#exorcisingborder

“It’s you! Hey!”

Even in a place where the Citta public where to witness an exclamation, she called out to her. She was not only a familiar face, but the one she really bothered to remember aside from her two families. That night when she bested her in a historic battle. Too bad no one saw it.

★ █  IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE Marisa has paid any sort of respectable trip to a shrine -- sure, she technically visits one all the time back home when she drops in to dine with Reimu on a weekly basis (if not slightly more often) -- but her visit now to the cultural sector is still for personal gain rather than any sensible offering to the gods. The magician has brought along a bottle of sake and a cup to pour it into, but has little other idea as to what, exactly, one does to make an offering to a god for assistance.

The shrine here is a small one with little decoration, but that’s none of her concern, nor is it that she is uncertain as to what god presides here. It’s a Shinto shrine, at least, and she faintly remembers reading about offering sake, so it’ll have to do. 

Faintly, she wishes she’d paid more attention to the things Reimu did at the Hakurei shrine, but shrugs it off. She knows she did this more as a child, with family, but the memory is faint. Something about washing your hands and...

<<Aw, heck. Guess there’s not much point in doin’ this if I can’t do it right?>> Marisa is already kneeling, but she slides casually backward until she’s seated more comfortably on her butt. There’s no one else around that she can hear or see, but talking to herself is natural at any point in the day. 

The building before him is modest in size, yet nonetheless esoteric in meaning. Corrin only spent such a brief time in Hoshido, but the structure reminds him of one of their shrines; he may never have visited one, but the distinct architectural features have stayed with him in memory, in stark contrast to the dreary, mostly utilitarian style of Nohr. He’s not entirely sure how he ended up here -- a wrong turn indeed -- but the surrounding greenery coupled with the peaceful air is soothing.

Perhaps so much so that he does not hear the steps coming up on him until whomever is there is almost on top of him, so to speak. He whirls around in a heartbeat, more embarrassed than startled, as he finally notices the rather stone-faced girl staring back at him. Her manner of dress is definitely foreign to him, most notable the wide flowing sleeves that seem detached from the rest of the outfit.

 And now he realizes he’s been staring, to boot.

The loud and shrill cry of a raven proceeded the small collection of dogs, cats and rodents that came running out of an alley to scatter in various directions. Following them was a large, black bird, hopping forward with its wings held out. Only this bird had a crimson eye on its breast, and a big green bow.

Whether or not one could accurately gauge shock on the face of a bird could be up for debate, but shock was all she felt when she saw those familiar colours and clothes.

After a moment’s hesitation, she started hopping back and forth, wings flapping excitedly as she jumped up and down. 

Reimu! Hello! I was hoping I’d find you here! That was really fast! Have you been here the whole time?! Hold your arm out!

It was while scrolling through news articles hastily compiled by various sources that it sprung to mind more people to call. And the railway was... not much of an option for racing backwards.            With a scrolling through the contacts list, past names already messaged or called, others popped up as necessary, which had slipped his weary mind.

Firm in the press against one particular name, it moved up to his ear and rang.