thenearshore | [semi-open] who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

Who: Tatara, castmates, adjacent CR, and you
Where: Minerva’s temple
When: May 18th-20th
What: In times like these, HOMRA shows its greatest strength: Solidarity.
Warnings: cw for alcohol, intoxication, and character death

Eye of the Hurricane: July 18th, morning; Tatara’s temple; open to castmates and housemates:

[ It’s not every day that one’s King comes crashing through their doors, harshly enough to damn near blow them both completely off their hinges. Miraculously enough, however, Mikoto seems unhurt; just… also unconscious.

Great lion of a man the Red King is, he couldn’t have done it without Shouhei’s help -- but eventually the two did manage to get him settled down in a proper place to rest. The rest of the night swilled away into an adrenaline letdown that had Tatara crashing hard, sleeping where he fell, not far from his king.

When the morning of the 18th comes, he sends out a belated message to all of HOMRA: ]

Just so you don’t worry, King is here with me. He’s safe. I’m watching over him now.

Come by, if you like!

[ Since many of them have never seen Tatara’s temple at all, now that he thinks about it. Plus, even if Mikoto’s out of apparent danger, it just feels somehow natural that HOMRA’s members convene here with their king. Though if they do show up, Tatara will be all-too-busy at first still running damage control for Mikoto, and later, Sakon. ]

The Story of Tonight: July 18th, evening; Sakon’s new room; closed to Sakon:

[ The man fortunate enough to at least temporarily be Johan’s shinki, he now knows is Sakon Shima -- a seeming warrior of a man, carrying swords at his side. He looks the part of a great protector.

Or, he would; but right now, he just seems a little out of his element, understandably. Tatara’s set him up with his own room within the temple, not far from Shouhei. It’s mostly empty, for now; but at least it’s got a large bed. ]

Sorry, sorry -- I kinda dragged you off here without any real pretense, didn’t I?

[ Going by Johan’s temple to find it and his constant companion gone was one thing; but seeing a shinki standing in the empty space where those used to be, homeless and lost, was a heartache that cut Tatara straight to the core. To be exact, he’s never seen a face so bereft, and hasn’t felt a stronger compulsion to hug another person -- even a stranger -- in his lifetimes. So of course the whole thing from that point forward was a little harried and rushed, with no real explanations offered. The most important part was getting Sakon out of there; the rest could be addressed later. ]

Eheh. Let me formally introduce myself: I’m Tatara Totsuka, incarnation of Minerva. Call me by whichever name you wish.

[ A small pause elapses; a near-awkward silence. ]

I’m sorry about what happened with your last god. I’m sure it was all very sudden...

[ That’s all he’s going to say about that for now. He puts a calm, placid hand on Sakon’s shoulder, expression sincere and kind as he peers at him. ]

Will you be okay? Is there anything I can get for you?

Raise a Glass: July 20th, afternoon/evening; makeshift bar in Tatara’s temple; OTA

[ As per usual, Mikoto takes his time with pretty much everything -- but most especially, waking up. Nevertheless, Tatara’s no less relieved to see those gold eyes reappear, visibly breathing out when his king finally comes to once more.

There’s something of an impromptu celebration after that, drinks all around provided by the Red Clan’s resident bartender. And this time, Tatara indulges himself -- amply. He’s tried going round-for-round with some of his clanmates, even, and that… hasn’t panned out very well. He’s left swaying in his seat for a moment before finally giving in, deciding the shoulder nearest him is the most comfortable place for his chin while he sobers up. ]

I think… I need to s-slow down...

It’s Quiet Uptown: July 20th, night; outside Tatara’s temple; OTA

[ There are some things Tatara wishes he could unhear.

He could celebrate, could lift a glass to Johan going home and being happy with his friends and family, even if it meant they would never meet again. But this…? There’s no reason to smile over this; no bright side to someone so sweet and innocent being brutally killed. The worst part is, somehow, Tatara knew all along. Johan would never simply leave him like that, let alone just abandon his shinki without warning. It had to be a death, not just a disappearance. Still, optimist that he is, he’d held out hope.

...Right up until the news came down definitively.

Getting wind of the details finally drives it home fully, and Tatara feels a whole-bodied ache that won’t relent -- even under countless layers of alcohol intended to numb the pain. They don’t. And there’s only so long he can carry that smile with such a heavy weight seated plainly on his chest. Still, he doesn’t want his clan to know; doesn’t want to interrupt the celebration that their king is awake and healthy, back to his usual self. It is a time for celebration, for all of them; it’s just irreparably marred by this news, for one of them.

So Tatara excuses himself as politely as possible, and thankfully, makes it outside before the tears start to fall in earnest. Eyes wrenched shut, he wraps arms around his own shaking shoulders, hands moving to his mouth to stifle himself as a sob slips through. He was so sweet, so innocent, so caring -- truly one in a million. And just as surely as Tatara knows his life has been taken now, he knows they could have had something amazing. The stuff of fairytales, where the good guys always win, and true love conquers all.

It’s a little too late for that realization now, though. Would it have played out the same if Tatara had been around more? Should he have done things differently...? He’ll never know. He’ll always wonder.

If he’s approached here, he’ll scrub at his eyes quickly and force a smile, saying he’s fine, he’ll be back inside in a minute. Everything is fine. Please, just pour him another glass. ]

Threaded | Flat

[The news wasn't one Izumo had wanted to hear either, one that he had hoped to keep from Totsuka, too. He's never met Johan, never given a description as to how he even looked like, but after the news hit and seeing the other man's reaction is enough for Izumo to realize just how deep the god really was.

He was leaning against the door that leads to the outside, cigarette between his lips. The sounds of muffled sobbing is clear to him, enough for Izumo to close his eyes.

Disappearing is one thing, but being killed is another.

Before Totsuka comes back, Izumo heads off again, pouring the god another glass. From the sounds of it, the other man needs something strong now to temporarily numb whatever he's feeling.]

[Sakon has been uncharacteristically quiet since Tatara took him in. Johan disappearing hit him hard, not because they were particularly close, but because they weren't. They had met on Tanabata, which hadn't even been two full weeks ago. He barely had a chance to get to know the kid before he found himself once more in an empty space where a temple used to be. He's sure everyone will try to assure him that none of it is his fault, but he's now on his fourth god in as many months and the only common factor in all those disappearances is him.

When Tatara asks him if there's anything he can get for him, Sakon just puts on the most cheerful face he can and hopes he's not making him too uncomfortable.]

No, I think I'm good! I have a roof over my head and a place to sleep, so what more can I ask for? Well, besides food, I guess, but I'm not really hungry!

[Shinki are always hungry.]

July 20, evening

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