dreamcrystals | 1st Wish

[He's totally going to eat them, three-second rule or not. Not like he'll get anything worse than a stomach ache out of it.

That gets him snickering as he leans back on his hands.]

Does that mean you'll be the reindeer to my Santa?

[He doesn't quite realize how that might come across.]

[ their house is clean. yato is good at a lot of the OTHER chores around the house, but she can clean!! real good!!

what does

that mean

YATO??? ]

Huh?

[ innocent hiyori........ ]

[See? They make a great team!

Which is why his next idea makes perfect sense:]

What if I were to take on Santa's role while he's not here and deliver presents to people? We could give everybody some of my amulets and charms to spread Yatoism to all of Reverein!

[He's beaming.]

Ah, um--

[ not a BAD idea, per se?? she doesn't want to ruin that smile.

yatoism. ]

You are a Delivery God... [ SO IT MAKES SENSE. her hand falls away from her nose. ]

But it's important to give people the presents they might've wished for if you're going to be Santa, too. Not just amulets and charms. But... [ she smiles. what's the harm? it's the spirit of giving. ] I like it! I think it could be fun to put Capyper Inari in stockings or just share them as small gifts. Like stocking stuffers! They're pretty cute.

There's a lot to make if we want to make sure everyone gets one!

Yeah, I know. [He wilts a bit.] If I had a shrine, then there'd be a place for people to leave plaques with their Christmas wishes on them so I'd know what they want...

[Both hands go up at her approval, though.] Yeaaaah! That's a great idea! We can do up little stockings for everyone! They'll love your Capyper Inari! I know I do!

I'll make sure we have enough supplies to cover everybody, so all you have to do is work your creative magic! I wonder if there's a loom somewhere...

[ yato may wilt, but a softer smile tugs her lips.

how very 'god of happiness/fortune' of him to say. she moves to sit on her ankles, bunching her fists in her lap. ] All the more reason to build one, right?

[ hehe, she's glad yato likes the inari so much. yeah!! they'll do little stockings to put the inar--

WAIT STOCKINGS TOO?! this all... seems like a loooot of work...

which is even better that yato wants to do it, isn't it? okay. that settles it. she won't complain. ]

Somewhere, maybe? That's something else to look for when we're scoping out a place to put your shrine. Then, we're looking for that, I need to get clay and paint, and then we also need to look for a loom too, today. Does that all sound about right?

[Sitting cross-legged, he rests his hands on his feet with a nod.] Exactly! I need one in order to reach people and so they can easily reach me.

[Believe it or not, the inari are one of his most treasured possessions, along with his shrine, which he misses dearly. He even finds himself reaching for it at night only for it to not be there.

For the stockings he plans on making them himself, although if push comes to shove, perhaps he can get store-bought ones if they end up pressed for time.]

Sounds good to me! Sourcing the craft supplies should be easy enough, so I'll leave that to you while I scope out a loom and we can both look for some potential shrine sites.

I wonder what size we should look for? Like one just big enough to receive offerings, or should I dream bigger and aim for a proper room-sized one? What do you think?

[ maybe, someday soon, he'll wake up to another tiny shrine and another couple of inari on either side of it. just a little more polished than her first attempt.

hiyori wavers. or it would be better to say the expression on her face wavers. ah, right. right. yeah, they could cover more ground if they split up and do their own thing. makes sense.

maybe someone will come to hang out with her while she shops around. ]

Yeah, leave the supplies to me. No problem. [ why did she think they were going to... ugh. ]

What do I-- um. I think... starting small is a good choice. There's no reason to take up more space than necessary. I've always liked the feeling of the smaller shrines, too. Visiting them felt more personal.

Dreaming big isn't bad, though! If you got a proper room-sized one would you live there instead?

[Best Christmas present ever...! Aside from Yukine appearing, that is. But in some ways he wouldn't want to wish his shinki into a place he couldn't escape from.

Hiyori's expression doesn't go unnoticed by him, although he's puzzled by what the problem is. His own falters somewhat at her hesitation, leading to him biting the inside of his mouth lightly.]

Or I could get them if that's a problem. [It is his idea, after all.]

'kay, then. We'll search out a place for something small, just large enough for a shrine and a sign explaining what it's for. Won't be much good if people haven't got a clue how to use it! And I'll need a home shrine to hear their wishes, so we'll need to at least create one to go on a shelf.

[At her last question he springs forward, shaking his head vehemently.]

No way! It'd be my place of work and I'd stay here with you! [Something seems to occur to him and he pauses, blushing slightly.] U-Unless you wanted the place to yourself, of course.

Edited 2023-11-30 02:42 (UTC)

[ that really would be a christmas miracle. the sound of snow falling. it's own little white christmas. ]

N-no, no! It's not a problem! [ something is a problem, though? what is it.

while yato talks, hiyori nods along. she was already going to make another small shrine, there's no need to worry about it. shelfshrine.

she leans back in surprise as he moves forward, blinking. color lightly dusts her cheeks. just like him though, she springs forward. forward ENOUGH in her vehemence. ]

I don't! [ winces at her volume. ] I don't. I... 've been [ enjoying ] not minding living together.

[ being greeted in the morning by yato has been

unique. she can't give that up. sometimes, he sleeps in too much and hiyori has to knock on his door drowsily. but he doesn't answer and then she warns she's "coming in" and he's--

it's unique. much different from living with her parents. or her brother. unique isn't the right word... ]

[Maybe if they pray to Santa he'll grant their wish...!]

Alright... [He's so confused... Hoping that maybe being in closer proximity might make things clearer, he crawls over to her desk to rest his arms on it, peering at her curiously.]

That's good - to be honest I'd rather be here to keep an eye on you. I did promise to protect you, after all, and I can hardly do that if I live somewhere else.

[Plus he just enjoys being around her. For him, Hiyori is a piece of home. Is home, ridiculous as that sounds. She makes him feel comfortable and warm, even with the nagging and tugging on his arm to get up most mornings. It beats Yukine's kicks and annoyed shouts by a mile.

He's also finding that he enjoys having someone to make breakfast for, giving him a reason to practice his cooking skills far more than he normally would on his own given he doesn't need food.

Chewing at his lip a bit, he leans forward some more.]

Is something wrong, Hiyori?

[ she's been praying to the yatogami :(

--he did promise that. it's true. though she briefly glances at him, her eyes lower back down to her knees and there's a small purse of her mouth that formed when he said "keep an eye on you."

something is definitely up but she's keeping quiet. ]

N-no? I'm fine. Are you worried about my nose? It doesn't even hurt anymore, so don't worry.

[ absolutely not fine, but it involves him and ~feelings~ so she's clamming right the hell up.

those are all things hiyori enjoys, too, but yato has summarized their living together as him protecting and keeping an eye on her so that's what she thinks he's really here for. he's her god of fortune. okay but! she can protect herself! why can't he just... appreciate living with her like she does with him? is she weird? she's weird.

hiyori gathers her journal from the ground and stands, setting it on her desk next to her pen before pulling her scarf off the back of her chair. ]

I know there's a pottery place I can check first. [ she smiles. see? totallyyyy fiiiiine. ] They'll definitely have clay.

[Hiyori... ;; But he doesn't have the power of Santa...!

Why does he get the feeling he keeps putting his foot in his mouth despite his best efforts to be reassuring? No, he knows why - it's that subtle shift in her expression, that hint of unhappiness that he's somehow caused.

Yet she won't tell him what it is. Why...?]

It's not that. It's--

[Now it's his turn to clamp his mouth shut, swallowing his words and feelings. If she doesn't want to talk about it, then he shouldn't press her to. Yet at the same time they'll never get anywhere without some discussion. What should he do...?

Is it a matter of Hiyori not wanting to be protected, or him being too overbearing somehow? Should he take it back and let her take care of herself? But he can't do that, either. She's his responsibility as her God of Fortune and friend.

Following her up as she stands, he grips the edge of her desk tightly, squishing one of the marshmallows in his hand.]

You're going already? I-- [Don't want you to go.] I can come with you, if you want? I'll do my part later.

[ that's okay, he still has what santa has!! and that's to see people happy.

why, is a good question. one she won't answer. hiyori has the scarf looped around her neck, but her movements seem to slow as her hands lower. she does half-expect him to cling to her and demand to know what's wrong, but maybe he's learned from the last time he did that.

without even realizing it, he's stumbled into what's wrong. ]

I-I thought you wanted... didn't you want to go off on your own and find a loom?

[That's true!!

And people get on his case for not being more open... He huffs, shoving his hands into his pockets as he glances away. Why these things are so difficult when it comes to Hiyori, he doesn't know, only that they are. She does funny things to him, makes him stupid(er) in the most ridiculous way. Though he knows she doesn't appreciate a lot of his antics, so he's trying to be better about it.]

Well, I did, but... [I want to be with you longer. It applies to him, too.] I figured I could do that when you're busy with something else. A-And you might needs some extra hands to carry everything, right?

[Useful! He's just trying to make himself useful, yup.]

[ blink, blink.

people get on his case because he's a headcase sometimes.

what's with his sulking? he's not making any sense. about much sense as she's making to him, probably. the only right choice here is to BE HONEST. both of them. she's not exempt. ]

W-well, yeah, I probably will because of the amount of materials but... if you're doing this because you're worried about something, I'll be okay. Really. There aren't as many leaf monsters anymore.

[ that's what it is, isn't it? he's anxious because she'll be off on her own?

not because he feels the same way she does. ]

... Um, also, your hand is oozing marshmallow, Yato.

[It's hard to argue with that, although it does make him wonder if maybe he isn't being one right now about this. Is he being too creepy stalkery by wanting to accompany her? Normally Hiyori is always trying to peel him off her tail, so isn't it the same in this case? Why wouldn't it be? C-Confusion...]

Then I'll come with you! [He blurts that out before he can help it, immediately flushing afterwards.] Fewer leaf monsters doesn't mean none, though.

[Not that that's the reason he wants to come along; he knows she can handle herself against some trivial creatures. Why he can't just spit those simple words out is frustratingly mind boggling.

Glancing at his hand, he yanks it back from her desk with a shake. Stupid sticky sugar puff...!]

Tch! Just-- I'llberightback! [He storms off to the kitchen where he turns the faucet on his hand, aggressively fighting the marshmallow for superiority. It's winning.]

[ so he IS WORRIED. it's not a big deal!! look, she fought some of them already with brc. why is he blushing, though? yato...

hiyori stares blankly as he runs off.

it's not long before she rejoins him in the kitchen and hovers in the doorway, watching him try to fight the marshmallow on his hand furiously.

with a quiet sigh, she steps up next to him and grabs the bar of nice-smelling soap next to the faucet that she picked up while out and about one day. "yato, smell this! they said it's sugar cookie scented! it really does smell like it, doesn't it?" ]

Give me your hand. [ or she doesn't wait for him to because she's taking it in hers and starts to help him scrape and scrub his hand clean with the bar of soap and her fingers. ]

If you want to come with me, that's fine. [ more than fine. if he looks at her, she's pink in her cheeks like her scarf. ] But I'd... I'd rather you do it because you want to... do something together rather than have you hovering around because you think I'm in danger all the time or something.

[He always worries. Either about her safety or her forgetting or overdoing it and driving her away or other guys getting close-- There's a lot to keep him occupied in the fretting department.

It's slow going trying to clean his hand off with just one hand to wield the soap and scrape, and he goes at it with hunched up shoulders in his frustration, grumbling under his breath all the while. He's so invested in the activity that he fails to notice Hiyori until she's right up alongside him and taking his hand in hers.]

.....thanks. [It's muttered quietly as he goes still, allowing her to aid in removing the bits of smooshed marshmallow. His brow furrows at her next part, though, and he steals a glance at her. Is that what she thought he was trying to do? Just protect her? Well, he did keep mentioning being worried about her...]

I don't want to go along just because I worry about your safety, Hiyori. I... [He swallows, going back to staring at their hands.] I'd do it because I-I enjoy being with you. And I think it'd be fun to hang out together some more...

[ other guys getting close, huh....

what else is she supposed to think? yato stalked her and would follow her everywhere because it was some hobby (??) of his. he'd wear her clothes in what she thought was a cry for attention or, you know, yato just being weird again! when they did spend time together, yukine was usually there too or there was some underlying and bigger purpose. even yukine's birthday was for a reason! flash mob!!

point is, there's always been something going on behind the scenes. this time, it's just them. like their time at the carnival. actually, ever since they've been here it's been them just... hanging out.

but has he ever admitted he enjoyed being with her? not like she did. I want to be with you longer! his reasoning is a totally normal and nice answer. really... nice...

unintentionally, she squeezes the soap so hard that it slips out of her hand. ] A-ah! [ hiyori tries to catch it to no avail, fumbling and juggling until it lands in the sink. ]

... [ say something! don't just blush and stare. ]

Y, y-yeah! [ good start. keep going?! ] Yeah, um. That sounds, yes. [ UGH. ] I mean! [ she scrambles for the soap again and picks it up, setting it back where she found it and turning off the faucet with yato's hand now marshmallow-free. she misses turning it off twice before the water finally stops running. ]

It, it would be fun to hang out. It is fun to hang out!

[ writhing inside at herself. ]

[He wasn't wholly kidding about doing some pest control, if need be...

Perhaps he has kind of dug his own grave on this issue by playing the fool far too many times more than he should have. Like the boy who cried wolf, who'd believe him when he's being serious after acting like a flippant idiot so often? It makes him realize that maybe he needs to goof around less and try to be more genuine towards those he cares about.

Is it likely to happen? Not for a while, probably. It'd expose far too much of his heart, just like he's doing right now, and he's already afraid of being rejected by her. Though it sounds like she wants the same thing he does...?

His heart pounds a little as he watches her juggle the soap. It'd be worth a laugh if he wasn't so nervous right now. Instead, the best he can do is bite his lip and try to help her snag it without any success. All he manages to do is get in her way and brush hands with her, leading to him blushing harder.]

O-Okay, then. We'll go together, if that's what you want! [Because gods always try to make their clients happy! Ugh, no, that's not the reason.] U..Uhmm... T-Thanks for your help, by the way...

[He takes his hand back from the sink, now thankfully free of marshmallow and soap. Drying it off on a towel, he then turns to her with a nod. Keep it together, Yato! Play it cool!]

Did you want to go now...?

[ everyone is nice!!

and it's not impossible to be a huge goof but genuine when it matters. when you allow yourself to be a little vulnerable. yato's reward for that peek at his heart is hiyori being hiGHLY flustered. so much she can barely speak. and she's dropping things.

it's what.... she wants....... ]

Huh? Oh, um, sure. Anytime. [ did yato feel like this when she told him she wanted to be with him longer? kind of manic? like she wants to run away? yell into something that will muffle her voice? what is wrong with her?

hiyori looks up and her eyes land on his. something grips her heart and squeezes it. ]

Yeah. Yeah, let's head out. [ all she needs is her coat and shoes by the door. of which she shuffles off to put on and waits by the door. ] Are you going to be warm enough in that? It's getting colder. And the tree sickness is still going around.

[Well... okay, then.

Being vulnerable is something he's still coming to terms with and struggling to handle even now. He hasn't let anyone get this close to him since Sakura all those years ago and it's like relearning it for the first time all over again, if not harder due to having been hurt so much.

He's not sure why it's got Hiyori in the state she's in, but... he can't say he dislike it, either. It's... cute. It makes his heart beat that much faster and ache with a kind of longing he's never felt before. It's an emotion he can't quite identify, though he has an inkling as to what it may be.

And it terrifies him.

Never more so than when their eyes meet and something seems to pass between them, something unspoken and forbidden. He has to hurriedly tear his gaze away to get his own boots and jersey on, pointedly avoiding her direction for the duration.]

Eh, I might be cold, but the outfit's part of the advertising. I can't go around putting on other layers that'll ruin my trademark look. [In other words, he's going to suffer for his work. Woe is him! Pity him, Hiyori!]

[ ..... he's going to do it anyway, isn't he?

there's no denying that being frivolous is easier. that guarding your heart and your feelings is safer. if you've been hurt enough times, it becomes your shield. it's impossible for hiyori to fully fathom just how deep the scars on his heart go.

she feels vulnerable, too, though. as she steps into her shoes and shrugs on her coat, she still feels exposed and embarrassed for what just occurred between them. what has been occurring between them since they got here. it happened at the carnival, too. with talk of him taking her to see stars and broom rides and sharing foods and the bench...

uesama, the zombie plush, sits on her bed. ]

Your trademark look is going to be an ice sculpture after a while... [ pity him for his choices? he's stubborn for the wrong things but it IS his signature delivery god look. as her fingers touch the doorknob, she pauses and turns back. ]

What about a hat? Or gloves? Will that still ruin it?

[Damn right.

And he's been hurt plenty by a number of people, even if a fair amount of them were instigated by his own doing. Up until recently he'd simply resorted to hiding behind his own ego and superiority to keep from being hurt further, but after meeting Hiyori and Yukine, things have begun to change. He's allowing himself to get attached, to feel more, and show more in turn.

And that's a frightening thing, to have your heart laid bare for someone to see and abuse, if they should choose to do so. He can't show it all, of course, but little glimmers of what lies beneath his idiot exterior in times like these. Where Hiyori is genuinely worried about him and trying to help.

Straightening out his sleeves, he huffs, turning his nose up nobly.]

Maybe I'll win an award for my suffering. [Though as he comes up alongside her, he can't just brush away her attempts and instead manages a smile.]

I could do both without it being a problem, provided they coordinate well with what I've got going on. [He might actually look cooler depending on what he gets!]

TRUE arguably better than a beach episode!

everyone WAS p cute as lil snowbunnies

THEY WEREEEEE snow bunnehs

i love everyone weh

same sob

legit a manga where all characters are amazing...... even the villains.... >:[

you gotta admire trashdad for pulling the strings for 25 volumes lmao <<

THAT'S ABOUT IT THO FUCK THAT GUY!!!!

YEAHHHH FUCK HIM!!!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject