thenearshore | [ Open-ish ]

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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. ]

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[ 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...

Oh, I have no problem helping myself-- although if you're offering to feed me, I might have trouble bringing myself to decline.

[Probably not the time, but it's a good sign that he's feeling playful, at least.]

[ Some things just consistently go over Yona's head. Jae-Ha's innuendo happens to be one of these things. Not always, because sometimes there's no way to mistake what he means, but for the moment, she blinks at him before glancing back at the table full of food. ]

Do you need me to feed you? Are you feeling alright?

[He could dismiss that, but--]

Come to think of it, I am feeling a bit weak. I might faint at any moment.

[Some opportunities are too good to waste.]

Faint?!

[ Now she's a little alarmed as she grabs his arm and drags him towards the shade of a tree. ]

Was it too much sun? Did you overdo it yesterday? Maybe you should sit down. I'll get you some water.

[He laughs as he finds himself pulled along, shaking his head as he closes a hand around her wrist to signal her to slow down, easing her hand from his arm.]

I was only teasing.

[He would have quite enjoyed letting things continue as they were, but it would have been cruel to make her worry.]

I'm fine. You shouldn't be worrying about me. That's what we're meant to do for you, isn't it?

[ She makes a face at him, although it's done in all fondness as she slows to a stop and huffs a sigh at him. ]

I'm allowed to worry about you, you're my shinki. It's important to me that you're happy here.

[ And she might be fretting a little more than usual, after his and Hak's simultaneous arrival and the scenes she'd woken to witness. ]

[He offers her a smile in reply, though it's not entirely genuine. While he's certainly touched by her concern, and no doubt appreciative, the logistics of the situation still trouble him. He's fortunate to have been hitched to a kind master-- he knows that there are plenty who have not been so lucky.]

I'm as happy here as can be expected, my lady. You've been quite kind and accommodating.

[ She can feel the conflict in him and there's a flicker of sadness in her gaze, knowing all too well about how he feels about being bound to anyone. Better, perhaps, than even he understands.

But she smiles for his sake, giving his hand on her wrist a slight squeeze. ] I know this wasn't an arrangement you chose. But there are few others I would trust to watch over me so well. So thank you, Jae-Ha. As for accommodating, well... Why wouldn't I be? We're partners in this, aren't we? Even if others might not look on things quite so equally, that's not how I want us to be.

You trust me so soon?

[Not that there's any reason that she shouldn't, as far as he's concerned, but it's more than he's come to expect from most people. Most were not half so generous with their trust as she was.]

I do like the sound of 'partner' much better than 'servant.'

You're no one's servant. [ Yona's voice is firm as she emphasizes that, her gaze serious as she glances up to meet his gaze. ] And don't ever let anyone try and make you think otherwise.

And yes, I trust you, Jae-Ha. [ Her serious expression melts into a slight smile at that, wistful, even though she knows she can't tell him why. ] I could tell that about you the moment I met you. [ Even if she had a different meeting in mind than the one he'd immediately think of. ]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Not all gods seem to feel as she does, or so he's gathered.]

What was it about me, then? Aside from my stunning good looks, of course. I know I'm charming, but you make it sound as though I didn't even have to speak-- I must be even better than I thought I was.

[ That gets a laugh from her, warm and fond as she shakes her head. ]

It's not that, although yes, of course, you are very charming. But I can... feel you, for lack of a better way of describing it. [ In more ways than one, but for the moment she focuses on the connection they share as god and shinki, because that requires less dangerous explanation. ] I could the moment you arrived here and you were assigned to be my shinki.

[That connection has been there for him, as well, though it's made him quite uncomfortable-- enough so that he hasn't spoken much on that point, but that bond is certainly present, and already too intimate for his liking.

He smiles, however, at her explanation, faint though it may be.]

A fancier way of saying you 'trust your gut.'

Maybe. [ She chuckles at his assessment. ] I'm not sure I have the best instincts just yet. But I don't think I'm wrong when it comes to you. Or to Hak and Shizuo. I count myself very fortunate to be looked after by you.

[ If they had to be here as shinki at all... ]

I think I'm inclined to trust your instincts-- at least as far as they concern me.

[He smirks, and glances over his shoulder towards the assembled group, his gaze briefly falling on Hak, then Shizuo.]

I'm not sure about the others just yet. I'll just have to trust you, won't I?

I hope you will.

[ Yona follows his gaze, even though she can already guess where he is looking. ]

I believe they are worthy of trust, the both of them. [ Hak she knew for certain, but how to explain that she was more certain of Hak and Jae-Ha than she was of the shinki she'd had here first? That was impossible, so instead it remains unsaid. Besides, Shizuo has been nothing but dedicated and her instincts have also led her to trust him with far more than she would most. ]

Then I'll have to take you at your word until I see it proven otherwise.

[Not that he hopes he will. It would be unfortunate for Yona to be proven wrong about any one of them, he thinks.]

I-- do trust you, for what it's worth.

[ His words bring a smile to her lips as she glances back to him. ]

I'm glad, Jae-Ha. I'll do my best to be worthy of it. But if there's anything I can do, anything you need, I hope you'll let me know. I understand how... disorienting and overwhelming everything here can be.

You needn't worry about that. I doubt I'll have much trouble speaking my mind should I feel the need.

[He smirks, though it becomes something warmer a moment later.]

[ That makes her laugh, her expression brightening. ]

I hope you do. You always have permission to do that, Jae-Ha.

I do appreciate the reminder.

[His smirk warms, even as he offers her a low bow.]

But for now, perhaps I shouldn't be keeping you from your other guests-- as much as I'd love to have you all to myself.

You'll have plenty of time for that, I'm certain. Besides, I'm sure our guests would enjoy your presence just as much.

[ Bittersweet though it might be. ]

Are you hinting that you'd like me to make some new friends, Yona-chan?

[What, and deny her the opportunity to keep him all to herself?]

[ She blinks up at him in surprise and a hint of confusion. ]

Jae-Ha, I want you to have as many friends as you'd like!

[ Besides he was already friends with them, he just couldn't remember it. ]

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