thenearshore | The More Things Change

Entry tags:

The More Things Change

Who: Dust, Marinette, and Wendy
When: December 23.
Where: Orihime's house.
What: Orihime isn't moving. Dust would like to know why.

[If this is bad news, Dust is still ready to cut down everything wrong about the world.]

[He shouldn't expect that, but he does. Which is why his measured pace down towards the river and the little house there carries with it intensity as sharp as a razor, his mouth fixed in a frown. But, well aware that he expects it and can get possibly a little too intense, he'd made sure to invite a counterbalance in the form of Wendy. And perhaps complicating matters further, when Marinette heard where he was heading she'd asked to come along, and he couldn't say no to her...]

[So, not for the first time, Wendy, Dust, and Dust's god set off to try to put things regarding Orihime right again.]

...Remind me to ask her about my suit while we're here. If I can. She was almost insistent the last time we talked and I never caught up with her about it.

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My apologies for the confusion. [ She bows to Wendy. ] The attendant is not a shinki of mine. I... have not yet been assigned one by Heaven.

[ Although she smiles without continuing. ]

My my, Dust, do you mean that you found another goddess with a portfolio that includes weaving?

[ She looks to Marinette, seemingly happy to focus on that line of questioning. ]

I should be delighted to learn of it. I cannot tell you how many gods' portfolios include the elements, such as fire or water.

I see...

[While Orihime is preoccupied with Marinette, Wendy tries to exchange a glance with Dust. She still hasn't moved, and still hasn't gotten a shinki? That's even stranger.]

[But she'll let the two of them talk, instead, just for the moment.]

That too~ But I figured that would happen after whatever you needed to speak to her about.

[She's not even going to deny it, but even Marinette knows that there's a time and a place for everything.]

Another?

[To be fair, she didn't know an awful lot about Dust's life before she'd run into him outside the temple that night, so it's entirely possible that his former god was also into making clothes.]

Actually I've never tried weaving, but I've made other things~

[Well, good luck for a second deciding if your glance meets home, Wendy. This is Dust we're talking about.]

[But he nods, slightly. Yes, this is exactly why they're here, talking about suits aside.]

[Trusting that Orihime hadn't noticed that, Dust turns his attention back to the two gods.]

I figured you two would get along well. You could... use more friends.

... Oh!

[ She's quite taken aback by Dust's statement, but in a touched way. If it had been in public, or she didn't know him better, or both, she might have been quite offended. ]

You... came all this way with Wendy just to introduce me to this young goddess? That is most kind of you both.

[ And since she can certainly make conversation, she continues- mainly at Marinette at first. ]

By 'another' I was simply including myself in that number. I suppose you must have Dust staying at your temple now, as you are his goddess. I hope the trip was easy enough for those with the power to teleport with ease across the heavens, even with two shink in your company.

It's fine~. [Pulling out the usual award winning child smile, Wendy leans forward cheerfully.]

The exercise is fine! The Far Shore is so beautiful, too, that is hardly seems to take too long~. Oh-

[She raises a finger.]

You should visit us sometime, too!

[Step 1 before interrogating her about her living choices... encourage her to even go there at all.]

[She's not even mad to hear that Dust had maybe brought them all this way so she could meet Orihime. Because really, she's always on the lookout for more friends, and the other goddess seems nice enough, even if they've only been here for a very short time.]

He's very thoughtful, isn't he? And Wendy's a good girl.

[Marinette's not biased at all.]

He's been with me for a little while now, and it's been nice having him. [She smiles at that, and glances over at Dust as though she's expecting him to comment.] The trip was nice, and it's a beautiful day.

[Wendy's comment makes her smile, and she nods emphatically.]

You really should come visit us sometime, too! I can show you some of the things I've made.

[Dust wouldn't have made his comment in public, or if he hadn't though he and Orihime had some measure of understanding between them. It might have been tactless, but tact sometimes isn't the best way to make a point.]

Seems there's something of a push to bring you into the social circles of the Far Shore. [Which did Orihime have more in common with? The old gods or the new? She's the former, of course, but seems ostracized from them -- and is continuing it by choice, to judge from their presence here.]

Ah, well...

[ Orihime brushes a lock of hair behind her ear. First, she turns to Marinette. ]

I am more than happy to visit, now that I am more able to do so at my own leisure.

[ She lowers her gaze down to the floor, before raising it back up at Dust. The smile is gone now, replaced by a faint frown. ]

I suppose if I do not embrace such kindness with open arms I am doing a disservice to those who have championed my causes for so long.

[ Her head tilts ever so slightly in Dust's direction again. ]

I wonder what you may have heard from those social circles...

[Let her just field that question by flicking a finger over in Orihime's direction.]

That you're a really pretty girl who needs to get out more, see more people, have some fun?

[A beat.]

Not that I would know, no one talks to little girls about anything like this.

[But that's what she's sure they're all here for, and, as far as she's concerned, they're the only social circle that counts. If Heaven has a problem with it, then they can speak up instead of pretending to be distant and better than everyone. Besides, there's no point in her just staying here like this!]

[This is as good a segue into things as they're likely to get. Dust mentally steels himself, knowing that this conversation won't be pleasant.]

There's... a certain amount of grumbling in the heavens that you're still here and not in a more 'suitable' temple.

[ Her smile flattens. ]

Ah. I suppose that is... Mmm.

[ She tries to fix the smile again, but it doesn't last. ]

I suppose that it is only natural they would not understand.

[ She rests one of her hands on a closed box on a nearby shelf. ]

There is nowhere else in the Far Shore I would rather spend my days.

It's been home for you for a very long time.

[And that much is true, but he hopes Orihime will say more on that score if he leaves it at that for now. Truthfully, he doesn't care if she moves; he doesn't see the need for her to have some grand new temple, no matter her current position. All he wants to know is what lines the battle will be fought on.]

[ She shakes her head. ]

This building holds no value to me that could not be replaced.

[ She lifts her hand from the box, vaguely pointing out the window instead. ]

That... that is what I would give up if I left.

[ Orihime turns and looks out the window, although there is room to come stand next to her. ]

For most of the year, this is the closest that I can possibly get to him.

That's what I thought.

[Now doesn't seem the proper time to stand next to Orihime. Especially not when his hand has balled into a fist so tightly that his arm trembles.]

They should have undone that separation when they restored your position.

[From the side, Wendy raises her hand.]

How come the two of you can't just get married? Isn't that what usually happens when a pretty lady and a cute guy love each other?

I think that would solve a lot! Like you not being lonely.

We... are married. In a sense.

[ She turns back towards Wendy, not able to remember if Wendy was around for Tanabata, but choosing to assume she wasn't. ]

Every year, when we are allowed to be together, we are as husband and wife. However, that is... not enough to bring his banishment to an end, as Dust observed. When we part again... I have no desire to seek an annulment, but I am not given the benefit of a husband at my side either.

But why?!

[If he were standing next to a wall or a table or anything, he'd slam his fist onto it. He isn't, so he just makes a convulsive gesture with one hand.]

They restored your position. They undid your exile? Why keep this punishment?!

[Cheeks in her hands, Wendy tilts her head to the side a little bit. Dust is obviously spearheading a lot of this, so it's up to her to at least lend a childish tilt to this whole thing... Draw Orihime's guard down. After all, people so do trip up when it comes to kids, explaining things in an upfront manner because they don't have a choice otherwise.]

[At least, Wendy hopes that's how it turns out, between Dust being Dust and her own tactics.]

Duuuuust, you don't have to get angry at her! You need to talk to Heaven. [Which has her beaming over to Orihime.] We can help you talk to them! I think Heaven is just full of boring single people, so they've probably forgotten how marriage works~. We'll explain to them that a husband and a wife need to stick together!

I... I am so sorry.

[ She puts her hands against her face, not quite crying but clearly affected by Dust's outburst as much as Wendy's reassurances. Muffled from behind her hands, she continues: ]

I have not dared to ask. In the long memory of heaven, my sentence being revoked could be perceived in the blink of an eye! I have failed him...

[ And she gently shakes her head back and forth. ]

[He isn't mad at Orihime! Perish the thought, Wendy. Dust's anger always goes where it ought to. (Except in the case of himself.)]

The purpose of a shinki is to remind the gods what it is to be human. Sounds like it's time to fulfill my purpose again.

I'll ask them. I'll find out why.

Orihime... if you were reunited, would you move? I want to know how to argue this...

[Well, someone here as to act as a reassuring source. Wendy promptly bounces up onto her feet, hurrying around the table so that she can wrap her arms around Orihime's shoulders.]

As long as you're still around, you haven't failed him. [One small hand pats the god's head.] Failure can't happen while you're still alive.

[ Orihime stops to pull her hands away, forming them into a prayerful press at her chin. ]

Reunited? How...

[ She can't really believe that's possible; he says that he's going to ask... someone... remind the gods...? She's not sure, but she's clearly confused, before finally nodding. ]

Yes... I would be willing to move wherever they expected me to go in the Far Shore, if he was no longer... banished.

[ After Orihime jostles a little on her feet, bending over slightly, and Wendy gets a stare for her hug + hand touch, because literally no one has done that to her before. ]

I... do not understand... [ She looks to Dust for an explanation in beseeching eyes. ] What is she...?

She's giving you physical affection, for comfort and reassurance. [Dust has to smile. Poor Orihime, he doesn't mean to laugh at her expense, but Wendy's simple and straightforward help plunging her into such confusion is honestly cute.]

You really need someone around more often, if you can't even remember what it's like to be hugged!

[...That, or cultural standards, but Wendy is pretty sure the culture shock isn't what's responsible for Orihime living on her own far away from most other people.]

The More Things Change

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