voice, un: 46

[cranekin]

No festivals.
No fireworks.
No tests of courage.

What a terrible way to spend the summer in a new place. I might die from boredom!

(And yet, it sounds like he's having fun. Don't worry. He'll be fine.)

Why don't we share some tales of the strange and unknown? If we tell enough stories, something interesting might appear~

Let's see... The set up isn't quite right but a hundred stories will probably do.

ooc: feel free to thread jump and react to stories/etc!

Comments

[osake]

I didn't forget it, honey, but the rest of you left such an impression before I got it.

[ as if she didn't just want to piss her off more. ]

That said, what's an oni-killer like you doing in a place where evil spirits linger? Here to crash the party?

[wingclip]

Would it upset you if I said yes?

[She pointedly does not touch her wrist. Ugh, so what if she was here first.]

On the contrary. I happen to like ghost stories quite a bit.

Not that it's any of your business!

[osake]

Come now, have some decorum, Shi ～ no ～ bu.

[ rolled and enunciated like a purr in the back of her throat. ]

Here I thought you were so happy to hear me again that you went out of your way to reach out.

[wingclip]

That's quite a conclusion to jump to!

[Wow!]

Everyone here would like to enjoy the stories, you know. I can't have a troublesome oni dropping in looking for humans to frighten.

Isn't that enough of a reason?

[osake]

Not when you're the one killing the mood so spectacularly.

The thrill of being frightened is the point. Am I wrong?

[wingclip]

Not really! But there's a fine line between being caught up in a ghost story and being quite literally in the presence of a man-eating oni...

Unless you're saying I should believe you're really only here to listen?

[Pfft.]

[osake]

[ there's plenty of that she can pick to rebuke — the use of literal, for one, seeing as they're comfortably across the city for now —

... but in truth, she has shuten pegged.

naturally, she'd like to entertain herself on the vulnerable moments these sorts of gatherings tend to produce. she's here to see if the tellings shift toward a location and be present for it. but most of all, she's here to fulfill a role: to be the very evil spirit she'd evoked. ]

... Fufufu.

[ whether or not any of that would come to pass is up in the air. still, how funny. ]

Well, if you know me sooo well already, then I encourage you to keep your eyes on me. You just never know what a bored oni might do. Right?

[wingclip]

[The nerves beneath her skin itch with a need to reach for her sword.

Not necessarily to start artlessly swinging or anything— but for that comfort, that reassurance that no matter how strong this oni boasted to be... she could still cut her down in more ways than one.

How ridiculous, feeling this way while just listening to her.

... Calm down already.]

Oh, I intend to.

You may not be here physically but an oni's presence can permeate even the most mellow environments.

With that being said... I can't imagine oni enjoy listening to stories either.

[osake]

I'm happy you already think so much of me, dear. I'll try my best not to disappoint. ♡

[ that is, if the self-proclaimed oni-killer could keep her attention well enough. she's about to pry about the lovely little promise shinobu made her before they parted, but she makes her own supposition first. ]

I can't imagine what makes you think that. Oni star in plenty of stories, old and new, heroic and horrific.

[wingclip]

Did I not make the distinction?

[She doesn't even grace that first comment with a response. How typically self-centered for an oni like her.]

Oni are in many stories, often as a lesson to humans gone astray.

My thought was it seems difficult imagining oni sitting down and listening to stories... wouldn't oni rather just devour the story teller and be done with it?

Ah, was that too mean? ♡

[osake]

[ nice spoken heart, returned. ♡

at the snap-quick response, shuten lingers, shrugging and sighing and taking her time. ]

Only the truly mad don't know how to enjoy a good drink and the trading of stories. Mmmmm. Perhaps you only knew lesser oni?

[wingclip]

[Lesser oni?

Hah.]

I couldn't say. At the very least... you're definitely the first kind of oni I've met that's carried a conversation like this.

Now if only there was a name to go with that! Such a shame...

[osake]

[ ah.

the growing smile in her words makes them sharp and clear. ]

You want to know my name, sweetie?

[wingclip]

Oh, were you planning on remaining a mystery even now?

I can't see how that's very fair, considering I told you my name.

But I suppose it's expected of an oni!

[osake]

[ how typical. somewhere off-screen, shuten is tallying the times that temper flares like a biting flame. ]

Now, now. I never said anything like that.

[ all she did was ask a totally harmless question! ]

It's just funny, don't you think? For an oni-killer like you to want my name ... I guess I did charm you more than I realized.

[wingclip]

[Don't keep track of that. You'll lose count very quickly!]

Is that why, Miss?

I'll have you know I know the names of plenty of high ranking oni... I merely thought you'd want to be counted among them.

[osake]

Flattering me again? You'll make me blush over here.

[ a pleasant, thoughtful humming to string her words together. ]

How about this? The next time I have the privilege of seeing your pretty face, I'll tell you.

[wingclip]

[Ugh.]

The next time?

I don't believe I ever agreed to something like that, you know.

[osake]

Oh? Didn't you?

[ her words are swifter, equal parts cutting and excited at the barest hint of a human betraying her promise. ]

I distinctly remember your lovely fingers at my vulnerable neck ... stroking my skin ... asking me to wait for the moment you can take me head on.

[ sighs fill in the gaps of her phrases, recreating the imagery in her mind. ]

It enchanted me like nothing else.

[wingclip]

[Oh my GOD.

This is a public network, and yet this woman...!!]

Ah, did it now? How thoughtful of you to have remembered that.

I suppose you skimmed over the part where I mentioned pummeling oni!

[Because she's pretty close to trying right now!]