Heaven's BBS | Video

[heartshutter]

From: Minerva
Date: August 17th, morning

[ Pursuant to a conversation he’s had with Shizuo, Tatara’s become curious about a particular topic he was a bit too exhausted to delve properly into, (especially with a man he’d just met).

But, who better to ask than the Far Shore?

So Tatara flips on the video feed, his face clearly visible. He’s seated at some kind of breakfast bar. a countertop covered with odds and ends of knickknacks. A fish, (who may or may not be familiar to some), in a small tank swims in the background. ]

Good morning~!

A friend recently mentioned something to me -- something called an “ablution”.

Previously, I knew only that they’re for a shinki who has been very bad, and blighted their god. But, I wonder... exactly how bad would a shinki have to be to warrant an ablution? What’s the process like? What are the chances of success?

[ He pauses here. In immediate retrospect, this all looks pretty bad, doesn’t it? So Tatara waves his hands at the camera feed for a moment, shaking his head. ]

I’m not asking for myself, of course! [ A patter of nervous laughter. Neither of his shinki have done nothing wrong, he promises! ] Just curious, that’s all!

Comments

[toremainbehind]

[No, don't give him that smile. He'll go to your temple just to bonk your head again.

He sighs.]

What did Shizuo tell you?

[heartshutter]

[ There's awkward laughter at that sigh. Please let him live, Izumo. ]

He mentioned he was in an ablution about a week ago, but... he seems like a very kind man who maybe just lost his temper.

I wonder... what could he have done that would have made him need that kind of intervention? How many times would he have needed to do it to cause such harm to his god?

[toremainbehind]

It can happen to any kind person, Totsuka.

[There's a pause as if Izumo really wants to say this before:]

It depends on the amount of guilt he holds inside of him or how much anger. It's easy to hold secrets, especially if you don't want to do anything to upset your god. [And really, Shizuo is a special case.] But it can be different depending on each person so I wouldn't use Shizuo as a comparison.

[heartshutter]

[ There's a long pause after that explanation. ]

...You two really are like brothers, aren't you?

[ This said based on how much Izumo seems to know about Shizuo's specific situation. But! That's beyond the point. ]

So you're saying even pent-up feelings can blight a god? It doesn't need to be actions?

[toremainbehind]

I won't deny nor confirm anything.

[For a good reason.

He hums.]

That's right. While actions may play a part, pent-up feelings can do damage just as bad.

[heartshutter]

[ Tatara hums as well, adopting a sort of sly grin. Are they actually brothers or are they something much closer than that...? ]

But... feelings just don't go away, Kusanagi-san.

[ HE KNOWS THIS. Trust him. ]

So if those feelings are hurting a god, how does an ablution help?

[toremainbehind]

...It's more than just that, Totsuka. Let's say that I experienced something, things that I haven't bothered to tell anyone when it's obvious that I should and it can gradually form into guilt. The longer I go without telling anyone about it, it can turn out badly, especially if guilt or anger is added to it.

[...Just hope Izumo never gets that bad of a blight.]

An ablution is a process to help purify the shinki. However, the blighted shinki will have to confess everything - every negative feeling and why they have it.

[heartshutter]

Mm.

[ Tatara nods, but looks contemplative still. ]

So it could be avoided with communication?

[ That’s what he’s gleaning from this. Who knows -- maybe talking things out does help them go away; that’s just not what he’s experienced. ]

Why does it hurt them, then?

[toremainbehind]

....

[Izumo is quiet for a moment, unsure of how much he should actually divulge on the public network.

He should've made this private the moment he answered Totsuka's video.]

You're at your temple, right? I'll be there shortly and we can continue this talk there.