The Day of Thunder

"I'll have to pay my respects. Inari fed a lot of people my father stole from."

"It's called flirting."

“I’m sure you all have plenty to hide… But you also want us to think you have things to hide… I’m not sure that’s the case here. It’s more likely they actually just don’t want us to know what’s going on.” Norikage was curious as to where this girl got her information on his clan. Certainly secrets ...

“Most people don’t keep things private unless there is something to hide.” She replied. “Except maybe you Scorpions…” "We have plenty to hide", he said. "You know my Lord is a terrible liar, so he put on a mask to keep people from reading his face?" He leaned closer and whispered. "It's actually be...

He tilted his head at her. Despite the eerie feel of the woods, and the uncertainty of matters in the Empire, Norikage couldn't help but be a little too human at times. "I'd say what I was looking for found me", and he narrowed his eyes just so. "but then again I paid the beetles to bother you into ...

Bold of you to assume you could grow old in a world like that.

"I'm not one for it either", the Scorpion replied and folded his arms. "But like you said by the river, maybe there's a reason Shinsei brought everyone here, and not just him having a good feeling about it."

He soon learned that she did indeed want a seat when her hips pushed him over to the side of the bench and plopped herself down next to him. “Very curious… I don’t know many shrines that aren’t looking for more adherents.” He scooted over with a chagrin. "Well Chouri-san did say their rituals are a...

"The shrine?" he asked. "What's the kami enshrined there?"

"Shame most of us can say we've been somewhere like that these days", Norikage remarked. "And it sounded real? Suit your own senses, I guess."

“But yeah… same story in the graveyard. And rumors of not being able to get out of the woods. Just ending back up where people started.” He lead her over to a bench set for the festival and sat down in the middle of it. He'd move if she wanted a seat but didn't seem to assume she would. "The woods ...

Norikage listened with interest while he munched on...whatever it was he was fed.

"At the edge of your perception, you heard that howl, doesn't seem real does it?" He leaned back against the tree he leapt from. "The river, the dreams abating, this forest...my guess is they're trying to placate something, or don't understand what it is they're venerating with this festival."

Norikage shook his head. "Like I said before, I didn't come here on the old man's request. Also, I'm not convinced they left here due to the Kami arriving, at least not in the sense that most left their far flung villages." He faced the others properly now. "Something happened, and still is happenin...

“Feels? Did the trees give you the heebee jeebies?” She asked as she motioned for some food for the pair of them. "It was talking to me, the kind of whispering that makes you think you're crazy." “What is it I’m supposed to try, then?” "I give a good post bath massage." He took the skewer and ate a...

Wu Zhe wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 23, 2023 11:59 pm

''My apologies for the intrusion''

Norikage wondered when whoever else was here would make themselves seen. He bowed slightly, perhaps the heimin would introduce everyone as host.

"Strange is a way you could say it", he agreed. "Wait until we stop talking...you might hear it."

And Norikage indeed stopped talking, standing silently, watching her face for a reaction.

Han-Hei wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 23, 2023 10:29 pm

She chuckled and followed him towards a stand, “I think the real question is… can you even have a good time?”

He smirked beneath his mask as they walked over. "Try me."

A short wait in line let him continue a moment. "I went to the forest today, place feels cursed."

"And that didn't worry you, then." The absence of a question mark was not a mistake.

Han-Hei wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 23, 2023 10:21 pm

“You look to be havin’ such a good time.”

"You've never seen me having a good time, and honestly you're missing out", he replied with a slight bow of greeting, same as always. "Let's get a snack and talk about your day." He jerked his thumb at a skewer stand.

There we go.

Norikage took off his mask to sip herbal tea and smiled pleasantly at the heimin to see what she would say.