*Yato hears back about his attempted adoption of Yukine, Old Woman San attempts to break into the dog park, and a look at Traffic. Today's weather is Inuyasha, by Rumiko Takahashi.
"The howling of the desert winds drowns out the anguished cries of all those who are being taken against their will by the Vague Yet Menacing Government Agency and we all pretend we do not hear.
Welcome to Nightvale."
Yato bounced nervously in his seat and cast a look through the glass at Yukine, who looked like he was trying hard to not look nervous. Hiyori walked into the recording booth, looked at both their faces, and smiled comfortingly.
"Don't worry boys, everything will be fine. They'll approve the adoption." Yato and Yukine smiled.
"You're right, Hiyori," Yato said as the final bars of the opening theme to his show played.
"Good morning everyone, and may I open up the show today by apologizing if I seem distant, or worried. Today is the day the Sheriff's Secret Police said I would be hearing about whether or not my request to adopt the station intern, Yukine is approved. If it is approved, of course, we will find out in the usual way, a burning effigy will be displayed atop the walls of City Hall with the warning 'It is finished' meaning that the papers have been filed and Yukine is officially my son! I have avoided talking about the issue on air until today because I wasn't sure if I would be granted custody and I didn't want to jinx it, but I think by now, the City Council's decision is already made and all that remains would be to acquire the gasoline and materials to make the effigy, or to wash the black burlap sacks that will be forced over my head and gas up the black vans that will be used to drive me to the Sheriff's Secret Police Headquarters for re-education.
"Now, on with the news, the Sheriff's Secret Police are teaming up with the Vague Yet Menacing Government Agency in a joint task force. When I reached for more information on this matter I reached what seemed to be an automated recording that knew everything about me. It warned if I asked too many questions it would make sure my adoption of Yukine would not go through, so I did what any adult would do, and I hid in the closet under some dirty clothes while Yukine hid under the bed because he is afraid of the dark. No, Yukine, don't make that face, there's nothing to be ashamed of, plenty of people are afraid of the dark. It's perfectly normal, that's where the monsters are!
"Anyway, Nightvale, we as of yet have no new information on this Vague and Secret Government Task Force, no word on what it is for, what they will be doing exactly to stop whatever it is they are trying to stop, or perhaps start, I still don't know, and no information is yet available on how this will affect our daily lives.
"The City Council has asked me to remind you that neither dogs nor people are allowed in the dog park. This second announcement of a fact we are all painfully aware of comes after Old Woman San, who appears to only be twenty-three but exudes an aura of timelessness and age, tried to force her way into the dog park using her army of wolf-like German shepherds. She and her army of not-wolf-German-shepherds managed to force their way inside and tear apart several hooded figures before being pushed out by a mysterious force that they could not see nor comprehend. When asked for a comment Old Woman San growled in a low and menacing tone until I backed away slowly and avoided eye contact to acknowledge her dominance. Boy is she scary!
"What is it, Yukine? Is, is there anything? Oh, alright. Sorry listeners, Yukine was just gazing out the window towards City Hall and I was hoping that he had spotted a burning effigy. He's shaking his head no though. Don't worry, listeners, no news is not necessarily bad news, there is also no sign of black vans arriving to take me away. Just cross your fingers for us.
"Oh, would you look at that, I got a text message from Kazuma. Oh, that's sweet it says, 'I didn't know about the adoption, good luck!' and he added an emoji of a hand with its fingers crossed. Aww, how sweet, I'm just going to reply 'Thank you so much! If the adoption goes through you should come to the party!' He's so sweet. Oh, have I told you guys that he made me a crown? I didn't wear it today because it was a little formal for casual Friday, but it was very lovely, and matched my formal tracksuit well! I said before that maybe there was room in Nightvale for a new kind of jewelry, the kind that is not alive, and I stand by that statement after seeing that crown. Oh, Yukine is holding up his 'stop talking about Kazuma' sign. My bad.
"Okay um, the Night Vale Middle School PTA is having its annual sham-elections in which Milord, the housecat, is once again running for president uncontested, and anyone who expressed interest in running against him was persuaded otherwise under threat of death. 'Milord? Again? He doesn't even have any kids, just the child whose house he lives in, and he never listens to the suggestions of the others, or effects any real change, plus, I'm pretty sure he's been using our donation money to fund his campaign to overthrow the mayor.' Everyone thought, but no one said, remaining silent out of fear.
"When I approached him for comment Milord simply stared at me with his cold dead eyes, which transported me mentally to a desert otherworld with eternally marching armies. The dull thud and swish of hundreds of military boots stomping into the loose sand and then pulling out again, the bright orange yet also brown grains sliding off the increasingly worn surface, occasionally kicking up sand onto the lower pants leg of the soldier in front of them. No apologies are exchanged. The armies march endlessly, but purposefully. They never grow tired, they never grow old. The sky behind them is dark, stars glistening and writhing in anger. I do not know how the stars are angry in their glorious and bright ambivalence that is not truly ambivalent because it is angry, but I know. The stars are angry, and I am afraid.
"Unlike the interview with San I did not avert my eyes, I did not acknowledge the dominance of Milord, the terrible and the great. I stared straight into his cold, dead eyes that transported me into a realm of fear and angry stars, and I did not flinch. Milord was confused by my audacity, shocked, and dare I say startled? Not necessarily afraid, but not not afraid either. I was slightly frightened by my own daring as well. No one had ever stood up to Milord before, no one before me. I saw rage in his little, adorable, fluffy, and terrible face, and I did not blink. All I know is that Yukine goes to that middle school, and I will not bow to a cat who is not doing everything in their power to make his educational experience as good as it can be.
"I left the interview with my heart racing and hands trembling with the adrenaline from my encounter with the tyrant of fluff and flesh. I could not believe my own bravery, I still cannot believe it, and yet, it happened. That encounter was real. I stood up to Milord. Yukine is giving me a horrified look, no doubt thinking that I could have been killed, and then he would be taken back to the shambling house for orphaned children. He is right, it was reckless of me. I do not know what came over me, listeners, but I am incredibly grateful to still be here.
"Now a message from Our sponsors: I approach you for assistance with a menial task. You flirt with me and I pretend not to notice, throwing my hair over my shoulder. You do not notice the faint trace of loathing in my eyes, or the drip of venom from my words, you see only what you want to see, curves, lip gloss, batting eyelashes. Eventually you get the courage to ask what I am doing later, and I lean forward, placing one hand on the desk in front of you so the scoop neck of my dress gapes open. You think that I am flirting with you, your eyes are drawn down below my face. You see the knife tucked into my bra. You see the rage in my eyes. You realize you are being threatened. You are afraid. Victoria's Secret. The secret is where I am going to hide your body.
"Still no news on the adoption, listeners. I have received a number of texts, including one from Kazuma, asking about it during this broadcast, and no. Yukine has kept one eye on the window this whole time and there is still no sign of a burning effigy, not even a plume of dark purple smoke. While we wait let's have a look at traffic.
"She walks away slowly, and you think bitterly of those corny and kind of gross jokes about hating to see her go but loving to watch her leave. You do not love watching her leave now as she walks away, walking just slowly enough for you to believe that maybe, just maybe, she is hesitating, hoping that you will stop her, but the stinging sensation in your cheek begs to differ. It is more likely that it is the weight of all of her personal belonging weighing her down, she insisted on taking them all at once, so she did not have to spend any more time with you than she already had, and she also refused to allow you to help. So, you watch, helpless to do anything more, wanting to say something but being unable to find something that is as of yet unsaid. You tried everything, but this is what she wanted. She wanted to leave. You wonder what is was that did it, what was the straw that broke the camel's back?
"Had she found out that you still smoked, even though you told her months ago that you quit, or your tendency to wear two mismatched socks when you couldn't find a mate? You really don't know. There are so many things about you that she could hate, you realize, probably some of them you don't even realize that you do, but she does. Of course, she does, she had the misfortune of living with you. You feel your heart break as it cries out to her, begging her to stay, but she does not.
"As she leaves she thinks about the things that led her to this point. It was nothing in particular, it was everything, but also it was nothing. She never minded that you smoked, although you are lying about quitting had annoyed her. I mean, why lie? Just say you were still smoking and act like a grown up. Whatever. That wasn't why she was leaving you. She was leaving you because of the oppressive feel of your love, and how she felt like her arms were pinned to her side when she once felt that she could fly. She walks away, growing ever lighter as she leaves you behind, knowing that she made the right decision but wishing that she could have given you a better explanation. How are you supposed to tell someone that they have somehow, without your ever noticing it, become like an anvil weighing you down, drowning you under the weight of an emotion that you are fairly certain used to make you feel like you could fly? Or did it? She isn't sure, she only knows that she is both sorry and glad to be going. She does not know where she is going too.
This has been traffic."
"Listeners, there is still no news of the adoption, still no plume of strangely colored smoke nor any black sedans appearing to drag me away to re-education and relocate Yukine to the Shambling Orphan Detention Facility. There are a few new things, Old Woman San has appeared wearing the shredded and bloodstained, well I think that it's blood anyway, black cloak of one of the hooded figures from the dog park. She is wearing it under her usual large cloak of long white fur, and its addition has made her even more terrifying than before, but I'm afraid I cannot come up with another of my colorful yet obscure metaphors right now, I'm too nervous about the adoption, so I will take you now,
to the weather."
Kagome is a modern Japanese high school girl. Never the type to believe in myths and legends, her world view dramatically changes when, one day, she's pulled out of her own time and into another! There, in Japan's ancient past, Kagome discovers more than a few of those dusty old legends are true, and that her destiny is linked to one legendary creature in particular-the dog-like half-demon called Inuyasha! That same trick of fate also ties them both to the Shikon Jewel, or "Jewel of Four Souls." But demons beware...the smallest shard of the Shikon Jewel can give the user unimaginable power.
"Whoohoo! Listeners, I don't believe it, while we were hearing the weather report it happened! I received a message from Kazuma saying he thought he saw a plume of smoke coming from the direction of City Hall, so naturally Yukine and I ran to the window to check and there it was. The burning effigy that signified that Yukine is now officially my adopted son. May I just say, listeners, that this is such a relief. I was so worried. I had almost thought that my impertinence to Milord, newly re-elected president of the PTA, would cost me the adoption, but it didn't. I am so glad, and once the broadcast closes I will be getting ready for the party to celebrate! Stay tuned for the sound of crackling fire and the scent of burning fuel that you cannot locate the source of.
"Now, before I take my leave to celebrate my newly expanded family, I will say this-
Good night, Nightvale. Goodnight."
Yato switched the 'On Air' light off, and a great whoop escaped from the recording booth. Yato looked through the glass window into the studio and saw Hiyori and Yukine embracing in delight. Yato felt suddenly weak and sat back down, head spinning, grinning broadly all the same. Thank goodness, he thought. The door to the booth opened and two bodies slammed into him, Hiyori and Yukine.
"I'm so glad!" Hiyori said.
"Me too," Yato said. "We need to hurry up and buy the ice cream, everyone will be turning up at the house soon for the party."
"I'll get the ice cream," Hiyori said. "You should go pay tribute to station management then summon the hot dogs and hamburgers with the blood stone circle."
"Thanks a lot, Hiyori," Yato said.
"I can head home and clean the house," Yukine said. "We have to make room for the mess that Kofuku is going to make when she gets there." The three of them chuckled, Yato squeezed the other two one last time, then they parted ways.
Every person who came hugged Yato when they saw him, then ruffled an increasingly annoyed Yukine's hair. Yukine vented his anger by making fun of how flustered Yato got when Kazuma hugged him. Yato retaliated to that by making Yukine wear the crown Kazuma had made for Yukine so they had a father-son matching set. Unfortunately, Kazuma had never met Yukine before, so the crown wasn't quite the right size, and kept falling down and sitting lopsided on his head, which Yato thought was adorable and he made them take about a hundred pictures wearing them.
"You didn't mention that Yukine was your son," Kazuma said idly, standing next to Yato and watching Yukine try to take of his crown only to have it shoved back on repeatedly by both a boy who appeared to be his age and Hiyori, who he had met earlier.
"Legally, he wasn't yet, and I didn't want to jinx it, you know?" Kazuma nodded.
"I'm glad it worked out for you, Yukine seems like a good kid." Yato grinned brightly, and Kazuma felt himself melting.
"He's such a good boy! He has some anger issues, but I did too at that age, nothing I can't handle. Daikoku and Kofuku and Hiyori have all been great too, they help out a lot. I probably couldn't do it without them."
"Being a single dad must be hard, I know you don't really know me, but if you ever need anything I'm here." The look Yato gave him practically had him melting into his shoes.
"That means a lot, and if you ever have trouble with anything, all you have to do is ask! I have a lot of sway here as the voice of Nightvale." Kazuma chuckled.
"I'll remember that, but I'm just trying to keep my head down now and get used to life here."
"Good plan," Yato said seriously. "Best not to draw the attention of the Secret Police if you can help it." Kazuma nodded. That was another thing, this town seemed like something out of a dystopian novel, and everyone else just accepted it. They discussed horrifying events with such a tone of normality Kazuma couldn't help but wonder if they all had the same strange sense of humor and were playing a joke on him.
"So, who is that boy with Yukine? A friend from school?" Kazuma asked, for lack of a better topic, not to mention that Yato really enjoyed talking about Yukine.
"Yeah, but Yukine has a major crush on him, and from where I'm standing the feeling is mutual, look," He pointed to the two boys, who had moved on from fussing over the crown and were discussing something intensely. Hiyori looked up, saw the two of them watching, then separated from the two boys and joined the other adults.
"They're talking about Suzuha's garden again, and as much as I like the kid, I can't stand to hear about all the different kinds of flowers he's got growing in there again," she said, smiling tolerantly.
"Suzuha has a real green thumb, and Yukine likes to go over and help him with his garden after school," Yato explained. Kazuma nodded.
"They seem pretty close." Yato and Hiyori nodded.
"So Kazuma, Yato tells me that you make jewelry, but you don't use live animals, that's so interesting."
"I keep hearing that, but in my hometown no jewelry has live animals." Yato and Hiyori gave him shocked looks.
"Really?" Yato asked incredulously. Kazuma nodded, not sure if he was more horrified or amused by their expressions.
"Well that is certainly different," Hiyori said. "Are you thinking about setting up a storefront somewhere?"
"I'm planning on selling out of my house until I can save up enough for a storefront."
"Ah, you'll need to go to City Hall to get a permit for that," Yato said. "You'll have to talk to Mayu for that, but whatever you do, do not tell her you know me."
"Why?"
"She's his ex," Hiyori said, looking like she would be absolutely delighted to tell Kazuma the story if Yato wouldn't. "They ended badly, and she still hates his guts."
"Yeah, well, who the hell thinks that 'radio talk show host' isn't a respectable career?" Yato snapped, looking irritated. Hiyori laughed.
"You'll be fine, Kazuma, she's perfectly lovely to anyone who isn't Yato, whom she pretends doesn't exist and refuses basic services to."
"Is that… allowed?"
"It is when she's the one in charge of receiving all civilian complaints," Yato said through gritted teeth. "I've had to go above her head to Mayor Tenjin a few times."
"Wow," Kazuma said.
"Don't worry, Yato probably needs someone in his life to give him a hard time."
"I couldn't agree more," A voice said, and while all other eyes turned to the door Yato's rolled to the ceiling. A woman with extremely long blonde hair entered the room alone but for the aura of power that accompanied her. Yato's sound of disgust was drowned out by Suzuha's cry of delight.
"Auntie Bisha you made it!" He vaulted forward and collided with her middle, wrapping his arms around her.
"You invited her?" Yato whined. "Suzuha you sell out! It was friends and family only."
"She promised she would behave!" Suzuha said, stepping back and looking nervously between them.
"Don't worry about it, Suzuha," Yukine said, "if he gets his ass kicked tonight that'd be the best gift of the night."
"Language!" Every adult in the room, except for Kazuma, snapped.
"I just came by to tell you that I was all set to put pressure on the City Council to deny your adoption request, on the grounds that you're a coward, but then I heard your story about standing up to PTA President, Milord, and decided to give you a chance. Don't blow it." Yato made a silly face at her then turned away. Another shrill cry echoed through the room as Kofuku rocketed over the sofa and flung her arms around the woman's neck, colliding with her full speed. The woman didn't even move, she stood solid as stone. Her eyes turned on Kazuma and he flinched.
"You must be the newcomer. My name is Bishamon, I work at the Sheriff's office." Yato scoffed.
"You're the Sheriff," he said harshly, "no one gets arrested or re-educated in this town without your permission." Bishamon fixed a cold glare on Yato, and Kazuma couldn't believe he didn't wince.
"I'm sure there won't be any need for any of that with you," Bishamon said to Kazuma, extending her hand. He took it nervously. "You're Kazuma, right? This idiot talked about you on that show of his."
"Um, yeah," Kazuma replied.
"There's no need to be nervous, Kazuma, we're all family in this little desert town."
"Right."
"Also, don't forget to get the proper permits for that jewelry making business of yours or we'll be meeting again under different circumstances."
"Of course." Bishamon turned to leave but stopped when her palm landed on the door handle.
"Oh, and don't mention to the permit lady that you know Yato, she hates him." With that she brushed out the door and Yato blew a raspberry into the silence.
*So I had this idea for the weather, (today's description came from Kissmanga) Instead of just putting descriptions of manga (which don't get me wrong I still think is a cute idea) I did obscure Nightvale styled descriptions of a manga or maybe a scene from one and let people guess in the comments about what it was. I could reveal it in the comments after someone's guessed it or in the description of the next chapter. "Last weeks weather was *insert manga here*"
The biggest pro to this is that it could inspire interaction and actually be fun, the biggest con is that I would be locked into manga that I have read, or anime that I have seen. Although, I have watched a pretty substantial list of anime so running out would not be a problem for a while.
If I continue to do it the way I have I could do an I'm feeling lucky and do a random manga and possibly discover new interesting manga or introduce readers to new interesting manga, but also I just think the guessing thing could be fun. Let me know what you think in the comments!