thenearshore | -Overflow- for 24

[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)

[Shun's lip curls a bit at that - if the Heavens unleash punishments that decisive for even transgressions on the level of Orihime's, it definitely gives him an impression why they've got people standing against them. Especially since it would have to be Amaterasu to order them if she's in charge, wouldn't it?

Something to look into. But that last name is actually one Shun has never heard before tonight, and interest immediately kindles in his expression.]

I haven't heard about Takemikazuchi from anyone here before. What do they govern, and what are they like? [He's rusty on even the mythology of his own country these days, and what he's been looking into here is mostly about the gods he's already encountered or could reasonably assume would be represented.]

He governs storms cacophonous in nature enough to bring Thunder. He is a... proud man.

[After all she did just say he didn't try to keep his deed a secret.]

He is not a god of fortune, but in high standing. I presume he like all others aspires to the title.

[Thus why he was so proud of his accomplishment in service of heaven.]

However, he is much younger than the Lord Raijin.

[She looks across the room to where he might be standing near Lady Amaterasu, or somewhere in that entourage. Her expression is unclear, not knowing the exact dynamics between Raijin and Takemikazuchi.]

I confess I do not know if he professes loyalty to the Lord Raijin, or considers him closer to the way Lord Fuujin does.

[So, another proud storm god. Shun has to wonder how many of those this place has, because sometimes it seems like it's too many for one Heaven to hold peaceably. As it is, he gives a faint snort.] Figures.

[The more she says, though, the more it takes Shun's interest, and he follows her gaze to the group in the vicinity of Amaterasu. She's putting it one way, but to Shun, it sounds like a potential usurper case waiting to happen - and for someone so proud of executing someone who, according to others he's spoken to, might not have even been guilty, he wouldn't put shady dealings past them.

Shun's gaze lingers on the entourage for quite a few moments before he turns his attention back to Orihime, expression somewhat grave.]

That's useful to know anyway. I think I can draw my own conclusions there. [Definitely sounds like something to look into further when he has the opportunity.] I don't know a lot about Raijin either, compared to the other advisors, though I've only met the guy once. He doesn't seem to come out as often as Suijin or the wind idiot.

[Shun has some difficulties hiding his lack of respect for Fuujin.]

The... wind...?

[No sooner does she repeat the words than her eyes go wide and her hands clasp over her mouth, unsubtly looking over at Fuujin just then. When she looks back to Shun, she's slightly scandalized.]

Lord Fuujin is not... like that at all! He is the god of fortune who comes to see me the most!

[Which is to say more than once a year at Tanabata alone. She doesn't even need to go into details about what his visits entail, the point is he comes over and she's going to defend his honor on that account.]

[Shun mostly just looks skeptical for a moment, because he doesn't see a lot of people rushing to defend Fuujin when he says things like that. Still, it sounds like Orihime has a reason to think the way she does, and he lets out a slight breath of exasperation.]

That might be true, but have you seen how he treats the newcomers? He acts like we're dirt just because we weren't gods our whole lives, like we need to "prove" ourselves to him while also claiming we should just be respecting him because he says so. Anyone among the newcomers has every reason to dislike Fuujin, because the way he behaves, we're less than nothing to him.

[And most of the newcomers he's talked to aren't fans of Fuujin if they've met him, bar people like Nanako who he doubts even Fuujin could bring himself to get on the wrong side of.]

I... have not seen such things as you describe them.

[It bothers her. It definitely does.]

When we speak together over tea, he often mentions about some of the newer shinki that he has met in much higher regards than you seem to understand them. That said...

[She purses her lips in frustration of how to describe things.]

I... I must acknowledge that perhaps... I am an exception in his eyes.

Probably. You might have a different status than the old gods, but you're still an established presence. [And what Fuujin seems to find most offensive, in his experience, is the newcomer gods daring to try and take up the position in earnest without the background the other gods here have.

It's a straightforward answer, but he does at least figure Orihime has seen a better side of him than Shun.] I've heard he goes along better with some of the younger newcomers, like Nanako, so they might be considered exceptions as well.

[Either that or Nanako's being more polite to him than most of the older gods are, because Shun's largely talked to the older people who know him and aren't the most fond of him.]

[Orihime nods in understanding.]

It does make one wonder... if I am such an exception, if that means Lord Fuujin might... hear of my own experiences and think better of you all.

[She still looks nervous.]

If he does not see that as too bold of me to concern myself with, of course. It may pertain to things that his status as a God of Fortune gives him insight to and I am not privy to know about in kind.

[Shun shrugs a little - he doesn't look convinced, but he also doesn't look opposed to the idea.] If you want to try talking to him about it. From what I've seen, he's too set in his ways to change his mind that easily, but it'll only be sure if someone tries.

[He'd just really rather it not be him. If he's heading in the direction of God of Fortune, as he supposedly seems to be, then he'd prefer his next encounter with Fuujin to be on the other side of that, so he has something to hold over him.]

[She nods.]

I have never quite seen that side of his personality as I have never had leave to challenge him on a matter before.

[She takes a deep breath.]

That is a rather ... frightening prospect for myself. However, I will do my best.

It might be a useful experience for you, standing your ground on something. [It seems like the old gods treat her as somewhat of a doormat considering her punishment, so she could probably use the occasion of being able to stand up to one of them about...anything, really.]

But maybe he'll listen more if it's coming from you than from us.

[He definitely wouldn't count on Fuujin taking a new god's word on something like that.]

[She nods.]

I cannot help but agree with you. It is certainly possible, if not wholly certain. I wonder... if you know how many new gods have tried to sway him thus far?

[A sort of preliminary research.]

I wouldn't know all of them, but I've spoken to at least a handful of new gods and shinki who've encountered him and run into the same attitude. [So while it's not a very thorough start, it does at least indicate that it's more than just Shun having this problem.]

I've never met a new god or shinki who was anything better than neutral towards him.

[She bows to Shun, trying to apologize on behalf of the poor treatment he's received.]

I truly regret that you all have been treated this way. Please tell me... surely it is only Lord Fuujin acting in this manner towards you all?

[On the one hand, she doesn't want to single Fuujin out, but on the other hand she's hoping that the others haven't treated these people who were so kind to her in a rude fashion.]

[Shun doesn't look particularly moved by the bow, though that's largely because there's a pretty big point here he feels she's missing.] It's not your responsibility to clean up Fuujin's mess for him.

[While he himself doesn't care for apologies anyway, if it was going to mean anything, it'd have to come from the person who actually did it.] As far as I know. I don't think Raijin thinks much better of us than Fuujin does, but he at least keeps it to himself.

[She rises back up and furrows her brow in thought. He has a good point, that Fuujin is not her responsibility... but...]

Yes, of course. "A god's actions are always Just." There must be a reason he is acting this way.

[Not one she can glean right now, but perhaps A reason all the same.]

So it is not for me to dissuade him from his course... and yet...

[But the more she thinks about it, the more that still stresses her out.]

I wonder what his shinki feel about the matter. They are the ones who can show him what impact he has left on the new gods and shinki.

[Shun gives a very dismissive noise as soon as the "a god's actions are always just" remark comes up.] If I never hear that garbage about always being just again, it'll be too soon.

[It's one of the few things the old gods put out that he has absolutely no tolerance for, because it's always sounded like an excuse to get away with anything they like to him.]

Kaede at least seems more reasonable than him, so you could stand to ask her and see if she can do anything.

[How much she can actually do remains to be seen, but having multiple parties involved wouldn't be a bad thing.]

[She smiles in a tight way at his sentiment. It's been a part of her life for so long, she can't help but fall back on it. Then again, he too is a god, and so he is free to judge the remark as he feels is appropriate. That's one of its tricks.]

That is actually the very person I thought I would attempt to speak with following tonight's events.

[Little does she realize she'll get a bit waylaid in that effort, but at the same time she won't forget Kaede as a starting point.]

[That'll be a start, hopefully, though Shun wonders if Kaede really isn't already aware of Fuujin's behaviour where the newcomer gods are concerned.]

She's around here somewhere, so it shouldn't be too hard unless he decides he can't make it the entire night with all the new gods here.

[Shun sounds faintly exasperated about that, since he really wouldn't be surprised if that was an actual concern of Fuujin's, but then, Orihime has a chance of being able to catch up with them afterwards as well.]

I shall seek her out now.

[She bows to Shun.]

Unless there are other matters you had meant to speak to me about? I should not have presumed before excusing myself.

[And she's genuinely apologetic.]

[Shun waves a hand somewhat dismissively.] It doesn't make a difference to me when you excuse yourself. There's nothing else I needed to talk about.

[He needs to go back to keeping an eye on the old gods, anyway. Orihime had offered some productive conversation, but ultimately, he's a little more interested in hearing what's going on with the ones they see less often.]

-Overflow- for 24 - Autumn Reception

Shun

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