thenearshore | [semi-open]

[ A few days ago, Add had dragged Ain's prone body into the void.

It's easy to assume that he has just fallen asleep where he was. Ain wasn't really here, after all. His soul could be anywhere if it wasn't piloting his physical body, so it seemed like he merely vacated his vessel for the nonce. With the shinki's general lethargy, it would not seem out of place.

Add probably knows better, though. Ain's soul isn't here anymore - and it would continue to be absent for another two days, until he returned from a stint spent in the void closer to Elrios.

Ain wakes up somewhere else, but out of politeness he leaves his new body in a safe place and returns to inhabit his old one. He opens his eyes to see Add pacing some distance away, on the surface of one of the floating cubes.

There's a lot to unpack here. ]

Add?

[ He says this softly, to not scare the youth ]

[It's alarming when their connection is severed, to say the least. Even if Ain's emotions had always been faint, the link was still there. He could sense when something was wrong, search out those dulled and vague feelings when his paranoia got the better of him. Except, this time, one of his worst fears really had come true. He could no longer feel Ain's name, and his shinki's body lay motionless like a discarded puppet.

But the body didn't disappear. A tiny sliver of hope. Perhaps, like he had returned to Elrios and left his body here behind...

Better not to alarm the others with this news. Not until he knows for sure. Besides, it doesn't seem unusual for Ain to wander into the void for a long time, and no one else can navigate the inner depths with such ease. He'll be safe, deep in the cradle of the void's embrace. It's there that Add waits, his "brief check-ups" growing longer and longer as Ain's absence stretches on.

He's about to force himself to leave when he hears a familiar voice—one that catches him completely off-guard, because he still can't sense Ain's name. He whirls around to face the familiar "shinki", eyes wide as his mind buzzes with possibilities.]

Ain?!

[ Ain doesn't look much different from before - at least, for his body. Though, there is a difference in the way he holds himself, a certain firm self-assuredness in his gaze and the stance of his hollowed shoulders. ]

I've come back.

[ Surely, there isn't a need to explain where he went. It's just like last time, after all. ]

I remember everything now....

[There's relief, but also confusion at Ain's answer. It takes a moment for Add to process the whole situation.] You remember...?

[... Ain is no longer his shinki, but he's here and has his memories back. If that's truly the case, there's only one clear explanation. Add brings a hand to his mouth, frowning behind it.]

You're not a shinki anymore, are you?

[He should be glad Ain remembers everything... but he can't help but feel a pang of anxiousness at the idea as well. This Ain isn't truly "his" Ain, after all. He didn't really get along with the Ain in his world, either... and there's most likely a different Add that this Ain knows... will that change how Ain feels about him now...?

Add falls quiet for a moment, unsure of how to really progress from here. It was easier when he didn't have to think about these kinds of problems...]

... Did you return to Elrios as well, then?

I did.

[ 'His' Ain or no, all realms return to the void. All roads lead to the endless darkness, so it doesn't matter. It's hard to explain non-axial time; he doesn't consider it something important in this circumstance.

Not when this body is also probably not his real one, just an offshoot inhabiting another timeline. ]

I promised you I wouldn't leave, so I came back.

[Add sighs, releasing a bit of tension from his body. He doubts that Ain can actually control whether he comes or goes from this place... but it's a nice sentiment, at least. Maybe it's even a true one.]

Thanks, I guess.

So what kind of god does that make you...? [The role of Henir would probably suit Ain better, but, well, it can't be helped.]

[ Obviously, Ain cannot replace Add; so in place of that he has been given something perhaps more fitting. ]

I am to be Hades, god of the underworld.

[ It's not surprising. In fact, it seems like something more fitting, with the new mission that he has chosen for himself ]

Hades, huh... [A Greek god, and not one from Elrios. His temple will probably be in the district with all the other newly-arrived gods, too... Ain's only been a shinki for a few months, but it still feels weird to think he won't always be around the temple anymore.]

... You're welcome to visit whenever you want. I doubt I could do much to stop you anyway. [and even if he wasn't an entity shaped by the real Henir's power, they're still friends.]

I would be glad to.

[ They are friends. That will not change. ]

I think I know where the new temple is... would you like to come see it with me?

[He shrugs, a small smile forming.] Sure, why not? [saves him the trouble of tracking it down later himself...

He offers a hand, waiting for Ain to lead the way.]

[ That settles it, then.

Ain takes Add's hand. Since they are in the void and are both accustomed to it, it's easy to travel through it and emerge in the physical world close to Hades' temple. He made sure to hide his real body in a pocket of space somewhere, so there should be no risk of alarming Add with it.

The temple itself is fronted by a small patch of grass and a brick road leading towards it. Black spider lilies line the path, ending at a Greek temple veined with dark obsidian and the unmistakable circuit pattern of the void. It looks normal, almost... if a little strange, with how it melds Greek architecture with some sort of postmodern minimalistic aesthetic. The interior of the temple hall is much like the outside, with the increased number of void patterns being the only difference. Braziers are lit in regular intervals, placed under tapestries in black and gold. Overall, the temple is rather formal, but without much life. It's empty. ]

[Add draws his dynamos close to himself as the void melts away, making note of the area's coordinates as the temple grounds form around them. This place certainly fits the image of a temple...

He reaches out to one of the walls, running a hand along the familiar blue circuit patterns. It seems to just be decorative... for now, at least. Perhaps with Ain around, it won't be long before this place becomes a true extension of the void.]

It suits you. [empty and tainted, but it's not like he's judging] Curious, that we'd both arrive as shinki only to become gods. It's rare for that to happen without some memory loss.

[ He has to be careful to not expose too much of this place to the void, lest he get into trouble with the Heavens again. For now, all is as it seems, though - not for long.

Soon, the void will seep into this place. The entrance hall will likely stay normal for the sake of appearances, but there's no telling what will lie beneath it in time. ]

Mm. [ Hades is supposed to be creepy anyway, he's just doing his part. Though... ] I think there is a reason for that.

[ He turns to face Add, closing his human eyes. ]

Perhaps they thought it better to withhold our memories from us at first. They are... not pleasant. Not having them weigh on us was more productive for them, for whatever reason they think.

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subtract - 2018-10-02 04:10 (UTC) - Expand

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abgrund - 2018-10-02 05:30 (UTC) - Expand

[ Hades' temple looks to be a mixture between ancient Greek and some kind of post-modern minimalist aesthetic. There are the standard marble arches and vaulted halls, but the walls are veined with obsidian stone and cyan circuit patterns. Behind the hall of worship is a building designed to mimic human living quarters, and behind that is... nothing. The clearing ends in a forest, as if the building was prematurely terminated.

The front of the temple is a small field of grass, and the paved path leading to the archway is lined with two rows of black spider lilies.

Ain stands halfway between the archway and the entrance, waiting. He is still dressed in the white cloak that he often carried around as a shinki, out of courtesy.

Someone should be coming soon... ]

[ It’s a touch more grandiose than Add’s temple, to be sure. He’s actually a little impressed. ]

So this is your new home? Quite a large place.

[ He purposed it according to how humans think it should be. There's very little personalization, though that's probably because he doesn't need any. ]

Is it? I tried to replicate how it looked in the human world.

[ Ain examines Jakob for a few moments, eyeing him to see if anything has changed. ]

I suppose I am expected to stay here now.

[ It’s still very nice and stately. And kind of…cold? Certainly has none of the cozier, homier qualities of Add’s temple—at least on the outside, anyway. ]

So it is true then? You have somehow achieved godhood? [ Geez, that sure puts his offhand remark that time in an entirely new light. ]

[ Ain tilts his head, indicating the temple with a vague gesture. ]

I have. My memory has returned to me as well.

[ An angel who was discarded and found new purpose in the void. It's a nice parallel, somehow. ]

I will still visit you, however.

Of course. You are welcome to all the hospitality our temple has to offer. [ A god that’s already allies with Add is certainly one worth keeping in one’s good books, after all.

Besides…he kind of wants to make sure that Ain’s doing all right, or something. ]

I am sure you will be of some comfort to Add.

[ They're friends. It's as simple as that, to him. ]

He is... very lonely. I promised to never leave him. I intend to keep that promise.

[ Even if Add is all sorts of strange. Humans can't understand him anymore, and it's alright for Ain to stay here, because someone else will attend to his affairs back home. ]

I am truly grateful for that. [ Even if he looks more annoyed than grateful, because ugh admitting to his soft spot for Add is still tough sometimes. ]

He needs someone who understands him. Someone better than I do, at any rate.

[ Jakob's expression doesn't bother him - he's not one to pay much heed to it, once he's sure of the appropriateness of his own words. ]

I will take care of that. Don't worry about it.

[ He's a lot more... long-lived than Jakob, who is a human. There is no need to force someone to do what they cannot. ]

I hope you'll take care of yourself too.

[ Scoffing— ]

Of course I am! [ Even though he’s a workaholic who barely even sleeps but shhh shhhh… ]

But I am not here to discuss myself. I have simply come to bring you a gift.

[ From beneath his coat he fishes out a black knitted cap, with that stylized green eye motif that follows Ain everywhere carefully embroidered atop. There’s even a little green pom-pom, for dramatic effect. ]

[ He knows you barely sleep. He's watching you... you can't shh him!!! ]

Oh....

[ Ain opens his hands to hold the cap as how one would hold a small animal, with no small amount of reverence. ]

Thank you.

[ He manages a very slight, but noticeable smile. ]

[ Stop creeping on him dammit!!! ]

Hmph. It’s but a paltry little rag. I just had some scraps of yarn on hand. [ Never mind that he’d paid excruciating attention to detail in crafting that damn hat. ]

Anyway, I’m not even sure you wear such things. Do you ever get cold?

add

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jakob

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