2805/When Thunder Calls

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When Thunder Calls
Date of Scene: 06 August 2020
Location: Kaminari's Penthouse Suite
Synopsis: Thunder called and Cecily answered, but alas no true answers are found.
Cast of Characters: Kaminari, Cecily Winters




Kaminari has posed:
It is not every day Thunder Calls. Kaminari is a busy goddess and a busy lady as well, what with her mortal career as the Goddess of Rock in addition to being the actual Kami of Thunder and Noise. So it may come as some surprise when Cecily receives a phonecall from one Tanaka Hanako requesting her presence at the Penthouse hotel suite of Kaminari herself.

The news has long held mixed opinions as to whether Kaminari, much like Thor is truly a deity or not, but she is certainly /something/ out of the ordinary if the nigh magical effects seen at her concerts are anything to go by.

Now Kaminari waits in her penthouse for her guest to arrive. Dressed in visual kei fashions more akin to the Victorian era than traditional Japan, she sits in a large comfy chair with her legs crossed smoking a kiseru as the appointed hour arrives.

Cecily Winters has posed:
    It would never do to keep a goddess waiting. And further, Cecily is a consummate professional. She arrives exactly on time, the elevator doors opening as the seconds tick right to the exact minute. She's clad attire befitting a woman of business, or at the least someone who seeks respect. She smoothes out her skirt and adjusts her vest, glancing down at her shoulder holster but she'd left her bag at home.

    Through the doors she goes, low heels tapping softly on the floor. "Miss Kamminari," she greets, "I received your call." Behind her, three white vulpine tails wave and flit about, swaying with her hips as she steps inwards. And upon stopping, shw does bow politely.

Kaminari has posed:
Kaminari tilts her head to one side taking a moment to regard the woman entering her abode looking her up and down. One hand brings the kiseru away from her lips as a long stream of scented smoke is exhaled ...is that opium? "So you are the one that Chizue found. Interesting, you have three tales, the report said two." Her gaze is piercing, appraising, as it seems to look through Cecily.

"You know who I am, Kaminari, Kami of Thunder and Noise. Who pray tell are you?"

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Cecily glances over her shoulder, worried she'd either lost one somehow or sprouted an extra one overnight. No. Three. No more. No less. Three shalt be the number. The fox woman shrugs lightly, looking back to Kaminari as she straightens again. "Well they do blend together at times," she states quietly in answer.

    "Cecily Winters, security consultant," she greets kindly, lips pursed at the mention of Chizue. "...she seemed to think I had a message for her. I'm afraid I'm not... well... perhaps the sort of kitsune you or she had expected? Though I am at least ninety percent sure that is what I am..." she looks down at one of her hands, flexing her long fingers for a moment.

Kaminari has posed:
Kaminari taps the ash from her kiseru and brings it to her mouth again, "You are right about that, you are like no 'kitsune' I have ever laid eyes on before Cecily. I can only wonder what Inari was thinking." She pauses, arching a delicate black eyebrow, "Only ninety percent sure? Please do elaborate, I am quite curious how you came to be this way. So this is what Chizue meant by 'feral'."

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Cecily remains standing, unless offered a place to sit. "It just... happened?" her ears lay flat against her head for a moment. "I was a cop, there was an evacuation two years ago during the invasion... My memories are hazy but we got attacked and I did my duty, shielding the civilians when..." she lifts her hands in a sort of helpless shrug, "Poof? I had tails, everyhing was louder, there was fire... which I think was mine?" She sighs, dropping one arm and palming her face with the other, mindful of her glasses.

    "...to say nothing of being stronger and faster and ... my body's younger looking than it should be. It's like I regressed ten years but I've got my memories... I think?" she frowns, lowering her hand.

Kaminari has posed:
"Two years ago?" That eyebrow arches up even higher. "A typical fox gains a tail every hundred years." she exhales another long stream of smoke, "What is Inari playing at?" There is irritation in the way she says that though thankfully it seems to be directed at the fox god.

"Oh by all means have a seat." she gestures to the comfortable sofa across from her, "Would you like something to drink?" she asks as she reaches for a nearby wine glass of her own to take a swallow. Sipping is for those without a divine metablism to overcome.

Cecily Winters has posed:
    The fox sighs, facepalming again, "..great, not only am I a 'feral kitsune', I'm an anomalous one as well... I wasn't born this way, things just happened... There's some sort of.. celestial bureaucracy that Shizue mentioned or some sort of... war or rivalry or whatnot... that I know absolutely nothing about..." Cecily laughs, then drops onto that sofa with a sigh.

    "I wasn't consulted, I wasn't spoken to. And... up until Chizue... nobody had spoken to me about any of it..." she closes her eyes, leaning back. "I... usually drink tea, if you have any... please. If not, I'll have what you're having."

Kaminari has posed:
Kaminari just sort of blinks at Cecily for a moment, "The Celestial Bureaucracy of the Jade Emperor exists in China. Or maybe existed, we beat them up pretty good... now Communism, oops." Because these things happen right? Another swallow of wine is taken before the kiseru is returned to her lips again, "While China does have it's own share of foxes, this has Inari's handiwork all over it. He thinks he is so clever and funny. He'll do this to you just to see what you do because it amuses him, or maybe he was drunk on rice wine, that's one of his portfolio's too you know. Not that I would fauly anyone for enjoying a good drink but, don't drink and grant divine powers seems pretty basic." she rolls her eyes at the thought of it.

When Cecily asks for tea Kaminari picks up a phone on one of the tables next to her before sying, "Yes, bring a full tea service." and hanging it up again. "Your tea should be here shortly."

Cecily Winters has posed:
    "I apologize, Chinese pantheon?" she blinks, then shakes her head, "...you can tell my knowledge of mythology and the various deity pantheons is terribly limited..." Cecily tilts her head back, and her tails drape over her lap. She idly strokes over one, slowly, gently. "And now I could potentially be the drunk accident of the god or goddess of rice and sake and foxes..." she laughs.

    "I mean I've been trying to use my powers for good... when I use them... I mostly just... take advantage of the... healing.. and stand in front of bullets for people.." she snorts. "Maybe I should be drinking something stronger than tea..."

Kaminari has posed:
The door opens and a young woman in a maid uniform wheels in a full tea service cart with a teapot, cups, saucers, sugar, milk, cream, veritably any accoutrment one could want, a wide variety of very expensive teas to choose from and a tray full of snacks and cakes to accompany the tea. "Will that be all?" she asks.

"Yes that will be all." Kaminari dismisses her with a wave of her hand.

Her gaze then turns back to Cecily, "Something stronger can be arranged if you like." she takes another drink of her wine. "So the question becomes are you happy as you are? I am uncertain what Inari is after here, he may be after nothing more than his own amusement, it's impossible to say. But what are /your/ feelings about all of this. What is it that you want? To be changed like this without even being consulted must be jarring. Normally such power comes with responsibilities but I am not even sure Inari knows the meaning of that word."

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Immediately after the maid departs, Cecily is on the cart. She's sifting through the tea options and chooses something green. Honey and cream are set aside, and she sets to work preparing something that she's obviously very practiced at. She listens to Kaminari speak as she does so, ears lifted and swivelled in her direction. While her hands work, the way her ears point makes it obvious she's paying close attention.

    At last, she looks up, frowning thoughtfully. "...to be fair I don't know what I want. I'm in a position to better do what I've been devoting my life to... protecting others. It's what I'm good at and what I enjoy doing. Granted, regeneration is a bitch when your nerves and flesh and bones are repairing themselves because it -hurts- but... small price to pay to not die... or... not let others, either..." she sighs and glances at her refreshment efforts, waiting for the steeping to, well, steep.

    "It's jarring but I'm used to it... I suppose I'm more looking for answers. To figure out where my place in all this is. And to be made aware of... well being a lone kitsune in the open is just begging for someone or something to hunt me down and wear my ass as a hat, right? Chizue seems to have expressed so much, and in just about as many words.." she laughs, her tails curling around her legs protectively.

Kaminari has posed:
"Well I suppose it is good you are making the most of your situation." Kaminari produces a bottle of wine from somewhere behind her chair and refills her glass. "It is true, there are many that might hunt you for what you are. The demons of Yomi would not doubt like to feast on the Tama you have been infused with. Other Yokai, unscrupulous sorcerors and scientists, there are many who might like to forcibly get their hands on such power and yet it seems Inari has cast you adrift. It's quite cruel really."

She considers something for a moment, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "It is possible I might be able to restore you to the way you were if that was your desire."

Cecily Winters has posed:
    The tea is done, and Cecily takes it back to her seat, sitting down and taking a slow drink. Again, she listens, savoring the mixture now. "Truth be told, I have enough problems..." she gives a lopsided smile. "...but I've become accustimed to this... and..." she looks down at her lap, those tails having curled up on it again, black tips lifting, twitching, curling. "...it's been two years. This is who I am now..." she runs the fingers of her free hand through the fur, sighing quietly.

    "I couldn't go back. I can't pretend that life will just go back to 'normal'... and I don't think I'd want it to. I just want to know what and how... and then move forward without having so many questions about myself. And... if there's anything I could help you with too, well... I guess I'm no deity, really..."

Kaminari has posed:
Kaminari drinks some more of her wine and nods. "Then it seems like the one you need to find is Inari. Unfortunately that can be rather tricky. But you never know, perhaps since he has marked you he will be more willing to reveal himself to you or herself or whatever form they're taking these days. Shapeshifters." she rolls her eyes as she says the word.

"If you are in need of work while you are searching for him, I could possibly use more security. Heidi is lovely but Asgardians are more up close and personal than long range and ninjas... don't really do security so much as targeted threat response. You," she glances at the holstered weapon Cecily is wearing, "Seem to be more of the long ranged projectile sort. Unlike many in Takamagahara I have always been fascinated by the products of human ingenuity, mainly those that use captured lightning but firearms have their own charm as well." She probably just likes the noise.

Cecily Winters has posed:
    "I'm not sure what I'd say to the god-slash-goddess of rice and sake and foxes and shapeshifting, honestly... thanks? Will I get to shapeshift too? It's made life interesting... ten years..." she sighs, looking at her hands, shaking her head again. "Mmm... firearms, those are my thing, yes. Well, and I do have fire... I'm still learning how to play with it though..." she laughs again. She sets her tea down and carefully draws the pistol. She checks it, unloads the magazine, and pulls the slide, catching the bullet after it hops out.

    "This... is the smallest one in my collection. If you find yourself threatened by something that merits it... I have some very, very large.... very -loud- toys...." there's a grin on her face and her tails seem to be... trying to wag. "But yes, I'm the sort to reach out and touch my enemies. I dare say I'm very, very good at it. But I can be rather hands on if need by as well?" she shrugs a little and slides the round back into the magazine, but leaves both that and the empty gun on her lap as she goes for her tea.

    "Ten years... wait... I was on a trip to Japan ten years ago..." she frowns, ears splaying. "...would it take a god a decade to respond to something?"

Kaminari has posed:
Kaminari does admire the pistol when Cecily shows it off, the mention of her possession of bigger louder weapons is also filed away for later. That could be fun.

She gives a light shrug as she swallows more wine when Cecily brings up the events of a decade prior, "What is time to an immortal? What is ten years to those who have lived for thousands of years. Perhaps he is still intending to visit you and just hasn't gotten around to it yet."

Cecily Winters has posed:
    The fox takes another sip, "...that's fair..." she considers. "I just hope I'm not destined to just be a messenger. Though now you've got me worried about youkai. I already had hopping zombies in Gotham come after me once..." she mutters and cradles her mug in both hands. "If any of this was at all related to my class trip then it's probably that old shrine I found. This is how horror stories or other things start, isn't it... shrine in the woods, get cursed, and it doesn't show up until years later and people start dying..."

    Her ears wilt, "..the world is scary enough, this is why I don't go to the movies that much."

Kaminari has posed:
Kaminari seems if anything faintly amused as she regards Cecily. She sets her wineglass aside so that she may repack her kiseru, lighting it again with what looks like the tiniest bit of lightning from one of her fingers. "With power comes danger. There's two sides to everything some might see your state as a blessing, others a curse, but there is not one without the other. There are those who will hunt you for this power. Most who are so imbued as divine warriors serving a kami having years of training and mental preparation. ...and then there's Inari who like I said may have done this as a joke, it may have been a curse, he might have been napping in that shrine and you woke him up. It is how horror movies start because there is an element of horror to your situation. First because the unknown is mankind's greatest fear and second because power has a price and unless you're willing to pay that price you might be better off as you were before. If you choose to become a sacred warrior of Inari, that is between you and Inari. But, yes it is a very dangerous road to walk."

Cecily Winters has posed:
    "Wonderful..." Cecily rubs her face, "...I'll have to pencil them in... You don't adopt foxes, do you? Or is that a divine faux pas?" she asks with a grin. "I'd hate to earn Inari's ire but you're the only person I've met that has at least attempted to offer me some sort of guidance and information... Beyond that I feel like I was given tails and a flamethrower and tossed out to see how many fires I start or don't start.." she chuckles.

    "Or if I decide to put on a costume or not and join those sorts too...." she muses. "I've been like this for two years... and I've both seen some shit and done some shit in that time..." her head shakes. "I'll pay the price if it comes knocking, dear, but for the time being I'm at least enjoying being able to help."

Kaminari has posed:
Kaminari studies Cecily again for a long moment as she inhales from her kiseru and lets out another stream of scented smoke, "Me? Not typically foxes, no. My servants are the Raiju, white and blue wolves with bodies made of lightning. Wild and fierce, like the storms that they spring from." she twirls one of her fingers and the exhaled smoke begins to twist and bend until it resembles the shape of a mythical lightning wolf.

She smirks for a moment when addressed as dear, but lets it slide without comment.

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Again, those ears wilt. "Unfortunate. No, I'm a fire fox, not a lightning wolf. Plenty of thunder and flash though, when I have my toys out..." she manages a smile. "A perilous place I find myself, then. A deity perhaps occupied with the other goings on in the divine world, and a lost child without guidance..." she tsks. Then sits up.

    "It's not your responsibility, of course. I was mainly curious if you -would- adopt a fox. WHether or not I'm set to gain any more fluff is beyond my ken. But this world is a weird place, unless I did get crushed by debris and this is all a terribly strange dream."

Kaminari has posed:
Kaminari steeples her fingers in front of her, "If I was going to make you my servant and that is a big if for someone I have only just met and no offense is not even a Shinto Japanese, the first thing I would do is remove Inari's influence. I am not particularly fond of sharing and really neither is Inari. Once that was banished I would grant you the power of the Raiju. But as you say you are a fire fox and wish to remain so. Now as I said you are welcome to work for me while you sort all of this out. I have more mortal currency than I know what to do with and while I am more than capable of dealing with threats to my person myself, it's bad for PR. But divine adoption? That another matter."

She shifts in her seat uncrossing and recrossing her legs as she toys with the kiseru in her hand, "As for whether this is all a dream, that you would have to take up with the Taoists. I believe Duang-Tzu had a few thoughts on the matter. Something about butterflies."

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Cecily listens intently, nodding, "...truth be told there's still no way of telling it's one hundred percent Inari either... but it's still one step closer to, well, anything more than nothing at all, right?" she offers. She smiles, taking all this into consideration. "I'm free for part-time contracts. Events. You might know one of my other employers... pretty girl, neon hair. Goes by the name Rave?

Kaminari has posed:
"True," Kaminari's finger steeple returns, "Though most of the other fox sorts are hereditary, though who knows perhaps it is one of those mutations that seem to be all over the news these days." She pauses to give Cecily another good look, "Still this has the look of Inari's handiwork all over it." She listens and nods to Cecily, "That name sounds familiar. Well if you are generally taken care of financially that is good then and if there are any ...special occasions I will let you know. If you need to reach me just call me agent, and she'll make sure I know about it or potentially get a hold of me directly if the situation warrants it. Did you have any other questions?"

Cecily Winters has posed:
    Cecily nods slowly, once more. She finishes her tea, then moves to stand up. "No further questions, dear. Though I truly do look forward to working for you. I'd be happy to show you some of my favorite toys, mm?" she offers a bright smile, tails waving behind her a little more rapidly now. "You have my contact information, and I look forward to hearing from you. Do you have anything you wish to ask me?"

Kaminari has posed:
Kaminari's kiseru returns to her mouth, "No, I belive my curiousity has been satisfied as much as it is going to be for the moment. If there is some work or I manage to find Inari before you do, I will let you know."