thenearshore | [closed] strong like a family,

Who: The gods & shinki residing at Izanagi's temple!
When: July 5th - July 9th
Where: Izanagi's Temple
What: Team Izanagi's living situation is changing up again with the arrival of a new shinki for Ptah, who also happens to be a friend from home.

evening of the 5th:

[When Kanji returns to the house after the day's festivities, it's with Naoto in tow-- and being as new to this place as she is, he feels guilty about having to excuse himself almost immediately, but he has to talk to Souji-- alone. This isn't the first time Souji has seen someone besides Nanako or Kanji himself turn up from home, but Kanji isn't sure there's any precedent for what to do. He tells Naoto to make herself comfortable and puts water on for tea before he goes searching through the house itself, calling for Souji at the top of his lungs.

'Quiet' has never really been a thing for him.]

Yo, Souji-senpai! You back yet? We gotta talk! It's, uh-- real important!

[Like real important, buddy.]

((OOC: Feel free to use this as a house mingle log for the days listed! Top-levels or misc threads welcome and encouraged.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't know what to do for her.

[He's grateful for the contact; it keeps him anchored, keeps his temper from flaring even as he sets his jaw, steeling himself. He's too tall to rest his head on Souji's shoulder in turn, but he swallows hard, lightly thumping his friend's back.]

I'm so new here myself-- I dunno how to be a good god.

[Naoto herself had seemed unhappy when he told her he was new, too.]

[ The thump doesn't bother him, and he just uncurls the fingers of one hand from his shirt to rub between his shoulders. A response to his gesture, something to try and console, but also show him that he gets it. Souji almost wants to pull him down against him, to let him find some greater comfort. ]

I'll help you as much as I can. I promise. You can ask me whatever you think you need to, and I'll tell you everything I know, and everything I've done with all the shinki I've worked with. [ He gives him a small thump. ]

But just remember, we've worked together before. We've worked with her before. She doesn't have memories of it, but we learned how to do it once, in a situation we were also new to. I think we can do it again.

[He exhales, pulling back a little, his face fixed into a decided grimace.]

You're right. She's still Naoto, she just doesn't remember us.

[But he has to believe she'll still think the same way, still like the same things, still be their friend the way she was before.]

So I should start small, right? Just... work on gettin' to know her again, making her feel comfortable?

[ Souji smiles up at him, in response to the grimace, because when they're facing tough odds, he's the one that has to keep their spirits up. He'll take care of them, because they've taken care of him. ]

She still has her instincts. Maybe she doesn't remember us, but... she remembers something. Naoto will always be Naoto.

[ His hands draw back so that he can curl them around Kanji's shoulders. ]

Right. Ease into it the same way we did before, bit by bit, situation by situation.

[He nods. Right. The hands on his shoulders help to steady him, help him to summon up the courage to face Naoto again.]

Gotta make sure she knows we're her friends. Not-- not try to get her to remember what happened before, but make sure she knows we're not just some 'gods' she's here to serve. Being friends-- that's more important.

[ When it seems Kanji has gathered himself a bit more, Souji squeezes his shoulders. There's no movement to draw away, or step back, and he remains close as he looks up at him, as they work through this. ]

Being friends comes before anything else. We were a team back home - we're a team here, too. You're her partner, and she's yours, none of this... servitude that the 'contract' implies. And if she remembers anything, she has to remember it on her own. We can't push.

We can only make new memories, and wait.

Yeah, screw that contract.

[He doesn't like the wording of it or what it implies-- hasn't since day one, although he hasn't had a shinki to worry about until now.]

Make new memories and wait. I can do that. I don't really know how to be a god, I've been fakin' it since I got here, but-- now that I got someone I need to look after? I'm gonna do my best.

[ Something proud puffs up in his chest, but Souji doesn't comment on it. ]

Don't worry. I haven't been here the longest of anyone that's a new god, but I've been here long enough, and Homura is my third shinki. I'll help you. [ A clap to his shoulders, now, before he finally draws his hands back. ] Besides, I believe in you. You've never let me down, and you certainly won't let her down, right?

[ captain of the ss kannao ]

Knew I could count on you, senpai.

[He exhales, looking just slightly relieved.]

You're right. I'm not gonna let 'er down.

[closed] strong like a family,

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no subject

this got really gay really fast

are you shocked tbh

not even a little

good bc it's all downhill from here

I know how we roll.

It's a v gay roll

it is :>