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

Entry tags:

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

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!!!!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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?

[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.

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?

...Huh. Why not?

[Like, that's just stupid. Jae-Ha and Hazel were clearly really good for each other!! Good enough that Hazel had been able to identify and be comfortable with their love pretty much right off the bat. It was just a fact, like her mom and dad had been a fact.]

No. Not really... I mean, there were times they were scary because I didn't have anyone around I could trust that knew a lot about them, but... But Izabel made that better. And then Mom found me again.

[They weren't scary now, that was for sure. She bought they were pretty cool, most of the time.]

I guess I don't like them so much when they itch or make clothes harder to get on and off, but that doesn't happen a lot.

The balance of power, I suppose. But Hazel has never once used that against me. [He moves back from the table, pushing his chair out.] And he's never once thought differently of me for having the monstrous part of me that I do.

[But from how Jae-Ha speaks about it, it's clear what he thinks of himself.] That man you saw seemed to be someone from the only memory I have, who was born just like I was. He did and said many horrible things, but he was just as trapped as I was.

[Mm, Hazel probably wouldn't like to hear any of that though, so now Jae-Ha is glancing to the side.] Would you like to know how I'm different?

[She goes quiet, but she's carefully attentive to his explanation. Ugh...]

...You don't have to tell if you don't want to. [She knows it can be hard, and he's...not like her.]

I don't tell most people, but I do tell people that I trust. You've helped me, Hazel dear, so there's no reason to hide it. Especially when you're in a similar situation yourself.

[He kicks his right leg in the air, away from the table a bit. He's still got his boots on, even in the house.]

This right leg of mine is a dragon's leg. It's green and scaled and far stronger than any human.

[It reminds her of Petrichor, kind of, except maybe Petrichor would have liked to hide a little longer. Not that it would have ever been easy for her to do so, in the detention center... Honestly, there were times Hazel marveled that she had lasted so long before someone else found out -- and that had started because she'd made the decision to tell someone.]

...There was a lady where I lived for a while that had green scales all over, but she didn't have legs.

[she was a snek]

That's why you could kick people so good when I was talking to big Hazel! I thought it was really, really cool that you were so strong. [So that made sense. Hazel stares intensely at the leg like that's going to make the boot come off.] Does it feel weird to wear socks?

Oh, did you notice that? [He chuckles, lowering his leg back to the ground.] I have claws on it as well, so I can't actually wear socks. That's your main question?

[woah...]

Um! Well, I have lots of questions. Like isn't it gross to wear a shoe without wearing a sock? And does it shed skin? And what does it look like where the skin changes to scales? Is it cold? I think scales are supposed to be cold. And if it's strong than your other leg, how come you don't walk funny? And -- and lots of stuff.

[Less fun stuff, too. But mostly these.]

[These are embarrassing questions... Jae-Ha looks a little more nervous as he chuckles.]

My boots are comfortably made, so no. And no, it doesn't do anything disgusting like shed— Eh? The look of it? Well... Cold...? No, I don't think— [How does he answer any of this!!]

I can control the power, so of course I wouldn't walk funny...

[HOW IS HE NOT SURE ABOUT HOW IT LOOKS OR THE TEMPERATURE STUFF

But Hazel can see the effect her questions are having, even if it's better than Jae-Ha being Sad, so she settles firmly into her seat again and swirls the spoon in her bowl that's quickly becoming an inedible, soggy mess.]

I have feathers! They're dark and kinda shiny. But my mom doesn't have feathers at all. Some people where I lived did, but none of theirs looked the same as mine.

[HE'S SURE HE'S JUST EMBARRASSED. Anyway, she lays off a little, so that's a bit of a relief... His shoulders relax and he blinks back down to her at the table.]

Feathers sound beautiful, dear. What I meant to say through all of that is... You can choose who to trust. You can hide them if you'd like, but know at least that my Hazel won't think ill of you for having them.

[She hums thoughtfully, back to chewing on her lip. It was true that neither he nor Jae-Ha had seemed to care much about her horns -- and Jae-Ha was okay with her wings. He had a weird leg, and Hazel knew and loved him all the same. So maybe... Maybe he was right?

Hazel hops down from her chair to scamper off to the bathroom, but she's quick to return. When she does, she's got a mess of bandages in her hand and she's not wearing her poncho over her simplistic dress.]

Then I want to be like this when I'm here! [The four sections of her beetle shell-black wings flex experimentally. Oof.] I trust you guys. You're really nice. And it feels a lot better.

[Oh... She trusts them!! And she's open enough to share her wings with them! That's so sweet, that's so good for her. They are great parents. Jae-Ha is congratulating himself until her wings flex, and he moves over with a happy smile.]

Oh, they're actually so lovely, Hazel dear! You're always welcome to be like this in our temple. From time to time, even I enjoy relaxing with my shoes off around Hazel.

[aaaa, he's happy!!! That makes Hazel stand a little taller and extend her wings even more, proud that her wings have had such an effect.]

Well...yeah. You guys probably have sex and stuff and you can't wear shoes for that, you have to be naked.

[she's like 6]

[PFFT... There's brief surprise before Jae-Ha laughs a little at that, bringing a hand up to his mouth.]

What a smart girl you are. Be careful, Hazel is easily embarrassed, so he might blush to hear you saying things like that. [Jae-Ha please...] I meant in general, dear.

[She nods seriously, making a mental note. Jae-Ha was like Miss Noreen and she could talk about pretty much anything with him, Hazel not so much. Good to know these rules.]

So maybe one day I'll get to see it, too? I think that'd be nice. If we could all just be comfortable and stuff. [She tucks some hair behind and ear, smiling lopsidedly up at Jae-Ha.] Thanks for letting me come over sometimes. I know having a kid around isn't always fun, so it's really nice of you guys.

Oh, you'd like to see it? It's an ugly thing, not like your wings, so I didn't think of it...

[He's a little embarrassed, but he's weak to girls asking, so he wouldn't mind showing her if she wanted. Still—]

You're very welcome, Hazel dear. You're welcome here any time you need it, alright? I happen to enjoy your company, and I can see that Hazel appreciates it, as well. He's a little shy about admitting this sort of thing.

[Hazel tips her head, gently fluttering her wings.]

It's, um... Well, if I got to see it, that means you're really comfortable and happy and stuff. And I'd like that! So your leg is special, even if you don't like it so much, and not just because it's real strong.

[This is a great leg, and a great family.]

[That's so sweet, he can't help but smile. He hates the disgusting way his leg looks, even if he's automatically been used to having it. He's never felt any distaste for the power, or for using it— he does love having it. He doesn't know all of the details of why or how he'd gotten used to it, but it doesn't matter.

It's so hard to resist when she puts it like that. Ugliness aside, if it would mean trust and comfort for her, who just revealed the same, well... He shifts to sit in his chair, slowly crossing his right leg over the other so he can slip the boot off. A quick look should be fine.

He rolls up his pant leg just below his knee, so she can't see the gradient way it changes into skin but she can see everything else. Green scales, clawed toes, everything.]

Here it is, dear.

[One of the mysteries still remains...which ultimately doesn't put much of a damper on her excitement. leg!!!! The grin she's got is so big, there's pretty much no chance she's thinking it's disgusting.]

I think it'd be cool to have claws. But maybe on just one leg would feel weird!

[just imagine how sick she'd look...]

It feels natural to me.

[Uncrossing his legs, he takes off his other boot so they're even. One human foot, one dragon... It's weird. But.] A friend of mine has one hand like this, but white. He's a dragon like I am.

[The regular foot sure looks weird alongside the dragon one to Hazel. She wonders if it makes a different kind of footstink as a normal foot... Hmn, she could discover that one on her own, but right now she doesn't know if she could handle the experiment. She just ate, after all.]

How come it's only one for each of you? That'd be like... Like if I only had one set of wings, or one horn.

[Hazel please,]

It's not always the case. The yellow dragon's scales only appear when he's injured, but work anywhere on his body. I never did get to see the blue dragon's eyes... but I believe both were different. So, it's only two of us that are like this. Having two seems like it would be too much power, with how our strength works.

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