01 - a cassock would probably be very heavy if it were drenched like this

[paladaddy]

Who: Shiro Fujimoto, plus anyone who happens to come across him
When: Very shortly after his arrival
Where: The plaza
Style: setup is prose, but I am open to prose or action
Status: Open to everyone!

In the plaza that afternoon, there was a man. He appeared to be middle-aged, around fifty or so, though his hair had gone almost completely grey already. He was also very obviously a priest of some sort, what with his priestly garb and the rosary hanging around his neck and all.

Said old man also happens to be drenched from head-to-toe, and he doesn't look too happy about that fact.

He was very obviously confused, and he took a moment to look around and take in his surroundings, following the trails of coral to the huge piece right in the middle of the plaza. There he stopped and stared at it in disbelief. Then he took a cloth out of one of his pockets, removed his glasses, and attempted to clean the water droplets from the lenses. Of course, the cloth was wet too, so it just smeared around the water and did little to help. The man frowned at this, but he still put his glasses back on.

Finally he looked back at the big coral in the middle, and he said, "Well. This sure is...something." He was talking more to himself than anyone around him, but he could easily be heard.

He has a lot of questions, and once he's done staring in disbelief at the coral, he'll be looking for friendly faces in the crowd to bug for answers. He's still convinced this is the afterlife, though this isn't what he expected to find in heaven (or hell).

Comments

[spacecase]

[Arf Arf, what's that? A new person? He's dressed slightly odd, it rather reminds her of Night's exorcist jacket, yet it's still different. Jade's ears perk up, twitching curiously in Shiro's direction as she finally decides to gather an armful of towels and approach him.]

Hello! I think you need a few of these right now. [And she holds up the towels to his level.]

[paladaddy]

[Oh hey, a helpful young lady! The ears do make Shiro pause for a moment, but considering how she's being helpful instead of outright trying to kill him he figures she isn't a threat. Or possibly she's not even a demon, since ears alone don't make someone a demon.

He takes the towel gratefully and wiped off his face before using it to clean his glasses better.]

Thanks. I wasn't expecting to go for a swim today.

[Oddly enough, he doesn't remember passing through any water, but since the city is underwater maybe he just forgot that part.]

[keepsthefire]

[And passing by that old man was a much younger one but likely familiar one, albeit with a couple more years on him than Shiro would have remembered. Rin took a pretty regular path through the plaza whenever he was working or going home, but he'd stopped looking at new arrivals months ago. There was always a chance one of his friends might still show up, but after Yukio's disappearance he really wasn't holding his breath anymore.

It had gotten to a point where it hurt more to keep hoping, and was easier to just deal with them as they came, if they showed up at all.

Point being, even though he walked by the plaza that afternoon on his way home from a early shift, tail out, hands in pockets, earbud headphones blaring too loud music in to his ears, he completely went past the very confused priest and didn't even look up.

Yup. Rin Okumura just completely passed his father after not seeing him for almost two years. Herp-a-derp.]

+1 obnoxious death god

[symmetrophile]

No one does, when they first arrive. You'll need one of these, too.

[And suddenly, it's that guy approaching to join Jade in greeting the sodden, bespectacled man, coolly offering one of the Welcoming Committee's brochures.

Wow, that sure is a crazy dye job. Kids these days, listening to their awful music and apparently bleaching bone-white stripes in their hair around one side of their head.

That golden gaze of Kid's slides Jade a sidelong glance, mutely.]

[spacecase]

...When did you get here and how did you even know I was here?

[Creep!!! But other than that, she smiles at Shiro. Brief, sort of awkward, but obviously friendly.]

But he's right, there's a bunch of information in there that you'll need for living here. --Oh, that's right, most important thing to know is that you're stuck here.

[paladaddy]

[Shiro had already been checking the plaza out for a friendly face, since he sure as hell wasn't going to stand there all day until he drip-dried, but he nearly overlooked Rin as well. He wasn't expecting to see an older version of one of his sons just strolling through like nothing was wrong with the world. This is mostly because Shiro still thinks he is dead and this is the afterlife.

It's Rin's tail that catches Shiro's attention first. He's familiar enough with demons that he knows they tend to hide their tail, especially if they're mostly-human like that. By then Rin had walked by completely, so Shiro only sees the back of Rin's head, which admittedly is generic-looking enough that Shiro can reasonably ignore his thought of 'is that Rin?'

He ends up deciding to go bother Rin anyway, since a demon would more likely know the answers to the questions Shiro has anyway. Plus there is still that nagging thought at the back of his mind, despite how impossible it should be, and he has to find out if it's a case of mistaken identity or not. Weaving around the coral is difficult when someone doesn't know the paths, though, so he ends up calling out to Rin to get him to stop.]

Oi, wait a second!

[keepsthefire]

[Rin actually didn't mind being helpful to new arrivals, and he did stop from time to time, especially if one called out to him.

But it was a bad case of "one of those days" where not enough sleep, a long day at work, a desire to just get home and chill for a while combined with the fact that his music was way too damn loud and resulted in...

Rin continuing to walk on.]

[paladaddy]

[So many kids here, that's kind of depressing. But hey, people die every day, and maybe this city is here to give them peace or something. That would be nice.

Shiro is still not quite sure why he is here though. If this place is meant to give peace to people who died, he doesn't belong here. He made peace with his life a long time ago, or so he thinks.]

I had that part figured out already.

[He takes the brochure from Kid and glances at the front of it. The afterlife must be even busier than he expected if they make brochures for it.]

Wasn't expecting a brochure, though. Is Saint Peter that busy?

[paladaddy]

[Asshole.]

Hey!

[When he gets closer he can see the headphones, though, and it's not that hard to figure out what's going on. And since he can easily tell that this kid is a demon, he's more willing to punch him to get a response. Demons are tougher than humans, so Rin should be okay.

So yeah, he's punching Rin to get his attention. Hopefully it doesn't give you a headache, Rin.]

1/2

[keepsthefire]

OW!

[That did it. Not only did the nice flash of pain through the back of his head effectively get his attention, it knocked the headphones right out of his ears, prompting him to turn around with every intention of screaming at the random asshole that decided to deck him for no reason.]

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR?! YOU--

[keepsthefire]

... y... you...

[That... was certainly not a face he was expecting. A stranger, yes. Maybe Vanitas. Hell even one of the Trolls.

But not his father, standing right there in front of him, real as the day was long.]

...Dad... ?

[paladaddy]

Rin.

[Seeing Rin's face is more than enough of a confirmation. Even though he had been doubting it, something in the back of his mind had been telling him that yes, this is Rin. Must be parental instinct or something.

For a moment he's silent, trying to process all of this. While it might have been years for Rin, It's only been an hour tops for Shiro. He went from possessed, to dead, to 'good as new' and in some new place. And here is Rin, looking much older than he should have been. There is some mind fuckery going on here.]

You're taller than I remember.

[keepsthefire]

[Meanwhile Rin is just stuck staring. Yeah, sure, his mom showed up, and that was a whole new level of "Vatheon does weird ass shit" for him, but unlike with Shiro there was a distinct lack of emotional connection with Yuri. When he looked at her all he could think of was everything he didn't have growing up.

But Shiro... was everything he did have, and everything he missed so damn bad it made his heart ache at times.

He was there, standing right in front of him, and for a moment or two Rin's mouth works but no words manage to come out. Not even enough to tell his father that he's seventeen now, and how long it's been, and how he was so damn sure Shiro was never going to show up--

So he does the next best thing. Rin hugs him. Hard.]

[paladaddy]

[It's lucky that Shiro was healed before he was brought here, so hugs don't hurt him as much as they could. And public places be damned, he's hugging Rin back. It doesn't matter if everyone can see them, this is a very emotional moment for them.]

I'm sorry.

[He failed. He's dead, and since Rin is in this place he ended up at then Rin must have died too. Obviously there is some weird time shit going on but regardless it still means that he failed.

It was a stupid plan anyway. Why did he think for a moment that Mephisto would help Rin? That man only had his own plans in mind, he had no reason to put his neck on the line just because Shiro asked him to.]

[keepsthefire]

[Of course since Rin knows what Vatheon is, and how it has the power to bring the dead back to life for the duration of their stay, his thoughts are more along the lines of knowing just how damn temporary this is.

Even if Shiro stays for years, it's still temporary.

But damned if Rin isn't happy, while being so painfully heartbroken at the same time.

He wouldn't admit it out loud, but those are tears adding to the already damp clothes Shiro's stuck in, and a quiet sob even escapes before his voice is finally found again.]

D... don't be... I-I'm the one who fucked up... 'msorry...

[paladaddy]

No, if I had prepared better-

[If he had even thought that the seal on Rin's demon side could be broken, he would have had something ready. A backup plan, a safe place to go. Something other than "call this guy and hope for the best."

But as much as he regrets it, what's done is done. At least they were fortunate enough to end up in the same place, Shiro was so sure Rin's soul would end up in Gehenna when he died.

he pulls back from the hug, but keeps his hands on Rin's shoulders. As messed up as all of this is, he's at least trying to keep a positive attitude. Rin clearly needs that right now.]

But what's done is done. No sense in worrying about it anymore, right?

[keepsthefire]

[Rin could name ten things he could have done differently that day just off the top of his head without even that much thought (starting with 'not letting Shiratori goad me out when I was supposed to be ground') but Shiro was right. It was done. Neither of them could change that, and Rin had been moving forward ever since.

He had to. Any other option was giving up, and giving up meant dying. That was how he saw it.

Forcibly pulled back, he took a moment to rub at his face and dry the tears, pulling in a deep breath to regain some sense of composure with an agreeing nod. It was a bit embarrassing to have broken down like that, but while his face did turn a little red at the realization of it, he wasn't about to call attention to it either.]

Geez you're soaked...

[paladaddy]

Crocodile tears tend to do that.

[He says that jokingly, trying to poke fun at Rin. A few moments later, though, he gives a serious response.]

I'm not sure how that happened. I can only guess it's part of passing over.

[symmetrophile]

Oh, because you're ever so challenging to identify in a crowd, Jade. Honestly.

[This, with a brief roll of his eyes. His attention returns to the stranger, at whom he lifts both eyebrows.]

...Saint Peter?

[spacecase]

You don't have to be an asshole just because you apparently don't know how socially unacceptable stalking is.

[And have an eyeroll right back, you turd!!!]

...Saint Peter? Um. This isn't the afterlife, I think you are mistaken.

[paladaddy]

[Oh, kids and their multiple conversations going on at once. Shiro doesn't even bother with their little quibble going on. The second part of this conversation is more important anyway.]

I can't be mistaken, though. I definitely remember dying.

[He's not sure he would actually end up in heaven, but he should at least get the chance at judgement like everyone else.]

[symmetrophile]

I wasn't stalking you, I was here to visit the coral and happened to notice there are more people soaked to the bone than usual today.

Then I saw you.

[Completely unruffled by the revelation that the older man recalls distinctly his own death, the grim reaper addresses him properly:]

You're very much alive now, in any case. Welcome to Vatheon. This is Jade Harley, and I am Death the Kid.

[Totally taking over the conversation, wow, rude!!!]

Who do we have the pleasure?

[spacecase]

Ugh, controlfreak.

[She gestures at the brochure instead of...well, punching her unwanted companion.]

That should tell you everything you need to know, but Vatheon is not the afterlife in a...conventional sense. Yes it brings people that were dead here, but it also brings people that are alive.

I have to ask about your outfit...are you an exorcist like Night and Ryuuji and Rin?

[paladaddy]

[Oh goody, introductions!]

You can call me Fujimoto.

[As for the rest, he doesn't know anyone named Night or Ryuuji, but that last name...]

I do know someone named Rin, but he's not an exorcist. It's a common name, so that could just be a coincidence.

[But since these two seem to know about exorcists anyway, he's fine with answering.]

But yes, I am an exorcist.

[radiantwingedone]

[ Well.

Being soaked would be the first thing to take care of. Don't mind Duke bringing a towel over. ]

... Can take care of water in cloth as well, if would like.