greatinspector | Case File 4 [Voice/Action] Pops is up to something....

[Inspector Zenigata hates Mondays. He hates Mondays after a weekend he can't freakin' remember even more. After all this time here, though, he's learned to just accept that something weird probably happened to him last weekend. It's a pretty crappy thing to accept, sure, but what choice does he have since those Malnosso punks won't show up and let him arrest them. Add to that the weirdness of that Were-Yeti incident...and you've got a cop who REALLY needs a distraction.

Regardless of the funkiness of the last few weeks, he wakes up and gets a move on. The man's got plans for today. Starting with a trip down to the shops, where he's picking up nails and a hammer, as well as various lengths of wood gathered from around town. He's got a project in mind, for the benefit of his sanity and the residents of Community House 5. The pickup process takes a few hours, so feel free to stop him or give him funny looks as he wanders between Community House 5 and the shops, whistling while he works.

After gathering supplies, the sounds of sawing, hammering, and generalized construction can be heard in the woods behind Community House #5. Zenigata is making quite a racket. After a while, he appears via the journal, saluting like any civic minded individual doing the community a service.]

Hey, anyone out there like to give me a hand? I'm tryin' to put together a little work-shack out back. Figured it would be a good way to keep a certain someone from blowing up apartments again. If you don't wanna help, thats fine. Just figured I'd give everyone some warning. Also...if there's anyone around who'd be willing to bring me some extra nails and maybe some water, that'd be great. Rather not stop workin' once I get started...

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[There's a long, long moment where Moro remains silent, growling hatefully and contemplating. It's nearly two minutes before she reaches a final verdict.]

If you cut a single tree, I will snap you in half.

[Zenigata nods. He's not exactly spoiling for a fight with a gigantic wolf, who may or may not be a Shinto deity. Being Japanese, the old man has an enormous respect for the natural order, and he's not trying to upset anything, but this is necessary]

Look, I got all the wood I need. There's plenty of space here so I don't need to make more, and I'm not about to do anything that'd hurt the forest. Its just not a good idea for a secret to be put out in the open.

I will take that as an oath, then. And will personally destroy you when you betray that oath.

[Zenigata turns back to work. He's a man of his word, after all.]

Yea, sure. I swear on my badge I won't tear up any trees. You wanna hang onto it just in case?

I do not take human tribute.

Its not a tribute. Its collateral. Keep it until I get finished. If I've broken my oath, then destroy it. That badge is my identity. Its...pretty much everything I ever worked for.

I have no use for anything of sentimental value. What use does a god have for a scrap of metal?

[Zenigata shrugs]

A token of my oath? If you don't want it, thats fine.

[and a pause]

And...you are a god, aren't you? My apologies for not consulting with you beforehand. There is a definitive lack of shrines here.

I am the guardian of the forests. I am Moro.

Even now, the humans here do not share my existence with newcomers! How tiring.

Well, I know you're here. I'd heard about you before, but I'd never seen you until today. Its easy to forget about things we never see. Have you considered asking for a shrine? or a mention in the guidebook?

A shrine has not been dedicated to me in hundreds of years. Humans forget the gods so easily, I almost wonder what point those fragile tributes serve.

[Zenigata shrugs]

Having a reminder that you are there, a shrine, gives you presence and makes us think about you. If its something you'd want, I think I could make that happen. I'm an ordained priest, myself.

[He's not joking, either. Pops is also a priest.]

Do whatever you want. What you humans do only concerns me when you endanger the forest.

Well, I can. But, you'd have to...y'know...come around and bless it, and stuff to make it yours. Otherwise, its just a pointless building.

[He's not joking here. Moro...may have found the one "normal" person who'd actually go out of his way for her]

How nostalgic.

[Maybe she will, maybe she won't. She huffs, seemingly in amusement, before slinking back into the forest.]

[and with that, Zenigata turns back to work...]

Case File 4 [Voice/Action] Pops is up to something....

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