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Who: Kenren and YOU
What: Wine, freedom and... not fertility, fortunately. // Being a loser who hides in trees.
When: April 8th - 14th
Where: Outside Liber's temple // Outside Menrva's temple
Warnings: Casual drinking, will update if anything else comes up!

April 8th - 15th, Outside Liber's Temple

[ Kenren likes people-watching and unfortunately, since his temple is at the top of a hill and not exactly accessible, it's hard for him to do that from the comfort of his own home. As a result, it's not strange to find him sitting at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to his temple with a jar of sake that he uses to refill a cup every now and then. Sometimes he does nothing but sit and observe the occasional passerby, sometimes he's reading a book or fiddling with his phone... whatever the case, if you happen to make eye-contact with him he'll happily (shamelessly) wave at you. Feel free to approach your friendly neighborhood loser for introductions or, conversely, come judge him for his questionable habits. ]

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April 13th, Outside Menrva's Temple

[ Kenren had noticed something peculiar going on with his emotions. At first he thought it was just his own messed-upness over the fact that he was alive once more and a god once more and trapped in Corrupt Heaven once more. But no... these emotions were too sudden, too random to make any kind of sense at all. And just like they came, they would also go pretty quickly, leaving him pretty confused.

Until, around the 11th, they started being a little less easy to ignore and making Kenren start to theorize if this all had to do with the shinki he'd named during the school attack. It didn't click at first because his own soulless shinki never gave him any "trouble", but this was how these relationships were supposed to function, right? Humans had emotions and their gods were supposed to feel them...

He'd said he would stay as far as possible from their maybe-reincarnations, just to play things safe, but this morning things had started getting pretty unbearable (even for his own standards). He still had no idea what kind of relationship he was supposed to have with Sanzo, especially considering all the complications involved, but what he did know was that he wasn't the kind of person who could calmly ignore somebody else's intense emotional turmoil.

And so, he did what any self-respecting former general would do: he headed out to Menrva's temple, found the bushiest and sturdiest-looking tree in the vicinity and climbed it to settle somewhat comfortably in one of the branches. Ambush? No, this was nothing of the sort. It was simply taking necessary measures to avoid being seen by the other residents of the temple while still being able to keep an eye on their movements in order to approach Sanzo at the best possible time.

Hopefully no one will be around to hear his stomach growling loudly after an hour or so has passed, it would absolutely be a shame for his flawless cover to be blown like that. ]

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[CLOSED TO SANZO]

April 14th, Outside Menrva's Temple

[ Anyone in their right mind would think that if your super stealthy strategy to wait for Sanzo to emerge from the temple had failed once it might be smarter to come up with a different one, but Kenren doesn't know enough about his shinki to think of a better plan. And so, for the second day in a row, he climbs up the tree outside the temple and begins the wait (one could even think he finds this sort of thing fun).

At least today he was smart enough to bring a couple of snacks. ]

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[Hakkai had found himself debating whether he even wanted to have this conversation enough times: yes, of course it's Sanzo's business and not his, just as the name Gojyo had left on Sanzo is also not his business.

Sanzo, however, is not displaying an excellent track record of handling his own situation sensibly, and so, Hakkai finally stops himself mid-debate, packs a plate of meatbuns as a guest gift (and an excuse) and starts out to find Kenren's temple.

It's a relief, as he approaches, to see that Kenren's hanging out on the steps at the bottom of the startlingly long staircase to a distant hilltop garden. It'll be easier, for one thing, to retreat from this conversation if he has to, he thinks, and heads for the stairs.]

Good afternoon! Excuse me -- do you happen to have a few minutes to talk? There's something I've been meaning to speak to you about....

[ The familiar voice is enough of a warning for Kenren to know what to expect when he looks up from his phone, but his face still spells Confusion and Uncertainty. There's a number of topics this could be about, but they're all more or less equally ominous.

Still, after a second he manages to change his expression into a friendlier smile. ]

Heyyy, yeah, I'm not busy. [ A short pause. ] Is it... something you'd rather discuss more privately? [ He tilts his head, gesturing towards his temple. ]

It's really nothing serious!

[Hakkai glances out at the path: still, they're not alone here, and Kenren's offer isn't a bad one. It's not that Sanzo seems particularly ashamed of his new name-collecting habit. It's simply that Hakkai's not sure how widely he wants any information on that spread.

He smiles politely, lifting the plate.]

But perhaps we should speak elsewhere? Ah, it's late for this, I know, but I brought by a little housewarming gift.

[ Kenren stares at the plate a little. Ah, that's right... Hakkai had helped him in the kitchen, after all.

They're almost 100% sure this group is made up of their future incarnations, but Hakkai being essentially the same soul as Tenpou is something he still can't come to terms with. Sure, they're very similar on a superficial level, but anything beyond that... ]

Oh, hey! Thanks! [ After stuffing his phone inside his pocket, he stands up, takes the plate and picks up his sake. ] And yeah, we can talk elsewhere. I hope you don't mind stairs.

Not at all! You do seem to have quite a few of them, though, don't you?

[Hakkai glances up, and up, the endless staircase.]

Are you perhaps the god of aerobic exercise?

[It would sound like an absolutely genuine question, except that the glint in Hakkai's eyes is a little too innocently curious.

But what would another version of Gojyo be the god of? If they're the same soul, he can't shake the sense that they should either be the same god, or that something is deeply wrong with the Heavens. Something being deeply wrong with the Heavens, of course, is not news. But speculation about that isn't what he's here for; he's curious, but it's just small talk until they're far enough up the staircase that he can bring up the subject of Sanzo.]

[ Kenren gestures for Hakkai to follow him and starts heading up. ]

Quite a few's puttin' it mildly. [ Chuckles. ] Not a big fan, to be honest, they can be a pain when you're...

[ He trails off. Oh, that's right. Hakkai wasn't just joking, he hadn't had a chance to properly introduce himself with his god name before. They had both been so taken aback by the similarities that it hadn't come up. ]

I'm Liber. God of wine, fertility and freedom.

[ He makes a point to not look at Hakkai as he says this. He should feel free to draw his own conclusions (or not). ]

...When you're drinking at the bottom of them? [It's not even judgmental; Hakkai's just prodding curiously at the edges of those similarities. There are as many differences, he thinks, as likenesses.

For one thing, Kenren seems to prefer sake, which is one point in favor of his taste.]

I'd wondered how much you had in common. It's almost the same set of domains, isn't it?

[Except for one. Freedom.

Interesting.]

Drunk, I was gonna say. On the upside, I have pretty good tolerance overall.

[ He wasn't expecting or looking forward to another incident like the one a few nights ago, at any rate. ]

Haah?

[ He blinks at Hakkai. He'd thought the point was to play things safe and not bring up their possible (near confirmed, really) connections, but if Hakkai wanted to... ]

Almost, yeah. According to Tenpou they're more or less the same god—just different pantheons.

[Hakkai meets Kenren's bewildered expression with an unperturbed smile. There's playing things safe, and then there's acting stupid, and considering the fact that Hakkai seems to have survived unblighted through a lengthy argument over dinner about whether their doubles are or are not their other incarnations with Sanzo and Gojyo -- he sees very little point in playing stupid.

He supposes he'll have to apologize to Tenpou for all the awkwardness of their first conversation at some point, too, considering. What a pleasant thought.]

I do wonder what it is that decides your new roles. It can't just be random.

[He glances up at the staircase ahead of them. They're still only about halfway up, but it should be enough to make their conversation private.]

... Ah, what I really wanted to discuss with you was Sanzo, though. He mentioned that you'd given him a name.

From what I've noticed with my group it's pretty thematic. As if somebody knew what kinda people we are and then assigned us.

[ Kenren pulls out a pack of cigarettes (the same brand as Gojyo's) from his pocket and lights one up. ]

So yeah, definitely not random. But that's to be expected, right? Weren't we assigned here by Amaterasu or something.

[ Oh, and there it is. So this was about Sanzo after all. ]

In my defense, he kinda forced me to do it. It was for the best, though, we really needed the help.

[They are the same brand as Gojyo's. Hakkai waves the smoke away from his face; it's a particular odor. It's strange how a scent can evoke emotion, he thinks. This one makes him feel far too much at home.

He isn't smiling as he glances up the staircase again.]

No, he told me he forced you into it. To be honest, I was a little concerned about how you saw the matter....

[ Sanzo had told Hakkai? Well that was a surprise. From their meeting, Kenren had assumed Sanzo wasn't the talkative type.

Were Hakkai and Sanzo close like Tenpou and Konzen, then? It would only make sense... ]

I don't mind it. [ He shrugs, noncommittal. ] None of us had our shinki with us at the time and we were stuck in the cafeteria with a monster.

Does he regret it?

[ If so, he should probably see about releasing him. ]

Oh, I don't think he'd admit it even if he did.

[Hakkai's return shrug is tiny, barely a movement of his shoulders as he crosses his arms.]

It's just that it's a powerful bond, and I wondered how you felt about it.

[And, also: Sanzo hadn't spoken of it as if it were anything he planned to deal with. If he wants to act as though it's meaningless, and he bears his own burdens, that's his right, of course.

Hakkai just doesn't see why he has to follow the other shinki's lead.]

How I feel in terms of... what? [ He chuckles, a bit awkwardly. ] Emotionally or physically or...?

[ It doesn't help that he can't figure out whether Hakkai is here to be protective of Sanzo, or the other way around.

Not that Kenren needs protecting, but if Hakkai is aware of how the whole naming ritual went down... well. ]

[Hakkai shoots Kenren a dry sidelong look.]

Emotionally will do, unless he's been stinging you that badly.

[Not that Kenren needs Hakkai's protection; but Sanzo's enough of a loose cannon to worry him right now. Threatening gods into naming him, then insisting it's meaningless, for one thing.

If he's stinging them all under the facade of not caring, Hakkai feels like this might be a much more serious problem even than it appears.

(He wouldn't be sure from Elsa's behavior. He's been stinging her far too often himself.)]

[ Kenren reaches up to scratch the back of his neck unconsciously, though if Hakkai looks it should be clear there isn't any blight or anything of the sort going on. ]

Not really. As for your question, I didn't really notice what was going on until recently... I mean, yeah, there's things going on, but it doesn't seem to be anything serious.

[ That, or Sanzo is really good at repressing his emotions, which he supposes is the case. ]

[Hakkai does glance at the back of Kenren's neck in reflexive concern. He's seen enough blight by now that he lets out a quiet breath when he sees no discoloration under Kenren's fingertips.

Either it's not that bad, then, or Sanzo's techniques for keeping himself from blighting his gods are more effective than Hakkai's.

Which wouldn't really be a surprise.]

There's been something going on with him?

Edited 2016-08-20 06:25 (UTC)

[ On the one hand, he doesn't think it's okay to tell other people about things they only know themselves thanks to some magical soul bond thing going on.

On the other, Hakkai and Sanzo are... friends? Maybe? Which is more that can be said about his own relationship with the priest. ]

I guess? Nothing too serious, some aggressiveness and frustration? But I got the impression that's normal for him. [ This was all extrapolating from Konzen, but Hakkai didn't need to know that.

Just like he didn't need to know about Sanzo's... hormones. ]

As far as I can tell, yes!

[Hakkai wouldn't go so far as to call Sanzo a friend. They've barely known each other for a month, after all. Acquaintance is as close as he can come.

And "junior shinki of the same god," which is what makes him feel responsible enough for the man to do things like this.

It grates oddly. It's become blatantly obvious that he and Sanzo knew each other somehow in life, but he doesn't know how, and he doesn't know what he might once have known about the other man. They can talk practicalities easily enough. Anything personal, though....

Well, that's at least half Hakkai's own fault.]

Is it a problem for you?

[It's not stinging, but he can certainly see how it would be distracting.]

Not really. Nothing I'm losing sleep over or anything like that.

[ Having reached the top of the stairs, Kenren starts mechanically leading the way across the gardens, towards his actual temple. Hakkai said this wouldn't take long, but they're already all the way up here. Plus, he brought a housewarming gift and all, it wouldn't be nice to have it while they aren't inside the house, he figures. ]

How about him, though? Does he hate it?

I think he hates being a shinki. I wouldn't say that he particularly hates being your shinki.

[More that he aggressively refuses to care whose shinki he might be; which, well, if it's working out for him, Hakkai doesn't see how that's reasonable but he supposes everyone copes with it in their own way.

He's not happy with anyone holding that kind of power over him, himself. Perhaps it makes it easier for Sanzo to think of the bonds as individually meaningless if he has enough of them.

Speculating about Sanzo's motives, he decides, is probably just going to leave him with a headache. He glances around, instead, raising his eyebrows in polite appreciation.]

You have a lovely garden.

[ That's slightly reassuring, but at the same time it doesn't help Kenren figure out what to do about Sanzo. ]

Haah, well. At least it's not personal? [ He's only half-joking. ]

Thanks, gotta say I'm pretty happy with the home they set up for me here, but at the same time it's way too big for just one person. I'm not used to this at all.

[ Which is why he wastes so much time sitting at the bottom of the stairs. A Kenren needs much more social interaction than what he can get by holing up up here. ]

Not at all. I suppose that's something.

[It's a very large house indeed for one person. Hakkai's mostly startled by the one person part, though. He shoots Kenren a curious glance.]

... You don't have a shinki? Apart from Sanzo, that is.

I have one, but she's... [ He gestures vaguely with an awkward face. ] Not like other shinki? Pretty quiet, mostly sticks to her own business. [ Like she's not entirely there... ]

So, even if she's there, it doesn't always feel like she's there—if you know what I mean.

Oddly quiet, only speaks when spoken to, for example?

[Is she one of those... strange shinki? Like the one that Gojyo has? And Sho's other, more silent one....

Hakkai eyes Kenren dubiously. He finds the very existence of those shinki disturbing. It's as if they lost more than just their memories in the process of becoming a shinki; as if they've lost who they are, too.]

I have seen a few of those around. It must be odd to share a household with one.

April 12th, late afternoon

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