bunnylord phd, doctor of extremely good philosophy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
existentialcrisis) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thenearshore2016-11-20 12:06 am
existentialcrisis) wrote in thenearshore2016-11-20 12:06 am
[closed]
Who: Ukoku and friends (I'm sure they're friends)
What: luring people into his hell temple to do bad magic for bad reasons, nice conversations
When: some days
Where: aforementioned hell temple
Warnings: crows in a literal pie
[ The enchantment was a little too much. His fault, maybe, for being economical (see also "lazy") about it, but it doesn't really matter. It worked, and it's still working. The question, now that things have changed, is whether it's still useful.
But there's no benefit in being quick to throw away Ni Jianyi. So he shows up at the temple of Dionysus, not a priest (a not-like-the-other-old-guys professor, at best, with a hoodie over a dress shirt and his stupid yellow monkey hair tie wrapped around his wrist on top of an incongruously sober black watch), and knocks. ]
[ Generally, nothing she does really surprises Ukoku—but the text asking after his hangover (as if he had no experience handling them) came close. That was a week and a half ago. He's never expecting her, strictly speaking, but now, less than ever.
The temple has changed since she was last there. The boxes around the perimeter of the atrium are gone, as are the sigils—and the pool in the center. It's been replaced by a crater with sharp, curving edges.
Ukoku himself is out in his makeshift lab, behind the temple. ]
[ It's been days since the pool disappeared, and the most Ukoku has said about it—in passing—is that he made a mistake with some magic. Nothing to worry about! He's been busy, too, either out of the temple or in the greenhouse (which now has zero plants) when Guy's not, and he may or may not be inconspicuously checking whatever easy, boring lab work Guy chooses to do for him.
On this particular day, though, Ukoku actually makes a point to locate him as soon as he gets back to the temple. ]
Guy?
What: luring people into his hell temple to do bad magic for bad reasons, nice conversations
When: some days
Where: aforementioned hell temple
Warnings: crows in a literal pie
[ The enchantment was a little too much. His fault, maybe, for being economical (see also "lazy") about it, but it doesn't really matter. It worked, and it's still working. The question, now that things have changed, is whether it's still useful.
But there's no benefit in being quick to throw away Ni Jianyi. So he shows up at the temple of Dionysus, not a priest (a not-like-the-other-old-guys professor, at best, with a hoodie over a dress shirt and his stupid yellow monkey hair tie wrapped around his wrist on top of an incongruously sober black watch), and knocks. ]
[ Generally, nothing she does really surprises Ukoku—but the text asking after his hangover (as if he had no experience handling them) came close. That was a week and a half ago. He's never expecting her, strictly speaking, but now, less than ever.
The temple has changed since she was last there. The boxes around the perimeter of the atrium are gone, as are the sigils—and the pool in the center. It's been replaced by a crater with sharp, curving edges.
Ukoku himself is out in his makeshift lab, behind the temple. ]
[ It's been days since the pool disappeared, and the most Ukoku has said about it—in passing—is that he made a mistake with some magic. Nothing to worry about! He's been busy, too, either out of the temple or in the greenhouse (which now has zero plants) when Guy's not, and he may or may not be inconspicuously checking whatever easy, boring lab work Guy chooses to do for him.
On this particular day, though, Ukoku actually makes a point to locate him as soon as he gets back to the temple. ]
Guy?
no subject
[ He's still playing with her hair, walking slowly through the atrium toward the front of the temple. ]
What do you think would make it real to you?
no subject
When the last Pillar died, the next powerful in line would become the new one... I suppose I could just kill you. You're a priest, after all. That's close enough, right? [And she could probably do it too, if she was actually inclined to. She sends a flicker of fear out, just to get his heart beating a little faster, as a sort of playful reminder-- she could, after all, practically stop his heart at any time.
Yuri wouldn't though, of course.
Not yet.] An actual ritual might help, but I'd just feel ridiculous if it was you trying to do it. [Him doing anything actually priest-like just seems...wrong? Weird. There's a distinctive 'that's not right or okay' feeling at the thought alone. She rolls her shoulders, not trying to dislodge his arm or anything, but attempting to shake off the weird feeling.] I suppose it doesn't really matter as long as I'm recognized by someone...no subject
A ritual has a practical purpose, right? Maybe you could do something for me.—Did I tell you I'm dead? Where I come from, I mean?
[ He's still just stroking her hair, calmly. This is a normal thing to say. ]
no subject
What? [It's a good thing they stopped, because Yuri's gone still in shock, turning to face him.] That's-- No. You didn't tell me that. [What the fuck you don't just drop that on people!! What is wrong with you!!!] You're sure?
no subject
Anyway: ]
You do something for the dead, yeah? Help them with passing, I think you said? Something about taking their pain? I don't remember dying, so that should be easy for you.
[ He doesn't need help being dead, of course, but this isn't about him: this is about her, and reluctance. ]
no subject
I can relive someone's death if they're already dead and take the pain from it. Or take the pain on as they die if I'm watching it happen. [A pause and Yuri gives him a searching look] Is that what you want me to do for you?
no subject
Presumably there won't be anything for her to see, if he died just a little later than when he came in. This will all be ceremonial—just what she seems to want. ]
Go get that cute little outfit and meet me back here, okay?
[ Her death priestess robes, naturally. They're cute.......
He heads outside to sit on the porch and wait. ]
no subject
So she steps back, sighs, and teleports back to her home to get ready. She takes her time a little--she bathes and purifies herself (and there's something... Ironic? About doing that when she's using her power on Ukoku of all people) and takes care of the makeup and the way her hair is supposed to be styled. She doesn't know if all of that places any significant role in the priestesses'...anything, but it feels like if she's going to do something "official" she should emulate them the best she could.
It doesn't make her feel less ridiculous when she teleports back, making sure the veil is tied properly as she looks for him again.]
This feels sort of silly. [Yuri mutters, feeling a touch embarrassed. Probably she shouldn't have brought any of this up to begin with, but hey. Too late now. She might as well take what she can from the experience]
no subject
He's changed into his robes. The sutra is across his shoulders.
He doesn't warn her before he teleports them both. His shrine has grown; the statue of a god that looks nothing like him, with a peaceful smile and bare feet balanced on skulls, now sits protected under a wooden pavilion. The sound of the river nearby is gentle and persistent.
There are brass bowls surrounding the statue, full of offerings. Ukoku picks one up and dumps the contents out. ]
no subject
It doesn't mean anything, she tells herself, but then, when has Ukoku done anything that didn't mean something, even if only to himself?
She takes a moment to collect herself and looks around the shrine a moment in curiosity, before she turns almost instinctively towards the sound of the river. It would never amount to the same power enhancement the 'pure water' from her world could manage, but any water seemed to help, and given how sacred water was to the religion on the mountain anyhow... We all return to water...]
Why here? [She asks it at the same time her mind responds with why not? but she turns a curious look on Ukoku anyhow for an answer, watching him empty the bowl.]
no subject
[ Like he misplaced it on the way to the kitchen. It doesn't matter—he has a second one—but Guy could have been hanging around, or come back at any moment if he wasn't. It might have made her nervous.
He heads down to the stony riverbank, tossing the bowl from hand to hand, and wades into the shallows. ]
You said your priestesses kept their hair wet, didn't you?
[ He bends to scoop water into the bowl. This is going to be cold. ]
no subject
She waits a moment before following him, pausing again only briefly on the water's edge before she steps in as well. There's a hum of acknowledgement at the question--he's right, they did, and she suspects he's doing this less because of the possibility of enhancing her power and more because of the 'wet crow' association.
Either way, Yuri doesn't stop him when he pours the water on her, though she does muffle a squeal of shock at the cold and brings her shoulders up with a shiver. It's only one bowl full, but she already does look a little more bird-like when she cocks her head and frowns at him, watching.] You just wanted an excuse to get me wet. [Her tone is blunt and dry and gives no hint that she means it anything other than literally, which is probably the worst part.]
no subject
[ He doesn't miss a beat, calmly arranging her hair on her shoulders. It could almost be black, like his, in the moonlight.
He sets the bowl in the water and lets it float away. This is enough. His fingers curl around hers, deceptively warm. ]
Go ahead.
no subject
I'll glance into your soul.
[For a given value of 'soul' where Ukoku is concerned. And while she says 'glance,' she tugs at his hand to pull him down, rising on tiptoe to press her mouth to his. Her powers had grown considerably since arriving here, for which she was--grateful, she supposes, but physical contact still made it more powerful. Sure she could've just kep it at the holding his hand, but--
Well.
She hadn't wanted to leave it at that, that was all.
The images come in a frenzy, like jumping in the middle of some action sequence. A fight with all-too familiar people, and a strange sense of nothingness that came from stepping into his mind. The sutra of his was frighteningly powerful and suddenly she was a little more aware of why he'd guard it so closely--why any of them would and why Sharak hadn't been so forthcoming with answers herself. Yuri was aware that the sutras couldn't all possibly have the same abilities, but the fact that this one could and it was in Ukoku's hands... It left her with a terrifying dizzy feeling at the implications. It was, probably, a good thing that Ukoku wasn't quite ambitious enough to use it to its possible full extent.
When she pulls away from him, carefully untangles the threads of memories until she's herself again, she has to take a moment to stop herself from straight up swooning, her head spinning. There's nothing to say as she just looks at him with slightly glassy eyes, searching for--something, nothing?--before she closes her eyes and takes a breath.]
You said you died.
[Accusing, maybe, because she certainly didn't feel any death there before the memory had been cut off.] I didn't feel any death. Not yours'. [Did the 'death' of 'existence' caused by his sutra really count?]
no subject
It confirms, at least, that the memory of dying wasn't just suppressed. ]
I did. If I ever go back, it'll only be another minute. I heard it from other people.
[ More or less, not really, sort of. ]
no subject
'Don't say that,' she wants to say, but there's no good that could come from voicing it out loud. Instead she leans into him more, considering what he's said.]
Knowing that, if you go back, will you change it?
[She speaks low, as if speaking too loud will shatter the world around them]
no subject
[ His voice is casual and unperturbed, as if he's talking about someone else's death, or a theoretical death, intangible and poetic. ]
Maybe not.
[ That's the answer, either way. He's staring up at the stars, hands laced together around the small of her back. ]
But I'm not trying to go back. I don't need to.
no subject
Or maybe she's still coming down from the hyperfocus of her abilities. She wonders idly what the two of them might look like to anyone passing by. Some kind of crow spirits or something?]
Why not? [It's the obvious question to ask next, but he seems to be in a more forthcoming mood than usual with his answers, and she'll take advantage of it for now.]
no subject
Maybe if I die here, you can do whatever it is you're supposed to do. I'll call you when someone comes to get me.
[ It might be a joke. ]
no subject
[She watches him a moment, before reaching up to tug him down to her again] Won't you?
no subject
Not that long ago—what was it, a few weeks? less?—he'd been unable to decide whether she'd really meant to say that a certain kind of death was her favorite, and here she is now. ]
Is that what you want? Interesting deaths? [ He pauses, analyzing her expression. ] What would make a death interesting?
no subject
--Ah. In the span of a couple seconds her eyes widen with realization before her expression goes quickly guarded and wary.] I- I don't-- [She hadn't meant to say something like that? Why had she said something like that? She didn't want to admit to those sorts of things, out loud or to herself, and for a moment she absolutely, completely, hated him for making her acknowledge it at all.
Yuri doesn't answer for a long moment, eyes locked on him in some mixed expression of hate and accusation, before she forces herself to look away to think. Even that slip of body language clearly broadcasts defeat, giving in to try and find an answer, for her own sake as much as his.]
I... can feel everything they feel... [She speaks slowly, carefully choosing her words as she tries to figure out how to put such a difficult concept into something that makes sense. So logically, painless deaths were best, honestly, but beyond that] I like-- jumpers, the best. For a moment, it feels like flying. I suppose drowning isn't terrible either... [There's a far-off look in her eyes that could almost be longing before its gone again and she shakes her head.]
I suppose... As long as it makes me feel something other than the normal regret or fear or something, that's what would make it interesting. [She doesn't know if that's really the 'right' answer, but it's the only one she can currently give as she doesn't quite know how to answer it herself.] So maybe you should put in a request when you die.