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Summoning circles, or more specifically the glyphs that surround them? On some level it's not unlike dialing a phone, if you know the right number you can dial someone or something up. Granted you need some juice to build the wards to keep that connection from ripping your teeth out the back of your skull, and to call down big names takes big power and usually a rep. However mistakes in chalk lines, in glyphs, in the raw order of things and then of course we have the raw flow of the thing. You want a perfect circle, and this is more egg shaped than anything. Plug enough will, enough juice and keep that call going long enough? Well you're liable to dial somone, anyone infact.
Now lets be fair here, Kitsune aren't actually demons. They are however in the "phonebook" as it were, for strictly practical reasons. In Eito's case he never got the message, nor the Kitsune before him. They'd signed an address for the office, as it were. The number was designed to be easy to get, because well they're not supposed to be difficult to get ahold of. Problem is, when you're a Kitsune? Yeah like all of fucking NYC, thats the god damned office.
That summoning circle is, well dead for some time before the air gets chill. Candle light flickers, electric lights pop and sizzle before going dark entirely. It's absolutely unmistakable, because it's the sort've thing that even above all else? You can feel it, deep down in the pit of your chest. Like heartache, like a lead weight shoved between the lungs. A little more juice and, yeah it looks like this summon will be completed post haste.
*
Lynette wasn't good with shapes. Not perfect ones, anyway. Her lessons from yester-year was all she had, and she had tried to forget her past as much as possible. A magic user supreme had told her to will the voices, and visions she suffered from to her own will. Make them her own, as they were part of her. But what exactly were they? A number of spirits could answer, and she could feed them questions for the ever powerful knowledge of simply knowing 'what', 'why', and 'how'. The chalk is set, candles lit, and after tracing a few marks with her own blood, she lowers her head and concentrates.
It's easy, at first, perhaps not working at all. The more she focuses, the more it starts to hurt as her inner spring of abilities ripples and pops, flowing like fire through her body. Her petite form arches back, sharply, and then lowers down, head hanging low, the pads of her fingers keeping on their spots, threatening to press into and break the floor below her. She was squating, that night, located in some abandoned building structure, and she was alone.
Someone, something was coming. Was it working? Did she do it all on her own on the first try?
*
Then comes an eruption, a positively volcanic spewing of brilliant pink cherry blossoms. Pounds of the stuff flutter through the air, and thats just the start of it. Then it comes in a brilliant flash, bright enough that you can feel the warmth of it in your bones. Hot enough that if it had lasted any longer than it had, it'd have been decidedly unpleasant. That preamble alone, bodes ill because this isn't simple shit here folks. It's distinctive both in the amount of, well those flower blossoms and the heat released. Lynette it would seem, has summoned something beyond a simple teacher. This is no average joe mercenary demon son of a bitch, no she's brought down something on another level entirely. Something god damned divine in nature.
It's tall like a man, but it's no man. The legs are, decidedly foxlike and then theres all that brilliant white fur, a pair of tails and the head of a fox? First hint. Second one would be the Brilliant red Kimono, both tailored and groomed to downright divine perfection. Thirdly, theres the armor. That brilliant glossy black armor, the sort've thing you see in samurai films? Of course there are differences here. There are ammo pouches attached to all that armor, a tommy gun slung over his back. Gold flake kanji scripting across the chestplate, and yeah swords and even a pistol and yeah. This ain't no god damned teacher.
The show stopper though, the primary hint that Lynette may have infact called above her station? It's the mask. A fox mask, worn by a fox. Puzzle that one for a moment right? Well it -glows-, like it was made of pure moonlight (it is). Potmarked with a mixture of dried blood and claw marks, yet even it has some degree of decoration beyond that. Neat little red triangles above either eye, the symbol of who he serves as if he needs any introduction. Normally. He steps foreward, extending a hand and lifting his chin. "Well, don't keep me waiting. Hand it over."
*
"What?"
It's the first word she says, the only word she can think of saying, her fingers down and into the small puddles of crimson created by her knife. This wasn't who she was calling for, at all, unless her ideals about what her own personal pantheon looked like. A fox. A fox in a fox mask and dripping with so much Japan he should be one of the country's islands. Her breath hitches when he reaches foward, she peeling her fingers off the floor, small beads form at the frest cuts. "I…I don'…" the girl stammers, confusion apparent on so many levels. "You're not Papa Legba." The floofy haired mambo decides.
*
That mask cocks to the right for a moment, before it's wearer drops his gaze to the floor. "Papa Legba…"It repeats, before the gaze returns towards Lynette. "You mortals are going to drive me to drinking."And finally, it steps foreward. Theres supposed to be a barrier there, one which lets be honest. It's there in thought only, as far as the Kitsune is concerned. Dropping one hand down to angle those swords sheathed at his side forward just a hitch. "I am the 87nth Kitsune, divine messenger of the Honored High Goddess Inari and humble servant to The Divine Court of the East."
"Now you're going to make an account of yourself, and explain why I'm standing in a hovel."A beat, no a half beat as he steps foreward again. "Stand up summoner, Come now let's hear why you brought a divine courtier into this filth. Did you perchase presume that I had no other pressing business, forget to mail the check off to your maid? Perhaps I should ask around, drop in on Papa Legba and see if he feels like explaining this foolishness on your behalf?"
*
Lynette skitters back with her hands and feet once he steps forward. "Kitsune?" She questions, the name rolling off her heavily accent tongue. When he requests it, she stands, the oversized sweater hanging on her tiny form, its sleeves swallowing up her arms. She looks like she belonged here, in this hole in the wall, as she wasn't the most clean or well dressed. Reaching up, she scratches into her floofy hair, only to hiss and remember that she had just sliced her digits. "I-I didn' mean to." She answers at length, her expression apologetic.
"I-I don' know what happened. M'lookin' f'answers and wanted t'talk wit Papa. He de spirit of answers n'openin' doors. I didn' mean t'int'rupt y'day." Then he comments about speaking with the lwa himself. "No! No, please! Don' make'em mad at me!"
*
The mask, seems to just sort've hang in the dim light. Float foreward, snaking delicately from side to side. "You certain you need to be summoning Papa Legba, and not takeout?"Finally pausing, before turning back to examine the circle. "You summoned, nobody. This circle is so poorly constructed that you pulled in whomever was nearest."A foot brushing across to smear the chalk away. "You should not, be summoning at a time such as this. Not with what is happening in Central Park."
Theres a flit of those tails as he studies that circle for a moment longer, before finally giving a nod. "I will on this occasion, forgive you for this insult. If you summon me again in such a fashion oncemore, I will chew the heart out of your chest without remorse. I require payment however, I require your services for this evening and you will provide them."A hitch as he peers over his shoulder. "This is not a negotiation, do you understand your situation?"
*
As he berates the circle, she glares at first, and then frowns. Lowering her head, the girl just nods, causing her curls to bounce with the motion. "That's why I did dis. I need t'understand m'self. I wanna help…" She perks up when he mentions Central Park. The girl seems painfully aware of how sick that location of the city already is. Her mouth parts, and once he explains what would happen to her, if there was a next time, she covers her chest and grips at something that hangs there, a gold coin of sorts, stamped with Norse runes.
Her lower lip trembles and she gives a slight glance toward the door, the window, some way out. The room's natural darkness grows, the shadows shifting, stretching out, becoming thicker. "W-what y'wan' me t'do?"
*
"First, your hands are in unacceptable condition."A pause as he turns to reguard the woman, before reaching behind his chest plate to produce a kanji'd strip of paper. "take this in all ten fingers and hold it gently, you will know when to let go. Now beyond that, do you like Vietnamese food?"That little strip of paper has magic of it's own of course. Kitsune are not, incidentally magical powerhouses but they have their tricks certainly. Enough to clean fingertips up, for certain. "You took me from my dinner, so that will be our first concern. Beyond that, tell me your name. What am I to call you?"
*
Lynette releases the coin and accepts the strip. She holds it as instructed, and after a moment, she gives a soft gasp and drops the slip of paper. Studying her fingers, she turns them, forward and back, now that the cuts are fully healed. "V-vietnamese?" She shrugs, a simple bob of her slender shoulders. "I ain't never had any." Then, she frowns, her arms behind her back, the shadows still present, but their growth ceases. "I-I'm sorry. I can'. I don'…I ain't got money, so I can' get you anyt'ing t'eat." Her dark eyes settle on his masked face once more as she sounds out, "Lynette. M'name's Lynette."
*
"There is no honor, in a lord who allows his retainers to starve Lynette."And in a rush of flower petals the fox is gone, replaced by a young fellow in a finely tailored suit. "So what did you want to learn, and why? Remember, Lynette I will not tolerate dishonesty."Delicately lifting his hands to delicately tug after his cuffs, before adjusting his tie ever so minutely. "Now come then, lets get something to eat."Man or not though, theres a funny thing there. There is a reason the legends refer to fox-eyed men, even if nobody can ever really explain what that's supposed to mean. You do have to look a Kitsune in the eyes to understand, that somehow? Most folk can always tell. "I am known as Eito amongst Mortals, if anyone asks? Tell them I'm your brother, if they care to argue I'll feed them their teeth."
*
Lynette can't help but scoff as she looks around. "Dis buildin' don' belong t'nobody. Jus' came in t'be alone." Watching the shift, she covers her eyes briefly and then lowers it again, now seeing the figure before her. She blinks once more, her head canting to the side, just staring. It's the second time she's seen someone use magic to just shift before her; it's still a wonder. Shuffling forward, her clunky boots thunk across the floor with each step. "Eito," she confirms and then moves her head back, quirking a brow at him. "Dat's a lie, dough. Ain't nobody believe dat in a million years." She had yet to answer his question, however, and remembering to do so, she waits by the door, even opening it, well, yanking it open, for him. "To control m'visions n'de voices. Use t'sleep in de park, den my nights b'came restless. Whispers, screams, a jumble a't'ings all at once. Met a man dat told me t'try n'control dem. Dat hearin', n'seein' what I do s'part 'f me."
*
"A seer then, hm."He steps foreward, extending the hoop of one arm for Lynette to take. "It is a sickness of this country I find, or maybe just this time. A talent like that should be honored, cherished, not left to sleep in the park like garbage. I can't teach you such things, but despite my better judgement I am starting to find your cause noble."A pause as he waits for Lynette to come along, before he'll head out on the street. "However I feel you would be a danger to yourself or others if left in such a condition, dark ones like to snatch up little mortals like you. Bend them to their will, use them for evil. So lets see if we can't make some good account, what -can- you do beyond that gift. Cook, clean, sew, knit, any such thing?"
*
"Dey gon' talk 'bout you." She warns him, even as she timidly links her arm around his own. She's careful not to stand too close, perhaps feeling at odds being next to him. She's a far cry from him in a number of ways; power, station, fashion, presence. "De people outside? Dey jus'…don' like people dat're dif'rent. In looks, skin c'lor, powers." She follows, and after a few moments, they exit the building. It looks as if it was about ready to fall, and is marked with a number of 'No Trespassing' signs. "Me? I dunno. Lil t'ings I guess. Didn' learn too much growin' up. I c'n cook, n'de like. C'n do more den jus' see t'ings, too." Taking a breath, she looks up to her new companion. "I don' wanna settle in. Gotta be able t'run…y'know, if I need t'."
*
"Life is like water Lynette, once poured out it can never be gathered back up. Spend your life running, and you'll spend none of it living."Deepfox, yo. "They can talk, they can do whatever they fancy. You start caring, you're giving them power of you."And well he does know vaguely where they are, or at least where theres a good joint to grab a bite it seems. "I dislike you living on the streets, and I do not feel as though any reputable teacher is going to feel terribly motivated to teach a street urchin. If you want to become more than you are, you're going to need to change I suspect."
Theres a Vietnamese supermarket, which he strides through with just a nod of the head. Then through the beads seperating the backroom, and down a staircase into the basement below. Theres a -bar- down here, a few tables and yeah none of it particularly fancy but hey it's a hidden little joint. "Have a seat, I'm going to speak to a woman about a gun. I'll return with dinner, do not wander off Lynette."
*
"You ain't neva been 'fraid a day in y'life, have you?" She then questions the Fox after he gives her advice (granted, it was good advice), but it doesn't cease her question. She nods, and keeps walking, keeping her view down, and once in awhile, she'll grip and tug around the sleeve of his jacket. Once in the area, she looks around suspeciously. "A gun?" She then perks, her eyes widening, even as she sits and keeps said seat. Left by herself, she looks around once more, studying the room and checking the exits with just a bit more paranoia creeping up and gnawing at the back of her mind.
*
There are no patrons, no wait staff. There are lamps, christmas lights shoved into mason jars to be specific. There are idols, maybe thirty or fourty scattered here and there. From Buddha to Christ, and well just about everyone looks well represented. He returns soon enough, with a pair of large bowls and a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. "I have been afraid plenty, see heres the thing Lynette. I'm a small fish in a -very- large pond, I'm a celestial Messenger. I conduct business with gods and demons and, all manner of things. If they chose to shoot the messenger?"He lets that hang, as he sets out dinner. Pho, proper comfort food pho to be specific. That spicy, semi-sour awesomeness. He does at least have a fork for Lynette though, see isn't he a nice guy? Dufflebag set aside, before he takes a seat.
"You are a medium fish, in a very small pond. Terrified of the big fish, and you're right to be worried about some of them certainly. You are head and shoulders above maybe, sixty people in total in this city though. What you need is to stay put, find some of them and make friends. Foxes are solitary creatures, Humans are not."And a pause as Eito does his thing with those chopsticks, swirling the noodles a bit before digging in. "Fear is normal, it's your brain telling you something could go wrong. Fear is healthy, but you must conquer it. What're they going to do, hurt you?"
*
"Lots a people try t'hurt me." She explains gently, a bit drawn into herself, but at least she offers him 'thanks' when accepting the bowl, and the fork. Leaning over it, she sniffs at its contents before giving it a shot. As with most foods, she eats as quickly as possible, and stuff as much as she can into her cheeks. The round out, making her head look much more melon like, before she starts to chew and swallows everything down. Bowl up, she tips it, drinking some of the broth before tending to the noodles once more.
Looking across to the well dressed figure across from her with his stunning eyes, she keeps her silence, slurping up more of her feed, even as one tendrils of boiled dough flicks up and smacks her on the nose. "Y'born dat way? De way y'are now?"
*
"Kitsune are not born, we are made."Eito eats at an unhurried pace, because well he's in no rush. "I did not survive my birth, nor did my parents survive their own ordeal. The High Goddess heard the dying prayers of my mother, and those of an honored woman. She granted me an opportunity to serve, and honor both my parents and the Goddess." He pauses, rising and reaching over to snag a pair of coke bottles before settling back in. He slides one across to Lynette before settling back in himself.
"I spent fourty years as a student of sorts, where I was shaped and instructed. I'm young for one of my sorts, just two tails."A pause as he sips after that coke for a moment. "Before I was here, my duties kept me in Tibet. I oversaw the mail between the Dalai Llama, The Buddha and Honored Inari. I was there when the Chinese invaded, I was told I was to fight. So I did, and many tried to hurt me. Some were successful, most were not. I was however, alone and scared. I was fighting with stolen swords and guns, eating rats and drinking snow melt. It was important, to take the measure of China and my own."Pausing a moment as he peers about. "I did that for about, nine years without pause. Every day, every waking moment devoted to that. So do not think I do not understand surviving, desperation and fear. I know these things well, but I remembered what was important. I may surrender my life at any moment, such is life. I must never, abandon my honor."
*
Lynette listens and eats. She doesn't speak, she doesn't hardly move now; she sits. Between the pair it's obvious now that she's, well, a scared child on the run and not much of anything else. Finishing her meal, she drinks down the rest, and uses the prongs of her fork to scrape up anything else that had been left behind. Licking her lips clean, she reaches up and rubs her sleeve across her face and cheeks, too. Then, her hands rest in her lap, and she keeps her gaze down, just tracing the markings on the table. "Sorry."
*
"Sorry for what, you must examine your own life not my own. Apologies to the self are worthless externalizations of what should be insights, applied like armor over your weaknesses."Finally setting those chopsticks atop the bowl, before sliding it foreward. "I can not teach you magic, but I am going to offer you some advice. A great teacher, is like a builder. He must see the materials at hand and understand them, recognize their individual uses. He must know what tools he has to affect the work at hand, and he must have blueprints of quality. Before all of this, he must find a site with a strong foundation. Where the water will flow correctly, where it will be at harmony with the world around it, where it will serve it's purpose."Easing back to produce a neat silver cigarette case and a gold ronson, which he puts to good use before offering a cigarette over. "It is an endeavor worth much effort, time and money. So provide at the least, a solid foundation first. I have on occasion taught swordplay, not what you seek. If thats what you did need, I would not take you as my student."
*
"May I leave now?" She comments at length, having sat still as stone during his entire 'lesson'. She doesn't accept the smoke, simply giving him a shake of her head. It was obvious that she wasn't very happy, or content, or even comfortable sitting here. Yet, she doesn't move at all from her seat, not yet at least. "I-I know what y'tryin' t'do. I'm listenin' t'what y'sayin', too. Y'jus'…got a way 'bout you dat gives wit one hand, but slaps wit de otha." Squirming on her chair, she clears her throat and then glances toward the staircase.
*
"The bitter medicine, is the best kind."He retorts, but well he's not keen on letting her go. Yet anyway. "Nothing worth doing is easy, nor should it ever be."He does however reach inside his jacket to produce, a slip of paper. Kanji script on, what is that cardstock? The same characters as he wore on his armor, if you're the sort to notice such a thing. Gently he sets it on the table, before sliding it across the table. "Half measures, and good enough is never good enough. You want to start getting your shit squared away, stop running and start fighting. When you're in a better place to have this discussion with me, or if things go truly sideways for you?"And across the table he slides that paper. "I release you from your debt, and consider it paid. Summon me again in such a manner, and there will be no kindness in my heart for you. Do you understand me Lynette?"
*
"Y'told me already. Feastin' on m'heart, r'member?" She reaches out and accepts the card, before slipping it into her pocket. Swallowing, she sighs and stands, pushing her seat in. "T'anks f'dinner, Eito." Stepping back, she stares at the Fox once more before turning and heading up the steps, her boots still heavy, clomping up to the upper level.
*
Eito watches Lynette go in silence, before ashing that cigarette out carefully. He takes the time to finish that cigarette, before snagging that dufflebag and rising to those expensive italian shoes of his. Then once the sound of those boots has faded, he slips off into the night ever so casually. Just another young guy, in an expensive suit headed towards chinatown. Who's to notice…
*