In Olympus, a case of spiriting away once happened near Heracles. It happened to Hylas, some guy he found after a battle who decided to serve him and who Heracles fell in love with at first sight. Hylas would watch Heracles' back day and night without being asked and eased his loneliness. Heracles was kind of boring then, yet Hylas loved him and brightened his life and always stayed with him. When Heracles joined the Argonauts, Hylas came with him. Then somewhere along the way he went missing after he was spirited away on some island. He was taken by water nymphs to their world beneath the water, and Heracles tore through the island half mad looking for him. He never did, and he had to leave eventually. Afterwards, people spoke of rumors that Hylas married the nymphs and lived happily ever after. Nymphs are said to excel at singing and dancing to entertain people, so Heracles started thinking that he must be happy. Happier than being with a man who couldn't entertain anyone like him anyway.
Present
Heracles: Spiriting away!? The water IS dangerous!
Gorozaemon: ...
MC: Calm down Heracles. So Touji, details?
Touji: So I was walking around with Master Hougen when we saw someone in distress. They said they were waiting forever for their friend changing in the locker room to come out, but they never did. We got permission to go inside, but there was no one there. Their things were still there, so it's still possible someone called them out suddenly, but...
Gorozaemon: Hmm, I see. That's still not enough to go on though. Still, spiriting away reminds me of my younger days when...actually never mind.
Jormungandr: Does spiriting away happen a lot here?
Gorozaemon: Who can say! This surprising world is full of mysteries that stay that way. But anyways, I suppose we should look for that missing person?
Heracles: I'm about to radio about that. If any other staff member finds them, we'll know soon enough.
Gorozaemon: I see. So now we just need to go slow and steady...slow...and...steady...
Gorozaemon: MWAHA, THAT IS SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS! You know what, how about I summon the chimimouryou of the deep dark night here!? A million eyes swarming around ought to find something! Mortals, behold the Night Parade of--
Hougen: STOOOOP!
Gorozaemon: Which asshole is getting in my way!? Congratulations on being the parade's main dish of t--oh hey it's the Kurama Tengu! You came to Tokyo too?
Hougen: ...you haven't changed a bit.
Gorozaemon: Haha, that takes me back to when I'd ride wanyuudo down the streets and you Onmyou Bureau types would chase us!
Hougen: Do you know how big an incident it was arresting you back then was? Are you trying to repeat all that?? It won't be five seconds before things go to hell if you call the Night Parade here.
MC: You two know each other?
Gorozaemon: Well we heard of each other back in Wa no Kuni. Call him an acquaintance from long long ago. So old man, you taking students again here? Still working hard I see.
Hougen: You're old too you know! But yes that's how it is, MC. Also, taking students is my life's work! Seeing my students grow makes life worth it...
Touji: Master do you actually need to touch my back side to see how I've grown?
Hougen: That's the whole point! Nice...hey wait! You two!
Heracles: Did you need something? I'm already in the middle of something but I'll help as much as I can...hm?
Yamasachi: Who's the old fart? You know him MC? ...augh!
Hougen: You two are buff! Wanna be my students?
Heracles: I don't understand your interest in my body, but unfortunately I cannot be your student.
Yamasachi: Why are you touching my thighs!? Is that normal for students!?
MC: Stooop! / Kaaarma! / Stop hogging them!
Hougen: OOF! The Buddhist art of Jinsokutsu! I have nothing left to teach you... (flop)
Hougen still looks happy as he falls down.
Yamasachi: W-what the hell is with this old man? And now it feels like there's another of him for som--
Jormungandr: STOOOP! You say you're Hougen?
Hougen: (gets up) Yes? Also, you have such talent!
Jormungandr: The way you eyed my manly man... you understand! I see how you try to evaluate them with your own true intentions from your stomach down!
Hougen: Oh my! Jormungandr!?
Jormungandr: SAME FETISH
Hougen: SAME FETISH
Jormungandr and Hougen: FRIENDSHIP!
The rest of the party is baffled.
MC: Me too! / We are all brothers from other mothers! / I am calling the police
(AB) Hougen: Oh you get the principle of the thing MC? You are a paragon of courage!
Jormungandr: Let us share in our love for heroes!
(C) Hougen: NO WAIT STOP! Let's just talk it out, no need to get the police involved. Take your hand off your phone, please?
Gorozaemon: Hahaha! Man, it's always hard to tell who's the law enforcer around here. So Kurama Tengu, any brilliant plans?
Hougen: ...hmm, well after stopping you the only option would be to split up and search everywhere. If anyone finds anything, be sure to call right away! Let's go!
Touji: Yes sir! Bye MC. I'm getting a bad feeling, so be careful.
Gorozaemon: Hmm...it might take all night if we search everywhere by hand.
Jormungandr: I don't think I'm suited for this delicate kind of work either. But maybe I am since I have no memories...
Yamasachi: We don't even know where to start looking. It's gonna be just as hard as what I'm already doing, searching the oceans for a fish hook...
Heracles: Would you all assist with the search? I realize this should be the staff's job though.
MC: I have to help! / Touji and Hougen weren't even pool staff and they asked / I want something nice after this is done!
(C) Heracles: Of course, I will do anything I can...oh, you were joking? Hmm.
Yamasachi: Too late to try talkin' me out of this! I wanna help my little brother!
Jormungandr: Haha! Watch how reliable I can be! You'll beg me to eat you soon!
Heracles: ...thank you. We should first search areas where security is light. I know the patrol paths.
Yamasachi: Nice! ...wait, you know all of them?
Heracles: I memorized the entire employee manual I was given. It took me two whole days, but I'm glad it will help.
MC: ...literally two whole days? Did you sleep?
Heracles: They made that manual just for employees, so I thought I should study it wholeheartedly...
Yamasachi: ...
Gorozaemon: Haha, you're funny! We have to really treat you once we clear this up!
Yamasachi: Bwahaha! Time to get searchin'! This should be easier than what my brother told me to do!
Heracles: Follow me.
Yamasachi: Huh, this place is way quieter than other parts of the pool. Barely anyone here...
Heracles: This pool is far from the main stage. It was meant for lower key enjoyment, but in a place with less traffic and security... wait, can you guys hear anything?
Yamasachi: N-no?
Heracles: No wait, I really do hear something! This way!
Later
Boy A: Help!
MC: I hear it! / We have to help! / (just run)
Wolf B: Hurry it up!
Yamasachi: Oh no! Kidnapping!
Gorozaemon: Wow, you've got great ears.
Heracles: If my body can help, then my days of suffering was worth it!
MC: We are here to help! / Stop, you! / (speed up)
Wolf B: Oh my god there's more!? Hurry up!
Boy A: I-I can't!
Yamasachi: Stop, kidnapper!
Wolf B: A-are you talking about ME!? You got the wrong guy! Shit we gotta get out of here!
Heracles: Wait, something's wrong! I sense something coming!
Mobs jump out of the water!
MC: Wait what I've never seen anything like them before!
Gorozaemon: Hey, something's wrong with these guys!
Heracles: They keep multiplying! Like they're propagating in the water in terms of oddly specific inferences!
Jormungandr: What!? ...uhh, I think I've seen them before?
MC: You have!?
Jormungandr: Uhh...oh! They don't take orders and they won't listen to you if they attack!
Party: ...
MC: ...why didn't you say so earlier!? (gets ready to fight)
Mobs: SCREEEE
MC: Oh no they got my feet and are pulling me in!
Heracles: (TRIGGERED) Unhand our gues--no, let go of MC! RAAAAH!
BATTLE START (more happens later)
Hylas (narrating): I'm Hylas, Heracles's attendant. He picked me up when I was younger, and then I started taking care of his day to day things. After being near him for so much I started getting an opinion about him.
Hylas (narrating): So yeah, Heracles is unbeatable. He crushes any sort of hate or jealousy thrown at him and keeps going, always serious and never hesitating, just like a real hero. Everyone in Olympus thinks so! Except for Heracles himself anyway. He Believes He Isn't. He's taken all sorts of fearsome monsters, cleared near impossible trials, and obtained treasures no one thought could be gotten, but still he says he just did as he was told with no choice in the matter. Maybe it's impossible, but there's no way he'd choose to accept being someone's slave right? A super awesome hero who doesn't and can't believe in himself. I might be the only one who's noticed, and I was confused about it at first. But as I watched him, I became sure...that he was so entertaining! And whenever he noticed, he'd just incline his head all confused.
Present
Heracles: RAAAAGH!
Heracles rampages through with his heroic vessel given by the heavens with the limiters taken off. He never made it in time for Hylas, but that won't happen again!
Yamasachi: Holy crap!
Jormungandr: That turns me on.
MC: Oh my god...
Heracles: MC!!!
Heracles reaches out to MC with all his strength. And then MC passes out.
Later
Heracles: MC! You woke up! Sorry, I had to do some emergency treatment for you. Good thing I remembered my training from the Argonauts.
MC: Wow you can do anything!
Heracles: No, I cannot do anything without a master, like a slave...
MC: (stares)
Heracles: ...MC?
MC: HAHAHA, oh my god could you be any more of a serious hardhead!? That's hilarious.
Heracles: ...no one's ever said that to me before...
MC: (thank him) / (smile) / (hug him)
(AB) Heracles: ...MC...
(C) Heracles: ! ...MC... (hugs back)
Later
Yamasachi: MC, Heracles! You two okay?
MC: Oh, were the rest of you okay? What happened with those monsters?
Gorozaemon: Well...
Yamasachi: Hey they disappeared like fog. What the hell are they?
Gorozaemon: They're weird is what they are, and I am an ayakashi so that should tell you something. They felt like fog when I hit them too.
Jormungandr: I wasn't paying attention to how it felt, but I'm glad my heroes are okay!
Heracles: MC is one thing, but never mind me. How are the other guests who were attacked?
Wolf B: We're okay!
Boy A: Waah, I was scared!
Heracles: They seem fine, thankfully. First aid staff should be here soon, so...hmm?
Wolf B: Thank you dude! Wow you're strong!
Boy A: Thanks mister!
Heracles: Protecting the guests is my duty as staff, so you don't need to thank me...
Wolf B: Please, lemme thank you anyway!
Boy A: Yeah! It was a good thing you were here!
Heracles: ... (looks confused at MC)
MC: You don't have to believe them, but I think so too. / (smile and say nothing)
Heracles: ...oh... If you're smiling for me, then that's good. You're welcome.
Touji: MC I HEARD YOU WERE PULLED INTO THE WATER ARE YOU OKAY!?
Hougen: You look fine. My stomach dropped when I got the call. I heard you were attacked by unknown water monsters, so is anything off with you? Master can do you a special favor of checking you over! The cosmic forces of yin and yang and the five eastern elements are the ancestor of medical care, and the laws of the world will allow me to diagnose anything wrong with--
MC: Calling the police! / (silently call 911)
Hougen: NO STOP IT WAS A JOKE! ...well maybe not entirely. I sense some strange qi around you. Not just from your body, but from the dragon vein leyline in the land causing some disturbance with the water.
MC: ...what?
Touji: Feng shui term. Master Hougen specializes in yin-yang, the five elements, and the eight trigrams... I believe Sensei has said Chiyoda in Yurakucho is Edo Castle's land of water based on the auspice of Senshoukaku.
Hougen: Yes, Senshoukaku means a place where the dragon vein leyline wells up. If disturbed, the water qi in the area will become abnormal.
MC: literally what
Hougen: What I mean is, if there truly is something off about the dragon vein leyline then the water qi will go out of control and swallow up the eart--!
Hougen: You know what, I should look after the people who were attacked and bring them to the first aid station.
Heracles: I shouldn't let a guest handle it. I can do it instead as...
Hougen: It's fine! You can just lead the way to the station and I'll follow you. Plus as a policeman I need to hear more about what happened.
Gorozaemon: Haha, you really have taken to being a police officer like white on rice, Kurama Tengu!
Hougen: Heh! Who would have thought the Great Youkai would admire me? Now don't do anything the police would need to see you for!
Gorozaemon: Time to go crazy, got it! ...kidding. Go on, I got the rest. Shoo!
Touji: MC, we'll handle things here. We'll look into those water monsters too. I'll call you if I find anything out...stay safe, okay?
Hougen: Come on, let's go you two! They're not gonna wait forever for us!
Wolf B: Bye!
Boy A: Thanks again!
Heracles: Yes, please enjoy the night pool to your heart's content!
MC: Heh, you're doing great at your job.
Heracles: ...your eyes remind me of someone else from a long time. I've been feeling something strange in my chest!
Gorozaemon: Hey remember that thing where we were gonna entertain you? Let's get back to that!
Heracles: We're still doing that? But I'm in the middle of work and...no, I'll accept your kindness. One moment please.
Later
Heracles: Sorry about the wait, I needed to go change.
MC: Oh my god that swimsuit!
Heracles: Thank you. It's somewhat embarrassing being told that head on. I've asked for time off so I could accompany you with no hesitations. Allow me to join you all as myself instead of a resort worker.
Gorozaemon: Mwehehe, a Heracles who is nothing at all! Awesome!
Jormungandr: Ooh, ooh! Is it finally time that you feel like getting in my bel--OOOF!
Yamasachi: Don't get careless and accept his offers, okay!? Or else you'll lose your one good outfit! Now let's go have fun!
Heracles: Wait what are you...whaaa!?
Yamasachi: We are here at a pool so you better believe it's time to get in there! Watch me do my best hosting!
MC: Hey wait, me too! (runs after)
Heracles: ...I am myself, for better or worse. Yet you would all call me interesting. So this is what fun is for me...? MC, will you give me some of your time? I'd like you to accompany me with my own fitting trials if so.
MC: Sure!
Heracles: Thank you. There's something I've been curious about actually...
Later
Heracles: Whooooa! I cannot believe Tokyo has a water slide that emulates going down a dangerous river!
Heracles: ...thank you for accompanying me. This intention is my own, and it has taught me what fun is.
Elsewhere
Smoky God: He really called himself Jormungandr?
Christine: He did indeed.
Smoky God: Hmm. It's good for one of the 1001 nights to have a chance meeting like this. But is This Time something the Yurakucho guild has set up, Christine?
Christine: Us? The Entertainers? Interesting idea, but a mistaken one. Tonight, you are the center of the play. That is what we feel is the most interesting thing right now. Do you believe that?
Smoky God: That's good. I'm unfortunately unused to doubting others, so relax.
Christine: ...so what do we do about Jormungandr, our uninvited guest?
Smoky God: Heh, the stage is finally set. I'm ready for whatever happens. Still, nothing about me has changed...I have things I must do.
Christine: That's what actors are for. Okay I must return to the party. You should too as the guest of honor.
Smoky God: Yes, I can't keep them waiting...let's go to where MC is.
End of Episode
No comments:
Post a Comment