October Adventures

[mayoninofukucho]

WHO: Hijikata and ✨YOU✨
WHAT: Aftermath of the destruction of Celliwig and Lestari, TDM prompts (picking up some pets and joining the expedition to the Forest of the Felled), and Questing (smashing pumpkins and fighting the headless horseman)!
WHEN: Throughout October (except for the first couple of prompts, which are backdated to September)
WHERE: Camelot City, Ruins of Lestari, Ruins of Celliwig, Forest of the Felled
WARNINGS: Ghosts! So many ghosts! Also a graphic corpse description in Prompt 1B.



1) Aftermath (backdated to late September)

A ⦿ Ghostly Reunions

[When Hijikata woke up from his familiar fusion exhaustion a day after the battles against the dragon and the stone giant he immediately rushed to soak up all the news, and... well, it was devastating. His walk through the crowded city and back to his camp by the lake felt like drifting through a haze. His surprise was all the greater at what he found there: an odd assembly of about two dozen ghosts, huddled close to the large shadow dragon that lay with its long body protectively half-curled around the campsite, and his crow tengu familiar, who was relieved to see him well-recovered.

Arashi informed Hijikata that his spirit guardian, familiar with the location from its time of being sealed under his skin, had led the way here for the souls, but would only last another day or so before fading away. Given that a few of the ghosts had either died in the recent disasters or had been dead for longer, but were citizens of the destroyed cities, Hijikata decided to help them locate their loved ones, taking them back into Camelot and asking around on their behalf. It was bitter work that dragged through the night and into the next day, but he was able to reunite two boyfriends from Celliwig, both now spirits in their frills and frocks, and bring a woman from Lestari back to her family, who sadly had no death mage among them and were desolate to be unable to see or communicate with her. He ultimately had to give up on trying to locate the soul of a desperate man's sister who had perished in Celliwig, potentially lost to the stone giant.

After bidding the last mourning ghost farewell and passing by the hotel it occurs to him that he really should clear out and offer up his single room, so he quickly takes care of that, easily fitting his few possessions into his inventory-slots-enhanced camping backpack. Back outside he turns around to look back at the building that's brimming with activity as other outworlders move out and refugees move in.]

Thanks for having me.

[He says it quietly and to no one in particular. He liked living here. It was reassuring to have a safe place to sleep and shower and study, and he lived well on the breakfast for the first couple of months, back when he could afford to grab enough food for the whole day from the buffet. They'll have to ration it now, no doubt.]

B ⦿ The Water of Life

[Hijikata couldn't stop thinking of the ghosts he couldn't help, so only a day later he returned to the grieving husband and children whose mother he brought back to them. He found the family no less distraught than before over their inability to perceive her presence in any way (she hadn't been able to master object manipulation yet either), so he cautiously offered to attempt her revival. He had never tried to conduct any kind of necromancy, but he'd been flagged down by one of the autumn equinox ritual leaders and presented with one of the precious few bottles of revivification water.

So the small group rode to Lestari on Hijikata's prideful Black Star and a borrowed horse, one son riding with his father and the other with the samurai, while their mother floated alongside them. After a lengthy trip they saw the scope of the destruction where the southernmost mountain had stood. Hijikata decided to leave the children behind as he and the parents embarked on the grim task of inspecting the excavated dead that had not yet been identified. Ultimately the man was only able to recognise his wife's body by her clothing, so badly had the heavy rocks crushed her features.

Hijikata was doubtful if the water of life could really restore even such damage, but didn't let the hesitation show on his face and put to glass bottle to the corpse's jaw... and once it was emptied (and he and the man were holding their breath) the body miraculously began to rearrange all its smashed and broken pieces, like a rewound video. The joy on the ghost's face when she felt her heart beating again was worth all the doubt and trouble, and when she dove back into her body and embraced her sobbing husband Hijikata felt vindicated. He was only able to restore one person to life, but it made a difference none the less.

As the couple reunites he slips away, wanting to let them have their moment, and wanders around in the rubble where excavation efforts still continue despite most people being accounted for by now. His expression turns cold as he remembers who is responsible for the devastation, despite having been welcomed and housed by Lestari.]

Kymbyr, you better run far away.

[He lights himself a cigarette, takes a long drag and exhales the smoke. If he ever gets his hands on the necromancer things will get very, very ugly.]


2) Yuureisengumi

A ⦿ Candle Night

[When refugees from Lestari start selling their candles in Camelot, promising dreams of the dearly departed, Hijikata buys one without much hesitation. He's a little anxious about the possibility of having to relive of how each of them was taken from him, but if he's going to do this death mage thing, then he'll do it with his whole heart!

When he goes to sleep in his tent that rainy night, the candle burning securely away from flammable items, he doesn't dream of illness and fire and blood. Instead his dreams are peaceful. He's a teenager again, sitting on the poor countryside doujou's veranda next to the girl he loves, watching the fireflies dance in the golden evening sun, and when she turns to him with a smile he doesn't sharply turn away, nervous and embarrassed, but summons all his bravery and smiles back at her. They're still both too shy to move closer, to touch each other's hands or say anything, but there's so much warmth in Mitsuba's eyes that it fills him up like a cup of tea with honey.

When the scene fades away he's a child again, playfully running after his older brother in the fields at dusk, eventually catching up to him and taking his warm big hand. Tamegorou, the one he named his spirit guardian after, gently pats his hair, then asks if he wants to ride on his shoulders. The view from up there is so much wider, and the golden sun paints the farmlands with a gentle glow. In this moment little Toshirou feels safe and happy.

Once more there's a change of setting, and this time he's a baby again, held close by his mother as she hums a song to make him sleepy. It's a hazy memory, but he can feel her love, and once again the golden sun is setting outside their poor little hut.

When Hijikata wakes up in the morning he feels so much stronger. People lost their homes, but the citizens of Camelot are all making room, building beds, sharing resources. People are injured, but the healers are working overtime, as they always do. People are dead, but he'll do his part on this front. He can't restore more of the dead to life, not without resorting to means he doesn't want to resort to, but he damn well can be there for them. Ghosts are spooky, ghosts are scary, but what does it matter? He can see them and hear them, so he needs to stand by them.

Later that day he can be found around Camelot, hanging up water-proofed recruitment flyers. They show a stylised, long-bodied white dragon silhouette on a pale blue background, and the text reads:]

Dead but determined? You want to do your part to protect the living?

Join the YUUREISENGUMI ghost patrol! We will ensure safe nights in Camelot.

Our first assembly will be at 5:00 PM on October 6th by the lakefront east of the city.

[He even attached a tiny map with a marker where his camp is located. This totally isn't a bad idea. Right?]

B ⦿ Not Quite a Puppy Parade

[Against all odds none of the ghosts who turned up to join Hijikata's ghost patrol possessed him and walked him into the lake. As a matter of fact most of the would-be members were among those who had never left the surroundings of the camp, unsure where they should go after Hijikata's spirit guardian vanished 3 days after it was born. With some of them still having left and some others having arrived the number remained at about two dozen, which made Hijikata happy.

A couple of ghosts turn out to have been dead for longer, so they're quickly declared division leaders and each assigned a dozen subordinates to teach in the basics of... well, being a ghost. Hijikata, of course, isn't only there for decoration, so he heads into town to get relevant books from the library. It may be tricky to find instructive works on ghost magic, but he'll work with what he can find!

On the way back, though, with only a couple of books in his sling bag, he notices some commotion in the town square, and upon investigation finds the pet adoption fair in full swing. Of course, it figures that pets were also saved from the destruction but may have lost their owners... the samurai looks around with curiosity. He isn't much of a pet person, but the chicken-sized compsognathuses remind him of his archaeopteryx partner whose help was so invaluable in catching up to the stone giant.]

How come these aren't more popular? I'll take two.

[The happy volunteer hands him a pair of the small dinosaurs, most likely siblings, given how they've been sticking together in the enclosure, and immediately they start snapping at his face, hands, anything in reach.]

Hey!! What the-- bastards, behave!!

[Yeah, this probably wasn't his smartest idea either.]


3) Felled not Forgot

A ⦿ River Rapid Rumba

[When Hijikata hears that an expedition will set out to the Forest of the Felled he decides to go along (the compsognathuses will stay behind and be looked after by a pet minder... best of luck to her!). He wants to help with the investigation, but he also wants to visit the kind old man's hut to pay his last respects. He was sad to hear that the elder passed away, though comforted by the knowledge that Emet-Selch was looking after him in his final days.

He rides on Black Star, carrying his usual stuffed camping backpack along with his knight equipment. When the Bridge of the Pure of Heart comes within sight his faith in himself wavers... he's sure that he only made it across by a 51/49% margin of purity back in winter, so who's to say that he wouldn't fail this time around? But it seems like Glewlwyd has a different plan. As the naiads rise from the river and expectantly look the party of visitors over Hijikata quickly decides to take the most direct and blunt approach possible. He's never been a flirt or a charmer, so he sets down his backpack and starts taking out some small treasures.]

Madam, let me be honest: I really just want to get across the river. Would you be so kind to help me pass in exchange for a present? Please choose whatever interests you.

[He sets down a 'chameleon facial' potion and a few gemstones. What is this, a bazaar?! (OOC: You can play "his" naiad if you want, and I'll gladly play your character's!)]

B ⦿ Forest of the Fachan

[Once inside the cursed forest the wind howls so spookily that Hijikata is immediately on edge. The silent stone giant that's visible across the tree tops doesn't help the atmosphere either. He sticks close to his fellow expeditioners as they remove all kind of hex- and spell items from the trees... but gradually they all spread out, and before long he gets the horrible, eerie sensation of being watched from behind his eyelids whenever he blinks. Isn't it getting dark too fast? Shouldn't they turn back?

He's about to ask when he hears the soft sing-song voice in his head. "No more dead, no more live, no more singing by my side. Break the quiet, make some noise, I'LL BE BREAKING MY NEW TOYS". He turns to whoever is nearby, already drenched in cold sweat.]

H-h-hey, did you, uh, d-did you hear--

[That's when the sun sinks, and that's when the rotten stench starts filling the air, and that's when the creature appears with its one leg, one arm, bloody mouth, barbed flail, and altogether horrifying appearance. And if whoever is with Hijikata was hoping for protection by him, who's a samurai and a knight and a death mage, he's no longer where he just stood a second ago. He's already running.]

C ⦿ Campfire Stories

[After the encounter with the fachan Hijikata is, honest to God, scared mindless (thank goodness his ghosts didn't have to see him like this...). Once everybody reassembles at the campfire, sharing the remaining provisions and trying to shake off the terror of the forest, he'll be sitting terribly close to his seat neighbour, occasionally looking over his shoulder in paranoia and muttering into his mug of hot tea.]

I won't be able to sleep ever again... or maybe, maybe if I buy more of those green candles...


4) QuestBoard

A ⦿ Pumpkin Mayhem

[Ultimately Hijikata did manage to visit the old man's hut in the morning before the expedition departed the Forest of the Felled again, and when he spoke to the elder's ghost he could hardly hide his grief. Despite only having met him a couple of times his kindness left an impression on the samurai. The old man gently comforted him, even inviting him to visit as often and as long as he'd like, and when Hijikata explained his duties towards the ghosts he recruited in Camelot the conversation took an unexpected turn, with Hijikata eventually agreeing to take the old man to Camelot so he'd be able to reunite with old friends who might also be recently deceased, and in exchange the old man leaving his hut and the surrounding area open for the Yuureisengumi (the name gave the elder pause, and when Hijikata explained that it means 'Ghost Selection Group' he asked "Then why don't you just call it that?"... a conversation that may pop up many times in Hijikata's near future).

Back in Camelot the expedition volunteers disperse, and the ghostly old man bids Hijikata farewell for the time being. Back at his camp by the lake Hijikata finds that a few of the recently dead managed to master minor object manipulation and -possession in his absence, and when he checks the QuestBoard and spots the pumpkin patch problem it seems perfect to put their skills to the test. As such anyone out to decorate or subdue pumpkins on this fine day will see Hijikata marching up, positioning himself at the edge of the field, and surveying the scene for a moment before snapping orders at what seems like the empty air (unless the observer happens to be a fellow death mage).]

Team A, go after the vampire! Team B, bring me the cat!

[The pumpkins in question, which had been chasing innocent carvers around, suddenly halt and turn towards the swordsman, who waits with his cigarette polluting the air. Once they arrive in front of him he simply slices them in half with his sword after a brief command of "Out!".]

Good work! Well done.

B ⦿ Don’t Lose Your Head

[Relocating the Yuureisengumi to the old man's hut was easy enough. Hijikata cleared the camp of his belongings (not without experiencing that bittersweet feeling of farewell again, given that it had belonged to Riou), stuffed everything into his hammerspace camping backpack, gathered all the ghosts in a large bottle to ensure than none would be left behind, held the compsognathuses on a tight leash despite them biting his calves bloody, and activated a Celliwig totem.

From the ruins of the Splendoured Court it's not a long journey to the Bridge of the Pure of Heart, but since Hijikata first stops to speak with those still busy with the excavation work and the burials of the dead he learns that a dullahan - presumably the one whose head he had transported across the island on a dark web job months ago - has been attacking the volunteers, so he decides to stay as part of the defence and send the ghosts ahead, given that they can cross the river without needing to use the bridge. He urges them to stay away from the deep forest and stick to the area around the hut and the bridge, given that the expedition wasn't able to clear away all wards and spell markers.

As he waits for the headless horseman to appear he wanders through the ruins, thinking back to the equally destroyed Lestari... one city crushed by the earth, one razed by the fire. It makes his own elemental magic seem small and insignificant, but he quietly resolves to train that much harder. Not now, though. He absent-mindedly starts collecting singed curtains from piles of ruined fabrics meant to be burned, apparently not minding how yellowed and blackened they are, and also picks up some equally damaged flasks and bottles, like a garbage collector.]

They'll probably like these.


5) Business as Usual (Quasi-Wildcard)

[Those who visit the area beyond the Bridge of the Pure of Heart in the days and weeks to come will find pale blue banners with a white dragon's silhouette put up around the place, and there will be tattered and fire-damaged white curtains blowing in the wind alongside them. Small containers made of glass, ceramic, wood and whatever else are wedged into the trees like bird houses - comfortable resting spots for ghosts (it's not like they need to sleep, but sometimes everybody wants to check out of both work and play for a little while).

Death mages will notice the ghosts, others may see small possessed objects flying around... Hijikata read that things with faces are easiest to possess, but didn't want to buy up Camelot's second-hand shops' dolls and plush toys during the refugee crisis, so he made his own simple teru teru bozu, which look like little ghosts anyway. The old man's hut is unchanged - it's so comfortable and cozy, even a man like Hijikata didn't have the heart to turn it into some kind of military cabin.

Visitors may find only Arashi here at times if Hijikata burned a totem to take some of his spectral subordinates to Camelot for grocery shopping and on-the-job training - whether it's a lost pet or an animated item causing trouble, the Yuureisengumi will subdue it and make sure it ends up back where it belongs. Perhaps you even have some business with them?]


[OOC: These prompts ended up exceptionally TL;DR because it was such a big event... if you'd still like any additional ones please feel free to hit me up on my plotting post! Also here are Hijikata's permissions.]

Comments

4-A

[gunmettle]

[ Sometimes you just do what you gotta do, which is why Juzo is out here chasing down rogue gourds as they in turn chase people around and generally menace them. He’s definitely taken worse jobs, but this is way up there on the weirdness scale.

And it’s made all the weirder when Hijikata strolls in out of nowhere to issue orders to thin air and it… seems to work? Juzo has a wriggling pumpkin held captive under one arm as he watches the display and decides to wander over. ]

Wish I could get things to do what I want just by hollering at ‘em.

[ Hi buddy. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata is happy to see Juzo again - looks like he made it out of the mess that was the autumn equinox in one piece! But before he can greet him or explain that he's got invisible helpers a pumpkin patch employee comes running up to him, desperately waving her hands in the air.]

Mister!! You're not supposed to cut them! How are we supposed to sell them now?!

Oh. Sorry, I thought...

[He sheepishly looks down at the sliced-up pumpkins (and so does his quartet of ghost subordinates who are hovering behind him).]

Please find another method!

Ah, yeah. Will do.

[As the poor employee runs off to prevent some other "helpful" people from using brute force on the field fruits he looks at the pumpkin that's wriggling in Juzo's hold.]

What have you been doing to keep them from flying around?

[gunmettle]

[ Juzo takes a moment to hand the struggling pumpkin off to the worker, it bitches and whines and wriggles the whole time, but she keeps her grip on it as she takes it away. ]

I just grab ‘em. [ He shrugs a little, as if it’s no big deal. ] Kinetic magic if I have to, but I got better reflexes than most, and I don’t think they see it comin’.

[ Some of the wayward decorations are starting to cotton onto the things Juzo can do, and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a game to give him the run around, but right now he’s been managing just fine. ]

How’d you do that? Stopping ‘em in mid-air like that. You a kinetic mage too?

[mayoninofukucho]

No, I've got some of my men with me. And women.

[That took him a second to add... the Shinsengumi back home is an all-male force, so he's still adjusting. He turns his head and smiles at the ghosts, who are inaudibly saying hello to Juzo or invisibly waving at him, simply out of reflex. None of them have been dead for very long.]

Ghosts.

[Just to clarify! He briefly addresses them, turning all the way around and getting more serious again for a moment.]

You heard what the woman said - deliver the pumpkins directly to the employees! Stay in pairs, do your best, and don't take any risks!

[As the quartet sets out on their task Hijikata sheathes his sword, apparently content to simply observe their work while catching up with Juzo (and honestly, it may be for the better, given his destructive tendencies).]

Kinetic magic really has endless uses, doesn't it?

[This is a less morbid topic than the recent devastation, but he does wonder how Juzo dealt with all that.]

[gunmettle]

[ Juzo just kind of watches all this happen in mild bewilderment – not that he looks any different as his gaze flicks from Hijikata to the invisible people he’s presumably issuing orders to, but the air of bewilderment is certainly there. ]

Hold on, back up. You can’t just say you got a whole squad of ghosts and gloss over it.

[ What the fuck, man!! ]

2B; puppy parade

[prontissimo]

[ A young boy nearby Hijikata at the same pet stand is having similar difficulties... However, he has only one compsognathus he's trying to wrangle, and wrangle it he has. He is straddling the small dinosaur with his hands wrapped tight around its snout, while the creature thrashes itself, trying to wriggle out of his grasp, shake him off, smack him with its tail. But the boy notices this guy having problems with two, and Alberto can't resist, uh, "helping"... if offering unwanted and un-useful advice can be called helping. As if Alberto knows what he's doing so well, clearly. ]

Hey! Forza! You've gotta show 'em you're the boss!

[ Being cheered on by a fourteen-year-old child with almost the same exact dinosaur problem, aight. All the same: Go, Hijikata, go!! ]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Even without Alberto's encouragement Hijikata was about to charge into full domination mode on the little dinosaurs, and he isn't about to hold back just because an innocent child is watching, on the contrary - the kid has it right!! He's not about to let those little beasts act all irreverent with him!]

Damn right I'm the boss!!

[He drops both compsognathuses on the ground, dynamically pulls a mayonnaise bottle from his uniform jacket, and holds it up while pointing down with the other hand.]

You want a treat, don't you two?! So behave! Sit!

[The dinosaurs stare at him for a moment, then one lunges at his pointing finger while the other one tries to scamper up on him for the mayonnaise.]

No!!

[prontissimo]

[ Th-That... was not what Alberto was expecting... He looks taken aback, eyebrow cocked, even leaning away a bit unconsciously. Even his dinosaur is startled by the sudden motion, but quickly takes advantage of Alberto's being distracted to make a herculean effort to free itself of the boy, which snaps his attention back on it fully, doubling down. He all but wraps his whole body around the creature's, dropping to his knees to press himself against it firmly. ]

Uhhh— What is that...? A-Are you tryna feed the monsters aioli?!

[ Why does he even have a jar of aioli on him?! Who carries that around?! Wonders the boy who filled his pants pockets with pasta on-the-go while training for a pasta-eating contest... Ahem. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Maybe Hijikata should act like a reasonable adult, calm down, and help the boy who's rolled up like a pillbug with his little dinosaur by now, but alas, his temper has long taken over. Sorry, Alberto, but maybe this can, at the very least, be a life lesson about cops being bastards!!]

What's aioli? This is mayonnaise! Ma-yon-nai-se!

[He actually manages to grab the compsognathus that's lunging at his hand, however that doesn't stop it from biting and scratching anyway... until Hijikata freezes it with his ice magic, which makes it shiver and shriek miserably. The other one, meanwhile, succeeds in snatching the mayonnaise - which, luckily for everyone involved, is in a plastic bottle rather than a glass jar (it may just be Hijikata's original one from Edo which he keeps refilling... which is a whole other can of worms).]

No!! Give it back!

[He tries to capture the dinosaur, eventually gets a hold of its tail and holds it upside-down, which prompts it to let go of the bottle... however at this point it's bitten full of holes, and the pale yellow condiment leaks out onto the ground.]

...

[The compsognathuses are out of commission for the moment, one still recovering from the ice spell, the other shrieking and thrashing as it's being dangled by the tail, and Hijikata looks about to go berserk at the sight of his destroyed mayo bottle. The tension in the air is so bad that people are moving away from him even further...]

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto and his compie are now both fixated on this scene, both of them staring with wide eyes as such brutality unfolds. They even seem to exchange an awkward side-glance with each other, at least in his mind, which really stirs Alberto's heart in good humor. The creature has stopped thrashing so horribly, and is now letting Alberto just hold it still, keeping it pressed against his chest with his arms and legs around it as he relaxes his own stance slightly. This is maybe the most bizarre adult he's ever met. He feels bad for the dinosaurs, though — especially the frozen one shrieking. And after the shock of the scene wears off after a beat, his own hot temper gets the better of him, though, eyes still wide beneath a furrowing brow as he speaks up. ]

Hey! Basta! They're just little lizard monsters! You're hurting them!

[ He's not about to jump to their rescue, having trouble with his own, but at least his has abated its fight some. He'll stand up to bullies always, though — even if they're crazy, scary, magic adults. Doesn't matter. Alberto will always speak his mind. He's Italian, it's practically a tradition, land or sea. ]

Continued from above (to avoid pagestretching)!

[mayoninofukucho]

A fisherman, I see.

[Why is this kid a fisherman?! Why does he have a job at all? How old can he be... 10, 12? Why isn't he going to school (unless he's doing that too)? Does he have a guardian?]

Who's that fireworks expert?

[Just so he can do a check-up on that person. It could be anyone from a genuine certified pyrotechnician - or pyromage, whatever - who likes supporting young talents, to some shady creep to likes to blow up little brats, and for better or worse, Hijikata can't switch off his cop mode.]

sababa!

[prontissimo]

Uhhh...

[ O-Oh no. A convincing start... ]

Well, I call him Nonno — cuz he's grumpy and has grey hair, y'know, like a grandpa. But, um, his name is kinda long, and I know he's Italian, sooo, uh—

[ He gives a thoughtful look skywards as he quite obviously pulls a random name from thin air. ]

Giacomo? Wait, no. Giovanni. It's Giovanni.

[ ...It's neither. It's Gokudera. Oh, boy... ]

[mayoninofukucho]

Giovanni, got it.

[No, he hasn't got it. If he knew that it's Gokudera he'd be completely at ease right away, given that the bomber is a good friend (despite their extremely mismatched occupations back home), but now he'll probably do a background check on every Giovanni in Camelot... and if there are too many he may ask Alberto to introduce him to the mystery man.]

And who's Asriel?

[He's seen him on AOL here and there, but since his username isn't his actual name he isn't putting 2 and 2 together right away.]

2A

[silvergarden]

[It had taken some time, but crafting a spirit-warding potion wasn't too difficult, all told. The brew is more or less completed, in theory! Rinea has several batches! But that's where her progress ends: theory. Crafting something to ward the dead is one thing. Putting it into practice.... is another.

Rinea is out running errands when she finds one of Hijikata's flyers not long after it was erected. She can see him, smartly dressed in a way that reminds her of Chris, putting up another copy some distance away. Out of curiosity she steps up to read the closer one. "Yuureisengumi"?...

It's a very curious sort of proposal on its own, but more importantly for Rinea: if this gentleman is working with ghosts, then maybe....!!]

Sir Knight!

[Rinea practically falls over herself to catch up with Hijikata, long skirts gathered in both hands as she hurries to close the gap.]

Sir Knight-- [Being hailed with such breathless vigor might be cause for alarm, but she looks slightly more excited than panicked.] Pardon me-- are you-- are you perhaps a death mage?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata's mind categorises Rinea as a proper noblelady as soon as he lays eyes on her. Her dress and mannerisms speak for themselves, and her polite way of addressing him immediately wins her some favour (he's used to far more disrespectful treatment, after all).]

Yeah, I'm a death mage. Do you need assistance?

[He can't see any ghosts in the vicinity, so if there were any harassing her they must have fallen back... but it could be a number of other matters. He only hopes that she won't ask him to revive anybody, because while he has sworn to not engage in necromancy it would be hard for even a man like him to turn a hopeful young woman away.]

[silvergarden]

[Rinea cannot help but be startled for a moment, now that she sees Hijikata up close; his short dark hair and stern eyes are so reminiscent of Berkut. But she recovers quickly-- Hijikata's casual "yeah" goes a long way to dispel the resemblance.]

Yes! Oh, but please forgive my rudeness. My name is Rinea. [She drops into a brief curtsy.]

I am an alchemist for Chris Lightfellow's militia. A man named Somnus asked for a potion that could ward off the dead, which I have created. But, I have no way of testing its effectiveness on my own, and do not know any death mages personally, so I was in a bind...

So, if you are so attuned to spirits as your flyers claim... [She draws herself up to her full height (short) to put forth her request, looking hopeful.] Sir Knight, could you perhaps lend me your time and expertise to test the potion? I would be very happy to repay you!

[mayoninofukucho]

[So polite..!! "Lightfellow" rings a bell; Hijikata has seen Chris participate in online discussions under that username. She left a very honourable impression on him. While he also got to know Somnus only a short while ago they didn't introduce each other at any point during their conversation, so sadly he's unable to make that connection right away.]

No need for repayment - not for me, in any case. Let's consider this a civil service. We'll have to see if we can find a ghost who'll be willing to help us for free.

[Usually he'd have no qualms about marching anyone asking for this kind of favour all the way to his camp, but Rinea is such a prim and proper lady, the idea of taking her out of the city into a remote area seems almost scandalous. As such there's only one close alternative...]

Would you be willing to accompany me to Loch Manor?

Don’t Lose Your Head

[heartlessswordsman]

[The entire reason Zelgadis had taken this job was because it reminded him of a very similar situation he and his idiot friends had come upon back home. Maybe he was feeling some sort of weird nostalgia? Who knows.

Perched atop a pile of debris, he spots Hijikata sifting through some junk. Letting one's guard down while there's an cranky dullahan on the loose probably isn't too smart there, buddy.]

What are you looking for down there?

[mayoninofukucho]

[It's been a while since Hijikata saw Zelgadis (and that's no wonder, because lugging him home through the lake while vaguely compromised by that goddamn curse transformation was one of those experiences he just wants to pretend didn't happen), so when he hears his voice his expression brightens up a little despite the dreary circumstances.]

Hey! Fancy running into you here.

[He walks up to the pile, confident that he'll hear the dullahan's horse long before it gets close enough to pose a threat, and puts a couple of blackened round bottles into his sling bag.]

I'm just picking up some stuff for my ghosts.

[heartlessswordsman]

[Even if Hijikata doesn't hear them coming, Zelgadis is in a pretty good position to see them. Seems clear so far, though, it's probably safe to chat.]

Your ghosts? What, are you collecting them now?

[mayoninofukucho]

Yeah. Well, recruiting. There are many of them around now.

[It really reminds him of the situation the samurai of his homeland were in after the sword ban, lost and adrift. To be fair, the local ghosts could probably simply resort to haunting old buildings and the dark forests besides the Forest of the Felled, but much like directionless samurai they, too, could easily give in to resentment and turn down a bad path. Hijikata hopes that he can make a difference.]

I see you haven't brought any zombies with you... so it's full-on revivals you're after?

[He totally lurked on Zelgadis' latest AOL post.]

pumpkin mayham

[luciing]

[ From an observer's perspective, it appears as if the man is controlling the pumpkins himself. Knowing that the man is a death mage, though, there's a more likely explanation.

Somnus approaches. ] Hail, Deathmage. You are here to fulfill the quest?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Being addressed like that makes Hijikata realise that he and Somnus didn't exchange names during their prior meeting, so he decides to belatedly do so.]

Hijikata. You can call me that if you want. And yeah, I'm here for the quest.

[He twirls his sword, looking oh-so confident... apparently he doesn't realise that destroying the pumpkins isn't part of the deal.]

I think we're going to have this sorted out in no time.

[luciing]

Somnus. [ A pause, then the lengthy surname: ] Lucis Caelum.

[ He turns to face the flying pumpkins, not bothering to dissuade Hijikata from using his sword. That quest poster simply wanted the vegetables caught; however, they did not specify whether they should be caught intact. ] Aye. Let us make quick work of these vermin.

[ He's not going to use a sword, though. Somnus gives a low whistle, and in swoops a great eagle-owl, coming to perch upon his arm. The bird is a juvenile, and one he's currently training.

Without delay, he clicks his tongue against and uses his other hand to point towards the flying pumpkins, which sends the owl off into hunting mode. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Somnus exudes an air of respectability (which Hijikata doesn't think of just anyone!), but since he offered his given name first he's probably going to call him by it. He has learned by now that in some cultures it's perceived as rude to call people by only their surname, so it probably won't be for the worst. He watches the owl fly off... is it Somnus' familiar, or a pet? He can't easily tell the difference most of the time. Since his quartet of ghosts is on stand-by he turns to them and gives them a smirk.]

What are you standing around for? Keep at it!

[They respond with a resounding "Yes, Sir!" (he already drilled that into them well enough) and take off after the pumpkins too. Hijikata's smug satisfaction may be obnoxious, but it's arguably an improvement from his despondent mood right after the disasters.]

This is good practice alright. These pumpkins are pretty harmless as far as animated objects go.