avalononline | Video | UN: hijikata | Irregular Quest: Keep a Man out of the Sun for a Day

[It's after dinnertime on another rainy evening when a new video pops up on AOL. Hijikata has never posted anything on the network before (beyond responses to other people), so he's not exactly a familiar face... but those who do know him may be surprised by the changes to his outfit and the large black wings on his back. He looks a lot more composed than usual and gives the camera a slow blink before starting to speak.]

My name is Arashi. I am the familiar of Hijikata-san, whose body I am inhabiting by means of familiar fusion to bring you this message. I am afraid that I find myself in need of some assistance.

[He seems to be in a hotel room, and attentive listeners may be able to catch the occasional high-pitched little noise in the background, as if there were guinea pigs or other small pets running around. Arashi keeps a straight face.]

It has come to my attention that Hijikata-san has been struggling to reverse the impact of the wishes that were made about two months ago. I cannot maintain the familiar fusion state for very long, so I seek the support of anyone willing and able to keep him away from the sunlight for a day.

[What the reclusive crow tengu isn't telling the viewers: due to the heavy rains he decided to check on his bond partner, only to find his hotel room full of mayonnaise mascots. When the flooding began Hijikata had fetched them in a panic from the smallholding farm the owners of which had been letting him keep them in an enclosure, and their presence immediately made it clear to Arashi that he never fixed his messed-up magic. Hijikata had just finished preparing a familiar fusion essence in his room for later use in an emergency, and ultimately it was used much sooner as a result of the ensuing fight.]

Please come to Room 306 at the main inn if you are interested. I cannot offer gold, but I am able to train users of wind magic and help awaken it for novice users of elemental magic, or otherwise I can offer some rare items.

Just as a warning, there are some... creatures here.

[The mayonnaise mascots are harmless, but kind of creepy looking in his opinion. They are unnatural, wholly unnatural. The sooner they disappear the better.]

(OOC: This is open for anyone, no dibs (after all we've got time loops happening around here!). Villains and pranksters are also welcome (after all Arashi is such an absent familiar that he wouldn't be able to tell who Hijikata's friends are, or if he has any at all). If you'd like to plot anything specific out I have my CR meme post here!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Mukuro pulled a face at that comment.]

'Purely emotional', huh...

[Her glance turned to the bag a moment, before she focused back on the familiar.]

Guessing you don't actually give a crap so long as he's not inconveniencing you, right?

[...Mukuro, evidently, didn't see an issue with insulting someone who was offering her a reward.]

[Arashi looks sincerely confused at the question... as much as a bird-faced person can. He takes a moment to respond.]

My concern was for Hijikata-san's continued existence in this realm, as well as my own. I believe that constitutes an objective cause for alarm and apprehension.

Uh huh... Okay, but like, how long did it take you to realise there was a problem going on? Please tell me you haven't just been ignoring him since I saw you having a bitch fit at the tournament an age ago?

[She was starting to get a picture, and it was not one she liked at all.]

...How many times have you even spoken to him since he got here anyway?!

Hijikata-san is a self-sufficient person.

[That pretty much answers her question, no doubt...]

I cautioned him to take care of his affliction as soon as I first saw him taking his mascot creatures for a walk after your expedition had returned from the Forest of the Fisherking, and I come to his aid whenever he calls for me.

[That happened twice so far: once when Hijikata and Ken needed help harvesting nuts to make medicine for the sick townsfolk in winter since the branches couldn't hold their weight, and once when Hijikata and Karma were pursued by a dullahan and needed someone to take its head off their hands. In Arashi's mind he's a perfectly reliable familiar.]

That's not answering the question and you know it.

[Yes, that answers her question, and she looks very grumpy about it.]

Aren't you guys supposed to be like, our mentors or whatever? You know what I want from you- I want you to do your damn job!

...Don't make him just call for you for you to show up, actually, you know, check in on him.

I never looked at my bond with Hijikata-san as a mentorship arrangement. Regardless, I will take your suggestion into consideration and visit him more frequently.

[If he's at all offended he's doing a fantastic job at not showing it, keeping his voice level and calm.]

I would still like to offer you a choice of modest rewards for your support of my partner, however I will understand if you prefer to decline.

Good- lazy-ass bird...huh?

[Wait, he was still willing to offer her a reward even after insulting him and claiming he wasn't doing his job right? Mukuro definitely looked a little surprised by that, especially as...well. It wasn't like she usually got thanks for her work.]

...Sure. Okay.

[Arashi really excels at keeping a cool head, if nothing else... as long as he can follow the argument, otherwise he gets confused rather easily. In any case he refuses to engage in uncouth insult exchanges. He walks over to one of the small seating areas in a corner not far from the elevators, sits down, and empties his pouch on the table, then points out each item as he explains its function.]

This black tourmaline ring has helped me enhance my wind magic, but it should likewise increase the strength of other types of elemental magic. From what I heard technomancy users can benefit from it as well. This moonstone will protect kinetic magic users on their travels, and the fae covet it as currency. finally I offer this elixir, a minor healing potion I brewed and spell-bolstered myself. Would any of these be of use to you, Junko-san?

[She followed him over, going to have a look at the items on offer- the items to enhance magic didn't catch her eye, but a healing potion on the other hand...that could certainly be a useful backup on quests.

She stared at the items for a few moments, before awkwardly pointing at the potion.]

Yeah, um...if you don't mind? I think it'd help me out.

Please have it, then.

[He places it in front of her and puts the other items away, neatly tying the pouch before putting in in his robes. He stays seated for another moment.]

Do you have any questions?

Thanks...

[She picked it up, examining it...magic potions, huh? They really were a strange concept to someone like her.]

...Oh- uh-...no. I think I'm okay. Unless you know what the weird plant we got given at the Solstice is, anyway.

I do.

[The familiars talk, and while the little plants at first appeared like novelty presents given to the off-worlders as a memento for their experience, some of them soon found out that similar plants are kept by locals for the express reason of being able to change their magic types.]

Those plants bear a single fruit every equinox and solstice, if I recall correctly. If you ingest that fruit one of your schools of magic may be realigned. It is a most odd phenomenon.

So they're not toxic, huh...good to know.

[Well, that was something she'd have to think about- her magic didn't align with her well, in her opinion, so if there was a way she could change it then that was something worth considering.]

...I think that's all. I'll give Hijikata a bit of time and go check on him later.

[Arashi inclines his head and gets up.]

Take care, Junko-san. Thank you for being a good ally to Hijikata-san.

[He really is thankful. He may not understand humans well, but he can see that she cares for Hijikata.]

Video | UN: hijikata | Irregular Quest: Keep a Man out of the Sun for a Day

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