thenearshore | [closed] sometimes you just need to get away from things

Entry tags:

[closed] sometimes you just need to get away from things

Who: D2 & Hakkai
When: January 12th, early afternoon to forenoon and then forward
Where: Far Shore ⇒ Naples
What: Hakkai needs a breather, so clearly the solution is to drag him across half the world
Warnings: Since D2 will be prying re: the whole mess that’s going on, so some things may come up. Warnings in comment headers.

[ Days can be filled with things to the brim and sometimes that can be a lot. Everybody knows that.

Between tutoring, gyms, various types of training and practice, tweaking bullets, and what help with prayers he can offer with his meager abilities sometimes he hears some rumours and otherwise people can be such meddlers. Well. At least D2 can be a meddler. And some people are always busy even in his generally busy eyes.

So meddling is what he’s about to do.

Which is why he is headed for the temple of one God Li Tieguai-sama. As luck has it, D2 even spots his target outside, though he was going to have a look around outside before knocking on the door either way. When he does spot Hakkai he raises a hand and waves, continuing up toward him. ]

Hakkai! Afternoon to you! What’re you up to?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

D2? [Hakkai straightens from where he'd been taking off Bon's harness -- collars having proved insufficient if Bon really got his weight behind a dash -- and blinks before breaking into a smile. It's half polite habit, but half, at least, apparent happiness to see the other man.]

-- Good afternoon. I've just gotten back from walking Bon.

[The dog emits an enthusiastic basso woof! at the sound of his name and lopes towards D2.]

[ Giant dog incoming, suddenly. Of course he'll greet Bon with pets and scratches (hopefully the dog doesn't barrel right into him like a big furry bowling ball but D2 will probably at least keep his balance even if he does) but he won't be fully distracted. ]

So then you're not busy, that's good. [ Not that he didn't have plans to open up Hakkai's schedule even if he was busy. Even if he is busy after this. ] Is Chikusa in or out?

[Giant dog incoming like a big furry bowling ball: it's how Bon meets all of his favorite people, with a tackle by a dog that easily weighs as much as the average person, and has much more fur.

It's a good thing that D2 can keep his balance, in other words.

Hakkai's expression goes slightly more closed and suspicious at the question about Chikusa. It's not that he distrusts D2, but, well. Chikusa making enemies has been a problem lately. Chikusa's in a slightly sensitive mood.

Mildly, he says:]

I'm not sure. Why do you want to talk to him?

[ So much fluff to bury ones hands in. Bon might find that D2 smells a bit of cat, but since the dog is already used to thay type of animal it shouldn't upset him at least.

D2 decided he was friends with Chikusa months ago, Hakkai has nothing to worry about from him. He looks up at Hakkai (up because he's bent down a bit closer to Bon's level) with a smile that's quirked by both amusement and concern. ]

I wanted to drop him a message real quick, so I could get back to you properly as soon as possible.

[ Efficiency, and all that. ]

Hmm, in that case...

[He does trust D2, after all, and that's not the face of someone planning to pick a fight. His expression goes distant for a moment as he feels for the locations of his shinki. Two together, one faraway; he didn't really need the confirmation, but it gives him cover for his initial defensive response.

He blinks back to focus, and smiles at the tongue-lolling expression of bliss on Bon's face at having his ruff scratched.]

Apparently he is upstairs.

All right. Hmm..

[ Taking time into consideration, it would have just been faster to call him. He should have just called Chikusa ahead of time. But D2 had not planned that far ahead. ]

Give me a couple minutes.

[ So he picks his phone out of his pocket, finds Chikusa in his contact list and presses call, while he continues petting Bon with the other hand. Both because fluffy dogs happened to be so nice to pet, and as a distraction for the dog. He doesn't want the dog to try to eat his phone; though he's not sure if this particular dog would do so, he's probably logistically capable of it. ]

[Bon is probably capable of eating D2's phone without having to chew, if he wanted to, but he appears entirely distracted by the petting. He leans heavily against D2's leg and drools appreciatively.

Smiling, Hakkai lifts the leash in his hand.]

All right. I'll go put this away -- would you like anything? Tea, snacks?

[ Bon is the Hulk but without the anger problem. D2 is glad he paired his silly hoodie and his jacket with a pair of sturdy jeans that won't soak through right away. ]

Right, you do that. Bring a jacket, it might get windy. But no thanks, and neither would you.

[ Just so you know, Hakkai. Neither of them are sticking around. ]

Am I being kidnapped?

[With advance permission from Chikusa, it seems. Hakkai's eyes crinkle with amusement, and he vanishes inside, reappearing before too long in a black windbreaker with his hair re-combed. He's carrying a travel cup, on the grounds that he wanted tea, but apparently he's being...

... semi-kidnapped at least. He pauses next to D2, looking to see if he's done with the phone call.]

[ He's getting Very Kidnapped. D2 just opens and closes his hand a couple times in a sort of wave of acknowledgment of him, and taking care of his conversation with Chikusa. He finishes it up when Hakkai comes out and he gives Bon a last scratch before straightening up. ]

Alright then, let's go!

[ And off they go, because D2 grasps Hakkai by the hand for a moment to get him moving in the direction of Forrest's temple. ]

[So he is. How odd. Hakkai startles briefly as D2 grabs his hand, but he's slowly getting used to all of this handsiness D2 employs. Affectionate physical contact isn't ever going to be less strange to him, but he doesn't flinch quite as badly anymore.]

Where am I being kidnapped to?

[He matches D2's pace, amusement threading through his voice.]

[ Since D2 has not yet pocketed his phone, he clicks up the messages and sends a quick one over to Forrest, and then puts away the phone. He hasn't just yet let go of Hakkai's hand. ]

First off to Forrest's temple, then we're going far overseas through it.

... We're going overseas?

[Wait: they're going overseas through Forrest's temple? Hakkai's eyebrows shoot up, surprised but intrigued, and he matches D2's pace to avoid being dragged by the hand.]

Does he have a temple there?

He does! He's got some in India since Lakshmi is a Hindu goddess, through the thing back in June.

[ They did talk before going off to their respective country goals. ]

But this one in Europe we went and got access to just the other day.

How? [He's fascinated; he speeds up enough to keep pace with D2, glancing up at the slate-blue winter sky. It keeps snowing, just a little, overnight; the clouds hover at the edge of the sky during the day, but they never seem to make it all the way out to overhead.]

There was something about hearing about it combined with sensing it- I don't know much of the details on how it works, I'm guessing because I'm not a god, but if you hear about it you go and bless it and then you can use it to go there however you want. It's a bit like back when everybody went to new temples all over the world- when was that... [ D2 was with Grell at the time so.. ] Somewhere in July, maybe? Or maybe toward the end of June.

[ The snow, at least at this amount, is pretty nice. It's pretty. Were they not talking, D2 would probably stick out his tongue to catch some. But they're nearing Forrest's temple so any level of snow won't be any issue at all soon. ]

Hmm, I'm afraid I wasn't a god back then... yes, the end of June, I think. It's a shame, I'm sure I'd understand the procedure a bit better if I had been!

[He chuckles easily, and stretches a hand out, catching a snowflake on his palm, where it melts at once into a tiny droplet.]

Ah well, perhaps I should look into it. I'm sure I have quite a few shrines I haven't found.

Yeah. Well, you'll surely get a grasp of it more than I can eventually.

[ Not that there's no guarantee that D2 won't ever experience it from a god's perspective, but he has no interest in that to be honest. ]

I'm sure that you do, and wouldn't that be exciting! It's always interesting to see new places and encounter new cultures.

Oh, probably! And I'd like to see more of 'China' in this world. It's a bit more like my home than this country is.

[Not much, to be fair; this world is different in a thousand ways from his own, but the land looks strangely familiar in China, and he's found city names he knows on old maps.]

That might take a while, since it's a big country and all, there'll be a whole lot to see just there.

[ They step onto the grounds belonging to the shining golden temple, and D2 guides Hakkai onto the front porch's stepping stones. ]

How different is it, to you?

Mostly, it's the technology. Although it seems there have been some changes in the names of things, too... 'China,' for example.

[He chuckles easily.]

And of course there aren't any youkai.

Technology is a strange thing, and it develops so quickly once it's develops too. So, you have the same map but places are called different things?

[ He stops once they're far enough within the temple. ]

Alright, now to the Near Shore~ We're going to the Napels temple today.

[ So when traveling the focus needs to be on that- but D2 can do that for them both no problem, and suddenly it's warmer and not as much snow around them, with buildings not often seen in the mainly Japanese-styled Heavens. Italy is far off from Japan. Lakshmi's temple isn't as shiny here either, there's a huge difference, it's small but nice-looking. ]

What's your opinion on there not being any youkai here?

Exactly! Or, at least, many of the same landmarks, and cities in similar locations. [He looks around, fascinated, as the chill of the Heavens is abruptly replaced by warmer air. The buildings here seem to be heavy on stucco, the streets a little older-styled.]

And, hm. For a while I wondered if this world's humans had simply wiped them out, but I think it's more likely that we never lived side by side in this world.

It might be better that way.

That is really interesting. [ Why would it be like that, in the first place. It's really really interesting and fascinating.

D2 draws in a few breaths of European city air, and the buzz of the city around them seeps into his skin. Different cultures, foreign countries, he loves them. His childhood was shitty, but he loved the mixture of cultures in the cities he grew up in, they always fascinated him and made him develop his interest in languages. ]

There haven't been any mention of anything of the sort.

[ Oh and! ]

Benvenuti in Italia - welcome to Italy, Hakkai!

[ He has to cheerfully spread his arms for an extra bam in the welcome. ]

Edited (because the image emerged in my head) 2018-10-05 21:47 (UTC)

[Hakkai turns in a half-circle, looking around; he's smiling, almost despite himself. Even the scent of the air is different; he can smell the sea nearby, and plants he doesn't recognize, and sausage cooking somewhere from an open window.]

Do you know, I've never been before?

[Chikusa had come here to shop, although Hakkai isn't sure it was to this city in particular. Hakkai hadn't accompanied him, though. He'd still been recovering from his kidnapping.]

It's a lovely place.

I almost guessed. It's never too late to go somewhere new.

[ Chikusa is Chikusa, Hakkai is Hakkai. And D2 would be more than willing to drag him off to new places anytime.

Because it's really nice to see a smile like that on his friend's face. ]

It is. It's beautiful and there's always something to see and experience. The people're great and on top of that the food is amazing.

Ah, I've had some Italian food, but from what I hear it's different throughout the country. I'm not sure if it's the same as the local dishes.

[His smile acquires a more comfortable veneer of cheer as he looks back up at D2.]

In fact, since I don't know the area at all, please, lead the way! You will have to be my local guide.

Yup, it is. We're in Campania right now, so it's Campania cuisine and Neapolitan cooking that's main here. We could have a look and see if anything's familiar to you. I'd say it's fun to both recognize a dish and to find new ones.

[ One of the great things about different cultures is all the different flavors found throughout the world.

With the softening of his smile, a few smile wrinkles appear around his eyes. Yeah, he thinks it might be good that he brought him out and away from the Far Shore for a bit. ]

I will do my best. Would you like to check out some of the sights and try some of the food along the way?

[As much as he'll have to go back and deal with his worries eventually, it is nice to be away for a while. He's lucky to have D2, he reflects, ducking his head to -- unsuccessfully -- hide the affection in his smile. There aren't many other people in his life willing to drag him around like that. Goku, perhaps.]

Certainly. Why not the sights first?

[ D2 will always be ready to drag Hakkai off someone random without warning.

With a tilt to his head, D2 peers over at Hakkai's expression. He doesn't comment on the emotion he can detect in the smile, and he doesn't mention the warmth he feels from it, but he's already decided that he needs to do this again, and try to not let too much time elapse between the opportunities.

But so! Sights it is! ]

Sure! Getting in all of the sights in one afternoon is just a little difficult, there's a whole lot of stuff in old cities like this, but let's do our best!

[ It will literally be impossible to see everything with just this one visit since they can't stay for days, but they can at least see some of the sights. ]

So, we're right near the National Archaeological Museum, the catacombs of Saint Gaudiosus is some way north of here, with the basilica of Santa Maria della Sanitá on top of them.

Castello Aragonese di Baia is a bit too far away without a car, [ so they'd either need Jeep or to rent a car, because walking would take over four hours ] and some bit away outside the city's the ruins of Pompeii, that might be better to take another day as well... [ And Pompeii is a sight. There are better sights but it's definitely worth a visit. ] The Fontanelle cemetery is about twenty minutes away, the Purgatorio ad Arco churches about ten. They're in different directions but since they're still close we could do both.

There's the Museum of the History of Medicine and Health in the same general direction as Purgatorio ad Arco as well, apparently there's an old apothecary over there in connection to it.

Ahaha, well, if you can find a photo, I can try to teleport us there? [Hakkai's smile brightens with a slightly challenging edge. He's kept his teleportation to familiar areas, mostly, but unfamiliar ones aren't impossible. It's just that he may have to be careful about their landing place to avoid unexpected surprises.

Rooftops, perhaps. He could do a rooftop.]

And I have heard of Pompeii. I'm afraid churches aren't my usual style, but the museum sounds interesting...

[He glances back and forth along the street.] Ah, which way is that?

That would work? [ That sure would make teleportation even more useful than he already thinks it is. ] One or two pictures would probably be easy to fine on the phone. Technology just runs away on you if you look away. [ A little over a decade since he died and things are so different already. ] ...makes me think the real magic's technological advancement.

Pompeii is pretty famous, so eventually most people tend to at least hear the name. Churches aren't for everyone, I visit them for the architecture and history, rather than the religious significance. [ He chuckles. ] I figured the museum might've, it's this way.

[ Be prepared. D2 grasps Hakkai's hand in his, as casually as any other time he's done it, and starts heading in the direction that he had pointed out. ]

"Advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" -- who was it who said that? I'm almost certain I wouldn't get us stuck inside a wall. [He can't quite help the tone of merry challenge that lightens that statement: he is almost certain. He lets D2 take his hand, matching his pace. Bit by bit, he's getting used to all the touch the other man seems to consider normal.

In a strange way, it is becoming comforting. It's familiarity, Hakkai supposes, that does it.]

And I suppose I can't argue about the art and history. Ha ha, I've just had enough religion for one lifetime.

[It's a ridiculous thing to say, for a man who spends most of his time answering literal prayers, and Hakkai knows it; the glance he tosses D2 is full of dry amusement.]

"Almost certain", huh? Should I be concerned? [ He bumps his shoulder against Hakkai's. He's teasing of course; he completely trusts Hakkai, and would trust him to not transport them into a wall.

As for the quote- ]

Some scientifically inclined author? I guessss probably. It sounds like that might be sort of accurate at least. [ Was that ever covered in school? His highest education beyond military related things is high school.

He peers at Hakkai past his bangs as they walk along the street. ]

Is that from the perspective of someone who's dealt with being both a shinki and a god, or from without any of that stuff taken into consideration?

[ Answering prayers diligently doesn't have to have anything to do with being religious. It could just be a way of passing the time, keeping busy. ]

Oh, it's from well before that! I was raised by nuns, you see. Then, later in life, arrested by a holy man and sentenced by the voices of Heaven.

[His tone is just as cheerful as ever: it's not nearly as bizarre a story anymore. These days, if he tells it, he tells it to gods and spirits, and he almost fits in.

It's clear he's been here too long, if he's starting to think about fitting in, he notes, and smiles to himself.]

-- And I'll be careful to make sure you don't wind up inside a wall. If I do, I can teleport myself back out!

[It's happened. It wasn't fun, but it was survivable.]

[ Religious orphanage? Sounds like nasty stuff. The capture and sentencing is about the youkai mass murder, he assumes. ]

Just the nun thing would turn most people off, the Voice Sentencing seems like an extra sour cherry on top.

[ Wait, does that translate weird? It's not a mysterious acronym at least, so even if it comes off as strange it's fine. Either way it's true, it's understandable why Hakkai wouldn't be much of a fan of religion as a result. ]

Well, maybe you can but I sure can't. But! I trust you so I'm not worried.

[ Ending up inside a wall would also be an experience, though. What a strange one it must be, too. ]

Doesn't it? But that part wasn't so bad. [They had spared his life, which was something he hadn't been prepared for; but he'd managed in the end. He nods in the direction of the museum.]

--And I'd bring you with me on the way back out of the wall, of course.

[Although, all told, he'd rather not teleport into any solid objects. It's painful and annoying.]

So, shall we go?

[ D2 chuckles. And like he said, he's not worried. ]

You're too kind.

I guess so, if things had been different you might not have been here right now, and I like your company. [ There are other things that would be different as a result as well, of course, but it's no less true. ]

Yup, museum's right over there.

[ See, that was fast, just around the corner. ]

It's hard to say. I'd be a different person here, at least.

[Whether he wouldnn't be trapped in this other world if he'd died at a different time-- well, that's a complicated question, and his grin tucks up ruefully on one side as he picks up the pace towards the front door.]

-- So perhaps it's all for the best. I like your company, too.

Yeah, I suppose that's be true.

[ So much shapes a person, both shitty things and good things; any little difference could have made either of them completely different people. Which is a bit of a potentially grim topic, isn't it? ]

Danke, gleichfalls, [ He adds a translation and with it grins at Hakkai. He's glad to know he's not the only one happy for their relationship. ] Thanks, you too.

[ And ~TA-DAH~ they have reached the museum and its old apothecary. ]

Alright~ Here we arrre~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[closed] sometimes you just need to get away from things

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

i keep getting distracted when i try to do research for this >_>

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Would you prefer to wrap here or continue?