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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

More?

[ Surprise flickers across her face at that and she peers up at him where he bows in front of her. ]

But you're already doing a lot! [ She hasn't missed that you've joined Shizuo in being overprotective about her and her temple already, Hak.

Still, she doesn't refuse him, merely cocks her head to the side and reaches out to brush his hair away from his face. ]

What 'more' is it you're wanting?

[The moment he feels her fingers at his hair, he straightens up and darts a hand up to cover the burning bottom half of his face, frowning behind it. He wasn't expecting her to be so forward, especially when all she does is huff and puff at him doing the same and all Hak can do is stare at her for a silent beat in disbelief... and then he sighs. Really loudly.

Why must he explain everything?]

I want to be useful. It's boring roaming the temple and following you around all day. [If Yona had a nickel for every time his tone shifts during that one breath...] If there's anything you want of me, I expect you'll say so.

[ Because you're confusing, Hak, and she has very bad luck at times at guessing what you actually mean. ]

You don't have to follow me around all day, if that's not what you wish. You can do anything you like, anything that makes you happy. [ Had she not made that clear. ] You don't have to ask my permission for that, you know. Shizuo spends the hours he's not with me working at Izumo's bar. [ Although the idea of Hak going out to get a job elsewhere is... well. She frowns, trying not to think about why that troubles her. ]

But now that I have three of you here and I'm settling more comfortably into my responsibilities as a goddess, I think we can also start taking a more active role in some of the prayers I've been getting. I suspect a few of them might be little more dangerous than the ones I've fulfilled so far, so having you and Jae-Ha here to assist me and Shizuo will lower the risk considerably. [ Knowing what Shizuo's power is now will also help, but she'd had little in the way of offensive capabilities before Hak arrived, other than her own simple bow. ]

[He makes a noise at the mention of working elsewhere and lowers his gaze to the ground, very quickly realizing that that isn't what he wants. If he's being at all honest with himself, Hak has no idea what he wants to do. Spend his afternoons napping in the sun? Shinki training? Wandering the temple and the rest of this weird new land? ~~Beating up Jae-Ha?~~

None of those things sound particularly appealing, especially if he were to do them every day, and by himself on top of that. Still, how much of it is for him to decide?]

Dangerous? What kinds of prayers are you getting?

[ She can tell he's not satisfied with that suggestion either, and not only by the face he makes. She gives a soft hum, watching him. ]

If you'd rather not look elsewhere, you can still stay with me. Although I suppose that could get just as boring as now. Some days are just spent tending the temple here, but there are the horses to be looked after and the orchards. Oh, and... well. I spend most afternoons practicing archery and learning how to use a sword.

You don't have to decide now, either. Just do what you find appealing, Hak. You can take your time in discovering what that is. There are many wondrous things to be discovered in this world, after all. [ A blink, before she gives a soft laugh. ] Perhaps we should introduce you to ice cream.

As for the prayers... [ Yona gives a soft sigh. ] Most of them are simple requests from followers seeking answers or guidance or assistance. But I suspect some of them might be more than your mundane problems. I've been wanting to take a closer look and see if perhaps there might be an ayakashi behind some of the requests I've been getting. They prey on the humans quite frequently, or so I've been told.

[He would much rather stay here at the temple if he can help it. Perhaps he'll look into the horses later. Not that he really knows how to tend to them, but taking care of and riding them might help keep him busy. Orchards? Not really his thing.

When he's done listening in silence, he lifts his gaze to meet her gaze again.]

Ice cream?

[Of all the things to latch onto in this Very Important conversation...]

[ It is Very Important. She can't argue with him there. Especially since it is already her favorite. And she's very certain he'd never experienced the like either, even if he had traveled to more places than she had. ]

Yes! It's a dessert in this world. Frozen cream that comes in different flavors!

[Her enthusiasm is cute and there's a hint of a smile in response to that, but still... ice cream? What?]

Frozen cream? You mean people here eat frozen milk for dessert?

[And you don't think that's WEIRD???]

It's delicious! They have a drink version too, it's called a milkshake!

[ It's amazing, Hak, you'll see. ]

Milkshake...

[He stares at her, dumbfounded, for a few more seconds before running his fingers through his hair.]

Is there anything normal about this place?

[Not that he really knows or remembers what "normal" is, but frozen milk certainly doesn't sound normal to him.]

[ She giggles at that, reaching out to pat his arm consolingly. ]

If it makes you feel better, most of the people here are just like they would be anywhere, or so I've been finding. Their worlds might be curious, but at the core, they think and react much like you would expect.

[He peeks at her through his fingers and takes a bite of his apple-- the only thing that feels familiar about this place, and it occurs to him just now how very little he knows about this tiny goddess.]

And what about you? What kind of a world are you from, then?

[ She pauses before giving a sheepish smile and glancing back at the castle for a moment, her expression a little wistful. ]

Nowhere like this. Most of the things here are wonders no one in my world has ever heard of. We've none of these machines or inventions that are meant to make life simpler. And while the gods are worshiped there, most of these gods I've never heard of, nor of the lands they sprung from as guardians. It's been a lot to take in at once.

[She can say that again.

He lowers his hand from his face, watching the look on hers as she gazes up to the castle.]

Is this place familiar to you?

Mmm.

[ Her expression flickers to sadness for a moment before she quickly pushes it away and casts him a smile once more. ]

You could say that. It's where I grew up as a child. Although how the Heavens managed to duplicate here, I'm not quite certain.

That seems cruel.

[He might not have thought so were it not for the brief flicker of sadness that he catches crossing her face, and the way she so bravely hides it behind another smile.]

[ It's no longer the cruelest gift this place has given her.

Not that she can confess that out loud. Not to him.

So she struggles to keep her smile, laughing softly as she drops her gaze again. ]

Perhaps. But part of me is grateful to see it again, even so.

[When she averts her eyes, Hak falls silent, except for the quiet and pensive hum low in his throat. There's a crunch from him taking a bite of his apple before his free hand wraps protectively around the back of her head and he pulls Yona in against his chest, sternness written across his face.]

If something is bothering you, I want you to tell me.

[ She makes a quiet sound of surprise when he pulls her close, but she doesn't protest it. Not when the familiar warmth and security he offers is something she's desperately missed since coming here. She knows it's not the same - he doesn't remember his vow, doesn't remember her - but in so many ways he is still just the same Hak she remembers, the one she's always known and relied on.

It has her blinking back sudden tears that he can't see, hidden within the safety of his robes. ]

What could be bothering me? I'm certain I'm one of the most fortunate gods here

I don't know, but being a god doesn't make you immune to it.

[And you don't need to be bothered by it alone. He almost says it out loud but a lump in his throat stops him, and all he can do is swallow past it and pull her head in closer so that she can bury it in his chest if she needs to. He hasn't been around for as long but he isn't stupid - he can pick up on subtle hints. It's that very reason, though, that he doesn't push the boundaries. He'll push them on some things, but others require a trust he isn't sure he's earned yet.]

Maybe one day I'll learn how stubborn you are.

[ That surprises a choked sound from her, a bubble of laughter escaping as she pulls back and smiles up at him, somehow more genuine and cheered by that one statement alone. ]

In case you haven't figured it out already, the answer is usually 'very'.

I've figured that much out.

[He pokes a finger between her eyebrows, a fond grin spreading over his face at her sudden laughter. It's better than seeing her down and melancholy so he'll take it.]

Didn't take me long either. I'm a quick learner. [A beat.] Or you're more stubborn than you think.

[ She just grins, reaching up to playfully swat at his finger. ]

And which do you think is more likely?

That you're more stubborn than you think.

[The swat does nothing. He just pokes her forehead again and then leans his face in a little closer this time.]

You seem proud about that.

[ Now she just attempts to look innocent. And probably fails horribly. ]

Me? What a silly thing to be proud about, don't you think? You must be imagining it.

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