[She's been through this song and dance before -- sharing memories that are best kept secret. Monday was an absolute shitshow in every way, and not for the first time does Tamamo think to stay in her bedroom.
But it will do her no good to hide when there are things to do, information to find... She does her absolute best to avoid people at every turn, but it's when she reaches the library--]
My...mirror...?
[She is stunned, glancing backwards in the direction of her room before very slowly stepping forward towards the ornate mirror that hangs on one of the walls. Even with her entire soul warning her of the danger, Tamamo still lifts her hand as if to touch it.]
[ because I haven't planned anything yet, Shiraishi seems to have avoided memories so far. Items lying around on the ground so suspiciously had drawn his interest, but he'd avoided touching ones he'd come across so far, in case they were a trap.
he's in the library again, scanning books and trying to file away information, but he can't help but pay attention when he hears Tamamo's almost mystified voice-- ]
-- Ah, you should be careful. What if it's a trap?
[She doesn't have the chance to answer him. Once she's touched the mirror, they're both enveloped in the haze of a barrier, and Tamamo can only stiffen with a hand pressed to her forehead as her mirror crumbles to ash.
But when the fog clears, they appear to be in a festival instead library. The ground is dirty, the tents are crude, the weather is frosty, but the people are laughing and dancing to music and drink, while some others have split from the group, walking to a nearby temple.
Whosever perspective this is -- they follow the humans who disappear into the temple, talking quietly to themselves.
"I don't know why you humans bother. It's not as if I have control over the fate of your unborn child. Gods do not work that way."
It will be obvious in an instant: the voice belongs to Tamamo. And though it will be difficult to notice, given the first-person perspective, more than three tails swing back and forth. The normally teasing voice is detached and void of all emotion. On top of that, the humans who kneel in front of an altar do not seem to notice her, as if the fox talking to them is but a ghost.
The two humans -- a couple -- ask the altar for guidance, for prosperity, for a healthy child to love and nurture. The fox's tails twitch as if in agitation.
"I do not understand either of you. Always with these prayers. What happens to your child is no concern of mine."
... And still, the couple will pray at the altar until they have placed a small offering on top, and together they leave Tamamo standing there to stare at the gift. She drops her head, staring at the floor. The tips of nine, golden tails comes into view, illuminated in the darkness.
"I do not understand... you will likely both die in the winter. Your child will never know its parents, if it lives at all... Just how do humans continue to thrive like this...?"
Her voice is musing, wistful. Even sad. Tinged with a lonely jealousy.
"... Is that what love feels like, I wonder?"
The scene ends, though Tamamo and Shiraishi remain trapped in the barrier. The woman beside him sighs in exasperation.]
[ apparently they get uno memory each so this'll be a Blast.
After the initial memory starts, Shiraishi takes a moment to observe the new surroundings they've found themselves in. The tents, the dancing, the temple that takes up a large part of the memory -- and the scene that plays in front of him.
He watches, without speaking, until the scene fades away, and he turns to speak to Tamamo-- ]
You'll have to share whatever your secret is, women out there would kill to hide their ages as well as you d--
[ -- but it doesn't last. There's a warping sensation, and a different memory fades in (30:00 - 32:20). The lighting is dim, and the world outside is dark and Shiraishi is crouched in an underpass, a round calico cat clutched in his hands. A young woman in a police uniform and a winter coat stands nearby.
The conversation is something and nothing -- just Shiraishi talking to the cat, teasing it for gaining weight and a warm smile on his face, and explaining his reasoning behind naming the cats after numbers. There's just too many, you see?
But the smile drops off his face eventually.
"Stray cats live life lazy and free. I bet it would be amazing to live the kind of lives that they do. Though with that freedom comes the uncertainty of knowing you could die at any time."
"Um... From my standpoint, it seems like you live your life pretty freely, as well." The girl speaks up from behind him, watching him. There's a pause, and then that smile is back on his face.
"I do?"
The scene ends, similarly to Tamamo's, leaving them in the barrier, that looks like it might be fading. ]
There's never any certainty, is there? Freedom to do what you will when you want, but the uncertainty of no guidance and not knowing when you'll die is a heavy pay off.
Don't be coy. I've no intention of drawing any ugly truths from you. It's an observation, nothing more -- consider it payment for bearing witness to one of my oldest memories.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
winterfish
W3, Tuesday
Date: 2019-10-29 02:57 am (UTC)But it will do her no good to hide when there are things to do, information to find... She does her absolute best to avoid people at every turn, but it's when she reaches the library--]
My...mirror...?
[She is stunned, glancing backwards in the direction of her room before very slowly stepping forward towards the ornate mirror that hangs on one of the walls. Even with her entire soul warning her of the danger, Tamamo still lifts her hand as if to touch it.]
no subject
Date: 2019-10-29 05:40 pm (UTC)he's in the library again, scanning books and trying to file away information, but he can't help but pay attention when he hears Tamamo's almost mystified voice-- ]
-- Ah, you should be careful. What if it's a trap?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-30 01:50 am (UTC)But when the fog clears, they appear to be in a festival instead library. The ground is dirty, the tents are crude, the weather is frosty, but the people are laughing and dancing to music and drink, while some others have split from the group, walking to a nearby temple.
Whosever perspective this is -- they follow the humans who disappear into the temple, talking quietly to themselves.
"I don't know why you humans bother. It's not as if I have control over the fate of your unborn child. Gods do not work that way."
It will be obvious in an instant: the voice belongs to Tamamo. And though it will be difficult to notice, given the first-person perspective, more than three tails swing back and forth. The normally teasing voice is detached and void of all emotion. On top of that, the humans who kneel in front of an altar do not seem to notice her, as if the fox talking to them is but a ghost.
The two humans -- a couple -- ask the altar for guidance, for prosperity, for a healthy child to love and nurture. The fox's tails twitch as if in agitation.
"I do not understand either of you. Always with these prayers. What happens to your child is no concern of mine."
... And still, the couple will pray at the altar until they have placed a small offering on top, and together they leave Tamamo standing there to stare at the gift. She drops her head, staring at the floor. The tips of nine, golden tails comes into view, illuminated in the darkness.
"I do not understand... you will likely both die in the winter. Your child will never know its parents, if it lives at all... Just how do humans continue to thrive like this...?"
Her voice is musing, wistful. Even sad. Tinged with a lonely jealousy.
"... Is that what love feels like, I wonder?"
The scene ends, though Tamamo and Shiraishi remain trapped in the barrier. The woman beside him sighs in exasperation.]
Really? As if I want to show my age like this.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-30 07:52 pm (UTC)After the initial memory starts, Shiraishi takes a moment to observe the new surroundings they've found themselves in. The tents, the dancing, the temple that takes up a large part of the memory -- and the scene that plays in front of him.
He watches, without speaking, until the scene fades away, and he turns to speak to Tamamo-- ]
You'll have to share whatever your secret is, women out there would kill to hide their ages as well as you d--
[ -- but it doesn't last. There's a warping sensation, and a different memory fades in (30:00 - 32:20). The lighting is dim, and the world outside is dark and Shiraishi is crouched in an underpass, a round calico cat clutched in his hands. A young woman in a police uniform and a winter coat stands nearby.
The conversation is something and nothing -- just Shiraishi talking to the cat, teasing it for gaining weight and a warm smile on his face, and explaining his reasoning behind naming the cats after numbers. There's just too many, you see?
But the smile drops off his face eventually.
"Stray cats live life lazy and free. I bet it would be amazing to live the kind of lives that they do. Though with that freedom comes the uncertainty of knowing you could die at any time."
"Um... From my standpoint, it seems like you live your life pretty freely, as well." The girl speaks up from behind him, watching him. There's a pause, and then that smile is back on his face.
"I do?"
The scene ends, similarly to Tamamo's, leaving them in the barrier, that looks like it might be fading. ]
-- That was uncomfortable.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 03:40 am (UTC)[Her words are as scathing as usual, but her tone is... subdued, to say the least, and she watches the scene end with an arched brow.]
To think you know how to smile like that. I'm impressed.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 06:26 pm (UTC)[ he gives her a side eye. ]
I'll smile like that for the rare few. The cats especially.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 08:38 pm (UTC)[she knows damn well not]
-- I jest, of course. But yes, I would suggest you tread carefully this week, if you have any secrets to hide.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 08:53 pm (UTC)[ HEH HEH HEH. ]
True. I'm fairly good at resisting things. I would say the same to you -- especially if you've got more secrets that your longing for love.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 09:20 pm (UTC)[tone a little crisp, though she sighs soon after and folds her arms]
That person you saw and the one who stands before you are practically different people.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 09:53 pm (UTC)Is that person happier?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 10:14 pm (UTC)Not particularly.
[shrugging]
Freer in some ways, chained in others. There's always a trade off, wouldn't you say? Even if you achieve what you want.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 10:18 pm (UTC)There's never any certainty, is there? Freedom to do what you will when you want, but the uncertainty of no guidance and not knowing when you'll die is a heavy pay off.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 10:33 pm (UTC)[It's
not much of a secret, really, and it's why she offers it like it's of no consequence]
You were not wrong in your memory. Freedom comes at a heavy price.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 10:39 pm (UTC)[ hm. ]
Yes. It's a bit like a weight, if I'm going to put it in more basic terms.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 10:42 pm (UTC)And -- frankly speaking, you spoke as if you were shackled by something.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 10:55 pm (UTC)Did I?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 10:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 11:02 pm (UTC)Do you count a weight you never realised you had as a weight in general?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 11:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 11:09 pm (UTC)Hmm. I suppose the next question is whether you choose to keep carrying it.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 11:11 pm (UTC)Some are meant to be shed and discarded, elsewise your soul will never find peace.
... Others should never leave you, either as penance, or simply as proof that the past exists.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 11:19 pm (UTC)Maybe.
But I suppose that's enough deep soul searching for one day.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-31 11:27 pm (UTC)[Neither fussed nor disappointed, Tamamo places her hands on her hips]
... Not that that memory was very important to me, I'd still prefer you keep it to yourself.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-01 12:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-11-01 12:30 am (UTC)[Leaning towards him, amused suddenly]
That you know how to smile like you care for something? Fine, I'll keep my end of the bargain.
(no subject)
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