divinetree | big dumb nerds I MEAN VALENTINES DAY SHIPPY POST

[Typically, Joshua stays within the realm of Shibuya--whatever happens outside of his city is none of his concern, including the spirits that inhabit elsewhere in the world. Only those that live and die within Shibuya are the ones that require his divine attention, especially for the sake of his Reaper's Game.

But word can travel fast in the land of the dead. Spirits passing through spread rumors about a number of them having been exorcised in Seasoning City by a powerful esper, one who even went up against one of the most disturbing esper-turned-spirits known to many, Keiji Mogami.

It's enough to get The Composer of Shibuya's curiosity.

He's not supposed to leave Shibuya--as the being that practically watched over this city as their kami, their god, going outside of the city even temporarily could upset the spiritual balance of the city if he's not careful. Still, this Shigeo Kageyama is someone he wants to meet, and Joshua finds he doesn't have the patience to wait for an opportunity to manipulate a situation for the esper to come to him.

He spins some fabrications for the closest Reapers that he's busy with something, sets up some barriers to prevent other spirits in Shibuya from noticing his coming and going, and forces his spiritual energy to be pushed down deep enough that he can appear to the living or dead as the fifteen-year-old Joshua Kiryu he was when he was once alive.

When he arrives in Seasoning City, he finds himself drawn to the outside of a building. "Spirits and Such Consultation", huh... despite such a tacky name for a business, there's something he can sense in this spot, so he clasps his hands behind his back and simply looks up at the sign for a moment, considers whether or not he should try to go inside. He could also just wait outside and see if someone notices him here, and while good things come to those that wait, he's already decided that waiting isn't for him. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be here.

So, Joshua knocks on the door. Time to see if anyone's in today.]

Edited 2018-02-14 15:31 (UTC)

[Shigeo prefers to live without dwelling on where Mogami might have gone. He may have learned some valuable lessons from that nearly literal hell, but he prefers to grow and forgive - and forget.

He's forgiven Reigen, and is working today, since the man seems like he needs the companionship at the moment. Business is slow after that fiasco, after all. Shigeo will answer the door to keep Reigen from excitedly throwing it open.]

Welcome to Spirits and Such Consultation.

[He's still not great at inflection. He doesn't bother trying to feel this stranger's aura, a bit too emotionally drained. Instead, he's barely aware that his energy is rolling off of him in slow, lazy, heavy waves. It's been an emotional week for everyone.]

[Oh, he's cute is not the first thought he foresaw himself having here upon seeing the other boy that answers the door, but. It's fine, he can work with this.]

Ah, hello there... I'm sorry, is this a bad time? I was hoping to get a second opinion on an issue I've been concerned about, if you don't mind.

Ah, no, we're open. Please come inside.

[Inside is also an older man in a grey suit, looking extremely relieved to see someone that came in. Shigeo seems to just tuck himself aside to let Reigen take over - oops. He's remarkably oblivious to any sign that Joshua's interest had been piqued by him specifically.]

[Joshua listens to Reigen talk, nods along to his sales pitch regarding what they're capable of here, but it's increasingly apparent that the man has no psychic ability. The boy who let him in, on the other hand...]

I see. It looks like I've found the right place then.

[Joshua flips his hair here so that it's not hanging in his face too much before he offers a hand in greeting.]

My name is Yoshiya Kiryu, but you're welcome to call me Joshua if you'd like. It's a pleasure to meet you, Reigen-san... and you as well, Kageyama-kun.

[The offered hand is not just for the former, but to the latter to shake, too. Regardless of whether or not Reigen had actually given both of their names yet or not beforehand in his opening speech.]

[This guy reminds him a little bit of Teru. Shigeo bows his head, but after a pause, he'll accept the handshake as well. Shigeo didn't think a thing of it, but Reigen's scrutinizing Joshua with a keen eye.]

Do you know Mob from somewhere?

[Because Reigen sure did only reference his student as "Mob", not by his real name. Shigeo slowly blinks, not quite catching on any reason to be suspicious - but Reigen's staring down Joshua more intently. He has more reasons to suspect that people are going to be out to deceive him or defame him, after all - and he doesn't want to tangle up Mob in all of that.]

Only from second hand information, I'm afraid: I heard about a psychic that was around my age working here too, and that was the name I was given when I asked.

[Joshua tilts his head a little curiously at Shigeo, then.]

Would you prefer having me call you "Mob" as well, or something else?

[Oh. Someone actually actively looked for him, then... if Shigeo feels any particular way about that, he's not letting on directly.]

I don't really mind. Just not Shige-chan.

[Hee Hee]

Wouldn't dream of it, dear.

[Josh no you literally just met him don't try to fluster him already--]

As to the matter of why I'm here... by any chance, have either of you been to Shibuya before?

[If Joshua was attempting, he'd have to try much much harder and more straightforwardly than that - it seems to fly right over Shigeo's head.]

I don't think so.

[Reigen hos and hums for a moment. "Mob, we had that case of the possessed umbrella over there."]

Oh. Never mind. I remember that.

[Interesting. Joshua wonders vaguely if that was during his game with Kitaniji, otherwise he would have noticed that sort of presence sooner if he hadn't been so distracted at the time.

He can only imagine what Shigeo's reaction was, if he saw any dead people running around doing weird tasks as part of the game.]

Well, I'm from there, actually, and some people I know were talking about spirits recently. Namely, that several from here are suddenly coming over to haunt Shibuya instead.

Oh. I see. We can exorcise them for you for a fee--

["No, no, let's do this one for free, Mob," Reigen interrupts, still casting a suspicious look at Joshua.]

...Shishou, you haven't been paid all week...

[At that, Joshua blinks in surprise himself. Despite the lack of psychic ability, Reigen is proving to be more perceptive than originally given credit for.]

Are you sure? I don't mind paying whatever you ask for, if it'll help put everyone at ease.

["You are just a teenager. I guess we'll come take a look at what you're talking about, first," Reigen says rather definitively, though Shigeo goes to his desk and pulls out the usual payment sheet anyway. "If there's a big enough problem, we'll see about prices."]

What kind of spirits...?

[Joshua considers how far he wants to go with the truth, before he decides he has to allow some of it here to get the information he's curious about.]

From what I have been told, most spirits that co-exist in Shibuya are almost entirely human in appearance, but recently there has been an increase in spirits appearing in a more... eccentric form.

[And here, he describes an example of something that you'd be more likely to find in Seasoning City, with odd colours and exaggerated features rather than appearing like a completely normal person...]

... And, it seems they all have the same aura that the spirits in this city typically have by comparison, hence why we believe that they originally came from here. Why they've suddenly started coming to our city, though... we're not sure of the whole story, but it's become enough of a concern for us.

Mm. I wonder why they're leaving the city. Maybe Dimple knows.

["Where is he, come to think of it," Reigen muttered thoughtfully. "Then again, maybe that spirit showing back up spooked them..." he added, tapping his chin thoughtfully and leading the way to the train station. Shigeo seems to know which spirit that Reigen's talking about, because he tenses.]

[Joshua did not come here by train and has not been on one in a long time, which might unintentionally show in the rather curious look he gives the station here as he listens.

"That spirit", huh... but, rather than immediately ask, Shigeo catches his attention with the way he tenses at the mention of it. So Joshua turns his interest toward him instead.]

Are you alright, Kageyama-kun?

[Oh. Joshua's perceptive. Shigeo tenses a little more, but looks a little embarrassed. (Probably.)]

I'm alright. I just have to perform an exorcism.

...Has anyone in Shibuya been possessed?

Ah, I see. If there's anything that I can do to help you feel more at ease though, please let me know.

As for your question... hmm. [Joshua hums in thought, considering.] There was an incident not too long ago regarding some suspicious pins--whomever wore them suddenly started acting strange and saying... ah, what was it again?

[... Oh, yes--]

"To right the countless wrongs of our day, we shine this light of true redemption, that this place may become as paradise. What a wonderful world such would be..."

[A pause, and then he shrugs]

... Yes, I know, ridiculously creepy and overdramatic. That said, I haven't seen anyone wearing those pins anymore, so I can't say for sure if that incident's related to what's been happening now.

[Shigeo relaxes a little. That didn't sound like Mogami, at least.]

Has anyone gotten hurt?

I think there has been an abnormal tick in the number of deaths that normally occur, but...

[...]

As strange as this may sound, I'm actually concerned about the other spirits in this city and how they're reacting to these unfamiliar ones more so than the living are.

So you are an esper.

[Maybe, at least. Joshua doesn't read like an evil spirit like this, but he doesn't read normally, either.]

Are you friends with a spirit, too?

["Maybe you've seen a floating green booger somewhere over there."]

[At that, Joshua smiles.]

Bravo, Kageyama-kun: while I would not say that I'm like most others, I've been able to see the dead from a very early age. I've even befriended a few of them over the years, hence my interest in seeing that this matter can be resolved on their behalf.

It's rare to find friendly spirits... I'm glad that they're safer where you are.

But the scariest spirit seems to have disappeared from here, so the rest that spilled out probably won't be a big deal.

I certainly hope so. It would make things difficult otherwise in calming them down, even with the rumors and such spreading around about the ones coming in from your city.

That said... [There's a pause, before he frowns a little.] They are friendly, but that doesn't always mean that it's "safer" for them or even the living sometimes, I think.

for the good bean

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