[CLOSED]

[readerofthestars]

Who: Nageki and Josh
Where: Josh's home
When: April 2nd
What: A meeting
Warnings: Nothing except a depressed bird.

The text makes him nervous. Two moves since his arrival makes him worry. Less for him and more for the gods around him. It brings up a feeling in his chest--an understanding that he doesn't understand. Warning sirens against himself.

But still he comes to the the door. He knows he can't just walk away from things. He didn't have much to bring. Just the books he bought of Saitama. So he's really just standing awkwardly, holding them in one arm while he knocks on the door with his other hand.

Maybe, he thinks, this will be different. He hopes it will be different. (He hopes secretly that this new god will be someone like Sora or Hiyoko. Kind and excitable and someone he can live in the shadow of contently. Someone worth protecting.)

Comments

[leggierissimo]

So soon after Neku's sudden departure, Joshua had felt a similar attachment form itself, and he knew that he'd been reassigned. It wasn't Neku, though, and it wasn't Henry. Both had disappeared without so much as a word. This, though was different. Someone new, someone he only has a vague recollection of seeing before, at one of the welcoming parties...

And this one had a much more unpleasant means of death. Hm.

He's sent along an obligatory text in greeting and included directions, so all he needs to do is wait. Surely his new shinki wouldn't be too far away or have too much difficulty finding the place. Unlike many other gods in this place, his isn't exactly a temple so much as it is a small house. He kind of prefers it that way. It's much more comfortable.

"Well, seems like you found me without too much trouble." The response isn't coming from the door, but from the rooftop above it. It's really just a long balcony on the roof of the kitchen and dining portion of the house, but Joshua is leaning against the railing nonetheless, wavy hair framing his face as he looks down. Nageki gets a faint smile, and Joshua motions his hand off to his right - Nageki's left.

"Take the side entrance. It's already open. I'll be down momentarily."

[readerofthestars]

He stares up for only a moment. He glances off to the direction Josh indicated and nods. He's not a bird boy of a lot of words. He examines the house as he walks.

Grandeur isn't something he wants. Or likes. He's fine with simple. It's not like he's disappointed. But he thinks he shouldn't get attached. He's just getting to know the area. Just in case.

He's careful when he opens the door, shutting it softly behind him. He stands, quite awkwardly, in the doorway until Josh appears. Should he take off his shoes? That seems polite. But he'll just wait instead, until his new god appears.

And then, his expression still that apathetic nothing, he murmurs a, "Hello."

A bird boy of so very few words.

[leggierissimo]

It doesn't take long for Joshua to descend the flight of stairs that leads up to the room he's designated as his own, emerging not far from the side doorway. The garden entrances really are the most convenient. Not hidden, but convenient.

"You're welcome to take off your shoes. Just leave them on the garden porch. It won't rain." It never seems to. And yet, everything still grows just the same! Joshua is in sock feet himself, but his shoes are stationed at the genkan by the front door, with a pair of slip-on loafers on the aforementioned porch should he decide to use that entrance instead.

Nageki gets a quick once-over. He knows the boy's general background, and can read that he's already very wary. Two already, hm? And one was... mm. Now that is interesting. He's getting Sanae's hand-me-downs now? A smile plays on his lips, though more in amusement at the coincidence than anything else.

"I guess we'll be working together, then, Nageki-kun." He tilts his head, but doesn't offer a hand, keeping both in his pockets. "I'm Tsukuyomi. Joshua, if it's easier for you."

[readerofthestars]

He barely met his previous gods. He wouldn't call himself much of a hand-me-down. At this point, he hasn't even had his tag removed.

He slips off his own shoes, setting them outside before he comes further in. He doesn't know how to handle this situation. It's actually not something he's had to deal with despite this being his third time. What do you even say to a god who's in charge of your very being?

"I'm in your care, Mister Joshua." That's polite and the exact sort of thing Hiyoko would not say. He doesn't know why that's so quickly become his gauge for whether or not something is the right thing to say.

[leggierissimo]

Mister...? It's not something Joshua is used to hearing, and for a moment he has to pause to roll it around in his mind. Mister... Mm, no, far too close to 'sir' for his liking.

"Joshua will suffice." He waves a hand, finally removing one from his pockets, and turns to head in to the kitchen. He needs a glass of water. "You're overthinking it, you know. I'm not going to bite. This is a partnership, not a dictatorship. If you have any doubts, though, just follow my lead."

Taking a glass from the cupboard, he turns on the tap and fills it halfway. This one is interesting, to say the least... "You're welcome to come and go as you please, so long as you're around if I need you to be. But I can call you if that's necessary. Choose whichever room you like, by the way. They're all free."

[readerofthestars]

"I call everyone Mister." It's an automatic response, that should now include 'except Sora.' He wonders if he got this much reluctance when he was alive, by calling people with these sort of titles.

"I'm afraid I don't have any experience with the relationship we should share." He wants to be honest about that first and foremost. "I didn't work with my previous gods."

So all he knows is what he is and what he does. And honestly he's only gleaned that from the way Axel acts, and Ayumu treated him.

[leggierissimo]

"I'd prefer you don't with me, if it's all the same. 'Mister' is my father." Joshua takes a long sip from his glass, glancing over the rim and watching Nageki thoughtfully. Stubborn, hm? Stubborn is good. He likes stubborn.

He ends up taking a slightly longer sip than he intended, mostly focusing on the cool feeling of the water going down his throat and through his chest as he mulls over what he knows. So Nageki has never been used as a weapon. No combat experience. Not a terrible thing, all things considered. He never saw much combat here himself, with Neku or Henry.

"Sanae never used you, then? What a shame." The contents of his glass swirl for a moment. "I'll see to it that you get plenty of practice, then. Unlike him, I'm not as keen on wasting potential."

... he might be a little bitter that Sanae left without taking him. A little.

[readerofthestars]

"I never spoke with him after we met." Nageki is almost certain he shouldn't be so okay with how much it sounds like Joshua is speaking about an inanimate object when speaking about him. But he doesn't argue.

"I would tell you about my form and skills, but I've never been called before." He seems very apathetic, before he adds, "Mister Joshua."

Either he's testing the water here on disobedience or he's being a little shit.

[leggierissimo]

"I'm sure he got distracted and disappeared on one of his projects again." Joshua is casually leaving out the part about 'going home', of course. 'Home' is a very touchy subject for shinki with no memories, he's sure. And even if it wouldn't be, it's probably not a bad idea to refrain from mentioning it anyway.

Ah, but it certainly seems like Nageki is testing him. Or perhaps this is just how he is? Joshua isn't even irritated, though. Not yet. The intrigue is still strong.

"Ah, but I wouldn't be speaking to inanimate objects, Nageki-kun," he all but purrs against the rim of his glass, taking another sip as he leans back against the counter. "Give it time, though. We'll figure out what your talents are. Unless you're that eager to find out?"

[readerofthestars]

Surprisingly, Nageki is one of the shinki who isn't even bothered by his lack of memories. There's no point wondering about a world he's never going to be a part of, again. The only thing that would make him think about that, of course, is Hiyoko's insistence on their friendship.

He opens his mouth to respond before he realizes he never said anything about inanimate objects. He certainly thought it. But he never said it. And for the first time, apathy leaves his face, leaving confusion in its wake. Maybe this is just something gods can do with their shinki. He never asked. He's lost only for a second before the apathy returns with a vengeance.

"You were the one who said it was a shame I'd gone unused." Yeah. He thinks that's still on the same topic.