thenearshore | (no subject)

Who: Yona, her shinki, and others happening to be wandering by her temple.
When: Mid-to-late July (following certain conversations among her shinki)
Where: Yona's Temple
What: Information (and volatile emotion) is being shared among Yona's three shinki and it has some less-than-pleasant side effects for their goddess.

[ It had been a few days since she'd revealed the truth behind her nightmares - and the happenings that haunted one particular chamber within her temple - to Shizuo after he'd pressed for her trust and it had given her a lot to think about as well, revisiting that place and the memories of that night. Not that she didn't still see it so vividly in her memories and nightmares, but here... she hoped that being here might be able to give her new perspective on that night.

So far, she wasn't having much luck finding it. But she hadn't spoken any more about it to anyone either, spending a few days quieter than normal and immersed in her own thoughts as she dealt with her own emotions and the grief Shizuo told her she needed time to accept. It's distracting enough that she doesn't immediately realize how much it's affected her first shinki until she feels the sharp stinging pain that she knows come from him, but feels it much more intensely this time than she has before. Giving a yelp, she drops the book she'd been holding (and definitely not paying attention to enough to be reading) to rub at the sharp pain in her upper arm.

Well. That had been decidedly unpleasant. And far worse than the stings she'd gotten from her shinki before. Troubled by that, she debated what to do and whether or not to confront him over this one, but as it seemed serious, she finally pushes herself to her feet to go looking for him. Unfortunately, he proved rather difficult to find (because she hadn't thought of the roof) and while she looks, her other two shinki have, in the meantime, discovered him. And the hole he'd left in the wall. And then got the story directly from him about why it was now there.

Which is why, in abrupt succession, There is more stinging, each more painful than the last but still annoyingly in the same spot on her upper arm as tempers flare and the negative emotions created by the information has a direct physical effect. Shizuo's own is still mixed with the guilt of having damaged her temple and the effect rebounds between the three until Yona gives a soft cry, clutching at her arm near the entrance to her temple as she staggers for a moment and leans against one of the bright crimson pillars.

Her arm throbs in a way it's never done before, the pain deep and aching, and without thinking, she draws the sleeve of her dress up to reveal the dark discoloration of Blight now staining her skin and she stares at it in alarm, completely caught off-guard. ]

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[His expression darkens slightly, troubled, though he takes care not to let it overwhelm him. He doesn't want to hurt her further.]

Shizuo told me why. I couldn't help being angry.

[ That gets a small smile and a laugh from her as she reaches out with her good hand to lay it on his arm. ]

I know. And you're allowed that. I'm fairly certain there was more to it than just this. [ And she could have taken the stings from just that confession, but the Blight was something more, something she still needed to get to the bottom. ]

It still makes me angry.

[He reaches to lay a hand atop hers, curling his fingers slightly.]

How can I help?

[With the nightmares. With this.]

Jae-Ha, you already do help. [ She's quick to try and reassure him of that, just in case. ] Having you here, having each of you here as my shinki... It is... [ heartbreaking? ] How could I not feel safe? But that is not always enough to shake bad memories, it seems. [ She pauses to glance around her with a sad smile. ] Especially here.

As for this, [ She motions carefully to her shoulder. ] Ahh, this part I am still figuring out. From what I've been told, negative emotions might only cause some stinging, a warning to me that perhaps something is wrong. But it's guilt or deeper emotions of a shinki purposefully doing something they know is wrong that can cause Blight to their god. It's why I wanted to speak to each of you about what happened, about what you learned.

[His expression softens as she reassures him of his place here, of what he already does for her-- it doesn't seem enough, but who is he to question her if that's what she says she feels?

His gaze travels back to her shoulder, his frown pulling deeper.]

Purposefully...

[He shakes his head.]

I was angry. Made some threats should the one responsible ever show his face, but-- nothing that I felt was wrong.

You're allowed to be angry. [ Hak had confessed something similar, after all. Among some other confessions she was keeping between them. As she would this conversation, as well. ] And that your first instinct to protect me is not something to be punished - it's something I'm grateful for.

[ And knowing him - knowing any of her dragons - it did not surprise her in the least.

But that also meant that her final conversation would be the most difficult and relevant. ]

But I still wanted to speak to you, to understand what you were thinking and feeling. I felt you all get upset. It worried me.

We all want to protect you.

[That much is getting easier to admit. While he still doesn't care for the idea of being bound to someone, there are certainly worse 'masters' he could ask for. Yona has been kind and patient, among other things. He's grateful-- and it only makes him want to protect her all the more.]

But you never need to worry about me. I'm always fine.

[Or so he tells himself.]

Jae-Ha. [ Her voice is patient and fond as she smiles up at him. ] I am well aware. But I will worry about you all the same, because you're important to me.

[He smiles faintly despite the situation, that teasing look he was so well known for causing his eyes to glint mischievously.]

How important?

[ She just laughs and gives him a playful shove. ]

Important enough, trust me.

[He's tempted to shove her back in jest, but he doesn't dare when she's already in pain, and so he settles for reaching for one of her hands, loosely closing his fingers around her wrist. His expression is serious once more, unblinking.]

Whatever I can do to help alleviate this, I will. You know that.

[ Her smile turns rueful although none of the fondness fades. ]

I do know that. Thank you, Jae-Ha. I hope that this can be resolved as simply between all of us. But it's a relief to me to know I have your support.

Always.

[And with that, he places his free hand over his heart.]

For everything I don't care for here, that much won't change.

[ She smiles up at him, warm and fond. ]

And it's something I'm imminently grateful for. It means a lot to me.

[He bows his head slightly, a warm smile pulling at either side of his lips.]

All the more reason.

[Much like with her other shinki, Yona had been quick to win his loyalty.]

You have one more shinki to speak with, don't you?

I do.

[ And she hides her uncertainty about that one behind a bright smile as she pushes to her feet once more. Even though she's had SHizuo here longer as her shinki, Jae-Ha and Hak still have an advantage in her understanding, from her knowledge of them from home. Shizuo... in many ways, he was still an unknown and challenging puzzle to her. ]

Thank you, Jae-Ha. I'll go find him now.

[He stands as well, offering her a full bow before they part, though he hesitates as he lifts his gaze to meet hers.]

Can you make it on your own? Would you like an escort?

[She's injured, after all, in a manner of speaking.]

[ She smiles and shakes her head, touched by the offer. ]

No, I can make it. He should be home soon. I'll go wait for him on the stairs, that's not far. Thank you, though.