it's familiar, but not too familiar, [OPEN.]

[anecdaughter]

Who: Hazel and various/open.
Where: Temple of Team Hot Stuff, Park.
When: May 30th.
What: Hazel talks about stuff and gets a shinki. She does kid stuff.
Warnings: tba, possibly child abuse, fantasy racism??

[rude little goblin. - closed to Jae-Ha and/or Hazel.]

[It's been a few days since Hazel arrived, and while she's been content to return to her temple, it gets...pretty boring there, when you're all on your own. And kinda lonely. Luckily, Hazel's wormed her way into a couple of hearts, and is more than willing to take advantage of that fact to score some free cereal and company. Hello friends, here she be, kicking her legs back and forth in a careless manner and shoveling sugar into her mouth.

...But it's possible that there are a few things weighing on her mind, too, with the way she glances furtively through her bangs when approached. Just maybe.]

[let's go fly a kite. - open.]

[She'd been delighted at first, when she stumbled upon the simple, lush park. It seemed like forever since she'd been to a playground -- a proper one, not the weird play areas that had been in the detention center or the destroyed structures she would climb on with Kurti. She scrambled up the slide immediately, letting out a whoop of laughter as she slid back down and jumped forward when she reached the edge, then she rushed over to the swings to stand on one and get as high as possible.

It was a little less fun when she realized that the other kids around her weren't paying her any mind, since it meant the sandcastle she'd been perfecting was crushed beneath some dumb boy's feet. Not maliciously, or anything. She could tell he was just going around, unaware of her and her hard work, but... Man. It takes a lot of effort to not push him down instead of just glaring at him.

Now Hazel sits on the swings again, arms looped loosely around the chains, and she toes the sand with her shoe. This sucks!!!!]

Comments

[sonofson]

[Goten is all too use to going unnoticed by other kids and everyone else of the Near Shore, but that doesn't mean he's given up on interacting with them at all. Play grounds and parks are practically a calling place for the half-saiyan when he isn't floating about Sharak's place or trying to get Kainé to teach him new cool things.
Even though he's been staying there, without a god, Goten comes and goes whenever he pleases.

It's bouncing around small group a kids that he first notices Hazel, sitting alone on the swings just poking the sand with her shoes. He's curious to why she's by herself and not swinging.

Maybe she doesn't know how to. Goten can fix that!

Leaving the other kids, not that they really notice, he wanders over to her. Coming up behind Hazel he places his hands flat on her back before giving her a good push forward. It's a gentle push that's just enough to get her moving but it comes without warning. If anything this girl will probably think its a ghost or he'll end up startling her. Introductions were almost pointless when it came to Near Shore people]

Don't you know how to swing?

[anecdaughter]

[Absorbed in her own bad mood, Hazel definitely isn't expecting the push -- and because of it, she opens her mouth to snap back at him before the realization hits.]

Of course I know how to...swing...

[She stares up at him with wide eyes, surprise as plain as the horns on her head.]

Hey! You saw me first!

[sonofson]

[Goten blinks at her slowly, not really understanding what she's implying but it doesn't stop him from pushing her again when she comes swinging back. But he offers a smile. She's kind of weird....and it's not the horns making her seem that way either.]

Yeah, you're kinda hard to miss over here by yourself...

[anecdaughter]

[This time, she's not so dazed as to not pump her legs along with the motion to help propel her forward and back. Looking at him while she does that is surprisingly hard, though, so...uh... Back to looking out ahead of herself.]

No one else thinks so. They act like I'm not even here.

[sonofson]

[He perks a bit, she is geting the hand of it. So maybe she really does know how to swing, great! Goten wouldn't know where to begin on teaching that. But since she does get it, he does put a little more power into his pushes. Nothing extreme, but enough to get her going high before taking a few steps back and to the side. He got her going so she can keep it up if she wants since apparently she's able to.]

Everyone here is like that.

[Goten says it so casually. It is common knowledge though it does suck experiencing it first hand. It really takes a few seconds for her words to catch up to his brain. Goten gapes a bit, pointing at himself. He hasn't met another kid before!]

Wait! Hey, hey! You're not from here then right? You're like me?

[The horns weren't enough of a give away]

[razzledazzles]

[Jae-Ha is probably the best at understanding signs from people and how to properly and warmly respond to them. So, he'll be the one to approach this cute child first, smiling at her as he takes a seat in the chair next to hers.]

What a pleasant surprise, having you show up so suddenly. There wouldn't happen to be anything bothering you, dear, would there?

[anecdaughter]

[Ah, perfect. Exactly what she wanted...which didn't make speaking up any easier, funnily enough. Still, she pops the spoon out of her mouth with a big grin.]

Hi, Jae-Ha! [come, join her. at this table that is...yours...] Maybe not bothering me...

[Hazel looks around to see if big Hazel is about to come through a door, or something. That wouldn't do, for this part.]

But, um, lots of stuff happened. And we know some stuff about each other that we probably wouldn't know if we met normal. Right? So... So that's a weird thing.

[razzledazzles]

[Ah, she's so cute, trying to be subtle. Even if Jae-Ha weren't observant (which he is), he would probably be able to tell what she means. He recalls her instant reaction at the mention of her wings, even when there were other things going on. He understands it too well.]

Hmm? Do you mean those features of yours? [He'll still ask, to be polite.] Yes, I have something of my own similar to that. Are you curious, or is it something else?

[anecdaughter]

[She nods slowly.]

Yeah... I thought you might. Maybe.

[For some Not Good reasons, like Jae-Ha being called a monster. She'd been told plenty of times that sharing her identity would just be a danger, since people wouldn't understand. They'd be disgusted, or angry, or... Who knows. She'd been pretty lucky with her companions, so far.]

My daddy has horns like me. But... But my mom has wings. And they aren't supposed to love each other, they're supposed to hate each other, because people are really stupid and do bad things to each other. [She chews her lip and traces ineffectually into the table with the handle end of her spoon.] So I'm not really supposed to exist. And everyone tells me I have to hide my, um. [One more check for big Hazel.] ...Wings. Since they're easier to keep secret.

[razzledazzles]

You know, they say gods and shinki aren't meant to love one another, either.

[What a deep topic this is!! But he'll speak seriously with her, because even a child can understand these concepts. It's important to, he thinks. Leaning a little over the table, he offers a small, calm smile.]

As for your wings... It might be true that you'd receive anger from people who are confused if you revealed them too casually, but you don't have any ill feelings towards these parts of yourself, do you?

[concasse]

[... Sanji would probably get in trouble if he kicked that boy in the ass, wouldn't he?

Not that he'd meant to wander upon the park in the first place. He's still learning his way around the areas, and getting lost has become par for the course. It's by accident that he watches Hazel from a distance, the little girl working diligently on her sandcastle (cute kid) before it's crushed underfoot by an inattentive kid. Or is it that the kid can't see her? Shit, there are too many rules to keep track of when you're not really human.

He wanders over regardless, casually shoving his hands into his pockets with his head tilted in quiet bemusement]

Not gonna rebuilt your sandcastle, eh?

[anecdaughter]

[Kicking a child's ass would definitely get him noticed.]

What's the point? [She had looked up at Sanji in surprise, but she was more used to adults approaching her than other kids, like Goten up there, so her expression is quick to sour.] They might just smash it again. Someone will, eventually.

[concasse]

Heh. Can't argue with that shit.

[Cussing in front of kids? A time-honored tradition. Besides, he ain't no Disney prince.]

Still, seems a shame. Maybe if marked off the area so no one walks over it.

[anecdaughter]

[She doesn't seem at all scandalized by that. She's heard some shit in her time, man.]

You don't know kids very good, do you? [She gives him a doubtful look.] They'll wanna go where they're not supposed to. And it's just a sandcastle. It's not that important.

[concasse]

Fair point. Most shitty adults are like that, too.

[To her second part, Sanji only shrugs. For a detail that's not important, he sees a moping child getting her mope on, but he can't sit here and preach like he wouldn't have done the same.

... Or, y'know. Still would've pulled that kid by the ear and made him apologize. No way that's an abuse of power.]

Oi, doesn't have to be important to suck a lot. [he says and... waltzes off for the sand pit like a weird-ass adult]

[volksdaemon]

[A little horned, winged child is plenty to get his attention normally. That said, he might not have normally approached her before the parade took place.]

Kids these days, huh?

[He's teleported near where she's sitting on the swing.]

Were you trying to play with them for real just now?

[[OOC: I can have Schuldig ignore her thoughts re: telepathy, but I'd still really appreciate a reply to my permissions post please and thank you]]

[anecdaughter]

[Well, horned child, anyway -- though it might not be difficult for him to glean information about her wings, kept bound and hidden beneath a poncho. Which kind of sucked, in this weather. She jumps at the sudden appearance, chains of the swing rattling at the motion.]

...I don't know. Not really, I guess? [Trying to calm her heart rate, she shifts her gaze a little to watch the other kids -- keeps Schuldig in her peripherals, of course. Gotta be wary of big strangers that didn't seem to be in need of help, like him.] I was just playing and thought thy might, too, if they wanted. I forgot they don't see me real much.

[volksdaemon]

[It's in his nature now to profile new people, children included.]

Well then... Just watch this, kiddo.

[He turns to face the children - they're a bit older, so it's no wonder they don't exhibit the usual affinity of human children for seeing Far Shore denizens. No matter. Schuldig draws their attention back to Hazel and helps them keep it, seeing her as she truly is - minus the horns and tucked wings.]

Try now.

[And he steps back since they can't see him, but they start looking at Hazel more directly and trying to decide if she's about to get picked up or maybe they could ask her to play with them.]

[anecdaughter]

[She stares back at the kids, mirroring their puzzled concern, then glances up at Schuldig while chewing on her lip.]

Um. What did you do to them...? [Quietly, though. Can't let these other kids thinking she's some weirdo talking to herself, or anything.]

[volksdaemon]

[He chuckles a bit.]

Not much. Kids can naturally see Far Shore people easier. These kids are just a little too old to see us naturally anymore, so I helped get their attention just long enough to see you.

[He pats her on the shoulder by the wing.]

Now they'll be interested in playing with you, since they don't see your horns or wings. Just like anybody, they'll forget after you leave though. Can't help with that.

[At least, he hasn't tried.

The kids meanwhile call for her again.]

Go on - I'll hang around if you want, or I'll hightail it so you can be a normal kid for awhile.

[bussounoshima]

[Sharak is at the park at the bequest of some new mother, praying to the gods that her child will be safe- "Aditi" had been a little concerned until she'd actually gotten to the park and realised it was just first time parent nerves. She watched for a little while anyway, just to be safe, but the toddler is being obsessively supervised by her parents. No need for divine intervention there.

But that doesn't mean she's ignoring the other children.]

Not much fun on your own?

[Without looking at Hazel, Sharak steps onto the swing next to her and stands on it, making herself start to swing back and forth. It's a strong swing set, it's fine.]

[anecdaughter]

[...oh that looks fun. Hazel stares wide-eyed at this woman -- She reminds me of miss Petrichor -- then quickly scrambles up to copy her.]

Not really. None of my friends from Phang or my class are here, and these kids don't really play with me.

[bussounoshima]

[Aditi's lessons for youths: try smoking, eat bugs and don't use playground equipment in the preferred way. She is amazing at this mother goddess gig.]

They can't see you very well. You'd have better luck trying to find playmates on the Far Shore.

[anecdaughter]

Yeah, right.

[Children should not be allowed to sound that bitter before they hit double digits.]

All I see all the time are adults. And Jae-Ha and big Hazel are okay and play with me sometimes, but they're not the same. And I don't know where that other girl went...

[bussounoshima]

[They shouldn't, but they are more often than anyone would like. Sharak glances at Hazel out of the corner of her eye.]

You've seen everyone then?