with @khonshu-mp

Inari's posture across one of Sakura's lounges betrayed none of the gravity of the situation. Outside the flurry of snow had blanketed the streets in quite a few feet of impenetrable slush and the lights were flickering as if signaling the inevitable power outage.

Inside Sakura however, Inari was a picture of non-concern. Long legs draped over the lounge's arms, Inari idly tapped on their phone, sending messages. That done, they stretch, yawning rather loudly to look at the other deity trapped in the lounge with them.

hallows' eve with @mpapollo

"Yes, yes, Ama-chan," Inari said with affection despite the mild annoyance in their tone. "I would never spike the punch." The smile they had flashed the goddess that raised them was innocuous. Or as innocuous as a fox deity could bestow. Tonight was the Hallows' Eve Ball, they had heard it was one of the biggest events on the island. And where there were events, there was bound to be a little mischief. Courtesy of yours truly.

Inari waited patiently for Amaterasu to be distracted by some other business, mingling with the others in the crowds, flashing her real tails to those who would ask. For all appearances' sake, Inari looked like a playful goddess determined to have a good time, and not somebody who was looking to stir some chaos. Years of dodging the censoring eye of the goddess that raised them was second nature to Inari as well. Every time they met the eyes of Amaterasu from across the room, Inari would smile that little innocuous smile of theirs. Trying to reassure that of course they would behave. And as much as Amaterasu knew Inari, the fox goddess knew the sun goddess quite well. Inari knew Amaterasu would be disappear later on, the nights were hard for her after all. That was why they knew to circle back to the punch bowl hours later, half a dozen bottles of their prized sake on their arms, determined to do the very thing they swore they wouldn't. Well, if the bottles happened to be mixed up with the water for to dilute the punch, that won't be Inari's doing now would it?

Giggling to herself, Inari practically skipped towards the punch bowl, already congratulating themselves on the prank well planned. It wouldn't hurt anybody after all, and it would make for a more enjoyable party. All the other reasons Inari told themselves whenever they indulged in a prank or two.

That was until they saw who had replaced Amaterasu on punch bowl duty. The smile that settled on their face could only be described as sly, as if a golden opportunity had presented themselves.

just late night drinking with @khonshu-mp

"You know it's odd, darling." Inari said as she strolls into Sakura, bottles of their special made sake in their hands. Sakura was still open that time of night, just as Kitsunebi was picking up in activity. Despite the fact that the karaoke bar was open throughout the night, there's not much for Inari to do once the customers go to their rooms. That meant that they were free to wander and that usually meant Inari would pop on over to one of the first friends they made coming to the island.

"Why is it that I've never seen you as a host?" Inari strolls toward her usual table, propping the sake bottles up and waving towards Khonshu. "You'd make a cute one, I mean all your hostesses are already so nice, I bet you'd be adorable." The smile she flashed him was sly and teasing, pouring them both a cup of sake.

bonding time with little kit @vulpe-mp

They were trying, Inari knew. But they supposed they could try harder. While the fox diety enjoyed the land of the mortals as well as all its little quirks, getting to know ones children---that was another matter entirely.

Since coming to the island, Inari had tried their best to reconnect with her children. Thankfully, their reception to their presence was not as bad as they anticipated. In fact, they were far nicer than Inari gave credit for--and the deity was grateful for that.

So they were trying harder. While Yeji had gone to Seoul, Ayden didn't want much to do with her, after knowing the truth about their father. Inari would face that sooner later, but thankfully, there was another kit that Inari could try to connect with more.

Vulpe was kind enough to share coffee and tea dates with Inari after that time at the blizzard. While of course Inari shouldn't have favorites, Vulpe struck them as somebody who are akin to them that her other kits.

Today was one of those dates, a lunch one, as Inari thought it was high time they actually shared a meal.

Valentine's day and all things in between with @mpapollo

Inari leaned back against their haunches as they surveyed their handiwork. It was a spur of inspiration, when Inari found out that a fellow council member's term was almost up. For any other person, they might not have made such an effort--except for maybe her kits. But for others? This was quite the performance.

With a critical eye, Inari fluffed up the two or three cushions that were set around the wooden palette and soft rug they had acquired for this purpose. Hopefully this wasn't too much...a right balance of thoughtfulness but not so serious gesture.

Inari viewed the message, characteristically only a day after it was sent. The time of the meeting was set to happen in a few minutes, and that was the only time the deity replied with a quick, "sure darling, where would you like to meet?"

Inari had hoped this was not going to be a long tedious meeting. The auction had been fun to participate in, and they had intended to do good and gift most of their winnings to those who came in second place. But of course people were unpredictable.

continued from here with @mpapollo

"If you wanted peace and quiet perhaps you should not have invited me to this little excursion," Inari quipped, leaning against their own tree, a smirk of mischief flashing across their face. They made no move to close the distance towards Apollo's own tree, preferring for the moment to study them against this new environment.

Inari was not averse to the cold nor the outdoors, as much as they preferred the hustle and bustle of the city. Being nature always tapped into more of that fox spirit of theirs, the one that was just a little bit more wild, and more than a little untamable.

But Inari said none of those things, preferring to stuff their slim hands into the pockets of their coat. It would be abhorrent for Inari to wear any sort of fur clothing, not when they had their own coat in their kami form. That meant however that the fox deity looked just on the tiny side of underdressed for outdoor recreation.

Humoring the sun god, Inari surveys the surroundings, a rare expression of contemplation on their face. "It is beautiful," They say after a while. Taking a deep breath of that early winter air, their expression softens into something wistful.

"This reminds me of home," Inari had no idea why they would speak of Mt. Inari all of a sudden. Apollo hadn't asked after all. But there was something about the Greek god that might have inspired confidences.

"It is almost that time of the year when priests and priestesses of Inari shrine would offer and perform rituals." A tiny ironic smile before it eased again. "To cleanse the shrine of evil and ward of evil-doing,"

continued from here with @mpxpythia

The more the Oracle protested, the calmer the fox deity seemed to be. The would-be benign smile on their face was slight, almost indiscernible over the rim of the tea cup that they brought to their lips. Mortals. Always so predictable. Never mind that Pythia had long since passed what would construe a normal mortal.

Contrary to what might be public opinion, Inari had not set out to annoy the priestess. They had meant what they said about being curious. It was simply that. It was rare for gods to keep oracles close at hand, let alone let them exist this long. Regardless if Inari had not formed a...connection with Apollo, they were sure to have come sniffing about the temple sooner or later.

"Oh, my worshippers are far from being cult-like," Inari commented lightly, not at all fazed by the Oracle's earlier display. "In ancient times I would mingle with them, perhaps bless a priestess or two, it is quite fun. But I would never..." Inari pauses, as if considering their next words carefully.

The Oracle was beautiful, that much was obvious. That Apollo would choose such a lovely maiden to be his oracle, it wasn't a surprise. What surprised Inari was the rather interesting ties they could sense. Dabbling in divination had been a temporary hobby of theirs, certainly nowhere near as powerful as the powers bestowed upon Pythia and if Inari didn't know any better...

"Oh relax, gorgeous. I have no plans in kidnapping you just yet." A casual wave of a slim hand. "It would be quite rude of me to do that to Apollo, especially when we had just met."

"But we could be you know---friends I mean." Inari said thoughtfully, lips curving into a sweeter smile. "A beautiful creature such as yourself does not deserve this cage. A gilded prison as pretty as it may be is a cage nonetheless after all."

They take a quiet sip of their tea. Inari, while raised in Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi's household and therefore educated in all manners of the beverage, was not fond of the drink. That didn't stop them from wanting to drink something stronger. But they didn't summon a flask of sake as it would have been tradition of her to do. Not when they were trying their best not to frighten the poor dear.