deathdefied | tengu are bad civilization

tengu are bad civilization

[So, hey, local hot nerd. Or maybe not so local hot nerd. Some time in the past, maybe, like a dumbass you decided to feed the local ravens. Since then, uh, well. The amount of ravens coming by has continued to increase exponentially. They follow you around town. Every raven for miles seems to recognize you. They keep leaving trinkets and gifts wherever you're staying.

And today, well. Today the entire local population is lined up as though waiting for someone, save for a smaller raven with some white feathers hopping around and trying to get your attention.

The fuck did you do, Itto Yasuhiro?]

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[He does seem to have noticed this. He's been back in the city to compile his notes for a book on folklore and urban legend, because Yasuhiro's best life mostly involves being a horror protagonist. He has even been documenting the birds showing up constantly, keeping track of the gifts they bring him, and even taking pictures.]

[But now... Now that's a curious sight. He's looking down at the one hopping around to get his attention, and even crouching down to look closer at it.]

Hello there.

[CAW. CAW!!! VERY LOUD CAW.

It's hopping up and down with something in it's beak? It looks like a miniature version of the wands they use to bless shrines...]

[He's actually holding out a hand for her to perch on, then, now that he sees she has something.]

Now, what do you have there?

[She's hopped onto his hand and dropped the purification stick in it. And then continued hopping up his arm to his shoulder.

All the other ravens seem to be watching very intently...and silently...]

Oh! You're friendly!

[He'll catch the little stick and hold it up to look over, before reaching up to pet her with two fingers, nice and gently.]

[Oh my god he pet birb now they are married forever.

She's hopped up enough to start preening him!

...hey, it's weird. Does that wand seem to be getting bigger? Closer to real size?]

[He laughs a little bit at that, but like, after a second of being amused at the novelty of a bird preening him and petting a wild animal and all that it dawns on him that the stick is normal sized now.]

What?

[It's getting to almost hanbo-sized...

...say, isn't this a fan, more than a wand, now that he looks at it? A feathered fan, made of raven feathers...]

[He's looking it over, then, studying this. I mean he's a folklorist so the idea of finding a fan like this is only mildly shocked as opposed totally freaked out, but he'll turn it over, look it over in deep consideration.]

How in the hell....

[It's a tengu fan, for certain. But they're so rarely given to mortals, only as a boon for great service, or...

....well, it's hard to find stories of any other use for them, but there are rumors.

Anyway this bird is like, aggressively preening him. This white raven...]

I... I shouldn't be walking around with this.

[He says to no one, or perhaps to the ravens, as if asking them to confirm for him. He's turned back around to head for his office and apartment, on the idea the smol raven will get tired of this after awhile.]

[Nope she's not letting go of him. The preening continues unabated.

The fan, well. It feels kind of comforting, doesn't it? There's a certain kind of magic to it, to a gift given from tengu...it's easily obvious to anyone with magical sense he is the intended owner of the thing.]

[I mean, he gets that, but it's still not something he wants to be outside with. He's considering it... and her, now, pointing the fan at his shoulder.]

Why have you given me this?

...Don't you humans give betrothal gifts?

[She sounds genuinely confused by his question.

Also WAIT WHAT.]

Wait, what? Betrothal?

[He's turning around now to look at her, holding the fan a bit tight in shock?]

Well, yes, of course.

[She flaps a bit, but she's hopping off his shoulder to head for the center of the room and--

hello hot bird chick!]

I'm afraid you have me at a bit of a disadvantage. Why are we to be married? Who are you, exactly?

[He will seriously be examining the fan and maybe pointing at her again with it.]

We haven't names, the way humans take them...but I am usually called Saori...Lady of the Mountain.

[She tilts her head a little.]

Have you not been caring for my people? Diligently and generously, even?

Your people? The crows? Well... yeah, someone's got to help them. There's a heatwave on, and all.

[He seems to be considering this.]

But, that doesn't mean you owe me your hand in marriage. It' the modern world. I wouldn't take something so important from you because of a debt of honor...

[Itto you're actually making more of a case for being her husband like that, not less.]

A debt of honor...? [She blinks, and laughs, shaking her head.]

I'm not paying a debt! Rather, instead, it is such kindness and even-handedness that brought me to this conclusion. Ravens are considered pests and ill-omens, even in a world like this, you know?

[He tilts his head some.]

I mean, sometimes they are, but they can't help it, they were born that way... They're not bad birds.

[He laughs a little helplessly.]

Saori... Do you even know who I am?

[And does it matter when he smiles like that?]

Itto Yasuhiro, folklorist and scholar...you are especially fascinated with unique local mythologies, it's why you bought an apartment here of all places, and why you've been trying to figure out how to fit all the local raven myths into your current paper, even though we both know it doesn't suit it at all.

Also, I'm not sure you own a pair of jeans that isn't as tight as humanly possible?

[Stalkerbirb knows what's up.]

And yet all I know about you is that your name is Saori... and you are surprisingly affectionate. You know, if this work is successful, I'll have to move back to the city, right? Would you want to still come with me?

[He'll put the fan on top of his desk, and then turn back to face her. He seems a bit thrown, but a folklorist would be all about this, wouldn't he?]

I never said which mountain I was lady of, Yasuhiro.

[:> :> :> :> :>]

So you came all the way out here for me, then?

[He shakes his head.]

And what you want is... to be my wife?

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