thenearshore | [ Open-ish ]

Entry tags:

[ Open-ish ]

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

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.

[Definitely fails horribly, but it only broadens his smile.]

It is. I must have a very vivid imagination then.

Clearly. [ She nods with the utmost seriousness, although there is a smile tugging at her lips. Tipping her head back to smile up at him, she searches his face for a moment. ]

Will you come back to the picnic or are you going to wander some more?

Are you going to get fussy if I say I'm going to wander some more?

[He cradles her in one arm when she tilts her head and he tugs her backwards in a small dip, smiling as he takes a bite of his apple and tosses it up in the air with his other hand.]

Will it do me ay good if I do?

[ So what if it's rude to answer a question with another question. She was rather enjoying the light and easy banter. It felt the most familiar between them since his arrival and she was pathetically grateful for it. ]

Yes.

[He offers his answer simply, and with his arm, he pushes her back upright and pats a hand on her shoulder. Don't worry, he wasn't going for the head pats. Not this time.]

If you puff out your cheeks enough [and he does just that, but it's brief] then it might convince me to come back with you.

Hak.

[ She scolds him in a familiar tone of voice, playing at a sulk, but it's definitely given away as a ruse by the laughter in her gaze instead of any actual indignation. ]

I don't do that!

[ Even if she definitely just did. ]

[That only makes him smile wider, but it's with a more devious glimmer to his eyes. When she protests, he presses his fingers on both of her cheeks and squishes them without an ounce of fear, shame, or hesitation.]

Let's go back before you puff up so much that you float away. I won't be able to save you then.

[Whistling innocently, he turns around to head back in the direction of the picnic where all of her friends are waiting, beckoning to Yona over his shoulder.]

[ She watches him go, the sulk melting away entirely into a warm smile before she hurries to catch up with him, falling into step at his side and content that he seems in a better mood as they head back to the picnic together. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Open-ish ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject