[ mentioning the horseback ride is worth it just to see ereshkigal sparkle again. hehe. that cheers her up more than the words, funnily enough.
unfortunately, it doesn't last. there's so much on her mind. she just gets like this when there's so much to think about. so, it does help. for a bit.
feeling the bed sink next to her, she looks up from her knees and sees the hug incoming and accepts it. leaning into it and burying her face in her shoulder. as ever, the temperature doesn't bother her. if anything, it's nice.
all this thinking has overheated her brain and the cool pressure of the goddess's arms around her is a relief. it is warm, though. warmth to know you're cared about so far, far away from home. after a steadying breath, she leans back and smiles more fully and it lasts much longer than a second at ereshkigal. ]
I can't decide on the color of the bridesmaid dresses. Maybe a soft blue? Or, like, a champagne color? I'm thinking of a cherry blossom theme.
[ Ah, now that's a beautiful smile! She closes her eyes and ponders for a few seconds. ]
Mhm... Perhaps a color that complements that of the bride's dress?
[ It all depends on what Hiyori will pick for herself! A white dress she wagers, but she knows some bride decide to go for different colors. And she can see the appeal, really? ]
When I think about weddings, I'm always torn between tradition and preferences. The traditional white dress is like a dream! But black is a much better color to wear... [Will Ereshkigal have a white or black wedding dress the day she'll finally meet her significant other? To be continued... someday!] Regardless, there's time for you to think about that, right? I know it's not easy...
[ It's going to be painful when she tells Yato she wants to delay, that's unavoidable. Even if he understands and agrees, it's gonna hurt just a bit to have and disappoint him...
She gently takes Hiyori's hands with her own and holds them close. ]
... But I'll be here to help you bear the burden if it gets too heavy sometimes, I promise.
A light pink, I think... so maybe the champagne color after all...
[ this is good. this is helping. if she gets into the wedding so much, she won't have to think about everything else. how afraid she is LILITH will decide she's useless and send her back. or something will happen to yato. she can't be sick to her stomach, sometimes, wondering if a kaiju will interrupt the entire thing out of nowhere. yato's mortality. her normalness. no matter how in love with yato she is, this voice won't leave her alone.
it sounds a lot like tenjin and kazuma.
that's not for now.
besides, she can hear those like ereshkigal just as loudly. louder, even. all the friends they made here who support them.
she clutches the hands in hers, squeezing gratefully. nodding - just a bit tightly, a bit jerkily. still a bit breathless from giggling at ereshkigal wanting to wear a black dress for her wedding. that's SOOOOO her. goth girl.
maybe she should get her one of those super cute lolita dresses she used to see in fashion magazines. with the frills and stripes and dark colors. ]
You should definitely go with black when you get married. [ not if, when. ]
... Same to you. Moving isn't easy. I did it with my family when we chose to live with my dying grandmother. And, I could use something else to focus on while I figure out what to say to Yato...
I feel like my head's going to explode with how much I was thinking about this.
[ She hadn't expected for Hiyori to encourage her black dress dreams like that! Honestly, she would probably love those kind of cute lolita dresses... But the pink dress she's picked for herself sounds adorable, ehe. Like a fairytale princess.
She wonders if Yato will be dressed with a top hat and a carnival mask? Maybe that's too over the top. ]
Black it shall be then.
[ She closes an eye in a wink and pulls away, before standing up. ]
Do you want to come to the flower shop? The opening is next week and I could use a hand to tidy things up.
[ What a liar, the shop is already totally ready and there is nothing left to tidy up! But she hopes it may distract Hiyori a bit. ]
[ dreams are something she will ALWAYS encourage. something as harmless and perfectly suited to ereshkigal? all the more.
note to self: figure out a way to get her in a goth lolita dress ]
Hehe. Good.
[ letting her go, hiyori moves onto her feet too. at the invitation, she obviously brightens at the prospect of helping her and getting her mind off things. keeping her hands busy. moving her body. ]
Would I? You don't have to ask. I'm really good at cleaning! I'd compete with our housemaid at our old house all the time, haha!
[ already rolling up her sleeves. lie or not, the gesture means the most. besides, hiyori will find SOMETHING to do there. if not, chatting with ereshkigal a bit more would never be something she'd turn down either.
for the record? nothing is too over the tope with yato. ever. ]
[ And off she is to lead the way! Normally she'd use the teleportation chip to just go there instantly, but she's not sure Hiyori has it... And it's less anxiety-inducing to walk in the town when you have a friend with you! ]
The new flower shop is next to the cemetery... It's convenient for me but I also hope it'll also encourage people to visit the dead more often. [The idea behind the move had absolutely been so she could be more effective in both of her jobs, rather than constantly waste time running from one place to the other. But... She's kind of hopeful this will also make people more likely to visit the place. She turns her head to look at Hiyori and smiles.] Do you have a favorite flower?
hiyori doesn't think about it, falling into step beside ereshkigal and bumping into her playfully as they go like she used to do with yama and ami. before they started yammering about where they were going to go after school or what they were doing that weekend.
even with a teleport chip, she prefers the pleasure of walking with a friend. as efficient as it is, stopping the smell the roses (AS IT WERE!!!) is important. although roses, in their case, is more like wet concrete and burnt wire. ]
I hope so, too. The dead deserve to be remembered.
[ ereshkigal is likely more comfortable with both of her duties so close, too. she takes it so seriously. it's noble. maybe a bit overdoing it? as if she can talk. ]
I do, yeah! It's been cherry blossoms for a looong time. It's my favorite smell- [ she stumbles a little here, blinking rapidly ] My... favorite scent to use in shampoo and perfumes ever since I was a kid. I haven't been able to find one here that I really like yet, though.
What about you? You work with so many flowers it's probably hard to pick one, but do you have one?
[ There is no such thing as overdoing it...! That is until the reality of her human body catches up on her and she collapses of exhaustion, but she's not there yet. And besides Hiyori is totally overdoing it too, hadn't she half her limbs broken just a few months back? Hmpf! ]
Cherry blossoms are so pretty. [Now she knows what perfume set to get her for her birthday.] Mine is a similar color. Amarcrinum. There's a bit of a story behind it though.
[ And that's a bit of a long story, but thank goodness she's gonna skip most of the details. ]
Mother Tiamat awoke as a Beast and attempted to destroy humanity. And as she cannot die unless she's the last living entity in the world, she was virtually unstoppable... But Ritsuka thought of a loophole: to fight her in a world with no life - the Underworld. [Isn't her little grape so smart??] She wasn't happy with that of course, so she tried corrupting the Underworld itself with her chaos tide.
[ All hope was lost! And while she won't admit it, Ereshkigal had been panicking hard when it'd happen. Not only the world ending but her Underworld being corrupted? ]
But then... Merlin used his magic to turn the chaos tide into flowers-- Amarcrinum. [She looks up at the (gray) sky happily.] It was for such a brief moment, but my Underworld was filled with flowers.
[ That's her one most precious memory. Nevermind she kind of died, but she came back so it's all good. ]
[ GEH. p-point. but she's okay now! physically, okay! mentally...?
working on it.
ritsuka, the one she loves. a normal human, just like her, saving the world with a crazy but brilliant idea. and at the end of that story is a happy ending. life filling a world of the dead, ereshkigal's domain. ]
So Amarcrinum reminds you of that beautiful moment when your Underworld saw flowers for the first time. That's so lovely, Ereshkigal.
Is that why you decided to run a flower shop, too? And why it's nearby the cemetery? You want that moment where the dead are surrounded by flowers again?
[ She nods and smiles all the more brightly. This memory is very important to her... Honestly she would have been fine if her existence had ended there and then, there's no way this will ever be topped.
Buuuuut since she was allowed to keep existing, she might as well hope for the best! ]
It's always been my dream to fill the Underworld with flowers. But nothing's ever worked. [Her smile fades a bit. It's very much painful whenever she thinks about the eventual after. When this world and her world will both be saved, and she'll be back to her desolate Underworld. All she'll have left will be memories with nothing in her future.] Hopefully Tezcatlipoca's method will work...
[ ... Right, Hiyori probably has no idea what she's talking about. ]
We made a deal and he's going to teach me how flowers grow in the Underworld in his pantheon.
[ nothing's ever worked because it's the land of the dead. you'd need a very special flower to thrive down there, if one ever could. and so hiyori smiles with sympathy, wishing she could do something to help ereshkigal's dream come true as well.
but she's just a little human with no powers. only medical terms and diseases and diagnosis on the brain as far as her abilities go. martial arts moves. some archery now, too.
she can support it, like she does eresh's love. like she does eresh herself, doing her best to remind her she's not alone by spending time with her or being a comforting hand when she needs it. they can drink wine together and talk about romance and love and flowers and why those flowers mean so much to them.
tez-cat-li-poca...? aaaaah. another god! who can grow flowers in his - hiyori feels a flicker of worry. ]
[ D-Does she really give the vibes of such a naive goddess that she would take a deal that puts her in great danger? She would never! Nevermind she does in her future she just doesn't know about it yet. ]
He wanted to check in on this world's afterlife, my presence would make his ritual easier. That and he needed someone to help him in case something went wrong. [She shakes her head.] He failed and I had to carry him back to the hospital wing. [A sigh.] Nitwit.
[ They approach the flower shop and Ereshkigal looks for the keys in her bag. She hasn't realized yet she doesn't have the keys on her person (some things never change). ]
He has difficulties reckoning with the fact we're no longer gods in this world. [She looks at Hiyori with something of a worried smile.] Avoid him if you can. Unlike Yato and I, he doesn't value individual human lives very highly and takes great pleasure in fanning the flames of conflict.
[ So basically he's more like what most people expect gods to be like. ]
ok maybe. a little. that's not her fault, though! it's because she was in the underworld for so long and hiyori watches the people around her closely. too closely. after knowing ereshkigal for over half a year now, she's picked on some things. besides, she wouldn't say she's naive!! just
it's a common theme with the divine, that's all. SEE SHE WAS RIGHT TO BE CONCERNEDLKDGJD ]
So, neither of you found out anything about the Underworld?
[ seems like LILITH really is the only organization with that power. how did they get it...? is it by draining the divinity of the gods they summon? since now there's three hiyori knows of.
yato, ereshkigal, and this tezcatlipoca. beside her, hiyori's steps slow and she stares at the ground in thought as she rummages around in her bag.
nobody she'll get along with.... probably.... but ]
He must enjoy the kaiju fights.... [ AT LEAST SOMEONE IS??? ]
[ She nods at her question. It's not surprising really... Though she hopes if this world has its own goddess of death, she's taking some well needed break because she must be overworked as heck! ]
Yes, in his own way. [She marks a pause.] We are enemies in our world. He believes the future that awaits humanity to be a worse fate than their extinction, therefore he has chosen to become an enemy of humanity.
[ Ereshkigal is a firm believer in his approach being utterly stupid. When you're a disappointed parent, you don't kill your kid because they've become a criminal! You try to set them back on the right path. Sighs.
She looks increasingly panicked though. But not about that evil god. ]
[ ah. yeah. she can see why ereshkigal would be enemies with that type. someone quite positive about humanity vs someone who is quite negative would clash like that.
the divide between the near and far shore shows itself again. immortality and the curse of unending life. living long enough to see the future of humanity. among other things. the loneliness.
hiyori's left with her own thoughts on the matter. how, in her lifetime, she won't see what will become of humanity but how she wants to fight for them regardless. for herself. to be able to look at herself in the mirror. ]
... Huh? You... huh?
[ uh oh ]
It's okay! [ whether or not it is, doesn't matter. IT WILL BE OKAY. ] Um. Did you leave a window open maybe? Let's check!
[ she takes ereshkigal's hand and walks around the perimeter. ]
Worse comes to worse, Yato can teleport. Maybe he can find a way inside if we call him for help.
[ Ereshkigal follows her, but she has no hope. W-Where has she put those keys? Are they still in her room? Has she lost them somewhere? Has someone ill-intentioned stolen them from her to torment her??
There are countless possibilities! ]
N-No, I would never. [You bet she triples check everything is properly closed before leaving every single time.] I can teleport too, but that won't unlock the door...
[ She could break the door, but then that'll ring the alarm and bring the police! ]
I-I'm sorry, I was so excited to show you the shop...
wherever they are, hiyori isn't going anywhere until they find them. that's a promise. ]
... You wouldn't. [ diligent ereshkigal would NEVER. ]
Hey, don't worry about it. It, um... can be like an adventure for you and me. What if we checked on the cemetery in the meantime? Actually, if I can be honest, I didn't expect for there to be one. Everything is so high-tech now. It's a relief there are still some things I'm used to being around here and there....
[ hearing that sniff, hiyori rubs her back with a worried smile.
DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR LOVE....
hiyori follows, keeping quiet. respectful but also keeping a close eye on ereshkigal and that disappointed look on her face. she also wanted to see the new flowershop but there will be other opportunities!! it's not like she's going to disappear -
... ]
They're a bit like your children, aren't they? The souls of the departed that you look after. Or... I get that maternal feeling from you, anyway.
[ Ereshkigal shows her the path towards her office in the cemetery, but stops in her track. H-Her children? Well it's true she thinks of the souls that way. She's an Earth Mother Goddess after all, it's supposed to come naturally to her. Yet again so is Ishtar, and she's not the least bit maternal... ]
Yes. [She nods.] Human souls need someone to care for them. And I can never trust anyone else with that task. And besides...
[ She marks a pause, looking noticeably sadder. ]
... For most of human history, one out of two children would die before reaching adulthood. [It is a recent phenomenon, the very low rate of child mortality.] They're always terrified. They don't understand what's happening to them. How could they understand death when they never even had a chance to live?
[ But in spite of how sad she looked mere seconds ago, Ereshkigal is smiling. ]
I read them stories to help them fall asleep. I can't understand what they're saying, but they can understand me. When some souls have a particularly difficult time falling asleep, I take their cages with me and rest alongside them. [A pause.] And when they finally awaken, that means they are ready to move on.
[ such is the history of humans. awful, struggling, despairing and yet here they all are. still fighting giant monsters and innovating, years and years later. hiyori looks somber as well at the reminder of that bloody and terrible history they came from.
she's reminded of nora. how she was the same. a life taken too soon from her parents and everyone who might meet her. given another chance by being named a shinki.
hiyori smiles too at the story, moved by her dedication to others. a lovely and kind goddess to take care of the departed. ]
I bet you brought comfort to them when they needed it most.
... I know gods are created with one purpose in mind so of course you would be suited for it but... you still had a choice, too. You do now.
Nobody could do as good of a job caring for their souls as much as you, Ereshkigal.
[ Heh? Huh? T-That's a lot of complimenting to receive at once! That stuns the goddess. Is Hiyori trying to break her daily happiness ceiling? She doesn't even found the words to somehow refute the compliments. ]
Ah, uh... [Blinks Blinks.] T-Thank you!
[ W-Well, better head straight for her office so she can find something to totally change the discussion and take heat off her! There are a lot of clay tablets neatly piled up against the walls of the room once they arrive. Sure, she technically doesn't need them what with the implants, but it's easier for her that way. And she's not used to paper yet. ]
I-I think I have a copy of the keys here...!
[ And off she is to look for said keys in a corner of the room. That should give her plenty of time to put herself back together. ]
[ oooh, is there a ceiling? she likes breaking things. sometimes!!
hiyori smiles at her warmly. it's just the truth - or what she believes is the truth. what she knows of ereshkigal is that she cares very, very deeply and she's a good goddess. a hard-working goddess. hiyori tends to like those types of people the most.
noticing her awkwardness though (hehe), she'll let up on her. it's just like when she was a teen with ami and yama. teasing each other about this or that. immediately, her eyes spy the clay tablets and she wanders over curiously because she can't help herself. it's not unlike her habit to write in her journal and she grins. ]
Okaaaay. I'll wait in here!
[ and read some of these. it's not long before she calls out again. ]
[ Ereshkigal keeps on looking... W-Why aren't the keys there?! Is someone playing a prank on her? She always had a second set of keys there! Sniff. It's like fate itself is plotting to make her look uncool and pathetic in front of her friend! Meanwhile, the tablets are written in cuneiform - which may look like weird symbols at first, but Hiyori's implants should have a function to translate it if she wants.
Of course Ereshkigal doesn't know that, she's convinced no one but Godzilla even know of this old, dead language here. ]
Huh? Ah, yes. [She looks up and smiles.] I keep a detailed record of what I do.
[ Should Hiyori be truly shameless and decide to translate, it is indeed a recap of Ereshkigal's daily activities... Though at times it reads more like a personal diary than a record of her work. You wouldn't write "Today I've managed to stay five minutes all alone in a crowded park and even said hello to an old woman! I think my training is starting to pay off, but I still feel the anxiety increasing when people look my way..." in a job summary, after all. ]
I know humans use paper or digital storage nowadays... But that's more convenient to me.
[ there are a lot of people she can think of that would play a prank on her, honestly....
ereshkigal could never look uncool and pathetic in front of her, though. she KNOWS uncool and pathetic ok. even her journaling is more relatable than anything. she shouldn't read it but the ocular decides to do the translating for her automatically!! before she realizes, she's read the first line of a personal entry before quickly setting it down. it's not like her to read inner, personal thoughts. without permission.
that's yato's thing. who had read her journal once upon a time, too. it was what spurred him to -
to go after his father. and for her to chase after him. and
things get blurry after that. ]
It...! Must take a while, though. And there are so many. You're so dedicated in everything you do... [ over some time, she starts to relax again. she didn't read anything too embarrassing. just that she was in a park alone for a bit. hiyori doesn't know if she knows anybody that works as hard as ereshkigal. in everything. what can she do but want to cheer her on and praise her?? ]
I also journal. I've been doing it since I was a kid. On paper. I've been thinking of copying it all down into digital storage, though. You know, just in case it gets lost or something.
[ like her KEYS. with the tablets respectfully set aside, she starts searching a cabinet. mindful of what's inside, but being thorough. ]
Let's see. If I was Ereshkigal and had a second set of keys, where would I put them...?
[ if she were half-ayakashi, she could maybe sniff them out if they had a trace of divinity on them. hah. like a bloodhound. ]
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unfortunately, it doesn't last. there's so much on her mind. she just gets like this when there's so much to think about. so, it does help. for a bit.
feeling the bed sink next to her, she looks up from her knees and sees the hug incoming and accepts it. leaning into it and burying her face in her shoulder. as ever, the temperature doesn't bother her. if anything, it's nice.
all this thinking has overheated her brain and the cool pressure of the goddess's arms around her is a relief. it is warm, though. warmth to know you're cared about so far, far away from home. after a steadying breath, she leans back and smiles more fully and it lasts much longer than a second at ereshkigal. ]
I can't decide on the color of the bridesmaid dresses. Maybe a soft blue? Or, like, a champagne color? I'm thinking of a cherry blossom theme.
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Mhm... Perhaps a color that complements that of the bride's dress?
[ It all depends on what Hiyori will pick for herself! A white dress she wagers, but she knows some bride decide to go for different colors. And she can see the appeal, really? ]
When I think about weddings, I'm always torn between tradition and preferences. The traditional white dress is like a dream! But black is a much better color to wear... [Will Ereshkigal have a white or black wedding dress the day she'll finally meet her significant other? To be continued... someday!] Regardless, there's time for you to think about that, right? I know it's not easy...
[ It's going to be painful when she tells Yato she wants to delay, that's unavoidable. Even if he understands and agrees, it's gonna hurt just a bit to have and disappoint him...
She gently takes Hiyori's hands with her own and holds them close. ]
... But I'll be here to help you bear the burden if it gets too heavy sometimes, I promise.
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[ this is good. this is helping. if she gets into the wedding so much, she won't have to think about everything else. how afraid she is LILITH will decide she's useless and send her back. or something will happen to yato. she can't be sick to her stomach, sometimes, wondering if a kaiju will interrupt the entire thing out of nowhere. yato's mortality. her normalness. no matter how in love with yato she is, this voice won't leave her alone.
it sounds a lot like tenjin and kazuma.
that's not for now.
besides, she can hear those like ereshkigal just as loudly. louder, even. all the friends they made here who support them.
she clutches the hands in hers, squeezing gratefully. nodding - just a bit tightly, a bit jerkily. still a bit breathless from giggling at ereshkigal wanting to wear a black dress for her wedding. that's SOOOOO her. goth girl.
maybe she should get her one of those super cute lolita dresses she used to see in fashion magazines. with the frills and stripes and dark colors. ]
You should definitely go with black when you get married. [ not if, when. ]
... Same to you. Moving isn't easy. I did it with my family when we chose to live with my dying grandmother. And, I could use something else to focus on while I figure out what to say to Yato...
I feel like my head's going to explode with how much I was thinking about this.
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She wonders if Yato will be dressed with a top hat and a carnival mask? Maybe that's too over the top. ]
Black it shall be then.
[ She closes an eye in a wink and pulls away, before standing up. ]
Do you want to come to the flower shop? The opening is next week and I could use a hand to tidy things up.
[ What a liar, the shop is already totally ready and there is nothing left to tidy up! But she hopes it may distract Hiyori a bit. ]
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note to self: figure out a way to get her in a goth lolita dress ]
Hehe. Good.
[ letting her go, hiyori moves onto her feet too. at the invitation, she obviously brightens at the prospect of helping her and getting her mind off things. keeping her hands busy. moving her body. ]
Would I? You don't have to ask. I'm really good at cleaning! I'd compete with our housemaid at our old house all the time, haha!
[ already rolling up her sleeves. lie or not, the gesture means the most. besides, hiyori will find SOMETHING to do there. if not, chatting with ereshkigal a bit more would never be something she'd turn down either.
for the record? nothing is too over the tope with yato. ever. ]
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Let's go then!
[ And off she is to lead the way! Normally she'd use the teleportation chip to just go there instantly, but she's not sure Hiyori has it... And it's less anxiety-inducing to walk in the town when you have a friend with you! ]
The new flower shop is next to the cemetery... It's convenient for me but I also hope it'll also encourage people to visit the dead more often. [The idea behind the move had absolutely been so she could be more effective in both of her jobs, rather than constantly waste time running from one place to the other. But... She's kind of hopeful this will also make people more likely to visit the place. She turns her head to look at Hiyori and smiles.] Do you have a favorite flower?
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hiyori doesn't think about it, falling into step beside ereshkigal and bumping into her playfully as they go like she used to do with yama and ami. before they started yammering about where they were going to go after school or what they were doing that weekend.
even with a teleport chip, she prefers the pleasure of walking with a friend. as efficient as it is, stopping the smell the roses (AS IT WERE!!!) is important. although roses, in their case, is more like wet concrete and burnt wire. ]
I hope so, too. The dead deserve to be remembered.
[ ereshkigal is likely more comfortable with both of her duties so close, too. she takes it so seriously. it's noble. maybe a bit overdoing it? as if she can talk. ]
I do, yeah! It's been cherry blossoms for a looong time. It's my favorite smell- [ she stumbles a little here, blinking rapidly ] My... favorite scent to use in shampoo and perfumes ever since I was a kid. I haven't been able to find one here that I really like yet, though.
What about you? You work with so many flowers it's probably hard to pick one, but do you have one?
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Cherry blossoms are so pretty. [Now she knows what perfume set to get her for her birthday.] Mine is a similar color. Amarcrinum. There's a bit of a story behind it though.
[ And that's a bit of a long story, but thank goodness she's gonna skip most of the details. ]
Mother Tiamat awoke as a Beast and attempted to destroy humanity. And as she cannot die unless she's the last living entity in the world, she was virtually unstoppable... But Ritsuka thought of a loophole: to fight her in a world with no life - the Underworld. [Isn't her little grape so smart??] She wasn't happy with that of course, so she tried corrupting the Underworld itself with her chaos tide.
[ All hope was lost! And while she won't admit it, Ereshkigal had been panicking hard when it'd happen. Not only the world ending but her Underworld being corrupted? ]
But then... Merlin used his magic to turn the chaos tide into flowers-- Amarcrinum. [She looks up at the (gray) sky happily.] It was for such a brief moment, but my Underworld was filled with flowers.
[ That's her one most precious memory. Nevermind she kind of died, but she came back so it's all good. ]
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working on it.
ritsuka, the one she loves. a normal human, just like her, saving the world with a crazy but brilliant idea. and at the end of that story is a happy ending. life filling a world of the dead, ereshkigal's domain. ]
So Amarcrinum reminds you of that beautiful moment when your Underworld saw flowers for the first time. That's so lovely, Ereshkigal.
Is that why you decided to run a flower shop, too? And why it's nearby the cemetery? You want that moment where the dead are surrounded by flowers again?
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Buuuuut since she was allowed to keep existing, she might as well hope for the best! ]
It's always been my dream to fill the Underworld with flowers. But nothing's ever worked. [Her smile fades a bit. It's very much painful whenever she thinks about the eventual after. When this world and her world will both be saved, and she'll be back to her desolate Underworld. All she'll have left will be memories with nothing in her future.] Hopefully Tezcatlipoca's method will work...
[ ... Right, Hiyori probably has no idea what she's talking about. ]
We made a deal and he's going to teach me how flowers grow in the Underworld in his pantheon.
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but she's just a little human with no powers. only medical terms and diseases and diagnosis on the brain as far as her abilities go. martial arts moves. some archery now, too.
she can support it, like she does eresh's love. like she does eresh herself, doing her best to remind her she's not alone by spending time with her or being a comforting hand when she needs it. they can drink wine together and talk about romance and love and flowers and why those flowers mean so much to them.
tez-cat-li-poca...? aaaaah. another god! who can grow flowers in his - hiyori feels a flicker of worry. ]
A deal? What was your end of the deal?
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Nevermind she does in her future she just doesn't know about it yet.]He wanted to check in on this world's afterlife, my presence would make his ritual easier. That and he needed someone to help him in case something went wrong. [She shakes her head.] He failed and I had to carry him back to the hospital wing. [A sigh.] Nitwit.
[ They approach the flower shop and Ereshkigal looks for the keys in her bag. She hasn't realized yet she doesn't have the keys on her person (some things never change). ]
He has difficulties reckoning with the fact we're no longer gods in this world. [She looks at Hiyori with something of a worried smile.] Avoid him if you can. Unlike Yato and I, he doesn't value individual human lives very highly and takes great pleasure in fanning the flames of conflict.
[ So basically he's more like what most people expect gods to be like. ]
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ok maybe. a little. that's not her fault, though! it's because she was in the underworld for so long and hiyori watches the people around her closely. too closely. after knowing ereshkigal for over half a year now, she's picked on some things. besides, she wouldn't say she's naive!! just
it's a common theme with the divine, that's all.
SEE SHE WAS RIGHT TO BE CONCERNEDLKDGJD]So, neither of you found out anything about the Underworld?
[ seems like LILITH really is the only organization with that power. how did they get it...? is it by draining the divinity of the gods they summon? since now there's three hiyori knows of.
yato, ereshkigal, and this tezcatlipoca. beside her, hiyori's steps slow and she stares at the ground in thought as she rummages around in her bag.
nobody she'll get along with.... probably.... but ]
He must enjoy the kaiju fights.... [ AT LEAST SOMEONE IS??? ]
Does he at least value humanity as a whole?
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Yes, in his own way. [She marks a pause.] We are enemies in our world. He believes the future that awaits humanity to be a worse fate than their extinction, therefore he has chosen to become an enemy of humanity.
[ Ereshkigal is a firm believer in his approach being utterly stupid. When you're a disappointed parent, you don't kill your kid because they've become a criminal! You try to set them back on the right path. Sighs.
She looks increasingly panicked though. But not about that evil god. ]
I-I don't have the keys...?
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the divide between the near and far shore shows itself again. immortality and the curse of unending life. living long enough to see the future of humanity. among other things. the loneliness.
hiyori's left with her own thoughts on the matter. how, in her lifetime, she won't see what will become of humanity but how she wants to fight for them regardless. for herself. to be able to look at herself in the mirror. ]
... Huh? You... huh?
[ uh oh ]
It's okay! [ whether or not it is, doesn't matter. IT WILL BE OKAY. ] Um. Did you leave a window open maybe? Let's check!
[ she takes ereshkigal's hand and walks around the perimeter. ]
Worse comes to worse, Yato can teleport. Maybe he can find a way inside if we call him for help.
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There are countless possibilities! ]
N-No, I would never. [You bet she triples check everything is properly closed before leaving every single time.] I can teleport too, but that won't unlock the door...
[ She could break the door, but then that'll ring the alarm and bring the police! ]
I-I'm sorry, I was so excited to show you the shop...
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wherever they are, hiyori isn't going anywhere until they find them. that's a promise. ]
... You wouldn't. [ diligent ereshkigal would NEVER. ]
Hey, don't worry about it. It, um... can be like an adventure for you and me. What if we checked on the cemetery in the meantime? Actually, if I can be honest, I didn't expect for there to be one. Everything is so high-tech now. It's a relief there are still some things I'm used to being around here and there....
[ yato keeps her sane.
and insane. ]
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Delusional.]R-Right...
[ She nods and takes her towards the cemetery, still looking more than a little bit confused and disappointed. ]
I wouldn't have agreed to help this world if they didn't respect the dead.
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DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR LOVE....
hiyori follows, keeping quiet. respectful but also keeping a close eye on ereshkigal and that disappointed look on her face. she also wanted to see the new flowershop but there will be other opportunities!! it's not like she's going to disappear -
... ]
They're a bit like your children, aren't they? The souls of the departed that you look after. Or... I get that maternal feeling from you, anyway.
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Yes. [She nods.] Human souls need someone to care for them. And I can never trust anyone else with that task. And besides...
[ She marks a pause, looking noticeably sadder. ]
... For most of human history, one out of two children would die before reaching adulthood. [It is a recent phenomenon, the very low rate of child mortality.] They're always terrified. They don't understand what's happening to them. How could they understand death when they never even had a chance to live?
[ But in spite of how sad she looked mere seconds ago, Ereshkigal is smiling. ]
I read them stories to help them fall asleep. I can't understand what they're saying, but they can understand me. When some souls have a particularly difficult time falling asleep, I take their cages with me and rest alongside them. [A pause.] And when they finally awaken, that means they are ready to move on.
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she's reminded of nora. how she was the same. a life taken too soon from her parents and everyone who might meet her. given another chance by being named a shinki.
hiyori smiles too at the story, moved by her dedication to others. a lovely and kind goddess to take care of the departed. ]
I bet you brought comfort to them when they needed it most.
... I know gods are created with one purpose in mind so of course you would be suited for it but... you still had a choice, too. You do now.
Nobody could do as good of a job caring for their souls as much as you, Ereshkigal.
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Ah, uh... [Blinks Blinks.] T-Thank you!
[ W-Well, better head straight for her office so she can find something to totally change the discussion and take heat off her! There are a lot of clay tablets neatly piled up against the walls of the room once they arrive. Sure, she technically doesn't need them what with the implants, but it's easier for her that way. And she's not used to paper yet. ]
I-I think I have a copy of the keys here...!
[ And off she is to look for said keys in a corner of the room. That should give her plenty of time to put herself back together. ]
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hiyori smiles at her warmly. it's just the truth - or what she believes is the truth. what she knows of ereshkigal is that she cares very, very deeply and she's a good goddess. a hard-working goddess. hiyori tends to like those types of people the most.
noticing her awkwardness though (hehe), she'll let up on her. it's just like when she was a teen with ami and yama. teasing each other about this or that. immediately, her eyes spy the clay tablets and she wanders over curiously because she can't help herself. it's not unlike her habit to write in her journal and she grins. ]
Okaaaay. I'll wait in here!
[ and read some of these. it's not long before she calls out again. ]
Hey! Did you engrave these?
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Of course Ereshkigal doesn't know that, she's convinced no one but Godzilla even know of this old, dead language here. ]
Huh? Ah, yes. [She looks up and smiles.] I keep a detailed record of what I do.
[ Should Hiyori be truly shameless and decide to translate, it is indeed a recap of Ereshkigal's daily activities... Though at times it reads more like a personal diary than a record of her work. You wouldn't write "Today I've managed to stay five minutes all alone in a crowded park and even said hello to an old woman! I think my training is starting to pay off, but I still feel the anxiety increasing when people look my way..." in a job summary, after all. ]
I know humans use paper or digital storage nowadays... But that's more convenient to me.
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ereshkigal could never look uncool and pathetic in front of her, though. she KNOWS uncool and pathetic ok. even her journaling is more relatable than anything. she shouldn't read it but the ocular decides to do the translating for her automatically!! before she realizes, she's read the first line of a personal entry before quickly setting it down. it's not like her to read inner, personal thoughts. without permission.
that's yato's thing. who had read her journal once upon a time, too. it was what spurred him to -
to go after his father. and for her to chase after him. and
things get blurry after that. ]
It...! Must take a while, though. And there are so many. You're so dedicated in everything you do... [ over some time, she starts to relax again. she didn't read anything too embarrassing. just that she was in a park alone for a bit. hiyori doesn't know if she knows anybody that works as hard as ereshkigal. in everything. what can she do but want to cheer her on and praise her?? ]
I also journal. I've been doing it since I was a kid. On paper. I've been thinking of copying it all down into digital storage, though. You know, just in case it gets lost or something.
[ like her KEYS. with the tablets respectfully set aside, she starts searching a cabinet. mindful of what's inside, but being thorough. ]
Let's see. If I was Ereshkigal and had a second set of keys, where would I put them...?
[ if she were half-ayakashi, she could maybe sniff them out if they had a trace of divinity on them. hah. like a bloodhound. ]
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