thenearshore | (no subject)

Who: Gojyo, Hakkai, and Ayumu
What: Drunk talk. Serious drunk talk.
When: Near the end of the month (what is time, really)
Where: Li Tieguai's temple
Warnings: Will update

It's late, by the time he spots Hakkai's temple. The sun went down before he'd even left Japan, and it's well into the humid evening by the time he stumbles up the walkway to the temple door, red-faced and sweating.

He's not nearly drunk enough for this, he thinks, pausing a moment to lean against one of the wooden columns out front. The sake had hit him hard -- it's entirely possible he was wandering in circles back in Japan, looking for a temple to bring him home -- but most of what's left in his belly is just a roiling disgust, at himself, at Shizuo, at Sharak... at the Far Shore in general.

Mostly at himself, though.

But he can't stand in the street all night (although for a few seconds he genuinely considers it), so with a sigh Gojyo lumbers forward again, pounding on Li Tieguai's door with the back of his fist.

"Oi, Cho Hakkai. Open up, it's me."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nah, there's no malice here. Just some good friendly backstabbing and shit stirring, that's all.

"I don't believe for a second that she actually thinks there's anything wrong with a shinki an' a god hooking up," he murmurs, dropping his voice to a near whisper so as not to wake the cat and pointedly not looking in Hakkai's direction. "Gods have their memories, they know other ways of doin' things, so they're not stuck havin' to follow the rules of this place like we are."

Well, he tried: Hakkai sighs, resting his elbows on the table in utter disregard of proper manners, and tilts his cup to swirl the mouthful of sake left at the bottom sideways.

"As if shinki have to follow the rules," he says, mildly sarcastic. What is Gojyo trying to convince her of, anyway? That she should go harass Sharak?

He's sure he's just being paranoid to feel as though Gojyo's refusal to glance at him carries a message. It's because the topic feels uncomfortably personal, that's all.

And the change of subject to shinki autonomy might be a blessing in disguise for Sharak as Ayumu's expression suddenly shifts into something a bit more serious as she sets her glass down and carefully pulls out her chair so she doesn't disturb Spot's nap.

"I agree. Shinki don't always have to follow the rules. There's not much point to it once they've stopped being useful."

Ayumu picks up her glass again and takes another small sip.

"But gods don't stop being who they are just because they come here, do they? The things they believe in and care about isn't going to just change because they're not in their worlds anymore."

Yes. She should go harass Sharak. Everybody should go harass Sharak. Shizuo's got the self-esteem of something you scrape off the bottom of your shoe so there's no fun there in poking at the guy, but Sharak? Sharak pretended like he was her friend and then turned around and dumped Shizuo on him. Sharak deserves ever bit of harassment over her love life that he can throw at her.

"I dunno, th'god here seems to be sayin' otherwise," he offers, half-nodding at Hakaki as he takes another swig of his drink. The movement wasn't well planned, and he nearly dumps the rest of his sake down his chin. With a sputter he drains the cup and sets it aside, awkwardly wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Sorry. Wrong pipe."

It's possible Hakkai shouldn't have given Gojyo more alcohol, in the state he'd showed up in; but he accepts the embarrassed excuse with a little nod, and leaves his own cup where he is as he takes the excuse to get back up and head for the cupboards.

There are water glasses in the one to the right of the sink. Shinki do, in Hakkai's experience, get hangovers, so although he isn't sure if it's physiological or just psychological, he fills a glass as he replies.

"To be honest," he says, gaze lingering on the faucet, "it's not because she's a god now at all. I just don't have the proper respect for religious law. Though if she prefers to live that way, of course, it's her choice. Here."

He turns, and sets the full glass down by Gojyo's elbow, adding with a faint spark of amusement, "For drinking, not breathing."

After what Hakkai had told her about his relationship with his sister, Ayumu isn't surprised to hear that. Some people hold the bonds between siblings sacred. As for Gojyo's current state, her expression softens a little. Giving him more booze while he's in this state isn't something she would have done but well, what's done is done.

"If she's happy living that way, good for her."

For a very brief moment, Ayumu looks wistful, maybe even slightly envious. To be content with that sort of solitary lifestyle, sounds almost pleasant. A useful strength to have though she can't say why she feels that way. She finishes draining her cup, holding it out.

"Could I have some more, please?"