thenearshore | -Overflow- for 24

[continued from here]

[Her heart aches for the tiny goddess as she speaks such earnest words too heavy for her gentle voice, and it shows in the slight wrinkle of her brow, the tightness of her lips. Her words strike a chord that hits very close to home for Hyrule's Princess, reminding her once again of her younger days, when she held such staunch belief that she was the only one who could keep Hyrule safe from Ganondorf's evil schemes.

She has no idea who or what wishes to see Amaterasu dead or destroyed, but she hopes in this case, she and Amaterasu are nothing alike.]

I do not know if I would use the term 'easier,' precisely, as the whole idea is still rather new to me... [She tries to keep her worries from her voice as she continues.] ... But I can only imagine how frustrating it might be for a god of great renown to be unable to give each prayer they receive the amount of personal attention that they might wish to.

[Like the Queen of Heaven, for instance.]

If you can share what you find out with me, I'll definitely pay you back.

[She's got some ideas brewing, but doesn't want to explicitly share them just yet.]

If by 'worst' you mean 'best.'

[Come on, just look at Futaba. You know you're dealing with a huge nerd here.]

[continued from here]

[Zelda... pales, somewhat, at this explanation, as anyone in their right mind would when listening to the casual description of a battle royale to the death. Her hands shift a bit where they rest on the table, her left anxiously covering her right.]

How... incredibly foolish. To wield such tremendous power, only to squander it for such a transient thing as a wish...

[One might get the sense that she has her own experience with holy, wish-granting objects of incredible power.]

... But - forgive me if I am being presumptuous - but you do not seem bothered by the purpose the role of "Saber" has given you.

[Why? How can they all be so calm and casual with something like this over their heads?]

[Godling, seriously? While Archer is all to happy to belittle his god or snipe petty comments at him ~~and get the same in return~~, he's not thrilled to have others - especially one of the old gods - do the same. That's his job to drag him through the mud, others are not allowed to do so in his presence.]

I'll do whatever I can. However, unlike the others dragged in here, mine actually has divine origin and represents himself here.

[Archer hesitates only for a moment, but it's noticeable.]

If I may suggest, is it possible to have some shinki of the old gods teach us traditions and etiquette? Such topics will be helpful also to new gods, since many of us are unfamiliar with the land and its traditions.

[That is evidently not helping or improving Shun's attitude, and if Fubuki doesn't move, he's going to be reaching out to grab his collar.] Then ask for help. Don't give yourself an excuse to think it's fine if you can't do it. This isn't you not being there to help other people, or thinking you couldn't. This is you and yourself, and with how little attention you pay to that while you're ignoring the advice you give everyone else, is it any damn wonder it looks like you've given up already?

[This definitely isn't a new problem, and honestly, with the kind of things Fubuki tells other people, he could tear him down just on the basis of having taken this long to ask for help himself.] If you have that little faith in your own self-discipline that you think this is one of those things you "won't be able to do no matter how much you want to", I'm surprised you're not just asking me to kill you right now, because you've already decided that's what the end is going to be.

Impressive! [Only slight widening of Archer's eyes betrays his surprise. He recovers swiftly, regarding Wendy with calm approval. Once again she has proved just how much her childish look belies her real age.]

How did you manage it?

[from here]

... [He winced at seeing Hakkai put his hand to his throat. There were thoughts that were threatening to get to the surface, but they were quashed in short order.]

I'm fine. The ayakashi are always moving around, so I've been staying in a lot of places.

[Ross, you just admitted to being a hobo.]

Edited 2018-01-29 02:16 (UTC)

[Tsuzuki chuckles easily, as Hibiki begins to melt back into the crowd, and waves at her. Maybe they'll hang out later, but he won't try and make her stick around.

After all! He still hasn't even finished his crab!]

[ If you drop it again, she isn't turning around. Two saves is already more than most people can dream of receiving from Shikyoin Hibiki.

Be conscious of your overwhelming fortune. ]

[He doesn't have anywhere to stay that's safe from ayakashi, in other words.

... So, he's just moving around on the Far Shore? Hakkai'd seen that wince, and he's not about to casually invite Ross to stay with him, not if their last meeting is still bothering him. Being used to strangle an ally can't be easy.]

Ah... not to impose, of course, but a former shinki of mine, Yamazaki Ayumu, has been working on a place for shinki to stay when they're without a god.

She might have a place for you, if you don't have anywhere stable at the moment.

[His hands reaches up for Shun's arm, his grip weak, more a reflexive action than an attempt to get away.]

...I'm asking right now.

["You and yourself"...is exactly the problem.]

You should know, Shun... There are things your body does before you can think. There are things you do even when your own brain rejects it. I...I'd do anything to survive. [His grip tightens.] That's what I'm afraid of.

Things...happen...before I can process them. I lose myself. If—if that part of me surfaces, I—

[He doesn't know what will happen. It won't matter how hard he tries...he won't be present. He might not even know it's happening. Something might happen to trigger it. He might remember something. He's...a shinki...]

Not being able to do anything no matter how hard I try...I've felt it before. I don't intend to give up. But I can't succeed just by trying.

Original top level

[Orihime is slightly ashamed by her question and if he didn't notice her hands squeezing before, he should be able to see her head bow when he brings up Yona.]

Of course. Forgive me. You are a conscientious and kind shinki.

[That said, she's enjoying herself in a very earnest way, so she's trying to focus on her feet moving back and forth in tempo to Shizuo's movement.]

Now that you mention others dancing this way, I do see that it is common. I have never done anything like that.

[A small smile.]

Edited 2018-01-29 03:43 (UTC)

[Orihime, meanwhile, smiles very broadly.]

Oh but he is lucky to have an exemplar who cares that he is troublesome. That is what a good exemplar can show to the gods. I, for one, wish I had such an exemplar.

[Granted she wishes she had shinki at all, but an exemplar who cared about their bond would be even more amazing.]

[She looks contemplative.]

... I do trust you... so I hear your words as accurate to your experiences... and certainly I cannot know how things are for shinki...

[Slowly working her way through his logic.]

I cannot help but feel that is a shame, in spite of saying that it is not the kind of thing shinki aspire to intentionally. The bond between a god and shinki is meant to be treasured, as it has been explained to me.

[Which is entirely esoteric to her at this point, having never had a shinki before.]

[She turns to the side once more, before lowering her head but lifting her eyes to look at Shun while she answers. Her voice is quiet, fearful even.]

There is only one attack that can slay a god in such a decisive way and it is always the same attack when used as punishment for a god.

[She bites her lower lip before adding.]

It is a mercy that neither my love nor I were similarly punished.

[She takes a breath before continuing.]

But that strike must always be delivered with the power of another god. Sometimes a whole army is mustered to fuel the attack, but a single god must be the one to strike. The one who struck down Ebisu... did not attempt to keep his name separated from the deed for very long: Takemikazuchi.

Edited 2018-01-29 05:36 (UTC)

[Orihime's mouth quirks a bit at his additional comment. Finally, she replies: ]

The old gods were never human either, so I am not sure it is possible to 'remind' us in the first place. Perhaps one day I will know the bond of a shinki and better understand it.

She did that? [On one hand, it was good a place like that existed now. On the other, he couldn't be sure how she would react to his part in what happened, and...]

Is if safe for a shinki to be around one of their previous gods now that they're a shinki too?

[He hadn't actually confirmed whether it was or not yet.]

[Orihime quirks her head in thought.]

Perhaps the new gods are more creative than I first believed. I am struggling to guess how the two magical effects are complimentary at all. I see that they do not interfere with one another, certainly...

[She laces her fingers together and places them in her sleeves while thinking.]

[She bows at the waist.]

I was happy to be a part of the effort. It is my duty to fashion the clothes that will suit the god or goddess and their needs.

[Orihime raises her head again.]

Lavi chose that color for you. It is indeed a good contrast to brown.

[Including her hair color - which is a compliment!]

[ He looks at her with a glance but doesn't say anything when he notices that she seemed a bit distressed? Did she really drink a lot or something? He wasn't exactly concerned but saying he didn't care was a lie too. ]

What do you mean? I'm fine.

Edited 2018-01-29 04:39 (UTC)

[Conveniently -- or perhaps not, considering how angry all of his shinki have been about it -- Hakkai hasn't yet told anyone who wasn't there what happened, or even who he was helping.

But Ross's question does bring up a more real concern. He looks away, lines gathering at the corners of his eyes.]

It's not dangerous, from what I've seen, for a shinki to learn that they were previously a god, or what they did as a god.

Still... it might be best not to mention it. It could bring up questions that are dangerous.

[And so much of Ayumu's past is painful.]

It's fine for you to be around her, though.

[She smiles, taking his comment as a sincere compliment.]

I suppose... if the cloth rips then I can fix it once I return to my home.

[It sounds like she's admitting to debauchery on the level of passing out drunk after causing a huge scene, as tentatively as she's suggesting that as a contingency plan.]

The cloth is too heavy to be wrapped exactly, but I can try to carry some of it in my hand.

[She proceeds to bend at the knees, grabbing for a bit of her long train to her kimono.]

You sure..? You're acting...strange.

[She was speaking cautiously, as if she might set something off.]

-Overflow- for 24 - Autumn Reception

Amaterasu

Re: Futaba

Re: Futaba

Saber

>>Fuujin + Kaede

no subject

>> Wendy

Hakkai

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

NPC Orihime

Shizuo

Chikusa

Davesprite

Shun

Dust

no subject

Forrest

Cardia

no subject

no subject

Lavi

no subject