deercountry | the sun rises (ota)

Who: amaterasu & you! (and some closed prompts)
What: mostly the blooming of the guardian saplings in their designated locations; refer to the page! also a reminder to check ammy's info page regarding her appearance to your character, if you already haven't!
When: throughout may
Where: arouuuuuu--

Content Warnings: plant body horror + harm being done to an animal in one of the closed prompts, monster body horror for anyone who wants to tag with their monster dreams!

[ during the first few daylights of may, amaterasu is diligently at work; she trots almost nonstop left and right to visit the small, green little saplings that would become strong with the sun. it's always so cloudy in trench though, even if daylight is finally upon them after an entire month of darkness. on the morning of the eighth, there is something different about this sunrise; a distant wolf's howl accompanies its ascension as the rays shower trench in a way it possibly never has. it's warm, welcoming, and wishes a brilliant day to all of those who greet it (especially mothers— she's only now just found out about mother's day).

at the locations of the Mental Health and Recovery Clinic, Trenchwood Farm, The Sanctuary and Farther Shores, one may either see the phenomena happening or be drawn to the blooms already in full: the once hardworking greenlings have grown unreasonably fast into reaching trees, bark and all. they're missing something— until it happens. an unseen force encourages them to bloom, and in an instant, the cherry blossoms burst with life, with energy and a powerful, energetic kick into the polluted soil its roots bury in. it doesn't stretch far, but it helps, and it tries its best to maintain the soil and water around it clean and purified. those sensitive to the supernatural will feel a palpable lift in the pollution where these trees are situated, that they are of great origin, important, sacred. animals will naturally be drawn to them, and so will people. for their beauty, for their shelter, and of course, for their purity and bridge to being closer to nature. even those who are not supernaturally inclined will undoubtedly feel at peace under these gentle giants. what's not to feel peaceful about, viewing the cherry blossoms gently hovering in the breeze that greets you under the shady branches?

you might even be there to catch the sight of a white wolf admiring her handiwork. or, perhaps . . . that's not a wolf at all. a woman, a little rabbit, or even a snow-white horse (or, is that . . . a dragon?). it's hard to tell with this shapeshifting blanket she was given, and amaterasu has delighted herself in bringing it everywhere for its comfort (you can tell; it's already pretty dirty, but it's not as if she cares). ]

(ooc: just as a note, amaterasu can either come in her regular wolf-shape or a temporary form, either human, statue or one of the other brush gods! please let me know if you have a preference, to maintain or shapeshift (and the desired shape, if any)! if there is no preference, i will randomize! hmu at @liberos.plurk if you would like to plot further!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[D hasn't made up his mind about omens just yet, for all their uses they seem a bit too much like putting part of yourself on display. His own has yet to appear.

With permission granted, he places his hand on top of Amaterasu's head and gently runs his fingers through warm fur, careful to avoid scraping his sharp claws against skin.]

A Dhampir is a child born to a human and vampire couple.

[He can do holy magic due to his human heritage, but D has a much stronger mystical affinity for shadow and darkness.]

The ink from earlier, did you make that, or is it hidden away like the blanket?

[ she even stretches her neck a little to the gentle scraping— there's nothing like a good scratch, and her muzzle relaxes into a close. ]

It is from my tail, [ she gives it a little thump and swish— lo and behold, the swirly tip is stained black. ] but I have inkpots too, yes.

[ now, there's something that's teasing her curiosity. amaterasu keeps a still gaze on the man, almost seeming to look into him. ]

Was it love?

[ if cursed creatures were capable of it . . . perhaps they weren't as demonic as she had thought. cursed does mean it could be lifted. but if it was a union of evil— then she takes that thought back. ]

[The only topic D is more reluctant to discuss than himself is his family.]

They would say it was.

[It's a touchy subject. If he was also a wolf, his hackles would be raised. As it is there's merely a slight chill in the air that has nothing at all to do with temperature as a bit more of D's unearthly, eldritch aura slips out. The tranquility of the tree helps him keep himself in check, but his self control is already strained by his persistent hunger.]

Can you teach me how to hide and bring out objects like you did with the blanket?

[ amaterasu groans in a very i see gruff, laying her chin down between her paws. if they say so, that's what matters. and yet—

d doesn't seem to like it. is that why he's a hunter? can he not stand his origin, or is he trying to save it? what a dillema— and perhaps a question for another time. she continues the game, but tapers it of in this seemingly easy direction to follow: ]

Oh, I'm afraid I cannot. That is something particular. [ particular to her being, not that is was a private matter. she adds then, with a short yawn: ] If there was a way, I would. I can teach other things. Did you know I've taken my first martial arts student?

[D will drop the matter for now, but he's not going to give up on the idea completely. It's far too useful.

The shift in direction of Amaterasu's questions is obvious, but D is grateful. The unnatural chill fades quickly in the face of the tree's caling aura and he scratches gently behind her ears.]

I didn't know that. Lessons must be interesting if you're a wolf and your student isn't.

[D was once a very skilled student, learning swordsmanship and many other weapons in long centuries of study. He's also quite good at copying the skills of others when he sees use in them, magical or otherwise.]

What else can you teach?

It was already interesting when the wolf was a student, and the sensei a human.

[ but she seems to affirm that with a striking gaze and canine smile alone. ]

I can teach you how give excellent belly rubs. [ okay. not just that. she’s being indulgent. ] I also use weapons— I suppose if I can teach the arts, I can try my hand at teaching armed combat as well.

[D grimaces for a moment, as the changes in his arm hidden under the cloak become particularly painful, but it's a fleeting expression.]

My education was lacking when it came to belly rubs, but I'd rather see your art.

[The connection between sun and ink isn't obvious to him, but perhaps that's simply due to their different dimensions.]

[ amaterasu’s attention perks and briefly shoots down, a small tilt in her head as she accidentally catches the tip of her tongue out. relaxing from that and looking up at d again only commences with a lick of her lips, and an adjustment to her curled paws. ]

I will show you my art in exchange for belly rubs. Shall we make a deal?

[ with a canine oof, she rolls to her side and exposes her abdomen, all with a lifted hind leg. ]

[D has probably done stranger things than this, but it's still quite far up the list of unusual things in his life. There's the same subtle pull towards Amaterasu that D feels for sunlight. A longing all vampire kind experience, the shared root of the same love that has all vampires who die of sunlight exposure dying with a smile on their face.]

Yes.

[Giving belly rubs on Amaterasu's furry canine belly is no hardship at all, and D would have done so even without the offer of such a deal. Affectionate touches of any kind, even something as simple as this, aren't something D has experience in giving.]

[ that's quite alright; she's an excellent teacher in the department. every so often, depending on the spot, her leg can give this gentle little . . . kick. that's the spot. the kicky spot.

and it will get faster and better the more that spot is satiated. oh, she can smile to this all day. and that reminds her! a peace she drew as a bit of show-and-tell to the martial arts schools—

above d's lap hovers a scroll of parchment that falls much like petals in the wind. on it is a simple piece of a fierce mentor in kimono. battle ready, it seemed. ]

[At least the indicator for when D is doing well is clear, and he is a very quick study. Top of his class.

He can multi-task, too, looking over the simple art. It has none of the intricate detail and layering and general level of excessive ornamentation art produced by the nobility of D's world. A very different style.]

Your sensei?

[ hopefully it takes his mind off the painful changes his body is going through, too— and, that amaterasu isn't deterred by them in the slightest. ]

Onigiri Sensei. He was quite kind, despite the appearance and rigorous dojo experience.

[D is very good at working through pain.]

A kind instructor is a blessing.

[During the process of finding out all the best places to rub, D's hand drifts a little towards Amaterasu's side where she pulled the blanket out of nowhere. He's curious if he can even feel something there.]

[ there is only four to find there, sadly! so much fur. ]

They have the best intentions. [ even if some instructors are not so “kind” on the surface. it is all about the learning experience. ] I am no traveling artist, but I shall be the best art instructor I can be.

[D is very disappointed there is only fur, but he's not going to give up.]

I look forward to seeing more of your work, and perhaps some of your students' as well.

the sun rises (ota)

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perhaps we can begin wrapping into a fade-out? what do you think!

sounds good to me