thenearshore | 008

[From here.]

Do me a favor and don't bother mentioning any of that.

[The praise, that is... Hazel couldn't hear it, don't call him out!! Anything else is fair game, of course. Hmm, and he's not sure if it's a good or a bad thing that Zeno has nothing noteworthy he can think of telling Hazel. He's not sure that Hazel needs any more to shoulder, but at the same time, he does want to know that someone knows a little more about his past than he does. But does it matter? He has his feelings, his personality... Maybe not.]

Here he is. Let me introduce you.

[His steps slow a little once Hazel finally is in conversation-distance. It's probably a ridiculous sight, Jae-Ha holding this smaller teen with some cupcake smashed into their clothes, and a perfectly good cupcake in Zeno's hand. But that's fine. He's sure he must have felt some of those reunion feelings.]

Hazel, I wanted to introduce you to someone who knew me from home. This is... Zeno. Zeno, this is Hazel. He's the man who happens to be my partner— my god.

[He sure has been feeling residual dragon reunion feelings... He waved at the one with the big hand, which has been all of his involvement so far, until Jae-Ha abruptly declared he was going to go find someone and bring him back. That's fine, he supposes... He has nothing else to do but stand around drinking picnic punch.

And yet, he's not expecting Jae-Ha to come back with a kid not only on his back, but food all over his clothes. He's stuck on that, glancing up from the smeared cupcake to nod politely at the kid— Zeno. He'd tip his hat, but he didn't wear it, which is a great fortune for everyone.]

Hazel Grouse. [watch as he doesn't mention his stupid god name at all, because he's bitter,] Pleasure's mine, sir.

[......okay, Jae-Ha,] Y'got a lil somethin'... there. [This gesture is indicating pretty much of all of him, since there's so much cupcake. Wow.]

[Okay, so Jae-Ha said no hugs or jumping on, but if he hops down off Jae-Ha's poor abused back and reaches to clasp Hazel's hands, will he be rebuffed? Does that count?

Wait, cupcake in the way. Pause on that.]

It was gonna be for you, Green Dragon just kinda got in Zeno's way.

[But here, he offers the intact one.]

Zeno's the god of youth! He... [???] be... [Or something, he barely remembers his original name without help, he's not really going to try with this one.]

Zeno might have worried about Green Dragon, but he seems happy, perfectly happy. Zeno must thank you for that.

[Oh, there he goes... He can't stop this child (hah), so he just gives Hazel a slightly apologetic look from behind Zeno. He's well aware of the cupcake all over himself, thanks, so he's just going to gently try getting that off now...]

You should take that cupcake before he gets over excited with you, as well.

[Cupcake... He'll take it, and hold it kind of awkwardly, like he doesn't know what to do with it. No one's ever handed him a cupcake in greeting before, and it would be untoward to stand here eating a cupcake while meeting someone... not eating a cupcake...

Cupcake etiquette is absurd. And why is he talking like that? Oh, lord.]

Well, I'm just... We've been doin' alright.

[He can't help but - glance at Zeno, up and down, wondering. Where are the scales on this one?? He's curious.] ...Thank ya kindly for the cupcake.

[...Zeno just smiles. Weird how you overthink things when you're young. Just eat your cupcake it's okay he won't judge you.

He doesn't judge Hazel for the scrutiny, either, he will just. keep. smiling. With fangs.]

Zeno's just surprised to be a god of all a sudden. Nothing like that's ever happened before, not to my knowledge. [Drink a god's blood to gain its powers, sure. Actually become...] Any guidance for Zeno will be gratefully accepted. Anything at all!

[Come on, Hazel, he's kind of cute, right? Well, Jae-Ha thinks he's a complete weirdo, but at the same time, he's a little endeared... He doesn't know.]

So you see, I simply had this feeling when Zeno appeared that "yellow" was close by. He calls me Green Dragon, so it seems I was right all along!

[Thank god that's not enough to turn him ayakashi. It's just a name!!]

[He's a tiny cupcake delivery man. They have one thing in common, at least?? Jae-Ha's odd dragon thing doesn't make much sense to him other than... well, he believes it. But that's about it.

Right all along... very nice, dear. Anyway, God Business.] I'm afraid I don't have any advice for ya about bein' a good god besides don't let yourself get caught up in it.

[He's trying not to be so visibly bitter, all for Jae-Ha's odd little friend's benefit. Appreciate his effort.]

Edited 2016-09-24 23:11 (UTC)

Oh! So you're very modest. Take him as your model, Green Dragon. What were you bothering people with, that you feel the need to explain yourself like that?

[Of course you were, silly. You have a big scaly green leg, what else would you be.

Though that is good advice. What a tightrope act... The god he respected most was the one who lowered himself to walk among the humans-- but he did so as a king. Now Zeno's apparently done the opposite? Doesn't seem quite so noble.

Then again, when his soul returned, it was to a disgraced princess who chose to really walk that walk.

Anyway. Not the time. Focus on Jae-Ha's friend, who is clearly on his best behavior. Wants to make a good impression? Just being pleasant for Jae-Ha's sake? Can't guess; still very much appreciated.]

Zeno hopes there aren't many or any gods like that here. At the same time, Zeno isn't too hopeful.

Hold on, a minute... Can we go back to "modesty?" Who's modest here? I need you to point it out to me.

[He's going to be obnoxious like this on the side of their god conversation because Hazel, modest... Excuse.]

I keep to myself, more or less. [He really has no interest in the way this place is run, so he emerges from his old man reading cave just to post on the internet or go shopping sometimes... Truly, a social butterfly.

He doesn't have the latest gossip on all the other gods, is the point. But the serious look on his face immediately dissolves into a Winning Smile(tm) when Jae-Ha objects. Ha ha. Ha!!]

I'm plenty modest.

[Did Zeno stumble upon an argument they've had before, he wonders...]

But you were so proud of yourself, and he wasn't, even though he could have said all kinds of things to Zeno about what wonderful things he did as a god.

Right, god guy?

[Can he call you god guy.]

Edited 2016-09-25 06:44 (UTC)

His name is Hazel.

[An instant correction from the Green Dragon... Well, it's not that much of an argument, it seems.] You're too gullible, Zeno. If you walk around like that, I'll end up worrying for you.

[Thanks, Jae-Ha... god guy, urgh.]

I reckon that's a fair point. [Jae-Ha's, actually.] But I'm not in the business of braggin', anyway.

[...annnnymore, never mind.]

[Awesome, god guy it is.]

Zeno'd be gullible if Zeno believed anybody. Zeno only believes Green Dragon right now.

[Besides, you'd worry about him anyway... Jae-Ha is a good big brother like that.]

What kind of business is the god guy in? Or was in, before becoming a god guy?

If you're going to believe me, then could you believe me when I say you should call someone by their name? It's Hazel. You're also a "god guy," you know.

[Don't be a brat, Zeno!! He's trying to make good first impressions here...]

[Gaze.... if he's called god guy one more time...]

Well, I'm mostly kept busy mindin' this fella when he gets rowdy. [take one for the team, Jae-Ha.] Nothin' that'd be of any particular interest to ya, besides that.

Zeno knows that, yes.

[Jae-Ha, you are a dear, sweet boy, but Zeno has forgotten more names than you will ever even hear. Moving right along.]

So that's a full-time job, then? Zeno would offer to help with that, but Zeno's so powerless, it wouldn't do any good.

[Okay, what the fuck, don't call him rowdy, that's not beautiful. He shoots Hazel a look for that, like, this is the thanks he get for name defending? But none of that matters the moment Zeno says that last sentence.

Jae-Ha slides closer to him, hands held up in his curiosity.]

Hang on, are you really powerless? It's true that I can't see any scales, but Kija has that hand [he's squeezing his hand in a gesture] and I have my leg, so wouldn't it make sense that you have something as well?

[Shush, Jae-Ha. Hazel gives him a look right back, the staring equivalent of a shrug. Whatever!!

But he's just going to look at Zeno after that, too, since he's been wondering where the weird dragon parts are on this guy, himself... Share with the class.]

Hmm, and Blue Dragon has his eyes, too...

[Zeno taps his chin thoughtfully, once, twice, thrice, just to

draw

out

the

suspense...]

Edited 2016-10-01 05:16 (UTC)

Aah, Zeno's body is strong!

[Triumphantly, he makes this statement, with no explanation and no supporting evidence, and no intention of supplying any in the near future. He's short and scrawny with no muscle definition and baby-smooth skin and if they question it, eh.]

So Shin-ah's eyes are the secret behind that mask? The eyes can't be scales, can they? I have to see them.

[Thanks for giving him this life goal. But anyway, after that big reveal, he gives Hazel a look like but where are the scales, before slowly reaching over...

And pinching Zeno hard on the arm.]

[Dragon eyes... Alright.

Well, he'll just keep standing there waiting, looking at Zeno to see what he does about this pinching. This is what makes Jae-Ha rowdy, see...]

[Look, that was a very manly and dignified yelp of pain right there.

Because that hurt, for all of six seconds, and Zeno can already feel the pain receding when he slaps Jae-Ha's hand away, then immediately clutches his arm where he got pinched. Clamps his hand down on it before the redness starts to recede and runs and hides behind Hazel.]

W-what was that? Hey! [Turning a tearful stare at Hazel!] Zeno thought you had him under control!

[Hand still clamped over the "wound."]

008 | OVERFLOW

+ Zeno, Hazel

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I FORGOT I HAD TO RE-TRACK THIS jesus

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