thenearshore | /lyrics about secrets

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/lyrics about secrets

Who: Ginia, Alex, and Gojyo
What: Gojyo saw a bunch of Ginia’s past life in a dream. He’d like to share some of that with her.
When: Feburary 3rd
Where: A park across the river from the Far Shore library
Warnings: See individual thread headers, as applicable

Two hours, he’d said, but it’s barely an hour later and he’s already in the park, picking out the best location for a) privacy and b) invisibility from the library. The last thing he needs is some asshole librarian spotting him getting into a fight in the park across the way and deciding to intervene.

He hasn’t been able to find the club. He’s looked everywhere, all through Japan in person and, using the internet, over as much of the rest of the world as he can (which has been a pain in the ass, given that he doesn’t speak most of the languages all the rest of those sites are in). He meant to keep looking, wanted to be able to share the club with Ginia as part of this whole deal, but it looks like it’s just not meant to be.

Leaning back on the park bench (hidden from direct view of the library by a nice thick copse of trees – he’s taking no chances) Gojyo stares up at the sky. There’s no clouds – it’s an icy cold day, almost as cold as it had been on the roof of the building in Ginia’s dream. It feels appropriate… although he’s starting to wish he’d brought a cup of coffee or something.

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Such is the problem when your point of origin is a good century in the future. There's no telling whether this Earth will ever meet the same point as Ginia's world, or if hers is some far-flung alternate existence. There may, one day, be a nightclub called the Silverf Chains in Chicago in this world.

Today is not that day.

Ginia's not sure what to make of the day. Dreams are a weird, strange thing to contend with and she has so many dreams of other peoples so clear while hers are fragments at best. So someone telling her about a dream, about the things in it...

She's a fool, perhaps, given a chance to find a second chance and yet bound by wanting to know more about herself. Ginia's arm tightens a little around Alex's as they walk through the park in search of Gojyo. It'll be fine. Alex is here to keep things safe, to stop things if Gojyo veers into dangerous territory.

They find him seated on a bench, trees blocking the view of the library. Ginia offers a small bow of her head and a wave. Hello.

Alex glances down at their linked arms when she feels Ginia's hold tighten. Even without the link, it was obvious that Ginia was nervous about this meeting. She didn't blame her. Having someone who could explain certain memories to you? It seemed like both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, one could learn more about themselves, but what if that knowledge was better left unknown? Either way, Alex wasn't going to let her go through it alone. She had seen some of Ginia's dreams from the naming, but she was curious as to what Gojyo had seen.

When she notices Ginia acknowledging someone, Alex turns her attention there, nodding her own head back in greeting, albeit a little sheepishly. While she was here for her friend, it was admittedly a little awkward to see him after what he had seen in her own dream.

Until he sees her approaching (he nods when she does, yes, hello) he honestly didn't think she'd come. Whether it's trust or curiosity that brought her out, he doesn't know. It's probably curiosity, probably she checking out a potential threat, but it's nice to think for just a moment that somebody trusts him.

He misses that feeling.

"You made it," he calls, standing up when they're finally in voice range. He halfway recognizes the woman with Ginia -- it's Alex, right? He's seen her around a couple times, pretty sure they've talked once or twice. He has a vague memory of talking with her in an alleyway somewhere, but nothing he can put his finger on. "And you brought your god, good."

His god, however, is conspicuously absent. "Guess I forgot mine, sorry."

That much is apparent. The fact he mentioned Hakkai is his god is possibly a mistake; depending on things go, they might have to talk. Were it her alone, she might have left, brushed off Gojyo's words as a waste of her time. But with Alex already here and time taken enough, fine. Whatever. She'll stick around.

Ginia takes out her phone and types up and plays a quick message.

"Get talking."

Ginia is definitely not that comfortable with this. Alex rests a hand on Ginia's arm since her hands are busy. She wonders if maybe she should have talked to Gojyo first to screen what exactly he had to say, especially if it could possibly hurt Ginia.

"Um..I'm sorry, but what kind of thing..did you want to talk her?" If any memories were revealed in Ginia's dreams, and that's what he wanted to discuss, Alex may need to be ready to teleport Ginia out of there. Her gaze may not be a glare, but it's warning enough that he needs to be careful about wha the says next.

He raises his hands in mock surrender at them both -- that moment of trust sure didn't last long, huh?

"Like I told her," he replies, talking to Alex but looking at Ginia. "I hitchhiked into one of her dreams the other day, and she told me, well." He shrugs. "Pretty much everything."

And yes, telling a shinki about their past is the best way to kill them quickly, but Gojyo's not that much of a jerk. That's not why he's here. "I promised I'd listen, and remember it for her, if I could. And now I want to tell her some stuff, and that's where you come in," he concludes, nodding in Alex's direction.

They're still here? They haven't left? They haven't shut him up? Good! He stuffs his hands into his pockets -- it's damned cold, okay? -- and continues.

"I'm thinking that I tell you something, and you decide whether it's safe for her to hear it." There's that whole bad feeling that gods and shinki both get when it comes to thinking about their past. Surely Alex, being Ginia's god, will be able to tell if a certain piece of information is too dangerous to pass on or not, right?

Everything. The word feels impossible and overbearing and she can't fathom telling anyone, much less a stranger, everything about herself. Yet hadn't Joscelin told her the truth about himself? Hadn't she seen Maria at her most violent? Shun at his most scared? Promised Zhao to hold onto the memories of his friends for him?

A shinki cannot remember, it's an escape from who they were. So if there was a chance to remember, for someone to know and judge accordingly...

Well. He's not trying to kill her.

"Should I go walk a lap around the park or something while you two sort what's safe to talk about?"

He didn't seem to pose a threat the other times they had interacted, but it was still a relief to hear that he was still considering Ginia's safety.

She turns to look at Ginia, who seems to be okay with this idea.

"All right. I'm fine with this."

Okay. Then they're doing this.

"That's probably a good idea," he says to Ginia, gaze shifting from her to the open (and very empty) park behind her. "Don't want to risk you overhearing anything you shouldn't."

He's not really planning to sharing anything she shouldn't hear, but the extra precautions are smart.

Maybe you should have contacted my god instead of me. Ginia thinks to herself, suppressing some grumbling about the use of time. Okay, a walk. Ebisu's temple is always busy so an excuse for fresh air is one worth taking. Ginia checks the time on her phone and glances around the park. It's not big, but she can make it work.

"I'll give you two ten minutes."

She gives Alex a smile and squeezes her hand before she sets off on a slow walk, hands deep in her pockets.

Alex watches Ginia walk off, waiting till she's a good distance before turning back to Gojyo.

"Then..what did you want to tell her?"

Gojyo just shakes his head, waiting until Ginia's even farther away. He doesn't actually know how good her hearing is, but if it's been 'fixed' the same way the rest of her was, then it's anybody's guess how far she can be and still hear things.

But he can't wait forever, and eventually turns to Alex. "I was in your dream too, wasn't I?" That's where that alley was -- he remembers knowing the place, but when he thinks about it he can't remember where it was. But if it was a dream, that'd make sense. "Sorry, I don't remember much of that one."

Alex's shoulders tense, relaxing when he mentions that he didn't remember much. The injuries that seemed to transfer from the dreams were healing already, and nothing a little make up couldn't hide.

"It's okay." It was better that he didn't remember, she thought, although admittedly the way he handled Barry was quite impressive. "But..you did help me, so thank you for that.." And it seemed he was helping Ginia out as well since he had promised her--or at least the dream version of herself-- that he would do something for her. Concerned as she was, someone who wanted to do something for Ginia couldn't be that bad.

"I don't mean to be so suspicious. I do appreciate that you're keeping your promise to her. I just..don't want her to get hurt." Ginia had been through enough.

Gojyo just shakes his head, sinking back onto the bench. "I'm not her enemy." He might be a terrible ally, but that's because he's terrible at helping people, not because he wants anyone hurt. He's hurt too many people already.

"I figure it's safe to tell her stuff about abilities, right?" He takes a deep breath, fingers missing the half-remembered feel of a cigarette crinkling between them. "She's been modified, with these little computer blood cells that they shot her up with. It makes her faster, stronger, able to stand the cold, that kind of thing."

She recalled this, or at least the brief mentioning of the experiments in the memories from the naming, not that Alex understood much of it. Even Gojyo's explanations sounded farfetched to her, other than that they would explain Ginia's abilities.

Alex takes a seat next to him, keeping to the edge of the bench so she could be facing him better. There was no feeling that seemed opposed to the mentioning of these..computer blood cells. Computers weren't much of a thing back in Ergastulum, so the thought that they would be any in her blood was beyond what she could imagine.

"..Yes..I think it's okay to tell her that." Is pretty much all she could respond with. "Sorry, I'm not all that familiar with..that kind of stuff. Is that all that she wanted you to tell her?"

Is that all? "No, that's not all," he grumbles. Would he really have dragged them both all the way out here, in the cold, just to tell Ginia that she's strong? She already knows she's strong!

"It's not just bein' strong and fast. She can't be poisoned, can't get sick." He wishes again that he'd brought a cup of coffee with him. It's cold! "Pretty sure she can't get drunk, and that coffee doesn't do anything. That's the nanos." In fact, given the number of science-minded folks here... "So she should be careful, if she gets hurt. I don't know if the nanos in her blood do anything bad when they're outside of her, but I can't swear that it's safe."

She would have thought that not being affected by poison or getting sick was a good thing, but it did make sense that there might be some negative things attached to it as well. That was the case with twilights as well. For all their strength and durability, they had some sort of handicap, as well as a shorter lifespan. Was that the case for Ginia then? The thought of that made her stomach knot. Were there negative effects? That he wasn't sure means she hadn't said much about it in her dream.

"She's been injured before, and I hadn't heard anything of that sort.." Then again, she also didn't know the details. "Were you warned of anything else?"

"Not by her, no. And not for her." There'd been a lot that he could warn her about, but this isn't her world. Those people aren't here, that tech isn't here... it's only Ginia and what she's brought with her. Whether she remembers it or not.

Gojyo shifts uncomfortably on the bench. "There's one other thing, but it's for you, not for her." It's not really his secret to tell, but if he were in Ginia's place, he'd want to know about it. Or he'd want his friends to know about it, so they could... well. What Alex does with the info is up to her.

"She was a soldier... pretty sure she's already guessed that part." Being as good as she is at fighting and shooting has to have made her at least consider the possibility, right? "So she's used to following orders, used to lettin' other people tell her what to do." He smiles, without much humor, and taps himself on the chest. "I mean, here's this guy in her dream that she barely knows, only time we ever talked I was yellin' at her, and she still trusted me with her whole life." It's... well, it's stupid is what it is. And it's going to get her hurt one day.

Hurt again, anyway. "She trusted somebody when she was alive... more'n trusted, she loved them, and they betrayed her." And Alex doesn't need to know the details of that. That part is Ginia's story to share, if and when she ever remembers it. "She's too trusting, and she's been fucked over because of it, so treat her good, you got it?"

This, Alex was aware of. Despite what she been put through, Ginia continued to help others, to build bonds with them and protect those people with everything she's got. She made use of what she was forced to learn, maybe not in the best ways, but it was what she had to do at the time.

She could sympathize. Alex wasn't nearly as capable as Caster or the other gods, and yet Ginia trusted her to name her. Even after she had named her the first time without her permission.

"I'll do my best." She had every intention to treat Ginia well, although she was not the most equipped to be a god. She can't say she won't mess up at some point, but she would do what she could to protect Ginia.

Gojyo doesn't really have a lot of faith these days in gods promising to do their best... but that's his bullshit to sort through, and it's got nothing to do with Alex. He nods, and settles back against the backrest.

"Then I think that's it." She might have questions for him -- they both might -- and if they do he'll field them as best he can. He'll do his best, he thinks, and can't help but snort at himself. "You want to flag her down?"

Ten minutes is not a lot of time in the long run and it still passes quickly, but as Ginia makes her slow loop around the park, counting away the minutes still feels agonizing. What trust is there to put in someone who agrees to one thing and immediately lies and tries to play it off as a joke?

She did, apparently, though maybe it was as much a need to keep a weapon at her back, someone who could strike her down without a thought if needed.

Ginia is not sure why she feels the need for that, but you can never be too careful.

Ten minutes pass and Ginia finds herself returning to where she began, nodding at the two.

"We good to talk now?"

What trust indeed.

"Yeah, we're done." He stays sitting, leaning back casually as though the bench isn't freezing his ass. As though the cold isn't making him sniffle like a kid.

He nods to Alex. "You want to tell her what I told you?" It's safer that way, for all of them. "I'm just here in case there's questions."

"Me?" What if she got it wrong though? But it also made sense..just in case. She looks back at Ginia, wetting her lips before starting to relay the information.

"He said you had told him--dream you, that is--that you were injected with tiny..computers in your blood?" She glances at Gojyo to be sure. "That that's what makes you so strong and agile..and you can't get poisoned..or drunk?"

It really doesn't sound as serious when she says it..

Edited 2018-11-16 22:29 (UTC)

Ginia looks between the two and listens to Alex explain what Gojyo said, eyebrows slowly raising as Alex stumbles over the explanation. Interesting, she mentioned her nanotech to Gojyo? A smile escapes and she laughs to herself. This was what she got worked up over?

But it occurs to her it might sound like she's laughing at Alex and she stops, shaking her head.

"Nanotech. I know about that already, about what it does for me, what I can do." Ginia pauses, knowing she's veering into dangerous territory, senses prickling a little to back away. She knows she has it, knows how to use it, but all the context is stripped from it. "I assume the things I told you about nanotech are the things you can't tell me. Though thank you for confirming what I already know."

Well that's interesting.

"Is that a thing you remembered?" he asks, leaning forward, elbows on knees. His work here is done, but surprise! There might be bonus information about memories here, and he'll never turn down a chance to learn more about how other shinki remember things. "Or did you have a scientist god, too?"

"It was a thing I knew about myself from the start."

Ginia taps the phone against her chin as she tries to figure out how to explain it. How do you explain knowing something when a shinki remembers so little?

"People here get vaccines so they can't get sick right? And everyone has them? It's like that and nanotech and me. I knew I had it and thought everyone else did too."

She sighs and her smile thins.

"I was wrong about everyone having nanotech. It's all theoretical here or in early stages here."

"Ah--" With how they spoke of it, and some time to process, Alex was starting to get the gist of it. Maybe not the whole tiny computers bit, but it really was starting to sound more and more similar to the situation of Twilights. Though that brought up the worry of how similar.

She's at least relieved to know that this wasn't a shock Ginia.

"But...do you know if they can hurt you?"

"I get headaches and eye pain if I use the ones in my eyes too much. Haven't noticed side-effects with anything else."

Which maybe isn't the most reassuring thing to admit.

"I injected some new ones into me a few months ago without any side-effects. I had Archer on standby to make sure nothing went wrong."

Also definitely not the most reassuring thing to admit.

Wait, what?

"Where'd you get them?" Did she make them herself, somehow, like, is there a tiny robot-making factory hidden inside her? Or did this Archer find them for her?

He ducks his head, pitching his voice a conspiratorially lower. They aren't being spied on -- or they are, and they'll never know it -- but it's a healthy habit to maintain. "Can you make nanotech?"

In a way, Gojyo's line of thought isn't wrong; her nanotech exist on a self-replicating system that produce more as needed. But is that anything Ginia can explain herself? Definitely not.

Ginia dials the volume on her phone down a notch.

"It showed up in my room in a pack with directions on a label. Like an epi-pen?"

Again, not a reassuring thing. Also very stupid to randomly inject herself, but that was why she had Archer check the contents of the injector with what was already inside her.

"It was months ago, I'm fine. No side-effects as far as I can tell."

Alex was silent during this time, trying to take in all this information. But if her face hadn't already said it, she was about to now.

"I'm sorry, you did what?"

You can't even pick out just one of the things she listed and make it seem like it was nothing. Was the heavens just dropping off things you could inject yourself with?!

"It just appeared?" It's not the fact of the reappearance that's thrown him -- people wake up to find weird shit in their rooms all the time. But for Ginia to get back something like that... If Gojyo was keeping Ginia prisoner, he sure as hell wouldn't give her another dose of her magical healing machines. It doesn't make any sense that it would come from Amaterasu.

So who did it come from?

"I mean, that was fucking stupid of you," he grumbles, fixing her a judgmental stare. Injecting herself with something that just showed up on her bed? What the hell. "But who the hell would send you a gift like that?"

Ginia shrinks a little as Alex turns on her with the unhappiest expression she's ever seen on her god. Yes, she knew it was a risky thing and that was exactly why she had Archer around to check things with his abilities and keep an eye on her, but she still feels a bit cowed right now.

So she frowns at Gojyo and waves it off, hiding behind a slight defensive pout.

"I know, that's why I had Archer keeping an eye on me and making sure it was safe before I did it. No clue where it came from though, it just appeared in my room."

In her pen jar, but she's definitely not voicing that.

"And you swear you haven't felt anything wrong since then?" Why is it the people she knew were always so willing to put themselves at risk like this? Was Alex upset? A little, yes, but it was worry more than anything else.

What if it hadn't gone well? Alex's hands clutch at her lap.

"Like I said, it's fine if I don't overuse it. If I do, rest helps."

Which isn't that reassuring, but it's the plain truth of things. Ginia reaches over and gives Alex's hand a squeeze, signing to her.

"I'm fine, really. But if the chance arises again, I won't do anything without your permission."

That wasn't what he meant. He'd meant to call attention to the fact that this gift was a help, that it really was starting to seem like there was somebody out there helping them, giving them back memories of the other people here and returning beloved pets and clothes that were clearly well-worn. Like vials of healing robots.

But that can be a conversation for later.

Hands on his knees he stands, immediately stuffing his hands into his coat pockets. He's not built for the cold, apparently. "This part doesn't concern me," he demurs, nodding off to the side. "Unless you want t'know anything else, I'm gonna go."

A help or a catch with an unpaid price down the road. Ginia is thankful for the functions the new nanites offer even with the possible side-effects, but the possibility things may backfire on her sits at the back of her mind. Memories too may be - sometimes are - a hindrance. Whether this is a gift from someone wanting to help or a curse remains to be seen.

She looks back at Gojyo, expression leveling out as her fingers tap on her phone.

"Is there anything else that's safe to share?"

[ His gaze lingers on her phone longer than necessary, when he finally looks up, it's with a half-shrug of regret. There's nothing he wants more than to tell her everything she showed him. It's not right to keep it from her, to give her her memories back just for a dream, and not even one she got to remember when she woke up. There's nothing he can...

...Well. There's one more thing he can share. ]

You like girls. But I'm betting you already knew that, too.

[That was not what Ginia expected to hear. She grins and huffs hard, rolling her eyes, but relaxing a little.]

Yeah, I know that too.

[There might be a small quick glance Alex's way. What?]

[ So she's into her god, huh? Heh. There's a lot of that going around. Here's hoping it works better for her than it has for some others. ]

Then I think we're good. [ He nods at Alex, tosses Ginia a wink, and sets his feet back in the direction of Goku's temple. ]

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/lyrics about secrets

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