd realize my methods are superior to yours in every way!

Fine. It's my temple, so I make the decisions around here and I'm going to get a cat whether you like it or not!

[socials]

I wasn't going to get involved in this, but I suppose I can mediate if I have to.
If you both come and can agree on *one* cat that you both like, and it winds up liking both of you, then I'll let you take it home with you.
I'll even make sure you have everything you need to take care of it, and point you towards designs that allow for auto-cleaning litterboxes and timed food dispensers.

[subtract]

[Victory is within his grasp!!!!!!!

except there's one flaw in this new master plan]

Why does Jakob have to agree on it? Knowing him, he'd claim to hate every last one of them just to spite me. He's the type of person who'd do that without even feeling guilty.

[gentilitea]

[ SOUJI WHY WOULD YOU EVEN ]

If you are really intent on this, then I have no choice but to concede. [ Besides it’s two against one now because Izanagi is a tRAITOR ]
I suppose ONE cat should be manageable.
Having one might even teach you some responsibility.

[subtract]

[and that's how Souji instantly got on Add's good side (for better or worse)]

It's good that you know when to give up on a losing battle, kekekekekeke!

I suppose that's an acceptable compromise, then. We can start with one cat.

[gentilitea]

Unbelievable. [ He already regrets agreeing to this. ]
At least try to pick one that isn’t overly fussy.

[socials]

Jakob has to agree on it because you two seem to be a unit? At the very least, you're living together, and cohabitation is about making sure things run as smoothly as possible.
And, anyways, by eliminating a lot of the hassle of owning a pet with automated devices, that helps to alleviate some of the stress you're worried about.

Also I have some cats that are non-shedding breeds if that helps any.

[subtract]

Jakob is my shinki, so I have the final say in what goes on in my temple. Regardless, I suppose there's some logic to that...

It's settled, then. We'll be there shortly to make the selection. [...before either of them changes their mind about letting Add have a pet.]

[gentilitea]

Please bear in mind that making life difficult for your shinki is counterproductive to your own work.

[ As a god, not as a mad scientist, even if those overlap on occasion. But at this point he's resigned to having to deal with a new headache, no thanks to Souji. ]

[socials]

Ah. [ DOES HE REALLY NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD RE: SHINKI? ]
I would have to agree that does sound fairly counterproductive.
But we'll see you soon.

[ Attached: instructions on where the Izanagi temple is, because he knows the Far Shore is a little difficult to navigate sometimes. ]

[subtract]

[Don't worry, Souji. Someday you'll realize that it's easier to just not question Add's thought process.

It only takes a few minutes for Add to show up with Jakob in tow, waiting at the temple entrance. If Souji notices any spooky black eyes appearing on his walls around the same time, that's probably nothing to worry about. He just really wants to see some cats, okay.]

Text => Action then?

[gentilitea]

[ Just know that this is all your fault, Souji. Do you have any idea what you’ve just done. ]

Sorry to bother you like this, milord. We will take the cat and leave promptly.

here we go

[socials]

[ He's starting to realize, Jakob. He's starting to realize.

He's also ignoring the eyes, although they seem to have attracted the attention of some of the cats. ]

I offered, after all. Take however long you need to decide - both of you. That was the compromise, after all.

[subtract]

Kekekeke, of course, this won't take too long.

[I'm sorry did you say "take however long you need" because he's taking that to the extreme and petting every goddamn cat on these grounds. Every single one. How can he know if it's the perfect cat or not if he doesn't test all of them?!

About fifteen minutes into CatQuest one particular cat does grab his attention, though—literally, because it swats at and attempts to climb Add's stupid chain tails. He's been chosen.

Or maybe it just thought he was a fun toy, but whatever. Add picks up the solid black cat, staring into its eyes with a serious expression for several long seconds.]

... This is the cat.

[gentilitea]

[ Jakob is ready to drag his master away if a cat has not been chosen in half an hour, so this works out! Sort of. Mostly he just looks very much…put upon. He’s worked in a cat café, all right? He knows how much of a handful these little shits can be.

But when Add finally makes his choice Jakob’s face scrunches up a little in distaste. It looks like a real troublemaker, but why else would it have caught the attention of his master? ]

Very well, then. We are leaving now.

[socials]

[ Souji just... stands by as this all happens, vaguely amused but also vaguely concerned. Because of Jakob's reaction, mostly, and his observation of the two of them.

He can't help but rub the back of his neck as a cat is finally chosen, chuckling a little helplessly. ]

I'd be happy to help you take care of the cat, if that'd make things easier for you. Sort of a free-of-charge catsitter, even when you're around.

[subtract]

[The cat has been relocated to Add's shoulder, where it is now chewing on the edge of his jacket collar. Add glances up at Souji's offer, frowning slightly.]

... Hmm, that might be difficult. How good are you at navigation?

[because his temple is basically a giant maze, but he also wants a free catsitter.]

[gentilitea]

[ Jakob would’ve made the same face to most cats, anyway—not so much out of dislike for the creatures as it is the fact that Add will probably find a way to cause trouble with them. Somehow. He’s learned not to underestimate his god the hard way. ]

We appreciate the offer, but I wouldn’t recommend it. [ Because yes, the last thing he needs on top of a new member of the household is to constantly babysit another person throughout Add’s extremely difficult temple. ]

[socials]

Rather good, actually. [ Souji can say that without hesitation, and is thankful for it in this particular case. Thanks a lot, Midnight Channel, and your ever-changing layouts!

Especially in Void Quest and Magatsu Mandala/Inaba. Not that he'd enjoy repeating either of those experiences again, but that's more due to what happened in them than their layouts. ] Experiences prior to arriving in the Far Shore gave me the chance to hone a pretty good sense of direction, too.