Heaven's BBS | ~Video~

[takenwithhim]

From: Sousuke Yamazaki
When: Early October

[It’s rare that he posts to the BBS; Sousuke’s quiet nature and sometimes-over-focus kind of leads to that little problem. Content to dwell with his own life and his own small circle of friends and duties. But sometimes, the private life just doesn’t cut it. Especially when said private life is the entire reason for breaking his silence and going outside that small circle.

The video feed clicks on with a quiet sound, light blazing from the screen for a second until it adjusts to the scenery. It’s soon obvious he’s alone. Considering the presence of a black jacket barely resting at the peripheral of the video’s frame, it’s likely he’s holding the screen to his side. Deliberately not pointing the feed at himself. Instead, there’s a lovely shot of a quiet patch of natural garden, complete with trickling spring, breezing of clear air, and the ever-present drizzle of pink sakura petals from the surrounding grove Eros’ castle temple is renowned for.


There’s a moment of silence, semi-awkward on his end, before Sousuke finally outs with it. His tone’s calm, musing.]

Can a god and a shinki be more than god and shinki? [A measure before adding in a lower voice.] Or will it make problems between them?

[Yeah, it’s vague, he knows. The nature of god and shinki is a complex relationship. But Sousuke’s not honest enough with his softer emotions and being open to other people to outright ask the serious/embarrassing question:

What happens if you find yourself attracted to your own god?]

Comments

[onehandsomeslickninja]

A god and a shinki? Or a god and their shinki?

[takenwithhim]

In my case, "a".

[The ramifications of "their" in this topic is ... wow.]

[Text]

[deniles]

[Ah yes, he recognizes you enough. Might as well help.]

So long as they don't have previous memories of you, I can't see why it would be a problem.

[takenwithhim]

[Oh yes. Mr. Teach him archery and more. Sousuke'd still be up for lessons.]

Why is that a problem?

[Actually, that's a serious issue atm.]

video;

[spes_phthisica]

[Souji has been here before, so he just smiles and leans his chin in his hands.]

I've thought about it before. A lot of people seem to think it's inappropriate and might make troubles for the god in question, because the Heavens don't approve.

[He shrugs lightly.]

But in the end, a god is still a god and can do as they like, right? And if my god cares about me in that way, I don't see why I should reject him.

[Souji making things sound more problematic than they actually are by accident. Must be Tuesday.]

[takenwithhim]

[Well at least he's not the only one curious about this thing.]

The Heavens don't approve? Why should they care?

[They're the ones that thought this whole amnesia-partnership would be a great idea. As for the 'inappropriate' part, it's not hard to see why that is.]

Aa. Gods have that freedom. Shinki have to be more careful about their feelings.

[steelguarded]

[The big man on the line looks extremely puzzled]

I don't know what you mean.

[Also blunt]

[takenwithhim]

[... blunt.]

Gods and shinki are partners. But if a god and shinki end up being enemies, rivals, friends, even closer than that, how does that affect them?

[Something like that.]

[kokuyoyo]

Just do it.

[....Well, at least he's a blunt soul.]

[takenwithhim]

[He can always count on you, Chikusa.]

Do what?

[This was a purely hypothetical post, RIGHT?]

[reformedsinner]

It depends on whether you're more worried about the problems it might cause, or the regret you'd feel if you didn't try.

After all, none of us can trust that we'll be here for long. I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about the future, in your place.

[takenwithhim]

The former more than the latter. The latter we can deal with later.

I know we're not guaranteed tomorrow. But I don't want to mess up today.

video

[waitingforhope]

[There were several minutes after initially watching the feed in which Mai played a sort of mime act. Opening and closing her mouth several times. Seeking words that never quite made it out. Absolutely, 100% interpreting the question as a god and their own shinki and trying very hard to suppress that mental image so she could be as objective in her response as possible.]

[And even when she finally managed to turn on the video for her answer, there were still hints of pink to her cheeks.]

I would think...that depends on the god and shinki.

If it's something they both want...then...it might be okay.

[takenwithhim]

[Well, she's in the group of respondents that gets what he's trying (and failing) to be subtle about. Congratulations.

Her response brings some relief, knowing there are others who have thought similar.]

Aa. It's the "might" I'm concerned about.

[Shinki don't want to burden or potentially blight/overwhelm their gods. Most shinki don't, that is.

So having this kind of change in that partnership is... well... unknown.]

video; private

[sharkmaid]

[They haven’t been avoiding each other since that day. They’ve still spoken, performed all their training and duties, even swam when they had the time. And yet there’s space between them all the same. A sensation he can’t put a name to, distance he can’t measure. He blames it on lack of communication mostly. They’ve talked... but not about this. They should... but they haven’t. Should it be his responsibility to address it first? Or is this another matter of morale and conscience that shinki are best left to handle? Truthfully, he hopes it’s neither. Because it isn’t a matter of gods, shinki or even these two shores.

It’s a matter of them. As friends. Partners.

Rin and Sousuke.

He wishes it could be that simple to accept. All that being said, Rin considers and hesitates for a long time after seeing Sousuke’s post. He’s clearly troubled. There has to be more he can do for him to ease his mind. But how can he do that without being overwhelming? This new string they’ve weaved together is already so fragile... Rin can’t bear to see it snap because of his carelessness. In the end, he does decide to weigh in on the subject, though when his feed flickers to life there’s nothing but the quiet sounds of nature from the other end for several drawn out moments. The wind in the trees, petals rustling through the grass, the faint trickle of water from the small pond nearby. Judging by the scenery, Rin’s not too far from where Sousuke is, but he’s giving him space all the same, tucked away in a separate section of the garden with his back against a tree.

A small white butterfly flutters across the screen then disappears as soon as he speaks.]

Regretting it?

video; private

[takenwithhim]

[Even while thinking about the post, Sousuke’s known in the back of his mind Rin would see it. Ever since that day—or that night actually—they’ve been separate. The normal, comfortable divide between them that is as flexible or rigid as needed had widened into an unnormal, uncomfortable gap. On the surface, it looked as if everything was fine. Conversation, training, godly duties, swimming, cooking, you never would’ve guessed. But the distance is there. They sleep in the same bed, yet it feels like there’s a room between them upon lying down. Always ignoring the proverbial blue whale in the room. Keeping silent about the very thing both of them are so confused and conflicted about. Who breaks first, who’s responsible for bringing it up, whose duty is it to have the answer?

There is no response.

It’s not exactly a matter of god or shinki, the two shores… Hell, despite what he’s just opened on the BBS, it’s probably not a public matter either. It’s a matter between them. Their friendship. Their partnership.

But, both of them are protectively stubborn and it’s not like either of them have the answer. So they stay silent. Until Sousuke finally gathers the guts to go outside his personal comfort zone and breech the subject to the rest of the Far Shore. Someone pointed out already that he neither pitched himself as anonymous nor blocked it from Rin. Considering the number of people that saw right through the swimmer’s attempt at subtlety, it’s impossible not to realize this conversation topic involves Rin as well. So… it’s entirely possible Sousuke brought this on himself to unconsciously force one of them to finally make a move. Turns out, it’s him that his own hand decides for. The topic’s out, the advice is in, and he’s made a decision.

And just like is normal for them, if one of the sharks move, the other is inevitably going to follow suite.

It doesn’t surprise him to see Rin’s feed appear (perhaps he hadn’t expected it so soon, but… moving forward). A small twinge of amusement that his god is nearby. Even with the discord between them, they’re not far from each other. Still, he appreciates the space. Time to think, learn his options, make a choice.

And now time to own it.]

No.

[He wouldn’t be so adamant on learning about any risks if he regretted it.]

Video

[clothes_make_the_man]

They can. It just requires trust and honesty.

[Forrest has strong feelings about this, and speaks from experience.]

[takenwithhim]

Gods can't always be honest with their shinki.

[It's kind of a requirement, considering the memory thing.]

Private

[koukai_kirai]

If you'll regret not being with them, don't let the Heavens' taboos stand in your way. Just be prepared to work through any emotional situations that might arise together with them like adults -- which isn't bad general relationship advice in the first place, to be frank.

Re: Private

[takenwithhim]

[It's good advice and he wants to take it. But it's not as simple as blowing things to the wind.]

I'm ready to deal with the emotions. And I could care less what the Heavens want.

I'm concerned about what it'll do to the god and shinki balance.

from: carl adler; text

[smilingbullet]

Not that I know for sure but wouldn't it be as much trouble as any relationship has the potential to be? It's something between more than one person, after all, and disagreements and things that can rock a relationship can happen, both in a relationship between mortals too, be it in an actual relationship or a friendship or otherwise.It might be seen as more problematic if it's your god, rather than any other god, but that's really up to you, and the god in question.

[takenwithhim]

Maybe.

A shinki and another god would burden the shinki's god with those feelings. A shinki and the shinki's own god would be another kind of burden.

It might interfere with the god and shinki's duties, but I don't have any proof on that.

[It's all speculation and jumbled thoughts on his end. He's trying to cover as many bases as possible.]

anon text

[yasei]

Like a sexual relationship? Sex is good, so I'm all for it.

Re: anon text

[takenwithhim]

[Blunt...]

That's one possible aspect, I guess.

text; from Archer

[boneofsword]

That depends on how adult both of you are in dealing with any problem that may arise. Be realistic and expect some to happen now and then, that's how life is.

If both of you are open and honest with each other it should work out in the end.

[takenwithhim]

Aa. Some gods can't be as open with their shinki as they'd like.

I want to understand and prepare for some of those problems now before we have to face them. Unfortunately, I don't think how adult we are affects some of them.

(Video)

[cieled]

I think any romance would be problematic. (But he thinks that in general, so.)

[takenwithhim]

Why?

[He's a guy of many words...]