[closed] The insight that brings us to the other shore

[bon_bon]

Who: Konzen and Sanzo
What: Heart Sutra: The Reprise
When: May 18
Where: A park on the Far Shore
Warnings: n/a


[ There's only so much frantic busywork to be had. And at some point in time, even Konzen has to realize it's just a stopgap for facing the things he'd rather not.

The idea that they've gone to where 'they're supposed to be' isn't much comfort for those left behind. Whether it's paradise or nirvana, a whole new life or some other place, it's all kind of bullshit in the end. Is it supposed to make you feel better? Or does it just impress upon you how powerless you are and always have been, in holding onto the things that matter to you? Their demolished temples are quite apt. He certainly feels like something plowed through him, leaving behind a lot of rubble and nonsense.

But brooding isn't exactly the practical thing to do. And seeing Goku everyday certainly helps. It's not all gone, is it?

He finishes up another prayer (it involved folding paper animals at a hospital for a kid with great enthusiasm for frogs and other slimy creatures) and is heading back to his temple when on a whim, he takes a turn on the path. It leads to a clearing where once upon a time, he happened upon a monk chanting a sutra. And maybe he thinks he'll encounter him again. For what purpose, he doesn't know.

A voice rises, clear as a bell. Konzen stops to listen. ]

Comments

[killsthebuddha]

[ Before he'd come to know who he was, Sanzo had picked up the routine as a means to centering himself to avoid the risk of revealing too much about his emotional state. Now, it serves a different purpose.

He doesn't immediately interrupt himself when Konzen's presence first edges in on his consciousness. No, this time he'll finish what he started. After all, he's not the same person he been those weeks ago.

And maybe even gods need something like this sometimes.

When he's done, the calm clarity lingers a while longer as he quietly reaches into a sleeve to pull out a battered pack of cigarettes. ]

[bon_bon]

[ This time, he finishes the sutra. Not that Konzen expects the guy to pull a gun on him again. He does seem a little calmer every time he sees him. Maybe he's finally getting accustomed to this whole shinki bullshit. Though if he's had some other kind of revelation, he doubts he'd share that with Konzen.

And when Genjo's done, he reaches for a cigarette instead. Konzen steps into the clearing.

The last time they spoke, Genjo thanked him (sort of? Maybe. Vague). As typical of most things that come out of Genjo's mouth, Konzen didn't know what to make of it. ]

Hey.

[ And apparently his greeting is equally vague. It's not like he came here with a particular purpose. Just that maybe he should see that face (just to make sure it's still here?) ]

[killsthebuddha]

[ Quietly, he lights up his cigarette before looking up. There's something steadier in his expression now, though his eyes are tired. ]

Hey. [ They could probably both use a measure of clarity, but even now he's in no position to really offer it to another person. The cherry of his cigarette flares briefly, and he exhales a cloud of smoke. ]

So nothing's taken you out yet.

[bon_bon]

[ He snorts. It's true enough. Konzen can't explain why he's still here while his friends are not. Maybe it's because the gods need him to watch over Goku. Or maybe there's no fucking reason at all. It's not like anything made much sense around here. ]

You either.

[ He looks around and finds a tree stump nearby and lowers himself to sit there. ]

I suppose you know about the others. [ He means Kenren and Tenpou, of course. ]

[killsthebuddha]

I looked into it when the name I had disappeared.

[ But only briefly.

He hadn't been close to either of them, though he had felt some regret at their disappearance. They'd fought as long and as hard as they could to slow Goku down during that incident last month, and he respected that much, at least. Anything else, well...

In truth, first on his list had been assuring that Goku hadn't been displaced. He might have his (increasingly dwindling) objections to his predecessor, but he was a good choice for offering some sense of stability. ] Not that there's anywhere to go with it.

[bon_bon]

​[ At least it seemed like he was taking it well. Not that he expected the guy to fall apart or anything, but he's seen Goku react to losing one of his gods, so you never really know. Goku was probably more attached to Elsa than Genjo ever was to Kenren, though. And maybe Genjo is used to this sort of thing by now. ]

I take it you have someone else.

[ Another god, he means. He's not asking because he's worried, of course not. (Though he does know that unattached shinki are basically defenseless -- and homeless too). ]