It has been many, many long weeks since the Medicine Seller has gotten to properly stretch his legs. There is something infuriating to him about staying in any one place too long - he likes to roam, and now there is the opportunity to do so.
The only problem is that he is without one of those nifty little compasses.
Of course he could just ask a group if he could tag along. That would be the logical route.
It would also mean enduring the company of others. And likely campfire songs.
He'll pass.
Instead he tracks a group - several even - either following their prints in the snow, or the distinct odor of eau de calamar.
He is very good at keeping out of sight, but it's not like he can turn invisible. Moreover there are signs of him following - ofuda plastered on trees or burnt cones of incense to guard from beasts, the occasional sound of conflict as he fends off danger, or perhaps one might even catch a flash of blue and purple amidst the trees.
The Medicine Seller is starting to feel less a merchant and more the Okuri Inu out to trip such folk up. Ah well. One does as one must.
This city is not terribly far from Trench. A couple days of walking, or a good few hours by train at most. And yet the ecology yields those disease curing mushrooms that were all the rage the month prior to his arrival.
Trench itself is ill. More than likely something to do with blood pollution in the soil, but it stands to reason that some tests are in order.
He digs in the patches of soil where these mysterious healing mushrooms are most prominent, taking samples of both the fungus and the soil it grows in to be examined on his return.
In the distance, he hears a faint but sudden sharp chord strummed on a biwa.
[The bow is returned with utmost politeness. The introduction, however, remains hanging.]
Sato-san has come to a good spot then. There are plenty to gather.
[He gives a slight incline of his head to the patch of mushrooms - and it is, indeed, a patch. A far cry from the paltry one or two to be found within the knotholes of trees back in Trench.]
Their healing properties are of utmost interest to me. You see...
[One day. One day he will learn to smile in a way that doesn't make him look like a scheming cartoon villain. Unfortunately, today is not that day.]
[He has to put aside his own considerable threshold for the bizarre and try to think of these things from a human's perspective. He supposes the Tower's affliction is odd, given the being's divine nature and how such ailments usually don't have such a mundane cure as mushrooms.]
Mm.
Though I am presently only aware that they are used to ameliorate the Tower's suffering. How that is the case and if they possess any benefits beyond that remains to be seen.
[Appeasing is a very strong word for what the Medicine Seller is doing. He was practically engineered in a lab to be at least moderately annoying to anyone who occupied a social position higher than 'servant'.]
...I suppose it would be nice if a deity's problem did not become...
...everyone else's. Besides...
[He smiles that thin, cold smile of his, eyes fixed somewhere on the middle distance past Sato's left shoulder, as if he just remembered a private joke.]
...I do recall telling you. I am a Medicine Seller.
The Medicine Seller's favourite kind of library is an abandoned library. It usually means the only other people he has to share the space and books with are fellow itinerants taking respite from the weather. This is one such library and it has not seen use in a long, long time. He picks out books that haven't succumbed to time, mold, or the other elements, but such finds are rare.
A pity that so much has been lost.
He gathers what books he can find that aren't in ruins, making trips between the shelves to pile them on a table that has remained, miraculously intact.
On his third trip, he finds a mild looking young man who seems to have a similar idea as him. It's odd - the stranger seems out of place in these ruins (though the Medicine Seller isn't one to talk - he'd look out of place anywhere save a kabuki play or some very specific kinds of bars).
Still, it doesn't do to make assumptions.
"Good afternoon," he greets with a bow. "Searching for anything in particular…?"
The once-dead city has found new life as more and more travelers wandered into its walls. Though everything remains in a state of decay and disarray, it's not odd to find a stranger in a place that was likely a ghost town just a week prior. Otherwise, split from his group, the Medicine Seller would have likely surprised him. As it is, Light turns to face him, adding a book to the table in order to flip through its pages. Nonetheless, it's an odd greeting as if this man is comfortable in this setting. Is that a question to be asked by someone who was a stranger to this place?
Is he a stranger to this place? It's enough to catch Light's attention.
"Probably nothing that everybody else isn't looking for."
His voice is smooth and warm, welcoming the Medicine Seller to the conversation.
"Have you had the time to look through the library?"
"For a given measure of 'looking through'," he remarks idly, adding a few more rescued tomes to the pile of books that are still legible, let alone in reasonable shape.
It's not a very big pile.
"I do not know yet what is useful - "
Which is evident by the faded cover depicting a man with an oiled and impressively chiseled chest holding a woman with an equally impressive bosom practically pouring out of her corset, their glossy hair blowing in a dramatic wind with a vibrant sunset as a backdrop. There is also a horse there, for some reason.
"- only that it is perhaps wise to retrieve whatever can still be read before time further claims them."
He adds what he's found to the pile.
"Though I confess I do not know what everybody else is looking for."
The book catches Light's eye before he can look away.
"They're likely not looking for that book particularly." His tone is jovial enough that the comment obviously isn't actually an open judgment. While Light doubts the book will be helpful, it's best to gather anything that can be preserved.
"But to answer the real question, we're looking for information. Aren't you curious about this place?"
A hand gestures around the room, but Light's referring more to this new, deserted town. In his limited experience, this town is likely to hold important information.
"Especially since it appears while other things have been weird."
Well, if no one else wants it, he'll keep it. It's well suited to his rather eccentric proclativities, and it'd be a shame to let it rot.
"I am. But information must be found and preserved, surely?"
He smiles in a vague sort of way, eyes following the sweeping gesture around the abandoned library. There is a drawn out pause as he considers the rotting ruins around them, and the city beyond.
"If the Tower falters further - do you suppose that we will be able to access more places beyond Trench? Will its death be our own?"
It's a heavy question with no distinct answer. There are too many unknowns regarding the makeup of this world no matter the rumors and what history is available to them. Light's done his research, he has his theories, but he also has his questions.
"There are parts of this world being hidden from us, we know that. We don't know how much, or what's beyond it. It could break us from our bonds only for us to find something more dangerous outside. That's my official answer."
Light pauses to better study the Medicine Seller.
"If you're asking which answer motivates me... I think its fall will do all of that, and not all of us would survive it. We're given enhanced abilities, but the people native to Trench aren't."
"Official answer," he chuckles to himself. "I am just a medicine seller. Not a detective."
At least not the kind interested in the laws of humans. Those change almost as frequently as the seasons, and he can never hope to keep current. And Light isn't exactly giving any signs or signals of being possessed by an Ayakashi.
"But you are right. The two are not exclusive."
Some may argue there is a kind of freedom in death, after all.
"We have managed to come to this place. Perhaps we can further break through to other places without the Tower expiring of ...whatever ails him."
He isn't saying it's possible, either. In theory, he assumes so unless proven otherwise, but this world is still quite a mystery.
"The answer might be hidden in these books. There might be a map or mention of visits to the other places."
Or tacky romance books.
"When we go back, we'll write about this place. If those aren't hidden, that's how the next group will know this town exists. Somebody might have done the same here."
Indeed, for all the Medicine Seller knows, the books he's been collecting are useless. But they won't know until their contents have been thoroughly examined.
"So much of Trench and its surroundings are an endless mystery."
He picks a book at random, and pushes it towards Light.
"Speculation will only get us so far in a place where anything is possible."
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On a Journey
A. On The Road (Open)
B. Not Mushroom In Here (Open)
Re: B. Not Mushroom In Here (Open)
Have you lost something?
no subject
Well, nothing he can do about it if that's the case.
He sits quietly for a moment and watches the elderly man for any sign that he might also hear the distant strumming.]
Nothing, nothing. I am -- as you can see -- only gathering mushrooms.
[He holds one up. Surprise! It is, indeed, just a mushroom.]
They are...
...abundant.
no subject
[ The old man pulls out a bag of his own. He reveals a small assortment of mushrooms. ]
What a coincidence, so was I!
[ The old man gives a bow. ]
I'm Sato, it's a pleasure to meet you.
no subject
Sato-san has come to a good spot then. There are plenty to gather.
[He gives a slight incline of his head to the patch of mushrooms - and it is, indeed, a patch. A far cry from the paltry one or two to be found within the knotholes of trees back in Trench.]
Their healing properties are of utmost interest to me. You see...
[One day. One day he will learn to smile in a way that doesn't make him look like a scheming cartoon villain. Unfortunately, today is not that day.]
...I am a medicine seller.
no subject
Is that so?
[ The old man pauses for a beat. ]
Do they help with any odd afflictions?
[ Sato wonders. The Trench can have some unnatural ailments, could he know how to ammendment them? The old man's curiosity seems genuine. ]
no subject
[He has to put aside his own considerable threshold for the bizarre and try to think of these things from a human's perspective. He supposes the Tower's affliction is odd, given the being's divine nature and how such ailments usually don't have such a mundane cure as mushrooms.]
Mm.
Though I am presently only aware that they are used to ameliorate the Tower's suffering. How that is the case and if they possess any benefits beyond that remains to be seen.
no subject
[ Sato muses over the information. Appeasing the gods, eh? The though hangs with a tinge of cynicism. ]
Hmmm...it seems that you're trying to alleviate a gods illness. Thpugh, what good will helping a Pthumerian do?
[ The old man asks with a serious frown. ]
no subject
...I suppose it would be nice if a deity's problem did not become...
...everyone else's. Besides...
[He smiles that thin, cold smile of his, eyes fixed somewhere on the middle distance past Sato's left shoulder, as if he just remembered a private joke.]
...I do recall telling you. I am a Medicine Seller.
C. Hitting the Books (For Light Yagami)
<3 thank you
Is he a stranger to this place? It's enough to catch Light's attention.
"Probably nothing that everybody else isn't looking for."
His voice is smooth and warm, welcoming the Medicine Seller to the conversation.
"Have you had the time to look through the library?"
cw for description of 80s romance novel covers
It's not a very big pile.
"I do not know yet what is useful - "
Which is evident by the faded cover depicting a man with an oiled and impressively chiseled chest holding a woman with an equally impressive bosom practically pouring out of her corset, their glossy hair blowing in a dramatic wind with a vibrant sunset as a backdrop. There is also a horse there, for some reason.
"- only that it is perhaps wise to retrieve whatever can still be read before time further claims them."
He adds what he's found to the pile.
"Though I confess I do not know what everybody else is looking for."
valid warning
"They're likely not looking for that book particularly." His tone is jovial enough that the comment obviously isn't actually an open judgment. While Light doubts the book will be helpful, it's best to gather anything that can be preserved.
"But to answer the real question, we're looking for information. Aren't you curious about this place?"
A hand gestures around the room, but Light's referring more to this new, deserted town. In his limited experience, this town is likely to hold important information.
"Especially since it appears while other things have been weird."
no subject
"I am. But information must be found and preserved, surely?"
He smiles in a vague sort of way, eyes following the sweeping gesture around the abandoned library. There is a drawn out pause as he considers the rotting ruins around them, and the city beyond.
"If the Tower falters further - do you suppose that we will be able to access more places beyond Trench? Will its death be our own?"
He hums, eyes wandering to the cracked ceiling.
"Or the breaking of our binds?"
...Among other things.
no subject
It's a heavy question with no distinct answer. There are too many unknowns regarding the makeup of this world no matter the rumors and what history is available to them. Light's done his research, he has his theories, but he also has his questions.
"There are parts of this world being hidden from us, we know that. We don't know how much, or what's beyond it. It could break us from our bonds only for us to find something more dangerous outside. That's my official answer."
Light pauses to better study the Medicine Seller.
"If you're asking which answer motivates me... I think its fall will do all of that, and not all of us would survive it. We're given enhanced abilities, but the people native to Trench aren't."
no subject
At least not the kind interested in the laws of humans. Those change almost as frequently as the seasons, and he can never hope to keep current. And Light isn't exactly giving any signs or signals of being possessed by an Ayakashi.
"But you are right. The two are not exclusive."
Some may argue there is a kind of freedom in death, after all.
"We have managed to come to this place. Perhaps we can further break through to other places without the Tower expiring of ...whatever ails him."
no subject
He isn't saying it's possible, either. In theory, he assumes so unless proven otherwise, but this world is still quite a mystery.
"The answer might be hidden in these books. There might be a map or mention of visits to the other places."
Or tacky romance books.
"When we go back, we'll write about this place. If those aren't hidden, that's how the next group will know this town exists. Somebody might have done the same here."
no subject
"So much of Trench and its surroundings are an endless mystery."
He picks a book at random, and pushes it towards Light.
"Speculation will only get us so far in a place where anything is possible."
no subject
"Not far enough," he agrees before pulling the book closer. Thus the reason for the research. "But it's not a bad starting point."
With a small lift of his lips, Light gestures to the romance book.
"But I'll be leaving that one to you."