jounosknot | for all the youkai out there

It's always a bit of an itchy feeling, staying in this human shape for too long. But it's a point of pride, too, because of how good he knows he is at it. He can blend in with any group, convince them he's one of them, that he comes from the same sort of background. And he loves that moment when they start to consider him a friend. He loves it more when they shower him with praise. He craves that feeling of being accepted.

But it feels good to drop the disguise for a while, too. Even in the military most people don't know his true identity, but none of those people have access to this section of the base. He shakes himself off a bit, and lets his tail and ears pop free, and then stretches it out, arms above his head.

"I always feel like I might forget my true form if I stay as a human for too long," he says, arms dropping down as he turns towards Jouno. "Do you ever feel like that?"

[ Shikigami are dime-a-dozen things among magically-inclined humanity. Even ones dressed up in human shapes, draped in fine clothes and hair, are at their core slips of paper with little on their minds other than whatever tasks their summoner requires of them. Easily summoned, easily disposed of if needed.

At least, that's what they're supposed to be.

Even fish can drown, and even accomplished onmyoji can muck up a ritual badly enough to grant a little too much power to a paper doll. They're likely to resent their summoner, scholars warn, to overpower and brutally kill them, for their true nature beneath obedience is incredible violence.

But it's a rare thing, these botched summons. Rare enough that a string of gruesome murders of aforementioned magically-inclined humanity is more likely to be pinned on some other vicious creature better equipped with teeth and claws. A finely dressed gentleman making a stop at a sweets shop would surely have nothing to do with such things, regardless of the faint scent of paper soaked into his very skin. ]

At times, it felt like Jouno spent more time in Tetchou’s cave than he did his own dwelling. Tonight seems that it won’t be an exception as Jouno bounds towards the other’s home in fox form. It isn’t until he’s at the entrance that he shifts back into his true form — humanesque save for the fox ears and tails.

There’s a careful step forward and he calls out, “Tetchou-san! Are you home? Ugh, no, of course you are. I can smell you from here.” He doesn’t wait for an invite before stepping inside, geta quietly clacking on stone.

“I’ve had quite the day so do be a dear and try not to be too much of a nuisance.”

[ Some time after a pleasant encounter with a history student, the Temari Inn gets a phone call. The receptionist was more than a little hesitant to believe any claims of 'oh yeah I totally know the manager', but eventually agrees to pass on the phone and what do you know! They do know the manager and did organize a special discount! Many apologies later there's a scenic room booked for two.

The manager himself even shows up to greet the guests when they arrive, all dolled up in much more traditional attire than when Tachihara first met him, personally showing the new friend and his mysterious guest to their room while rattling off all the amenities. Complimentary breakfast and dinner, public bath hours, how to reserve a slot for private baths, sightseeing spots nearby, so on and so forth. Prim, proper, professional, but still friendly enough not to make the whole process seem too impersonal. ]

If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to call for me. The staff have all been informed so we don't have a repeat of your reservation.

@pricelesstears

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@shidareume

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