the sun rises (ota)

[brushy]

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!)

Comments

[stoicsilhouette]

Soft Suicidal Idealtion/ Existential Questioning

[Wanting to understand its design and why it functions the way it does intrigues Megumi. Unfortunately, it often leads back to the moral dilemma he has presented to Ammy. Maybe he had expected it to work in ways he is more familiar with, without considering it may not have an equivalent that he is aware of.]

The weight of one's life is different here. Sleepers get reborn while others experience a more permanent death. It seems unfair to both parties. One only gets one chance at life while the other has no way to escape it.

[Maybe it's all this cherry blossom nostalgia but he can't help but make comparisons.]

Where I'm from, Sakura trees are synonymous with the idea of how fleeting life can be. Imagine one always in bloom. Does it lose its purpose if it can't experience death? [His tone a bit distant.

Black hair shakes back and forth, realizing he has shared more then he is comfortable. No pink cheeks this time. Just quiet.]

You don't have to answer that.[ He continues to fiddle with the wood, before looking for some loose tea to make. Awkwardly avoiding what he just said.]

Let's make Sakura-cha. (cherry blossom tea).

[OOC: I promise it will not stay this heavy! I say as I sip cherry blossom tea while writing.]

[brushy]

[ the cat's ear flicks, but she stays perfectly still and with her posture erect and elegant while listening. she would enjoy tea. it feels like a good break. ]

Would you like me to?

[ because, she has many opinions. and she has much time to spare when it came to philosophical talking of life and meaning, especially if it would help expand the mind of a young one. ]

[stoicsilhouette]

[Grabbing his limited supply of green tea, he starts a small fire in the pit. An old kettle hangs filled with fresh water. Gingerly, he takes 4 of the Sakura flowers, placing them in a separate bowl to soak. His motions are fluid across his campsite, as he meticulously checks the time that passes. Not wanting to present her a bitter tasting tea, he takes great care in the preparation.

He pours himself a cup of tea in an old light blue yunomi. He has another, but considers Ammy's present form. The only thing that comes to mind that he has, is a small yellow ceramic bowl with a chip out of the rim.

Setting the tea down in front of her. She can see the light brown color holding the delicate flowers in a state of suspension. The smell is slightly nutty mixed with grassy notes. Nothing overpowering, just simple, clean and delicious.

He takes a sip, and a rush of warmth overcomes his body. The feeling is comparable to resting in the sun on a cool spring day. Calmness sets in, feeling more centered and grounded he looks over at Ammy.]

Yes. [Said in a small voice.]

[brushy]

[ amaterasu meows in small thanks, allowing the scent of hot tea to warm her nose and fur before kneading her paws where she stands. she would have it, in a moment! she didn't want to burn her tongue, though. her attention goes to the bouncing branches in a gentle breeze. ]

The cherry blossom trees also symbolize life and death— beauty and violence. Two sides of the same reality. [ she tests her bowl now, bends and curls her tail around paws that become neatly tucked underneath her, creating a perfect loaf of a cat. ] "Unfair". Perhaps— but if that is the mechanic this world works on, is it truly unfair? Or is it us, who would like for stone to become peaches?

[ again, there was no way they could expect something of themselves when things . . . were different, now. they won't work as humans do. as they once did. ]

We can experience death, but we will be reborn. The others, they are reborn in a different manner from us. A more lengthy process than ours, but perhaps due to the nature of our arrival. We are not native. [ her head turns to the blossoms in the distance. ] You can say that we are like cherry blossom trees, now, and the humans are like fruit. They grow plump, they fall, and rot, are buried, and take very, very long to grow again. Us, we are already rooted. It is easier to shed the old skin and return. The process is much quicker.

So . . . Why think of your impending withering, and your return, when you are still in bloom at this very moment?

[stoicsilhouette]

It's unequal from person to person and that makes it unfair, but I understand that the laws of a world can't be changed.

[Living in the moment is something Megumi needs to do more often. Being stuck in his head is not a good place to be. But he does genuinely hate the disparity between lives.]

I'm not worried about dying [lie] I just wish everyone had to oblige to the same set of rules regarding death. [That sounds juvenile doesn't it?

Quiet.]

There is a little girl here, Lexi. She comes to visit me often, and it took me awhile but I figured out she's...deceased. A ghost.[ He swallows hard and while the grip on the cup grows tighter.] I can't imagine what it must feel like for her to watch her twin brother grow while she's forced to stay the same age. If I die, I will wash back up on that beach[ head motions towards the ocean]. She doesn't have that option, [he looks down] and it's hard for me to accept.

[brushy]

[ that poses another problem entirely. amaterasu listens in silence. it’s a conundrum in a sense that she couldn’t pluck the feeling from him. she is a god, she doesn’t quite understand the problem posed, resolved so easily in her thoughts— she has always been the sleeper amongst her gaggle of humans, and when they die, that is how their lives cycle; amaterasu cycles in another way, and she is serenely at terms with it. she always has been.

but, she at least makes an effort to understand. she wants to. it must be hard, and he has her sympathies. ]

I see. [ it is all she could think to say, without repeating herself. a stubborn man will hear the same frase forty, fifty, one hundred times and will still be deaf if he is not ready. ] Has she been given a proper burial?

[stoicsilhouette]

[Hmm that's a good point. Aware of how she died, through the many conversations he's shared with her, but he can't recall that topic ever coming up. ]

I'm not sure...I-- haven't seen her grave. I wouldn't ask her that. [Said hushed. Silence.]

But your right, restless spirits can get stuck if not properly laid to rest.[ Green eyes wander as if lost in thought.] She doesn't seem like she wants to leave. [And that's troubling.] .

[ Admittingly, he does like her company sometimes, but he knows she doesn't belong here any more. The Trench has a way of corrupting even the purest of souls. Fearing the worst, he wishes for her to move on and not become a vengeful ghost. At that point, he'd have to step in and he would much rather prefer her to leave then force her to with an exorcism. ]

[brushy]

I don’t see a reason why you shouldn’t ask. Why don’t you do it, then? Make a proper burial for her, and put her to rest. Show her love.

[ kneading her paws, ammy licks one of them as she skillfully twists her wrist inward. a fine, feline trick. ]

You are here while she is lost. You can do that, for her. That does not seem unfair to me.

It seems like a blessing.

[stoicsilhouette]

-[Blessing that's the meaning of his name. Something he always found ironic and has a love hate relationship with.

Hmm he looks at Ammy before tipping the bottom of his cup up, finishing the last of his tea.]
You're right. [He can't and won't argue with Ammy over this.] She does deserve to be put to rest properly if that is the case.
I've never done that before, do you have any suggestions?

[Sure he's attended more funerals then he would have liked, but he never was the one actually coordinating the ceremony. It goes without saying he will be keeping it small and private.]

[brushy]

[ amaterasu has never done one, actually— but she can feel them. there is no wrong way to honor someone as long as you have them in mind. they are the best interest, so the feline settles with: ]

Something from the heart shall do. I can help with that— flowers, and words.

[stoicsilhouette]

[ Ammy's support is greatly received and appreciated. ]

I can make a few her favorite dishes as well.

[ A sigh of relief escapes his lips. It's something that's been on his mind, and having a clear plan takes a weight off of his shoulder. Placing his cup down, he picks up the sign he has been working on.
REVEAL:
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
A place for friends both old and new. There's always a chance to start again.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

[ Cherry blossoms decorate the boarders. Each unique but executed with a perfectionists eye. ]

I was thinking of putting this up near the tree.

[brushy]

The Guardian Saplings?

[ the cat gets up from her loafing with her tail high and interest piqued. oh, her heart. son……………… 😭 ]

That is thoughtful, and wonderfully creative. [ he gets a leg nuzzle! ] They will love it, as do I. Thank you for your time, your effort, and your consideration.