#ts janus

[ask-the-sides-of-war]

*snarks, eyes glowing gold* Back off! -🥞

(Perfectly fine, lol! Love it!)

"... it is a daimyo's."

Janus tilts her head slowly, eyes flickering. Then she sighs. "Mm. Not worth the headache, I think."

She clenches her fist. A shockwave of pain spasms, your body and muscles constricting as she waves you double over.

Your instincts take over.

The pain clenches down so much harder than you've felt before.

Blood pools under you.

Janus watches you tremble. "... just give in. It'll be over soon."

[ask-the-sides-of-war]

*panic surges* WHAT IF ITS NOT TOO LATE?! I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING! ORPHEUS AND EURYCIDE! ODYSSEUS! MANY HAVE GONE TO THE UNDERWORLD! SOME COME BACK WITH THE DEAD! -🥞

Janus retracts her hand, sighing quietly. "... Stax. Dearest now. Do you really think I give that much of a shit about Hayato? The man was a menace. Why are you so desperate, hm? ... is this a daimyo's?"

This is also me asking if you're okay with this plot tbh. -Admin

[ask-the-sides-of-war]

*laughs humorlessly* Maybe if I had any idea how to use it. But uncontrolled magic is dangerous. Fae live a long time. Touch my babe and you'll never know peace. 'Sides, wouldn't you rather use me instead? There are ways to bring back the dead. Don't you want your love back? -🥞

"It's a little late for that, isn't it?"

Janus smiles slowly, tracing a hand down your chest. You feel a dull ache clench your spine.

She smiles. "I'd love to see how a fae reacts to my magic. But we have to get rid of the baggage first."

[ask-the-sides-of-war]

*eyes widen and they shield their stomach with their arms and legs, they send the finch to get help* Ow! Why would I tell you, huh? Doesn't make a difference, does it, Janus? -🥞

Janus' eyes flicker. "... how many of you are around? Gods above..."

She snaps her fingers, claws grabbing at your shoulders and pulling you back against a tree. Two demons stand on either side of you- rather, demonic men like Hayato was.

Janus leans over in your face, smiling quietly. "I saw that look. I'll pull it out of you piece by bloody piece. I smell that magic of yours. Do you think it's powerful enough to stop me?"

[ask-the-sides-of-war]

Oh. That's who you are. Inari. *Tries to get up* Why are you out here? I don't see anything you could use. -🥞

Inari's eyes flicker at your movement and she slams down her foot hard into your stomach, knocking the wind out of you. "What did I say about staying down? Hm... which are you? Fennec? Dia? Stax?"

[ask-the-sides-of-war]

*okay rude. Kaori wants to sass inari but bites her tongue*

Inari your magic is a gift. But if your mother taught you to use it for good, why are you using it to hurt people?

You call us yokai filthy but you forget how we come to be. We are created by the gods and the land itself. We are nature. Without yokai, there is no Japan. You claim we are unfeeling monsters while you are a force of good but you are hurting your fellow man, twisting them to fit your ambitions as I fight to keep them alive and safe.

-🕷️

"You are not gods. You are demon."

Inari laughs lowly, raising a hand. "And I know how to make your visage reflect that."

Virgil's eyes flash. "Inari, don't- Kaori-!"

Virgil twists in front of you and Inari's magic hits him square in the chest.

He coughs, shaking as he falls to one knee. Inari tilts her head. "So brave. It won't take long."

Virgil grabs at his shoulders, coughing hard as you hear a deep snapping sound. He hunches over, one hand gouging the dirt.

"... run..."

[ask-the-sides-of-war]

*oh this was bad. This was so so bad. Inari was definitely going to kill her and maybe Virgil too. There was no way this was gonna work. She tries to hide her fear and bows*

Inari. I understand your anger towards me for killing Hayato but I want you to know I didn’t mean to. I was scared and it caused something in me to lash out. Not something instinctual as a yokai but something deeply human. I’m sorry. I am truly, deeply sorry.

-🕷️

Inari stares at you with long dead eyes. "... if you think my grievances with the kingdom stop with the death of Hayato, you are mistaken."

Virgil steps forward. "Inari, I don't wish to kill you. We never wanted to kill. If the magic you used is reversible-"

"Magic?!"

Virgil steps back slowly.

Inari snarls. "Magic?! Magic is a word used to describe filth ridden yokai like this one you've brought to me. What I have is a gift. One my mother trained me to use for good, not their diseases. And you, yokai, jorogumo, whatever you call yourself. You are incapable of remorse. No yokai can feel that."

[ask-the-sides-of-war]

"well I can't make that call. I'm not in charge. I'm probably the last person who can make it" -🦦

"Mm. A bit disappointing."

She turns to Kaito near you. "You seem to have more authority. Why don't you tell your leaders to leave me alone?"

Kaito snarls. "Not after you stabbed me."

"Oh. That was you?" She raises a brow. "Interesting. I thought you died. And now I remember..."

She turns slowly back to you. "... you're the major shifter. Oh. Shion is going to love this."