kuroi_taiyo: (51)
Judar ([personal profile] kuroi_taiyo) wrote in [community profile] thenearshore2019-01-06 02:57 am

To Remain Behind

Who: Judar, Cu Chulainn, Chikusa, Ken, Chinatsu (maybe some more???)

When: March 15th

Where: The Central District

What: Everyone else in Xihe's temple disappeared, leaving just Judar and his things on an empty lot. Things result. Seems pretty extra? Think of the people who were in that temple. Seems about right with that, don't it?




Not long before the announcement went on the network, with Aymeric announcing the disappearance of Izumo, Judar woke up to a cold and rude awakening. Cold, for there was no longer the influence of the temple's nature, but he was also outside. Just as all his things were around him, on the ground. Clothes, papers, electronics and the 'caffeine' machine, as Judar had dubbed it.

No building, no people, no horses taking up space- leaving him alone.

For a good few minutes, there was the shock of everything being the way it was. The next few were filled with laughter at how ridiculous it all was, given the thoughts and kinds of conversations he's had. And instead of going through all the steps of grief and loss, Judar focused on one step as the splotches of darkness started covering his back and neck.

Anger.

Spirals of lightning to the sky, looking like violent purple dragons as tall walls of ice took over the empty and abandoned property to leave the teenager to further fits of fury hidden behind the magic-made barriers.
futhark: (51)

[personal profile] futhark 2019-01-13 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Caster does raise an eyebrow, just slightly at Ken's words. Chikusa and his partner had a long history here, that much he was aware of, but that's the detail that he didn't know. Is being sympathetic to the plight of the abluted individual a good thing or not-? He'd say "yes", personal investment can make you more focused after all, but there are different schools of magic.

When Chinatsu arrives he gives her a nod, as a welcome, because yes, no time for sarcastic remarks or throwing trollish comments at each other. Then Chikusa starts his in-depth explanation and Caster grows even more serious than he was before.

Yes, yes that's possible. ]


Thanks- I'll keep all of that, in mind. [ Hopefully it won't be needed but- It is best to keep someone on the line. Shun, Hakkai, someone capable to strike down an ayakashi when he himself won't be able to do much. But against everything he hopes that won't be necessary. If Judar is to become his shinki - even if just temporary, even if just for the ablution - he is going to give his all. Severe blighting isn't something he had to suffer, true, only stings from shinki and bites from ayakashi happened. No idea if runes could help, but just be sure he takes a break to write on himself rune fortifying his endurance.

He can take it, sure. ]


I'm counting on you, everyone, Chikusa.

Since you're the one who is kind of leading this whole endeavour now. No pressure. Then Caster turns to Judar- thinking of a name to give him. He wants to live-

Man, you're really down in the dumps- let's drag you out of there.

[ And that kind of gaves him the idea for a name. Sorry Judar, it fits double if not triple times for your favour of black clothing and your magic that clearly seems to have some "dark" attribute to it.

Caster gives everyone time necessary to prepare before he starts to chant the naming spell. ]
junkyarddog: (We gotta get gone)

[personal profile] junkyarddog 2019-01-14 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ken's face screws up in concentration.] Cú...Chulainn... [He does his best with pronouncing the entirely unfamiliar words. He does his best trying to recall all the other fancy, formal, unfamiliar words, as well, although this is a bit easier; he'd learned them for Ayumu's ablution, after all. At the end of the day, he's just going to be following Chikusa's lead; it's not like he knows anyone else here except Judar, and Judar's the one they're here to help so he's not exactly participating in the strictest sense of the word.

He'll wait, with only a touch of impatience, as Caster goes to fetch Judar.]
futhark: (fight)

[personal profile] futhark 2019-01-20 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ That's his cue. Caster raises one hand. The sooner he names Judar the better. The spell won't fail just because he got a weird name, right? Right?? That would be like the worst example of his bad luck- Their bad luck even, because for some reason, Caster thinks Judar hasn't been blessed with good luck either.

Superstitions, sure. ]


We'll walk it off.

[ Caster says through his teeth as he helps Judar get into the place they need him to be. If he can stand, he'll get the support, if not, he'll get carried. Caster already can feel the sting of blight when skin touches skin and it's going to be worse. He'd give them both a rune of endurance but- shit, who knows how one magic system can interact with another. He's not going to risk making the ritual harder than it already is- no walk across the park for anyone here

That's his cue. Caster raises one hand. The sooner he names Judar the better. ]


Tch- My name is Cú Chulainn. Grasping thy true name, I bind thee here. With a borrowed name, I dub thee my servant. The name answers, the vessel to sound. I call thee as my divine instrument. The name, Judar, Kurai. Come Kura--

[ His voice almost gives in, into unrecognizable sound- they weren't joking about the blight. He feels it spread in dark patches along his neck and shoulders. to think the kid was carrying all of it during their fight? Caster is impressed. The naming is successful, sudden bloom of blight being the most obvious proof. Flashing memories being next- Dark places, light places- Power, talent, magi, kingmaker. Is the role chosen or is the role forced upon. The anger following doesn't even comes as a surprise.

God's greatest secret, even if Caster might try and make sense of the images later, it's not something that should be spoken.

There is no time for properly celebrating the vessel form shinki might gain either. No time to fully realize what it might be- too caught up in the visions and stings. Voice hoarse, he calls the shinki back. ]


Return Judar

[ They need him human, for the ritual to work. And he probably should move- away, to not be a problem it when it gets worse. ]
kokuyoyo: <user name="tigerparty"> (I woke up with a yoyo in my)

[personal profile] kokuyoyo 2019-01-20 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[Judar, he's a douchebag, not a psychopath, and you're frankly no better. Perhaps it's because of this knowledge, along with overwhelming smugness and a sense of urgency typical to ablutions, that Chikusa just ignores him so readily. Instead, he begins to stride off, going to one side of Judar.]

Then, Ken, Chinatsu- [Amazing, he remembered her name.] Get ready.

[He'll wait for them to pick two other points before his hand raises up, ready for a borderline to connect with the others.]

To safeguard the name, dedicated to Cú Chulainn, and have its spirit wiped clean… Cast off thy impurity and extinguish thy carnal mind, thou bright, meek, upright soul. Strip thyself of uncleanness and be thou also pure. Purgatory!

[Here they go.]
redmare: (ugh)

[personal profile] redmare 2019-01-21 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ When he stumbles, her body almost moves to go help him, but Chinatsu felt a strong urge to puke. It was the same feeling she got around ayakashi..Witnessing how bad blight could affect shinki and their god was a first for her, and overwhelming.

But she wasn’t about to get sick and weak in the knees here. They needed to get Judar out of that state quick. She does as instructed, repeating Chikusa’s words and creating a borderline to connect with Chikusa’s and Ken’s once they start. ]
junkyarddog: (Before I ever give up)

[personal profile] junkyarddog 2019-01-22 08:14 am (UTC)(link)
Don't call Kakipi names, we're here to help you. [Ken's grousing is muttered, and short-lived. He's not even really sure Judar's in a state where he can listen - and certainly there isn't much time for his complaint to register before the ablution is being set up.

During his own ablution, Ken had been too sunk within his own misery to take note of much else around him. Now, seeing the way Caster is obviously in pain after naming Judar, he feels some faint distress thinking about Hakkai and Roy going through that for Chikusa and himself...it sinks in for him, rather belatedly, just how significant an act it is for a god to name a deeply blighted shinki just to help them receive an ablution.

When (if) Hakkai wakes up again, maybe Ken owes him a thank you.

But all that is distracting, so Ken tries to put it out of his mind. When Chikusa recites the words, Ken parrots him carefully, repeating his words exactly to make sure he gets them right - it's a lot easier to just repeat after Chikusa than to try to memorize it, anyway.

This ablution isn't going to end like Ayumu's. He's not so close to Judar that Ken would be devastated if he died or anything, but...Ken doesn't want to fail again. And he definitely doesn't want an ayakashi hurting Chikusa again.]
futhark: (hood; incisive)

[personal profile] futhark 2019-01-27 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ So that's how the ablution ritual goes. It's a purifying ritual, that much Caster always knew- but the sheer intensity of it wasn't what he expected. The blight itself is bad enough. It's sort of like a burn, but under the skin instead just of on the outer layer. That's familiar, that's not nothing new. The other part is what truly hits with the unforgiving force. When the borderlines cut off Judar of the world outside- doesn't mean that they cut them off from him. Oh hardly so.

What shinki feels is god's burden and it has never been as true as it is now. Caster finds himself kneeling on the grass, one hand clawing the ground, while the other holds painfully on the staff- last attempt to keep himself upright. The despair isn't his, the terror isn't his-

But why there is such a punishment for feeling simple grieving and despair upon losing someone? He grits his teeth, convinced to endure, he's good in that, right? In enduring. It hurts, but he had it worse, -that's what he reminds himself as he watches the blight stains showing at the uncovered parts of his fingers. ]


You have to tell us Judar- [ He's stubborn enough that he manages to keep his voice steady, even if it's strained. ] -what have you done?
boneofsword: (my chance to redeem)

[personal profile] boneofsword 2019-01-27 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[The last thing Archer expects to see is what awaits him here. An empty plot of land surrounded by ice walls, ablution already happening, and Caster on his knees, visible parts of his skin showing signs of blight.

Goddammit, you glory hound.

A sudden spike of anger mixed with protectiveness and pride vanishes in a second. It's no time to add his feelings to the burden.

For such a tall guy Archer walks soundlessly to Caster, intent on helping him up. Ignoring the blight immediately spreading on his skin. Only when Caster is standing again he turns to the shinki. Huh, he knows all of them. Chikusa, his partner Ken, and the girl, Chinatsu. Then there's Judar, blight covering almost all of his skin. It's not exactly his first choice for another shinki, but it could be worse.

What's important right now is to get through the ablution with least amount of losses.]


((ooc: feel free to pass him in tag order, since I don't want to bloat the thread too much. Archer will just stay there))
Edited (adds ooc note) 2019-01-27 18:50 (UTC)
junkyarddog: (And we run for this killing love)

[personal profile] junkyarddog 2019-01-29 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
You gotta tell us what you feel guilty for, byon!

[Ken sounds...distressed, which is because he is. He doesn't know much of anything about Caster, or Archer, or even Judar, but he knows they're all suffering right now. (Archer less so than the others, but he's only going to get worse if he keeps letting himself be blighted by Caster.) And while no one would call Ken an especially moral creature, Ken has known enough suffering himself to have some empathy when people he's got nothing in particular against are hurting.

And, of course, more than that - he's been in Judar's shoes himself, racked with grief and guilt and pain at the loss of his god. Worse still, there's fear - he knows what happens when ablutions go wrong. And the last time one went wrong, Chikusa died...or almost died. (He's still not quite sure which; he doesn't understand how Chikusa's becoming a hafuri really worked. Did it save him from death, or resurrect him from it?)

He's got a number of reasons to not want to see Judar become an ayakashi here, and some of them are pure self-interest.]


Your god wouldn't have wanted you to become an ayakashi, right? [This is a bit of a stab in the dark; Ken doesn't even know who Judar's god was before they vanished. But if Judar feels this unhappy at losing them, then they were probably nice to him.]
redmare: (angry shinki)

[personal profile] redmare 2019-02-01 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ Chinatsu flinches when Caster drops to the ground, not realizing how much pain even the god went through. Thankfully, Archer appeared, and knowing someone was attending to Caster helped her keep her focus. ]

This isn't the time for your stubborn ass!

[ She knows there's guilt in there, even if he puts the blame on others. ]

Whatever comes to your mind, just say it already!

[ If he can't think of specifics, if he says whatever comes to mind something was bound to be in that list. ]

Don't you dare die from this!
Edited 2019-02-01 07:27 (UTC)
kokuyoyo: (Can't believe I ate straight coffee)

[personal profile] kokuyoyo 2019-02-01 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[In contrast to the others, as always, Chikusa stays stoic and quiet. He doesn't have the empathy that his partner has, nor the involvement Chinatsu seems to. All he can add to the efforts would be his borderline- the one which Judar lashes out at. As the energy slams into his barrier, it flashes a watery shimmering blue but still holds strong.]

[Judar's energy might weaken things.. but so do Rain flames, whose very essence is meant to be that of 'tranquility'. Combined with the fact that Chikusa's line is one of the strongest in the Far Shore, and it holds up more than enough.]

[With that settled, Chikusa glances behind him slightly towards Archer. Good. Another set of eyes in case Caster can't hold up well enough.]


...Tell us if it looks to be too much for the god.

[The same thing he told Caster, only a few minutes ago.]

[Chikusa turns his attention back to the ablution, not wanting to be reckless with such a trobulesome situation.]
futhark: (wounded)

[personal profile] futhark 2019-02-02 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ "Tell us if it's too much?" What are they thinking- that he will, just... give up at one moment? That it will be too much to bear and he will say "enough". The ritual cut-off and leave Judar left off to die?

He killed his best friend, he killed his son- his beloved mentor put him through training from hell so one day, one day, he'd be strong enough to kill her and he failed that. He raged on the battlefields and refused to stand down, to fall down, even as his body has been chipped away-- Why would he care about the pain? It's a fact of life, why escape something you can't? ]


Sure you didn't. No one ever does. [ People might ask for happiness, peace, glory, and success, but no one actively wishes for the pain and horrors to be inflicted on them ] Rage all you want, I acknowledge your anger! Get it all out.

[ He probably shouldn't be egging Judar's on- but he's not really that much for begging for forgiveness either (what is there to forgive anyway, wouldn't understanding be more important?). But those emotions had to be got out of the system right? That's what the core what this ritual is about, he thinks. That's purifying of the soul too, he thinks.

Caster strengthens his grip on the staff. It's not an oak tree but it has to suffice. Dig the roots deep, he won't fall again. He's silently grateful for Archer to help him get back on his feet - he'd rather really face it like that if he could choose. The fact that Archer is doing his best to not be a distraction on top of that is also something he notices. Idiot, idiot, stupid stupid, they all are fools here. But let that foolishness be worth something ]


What have you seen?

[ Is that the memory that is causing this? Memories can be dangerous for a shinki, but he talked about those his people regained. They talked it out, and nothing happened. Maybe Judar never got that chance? And that's what ate him away ]
junkyarddog: (Who was fitted with collar and chain)

[personal profile] junkyarddog 2019-02-06 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ken gives Chikusa a confused, uncertain look.] Yeah, but...you're blighted as shit, byon. Blight only comes from guilt and ayakashi... [Or, you know, certain experimental poisons of Chikusa's but who's counting.]

If you didn't feel like something was your fault, you wouldn't need an ablution, right...? [Another questioning glance at Chikusa indicates that Ken's not entirely certain this is true, and is seeking confirmation, but that's at least the extent of what he knows about it.]

If there's other stuff you need to talk about, then talk about it, but it's only the guilty stuff that's blighting you...is the guilt 'cause your god's gone?
kokuyoyo: (Please don't place wagers on my)

[personal profile] kokuyoyo 2019-02-10 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
[For his questions, Ken gets a simple nod in response to the points he's tentatively bringing up. Whatever nonsense Judar is spouting, this is how it is for shinki: Blight comes from guilt and ayakashi, and out of control guilt, that feeling of responsibility for whatever reason... That leads to ablutions.]

[Still, apparently Judar is still trying to make excuses for himself. Chikusa wouldn't expect anything less from such a huge pain in the ass. His voice is quiet, but pointed.]


Would you have even let him...?
redmare: (i'm serious)

[personal profile] redmare 2019-02-12 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Ask why all you want, doesn't change the fact that you feel bad about something.

[ If that memory he was talking about was the same as that dream, then he sure as hell can't say that there isn't anything he felt guilty about.

She gets that admitting something like that is...She sure as hell would hate it. But yelling at him to do it wasn't going to get anything out of him. ]


Hey, you better decide now. If you want to get better, I'll stay for however long it takes. But I'm not going to waste my time on someone who doesn't want to help himself.

[ If he'd rather turn into an ayakashi and die, that's his choice. But she certainly expected more from him. ]
kokuyoyo: (I mean I don't even call it a hangover)

[personal profile] kokuyoyo 2019-02-18 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sure that'd be easier for you... but that's too much work for me.

[Ablutions are time-consuming, difficult, and draining... but hunting down a ravenous ayakashi, often a powerful one if it's created directly from a shinki, is even moreso for all of those. So Chikusa doesn't move, instead tilting his head.]

[There's something else to his words that's bugging Chikusa... but he's not the best at people to pick up what it is.]

[Hopefully Ken can, the only one out of this whole trio with apparently any emotional skills.]
junkyarddog: (And we run 'til we fall apart)

[personal profile] junkyarddog 2019-02-20 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, this is bringing back bad memories in a flood. Ayumu...she hadn't wanted them to help her when they'd done her ablution, either. She'd refused their help, refused to confess...and then it had all gone so horribly wrong from there. And she'd blamed them...not for the outcome, but for even trying to help her in the first place. She'd acted like letting her die would have been more merciful than trying to keep her alive...or, if not more merciful, then at least more in line with her wishes, which had been to self-destruct in a manner of her own choosing rather than be saved.

She'd been...selfish. She hadn't cared about the consequences to anyone around her, wrapped up in her own pain and lashing out even at the people who wanted to help relieve her of it, with all the common sense of an injured animal who can't comprehend that its problems can be fixed or that there are people around who will help fix them. Except, unlike an animal, Ayumu was capable of comprehending...she'd just refused to listen.

Ken doesn't know enough about Judar to gauge what he'll do, or how much like Ayumu he might be. But he doesn't strike Ken as particularly understanding or selfless, and that's terrifying. The price of Ayumu's ablution failing had been high.]


Shut up! [Ken, that's not actually what you want during an ablution...] Stop being a dumbass! If we stop the ablution, you'll turn into an ayakashi and go on a rampage and probably hurt us and then you'll die anyway! The only way that won't happen is if you cooperate! You don't need an ablution until the blight's gotten bad enough that it's the only thing left!

And you're lying anyway, aren't you?! If you didn't feel bad about stinging your god you wouldn't be so blighted! You wanted them to stop you but you know you could've stopped yourself, too, and that's why you feel responsible! [Ken huffs a breath through his nose.] But it doesn't fucking matter, 'cause...it doesn't matter if you were stinging 'em or not. It doesn't matter if you were a good shinki or not. That's not why gods disappear. If your god didn't care about you stinging 'em, then they didn't care, which was kinda stupid, but...it's not why they're gone. Nothing you did is why they're gone. And if your god could forgive you stinging 'em all the time...then they must've liked you a lot. So they wouldn't want you to just fall into blight and die. And if you feel bad about anything you did or didn't do while your god was here, then...you can try to make it up to 'em by being faithful to what they'd want now that they're gone. So if they'd want you to live, then that's something you can do for them. Maybe it's the only thing left you can do for 'em, but it's better than nothing. And if they ever come back...you'll be here, waiting for 'em, and you can be proud of what you did while they were gone.

[A number of these thoughts are things Ken had hammered into him - or came to realize - over the course of his own ablution, but a lot of it is just the raw emotional intelligence and heart-on-sleeve eloquence that Ken alone, out of the entire Kokuyo gang, possesses. He's always been lacking in brains, but never in heart.]
Edited 2019-02-20 05:20 (UTC)
futhark: (last smoke)

[personal profile] futhark 2019-02-20 10:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Bless you, Ken, you and your heart. The disappeared god seemed to be the key or at least one of the keys (maybe most important one, maybe not- what was about that war memory) to this riddle that is Judar. Caster can't tell if Ken's words worked on Judar (he sure hopes they did), but what they accomplished for him was to separate the anger he felt from- well, himself. Among the stings, the blight it has become hard to tell if the rage singing was his own, Judar's or their both combined ]

If you really wished to die you could have just kill yourself or take my offer. But you wanted to live.

[ Caster's talking uncharacteristically calm. He seeks Archer on the bond, he barely finds him- calm and hiding his feelings, but ironically that silence is grounding right now. ]

So live Judar, and see another day.

[ The cooperation is required obviously, but everyone is here to help ]

Being left behind is painful. But Ken is right about everything here. Do you really think someone who didn't care about you would keep you around? [ Humans, god, whatever the guy was, aren't usually that stupid. Usually, aberrations happen everywhere. Guess they're kind of counting that Judar's god wasn't one of them ]

Or is this about the memory? [ The war memory. Was there a brief exchange of glances between Judar and Chinatsu? Could she know something? Or maybe he's imagining things under the blight and chaos ]

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