rolling, rumbling, tumbling, weaving, knowing, ever flowing

benzaiten, japanese goddess of things that flow || words, music, water, arts, luck || owner of the lion's den, geisha at yue || rp blog for mount phoenix

[benzaitenmp]

~family ties~ **yuqi**

@mp-yuqi

With no appointments scheduled for the rest of the afternoon, Benzaiten found herself with a little time to spare doing whatever she pleased. It was still technically work time, so she occupied herself with practice of her biwa, playing old tunes as she sat perched on a little white cloud floating just above the grass in the garden. The songs were so familiar to her that the goddess found herself absently humming along and even engaged a few visitors in light conversation as her fingers moved almost of their own accord. Musical practice quickly turned into impromptu little performances. Tiny audiences of as many as five people gathered for a song or two then meandered off to enjoy the rest of the garden.

One girl stayed through a few of these groups. Benten couldn’t tell if the girl was actually an audience member or if she just happened to be sitting nearby, but the goddess could tell that the girl was like her. She was a child of the pantheon. Who she actually was didn’t matter. The girl was as good as family. 

When Benten wrapped up her next couplet of songs, bowing slightly to the audience giving a soft applause, she moved from a sitting position to the familiar kneeling position that she took when serving in the tea house. It was as familar to her feet as the strings of her biwa were to her fingers, and the cloud was a softer surface than any cushion humans were capable of making. Thus readjusted, the cloud and the goddess upon it floated a little closer to the girl who had caught Benten’s attention. Benten offered her a bow of the head and a cheery, friendly smile.

“My name is Benzaiten. I would like to know what’s on your mind, if you don’t mind the question? You look either very peaceful or lost in thought. Or, perhaps, you are both?”

[benzaitenmp]

[ rest ]

[  rest  ]  sender  rests  their  chin  on  receiver’s  head /  shoulder

With the rain from the early morning still glittering on the petals of the flowers in the garden where she now found herself employed, Benzaiten had decided that now, before she went to put on the layers and layers of kimono and makeup and prepare to host guests and entertain visitors in the tea garden, was the perfect time to stop and smell the flowers. Most of these flowers were more pleasant to look at than they were to smell, but the hanging trellises of jasmine and the sweet osmanthus the size of miniature trees more than made up for the scentless flowers. It was as she crouched low to smell the tuberose that she realized how little time was left before her work began. With a sigh that was mostly wistful and a little contented, Benten rose to her full height before turning to float back towards the tea house.

As she rose, the goddess was surprised to feel the very solid resistance of what she assumed to be a stray tree branch knock her on the top of her head. She couldn’t remember there being a tree close enough to even have a tree branch to smack her upside the head, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one. Then as she spun around to head back toward the little building toward the back of the garden, Benten found herself colliding with someone, a woman almost exactly her height. Somehow managing not to fall, Benzaiten helped to steady the other woman. It was then that she noticed that the bump near the top of her head had not come from a tree branch, but rather from an ill-fated attempt from an old friend trying to rest her chin on Benten’s head. Poor Amaterasu. Her chin was going to bruise considering the growing throb of Benten’s own head. 

“Goodness, Amaterasu, my darling friend, I am ever so sorry. Are you alright? Surely I have not caused you any lasting pain?” The contortion of Benzaiten’s features betrayed just how bad she felt about accidentally smacking her friend in the chin with her head and then running face-first into her. It was just the sort of colossal misshap that might have caused a mortal some serious damage.

[thewinedarksea]

f/f series: amaterasu & benzaiten

“i look over at you and see sunshine.”

for @letolatona

[benzaitenmp]

[ downpour ] receiver finds sender out in the rain

The little umbrella, decorative as it was, was more for show than anything. Benzaiten herself couldn’t find it in herself to be bothered by the rain. Even if she found herself soaked through to the bone, kimono pounds heavier with the drag of water, it was was always easy enough to find a dry place and simply convince the water to run off her clothes until there was a tiny puddle at her feet and the brilliant embroidery on her robes once again shone with crisp dryness. Besides, what was the point of having beautiful umbrellas if one did not intend to use them?

Rather than say anything, Benten took step after clacking step through the rain in her geta until she stood side by side with the umbrella-less man who seemed to have found himself stuck - or perhaps simply out - in the rain. She ended up having to stand rather close to position the umbrella over both their heads. When she managed it, finally gracefully balanced, Benten looked over at her new foul-weather friend with an elegant little smile.

“I quite like this weather. Do you?”

Then again, the goddess liked most weather.

[inkmemesarchive]

nonverbal  meme  prompts ↪  they  seem  few  &  far  between,  so  i  tried  to  come  up  with  as  many  scenarios  as  i  could  think  of  where  dialogue  wasn’t  a  necessary  starting  point.  some  are  more  uh  specific  than  others  /  drabble-y,  but  they’re  all  dialogue-free  (  tho  ofc  this  does  not  necessarily  extend  to  the  response  itself  ).  to  reverse  who  sends  what,  send  ‘  [  prompt  ]+  ’  !  alter  any  as  you  see  fit,  &  lemme  know  if  anything’s  unclear  ♡

[  pull  ]  sender  pulls  receiver  closer  to  them

[  touch  ]  sender  places  their  hand  affectionately  on  receiver

[  guide  ]  sender  helps  receiver  through  a  difficult  video  game

[  lean  ]  sender  leans  on  receiver

[  pierce  ]  sender  helps  receiver  with  a  new  piercing  (  doing,  aftercare,  etc  )

[  sit  ]  sender  sits  in  receiver’s  lap

[  spar  ]  sender  pins  receiver  down  in  a  practice  fight

[  cook  ]  sender  makes  food  for  receiver

[  slide  ]  sender  pushes  an  item  across  the  table  to  receiver

[  kiss  ]  sender  kisses  (  lips,  cheek,  forehead,  hand,  etc  )

[  lead  ]  sender  leads  receiver  someplace

[  wound  ]  sender  injures  muse  in  a  fight  (  practice  or  real  )

[  snap  ]  sender  takes  a  photo  of  receiver  (  candid  or  posed  )

[  drape  ]  sender  drapes  their  arm  around  receiver’s  shoulders

[  bullet  ]  sender  takes  a  bullet  for  receiver  (  literal  or  figurative  )

[  nap  ]  sender  falls  asleep  against  receiver

[  teeth  ]  sender  bears  teeth  at  receiver

[  trace  ]  sender  traces  one  of  receiver’s  scars

[  cocktail  ]  sender  makes  /  gives  receiver  a  cocktail

[  comfort  ]  sender  comforts  receiver  when  they  are  upset  /  crying

[  bouquet  ]  sender  surprises  receiver  with  a  bouquet

[  massage  ]  sender  gives  receiver  a  massage  (  planned,  spontaneous,  full  body,  shoulder,  etc  )

[  mentor  ]  sender  takes  muse  under  their  wing

[  tattoo  ]  sender  helps  receiver  with  a  new  tattoo  (  doing,  aftercare,  etc  )

[  dare  ]  receiver  acts  out  a  dare  from  sender

[  hug  ]  sender  pulls  receiver  into  a  hug

[  phone  ]  receiver  sees  sender  smiling  at  something  on  their  phone

[  popcorn  ]  sender  makes  popcorn  for  a  movie  night

[  wake  ]  sender  tries  to  wake  receiver

[  groom  ]  sender  tries  to  make  receiver  look  more  presentable

[  flower  ]  sender  places  a  flower  behind  receiver’s  ear

[  sad  ]  sender  looks  at  receiver  sorrowfully

[  playlist  ]  sender  curates  a  playlist

[  fashion  show  ]  sender  tries  to  help  receiver  choose  an  outfit

[  shield  ]  sender  steps  between  receiver  and  danger

[  bandage  ]  sender  helps  bandage  up  receiver’s  wounds

[  duel  ]  muses  get  into  a  fight

[  fear  ]  sender  finds  receiver  having  a  nightmare

[  hold  ]  sender  holds  receiver’s  hand

[  bruise  ]  sender  finds  receiver  with  a  bruise  /  tries  to  help  receiver  cover  up  a  bruise

[  brush  ]  sender  brushes  /  styles  /  dyes  receiver’s  hair

[  portrait  ]  receiver  paints  a  portrait  of  receiver

[  assist  ]  sender  helps  the  receiver  with  a  task  they’re  struggling  in

[  wow  ]  sender  does  something  to  really  amaze  receiver

[  glare  ]  sender  is  still  hurt  after  an  argument

[  roast  ]  muses  roast  marshmallows  together  /  make  s’mores

[  shoot  ]  muses  attend  a  game  of  paintball

[  diary  ]  receiver  writes  a  journal  entry  about  sender  (  maybe  they  find  it  ?  )

[  dance  ]  sender  whisks  receiver  onto  to  ‘  dance  floor  ’  (  can  be  actual  or  pretend  )

[  rest  ]  sender  rests  their  chin  on  receiver’s  head  /  shoulder

[  manicure  ]  sender  paints  receiver’s  nails

[  tuck  ]  sender  tucks  in  receiver’s  shirt,  hair  behind  ear,  etc

[  chin  ]  sender  lifts  receiver’s  chin  up

[  lap  ]  sender  puts  their  feet  in  receiver’s  lap

[  write  ]  receiver  writes  sender  a  note

[  play  ]  muses  play  a  board  game  /  card  game  together

[  glance  ]  receiver  catches  sender  looking  at  them

[  ill  ]  sender  takes  care  of  receiver  when  they  are  unwell

[  hearth  ]  sender  lights  a  fire

[  tap  ]  sender  taps  receiver  on  the  shoulder

[  bake  ]  muses  bake  together

[  read  ]  sender  reads  to  receiver

[  study  ]  sender  tries  to  help  receiver  study

[  push  ]  sender  pushes  receiver  in  anger

[  skill  ]  receiver  tries  to  assist  sender  in  learning  a  new  skill

[  coated  ]  receiver  finds  sender  covered  in  blood

[  gesture  ]  sender  motions  for  receiver  to  follow  them

[  downpour  ]  receiver  finds  sender  out  in  the  rain

[yoshiemi]

[benzaitenmp]

~a new iteration~

[benzaitenmp]

Beauty or a Beast // **Persephone**

[benzaitenmp]

mppersephone:

Persephone was a goddess of her words, and she proved it by coming to benzaiten’s workplace with her coat just the very next day after their meet at the coffee shop. That, and because she had just realized that she was badly in need of a massage. 

As expected, the other goddess greeted her with the same warm-hearted smile, which made Persephone’s lips curve up immediately in reply. And the young goddess had to admit that she was in love with the other’s elegant kimono. She first return the coat, which was folded nicely and put in a matching-color box, before telling Benzaiten her purposes. 

“Your coat is home safely, as I promised. And, my neck and back are killing me, so I’m hoping you can help with it.” 

“oh my!”

the care with which her coat is returned has benzaiten flitting about happily, a butterfly in a flower field. she finds there to be so few these days that really take the care and attention to make such small actions into meaningful ones that she finds herself immediately enamored with the young goddess.

“thank you, miss. it seems you have put more care than deserved into returning this item to me.”

small, soft fingers wrap around the box and take hold of it, cradling the container with her clothing in it as though she might a young child. there’s a pleasant smile on her face as she nods, more than happy to oblige to the other goddess’s needs. taking care of others is exactly why she took over the spa to begin with, after all!

“yes, of course! please follow me to a private room.”

with another swish of her kimono and a delicate tapping and sliding of silken slippers against the floor, benzaiten leads persephone down a hallway to a series of rooms to which she opens the door of one. with a wave of the hand, benzaiten gestures for the other to enter, leaving her with directions to undress to her comfort level and lay on the soft cotton bed inside before turning to continue down the hallway to put the box with her coat in the very back before returning to persephone’s room. 

[benzaitenmp]

❛ There has to be a different ending to this story. ❜

benzaiten pauses in her storytelling to pour tea for the girl who interrupts, blue eyes surprisingly full of warmth as she listens. the goddess had not thought her story to be so lackluster, or cliche, or boring, or whatever it is that had made hana say there should be an alternate ending to it. in fact, the story is so familiar to benzaiten that she cannot imagine any other ending to it. but perhaps not every happy ending is a wedding.

“what then, dear little sister, would you recommend?”

there is no sarcasm nor scorn in her voice as she speaks, only pure curiosity. if the other is not satisfied with a wedding, how better for the story to be settled? she is left setting down the pot to sip at her own cup of tea while looking around her apartment, wondering about which direction the story was best to go in.

[benzaitenmp]

❛ You have my blessing. I didn’t realize you were so old-fashioned. ❜

“of all people, eros-sama, you should know how dearly i hold tradition.”

as the god’s senior, as she is the senior of most gods, benzaiten has elected to take the other for lunch at noona, the loveliest restaurant that the goddess had heard of as of yet. there are so many things she has yet to do, and she is pleased to have a familiar face to accompany her as she gets acquainted with her present home.

she is, as usual, dressed in one of her many extravagant kimonos, a simple one this time that mimics the abstract appearance of bamboo and embroidered here and there with green and golden leaves. as she takes in the restaurant she is immediately filled with anticipation for their coming meal together.

“and so it is essential that you let me treat you.”

with a slightly impish smile, the goddess bypasses the god as she follows their waiter to a table she had previously reserved.

“so please, sit.”

[mpxhana-deactivated20190311]

✦ | whale, whale, whale

starter for @benzaitenmp

The girl had never been a people person, a lot of factors contributed to that fact but it was mostly how complicated it all was. Making conversations, being friendly and approachable. It was all too tiring. How was the girl meant to know what to say and what not to? Most of the time she stayed quiet, letting others take the lead and talk away. It usually worked for her but again, it was tiring. Hana had taught herself to be careful around others, to keep quiet and not stir any trouble, to not get angry. Being around people was burdensome while being around fish wasn’t. Thus why she went to the aquarium from time to time, to talk to the fish, see if they were alright. To be lost in the silence the place secured, that was when there weren’t any loud kids (or obnoxious people) running around. 

She needed a little getaway from people. Autumn was taking place and with the Hallow’s Eve ball days away, it was hectic out in the city. The fish seemed to contradict the people outside the aquarium. Their movements seemed to draw Hana is as she stared and softly mumbled. Being able to communicate with sea creatures was her favorite ability. Forget holding your breathe, communicating with sea creatures was worth more than gold. Her words were accented with her dialect as she talked to some fish. To some it was weird but to her they were friends. She was more comfortable with them than anyone else. No judgement, no risk of hurting them. It was ideal, everything she needed to relax. 

[benzaitenmp]

the goddess of things that flow only naturally finds her way to all the places that contain flowing things. it is thus that benzaiten finds herself at the aquarium, drawn by the immensity of the water it holds, the life flowing through it. it calls out to her and pulls her in like she is caught in a current.

her kimono today is fittingly blue, decorated with brilliant orange, gold, and white koi fish. they almost seem to be swimming through the fabric as the goddess moves, shining silk on shining silk flowing in and out of carefully tucked fabrics. it has been quite a long time since benzaiten has been in a place like this, and she has a smile for each creature she passes, occasionally putting a hand against a tank to create a small current for the fish to move on. there are many creatures she has seen before, and perhaps a few that she must introduce herself to with a smile and a bow and a few kind words.

she thinks that she sees another doing quite the same thing, mumbling words against the glass as though speaking to the creatures behind it. perhaps she is. delight fills the goddess and brings forth shining gold eyes from previously contented blue when benzaiten hears the girl addressing the creatures in her own mother tongue of japanese. what a lovely coincidence!

the goddess slowly approaches the girl, the constant yet surprisingly subtle tap of her brocade zōri making her presence undeniable. better this than to startle the other. in their shared native language, benzaiten addresses the girl rather suddenly, voice like the trickle of water and the smoothness of silk.

“do they have lovely and interesting things to say today, little sister?”

[mperosx]

ebullient|| Benzaiten&Eros

Continued from (here) with @benzaitenmp

–*

  How wonderfully formal! Eros is delighted by the returned bow and slightly deepens his further, a show of his respect to her. He had been on a simple run to the store for more fabric when he encountered her. As he hears her question the god straightens himself again before rocking back slightly on the heels of his shoes. 

  He pushes his hands further into his jacket pockets to keep the slight chill from touching his fingers. Poking his face up further from the security of his rather large autumn colored scarf he smiles fully at her before answering.

  “Eros. My name is Eros,” he says simply, opting to not speak of his stance as a god or of his powers. Opting simply to be self-addressed as a man before a goddess.

  “And what’s your name?”

[benzaitenmp]

a giggle like a playful stream over river rocks follows the other god’s deepened bow, entirely unnecessary but nonetheless appreciated. benzaiten can only hope everyone on the island is so gracious as this one is. straightening, the goddess keeps her eyes down, only floating up for single spontaneous moments of precise investigation masked as the flirtation of shyly observing another.

“it is so lovely to meet you, eros-sama.”

another slight inclination of the head signals another tiny bow of meeting, the blooming smile on benzaiten’s lips unstoppable in her pure happiness. it truly is such a lovely day to be out exploring her new home, and she is glad to have met someone so lovely so quickly. she feels at ease.

“i am called benzaiten and i come from the land of the rising sun.” she mentions her homeland just a little proudly, a flush like that of chill air spreading over her cheeks at the pride. but she cannot help but be prideful, as the protector of her homeland and the patroness of its artists and lovers.

“i am afraid i am not familiar with this place, as i have only just come here.”

[vaememes]

✧  ONCE  UPON  A  TIME  PROMPTS.

❛ There’s just one problem. All magic comes with a price. ❜ 

❛ I don’t remember all the crazy stuff you told me. ❜ 

❛ Darkness never wins. ❜ 

❛ It just fools you into thinking it does. ❜ 

❛ You really don’t believe. ❜ 

❛ There’s nothing to believe. ❜ 

❛ Your family isn’t going to exist long enough to save themselves. ❜ 

❛ I’ll be damned if it ends there, too. ❜ 

❛ If we don’t stop the Black Fairy, all the realms will be destroyed. ❜ 

❛ Curses have never stopped us before. ❜ 

❛ Today will be no different. ❜

❛ I ended up in this nuthouse because I believed you back then. ❜ 

❛ I was never a fan of white weddings. ❜ 

❛ The least I can do is make sure you get to enjoy yours. ❜  

❛ I ruined your parents’ wedding. ❜ 

❛ I wasn’t even brave enough to keep you. ❜ 

❛ You were with me my whole life. ❜ 

❛ There has to be a different ending to this story. ❜   

❛ I’d rather gouge my eyes out with a rusty fork. ❜ 

❛ They say that a captain’s heart belongs to his ship. ❜ 

❛ But with this ring, it now belongs to you. ❜ 

❛ But thanks to you, now I have. ❜   

❛ You got your happy ending. ❜ 

❛ That’s not what this is. It’s something else. ❜ 

❛ You could have just told me that. ❜ 

❛ So you’re kidnapping me now. ❜ 

❛ I thought there’d be like flying pigs or talking doughnuts or something. ❜ 

❛ Well if you’re not impressed, I can leave you here.. ❜ 

❛ I’m doing what I have to do to save my son/daughter. ❜ 

❛ They run strongly in our family. ❜ 

❛ It is a vile, dangerous world, _____.❜ 

❛ Thank you for fighting for me. ❜ 

❛ The only thing I know how to drive is a broom. ❜ 

❛ That’s dark, even for the Dark One. ❜ 

❛ Aye. I’ll bring the rum. ❜ 

❛ Wedding venues? Living our lives? ❜ 

❛ I’m not afraid of some monster in the woods. ❜ 

❛ Let’s get on with it. ❜ 

❛ I never get tired of that new baby smell. ❜ 

❛ Lay a hand on her/him again and you’ll lose it. ❜ 

❛ I know that you face an uncertain future. ❜ 

❛ But there’s one thing I want you to be certain of. ❜ 

❛ I will always, always be by your side. ❜ 

❛ Will you marry me? ❜ 

❛ I will always find you. ❜ 

❛ I believe the greeting you’re looking for is, Hello. ❜ 

❛ This potion clears up the darkness. ❜ 

❛ It’s not like it’s the first curse we’ve ever woken up from. ❜ 

❛ Didn’t expect to ever see you back on this rock. ❜ 

❛ This wasn’t exactly what you’d called a planned excursion. ❜ 

❛ I suppose thanks are in order for the daring rescue. ❜ 

❛ Who said this was a rescue? ❜ 

❛ If you want answers, I suggest you start by asking nicely. ❜ 

❛ I’m done with nice. ❜ 

❛ I’ve cleaned up almost all my evil half’s messes. ❜ 

❛ I think I know what it is. Bloody hell. ❜ 

❛ You’ve had me locked up for how long now? ❜ 

❛ What did I do to you that was so bad? ❜   

❛ You lied to me. ❜ 

❛ Let’s get my pirate back. ❜ 

❛ Son of a fish! ❜ 

❛ I’m not as drunk as your other opponents. ❜ 

❛ I’m not a bloody matchmaker! ❜ 

❛ Why is this rug flying? ❜ 

❛ I have a toddler and a sleeping curse at home. ❜

❛ I know you’re hurting. But you can’t just run from this. ❜ 

❛ How many times are you almost going to kiss me? ❜ 

❛ I have to get back and tell him/her the truth. ❜ 

❛ Did you not hear the captain? ❜ 

❛ Well you know who does? ❜ 

❛ I’ve spent a lifetime running away from those beasts. ❜

❛ Then they won’t know to expect us. ❜ 

❛ Love can save even the darkest souls. ❜

❛ You just have to believe in it.  ❜

❛ I’m going to do what we never could. ❜   

❛ I’m going to be brave for both of us and choose love over hate. ❜

❛ I already destroyed my own family once. ❜

❛ I just—I didn’t know how I could live with that. ❜

❛ We have to stop hiding things from each other. ❜

❛ That is what I thought we were together.  ❜

❛ I tried to destroy my dark side up on that rooftop in New York. ❜

❛ Guilt can be as corrosive to the soul as revenge. ❜

❛ I’m a queen. Not some burlap-loving peasant who sleeps in dirt. ❜

❛ I was there when she/he threw her/him chance at love away. ❜

❛ I command you. Don’t try to stop me. ❜

❛ A little early for rum, isn’t it? ❜

❛ Oh. That’s called an alarm clock. ❜

❛ Life is too precious. ❜   

❛ Do you want to be able to look back? ❜

❛ I’m afraid to tempt fate. ❜

❛ I know. We make our own fate. ❜

❛ I did it. And now it’s your turn. ❜

❛ Fate’s a tricky business. It still requires work. Planning. ❜

❛ You were certainly a little more spry in your younger days. ❜

❛ A thief who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. ❜

❛ Gives to the poor? Why the hell would I do that? ❜

❛ You have my blessing. I didn’t realize you were so old-fashioned.  ❜

❛ Once you give in to darkness, it’s almost impossible to resist its calling. ❜

[exmpanubis-blog]

Affairs Of The Heart

@benzaitenmp

For a god who’s duty it was to weigh a human heart, he understood very little of the emotion which got so tightly associated to the organ. Which was a rather strange fact considering how he was capable of sensing emotions of others. One would think Anubis would have no trouble with showing his own emotions, acting upon them or figuring out exactly how he felt and why he felt a certain way. But nothing less was true. The Egyptian god always had told himself he knew enough about emotions to decide he didn’t need them in his life. Facts and knowledge were so much better to rely on. Emotions, he thought, were rather fickle things and it baffled him each and every time when humans put more trust in them than in their logical thinking.

Throughout his years with the dead and the living the god had tried to understand why humans, and others of his kind, were so determined to rely on their emotions. Why they were capable of ‘following their heart’ as they so beautifully phrased it. But until now he hadn’t been able to find a single satisfying answer yet. Since the question kept bugging and fascinating him at the same time Anubis had decided to seek out a professional on the matter in Mount Phoenix. He had to admit that there were a lot of experts on the topic of love and emotions around this city but he still had decided to seek out a Japanese goddess first. She worked as a geisha and as far as his knowledge reached to him that meant the goddess had mastered the art of faking her emotions and other different arts of entertainment in order to amuse others.

Finding his way to the Tengu apartments rather easily Anubis asked the receptionist for Benzaiten’s room number. Riding the elevator up to the correct floor, it took him but another couple of steps until he’d reached the correct door. Knocking on it politely, since he found doorbells to be such a nuisance, he waited to hear and see if she’d heard his knocking or if he had to ring her doorbell.

[benzaitenmp]

it is troublesome that she has not been able to find a better place to practice her arts, but practice she must. benzaiten would have much preferred a tea house; that would have been best. but no such place exists on the island just yet and so the goddess has made due with a few of the rooms in her apartment. the main living space provides enough space for a decently sized party, should one wish to be entertained here, with a spare bedroom to the side serving as a ceremonial or private room.

but it is the main space where she does most of her hosting, a large table in the center, a space off to the side in which to dance, several cases and stands scattered about to hold her instruments and tools. she has everything she needs, she supposes, to be just as worthy a host to any visitor that might come by.

and come by one does. it had taken very little effort to spread word of her geisha services around the island, as word of mouth travels as quickly as rushing water. or perhaps the council makes some sort of announcement about those sorts of things, benzaiten cannot be certain. ether way, the goddess takes padding steps across the tatami floor in her house slippers, kneeling to slide open the door while her green and white kimono pools around her. with the door open and the visitor revealed, the ornaments in benzaiten’s carefully done up hair chime together as she bows low.

“welcome to my humble home, how may i be of service today?”

[benzaitenmp]

Benzaiten >> Tsuki-no-Usagi (Mochi-Pounding Moon Rabbit)

“perhaps it is not scary enough for the evil spirits...should i have gone as a pumpkin oni instead? although i am afraid it is a bit too late now...in any case, this costume is lovely. perhaps my mallet will frighten them off. what do you think, chang’e?”

[benzaitenmp]

Winter Awakening // **Persephone**

[benzaitenmp]

mppersephone:

Sometimes, it was still a big surprise for Persephone to witness others expressing their genuine kindness, especially to her. She was used to being feared, avoided, or forgotten by most of the living, and the goddess believed with that permanently unfriendly expression of her face, it would hard to happen otherwise. But this unfamiliar goddess was still insisting on telling her to take the coat, and Persephone - has thrown her useless pride out of the window - accepted the offer with a grateful smile. “Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.”

Having the warmth wrapped around her shaking body, Persephone was completely pleased. She also found the chance to return the other goddess’ favor right away. “The name is Persephone, and I promise your coat would find its way back to you safely really soon. For now, please let me treat you to a drink. You can consider it as my thank-you gift.” 

the woman’s beautiful smile of gratitude, mixed perhaps with a hint of surprise, is more than enough thanks for benzaiten. she wonders for a moment at a world in which people, especially women, have to be wary of strangers and their intentions. it’s heartbreaking, more so for the fact that the other is a goddess, someone to be worshiped and not treated with common indecency. perhaps the world is not always so kind as benzaiten’s own worshipers.

“persephone, a lovely name for a lovely lady. may i ask you of your homeland? of your...” what is the word? “pantheon?” the name was strange on benzaiten’s lips, but not unpleasant. rather than be unkind and deny the offer, benzaiten takes it as an opportunity to get to know the other goddess a little better. “thank you very much, i think something hot to drink will do us both much good. though i must admit that i am not familiar with the sorts of things they offer here.” blue eyes that marble like flowing water go up to the menu, greeting the goddess with a list of words that are unfamiliar to her. perhaps apple cider. that is something she can understand at least. but then she sees the matcha latte.

matcha she knows and knows well, but just what is a latte?

[aoiyu]