thenearshore | what's happening here (mostly open)

Entry tags:

what's happening here (mostly open)

Who: Hazel and Keito, Hazel and Pals (you)
What: pal stuff, yahoo answers
When: April 29 and/or later, I'm not picky
Where: around....
Warnings: well, the links contain questionably nsfw text, and the Jae-Ha thread contains definitely nsfw text, oops

APRIL 29.... hello Keito
[It's real nice of that Keito kid to have made all of these worksheets for Japanese study, really. Hazel was surprised the other day, when Jae-Ha suddenly delivered them to him with his usual Jae-Ha flourishing, but he's kind of touched by it too... Hooter Kid isn't so bad.

The problem with having a magical spoken understanding of a language but only a very basic written understanding of it is this: he still can't read some of this. How does he do practice worksheets if he can't read them??

He decides he might as well call Keito, because why not call someone he's only ever spoken to on the internet. That's fine. Ring ring, nerd.]

A. YahooAnswersTXT
[So, as a (false) god with a domain of great things like love and youth and poetic inspiration, the prayers Hazel gets custom-tailored to himself sure are... as interesting as one would expect. Since he's been thinking for a few days now about what he should actually do as a (totally fake) god, taking into account his misgivings about the whole thing but still wanting to help normal people— well, he's decided to check Aengus' shrine every so often to see what he can do.

For the people. The people who really, desperately need help with love and youth, at least... The prayers manifest as plaques and handwritten tags hung on the shrine, so that anyone walking by can see exactly what he's dealing with, generally speaking.

Is this worth it... he doesn't even get paid, technically... He gingerly picks one up by its corner, not actually daring to pull it off the shrine in case that means he has to commit to it or something.]

Just one...? Mercy, I don't know what I did to deserve this.

[please..... this is harassment] The poor souls sure are in need...

B. hazel joins a gang
[Or: if you catch him in a variety of stores, he may be:

1. wearing a leather jacket, and shopping for more leather jackets
2. staring at a snack food and commenting that they Sure Are Tasteless Around Here
or
3. something else!! WILDCARD

He sure is out and about...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's... incredibly conflicting. He doesn't like to see people killed when they don't deserve it, so to see someone likely innocent turn into a monster who harms others... What's the right thing to do in that situation? It's a difficult question, but right now, all Jae-Ha can think is that if he had the power, he wouldn't have hesitated to kill the thing that was trying to attack Hazel like that.

He frowns down at the water, curling his own fingers loosely at Hazel's waist.]

After this clears up, do you want me to check?

[A monster is a monster is a monster. That's what he's gotten this far believing. A stray thought here and there has made him wonder about the youkai back home, and now the ayakashi here... There's something very different about a human spirit warping itself into something else, because there has to be. He doubts whoever that ayakashi was wanted that to happen— and...

There's another soul he couldn't do a damn thing for. But a monster is a monster, isn't it? Someone has to kill the beast, sooner rather than later.

Jae-Ha's grip on his waist isn't much, but it draws him out of his thoughts and his own grip on his shirt tightens again.] No. No, all ya have to do is stay with me.

[They couldn't do anything, but also—] We didn't do anythin' to take responsibility for.

[It's like Jae-Ha thought back when they were dealing with the ayakashi. It really was a good thing they didn't stay for much longer. He's sure Hazel would only be worse. The difference between this and the last incident must be the volume of it, he's sure, but also that he's here, not on the other side of a screen.

Forgetting about his leg for the moment, he turns to pull Hazel closer still. This time, he's facing him, his free arm wrapping around him to tug him closer. Come here. Sit beside him here and let him hold him close, that's all he wants.]

[The last incident— Goku, the boy, who he hasn't spoken a word to knowing full well he doesn't remember and what would he say anyway— was different. He knew how that would go, that the boy would turn into a beast, but it wasn't like this. A monster, purely a monster even with that single human eye, and him unable to do anything. Again. Which number of 'again's is he on now?]

Your leg— [This is his weak protest before he's easily tugged closer, pulled down to sitting properly and slumping into his hold almost immediately. He sure can't do anything to help anyone, here...! That's a terrible feeling, at best.]

[Shh, his leg will be fine. Right now, he's not so sure Hazel will be. So, keeping him close, he tries speaking.]

You're worrying. [Just in case it's not clear that he can tell. Of course he can.] What's on your mind, exactly? You're not blaming yourself for anything, are you?

[Wow, of course he can tell. Unlike some people, Hazel won't deny that he's in a bad way. So there's that.

He's slumped against Jae-Ha here, and finds a new part of his shirt to cling onto, but he's still looking at his leg in the water instead of up at his face. Ugh.]

For what? I didn't turn anyone into a beast. [What's on his mind... Where do they draw the line where empathy stops, and everything beyond it is only a monster? He always believed it was fixed.] There was nothin' I could do, besides.

[Hm. He shifts slightly to make sure all of his leg is in the water, one of his hands wrapped around Hazel to keep him close as the other grips his arm.]

Hazel. [He only replied to one of the things he said... It's clear that he's lost in thought, so he doesn't want to hassle him over it, but it's hard to know which horrifying thing he's focusing on to be able to comfort him.]

I'm right here.

[Ah— he's doing it again, he realizes, glancing up from the water finally. Jae-Ha is right here, so he should...]

I'm makin' ya worry after me again. [He'll try clutching his shirt less intensely, again, but not letting go. Just stay right there, and he'll be alright.

He's quiet for a couple moments.]

When do ya s'pose a human stops bein' a human?

[That's a little bit better, and that question tells him some, too. He's conflicted? Jae-Ha had noticed Hazel's strong opinions on monsters from their first meeting. His words when they were jumping away from that creature didn't have a single ounce of pity. He was only disgusted.

It must be different now that he recognized it was part human. Is that it?]

I think that depends. [He glances to where Hazel is clutching at his shirt, smoothing his hand at his back.] I still feel human myself. I might have this leg, this power, and I might be dead, but I wouldn't say that I've become any less human for it.

[He squeezes Hazel's arm again, lightly, and lets his hand slip down it a bit.] But I don't think that thing we just saw had much human left in it at all. It didn't seem like it had any idea or control. The eye must have been stuck how it was when he first changed.

But I also think that's up to everyone to decide for themselves.

[Hmm, yes, bringing up his own leg is really going to help Hazel's mood. At least, he thinks it won't when Jae-Ha first says it, looking down again, but - mm. If he thinks about it, there's a point there... he might be desperately trying to hear a point there, but there has to be one.

Underneath his moral conflict, though, there's the thought - is Jae-Ha more at risk, then, because of his leg? Is he already closer to becoming something else?

This is all bad for his heart.]

I figured. [That last part, anyway... Might be nice to have an answer he doesn't have to think about.] I've never... I've only once laid a hand on a human. That thing was a monster. So we're better off without it, don't ya think?

[hhhhelp]

[Hazel... This conflict goes way beyond just the stuff they've been dealing with here. He's too bothered for it to be something that's happened so quickly. Jae-Ha pulls back from his hug just enough to look him in the face, but is sure to keep his hands on him.]

I... don't think we should have any right to decide something like that. [What they're "better off" with or without, that is. But—] What I do know is that it tried to harm us, and it wasn't going to stop for anything. If that's what you define a monster by, then yes.

I would have killed it myself if I had the ability. The fact that it relentlessly went after you... [And him, but who cares.] That was all it took. It will be sad once someone takes care of it, but I don't think it would be wrong of them. I'd even say it was right.

Some things can't be helped. [Maybe his way of thinking isn't the best in this case. He's not sure what Hazel needs to hear, so he's only being honest with him.]

[Urgh, does he have to look at his face? Can't he keep letting his gaze drift somewhere else, while Jae-Ha talks at him? That seems easier.]

What's gonna be better about the world with a thing like that in it? [He has the energy left to cut in with this, insistently, before he falls silent for the rest of Jae-Ha's speech. He shouldn't be comforted by the fact that Jae-Ha would kill monsters for his sake, but he is. He is.

It was right. More than just that, everything he's said to Hazel just now, but it was right. A human turned into a monster today, and it will be right to put it down. Hazel wonders if that still counts as mercy.

It seems he still has things to think about. Now, though, he wants to lean closer into Jae-Ha again. Stop looking at him and let him sulk.] ...I killed monsters for a livin', before this cheap Heaven took away the power I had. Ya don't have to tell me ya figured it out already. [He's... not subtle!!] I s'pose I never had to think of 'em as bein' somebody once until recently.

[Poor Hazel. Jae-Ha wishes he was better at this comforting thing, but he feels like he might actually be the worst. Still, at even the slightest bit of a lean closer, Jae-Ha shifts to pull his leg out of the water completely and closes the distance to hug Hazel. The blight is gone now. He doesn't have to worry about that.]

When you're doing something like that, it's easier not to think about it. Sometimes thinking can delay everything, and before you know it, you're hurt. [He feels like he knows this well even if he has no idea why.]

But at the same time, it's only human to think about these things. [He squeezes Hazel in this hug.] It's okay.

[He'll be back on that in a minute; he's looking down at Jae-Ha's leg again, even, but he's so distracted he doesn't even notice. There's just his runaway thoughts, and his hug to keep him in the present.]

I was just angry. [Angry... and tired. He's more tired than he thought. He sighs.] Still, I don't think what I was doin' was wrong.

[So, there's that - he's got that much focus, despite all the sad feelings trying to win out. His grip on Jae-Ha's shirt slackens all the way, finally, and he slides that hand up around his back instead. Hugging... it will work. Jae-Ha doesn't think he's some kind of disturbed creep doing nothing right by anybody, so - that's good.

After a beat,] ...Your leg's all better now. [whoa!!]

I don't know the details of everything you've done with that where you're from, but I do know that you're a good person. I've seen that myself. I wouldn't stand by just anyone. [He slips this in at least, as they hug, taking a slow, deep breath. He can connect some of the things through logic and the bits and pieces of information he's received. Hazel's powers involve some sort of exchange and borrowing souls to bring back the dead, and now he's saying he killed monsters for a living? He gets it, he's pretty sure.

It just makes him hold on tighter. Despite knowing that, he doesn't think he'd say Hazel has done anything wrong. Even if there was some point where it was handled wrong, it must have been with good intention. That's what Jae-Ha thinks.]

My leg is fine, thanks to you. If only I could have done more...

[...Jae-Ha is a good person, himself. It's not that Hazel is angling for some kind of approval, at least not consciously - but he knows he's on the defensive, talking about how he hasn't done anything wrong without Jae-Ha saying anything like that. He's been thinking too much lately, that's all.

But Jae-Ha is a good person, and Hazel's first instinct is to move in closer. It's a haphazard hug on the ground and his knee's bumping against Jae-Ha's wet leg, but it doesn't matter as long as he's close. He can't think of anything to say to that, but surely the way he's progressively melting into this hug will convey how he feels about it.]

It's not like I'm askin' ya to go all out for me. [That worked just fine when it was with Gat, and Hazel was always prepared with the materials to fix him if something went wrong, but he can't do much here beyond drag Jae-Ha to holy water and hope it's enough. He cares, so don't get murdered, thanks.] But I appreciate the sentiment.

[And he'll still worry...]

[Sometimes he can forget that Hazel has all of this that he's holding onto. He might not be subtle about everything, but it only really comes out in serious moments like this. Here, with him melting into this hug so thoroughly, Jae-Ha only wants to pull him closer. He's not asking him to go all out, that's true, but Jae-Ha isn't a person who can so easily hold back when he could be helping. Even if that weren't true, holding Hazel closely like this, he can't help but think that he wants to keep him safe.

Keeping Hazel safe means he expects to stay safe himself, too, though. He'll have to remember that. He's just realizing that if Hazel hadn't been there, he might have been a lot more reckless with it. This time, he realizes that voicing his worries about not doing enough out loud doesn't really help, so he holds back any retort about how he'll go all out whether Hazel asks him to or not. It's just that he also has to keep in mind what would work or not. He is trying to stay alive... Hm.

For now, he hugs him and shifts a little more to close a few more inches, even if his wet leg is touching even more.]

Such sad expressions don't suit you at all. [He'll say this even when he's not currently looking at his face since they're hugging.] Don't go thinking I'm so fragile.

[Stop worrying...]

[Hmm, wet leg. Later he might complain about it, just to change the subject, but he doesn't seem to care just yet as he moves closer still. He sure doesn't hear an answer there, nothing like "no, Hazel, I won't go all out and get myself killed just because," but he supposes he'll have to make himself content with Jae-Ha listening to him. He's said it once, he can now bring it up whenever it suits him!!]

I'm not makin' a face. [He is making a face.] I'm just tellin' ya what I think.

[Without actually saying aloud that he doesn't know what he'd do if he lost Jae-Ha, because Jae-Ha acted too rashly and he couldn't do anything about it - that's fine. He's a tiny clingy mess, Jae-Ha will get the point well enough.]

You're just an idiot who thinks he can kick monsters that burn when ya touch 'em. [This is him being a baby, but also what the HELL.....]

[He sure didn't answer that. But that's fine, they have this hug, and Hazel seems to be easing up slowly, even if it's just with baby comments like this. Jae-Ha smiles, curling his fingers into Hazel's hair and watching it slip through.]

My right leg is stronger than you can imagine. So long as I kicked with that one, I don't think it would have ended as badly as you might think.

[He's just saying. That leg can't get cut, as far as he knows, when there are scales. Burning? He doesn't think that would be a problem either.] But it wouldn't have finished it off, and I had to be sure I could get us out of there. Are you complaining when I didn't even kick it?

[Don't point out the holes in his baby logic, he's Right... He's not looking up because Jae-Ha is a jerk, not because he likes those fingers in his hair. Not just because of that. Jerk.]

If you're gonna do somethin' ridiculous, I've got a right to complain. [Even if he was just thinking about it, that's enough to count.] That's surely my responsibility.

I haven't once left your side.

[He says that like it's some defense for doing stupid things, or talking about doing stupid things. He's busy playing with Hazel's hair, taking this as a chance to lean further against him.]

If you want to feel a little responsible, I'm still a bit too tired to jump. Let me just rest right here... [He's leaning even more...]

[Ah, he's a big idiot. Hazel knew this, but it's a helpful reminder.]

Well, don't. [Stay with him and his whining, thanks. This leaning, though - ordinarily he'd take this as playing around right off the bat, but after all of the monster attacks and subsequent angst—] You're certainly alright, aren't ya?

[He's having a feeling, gross.]

[Oh... He was trying to make things lighter, and instead Hazel is worrying like this? He moves his hand out of Hazel's hair only to rest on the top of his head.]

I'm just fine. [He is a little tired, for some reason, but he's going to assume that's because he's not used to this shinki business. Later, he'll have to suggest that they do some for-real practicing on smaller ayakashi or something. Right now, though, he's trying to make things nicer, so... Back to joking, more clearly now.]

I'm only trying to find an excuse to press against you like this. Is it a bad time?

[Is this technically being called out? Leave his feelings alone. He'll look up now, just slightly so he doesn't lose that hand. Hmm.]

You're gettin' my leg all wet. [He says, sliding his other arm around Jae-Ha to pull him closer anyway. Sitting on the ground, wet leg... not as important as hugs. This worked last time, but how well will it work when he's having 8 personal crises and not just creeped out by Ukoku?? Better try and see.]

Only your leg? I'd say that's an improvement from the last time you got wet.

[Look, they haven't even fallen in. He deserves a reward. He laughs, because he thinks a laugh is what they need right now, and smooths his hand down Hazel's head, fingers running through his hair as he does. He's probably messing it up a little. That's fine.]

Do you want me to take us home, or should we stay here for a while longer?

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