divinetree | big dumb nerds I MEAN VALENTINES DAY SHIPPY POST

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.

Mm.

["We'll melt them all in one fell swoop. Just follow my lead, Mob."]

Yeah. I'll find them all. An exorcism is the easy part..

Edited 2018-02-16 09:18 (UTC)

Thank you. I really appreciate having your assistance here.

[The train soon arrives in Shibuya, and upon stepping off the train, Joshua allows the distraction he had set up to keep the Reapers from noticing his lack of presence in the city to fall away now that he's back. Not that they'll even notice that he had left to begin with.

Except, the moment he does, his cellphone suddenly rings. Joshua reaches into his pocket to remove an orange flip phone, and for a moment, he glances at Shigeo and Reigen.]

My apologies, this will only be a moment. [And then bringing the phone up to his ear, and his tone of voice suddenly seems to do a 180, far too chipper to be entirely genuine.] Why, Mr. H, what a lovely surprise it is to hear from--

["J, what were you thinking, leaving like that so suddenly? What if something had happened to the city while you were gone?"]

... My, nothing gets past you, does it? Relax, I was only gone for an hour at most. I very highly doubt Shibuya's underground is going to fall apart that quickly in my absence, "irregular spiritual activity" or not. Besides, I've brought along a pair of well-trained experts--

["So I noticed." This "Mr H"'s tone is a bit sarcastic though at this, before becoming serious again. "What were you thinking, leaving the city and bringing them here without telling anyone, let alone me?"

And now Joshua frowns, but he beckons both Mob and Reigen to start walking with him now toward the location he wants to take them to.]

Why? Because you're my Producer? That may be, but you're certainly not my mentor anymore, last I checked.

["..."]

Anyway, I need to get back to work now. These rumors about the new spirits that's got everyone upset won't resolve itself by doing nothing, you know.

["... Just... never mind. As long as whatever it is you're doing right now doesn't endanger anyone or interfere with the game."]

It won't. [A pause, before Joshua sighs.] Do you really have so little faith in me, Sanae?

["... I'll check in on you later, J."]

... Sure. It's a date--ah, but try not to stand me up again like last time, it's quite rude to leave a friend hanging like that you know.

["Joshua--"]

I'm joking, sir. Besides, this cute boy I'm with right now is much more enjoyable to spend time with than you anyway.

[And just like that, Joshua hangs up the phone on the guy...]

[... And he turns his attention back to Reigen and Mob.]

Sorry about that. Where was I? ... Ah, yes: the most common place to find some of the spirits of this city tend to be in the Scramble Crossing by 104. We should be able to see them once we pass these stores here.

[Mob nods, having not parsed any of the conversation, really. But the moment he steps forward, Reigen's hand grabs his shoulder, stopping him. The suspicious look is back in full force on Reigen's face, as he instead stares Joshua down.]

I think we're owed an explanation before then. You've got some kind of stake here - you're not normal, either.

[Mob opens his mouth, but shuts it - Reigen's never really reacted to Espers like this. On Reigen's end, well...

He wasn't about to drag Mob into another situation just like the Asagiri case.]

If we're here to clean up your mess, you're going to tell us what's actually going on, you spirit. You're outsourcing and endangering my student because you don't want to risk your own hide, don't you?

[At that, Joshua actually opens his own mouth in surprise, before he closes it, tilts his head a little here.]

Well, that's a rather curious thing to say. Not entirely untrue, granted, but only for the first part of what you said.

[Reigen was right. He's not normal. But didn't he say as much a moment ago, when he had told Mob about being able to see the dead?

Of course, there is more to that, and Reigen has certainly gotten slightly closer to the truth than the actual esper has. Impressive, really.]

What makes you think that this is my mess? Or that I called you here to help purely for the sake of my own self-preservation? If I cared about something like that, you wouldn't even be here. Neither would I, frankly, as I would have let the dead contend with this matter on their own instead.

"I doubt the underground is going to fall apart in my absence". A gang lord doesn't have a handle on spirits and the dead, so that must mean you're something else.

You're a kingpin spirit in this area, or something, possessing a human body. Maybe you're like what Dimple wanted and you've got everyone and everything in this area under your thumb--

I'm alright, Reigen-sho.

[Mob finally interrupts, though his expression is more dour than it was before - even to the point of being noticeable on Shigeo's expression more properly. Reigen turns to frown at his student, and the two understand at a glance - they're both wary about this turning into another Mogami situation. Even so, Shigeo continues.]

We'll still exorcise the spirits from our city. That is fair... they shouldn't be around here. Joshua-san... is a spirit named Mogami around here?

[There is a long, long pause before Joshua turns his attention to Mob, and for the first time, his expression is a little more serious rather than continuing to play coy.]

... I don't know, and that's what I want to check: one of the spirits mentioned that name, unsure if they had been truly exorcised from your city, or that they may have snuck in under the cover of the other spirits that migrated here. And if there's anyone that I don't want in my city, it's that one.

[Because even Joshua doesn't like rumors he's heard about that particular one. To think that people thought we were bad sometimes...

He then turns his attention back to Reigen as the teenager then gestures to the Scramble Crossing.]

The Underground is our name for the plane of existence that separates the dead from the Real Ground, or the living if you prefer. The only real difference between the two is that the dead can't be seen by the living, but otherwise, it's appearance is exactly the same. That traffic crossing isn't any different than it is to you, and only a very powerful spirit or Noise could change the appearance of the Real Ground from their place in the Underground.

... As for the second part of what you said, you are only half right. I'm not "possessing" the human body of another.

[And here, he smiles again, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.]

This is very much what I looked like the day I left the living for the Underground, Reigen-san.

Edited 2018-02-16 10:43 (UTC)

[The two of them are tense, and quiet, for a moment - though Reigen's looking to Mob, more worried about his friend than himself. "Mob, it's alright to run away," he gently reminds, but Shigeo nods to acknowledge it. He's quietly warring with himself, his aura belying his turmoil more than his face.

After nearly a full minute, Shigeo speaks, softly and shakily.]

I don't want to see Mogami again. But if he's here, I will try to deal with him. Anything less than Mogami... I'm not afraid of it.

Edited 2018-02-16 17:45 (UTC)

[So there is definitely a story to whatever had happened with Mogami when this boy had gone against them. For now, though, Joshua won't pry too deeply yet.]

Very well. If it brings you any solace, I don't plan on leaving such a burden entirely on your shoulders, as I will also be doing what I can to assist should they be here. [A pause.] And even if I don't agree with Reigen-san about the idea of running away, he's not wrong necessarily... but then, I'm not exactly the right person to get an opinion from on that, am I?

[He even laughs a little to himself at that, as if what he said just now wasn't a tad disturbing in hindsight, given what he had said about himself just a moment ago...]

Anyway, let's be on our way then, shall we?

[When they reach the Scramble Crossing, it's just as Joshua had said: by all appearances, it's a normal intersection for people to meet in that's surrounded by various mall stores and restaurants, with 104 looming overhead. There are people coming and going that seem to be entirely minding their own business or just chilling a ways by the statue of Hachiko several feet from them.

Except, there is a pair of seemingly normal-looking teenagers. However, while everyone else around them seems to pay them no mind, Mob may be able to immediately pick up on them having the aura of a spirit rather than a living person, as they talk to themselves in hushed whispers and appear to be looking at something on their hands with a worried look...

... Too distracted by whatever's on their hands, in fact, to notice something peculiar beginning to spawn behind them...]

[A frog-shaped spirit would be far from the most surreal thing he's seen. Even so, grabbing the thing with his psychic powers and floating it up, and towards him... it reminds him a little of floating frogs for Tsubomi's attention. The creature seems to not have expected to be so easily lifted up.

"Go ahead and melt it, Mob," Reigen encourages, and Mob nods.]

It's not that strong.

[It's not Mogami. Mob draws his fingers into a fist, and his powers tear the frog to pieces, dissipating it.]

That was one, right?

[He probably should have checked first.]

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tw: suicide implication

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