thenearshore | [semi open]

[Of all of the things Omi might have expected from his Schwarz shinki, that he would fail to show at an agreed place and time wasn’t one of them. It makes him nervous—admittedly in part out of concern that Nagi is causing trouble. But as the minutes pass and he sees no evidence of this trouble, Omi begins to reconsider that worry, and he wonders if something has happened to him.

Normally, he’d think that highly unlikely: Nagi is incredibly powerful. Between the proof he could in fact fall and the knowledge that Nagi has no memories... does that mean he doesn’t know he has telekinetic powers? What would that mean in practical terms, if so?

Whatever the case, as his god, he has a responsibility to find him—and, if necessary, take corrective action. Omi explores the remnants of the festival in search of his charge.]

Nagi...? Can you hear me?

[He isn’t gazing at the trees. He isn’t stationed by the tables of food. He isn’t off by himself anywhere that Omi can see. Naturally, seeing as Nagi is well underage, Omi never thinks to check the area dedicated to serving alcohol until he’s truly desperate. But there, sure enough...]

...Nagi?!

Edited 2016-06-23 00:26 (UTC)

[ That he's awake and lucid is a big improvement already. There are bits of last night that are a blur, and surprisingly enough, this is bothering him … despite the fact that before last night, he has memories of absolutely nothing.

What little memories he should have, he'd like to keep from now on. Especially since he's supposed to be working. Nagi doesn't really know how worthwhile this new occupation will be, but he's a diligent sort of person and is very serious about putting in the effort.

And so, on the morning following his disastrous banquet night, Nagi wakes up early to get the house in order. He's got a pounding headache and the sunlight hurts to look at, but he's quite determined. After going through the house and carefully inventorying everything, he makes a list of things that need to be purchased and takes off for the Near Shore. ]

A bench in a park

[ It was definitely a mistake, going out into the city with a hangover. There are so many people milling about, jostling him back and forth. It's a bit overwhelming. No one can really see him in this world, so it's easy to get tossed about in the crowd.

He drags himself to a park bench to rest from the sensory overload. His sets his many bags beside him and pulls out a bottled water and takes a drink. He watches the people pass by, wondering for a moment if it feels any different to be alive instead of a ghost. ]

An arcade

[ He should probably head back to the house, but he can't help but take one small detour. Nagi had passed by this arcade on the way to the grocery store and was curious about the games in there. Things look much more advanced than he expected. (How he knows this, he could not say).

The place isn't as crowded at this mid-morning hour, so he walks through the aisles, looking for a game to try. Maybe that zombie one with the gross (and amazing) graphics. Or the flight simulator with a very complicated looking controller. He's about to get up to speed on all the latest games like the geek that he is. ]

Edited 2016-06-23 00:24 (UTC)

[ Take sips, the god had said. Somehow, tasting everything that the god put in front of him had become almost like a mission. Maybe Nagi has always had a very mission-centric mind, but when someone gives him a task, he's very good at it. Unfortunately, his teenaged body can't quite keep up with this task. He's dutifully downed dozens of drinks, sips at a time. And more than couple of the sparkling thing.

At some point in the process, he remembers that he's supposed to meet up with Diana (Omi) again in the same spot they met before. But when he got up, everything shifted very weirdly, like the floor was about to fall out from under his feet. He sat back down to wait it out until the world stopped spinning.

And then the minutes just kind of continued on until he forgot again. ]

Ugh ...

[ He pushes his head back up from where it was plastered to the bar. Is someone calling his name? It sounds like it's coming from underwater. ]

[ The god was a wise god. Nagi would do well to listen to the god. The god knew things. Wise things. Spinning, doubled, vaguely banana-flavored things.

But even a wise god could learn new things! Gojyo's sitting with his back to the bar, leaning on it as he works on filling the room with smoke. (The fact that they're outside is only making this task more of a challenge befitting a god). ]

Nagi.

[ He rolls the word around his mouth as he considers, then rejects, the idea of sitting up. ]

Oi. [ He nudges Nagi's foot with his own. ] S'that you? Na-gi?

[Omi doesn't think he's ever seen a more baffling and shocking sight. Nagi, the Schwarz that out of them all seemed most mature for his age (Schuldig won for least), diligent, responsible, quiet and almost robotic at times, was leaning against the bar quite clearly plastered. Then, as if that isn't strange enough, that redhead from earlier who didn't seem to care about anything but booze and girls was parked beside him like... like he was looking out for him?

For a moment, Omi forgets that the boy is Schwarz, and dashes over.]

Nagi? What did you do?

[The answer is obvious, of course. Omi just can't believe it. He doesn't expect much of an answer from the boy either, considering his state, and so next turns to the redhead seated beside him.]

What happened here?

[How did this happen, is what he means.]

[ The foot is nudged and instead of turning to the person who nudged it, he glances down at the foot.

Is that you?

Nagi. ]

Uh huh. Why...?

[ The voice calling his name is louder now, like almost right next to him. Nagi turns toward it and squints at the face. It looks mad. Or maybe it's surprised. It's hard to tell. Nagi isn't an expert at reading emotions on a good day. Much less so when he's so fuzzy in the head. ]

Diana ...?

Diana?

[ Gojyo lifts his head at that, red eyes reddened further with an ungodly amount of drink. His vision blurs, then refocuses after the room stops spinning, and he squints at Omi in confusion. That's not a woman. He's pretty sure that's not a woman. That'...

Oh, wait, he remembers this kid! ]

Heh. Got a little goddess in you, huh kid?

[ Well that certainly explains some things! ]

[Were they alone, the address of Diana would have been strange but easily overlooked. Unfortunately, they're not alone-- and doubly unfortunately, that company seems infuriatingly keen to milk the fact.]

That's not funny. [He says with a frown.] And you're drunk.

[It's meant as an invalidation. Whatever Gojyo says to him, he doesn't have to take it seriously, because the words are from the mouth of someone under clear mental impairment.

So there.

He turns his attention back to Nagi... Ugh. Is this really how their first night is going to go?]

Come on...

[He takes one of Nagi's arms and drapes it over his shoulder to heft him out of the chair. His shinki doesn't appear to be in any state to walk himself. And while he's seriously considering speaking Nagi's shinki name to activate the transformation, he still doesn't know what that transformation is, and whether it will make the task of getting him home easier or harder.

And, that aside, maybe it feels a little wrong to take advantage of his power like that. It doesn't seem like a kind way to treat Nagi: like an object, instead of like a person.]

[ Moving isn't the best of ideas at the moment. But Nagi can't very well sit here all night, can he? He hasn't thought this far ahead. He grunts and flops his weight onto Diana when he pulls him off the stool but the movement makes his head spin and he stumbles. ]

Ugggh.

[ The row of empty and partially empty glasses on the bar all sway with him in comical unison, some teetering until they tip over. One glass spills its contents on the counter and rolls to the edge and then off of it. It drops into the grass below. Oops. ]

Oh.

[ He turns around clumsily and tries to pick up the glass. He reaches his hand toward it and it floats up very unsteadily. ]

[ He's drunk? Ha! Of course he's drunk! That doesn't change the fact that the kid's the avatar of a goddess, and that is something Gojyo's going to be laughing about for days.

There's movement out of the corner of his eye and he turns, watching with amusement (and a disturbingly complete lack of concern) as Nagi somehow makes all the glassware move with him like some kind of cartoon. ]

You still've got to teach me that trick. [ He leans back again, closing his eyes. It's far too bright in here. ] I wanna touch stuff without touchin' it. That's a great trick.

[Omi warily watches the glasses sway and cringes a little when one spills over. He didn't factor in that Nagi's telekinesis might still be an issue to contend with when he helped him up. He'd really like to just leave, but with Nagi trying so hard to get the glass back on the counter, maybe he should just let him before starting to walk.

He nearly argues with Gojyo again that it's not a trick, but thinks better of suggesting awareness of more than how Nagi died-- especially while the boy is right there with him. Best to pretend he's no more familiar with his shinki than any other god on the first night.

He stands still and silent, watching the fallen glass wobble up closer to the countertop.]

[ Touch stuff without touching it. That's one way to put it. Nagi is still unsure how he's got this power or what he thinks about it, but at least somebody finds it great. ]

Hmmmk.

[ The 'hmmm' and 'ok' seem to blend together into one word, but it's representing a lot of thoughts going through his head right now. Like hmm, is it even possible to teach someone to move things with their mind? Somehow Nagi doubts this, but it IS a god who's asking him. And the god has to know more about this whole afterlife thing than he does, right? And 'ok' is his acknowledgement that sure, if this thing is teachable, and if the god really wants to know how to do it, then Nagi is amenable to showing him how.

The glass wobbles upwards and clunks down on the counter. He sighs with relief. And then -- ]

Urp.

[ He claps his hand over his mouth. He feels sick. ]

[ That gets Gojyo up and out of his chair. ]

Oi oi oi, here. [ Shit, where's...? Ah. Trash bin full of empty bottles. He unceremoniously dumps them out on the ground and shoves the now-empty trash can at Nagi. ]

You gonna be sick? You need this?

[Yeah, Gojyo better be scrambling for something to catch it! Omi meanwhile is looking rather nervous, seeing as he's supporting Nagi's weight and escape is not so easy for him if the boy really does get sick (wouldn't that just be the icing on the cake, too... ugh, what a night).]

[ Yeah, he's gonna need that. Nagi looks pretty green right now and feels just as awful as he looks. He stumbles for the trash can that's held out to him so helpfully. The pungent smell of liquor hits him when he pulls the can closer, making his stomach roil. He sinks to his knees and vomits rather unceremoniously into the stinking can (as if there could be a ceremonious way one can do this), emptying the contents of his stomach in one go. ]

[ Whoop, there it is. Gojyo stands back another step or two -- if Diana has Nagi, then Gojyo doesn't need to be standing in the splash zone, thankyouverymuch. ]

There you go. Get it all up, you'll feel better.

[ That's actually a lie, as any professional alcoholic will tell you. The kid's gonna feel a lot worse until he's unconscious, but at least he'll be hung over in the morning and not still drunk. Hopefully. ]

Don't judge him for this, now. [ --he says aside to Omi. ] He drank the whole fuckin' bar. He's a hero.

[Ughhhhhhhh! Omi cringes and turns away as well as he can while helping support Nagi and keep that trash can nice and close. In that moment it's incredibly difficult to see the terrifyingly powerful psychic who sent him hurtling into a stone pillar. Right now, Nagi is a pitiful teenaged boy who needs someone to take care of him. And, Omi realizes, he's the one stuck with the job.

Still. As if he didn't have enough misgivings about having Nagi for a shinki! Maybe he can ask the heavens for a trade-in or something.

God, that vomit is pungent. Omi claps a hand over his own mouth and blinks back some water in his eyes. It's almost enough to make him retch, too. Almost, but not quite, thankfully.]

Did you put him up to this? [He asks point blank as soon as he's recovered. From the sound of it, 'hero' is damn near the last word he'd use for this spectacle.]

[ The god's right, but only partly. Nagi feels better only because his stomach isn't churning anymore, but he still feels like crap. At least he doesn't have anything left to hurl. All the food he had at the banquet now lies in a clumpy mess of goo inside the trashcan.

He sinks to sit on his knees and groans.

Whatever conversation is going on above him, he really isn't paying much attention. He'll be up in a second, but he needs to get his legs back. Everything is still wobbly. ]

[ Gojyo regards Omi with a growing (and wobbly) dislike. ]

I didn't put him up t'this, Mom. Th'man needed a drink! He had a drink. Why're you making such a big deal out of it?

[ Sure, Nagi was puking, but that just meant his party eyes had been bigger than his party stomach. It was a rookie mistake, nothing to be ashamed of. So why was Omi talking like he should be ashamed? ]

Don't be a dick.

[That's a Yes.

Omi chooses to ignore the barbs coming his direction. It's childish ranting and it's would be foolish to engage; besides, Omi imagines the redhead won't even remember this in a couple of days.

He eyes Nagi for a moment, then grabs a few napkins from the bar counter and kneels beside his shinki. Put out as he might be by everything from the identity of his shinki to the drunk god's behavior, he can't ignore his responsibility. Nagi probably isn't in any state to realize it, but the boy's depending on him right now. And as much as he continues to wrestle with his own feelings towards Nagi, it just doesn't feel very fair to hold that against him when he doesn't even remember why those sentiments are there. It would be like abandoning him.

That thought makes Omi cringe a little inside. He refuses to be like that.

He gently wipes the boy's mouth clean with the napkins before disposing of them in the trash bin holding the rest of it. Getting him some water to drink will have to wait; the bartender has already left.]

[ He sits there for a moment while Diana wipes his mouth. He feels like he should probably do this himself, but by the time he reaches for the napkins, they've been tossed away into the trash. His fingers hover a bit awkwardly before he puts them back on the rim of the can. The tidbits from the ongoing conversation come back to him rather belatedly. ]

Um ... I'm not being judged, am I? He said ... we don't get judged.

[ Someone told him that, tonight. Tsuki. Something like that. As for heroes, he's not in school to be one, like that other god. No, Nagi was in school for ... something else. Totally, completely different. The opposite of hero. His head hurts. He staggers up to his feet, unsteady. ]

Nobody's judgin' you. [ --Gojyo says reassuringly, shooting Omi a warning scowl. Don't be mean to the drunk guy, asshole. The drunk guy doesn't ned to deal with that right now. ]

You gonna make it?

[Omi meets Gojyo's eyes for that warning scowl but says nothing back. He thinks it's best not to say anything to either of them on that subject for now. Honestly, he is sort of disappointed, but this is neither the time nor the place for that discussion (and, possibly, no time or place ever will be).]

He'll be fine. [He says to Gojyo. Omi intends to make sure of that. Then he gets back under Nagi's arm to give him a stabilizer for his balance. He lowers his voice a bit for Nagi, tone calm but assertive.]

Come on....

[ Is he gonna make it? ]

I think so ...

[ It doesn't really feel like it now, when he's still weak and headachy, but surely this can't last forever. He's never been in this state before, so he has no idea. He leans on Diana and manages to stay on his feet. ]

... thanks.

[ This is directed to both of them, actually. It sounds kind of weird coming out of his lips. Maybe it's not a word he's accustomed to speaking. ]

[ Nagi's mobile and there's somebody else taking over bucket duty. Gojyo's work here is done.

He waves off the thanks, petting his pockets down for his lighter. He had a lighter. It was yellow, and half-full, and it was in one of his damn pockets. Where the hell did it go? ]

Oi. Either of you got a light?

[semi open]

[Closed to Gojyo and Nagi]

[open!]

Omi > Nagi > Gojyo (until Gojyo drops out?)

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