13594/An Audience requested

An Audience requested
Date of Scene:	17 December 2022
Location:	Cedar Hill
Synopsis:	Harper touches base with Saeko, bringing some gifts, seeking an audience to give thanks.
Cast of Characters:	Harper Row, Saeko

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Harper Row has posed:
Harper enters the park on blades. She'd rather jog to her intended destination, get in the kind of cardio that leaves her breathless, but the cargo she bears has to adhere to the 2nd law of thermodynamics. These hot buns ain't gonna stay that way forever.

Making her way towards that particular shrine, she's made a point of not coming shabby but rather workout streamlined. She's being all edgy with her backwards cap, shorts and tee. Protective glove, elbow and kneepads. Her hands are counterbalanced with a warm bag of very pleasant smelling bakery items, the other with hot drinks. Careening along the path, grunting out warnings "On you righ- LEFT." and bypassing joggers and strollers. When she's at the foot of the shrine, she kicks off her rollerblades and barefoots it up to the holy place and carefully sets out her gifts. It's still a little crazy to her, attempting this, but it's worked before. She murmers some hopeful wishes, beseeching to be graced with a very particular presence. A bit of stammering about how it's totally okay if not, but I brought some things, so if she's not too busy...Akin to a anxious phone call that wasn't planned out, but honest.

Saeko has posed:
The shrine wasn't quite as popular this time of year aside from some of the city's more traditional japanese residents, perhaps that was why Harper was able to find it empty enough. No other visitors, the bench and the samll wooden shrine were hers alone for the moment, leaving her barefoot invoking and offering unobserved.

At least by mortal eyes...

A soft brush of something at her back, a gentle hand touching against her cheek from behind before a soft laugh comes from behind her and suddenly there's another figure clothed in that red yukata that was noticably more revealing that traditional.

"Harper, welcome back..."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper's shoulders don't jerk up, but she is surprised. Perhaps the warm and gentle way Saeko alerted her to her presence. The welcoming presence has Harper grinning shyly, a flush erupting on her cheeks. She turns her eyes to you, brushing at herself of imaginary dust. "Oh my gosh." she blurts. "I'm so glad! So glad you're here."

Harper pushes up on one instep and then another, it's a ridiculous kind of dorky curtsy, a kind of dance-step in place. She gestures to what she's brought. "I was really hoping you were hungry, or listening, or thirsty. It's not super important...I...just wanted to check in." She shrugs her shoulders and gazes at your yukata and your tails and your eyes. It's a trip with a bunch of detours. Her hand comes up to brush at her hair, encountering her backwards cap.

Saeko has posed:
"Just to check in?" Saeko muses, the kitsune woman who'd appeared in all her glory lifting a hand to a light chuckle that rolled all the way down to a little quiver of her tails. "You have come to bring a gift rather than not to beseech Inari for a blessing?" A step forward, her hands come up to clasp Harper's shoulders in a little grin. "That is most kind of you..."

A little flick of her finger and one of the buns seems to simply appear in her hand as she drew her grasp back. "It is a pleasure to see you again."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper's excuses for visiting wither on her tongue under scrutiny. She's a tad distracted by the Kistune, short-circuited by her effortless seeming ways. "It's a pleasure for me as well." she yammers and allows for a pregnant pause before continuing.

"Is it weird that it feels like coming back regularly is, like, a necessary thing? It's not a chore! I mean, I just really like hanging out." In her head, Harper cringes and feels like she's crinkling up like a badly made origami. "I wouldn't want to be rude and demand anything of you like that. I guess beseeching is better. I'd beseech to hang out...well, linger...not lurk!" Her eyes widen at your trans-relocation of her treats. "Not beseech, just...would really enjoy your company. And if you would like any help. I'd like to help out if you need anything."

Saeko has posed:
"Necessary thing?" Saeko muses lightly only to chuffle and take a bite of her treat and sighing delightedly at the taste. "You are not a shrine maiden...and this is not quite a temple." A little beckon with her hand for Harper to join her in sitting at the bench. "I have told you before you are always welcome here, and your own company is very much comfort and aid...and the sweets and drinks do not hurt."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper bites at her lip and gives a small nod. "I'm still kinda ignorant of the culture and everything. I'd blame some of the things I've been watching on my downtime." She thinks over some of the media she's been consuming, some of which is totally out of left field. She clears her throat and goes to sit next to you with the gestured invitation. "My words aren't working so well this morning. Ah...this might be why..." she reaches for one of the warm drinks, a coffee with a plastic top she thumbs to make a drinking aperture. "Do you have many shrine maidens?" she asks before obscuring part of her face with the raised coffee cup. "Attendants that see to your needs?"

Saeko has posed:
"Here? In America?" she questions lightly, giggling a little and then taking another bite of her treat and then shaking her head. "No...but it's not really a temple here, just an altar for people to make offerings. And even then, the servants in Inari's homeland are servants to Inari, not her Tenko like me..." A little sip of her drink and then sighing happily. "I have however, after the divine battle that happened in this city and some of the acts I have done, gained what some would call 'Fans'?"

Harper Row has posed:
Harper takes another sip of her own drink, cupping between her gloved hands as the heat seeps in. "That's not hard to believe. I wouldn't be surprised if someone isn't making merchandise and selling it." she states with a smile. "Lots and lots of fans. Plus one!" she says dorkily, hefting her cup in a mock toast. She resettles herself on the seat next to you. "Divine battles must be quite the thing. That's a bit of a step up from purse snatchers and jewel thieves. Glad this city has got your protection. Can you hear...them? If a...fan...whispered a beseechment, forwhateverreason, your gaze would be drawn? For anything?"

Saeko has posed:
Saeko actually nods, giving a little chuckle as her tails lazily sway and swirl around her form before she offers a lazy brush of one furred appendage against Harper's side. "I can...but that was part of why I came to this place. Inari appreciates creativity...We offer aid to those who beseech us for aid...I merely consider that those who ask for 'anyone' fall under my care. That is why I came to this land." She trails off, if only for another bite that already had mostly finished her bun. "If they call for me, in prayer and invocation...it is like being beckoned, yes."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper nods along politely. Internally, there's some creative thoughts going through her mind, making her expression quirk and alter, rapidly blinking and lip chewing. "I think I understand." She rotates the cup between her gloved hands, and sits straighter as the tail glances against her, smiling. "Lots of fans." she murmers. She clears her throat and side-long glances. "I may have sort of sent out a call for aid in the city a few weeks ago. It was a little selfish, but at the time it was flung out there, merely to help me complete a task. Though I guess it has half selfish, to try and protect some others. But I'd just like to say thanks if you were listening, because it did help me do what I needed to do." Harper releases her hand from her coffee and rests it on your arm to give a small squeeze. "Thank you."

Saeko has posed:
"Perhaps that is the fun of it," Saeko muses quietly with a little giggle, leaning in to face the other woman gently with a tilt of her head. "A little foxy trick, maybe you got yourself a little blessing for all the gifts and company you have offered so far...or maybe you did it all yourself and we could simply be cheering you on."

Harper Row has posed:
Harper considers this, though considering deep thoughts looks like a challenge for her at the moment. The steam of the coffee drifts up, her bottom lip still moist from it. She leans in close to you, about to do something, and pauses. "Maybe...I've certainly had a lot of cheering on and help. You and Cecily, in different ways. Directly and indirectly. I shouldn't drill down too deeply on it and accept it happily. Not be so suspicious of why a thing is this way, or that way. Old habits..."

Saeko has posed:
A little grin, that momentary pause brings a little comfortable squeeze. "We have not forgotten what you confessed to us, nor the promise either of us made I am sure..." she mentions comfortably. She wasn't really one to speak for Cecily, but she could very much speak for herself.