Heaven's BBS | Text

[yasei]

From: Anonymous
Date: September 7th

So this is just a hypothetical question (really, I swear on my shinki status) but what if a shinki gets named by someone they don't want to be named by, or if they change their mind later and the god doesn't want to let them go, do we have to go talk to some higher up god or can we just murder the god in question and get rid of the name we want to be rid of that way?

Comments

Text, un; Aditi

[bussounoshima]

It would likely be difficult for a shinki to murder someone that has named them, and it isn't guaranteed to remove the name, as the anon above mentioned. You'd be better off getting a third party- probably a god- involved on your behalf.

[And then they can murder them- or, well, threaten them until they remove the name. Whichever. Gods don't have to worry about being propped up against a wall in their vessel form and ignored anyway.]

[yasei]

Murdering someone is easy. But I guess there has to be a point to it. Unless the murder itself is the point, I guess. But asking a third party would be relying on someone else that you might not trust either.

[bussounoshima]

You have to deal with people you might not trust every time you leave the house. Find someone you don't mind relying on. Possibly more than one person, if that's more reassuring.

Otherwise, there's no way that I know of to force a god to remove a name. They have to be convinced or made to vanish. You would have to find a way to convince them or let someone else do it for you.

["Convince" probably means violence here. But it might not. But it probably does.]

[yasei]

That is true, there are so many untrustworthy people all around. You place some high, difficult demands.

I can’t figure out a way to make them vanish instead?

[bussounoshima]

[Not so difficult. Even Sanzo here can think of at least two people she could rely on in a fight, if she had to. Man up, Obi.]

If you can, I'll be very impressed.

[And then switching to private-]

On a serious note, how hypothetical is this really?

[yasei]

[ Well, he's new and has a hard time trusting. ]

Hmm, I see.

Completely hypothetical, what is with all this doubt?

[bussounoshima]

It's a rather specific question. Take it as a sign that we're all concerned for a stranger's safety.

But if it's hypothetical, I assume you're just preparing for a troublesome possibility. In which case I recommend getting outside intervention or possibly making the god's actions public. You'd be amazed what a public shaming can do, for a certain kind of person, and they won't find many among us sympathetic.

And, of course, there's a certain charm to just punching someone until they do as they're told.

[yasei]

There is really no need to be concerned, I really just want to be ready in case something does happen, and want to know my options. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Really? Does the people here care that much about someone they might not even know, enough to shame them and such, if somebody tells them about something like that happening?

I can agree to that. Some good violence can do a lot.

[bussounoshima]

There isn't. But you wouldn't have been the first to find trouble.

You'd be surprised. People can have great compassion for strangers. [Sometimes more than they have for their neighbours and friends.] But a god who would hold one shinki against their will isn't likely to be satisfied with just one. Other shinki and gods would want the matter resolved for their own sakes as well.

[Of course, some people get off quite happily with just one person under their control, but who can predict that?]

At the very least, I know of a few gods who have an interest in putting a stop to that sort of thing.

[yasei]

I don't doubt that.

Really? That's indeed a surprise. So it's more a matter of self preservation, self interest, basically.

Is that so?

[bussounoshima]

A cynic could describe all acts of charity and kindness as self-interest and egotism.

If you do find trouble, I've been told my ego is bigger than most.

[So don't hesitate to call. For punching or whatever other needs he may have.]

[yasei]

Then I guess I’m a cynic.

So a big ego is helpful in this case?