MEMORY SHARE: 12 OF BEETROOT EVENT (May)

[voidmissions]

JEMA'GRETHY MEMORY SHARE

The caves of Jema'grethy will allow for a few different ways for memories to be interacted with. But for most, such as those entering in bonds, it will be seen like a vision in their head, putting them in the position and perspective of whose memory it is.

For people sharing bond memories, and also memories being shared while moving through the Memory Cave, this is the spot to place said memories! It's not necessary if you'd like to write it during the thread, but hopefully convenient for others. Just make a toplevel with your character's name in the header, and remember to include any content warnings thereafter for each memory, as applicable!

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Romeo

[myblueskies]

For Pahja~ 48 hours

[myblueskies]

There is a stall piled high with mochi, in bright colours. You can only barely see over it but you are clearly on the serving side of the stall, looking out onto a crowded street. A crowded street which is filled with many people dressed as stylised cats. As well as other revellers in cat masks, people carrying real cats and an abundance of normal-dressed people taking pictures and chatting.

The stall is busy, the two women running it seem rushed off their feet but they are both smiling. "Hello sir! Can I help you?" You ask a man who has been trying to get the stall keepers attention. He seems thoroughly surprised to see you but puts in an order.

What follows is a frustrating few moments, you start gathering mochi, the man again tries to catch the stall holders attention to be served, you tug the sleeves of both women at least three times to explain you are helping the man with his order and each time they smile at you, looking utterly surprised to see you but thank you for your help.

Then seem to forget you again the moment they turn away. All this leads the a confused man with two bags of mochi in his hands and two confused stall keepers, all dressed in cat-cosplay. You don't seemed bothered by being ignored though, you are just happy to be helping.

For Pahja~ Positive

[myblueskies]

You are stood in the middle of a large street. You have no idea what is going on, you know that you are Romeo and you are here but what being Romeo means exactly or where here is are both questions that have no solid answers.

And this place is very confusing. There are... Perhaps they are animals? But they are huge, bigger than you, walking on two legs like a person except their heads were those of a creature, screams fill the air as people hurtle above in strange metal boxes on tracks.

You have no idea what is going on, but there are children and they are laughing, squealing, happy. Though it is initially scary you understand slowly that it is a good place.

A man with dark hair is watching him from the pavement. "Hey, what do you want to look at first? You've got all day, so you can see whatever you want!"

You look around, almost frozen with choice. "Can I look at that sir?" You point at a random thing, one of many things that has caught your attention. It's a statue of a strange animal. "What animal is that?"

"It's a capybara! ... Well, I guess it could be hard to tell, they're usually not standing up like that, but see the face?" The man gets out a strange square object out of his pocket and a second later is showing you a picture of a capybara. You have no idea what this portrait summoning machine is.

"They are cute sir!" You look between the statue and the picture.

"Right?" The man puts the picture device away. "Anyway, you can call me Tsuzuki, no need to be all formal. Tsuzuki Asato. What's your name?"

"Tsuzuki Asato." The name is a bit tricky but you say it, glad to know at least one name. "I'm Romeo!"

"Nice to meet you, Romeo. So, have you been here long?"

"No, I was in another place before." Not that long ago, you aren't sure how you got from there to here but there had been quieter, less screaming, no capybaras. "They were teaching me how to be a shinki and about borderlines and now I'm here!"

"Oh, over at the Meeting Hall, huh? Yeah, they usually send the newbies there! Or to Bishamon's, though I guess she's been busy a lot lately, or something." Tsuzuki shrugs with a smile. "So you are a shinki, then?"

"Yes, I am!" That's another thing you know but are still understanting. "They said I had an important job to do and I had to help my god protect people and fight bad ayakashi. And then we came here!"

"I'm a shinki too. That sounds about right. Our job is pretty important, but it doesn't have to all be about fighting ayakashi. That depends on what your god needs help with, right? The most important part of our job is just to support them, whatever they do."

Well that didn't sound too tricky! You like helping people. You know its important to support others! "So I gotta help them with anything they need?" Your not sure what a god might need but you hope you can do this important job. "What do you do to help your god, mister Tsuzuki?"

"That's right. I help check her shrines for prayers, and try to keep her safe, and I work on her garden, too. I'm no good with household chores, but I'm okay with landscaping!" He laughs softly. "Oh, yeah, and buy her dessert sometimes. That helps morale. Right?"

You don't know that word, you frown and ask, since mister Tsuzuki has been so nice so far. "What's dessert?"

The man looked shocked. "You don't know what.... Kid, I'm gonna make your life better today." He grins and reaches out to clasp your shoulder. "Come on! I saw some churros over there. Dessert's anything sweet, like cake, or donuts, or pie, or ice cream, or..."

You don't know what half those words are either. "I know what cake is... and pie. Do you like sweet things then, mister Tsuzuki?"

"They're the best." The man leads you a short distance to a stand, you aren't worried about going with him. He seems like a very nice person. You can't read the words on the side, there are some girls laughing. They have magic picture boxes too and are looking into them, posing in yellow ear headbands. The man pulls out a wallet from his pocket and finds some money.

You look at him concerned. "Are you sure, mister Tsuzuki? I don't got any money or nothing to give you back."

"Yeah it's fine." You are at the front of the line now, Tsuzuki gets the attention of the man at the stand and asks for two portions of churros, paying for them and handing one over.

You still feel a bit worried about him buying them, you have no idea how much they cost because you can't read that sign either, nor do you understand the paper that Tsuzuki is handing over. But you are sure you can find a way to pay him back. For now you have this new food to taste.

You don't remember what anything tastes like, though you know what food is and can name lots of them. "Thank you." You remember and then take a bite.

Warmth and sweetness fills your mouth, bursts of cinnamon sugar. The most delicious thing you have ever tasted!

Alright so it is the first thing you have ever tasted but it is amazing and you take another bite. You glance up at Tsuzuki with an amazed smile.

"Isn't it great?" He smiles at you, biting at his own churro.

"It's amazing mister Tsuzuki!" You take another bite, the sweetness making you smile again. "I know why you buy your goddess dessert now! I bet it keeps her spirits up!"

"It sure does! Going out for sweets every once in a while brightens anybody's day. Well, I guess, except for people who don't like sweets, but they could always get whatever treat they like. Pickles or something."

You giggle at that, but if your god likes pickles then you will make sure to get them pickles! If it would make them this happy! "Is that a shinki's job as well then? To help keep their god's spirits up?"

"Yeah. They're in a tough place, you know? All those people asking them to do all kinds of stuff... whatever we can do to help them out, that's part of our job too."

You nod. It sounds like a very important job and you can only hope that you are up to the task! "I hope I meet my god soon!" You take another bite of churro.

"I'm sure you will." Tsuzuki continues eating and you smile at him, looking around this confusing place you have found yourself. It's going to be alright.

For Pahja~ Negative (cw: child slavery, cruelty, alcohol)

[myblueskies]

Romeo was sat on an open cart, opposite the blond haired boy, their bags at their sides and a white weasel sat between them. The day was warm and they passed stalls, stall keepers shouting their wares and other carts trundling past, full of goods.

Romeo grinned to see so much activity around them. "Looks like things are finally getting lively!"

The other boy smiled back, "We're finally getting near Milano."

Romeo moved over to his side of the cart, leaning over to look ahead of them as they crested a hill...

And there! There was a huge, shining city. "Look at it Romeo!"

It was so pretty and quite overwhelming for the two boys. There were more stalls and carts and carriages with covers and ladies in dresses and men in top hats! It was the hugest and most fancy place Romeo had ever been!

"This is really something!" The blonde haired boy seems amazed too.

"It's like we're in dreamland!" Romeo's mouth drops open as he sees something even more wonderful! A glorious church, it's steeples reaching all the way to the sky! Like they were trying to reach heaven itself!

"So that's the great famous cathedral!" The other boy breathed, as awestruck as Romeo.

"They look like icicles!" The cart moved past and onwards. Until they finally rounded a corner, outside an in a young boy with red hair was sweeping the step and on seeing the cart and the man with the scar he dropped the brush and ran into the inn shouting.

"Everyone! They god of death has come back! He's come back from hell!" Romeo and the blonde haired boy looked worriedly at each other but the god of death just barked at them to get off the cart. They followed him inside where he was greeting by the innkeeper who poured him some wine.

"God you startled me! We were just praying for your departed sole. Look... The newspaper says that everybody drowned." The man with the scar said nothing, just drank his wine and the inkeeper looked over to where Romeo and his friend stood in the corner.

Romeo felt scared, he only knew the god of death in the whole of this big city and now it seemed he had forgotten they even existed, content to just drink his wine.

There was a sound as the young boy from before came down the stairs carrying a barrel almost as big as he was. He slipped and crashed to the floor, Romeo looked at him, moving to try and help but he glared up at Romeo.

"What are you looking at, soon to be sold?" Romeo pulled a face and the other boy stood up making him flinch backwards slightly. "Listen up oaf!"

"Oaf?!"

"The bosses who're gonna buy you are on their way over right now."

"Bosses?" Romeo tried to sound much braver than he felt.

"Chimney sweeping bosses, oaf!" The red haired boy yelled at him.

Romeo exchanged another worried look with his friend. The inkeeper was still watching them.

"But only two for sale?" He was asking the god of death. "Not much to chose from." Still the man with the scar was silent.

The door swung open and a handful of men walked in. The angry boy smiled and stepped out the way so Romeo could see. "There, see. Here come the bosses."

"Hey Luini, I hear you really put your foot in it this time." One of the men spoke first as they all gathered around the god of death.

"Well he is very shrewd."

"And here I was thinking I wouldn't get my hands on a kid this year."

One man entered a little later than the others and did not join the group, or speak at all. He turned to look at the three children, his gaze was cruel and his face unkind. Romeo felt scared, more scared than he had been before and the red haired boy scarpered, to hide behind one of the tables.

"So where are they?" The god of death nodded behind him, to where Romeo and the blond haired boy stood. The men turned to look at them. "And the rest?"

"That's all there is." Luini finally spoke.

"That's all?!"

"So there's only two of them?" One of the men turned fully round now, looking at them worriedly.

"What the hell? Neither of them look like they'll be productive!" A man with a cap slammed his fist against the table as he spoke.

The terrifying creepy man began to walk towards the two children, they both stepped backwards, looking up at him with fear in their eyes. The man reached out and grabbed Romeo by the front of his shirt, pulling him towards him. Romeo struggled, "What are you doing?"

He struggled but couldn't get free, then the other boy bashed into the man, startling him enough that he let go of him. Romeo grabbed hold of his friends arm, hiding behind him slightly.

"Why you!" The man and the blond boy stared at each other, for a long moment. His friend was bigger and braver than Romeo and Romeo was glad to have him there. All of a sudden the man smiled. It was not a friendly smile.

He stepped closer and took the boys chin, turning it one way and then another. His smile grew, but did not reach his eyes. "I've fallen for ya." He looked over to the god of death. "Why not? I'll buy this one. How much?"

"Eighty Lira." The god of death did not even turn around.

"Eighty Lira?" The cruel looking man was not the only adult to look shocked at that.

"What's he thinking?"

"I've never heard of such a price!"

"Not for one kid!"

The cruel man slammed his fist against the table, Romeo winced and he could see the red haired boy, still hiding wince as well.

"Cut the jokes!" He marched over to the man with the scar, who was still drinking his wine. "Luini you bastard!"

The door opened again and more men walked in.

"I heard you're selling off kids." One of them called.

"We were waiting for you Luini, how much per kid?"

"Eighty two lira."

The cruel man made a strangled sound. "Why you... You just said eighty lira!"

"When the demand goes up, the price goes up." The new men gathered round. "If you're planning on buying now is the time."

The innkeeper shook his head. "God of death, you amaze me."

One man, one of the earlier ones stepped away from the crowd. Muttering about choosing under his breath. "Alright!" He reached out and grabbed Romeo's hand, yanking him towards Luini. "I'm buying this one!"

"Romeo!" Romeo could hear his friend call, he sounded as scared as Romeo felt!

The men all grumbled about how it wasn't fair, there weren't enough and how it was first come first served. The man who had grabbed Romeo had a coin purse and was counting out money.

"So eighty and two lira was it?"

"Eighty five lira." Everyone looked horrified again.

"Eighty five lira?!"

"If you don't like it, you won't have to pay."

The man was quiet for a moment, before deciding. "Can't be helped."

Romeo stood by the table next to Luini watching the man drop coins into a pile. Each coin clinking as it hit the others. Eighty five was a big number, more money than Romeo had ever ever seen before and he lost count long before the man had finished.

As the coins dropped he looked back, meeting eyes with his friend who looked back, sadly.

One of the other men grabbed his friends arm, holding him painfully. "Okay I'll buy this one!"

The cruel eyed man moved quickly, a knife in his hand, holding it to the other mans neck.

"Citron... Put that away." The man stammered.

"This kid is mine" Citron hissed, "You're not getting your hands on him."

"Alright! Alright!" The man had let go of the boy now. The innkeeper approached and grabbed Citron's hand.

"Citron stop that! Pull something again and you're headed for jail you know!" Citron just glared at him and folded away the knife.

The innkeeper sighed. "Kid, come over here." The boy moved over to where Romeo stood and they exchanged scared smiles.

Citron marched up to the table, throwing down a bag of coin. "There, eighty six lira and you better not have a problem with that!" He turned to point at the blond boy. "Now this one is mine!" The boy drew himself up and then sighed and smiled at Romeo again, putting on a brave face.

The innkeeper slapped his hands together. "That settles it!"

"Don't give us that!"

"What are we supposed to do!"

"Only two kids! Why that's..."

"Pipe down all of you!" The innkeeper was in control. "Winners and losers all let's be nice to each other! Nikita pass out the drinks!"

The red haired boy jumped up from his hiding spot and grinned. "I was waiting for that!" He dashed off to serve.

The men laughed and drank and Luini stood up and went to the door. Romeo and his friend stood and watched as the god of death half turned back to them, giving them the tiniest of smiles. His final salutation before he stepped through out onto the street, leaving the boys alone.

They returned to their corner, whilst the men laughed and drank and bantered with each other.

The boy leaned close to Romeo, "So it looks like it's finally goodbye."

Romeo nodded sadly, staring down at his feet.

"Even though I just met you a week ago," Romeo looked up as the boy continued speaking, "It feels like I've known you forever."

Romeo smiled, "You're the first close friend I've ever had."

"You're the first real friend I ever met too." The boy held out his hand and Romeo clasped it, holding it tight for a long moment before they let go.

"Romeo! Let's make an oath!"

"An oath?"

The boy nodded and raised his fist to his heart. "Even when our troubles are like a river, our eternal friendship is like a safe shore."

Romeo raised his first to his heart too and nodded once. The boy leaned forward. "Even if we're separated, remember that oath..." He gasped as his new boss grabbed his coat and yanked him to his feet.

"C'mon, let's go. And don't dawdle!"

"Wait! Just give me a moment more!" His boss didn't listen, Romeo had risen to his feet too and he called out.

"Alfredo!" Before he could even think of moving or going after Alfredo his own boss grabbed him with both hands around his middle, yanking him backwards.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Romeo struggled, trying to pull himself away. He had to get to Alfredo! To finish their oath! It wasn't done yet!"

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"He's already gone!"

"We haven't finished our oath yet!"

"Oath?" His boss sounded confused and the men at the table laughed cruelly.

The man with the cap spoke, "Neither of you will ever see the other again." Romeo looked at them in horror as they laughed harder, their laughter filling the room. One of them leaned forwards, a glass toppled from the table and shattered on the ground.