stick with me baby, i'm the guy that you came in with [closed]

[sweetdeath]

Who: Tsuzuki Asato, Jae-Ha, Kija, Gojyo and Ronald Knox
What: Poker night!
When: May 1, evening
Where: Tajimamori's temple
Warnings: Booze, gambling and probably stupid arguments?

[Looks like it's a buffet style dinner! Some of that food over on the sideboard looks like Tsuzuki got it from a supermarket deli and reheated it. The deep-fried sugar-glazed sweet potatoes, on the other hand, are too burned and the sauce too drippy for them to be anything but homemade. And nobody would deliberately sell that gorgonzola spaghetti he's got in the center of the spread.

There's a couple of six-packs of beer in the fridge and a battered flea market poker set in the middle of the kitchen table, and Tsuzuki's hovering by the front door ready to greet his guests. Kija's going to have a fun night out! Tsuzuki'll make sure of it.

And hey, with any luck, the rest of them will have a good time too.]


[ooc; feel free to make top-levels and tag around mingle style! it's a party: go wild.]

Comments

[razzledazzles]

[Well, Hazel can wonder in the middle of his night of old man relaxing why Jae-Ha is getting so angry. Honestly, the heat from his anger at this might even be felt by Kija, with how Jae-Ha is glaring into his beer.]

Is that so? Do you need me to have a word with him?

[Not that Kija can't take care of himself, but more like a subtle extending of an offer if he wants backup...] Anyone who can stand by and do nothing as a girl suffers is absolutely despicable.

[bighand]

[Somewhere, Hazel looks up from his book and wonders. But Kija just continues to look sad about this poor girl, while he fiddles with the corner of a card.]

I... do not know what to do. He is so reluctant, he seems to think those people praying to him would be better off if he did not even try.

[Now he looks at Jae-Ha, just to look confused. Who even thinks this way??]

[razzledazzles]

So his excuse is low self esteem?

[What a load of crap, Jae-Ha thinks, still stewing here angrily.] He's mistaken if he thinks sitting around and fishing for pity is any sort of effort.

[bighand]

I cannot even be certain of that much. [It is truly amazing how little they actually exchange words, and yet maybe not so amazing, considering Kija's efforts are all met with annoyance at best. He doesn't want to give up, but...]

It's... hard to handle.

[razzledazzles]

Kija...

[His fingers curl around his beer a little tighter as he frowns at him. Why can't he do anything...!!] I'm sorry you have to deal with this. If he's really like this, it may be best to consider your options.

Have you thought about finding a god on your own? [Tsuzuki suggested this, so... He'll try offering it.]

[bighand]

[Mm... Konzen had suggested that too, but before Kija woke up on Youji's floor. He's uncertain about it, especially after everything he's been told about how a shinki's duty is to guide their god - is he doing his duty at all if he quits to be with someone else? They did not quit Yona, even when she refused to use their weapon forms—]

I— want to be useful.

[Jae-Ha: let's make sure Kija has a good time
also Jae-Ha: brings up what makes Kija sad on purpose]

[razzledazzles]

[Useful... He doesn't like that word at all, and yet he's already come to admire what Kija can hold himself to like this. So he understands. Or at least he thinks he does.]

You are useful! [He's very determined to get this across, setting his beer on the table to grip Kija's shoulder with his other hand.] You've been putting in all of the effort on your own. Don't decide your value based on the inaction of someone else.

[bighand]

[Oh-!! Jae-Ha!! How supportive.]

Do you think so? [That is a good point... But then,] I wonder if I am supposed to motivate him, before I am able to move on.

[You know

like his good friend Ukoku said.]

[razzledazzles]

[ukoku is a bitch]

You're not "supposed" to do anything more than what you feel is right. How can you motivate someone who won't listen?

[bighand]

How can I leave someone who will not help themselves in the most obvious way? Do you know our gods are dependent on people's belief in them? No one will believe in him if he does not answer their prayers, and then— if that happens—

[And then, Jae-Ha!! And then!]

[razzledazzles]

He'll only have himself to blame.

[Jae-Ha is quick to interrupt with that, leaning a little closer to Kija with a small frown. It's sweet that he's so caring, but for him to be dealing with all of this isn't fair at all! This isn't on him.]

The people who previously relied on him will find another god who does answer their prayers, or they'll move on on their own and be stronger for it.

[bighand]

[He has a point... It's good that Kija always prefers Jae-Ha's opinion to anyone else's. He stops picking at his cards finally, with a little sigh.]

I suppose you are right... Perhaps he will come around, even so.

[razzledazzles]

[Ugh... Kija is sad, and Jae-Ha didn't want this at all. But he couldn't just leave him to think and shoulder this all on his own. He had to bring it up! So now, Jae-Ha doesn't know what to say at all. He doesn't have any good advice, he only has guilt and his own sadness and irritation.

So, instead, he decides to express that he's here in a way that's a bit more clear than words. He reaches over with a free hand and rests it atop Kija's head, looking at him fondly. He is here... For whatever good that does.]

[bighand]

[Oh... Jae-Ha touching his head always makes him feel like he's about to burst into tears, but usually for a good reason. This time is no exception, aside from the good reason part. He gives Jae-Ha a watery smile, because he's definitely not crying!! He's not!!]

Jae-Ha... I am glad you're here. [He reaches up with his human hand to take hold of Jae-Ha's and squeeze it fondly as he lowers it from his head. And then he holds it with his dragon hand, too, sorry Jae-Ha but it's dragon affection time.] Thank you for supporting me.

[razzledazzles]

[Poor Kija... Jae-Ha lets him hold his hand with both of his own, even ignoring if he might squeeze a little too much. He can take it for this. Those tears aren't something that he should be seeing in this sort of situation. So, his free hand reaches up to thumb them away.]

I'm like a big brother, aren't I? [He smiles, even if really he's at a loss and very angry at other people.] Aside from our bond, we were companions and friends first. I'll do my best.

[bighand]

[Jae-Ha...!! Jae-Ha is truly the best. Later, when Kija drunk cries on him, it will be because of this.]

I— I could not ask for a better big brother!! [big brother!!!!] I will get stronger thanks to you, so please don't worry about me!

[razzledazzles]

Alright, alright, you don't have to get emotional.

[He says, as if Kija isn't always emotional. He's actually endeared, but there's only so much he can take like this...] You're plenty strong.

[bighand]

[He's always emotional, it's true. Now he's probably squeezing his hand too hard, sorry bro.]

But I will become stronger.

[razzledazzles]

[Ow, stop...]

I understood from the beginning, don't worry. You're also squeezing my hand with that claw of yours, so could you stop?