[ Open-ish ]

[darkestbefore]

Who: Yona and castmates/adjacent CR
When: The days after the Age-Swap Event
Where: Yona's Temple
What: Catch-all to deal with fallout from the new arrivals and things discovered during the age swap event. Also probably a picnic.


[ The day after time is restored to normal, Yona sticks close to her temple, mind still reeling from what she had learned and the hectic events of the past few days. Between the arrival of her two newest shinki and some of the conversations she'd had with companions over the past few days, taking some time to process it seems the wisest of ideas.

But even though she doesn't venture far from her own temple, it doesn't mean she doesn't welcome anyone who stops by for a visit, clearly happy to greet anyone who stops by. Especially if they are people she needed to talk with anyway.

As for those staying in her temple, she does her best to make sure they get settled and comfortable, answering any questions she can to try and make this new arrangement as smooth as possible. And if there's a sudden resurgence of bad dreams in the aftermath of one particular shinki coming back to live in this place with her... well. She does her best to hide the evidence of it. ]

Comments

Picnic Mingle! Closed for specific CR

[darkestbefore]

[ Several days have passed since time was restored and something almost resembling normalcy slips back into place around her temple. But with new friends arrived and others coming and going, Yona finds herself craving having those that are here together again.

Which is why she reaches out to the dragons and companions not currently living at her temple to invite them and their shinki and gods over for a picnic. Some of them she doesn't know well yet, but there's no reason not to change that, especially since the connection they have is unique, to say the least. But she hopes an afternoon spent together in her orchard might be relaxing and enjoyable enough to bridge the distance caused by this strange situation they've all found themselves in. ]

OTA

[leapinglizard]

[Fortunately, even without his memories, Jae-Ha is still plenty sociable. He doesn't need much convincing to attend the picnic, though he's a bit disappointed that the ratio of men to women is so dramatically skewed. All the same, he'll be pleasant enough when making new acquaintances, grazing his way through the day.

Despite his willingness to chat, he'll be staying particularly close to Yona-- he's been here a remarkably short time and already found himself feeling overprotective, although he's quickly come to realize that he's far from alone in that respect. Her other shinki both seem to feel the exact same way, which means that they're likely trying to crowd each other out as the day goes on-- or at the very least, Jae-Ha will casually try to do so on his end. What did Yona do to deserve these three?]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona has been asking herself that very same question ever since they'd arrived. There was something eerie in the way all three of them hovered nearby with a not-quite-subtle overprotective air. She found it both amusing and exasperating and she wasn't sure which idea worried her more - that her three shinki would end up butting heads over their roles here... or that they'd get along great and she'd have to deal with the results of that alliance.

She doesn't miss how close Jae-Ha is currently hovering at the moment, although she'ds taking it mostly in stride. She does turn to peer up at him on her way back to where the food is laid out, pausing to invite him along. ]

Are you still hungry? There's still plenty more food...

[bartenderizing]

[ Sure, Shizuo was overprotective, but currently it was more about the two strangers in the temple than anything else. Even if Yona was weirdly at ease and worked around and with them way faster than they had, these were still two guys that he didn't know and could have any weird tics or habits. Given that he's punched Hak, and the guy seemed to wander off enough, Shizuo wasn't too worried about that one.

Jae-ha, on the other hand... Shizuo has been contemplating carrying pebbles to flick at the guy when it seemed like he needed to tone done the alternative meanings.

Today's a picnic, though. There are others around, all of which were Yona's friends. Which is why, eventually, the blond decides to pick the green-haired guy up by the back of his clothes and put some distance between them and their goddess. Not far- just enough to make a point. Like a few steps away. ]

You're gonna run into her if you keep this up.

[justclaws]

[Kija--

[Kija is, essentially, hovering.

[He still isn't sure what to say, not when all the obvious ones are off-limits. He cannot go with last time's ice-breaker, and attempting to explain exactly why Jae-Ha is his brother from another mother would-- that had ended extremely badly last time. He needs to remember that, and guard himself accordingly. Jae-Ha will not, he thinks, have to pay for his own loose tongue.

[Of course, that gets him no nearer working out what exactly one is supposed to say to a man he knows intimately, who has absolutely no idea who he is.]

Good afternoon.

[That is a start.]

You are... the Princess's guardian?

[fadingsunshine]

[One of the few girls reaches for Jae-Ha, hoping for a conversation. From the three shinki of this temple, he seems the least intimidating. Not like he isn't, being so tall, but at least he doesn't look as moody as the other boys.]

Hello! You just arrived, right? Nice to meet you, I'm Kaya!

[eternalshield]

[Humble even among the gods is Hebe, Zeus' daughter and cupbearer. Zeno has a pitcher of something sweet and icy-cold in one hand, plus a stack of cups in the other.]

Real nectar is what gives the gods their immortality, but Zeno has none of that. This might be wine, though~

[Something for the grown-ups...]

OTA

[thethunderbeast]

[Hak had been staying noticeably close to Yona's side since the moment they arrived back at her home, that protective instinct he felt from the beginning still not something he's able to easily shake off. Even when he does, he still catches himself watching her from a distance and groaning under his breath when the other two shinki crowd around her like a pair of fussy grandmothers.

With the chore of settling in still very high on his to-do list, he hasn't had a chance to explore the place. This is going to be his new home and he intends to learn and memorize it until he can walk it with his eyes closed. So on the day of the picnic she's planned, he excuses himself from Yona's side numerous times to wander the orchards with a different fruit in hand each time, or seeking out a sunny place for a quick afternoon nap before returning.]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona hasn't missed how often Hak has slipped off to explore. In part, there's something achingly familiar about that - even when they'd lived here together before, he'd been painstakingly dedicated to his patrols and being aware of everything happening on the castle grounds.

She watches him slip off for the first few times with a wistful look but eventually, when there's a lull in her own socializing, she plucks up a pair of apples and follows him, intending to hurry and catch up before he gets too far. ]

Hak?

[bartenderizing]

[ Excuse you, he doesn't hover. While he'll help out and get things sorted for Yona, the blond's more than content enough to lay on top of a roof and bask in the sun. Or anywhere, as long as the sun's a thing to soak up as he relaxes. It was just a coincidence that when Hak had seen Yona, Shizuo was around. (Probably because he was keeping an eye out for what Jae-ha does, as you're both new strangers to the house.)

In fact, that's probably what he was doing when Hak was wandering around. Relaxing and having a cigarette while away from everyone else, soaking in the sun. He's not really a social type of person- Shizuo needs a break. Plus, it's not like Jae-ha was the only one around Yona right now. He could relax.

Which is why he's staying put and continuing his smoke, even when Hak shows up. Because he was here first, dammit. ]

... Wandering off again?

[fadingsunshine]

[That boy seems as intimidating as Shizuo, but Kaya's still willing to attempt a conversation and be friendly to him. He's new, after all, and he and Jae-Ha need as many welcoming arms as possible.]

Ooh, that fruit looks tasty! I've seen it in the market but I haven't tried it yet. Is it good?

Ah, sorry! My name's Kaya, nice to meet you!

[eternalshield]

[Zeno wanders by, pitcher emptied of wine and now filled with something called "Kool-Aid." Hak clearly needs much aid in being kool.

He pours a cup and offers it, blocking any sun.]

You three have all your limbs! Zeno is so proud!

[justclaws]

Princess!

[I have a million things to tell you all at once.

[Of course Kija cannot think of any of them at first, and they all seem quite as important as each other - almost. If only he had not behaved with such abominable over-familarity toward her while he was... inconvenienced. Taking her hand, even if it were at her urging - oh, what had he been thinking to do such a thing? No, in the face of that, everything else would simply have to wait.]

Please - I must apologize unreservedly for all the trouble I caused. I am terribly sorry to have inconvenienced you with my behavior over the last few days. I--

[Kija knows what he wants to say.

[He knows it won't be true, though. He has bowed deeply to deliver his apology, but now he raises his head. He sighs.]

I would like to promise such a thing will never happen again. It will not, if I can help it.

[darkestbefore]

Kija!

[ Her tone is happy as she exclaims his name in response to his own call, turning to see him approaching hurriedly. And looking concerned. When he bows deeply and blurts out his apology, her expression softens and she reaches out to lay her hand on his shoulder. ]

Kija, stop. It was no trouble at all. No one had any control over what happened and besides, I think you were probably the most well-behaved out of anyone I encountered. At either age. It might have been very odd and confusing but I enjoyed very much meeting the you of that age.

OTA

[handsome_genius]

[ He doesn't understand why he's here. Sure, he knows Yona from the fact that she met him on her first day in the Far Shore, and knows her shinki Shizuo because they became acquainted through the act of fulfilling some needs for another goddess together, but the only person he knows here beyond their new acquaintances is Zeno.

Zeno he remembers. He also learned more than remembered - the hard way - that Kija is tied into his past somehow as well, but forbade the man from answering whether that also meant Kija and Zeno knew each other. He wasn't supposed to know. If he did, he was sure his skin would explode with blight again, and his tolerance for pain isn't that high.

So Zeno coerced him to the picnic mingle with a simple promise - that he wouldn't have to cook, so why not join Zeno's newfound friends? It was a simple enough request. Except that Yoon was now highly suspicious of Zeno, being aware that he was too fantastic a liar and Yoon not good enough at teasing out the lies from the half-truths, let alone any real truths.

At the very least, he'll be making the rounds... and slowly realize that he does know the other faces. Weird. Maybe he's turning into more of a social butterfly than he'd originally expected. Apparently not that much of one though, because he couldn't convince Ran to join them. So it's just Zeno's encouragement that brought him here in the first place, sans god. ]

[fadingsunshine]

Hi, Yoon! Um, I owe you an apology for not saying hi the other day. Zeno... did that before I could do anything.

[Kaya's cheeks turns pink. It had been shocking that Zeno had very obviously kissed her in front of someone else. In any case, Yoon seemed to be in a terrible mood that day and she didn't want to intrude on their conversation. The garden had suddenly seemed very interesting that day.]

A-anyway, how have you been? Have things been well?

[eternalshield]

[The pitcher has wine again. Zeno happens to drinking it when he beckons to Yoon to join him beneath a tree.]

Come sit here, here! Where's safe and shady!

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona had wanted Yoon to be here very badly but since her friend had none of their memories for her to give him a reason why that might be, she'd at least had his memories of Zeno to help sweeten the deal. Hopefully, at least.

Still, when she spots him here, her face lights up as she hurries to greet him. ]

Yoon! You came!

OTA

[fadingsunshine]

[Even though some faces look more intimidating than others, Kaya still smiles warmly at everyone as she sits down.]

I brought sandwiches and chocolate cake from a store! Anyone wants to try?

[morning after]

[eternalshield]

[...well.

That happened.

Zeno doesn't dwell on it much beyond that. He spares a moment to laugh at his unwitting self-sabotage, he reassures himself that his two shinki are not in any particular distress, and teleports himself immediately to Yona's Temple, the facsimile of Hiryuu Palace.

How to make himself known...? Missy is probably not pleased. He doesn't believe for a second she's angry-- potentially about the secret-keeping, and also, since he's sure it'll come out, about his decision not to go to her immediately after her father's assassination, when she needed him. Though as loving and thoughtful a girl as she is, he doubts it's any real anger. She was so wise and so good, even when he threw her off balance, she'd recognized the current king wasn't her enemy. Her most gentle, most altruistic heart was capable of looking past her own anguish and recognizing the current king's capabilities in spite of his atrocities toward her. Even when Zeno tempted her as far as he was able, practically offered her the throne on a silver platter, she'd taken it as an opportunity to reflect, to prepare, not to act.

All that higher reasoning he hoped she could muster for him. She hadn't experienced all his memories of her yet, but he was sure...

He thought about throwing something at her window, but he doesn't want to cause a scene. If the heavens gave him back Kaya, he was sure they'd given her Hak. And Jae-Ha... if they'd given him to anyone else while she was here, he couldn't fathom...

Instead, he knocks on her bedroom door.]

Miss...?

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona is normally up and about much earlier than this but after the few days she's had, this morning had been... rather hard to get up and moving. Last night's rest had been different from others and while her dreams hadn't been quite as troubling, they'd still been strange enough to keep her restless most of the night.

She knew she was procrastinating, putting off facing the day for a little while longer, uncertain what today would bring and if she was actually ready to face it or not. But then she felt ashamed for letting this get the better of her and had gone about dressing and readying for her day all the same. Maybe she'd ask her shinki if they wanted to go somewhere for lunch together a little later on...

Her thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door and a familiar sounding voice. It catches her by surprise and after yesterday she goes still for a moment, hesitating, before hurrying across her room to answer the door, flinging it open to greet her friend on the other side.

Even if she wasn't sure which Zeno was out there at the moment. It doesn't dim her happiness in seeing him. ]

Zeno?

[toremainbehind]

[It's not any surprise really for Izumo to suddenly come over to stay at least a couple of days at Yona's temple. With how big her temple is and the many rooms that's been offered, Izumo would usually choose it as his go-to place to hide if he ever felt the need for it.

But it's really after he's sure Mikoto's safe in Totsuka's temple that he wanders back again. He's fortunate that Nanako's healed a majority of his injuries that it's a bit easier to hide from Yona as he comes back.

So, it wouldn't be surprising for Yona to find Izumo on a balcony somewhere, cigarette in hand as he seems to be gazing up at the sky.]

[darkestbefore]

Izumo?

[ Yona's had her hands a little full getting everyone else settled into their new rooms as well as juggling the chaos from whatever had happened to everyone in the days following. His familiar figure is enough to catch her attention as she changes direction and comes to greet him. ]

I didn't realize you were here. Is everything alright?

Morning After - Open for entire temple

[bartenderizing]

[ The first day of that whole thing was, while confusing, pretty great. Sure, he was barely a teenager (which had its own share of problems,) but he was able to feel what he was doing. There was a different kind of control, and it meant that he was able to do things that weren't possible before.

There were always eggs in the house, because they were easy for Yona to cook with and a common ingredient. As a teenager, Shizuo was finally able to cook with them as well. So, in wanting to take advantage of this while it lasted, the blond went to get a couple 18-packs more of eggs. Hey, with how much some of them ate (though he still didn't really know the two new shinki very well,) it still wasn't going to last very long. This was a rare indulgence!

Then the next day, he was even younger and in no condition to do most things. Broken neck, right arm slung and bound against him and small enough that doing things at counter height would be too much of a hassle (and literal pain.)

Now today he was looking at the store of food- an obscene amount of milk, thanks to Shizuo's tastes, and now a bunch of eggs (aside from all the other ingredients around in there.) The others wouldn't really understand the hesitation, as his problems haven't really been showcased, but it looks like the guy's been punk'd. ]

... When someone finds out the asshole that started that whole mess, I'm really gonna kick the shit out of 'em.

[darkestbefore]

[ She hears his voice as she passes in the hallway outside and it's enough to have her pausing and retracing her steps to peer in the room at him, her expression curious, and then relieved to see him back to normal and no longer injured. ]

Shizuo! You're back! Is everything alright?