Ryūnosuke Akutagawa 芥川 龍之介 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
killercoat) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thenearshore2018-08-25 02:03 am
killercoat) wrote in thenearshore2018-08-25 02:03 am
[Closed]
Who: Alex Benedetto and Ryunosuke Akutagawa
When: January 14th, the morning before the volcanic eruption
Where: Oshun's temple
What: Mysterious poems gets two people to meet. Are they kindred spirits, or is this just a causal encounter?
There are fewer people roaming in the early morning, so Akutagawa prefers to wander around during this time. An uncomfortable restlessness makes it a perfect opportunity for him to familiarize himself with the Far Shore. However, he still wants to avoid coming in contact with the other residents of the heavens, and he decides to explore along the off beaten path. Unaware that his aimlessness leads him into another god's territory. He enters the dense forest, weaving in and out of the trees. It doesn't take him long to see the outline of a building. The concrete building clashes with the surrounding flora. The establishment seems abandoned since the greenery covers the facade of it. Almost like life and death is meeting at the same point.
Under closer inspection, he notices something even more strange. Characters begin to appear out of thin air as if an invisible writer with an invisible pen decides to write bold and cursive words along the building. the words compel Akutagawa to read them, the literal writings on the wall.
"No one despairs alone,
Suffering makes people lonely,
but they are not isolated by that pain.
In an unlikely place,
a kindred spirit appears.
Guiding with a quiet and stern presence,
an impending obstacle is resolved.
Those who wallowed in the dark,
will no longer be hindered by the light.
Past agony forms a connection,
which can't be avoided."
Once the words appear, it only takes a moment before they begin to fade, and they leave no evidence behind. Still, his mind recounts the words he reads. Despair, loneliness, the darkness, and agony all of these words echo within him, making his chest feel tight. He doesn't understand where these feelings come from and why these words affect him, but he feels it might be clear soon. The poem mentioning someone appearing before him.
When: January 14th, the morning before the volcanic eruption
Where: Oshun's temple
What: Mysterious poems gets two people to meet. Are they kindred spirits, or is this just a causal encounter?
There are fewer people roaming in the early morning, so Akutagawa prefers to wander around during this time. An uncomfortable restlessness makes it a perfect opportunity for him to familiarize himself with the Far Shore. However, he still wants to avoid coming in contact with the other residents of the heavens, and he decides to explore along the off beaten path. Unaware that his aimlessness leads him into another god's territory. He enters the dense forest, weaving in and out of the trees. It doesn't take him long to see the outline of a building. The concrete building clashes with the surrounding flora. The establishment seems abandoned since the greenery covers the facade of it. Almost like life and death is meeting at the same point.
Under closer inspection, he notices something even more strange. Characters begin to appear out of thin air as if an invisible writer with an invisible pen decides to write bold and cursive words along the building. the words compel Akutagawa to read them, the literal writings on the wall.
"No one despairs alone,
Suffering makes people lonely,
but they are not isolated by that pain.
In an unlikely place,
a kindred spirit appears.
Guiding with a quiet and stern presence,
an impending obstacle is resolved.
Those who wallowed in the dark,
will no longer be hindered by the light.
Past agony forms a connection,
which can't be avoided."
Once the words appear, it only takes a moment before they begin to fade, and they leave no evidence behind. Still, his mind recounts the words he reads. Despair, loneliness, the darkness, and agony all of these words echo within him, making his chest feel tight. He doesn't understand where these feelings come from and why these words affect him, but he feels it might be clear soon. The poem mentioning someone appearing before him.
no subject
"I'm sorry--I was trying to see if I could find any other things we could use." She apologizes as she makes her way down, a little out of breath from rushing back. "There are bandages in here but I don't know if it'll be enough."
Alex places the kit on the table, the finches catching her eye. "Oh no...Did they try to bother you? I'm sorry they're pretty nosy..." Although, they were oddly quiet right now.
no subject
He takes the liberty of rummaging through the kit. The piglet has no open wounds, so they didn't need to worry about antiseptics. He does pick out a few tongue suppressors that can act as a splint, some medical tape, and bandages. He believes this should be enough.
He then looks up when Alex mentions her troublesome finches. His eyes shift over to charm for a moment, before returning to her. "They were...but now it's handled."
He doesn't say any more than that. He starts preparing the items on the table. The bandages seem to make him pause for a moment. There's this very tangible feeling that wells up in his chest. He doesn't understand it, but he tries his best to ignore it. He turns his attention to the task at hand.
"Are you able to wrap his leg? Or should I attempt it?" He feels like he knows how to, but he doesn't really understand the basis of that knowledge. How did he learn? Was he any good at it?
no subject
‘Attempt.’ Does that mean he’s never done it then? While Alex was used to injuries, she didn’t get to treat them often. However, simply wrapping didn’t sound too difficult.
“I can try. Could you hold it still just in case?”
no subject
"...I have it." He tells her, encouraging her to begin. He braces himself, knowing that once Alex touches the swine's injured leg, it will start acting out.
no subject
She reaches out slowly, the piglet flinching at first before Alex carefully cover its snout with her hand. Just a little bit, just enough to relax it.
"There you go...that's it..." She let's go then, and starts to bandage its leg along with the make shift splints. As she does so, she realizes that she hadn't even asked him for his name, nor had she given hers. But more importantly--
"Thank you, for helping back there. I don't know what I could've done on my own."
no subject
Once Alex finishes, Akutagawa looks it over and it looks fine. However, to reinforce it, he tears a piece of cloth from his coat. It looks ordinary, like any piece of fabric. Though Alex picks up on the life that his coat seems to have, and as he wraps the cloth over the bandages, it seems to move on its own. Twisting around the small leg and creating a hard hull over it.
He then looks up from the pig's leg to Alex. She's thanking him...for what? He shakes his head. "You did most of it. All I did was cut the vines, I'm sure you could have done that if you had the proper tools."
Did she forget that he wanted to leave the pig out there to die? It was her resolve that made him consider that they could save it, that they must if they were even going to try.
no subject
"No it's not--wait how did..how did you do that?" She'll get to how he played a big part in this in a bit, but cloth that moves on its own? That's not something you ignore.
no subject
"It's my ability. It appears I can manipulate matter."
Though he's limited to using only clothing that he's wearing, which is kind of annoying.
no subject
Alex glances down at the pig, that seems to have relaxed enough to doze off.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Alex..Benedetto." She holds her hand out to him, but she notices that he's already put his in his pockets.
no subject
He shrugs. "I am not a god. I am only a shinki. This ability is something that comes very natural to me, but I don't really understand why."
His mind is totally blank. All he remembers is his name. He doesn't even completely know how to use his power but learning how to wield it has proven easier than casting a borderline.
Akutagawa looks down at the hand she offers to him. She doesn't really understand what she's trying to do. Instead, he bows slightly at the hip, but not low enough to show Alex a great level of respect. "It's nice to meet your acquaintance, Benedetto-san. My name is Ryunosuke Akutagawa. Though I prefer you to address me as Akutagawa."
no subject
"Oh!" So then, he was one of those people that had..abilities and such beforehand.
And also more of the bowing type. Right..different culture then.
"Alright, Akutagawa. Um..I'd prefer Alex, actually." It was funny how Benedetto-san sounded more formal than Ms. Benedetto, though supposedly they're somewhat similar.
"I really do appreciate your help in this."
no subject
Akutagawa frowned slightly at Alex's insistence to be called by her first name. It seemed much too formal, especially if this woman was a god. However, it was a direct request, so it would be insolent to refuse."Then a compromise. I wish for no one to misunderstand our acquaintance. Allow me to call you, Alex-san."
As for Alex showing her gratitude for his involvement, Akutagawa casually shrugged. He hadn't gone out of his way to help Alex or even the piglet. He just happened to pass through her grounds.
"A shinki's role is to help the gods. That's all I was doing." He dismissed, there was really no need to thank him.
He turned on his heel, looking as if he was about to depart. However, suddenly a tremor shook the whole building. The piglet shrieked and the naughty finches flew around over their heads in a frenzy. Akutagawa's balance was thrown off, and he hurriedly grasped on to a nearby post to stabilize himself. He then glanced back toward Alex, offering a free hand hand to her.
no subject
Seeing Akutagawa's hand, she immediately reaches out to take hold of it.
"W-what's happening?!"
no subject
Akutagawa cautiously looks around them. Maybe falling debris or some sort of sign for instability of the structure. Whatever happened, it was momentary. He turns back to Alex, releasing her hand once he feels it's safe to let go.
"No idea. This must not be something normal...?" He asks, since Alex must have been in the Heavens much longer than him.
no subject
"N-no, nothing like this has happened before--"
With the open side of the temple, it wasn't difficult to spot the ash and rocks flying through the air.
"What..is that.. ?" Alex had never seen a volcano erupt before, but it was a terrifying sight.
no subject
"I don't know...it seems like some sort of explosion." Even at this distance, they couldn't clearly see the cause of the smoke. Though it must be enormous if it's able to reach the sky.
Once he was sure no more tremors would pass, he places his hands into his pockets. He steps forward as if moving to depart."...I'm going to investigate."