View source for 871/Inner Conflict: Makeup

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2023/12/10
|Location=Juuban Ward
|Synopsis=Mariko Soryuu makes another appearance. She was not destroyed at Nephrite's mansion as she appeared to be, and she is now organizing desperate youkai to do her bidding. Can they be talked down? Or is violence with humanity inevitable?
|Cast of Characters=81,38,87,30,94,55
|Tinyplot=Inner Conflict
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:81|Pyrite (81)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Night Parade of One-Hundred Demons was stopped before it could get underway. Most of the youkai who had been setting up shop to sell spirit-goods, whether to fellow youkai or humans who wandered in at the risk of getting spirited away, packed up and went back to their side of the spirit world/living world barrier before all those giant torii that created a path hundreds of kilometers long winding all across a landscape that hadn't existed in centuries, or even millennia, thanks to human 'progress' and industry, were sealed away.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But not all of them made it back home.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And now, with those stranded here continuing to make appearances, becoming more and more real, solid, and entrenched by the belief in them, and the fear of them, there are other pathways from the spirit world. Hidden passages that have been successively being closed over the course of eras. That means even more youkai have come here, and that has strengthened their presence even further.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Youkai belong in Japan. They are natives too. Perhaps even more so than humans. This is their home.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But it's not their era.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But there are whispers in the shadows that perhaps it should be.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At a secret bar, where youkai capable of disguising themselves as humans gather, to socialize, form connections, trade information, and procure the sustenance that may not be easy to get anywhere else (depending on diet).<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A squat, goblinoid-looking youkai in a trenchcoat and fedora checks around the foggy street to make sure he's not being watched or followed, and then makes the necessary ritual gestures and speaks the secret words. A brick wall opens for him, and he wobbles inside, wet flipper-feet slapping on the linoleum on the other side.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Choji," someone calls out upon seeing him. "Haven't seen you around much." A tengu, it appears. One who has lost his wings. Well, more it looks like they were torn off. He is seated at the bar, drinking warm sake.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A few others call out greetings to the youkai who is busy putting his hat on a peg on the wall by tossing it up until it stays up there. "There should be a law." Choji grumbles. "Too many damn things are out of reach for us shorter guys." Choji stops in front of the bar stools. "Case in point!" he says vehemently while pointing an accusatory scaled hand with pointed claws on his webbed fingers.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Eassssy, Choji." the tengu says soothingly, reaching down to give Choji a step up with his arm. Choji steps on the arm like a step stool, and then hops up onto the seat he always picks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:81|Pyrite (81)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Seafoam. Extra brine." Choji says to the bartender.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So, what's the word on the street, Choji-kun?" a Split-Mouth Woman asks at the end of the bar, a medical mask hanging from its strings below her face. This is a safe space for monsters. They don't have to pretend to be something they're not here.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, I'll tell ya', Haruna-chat, just as soon as I've a drink in my claws." He makes open-and-close motions with his other hand at her, before starting to unbutton his trenchcoat. His huge, yellow, vertically-slit eyes become more prominent as more and more of the coat is pulled away form his scaled head. A drink is slid into his grasp, and he wets his gullet with it before setting the pint glass down and looking around. "Have you all heard?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The jukebox in the corner continues to play traditional Japanese music from happier times, when they were more free to live as they wished, and listen to human songs. The handful of other youkai present, just glad to have something potentially interesting to talk about before they have to go back to their lives surviving on scraps of magic and prayer, all encourage Choji to speak with, 'No, what happened?' 'What did you see?' 'Did another old friend make it through to this side?' Yeah, more of them have been showing up here on Earth lately that haven't been seen in... A while.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Choji grins a far, far, far, far too-wide smile with his very much over-sized mouth and many sharp teeth as he shoots his tongue into his glass to get another quick slurp of his beverage, and swallow it down, before giving the public what they want.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"There's a Yuki-Onna with a plan. The Night Parade is back on." Choji finishes.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There are 'whaaat?'s, cries of dismay or excitement, questions about if he's serious, and even an Ushi-Oni skeptic in the wings. "No, no. I mean it. Heard it from her directly. She has a plan, you see, to bust open the gateway between our world and the human world, and she needs the Night Parade to get it done."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Who is this Yuki-Onna?" the skeptical Ushi-Oni asks suspiciously. "Is she the same one from the first attempt?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Choji waves off the question. "Of course she is! She's old. Powerful. And she learned from the first attempt what we're up against. That's why she's going to give Her back to us."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There are unsettled looks around the bar, and some murmurs, along with mewling confusion from the youngest youkai present (a bakeneko by the looks of her, with her napkin hat).<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The reptillian youkai puffs himself up proudly, allowing his people to cajole him into saying more, buying him more drinks, and so on.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gossip is valuable stuff.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, he reveals the secret. "She's going to give us back our goddess. Izanami-no-Mikoto herself."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The entire bar goes dead silent, aside the jukebox. It is allowed to play to the end of its current song before the youkai begin to ask fearful, and yet hopeful, questions.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:81|Pyrite (81)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A park in Juuban Ward. Chilly now in winter, but still perfectly suitable for walking in, if one cares for that sort of thing. Peaceful, clean, even with the foliage dying or going into hibernation. And a pond strangely devoid of the ducks that usually frequent it. Instead, they have all fled. There's something in the water. Other things flapping about in the sky and swooping down to land on tree branches, the backs of park benches, and otherwise make themselves obvious to any humans in the area.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Youkai of various kinds, a handful of them, but still more than enough to cause a stir, are ditching their human disguises. Why? Because there's a woman in a red dress, with a red parasol, and a red hat, and long white hair, and skin just as pale, and gleaming red eyes, and a red-painted smile on her lips, and as she walks through the park, things begin to freeze over. Pathways. Plants. Lamp posts. People who aren't fast enough in running away.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's humming that western tune, 'Walking in a Winter Wonderland' under her breath as she goes.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Hematite (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"Keep an eye on things for me, will you? And run away if any of them come after you," Hematite tells a very pretty and somewhat roundy fluff of calico cat, crouched down to her cat-level. And then he stands up and starts evacuating the freezing not-fast-enough runners, grimly, by teleport.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:87|Misery Melon (87)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was... something... in the air tonight. Something about the park. Misery Melon had been relatively quiet as of late. Either out of secretiveness in her witch hunts to sustain herself, or simply something else keeping her attention. It might be her new job. Probably her new job in fact, but that's irrelevant. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Things didn't seem quite right for there to be a Witch in the area, but it's always hard to tell, many of the different monsters and creatures seem and felt like Witches from a distance. Getting closer reveals... that apparently there were ... some sort of spirits or something floating around? Hm. "Sind das irgendeine Art von Feen? &lt;Are those some form of faeries?&gt;" Melon mutters to herself, ducking slightly into cover when one of the flying ones gets closer than she'd like it to be before she fully understands the situation. At the center of it all... a woman in a red dress. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bringing a winter frost. One worse than normal for this area, more like ice spreading than snow or frost. "Tch. Where are the helle&lt;Bright ones&gt;?" She mutters to herself. Still, she couldn't let something like this stand. Still, the sound of a chain rattling can be heard, and the slow screeching sound of a heavy metal object scraping along the ground as Misery Melon grimly starts to walk out towards the gathering of youkai. She takes a deep breath, and then starts to speak with a voice surprisingly loud for a relatively small little pipsqueak of a pinkette like her, "Oi! If you don't want to leave broken and battered, get out of here, Geister der Nacht&lt;Spirits of the night&gt;!" Misery Melon calls out, shifting her oversized flail to rest over her shoulder with a jingle. "I'm not here to bully the weak, so you'd best leave if you aren't ready to fight hard!" <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:30|Onihime (30)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kureha Senkenzan is not there on foot. Her usual limo is driving down the street, the girl seated in the back on a jaunt from somewhere to somewhere - the specifics aren't important. But it's on a street driving nearby, and in just the right position for the crimson-eyed girl to spot something worrying going on in the park. Her driver misses it entirely; but then, that's not terribly surprising for Yozakura, the most self-absorbed of her minders. It makes things both more difficult and easier for her, in some ways. She'll catch hell later for what she's about to do. At least, once the stuffy woman realizes it. But it'll do for now.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...Y-Yozakura," the young scion of the Chikafuji says. She's careful to add a touch of embarrassment to her tone - make it sound like she's cursing herself for having to ask. "Can you pull over at that convenience store? I... need to visit the restroom."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A minute later, there's a hiss of steam in the park. Vapor rising up in a wide circle as a pair of geta clack softly against the pavement. A girl walks in a fire-patterend kimono, and in a radius around her, the ice simply melts. Slitted pupils the color of a blazing bonfire sweep the park, and a horned head turns slightly. Looking first over the gathered youkai, then briefly at Misery Melon - she manages to miss Hematite entirely, for now - before at last leveling a gaze at the Snow Lady. Her eyes slightly narrow.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I feel as if I keep finding myself drawn into incidents involving other youkai," Onihime begins, her tone cool and neutral. "Can you explain what it is you're doing here? I should very much like to hear a reason not to begin acting like an oni."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:94|Norie Okana (94)}} has posed:'''<br>Norie Okana wanted to be alone, so she went to a park dressed in a jacket, even though the cold doesn't bother her anymore and walked about for a while, in circles. Until Youma started appearing. And there's a woman freezing people and she 'ehhhhs' and sighs as she sighs and slides forward on her feet and stops near the figure spreading the frost as she looks up and frowns, as she turns 90 degrees to face her without moving her feet.<br><br>"What is the meaning of this!?" she says as she flails finally, animated.<br><br>Oh, OInigirl is here. Good. Maybe she can make heads or tails of this. Also there's a German girl here yelling.<br><br>"I'm ''walking'' here." she insists grumpily. "And now I gotta deal...w..with this!?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:55|Yellow Pearl Voice (55)}} has posed:'''<br>Coco is here as Yellow Pearl Voice. Mostly because she is checking out what all these weird figures are doing out in the open. It has been a long while since she just saw such a big group of other humanoids all together, and it's unsettling her. For now, she walks about, E-Pitch in hand, just keeping an eye on things.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:81|Pyrite (81)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Yuki-Onna turns with liquid grace and easy beauty, like snow fall simply going where it may without needing to try. "Well," she replies, as snow starts to fall around her, and the ground ices over more thoroughly the longer she stays in one place. "We are simply having a walk in the park." She tilts her head. "This is ''their'' country too, is it not?"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hmmmm... What is she trying here?<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the snow falls heavier and heavier, it darkens the sky and the surroundings beneath a sudden winter storm that is manifesting out of nothing. Well, not nothing. The power of a very old Snow-Woman. "My name is Mariko Soryuu." she introduces herself. "The native peoples of this land have been banished or forced into hiding for far too long. It is time for them to take it back. I am just helping them along in that pursuit."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A tall, muscular tengu with only stumps where wings should be emerges from the shadows beneath the trees behind Mariko, and folds his arms. So, she's powerful and guarded. Other creatures... Feathered youkai with semi-humanoid features, over-sized crows, kappas emerging from the pond, a bulging-eyed big-mouthed scaley youkai of some kind wading in the water still behind them... An Ushi-Oni, towering over them all, simply *pushing* trees aside. "We belong here. No more hiding from humans." the ox-demon says gruffly from at least 3 meters ''above'' the second-tallest person here.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the seemingly frozen figures turns within her ice prison as Hematite tries to rescue her. She bursts out, sending chunks of ice everywhere. She has long black hair, and a beauty mark below her left eye, and is wearing stylish but practical winter weather attire. She also has a medical mask covering the lower half of her face. One finger hooks onto the mask, and she crouches down like she's prepared to run, while also looking like taking off the mask would be... Bad for Hematite.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Do as you please," Mariko says to the others, including those complaining about ''having'' to be involved. "But we are here to stay. You had better get used to it, because we will have our Parade." Then she shattered into ice needles and flies upwards into the storm clouds, vanishing into a swirling opening, while the snow begins to fall even heavier, all over the city.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The youkai look jumpy, like they're not sure what to do next. The kind of agitated behavior you see in a mob before violence breaks out. But... They haven't hurt anyone yet. Only Mariko actually endangered anyone.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They do not at all look like they're necessarily eager to fight, but they've been hyped up for the possibility.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Hematite (38)}} has posed:'''<br>Hematite looks irritated at the defrosted youkai. "Well what were you doing getting frozen in the first place? Beat it," he tells her, then teleports off to the next person -- someone drunk and asleep on a bench -- and gets them out of the danger zone...<br><br>...but the frost is receding, and there's a group gathered over there, and the bakeneko hasn't come running out of his shadow, so the tall Dark General teleports over to the group and asks mildly, "What did I miss? There were bystanders."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:87|Misery Melon (87)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh good. Others are here. There was someone removing those who are getting frozen, though Misery Melon didn't quite catch them immediately. And also... there was... someone who seemed to be quite warm. Well, that solves /that/ problem, Melona had been wracking her brain trying to figure out what she could actually do about the cold beyond beating up the woman who seemed to be at the center of it all, and that wouldn't necessarily fix anything, just beat someone up. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Youkai, hm? Ah, the japanese spirits." Melon mutters to herself as she walks closer, taking advantage of the area provided by the Onihime that was less freezing. Even if she was well adjusted to the cold, 'literally able to freeze people in place' would be a bit unpleasant. "Danke, the warmth is appreciated." Misery Melon comments towards Onihime. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And also there was ... someone who seemed more annoyed at the presence of the situation than actually troubled? Well, whatever. Some people just didn't have the presence of mind to realize they were about to die. Most likely she'd be teleported away by that other person who was doing such things. She runs a hand along a convenient tree, while simultaneously pulling out a bundle of her own hair with a grimace. When the hand leaves the tree, it comes out with a small crossbow which is attached to her glove and strung with her hair, evidently providing herself with a ranged option alongside her flail. The response from the Yuki-onna though... <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hm. I mean. That's a fair argument I suppose, however, this isn't the way to do it." Melon replies simply. "Causing chaos. Freezing people. Harming the very land that you claim to want to take back... is that really how you want to come home?" Melon glances at the trees closest to the Yuki-onna. 'We belong here, no more hiding from humans'. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "...Alright, I understand not wanting to hide but like... is this really the way you wanna do things? Showing up out of nowhere, causing a panic? The humans'll have the exact same misunderstanding I just had." What's she saying? She is human still, right? When did she start to consider herself different? Well, whatever. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Still, it seemed the yuki-onna didn't want to stay around. And just... left the youkai behind. "...She your leader? She showed up, made a mess and dragged you guys into it, yeah? ...And now she's left you to the wolves. Y'sure you wanna follow her? Seems an unreliable leader." The Dark General teleports above! And asks what happened. "Y'know, people wanting their lands back and all that shit. Yo, dark dude. Haven't seen you since the ice cream incident. So like, I'm not so good at this 'people' thing but I'm not sure I wanna fight these folks. They just wanna live a good life, too, and I'm honestly all for that. That saaaaaaid." Melon turns her gaze towards the gathered youkai. "...Seriously like if you keep up like this all the sparkly shiny bright ones'll see you as evil monsters to destroy so like... maybe don't go about it this way? S'a good way to die." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:30|Onihime (30)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Onihime glances to one side, spotting Coco; there is a faint nod of acknowledgment there (which, coming from her, is high praise), before a separate glance at Norie... but her main focus turns out to be the Ushi-Oni. She stares it right in the eyes, not so much as flinching. Even as Mariko Soryuu speaks, her gaze never leaves the towering monster... and her poise never wavers. Hands folded in front of herself, she listens to every word, but never looks towards the Yuki-Onna.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Only when the woman is gone, does the horned girl finally look around... but then she returns her gaze back to the towering ogre.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The world isn't what it was when last you walked it. There are far more humans these days than there were even a thousand years ago." She sweeps a hand to one side, gesturing at the city. "How many people do you think are in Tokyo alone? I would guess there are more than there were in all of Japan in the Heian era. And even a thousand years ago, they had already been in this land for a very long time. You are perhaps right that this land is yours... but at this point, isn't it theirs as well? There are even a few out there like me... one of you and one of them at the same time."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Youkai Musume folds her hands in front of herself again. "I'm living proof that humans and youkai can find a balance. I don't ask that you leave. If you can find a way to stay that doesn't hurt anyone... then stay. I ask only that you be good neighbors. And right now, to reveal yourselves openly like this... it would send humans into a panic. Riots in the streets, humans and youkai alike being hurt. Fear makes monsters of us all. I ask only that you restrain yourselves for their sake. It would take time and patience to make a world where you can live openly, but you've shown plenty of that already."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:94|Norie Okana (94)}} has posed:'''<br>Norie Okana mutters and lets darkness surround her and she turns into La Crima on the spot, the girl lets her darkness flow and then mutters. "I agree with the... uh. Small German girl on the point of your leader. She just left you high and dry after what, getting you to ditch disguises and outst yourselves?" she asks.<br><br>"I haven't been undead for very long but you guys just got the rawest of raw deals outta that, like. sparkle--magical girls are gonna come flooding out to beat you all up nowadays."<br><br>"And there are a lot of them."<br><br>"I'd listen to what the Oni Princess over here has to say too really. My dumb advice is to put your disguises back on and act like this didn't just happen because, boyyyy the alternative is people come out of nowhere to clean your collective clocks, and I do not mean the bunch of us here. There's so much more and it's so annoying."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:55|Yellow Pearl Voice (55)}} has posed:'''<br>Hematite, Onihime, and Misery Melon are all here, to Coco's relief. If things turn for the worst, they are all good fighters, so they can all keep a lid on things. Sort of. That would still be a really bad outcome, so they should still try their best to avoid it.<br><br>She waves at their allies, before focusing on Mariko's speech. Oh-uh, so that's their objective. "I think I should point out that with the means you are choosing you are only going to experience losses yourselves. Humanity is protected, by humans and non-human alike. I would know, I am not a human, not even by half", Coco reveals. Hopefully, that will ease the negotiations somewhat. "Rather than trying to start something that will force people to retaliate against you with no hesitation, please, let's take it easy and talk about it."<br><br>She nods in agreement at Onihime's speech. "She speaks wisely. If you don't take her as a symbol cooperation is possible, then all will be lost in chaos and turmoil. Please, in the name of Aqua Regina, consider avoid violence, she doesn't wish to see either land or sea conquered by disaster."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:81|Pyrite (81)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kuchisake-Onna dashes away after saying, "Someone has to be rear guard." as answer to Hematite. All she does is wind up back where the others are thanks to her speed and agility, shortly after Hematite finishes rescuing people and teleports over. She remains in the background for now.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The wingless tengu frowns his beak-like yet humanoid face, and says, "She is ''not'' our leader. She is sympathetic to our cause, and willing to take bold steps against the humans. She has a different job than to babysit us."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Ushi-Oni stares back at Onihime, steam flowing from his ox-faced nostrils with each breath. Rising off his leather-and-fur skin thanks to his body heat -- even if nothing compared to fire oni's. He replies in his rumbling deep voice, "We will have a council with the humans. They must acknowledge us."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The big-mouthed aquatic youkai approaches as well. "We can live among humans. We've been doing so for ages. What we want is to be free to walk the streets as they do. To follow our instincts, and not just keep burying her hearts for the sake of survival..."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Split-Mouth Woman moves forwards a bit, one arm crossed over her torso to hold onto her opposite forearm. Awkard, defensive, uncertain. "I don't want to keep smothering my soul. If I keep burying my heart... I'm... Just going to fade away." she says, with emotion leaking into her voice at the end. Panic, and sorrow, and need, and Want, and anger, and resentment, and longing, all mixed together. "The last time I showed my face in public was in the 1970s. There were news reports about me. I was getting attention. Becoming stronger, more real. Then people like all of you came along, and tried to eliminate me, or seal me away, or threatened me to hide myself and never re-emerge if I wanted to live."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Beautiful except for her scar. A mouth beneath her mask stretching from ear to ear. Familiar, perhaps, to some here, though seen on a different girl.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Now I work day in and day out at an office building. Filing papers, making appointments, handling calls... All for greedy, WANTING humans. Even if there was one I might want to... Be close to..." She looks away. "...How could I? I can't even show my face, or else the monster hunts will start again."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her eyes are slightly overbright as she whips her head around to glare at Hematite. "''I just want to feel like'' '''me''' ''again.''"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:81|Pyrite (81)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The big-mouth youkai says, "The name's Choji. These days, at least. For the ones who can pass easily, like Haruna-chan here, they at least have the choice of playing human. For the ones like me? We're fugitives. We have to run and hide when the lights come on. It's abandoned places, dark nights, and drunken patrons, or else live like we're being hunted, whether we are or not. I'm the monster in a kid's closet, when I'm just looking for someplace with a roof to spend the night. Look at me! I can't get a job looking like this! Haruna's worried about romance... I'm worried about being beaten to death or run over in the street! I'm worried about being taken some government lab, and getting dissected! There is no 'integration' for youkai like us." The kappa around him nod in agreement and make affirmative noises of increasing volume.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Ushi-Oni finally speaks up. "I am Bran Yoji. I am a masked wrestler. An exotic fighter. I must face humans in battle and not hurt or kill them. I must let them defeat me when told, or no pay. Any other time... Nowhere I can go. Nowhere I can live. Only gym. Cannot be seen walking streets. Not even in disguise." Then he leans forwards, more steam blowing from his nostrils over Onihime and Melona, before turning his head to look at Norie, flick his wide-set eyes to Coco, and then turn back to the pair standing in the circle of warmth. Then he grins, slowly, revealing his mix of bovine and canine teeth, like a minotaur's.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If humans see us. Fear us. That is good." he says smugly.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tengu speaks up finally. "If they fear us, believe in us, acknowledge us, that just makes us stronger. It makes our place here more secure. Can you imagine if even ten-thousand humans believe in us? A hundred-thousand? A million? There are ''billions'' of them world-wide. They're already breeding like they're facing extinction as it is!" The tengu unfolds his arms and holds them down at his sides. "Let them come. Let them fear us. They should. Maybe then they'll be willing to come to terms."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A bakeneko with a napkin hat wades out of the bushes, with a jug of sake in hand, and mewls out, "Nyah! That's right!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Hematite (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"Don't glare at ''me''," Hematite says blandly, sticking his hands in his pockets. "I'm sorry you have to live in the same dreary world as the rest of us. If you really want to make progress in turning the world into someplace where we can all live more happily, take up arms against Obsidian, against megaconglomerates and multinational corporations, against rampant late-stage capitalism in general. Regular people on the street are just like you, having to bury their hearts to survive. They don't fade in the literal sense, but as people get old, they lose magic, they lose flexibility, they lose their sense of wonder-- and other people stop looking at them, too. There are plenty," he says firmly, not intimidated, not worried, "of human people, as well as youkai people, who are in danger of dying because people don't pay them attention. Some of your needs may be very different, but some of them are ''not''. And you know what--"<br><br>Hematite smiles faintly. "Human people don't have a spirit city to retreat to. This is all they have. This is it. And they live such short lives-- and yours are so long-- if you're really paying attention to the rate of population expansion, then you must also have seen the statistical projections for when the yoyo starts going down again. Give it thirty years. Come back when the shores begin to fall into the sea. Come back when people stop having children out of despair. Come back and be saviors, proof of the magic that people will be grasping at straws to bring back. Come back when it's time to say you told them so."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:30|Onihime (30)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kureha cants her head slightly, watching Misery with a curious look - but whatever her sentiment, she doesn't let it show on her face. Instead, she keeps a placid, neutral face. And she listens, to all the words of all the youkai. And, despite all the time she's spent telling herself not to be taken in by sob stories, not to trust. Despite all the times her family has taught her not to trust a friendly face, or a person in need. The child of the Senkenzan finds her heart melting, just a little.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And she finds herself breaking her own personal rules entirely, almost before she realizes it. Speaking her name in front of ''everyone''.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...I am Kureha Senkenzan. Daughter of the Senkenzan clan, who has lived in the shadow of Mount Ooe for a thousand years. My father Hozan Chikafuji and his family are backstabbing, manipulative trash. I have spent my entire life in a gilded cage, the dirty secret of the Chikafuji family, the girl they're embarrassed to admit exists, the girl they exploit for every scrap of worth they can get out of her. Only my oni blood has made it possible for me to be free. "<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She holds up her right hand, fingers flexing, looking down at the claws there. "...I understand you. More than you realize. But..." She looks back up. "Bran Yoji. As strong as you are... if they believe in you, then they also believe in heroes strong enough to defeat you. And there are billions of them. If they come to fear you, they'll put their hopes behind someone seeking to defeat you... and that will be that. No, you need to become someone they admire. They can't believe in a hero to defeat you, if they believe you're a hero. A... 'Face', I think they call it in wrestling?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A soft shake of her head. "You need to work on making this a world where people are happy to see you. Find the path of coexistence. My ancestor did. And here I am today."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:87|Misery Melon (87)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh good there's someone REALLY good at talking there! The warmth-spreading oni was honestly a really welcome presence for Misery Melon to be honest. "Yes, yes what she said. Listen to her she seems to be wise in the ways of not getting offed by the bright ones." Yep. She's definitely the BEST at negotiation. "And like, you guys are pretty cool and cool looking and I wouldn't mind sharin' the city with you, though I'm probably a bit of an oddball, but like... if there's one human with an opinion like mine there's hundreds or thousands of others. I mean, even in my home country, the feen&lt;faeries&gt; were both respected alongside being feared. Sometimes people would go to them for help in desperate times, even! I've seen similar here. Shrines to youkai where people worship them. Statues all over the place honoring youkai and trying to bring safety to humans through respect." Pause. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ... Small german girl. "Oi! It's not 'small german girl'. It's Misery Melon, but you can just call me Melon." One could almost see the veins popping on Misery Melon's forehead. Any and all animosity towards the youkai was forgotten as she fights the urge to completely go off on Norie to avoid making a tense situation worse. Instead she's just closing her eyes and doing careful breathing. Breathe, Melon, breathe. Anger is a tool, not something to lose yourself in. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Another person, not human apparently. Hmm. Well, the wise people were here at least. That was a relief for Melon herself, since she was more of a musclebrain than a thinker most of the time. "...Yeah. Like I said. ...Don't honestly feel up to fighting you anymore. Frankly after makin' a pact with that weird foxcat I'm not sure where I fit anymore on the line of 'human or not' either, and I can feel for people just wanting to live good lives. It's what I'm going for, myself." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh good. The Yuki-onna isn't their leader. That's good, because frankly, youkai just chillin' having fun probably wouldn't have brought as big of a response if people weren't being frozen. Misery Melon falls quiet for a time, though, listening to the stories. And letting other, more well equipped people start to handle it. The Ushi-Oni though... <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I mean. ...Honestly that sounds like a pretty badass life to me, though I understand that it feels pretty restrictive to you. You're makin' an art of beating people up and acting for the cameras or whatever... sucks they force you to take falls, for sure." Misery Melon was actually starting to walk forward. "I'm kinda the same. Honestly, I don't care much. I had everything taken from me. I couldn't even stay in my home country anymore because of shit happening. ... I'm not going to get into it, but honestly, I shouldn't even be alive." A hand rests on her chest briefly, a beat of pain running through her heart. "So yeah. ...I kind of get it. Not quite to the same level, since I just look like any other human most of the time, but like... yeah. This world honestly sucks. And having to hide who you really are? Yeah..." She shakes her head. "But like. It's not like how things used to be. It used to be if humans got scared they ran and hid. Now... now you'd probably get mobbed out of fear instead." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kureha Zenkenzan. That was a name that was... vaguely familiar, but she decides to put that aside. That's unimportant. What's important is... she seems to have a decent charisma. "Yeah. ... I like her idea honestly. Badass giant dude going around doing cool shit? Honestly, you could probably put that on the internet and people would be cheering you on even if they just assumed it was editing or costumes and such. Also like, honestly, with cosplay being a thing, some of you could probably walk out in public and if anyone questions you just call it a cosplay." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:94|Norie Okana (94)}} has posed:'''<br>La Crima listens to the Youkai speak. She resonates with many of these points. For various reasons as she sighs and slips further away from her human form and just fades into her shade form. Her most basest point of existence now, maybe they'll listen to a fellow obvious monster.<br><br>"I know how you must feel." she says quietly. "I too, have had things taken from me when I became. This thing." she says quietly.<br><br>"This monster. I too wish I could show this face to ones I love- my family. But I cannot." she says. "But."<br><br>"I only do so because I know they wouldn't understand. Can't understand." she says.<br><br>"But I wish I could." she says. "Very badly."<br><br>"If there's some way I can help. I will do so. But. I won't hurt anyone unless I have to." she says quietly. "And I feed off humans, and I don't like it." she says.<br><br>"Just. Please consider these points. These two make better points than I do. I fight these people sometimes. Because I too. Make bad decisions." she says tersely, listening to Onihime give her real name, which makes her pause a moment. She thinks she knows this name, but she doesn't blurt out anything, if she does.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:55|Yellow Pearl Voice (55)}} has posed:'''<br>Coco winces when they talk about the miserable lives they are currently leaving. If they really have nothing to lose, it makes sense they feel they have no way to go but up. "It's terrible you have to lie to everyone in order to live, but humans are also capable of honesty and collaboration, I urge you not to let your past experiences define all of humanity." She sighs, looking at her E-Pitch.<br><br>"You have to understand, humans have magic defenders too, and people's best feelings is what power us too. We shoulder humanity's purest feelings of hope and peace. ''We'' are the ones you have to face first, the ones who already know about you. Me, Onihime and other warriors repealed the Witches 5 last time."<br><br>Well, one of the Witches 5, but they don't need to know that. "Do you think you are strong enough to overcome ''that''? So I urge you to reconsider. We don't want to use the feelings that literally define us to torment others. Surely there must be a more peaceful outcome."<br><br>She looks at Hematite quizzically. "On that front though, even if the sea did start to swallow up the shores, we and Aqua Regina wouldn't stand by the side watching. We have never left humanity alone once, and we have no intentions to start now. I give you my word as the princess of the South Pacific."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:81|Pyrite (81)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;These are all a lot of nice words. Words that a human would be convinced by. They've lived among humans for decades. Centuries. But they are not human. The tengu slams a taloned hand to his bare chest after hearing out everyone who has spoken to them. "So your solution is just to keep waiting!? To put our hope back in a box, and hide it away!? The world is changing ''now''! When will the humans decide it's time to ''give'' us equal rights? No minority in history has ever obtained equality by asking politely for it!"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The youkai had begun to look uncertain, or thoughtful, or conflicted, respond to the words of the wingless one, their own pain turning into motivation as they shout down the suggestions to hide away and wait for humans to ruin the planet. "We can restore the balance ''now''! Humans have no natural predators anymore. ''We'' are needed to cull the population! That will convince them to listen to us. Force is the only thing they understand!"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bran straightens up after hearing what Onihime has to say. He has a bushy moustache on his ox head, and a wispy beard. He strokes the latter between thick thumb and forefinger, and says nothing for now.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Haruna closes her eyes, and lowers her head, visibly despairing at the idea of just... Going back to her monotonous life, pretending to be something she's not, alone while surrounded by millions of people. "We don't have a choice do we? We'll hold the Night Parade. Everyone will see us, and we'll be stronger. Then we'll talk to them. We'll see what they think when they realize we're real, we exist, and we have emotions, dreams, and hopes of our own. I can't put them back in the box again. I'll die if I do that!"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shakes her head violently, black hair flying back and forth. "But... That doesn't mean I want to hurt anyone."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Choji has fallen silent, just like Bran. The two exchange looks. The various karasu-oni are still there, getting agitated, waiting for something to happen. All it takes is the first stone, they must realize, to start a revolution.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But Choji speaks up. "How about we convene for the evening, yeah?"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tengu turns around and hisses. "Coward! You're the one who set us on this path! Now you wish to flee!?"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bran steps in, shaking the ground each time a hoof strikes soil or pavement. He stands with Choji and the kappas. "We wanted to be seen. Heard." He points at the princess, as the man who wields so much Dark Energy, at the mermaid girl, the lich, and the girl literally made of Dark Energy... "We have been seen and heard by royalty."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:81|Pyrite (81)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tengu, still fuming, looks at those who came out to confront them, the wheels in his head turning, calculating. "Fine. We'll return to the shadows for now. But I want a promise, Senkenzan-hime. Promise to speak on our behalf. Promise to bring to humans in charge our petition for recognition and equal treatment. I, Daichi Daitengu, descendant of the Great Tengu of Mount Fuji, will not accept anything less for my people or any other youkai. We are done waiting."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It seems the others have taken into account the suggestions made. The advice. Being talked down from anything rash. Perhaps Daichi realizes he might not have the full support of his companions if he pushed for the use of force now. Maybe he just doesn't want to go to war with the humans again. He backs up, back into the still-accumulating snow, and shadows, and says, "We will settle for nothing less, if humans want peace."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The others all slowly, reluctantly, but gradually make their own exits. Some more demoralized than others. Haruna has her arms wrapped around herself and her head hanging as she begins walking out of the park and back towards the street. She has work in the morning.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The aquatic youkai do not all go back into the pond that is much too shallow for them all to be living in. Magic of some kind, no doubt. Choji moves to walk beside Bran after retrieving his clothes from behind a rock and donning them with Bran's help.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After they are a safe distance away, Choji says, "We want recognition, and they said we should become humanity's heroes, didn't he?"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Ushi-Oni nods. "They sure did."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Choji shakes out the sleeves of his coat as his stubby arms slide into them. "And they told us what kind of evil to fight, didn't they?"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bran grins. "They sure did."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Choji grins back. "I'll meet you at the club tomorrow. I think we should start on that wishlist while we wait for the Parade to begin again. I'll bring the explosives."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The youkai part ways, heading wherever they may be headed.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The bird youkai fly off into the night sky, wings fighting against the snow that continues to fall long after Mariko Soryuu left.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The only one left behind is the bakeneko with the napkin hat and sake jug, who looks up from her drinking, sees she's alone with the scary people who stood up to her much larger companions, and hurries to stand up on her hindlegs, swing the jug over her shoulder by its rope, and toss out a final, "Nyah! That's right!" as she makes her escape as fast as her drunken tail can.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:30|Onihime (30)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's to the kuchisake-onna that Kureha looks next, and for once... she lets her expression soften. Just a little. "...It's good that you don't want to hurt people. For that, I thank you, Haruna. My concern is that, if you hold the parade at all, people will be hurt in their panic." And then next to the tengu, still keeping that placid expression - and then offering a respectful bow. "I... do not know to whom I would bring it. I do not know if Japan's leaders would believe me, nor if they would accept it if they did. But I will try. Even if I must lay groundwork from now until I turn a hundred years old, I shall leverage both my families' connections, and I shall try. This I promise you, Daichi Daitengu-dono, as a descendant of the oni of Mount Ooe. Even in my mother's family, there are few who remember... but we ''do'' remember."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a pause, and then a brief glance at Bran. "...I... can't choose what your bosses order you to do. What the fight promoters decide will put people in seats or draw views online. But... I can offer that, at the very least, there is one person out there who knows how strong you really are. Maybe we can have a match some time. A real one. As oni should."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's only when the youkai begin to disperse that she turns away from them to face the more human side of the equation. Hematite and La Crima in particular get a decidedly awkward look, but it's to Misery Melon that she speaks. "...If you should see me in my transformed state, please refer to me as Onihime, of the Youkai Musume. Mine is the blood of Mount Ooe, and that is how it should stay. I... would be rather cross if my other name results in those around me being harmed."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Hematite (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"Hm. Not entirely as hoped, but... if that yuki-onna was the same one from the parade, I've got major beef with her anyway," Hematite says cheerfully. "She's trying to turn my sister into the goddess of the dead, and my sister doesn't want to be. So!"<br><br>He gives Coco a firm nod. "I'll keep that in mind if I'm around for it," he says of the coasts falling to the seas, and then he gives Kureha a crooked little smile. "I wouldn't tell on you. If you want to look me up in school, you can find me as 'Darien Shields' -- grade 10. It's not my real name, but it's the one my transcript's currently under."<br><br>He gives LaCrima a little bow. "Thanks for helping with the tower the other night. If you see us facing off against Sailor Moon again, though, know that she's gonna get the purification out and you need to run away a lot. Just evac immediately the second she pulls out that wand."<br><br>Then he gives Misery Melon a double thumbs-up. "I am the ice cream guy. Hematite. No more ice cream though. Also-- I'm out, I have to feed my sister's cat before she turns into a house-sized cat."<br><br>The bakeneko has wandered off, so unceremoniously, Hematite teleports away to where the bakeneko is likely to go looking for food first.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:87|Misery Melon (87)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Well. That went... well? Hm. Misery Melon is mostly just quietly listening through all of that. No minority earned recognition without fighting for it. That's ... not wrong. That's honestly the hardest part of all of this is that literally they're NOT WRONG AT ALL. If they were just some mindless enemy like a youma, or prey like the Witches, she'd have had no problem just beating them up. "...Yeah. ...I don't know what I can do myself, since I'm too young for people in proper power to listen to me, but I'm sure the older people here can do... something." She looks in particular towards Onihime as she says that. And Hematite. And then towards the bakeneko as it's running. Honestly that one's pretty cute. Really most of them were pretty cute. Or cool. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "...So... I feel like the lady with the split face probably is going to be the easiest to work with if we want to bring them into the limelight and then we work up to the harder ones maybe?" She comments, mostly at the air rather than anyone in particular. "...So honestly like." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "...Anyone else feel like it'd have been fine if they wanted to hang around longer though? Like so long as they're not hurting anyone, really it was just the lady in the red dress I think that was actually, like... being dangerous to people? The others were just kind of being around and I don't really see a problem with that if they're not attacking people..? Like the cat just was getting drunk it looked like and honestly some humans are worse about that so..." She shakes her head. "...Anyway uh. Yeah. So uh." She glances towards Onihime. "...Nah. ...Not gonna use your name like that. I'm not one for bullying." She gives a small smile. "...Onihime. Got it. I'm one of those Puella Magi things. ...So if you've fought witches, we might end up working vaguely alongside each other. Or against each other. Honestly sometimes it's a bit of a competition since we need to hunt those for.. well. ...If you know, you know. If you don't, then, well." She shrugs, and then turns to start walking away. Hematite gets a nod from her as she goes. "Hematite. Understood. Guten Abend. Tonight's a wash for witch hunting, I'm going to go sleep or something now that there's not an emergency." That said, others gave their names, and frankly her 'real' name was fake too, so she does pause before she leaves. "...The name I go by here in japan is Melona Mizu. ...But you probably don't know me." She adds, before leaping off to do the favored Puella Magi mode of transportation: leaping from rooftop to rooftop. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:94|Norie Okana (94)}} has posed:'''<br>La Crima adds. "If you must harm humans. Please only harm them as much as feasible. As I need to. Without killing them." she says quietly. "If you have that parade. Is what I mean." she says quietly.<br><br>When the Youkai agree to leave, she says. "I am sorry it has come to that. I wish there was a better way." she says sadly. She watches the Youkai leave. "My name is LaCrima. Please seek me out. I feed in Mitakihara often. Please. Find me there at nights." she says gently.<br><br>She looks towards Onihime and then says quietly. "I'll remember that." she says gently. "Onihime." she says gently.<br><br>Hematite gets a head tilt. "I'll remember that, that hurts a lot. But I was there to kidnap your friend because I didn't know it was a plot. I thought I was kidnapping a scientist that knew about that Crystal. But. I did not. But I decided to help because that's polite." she says.<br><br>"I'm continuing my walk." she says as she turns back into Norie Okana, coalescing from mist back into a human shape. "Now that this is over.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:55|Yellow Pearl Voice (55)}} has posed:'''<br>Coco shudders, biting her lips in frustration. This is decidedly not how she wanted things to go. She invoked both Aqua Regina's name and her own status as princess, yet it didn't convince them to stay for the peace talks.<br><br>"I thank you for choosing to desist for the evening", Coco says, addressing mainly Choji. "I just hope that next time we meet, it may be at peace talks and not at barely detained violence." What she would have given to have them stay. Aqua Regina, the world needs your blessing more than ever, the Seven Pearls need to be gathered soon, she thinks to herself.<br><br>"Well, I would have preferred that", Coco says to Melon when she mentions the others hanging around longer. "Work out a peaceful solution, I am not sure we will able to completely stop what is going to happen next. I hope I am wrong. We will need to do our best."<br><br>Everyone is introducing herself, so Coco does the same. "Coco Kiumi, princess of the South Pacific and Grade 11 Student at RHA." The mermaid thing is obviously off limits still. She likes to be very much alive.<br><br>She glances at Norie before the walks away. So that's who she is. She is not coming 10 meters close to Hannah as long as she is around.<br><br>She nods towards Hematite, and says "I think I'd better go now." Lots of things to ponder.<br> <br>
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