Let's call it annual maintenance

[yinyangwizard]

For most of today one can find Abe no Seimei ranging across the mountainsides, navigating steep inclines and rocks and the occasional drift of unmelted snow with the confidence and agility of a mountain goat. He carries on his back a sort of quiver filled with long, slender stakes adorned with flags in a variety of colors.

Occasionally he will stop in a particular spot, close his eyes, and rotate slowly, sniffing the air. Then he will take a flag from his quiver and plant it before moving on.

Seen from a distance, the flags form a rough honeycomb pattern with a few gaps in particularly steep or rocky areas. Most of the planted flags are blue or green. There's a smattering of yellow and the occasional glaring red.

After nightfall he can be found back at the bar, ensconced in a booth and working on his laptop. The screen displays a topographical map of the Milliways mountains overlaid with - what's this? - a rough honeycomb pattern of blue, green, yellow, and red dots.

(He is, needless to say, botherable at either stage of this mysterious survey.)

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

Seimei may run into Sinric up in the mountain, sitting at the base of a giant ash tree with a demon rabbit resting on his knee.

He smiles up at Seimei and bows from his seated position, stroking the rabbit's red and black fur.

[yinyangwizard]

"Ah! Hello, Sinric-san!" Seimei bows. He does not go over to sit next to Sinric, however - he is eyeing the rabbit with suspicion. "Are you quite sure that is safe?"

Seimei espouses a religious philosophy that says even a demon can achieve enlightenment, but he is not naive enough to lower his defenses around one (even a rabbit-shaped one).

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles. "For me, quite safe. But I can't promise it would be for another."

The rabbit yawns at Seimei, displaying rows and rows of shark-like teeth. Sinric whispers something to it and lifts it down from his lap, setting it down on the patch of grass around the base of the tree.

It shakes itself, hiccups a small ball of flame and bounds off into the undergrowth.

"Sadly," Sinric opines, wiping his hands in his cloak, "the smell rather lingers." There's a whiff of kerosene in the air.

[yinyangwizard]

"The wind will clear it away soon enough," Seimei says. He takes off his quiver as he sits down by Sinric. "I am planning to bring back the cherry trees soon, but first I must make sure my spell still holds. That is why I am conducting a survey." He pats the quiver full of flags.

[thewidewideworld]

"How wonderful! I hope I return in time to see them." He looks up at the branches of the great silver ash. "I feel I must leave soon."

[yinyangwizard]

"What is so urgent that it may take you away from the cherry blossoms, my friend?"

Seimei's tone of voice is light and joking, but there is concern in his eyes.

[thewidewideworld]

"The wind is calling me." Sinric answers, his voice coloured with sadness. "I will ignore it for as long as I may. But the time will come when I must go."

[yinyangwizard]

So it's related to divination. Seimei isn't one to argue with that. A poem springs to mind, fully formed:

"Please wait a little longer
So when the wind blows you away,
You can ride it with the blossoms."

Hopefully, Sinric can hold out until the cherry trees bloom.

[thewidewideworld]

The smile that the poem brings to his face is as warm and bright as the rising sun and he reaches for Seimei's hand, squeezing softly. Such warmth and friendship means the world to him.

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei - although not generally a touchy-feely person - squeezes Sinric's hand in return. "Perhaps it is a foolish, selfish thing for me to insist upon," he says, "especially when the blossoms are simply my little vanity project."

Well. Large vanity project.

[thewidewideworld]

"It is your project of vanity that brings joy to my heart. And sets a scene of beauty that frames many of my happy memories of this place. It is a gift for which I will be ever grateful."

[yinyangwizard]

"I am so touched to hear that - but it makes me feel even sadder at the prospect of your missing the blossoms this year!"

Yes, for Seimei that's a big deal.

[thewidewideworld]

"I will stay as long as it's in my power." He assures. "Meditation in your cherry grove will help strengthen me for the journey ahead."

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei is relieved to hear it. "Anything to help you face the challenge of growing into your new powers - although you seem to be doing well on your own." Still, a little extra help couldn't hurt.

"Now, to make sure there will be cherry blossoms for us to enjoy, I must survey and shore up my spell. It has degraded in places since last year."

[thewidewideworld]

"Can I be of help? My magic is not the same as yours but even of it's just carrying flags for you, I'd be glad to assist with the preparations."

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei smiles. "If you are in the mood for a bit of a hike, Sinric-san." He picks up the strap of his flag quiver and offers it to Sinric.

[thewidewideworld]

"I would be very glad to walk with you." He smiles, slinging on the quiver. "There is a time I would have worried, to walk these woods. But now I understand it better, I found only wonder."

[yinyangwizard]

"Well, let us on to our little adventure, then," Seimei says, and forges ahead with his friend.

[OOC: Good spot to wrap?]

[thewidewideworld]

{ooc: Lovely, thank you.}