008 | OVERFLOW

[godsoffortune]

This is an overflow post for 008 | Sakura 2.0: You Can (Not) Have A Picnic. Please bring any further comments here and link to your threads at the original source.

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[maskeddragon]

[As he feels Zeno roll off him, Shin-ah contemplates for a moment before turning his head to look at him. Technically, he doesn't need to in order to see him; it's simply a gesture of interest and attention.]

Ze...no...

[That's just for testing the name. Shin-ah likes the sound of it. Having decided that, he abruptly begins gathering the petals around him, sweeping them in with his arms into a pile.]

[eternalshield]

[Zeno watches him do that with a lazy sort of interest. The heavy perfume in the air is getting to his head, somehow, and that's such a novel feeling, he wants to ride it out. He hasn't been dizzy since he was a kid!]

Are you thinking you want to jump into it again? [He skips any potential confusion and doesn't fight the smile on his face. Look, this is perfectly acceptable picnic behavior.]

[maskeddragon]

[Shin-ah doesn't answer him. Once he's collected a nice-sized pile, he sits up and takes Zeno by the shoulders, pulling him upright as well. Then he pushes the pile of petals where Zeno's head had been and leans him back down so he has a flower petal pillow.

Shin-ah noticed Zeno had to move that large medallion; the ground is probably hard, too, and he wants his god to be comfortable.]

[eternalshield]

[Oh we're manhandling now-- it is instructive to recall that Zeno is fighting cherry-scented drowsiness and wouldn't have the strength to break Shin-ah's hold even if he hadn't started getting used to this little bit of forgetfulness that, yes, we could use our words--]

What a thoughtful little gift. [Will it be taken the wrong way if he laughs... Surely a giggle isn't too much.]

You can see everything, even the things Zeno doesn't think to see.

[maskeddragon]

[That sounds like approval? It's strange, the relief and rush of joy he feels to have the effort welcomed and not shunned. He settles himself back beside Zeno, who doesn't appear to need anything else that he can tell.

He could be okay with this. Happy, even. A person to stay beside, do things for, and simply enjoy the company of. It's a nice thought.]

[eternalshield]

It's nice to have a chance to relax like this. Especially if we have to start answering all the prayers soon. It's nice to get a day off before getting started.

[Zeno will just chatter and let Shin-ah listen or contribute as needed. He does want Shin-ah to get to the point where he'll offer little sentences to answer questions he can't otherwise gesticulate.]

If anyone was listening to Zeno's prayers anymore, this probably wouldn't be the first thing to come to mind, but it's nice. Zeno didn't expect to enjoy the blossoms so much.

[maskeddragon]

...What's Zeno's first wish?

[Look what you've done, Zeno, just look. You've got him referring to you in third person too now.]

[eternalshield]

Aaah, would you believe it changes sometimes?

[He laughs. He doesn't really want to get into it quite yet... or at all if possible... The other three dragons' fates here are proof enough that it might not necessarily be what he hoped.]

Anyway, it doesn't matter. Zeno's first wish is just that. The first one. All the other ones aren't necessarily worse, they're just not what comes to mind immediately. There's lots of good wishes in there. Lots of people Zeno wants to see.

[maskeddragon]

[Would he believe that? Shin-ah isn't sure. Something about the phrasing of Zeno's response feels off. Maybe it's the fact that a first wish is likely to be both; it comes to mind first because it's at the top of the list, the most keenly felt want. Which doesn't exactly make Zeno lying... just avoiding the actual answer.

Until he doesn't, and Shin-ah thinks he's grasped it anyway. Lots of wishes, clarified as lots of friends. Each wish is a different friend he wants to see, which condenses down into--]

You want to see all your friends again...

That's a good wish.

[eternalshield]

[Did he say that? That's it, though. That does strike at the core. He wants to rest, too, but he's always equated the two.]

Zeno doesn't think gods get their wishes granted, however. Or if they do, it's in service of the prayers they're answering.

[maskeddragon]

[Zeno doesn't think that he's going to get that wish granted. That seems sad to Shin-ah. But it sounds like a possible avenue for achieving it is available. If it will help-- if it even just might help...]

Then, let's answer lots of prayers.

[He wants the wish to come true.]

[eternalshield]

Answering prayers for Zeno's own gain might be dangerous.

[Not to mention the work-to-reward ratio might not fall where they liked.]

But Zeno remembers wishing for the ability to make people happy, too, so that would absolutely count, right? As a wish granted.