thefarshore | Heaven's BBS

[He's not even going to ask the nature of it. Why him, why now. Nope]

You're a shinki, is that right?

If that's the case, just name me a location. I can get around a bit more easily than you.

If you're going then take me with you.

My vessel form is small, so hiding me in your pocket shouldn't be a problem. [because 1) this obviously must be about the Hibari thing, and he doesn't trust anyone who associates with Hibari, and 2) he wants to eavesdrop damnit]

Are you sure? I know you don't like being in that shape for long.

I wouldn't suggest it if I disliked the idea. This form does have its uses, kek.

If nothing happens then it won't matter anyway, but you shouldn't go alone on such a suspicious request.

Guess it does make being covert pretty easy...

Alright, we'll go together then.

Good. Then I'll see you shortly.

The courtyard of Menrva's temple. I'll be waiting when you get there.

[Roxas doesn't answer, simply because he pops up not two minutes later. He may not have hit up the school himself, but that doesn't mean he hasn't spent time familiarizing himself with his new world.

So a short, black-clad figure pops up near the courtyard, hooded head turning one way and then the other in a slow survey.

Also there's an Add in his pocket, but pay that no mind]

Roxas.

[Hakkai's leaning against a tree with his arms crossed when the figure materializes in the center of the courtyard. Roxas is smaller than he'd expected, far less imposing: he's shorter than Hibari, isn't he? At least not much taller.

Uncrossing his arms, Hakkai moves toward him with an expression that's blank enough to be a little cold.]

I'm sure you've guessed this is about Hibari.

Even if I hadn't, someone I know saw this and thought as much.

[For his part, though Roxas tips his head back to look the man in the face, only darkness greets Hakkai from within his hood. The shadow is impossibly dark, and even the morning light fails to hint at illuminating whatever is or isn't there]

I would've thought I'd hear from his god, if anyone.

[Despite just how flat his tone is, the words seem more curious than critical. Someone who cares about Hibari on a personal rather than perfunctory level, he supposes. Imagine such a world]

I would be very surprised if his god knows.

[Hakkai pauses a few paces away, and tilts his head in a studied parody of thoughtfulness.]

Do you intend to release him?

[Originally, he thought that would automatically occur on its own, however... He sees no reason to state his ignorance, as it's simply that]

I don't want to keep him. He's not my shinki.

[And these are simple facts. It's more complicated than that, though]

He's got a habit of going after my shinki, and that concerns me.

He's yours now.

[Take some responsibility for your actions, Roxas. (Although this is more a shotgun divorce than a wedding....)]

Hibari does have some aggressive tendencies! But I don't see what that has to do with your giving him a name.

His assigned god is first.

[And therefore, the one Roxas acknowledges. At present, he's something of an auxiliary]

Didn't he tell you? [A pause, as he supposes not] An ayakashi was killing him. I've seen the look of someone who doesn't want to die before, and I had no other way to free him from it.

Yes, he did mention there was a fight. What I don't understand is why his habits with regards to your shinki have anything to do with it.

[Hakkai recrosses his arms. What is Roxas trying to say, anyway? Wouldn't it make much more sense to stay away from a shinki who'd caused problems for you, instead of naming him and keeping him?

In fact, he's a little surprised that Roxas didn't simply let Hibari die. That would have been the sensible course.

He won't discuss which god is "first," not if they've both named Hibari. He's not sure at all that there is a priority for a stray.]

If I'd kept his behavior toward my shinki in mind, it'd be more practical to let him die.

[Were Hibari to die, he'd experience some hard reset, but he can't imagine there aren't side-effects like there were in Monad. Not the sort of thing he suspects that he can discuss with a shinki, not when Add also came from that place...

Still, watching that and doing nothing didn't sit well with him]

But I'm not very keen on pointless suffering. It wouldn't have been a swift death.

[Hakkai lets out an exasperated breath. Yes, of course it would've been more practical to let him die, regardless of the pain involved.]

And you haven't released him because...?

At first, I thought it'd wear off on its own. After a while...it didn't. And I was left to question what he'd do to my shinki if I let him go, and what's going to curb his tendency to use his strength to take out his moods on those who aren't equipped to fight back.

[And flat as his tone is, there's an edge of carefully subdued frustration there]

He beat one of my shinki half to death. He threw another out a window.

Edited (reads more naturally this way) 2016-07-29 14:53 (UTC)

In other words, you don't want to give up your power over him.

[As much as Hakkai likes to think of his relationship with Elsa as one of equals, there's no doubt that a god does have power over their shinki. Power to sense their emotions, power to transform them. It's only the intentions of the god that prevent it from being wholly exploitative.

Hibari might have provoked him, but leaving a name just for control -- ]

I have no interest in doing anything to him. What I want is a solution, because the present circumstances aren't acceptable.

[To be entirely frank about the matter]

If it was about raw power...I could've killed him, like some other god did. That's within my ability, but what does that achieve?

[Hibari forgets, and maybe he just does the same thing over and over again. Not to mention, he's unsure what the side-effects are. Monad had glitches — what does this world have?]

I'm responsible for my shinki. For their safety and well-being. He doesn't respond to words, and he doesn't respond to force.

I'm not sure why you think he'll respond any better to forced servitude.

[Hakkai makes a tiny, dismissive gesture, flicking the fingers of one hand out without uncrossing his arms.]

Release his name. I'm willing to take responsibility for his behavior towards your shinki in the future.

[Like some other god did. That's news to Hakkai: he'd assumed that Hibari's earlier death was against an ayakashi, while he'd been separated from Ren during the mess in the park. Does Roxas know more than that? Had he seen something?

It's nothing he's going to bother asking until this problem is resolved, but it's something he will keep in mind.]

[It seems natural to surmise it was a god, as far as Roxas is concerned. Were it anything else, no doubt Hibari's own god would've responded to it sooner.

Thus, it comes down to a difference of immediate, raw force. To him it appears a straightforward matter, so he doesn't think he's wrong]

You know nothing about me, or my intentions. But you are good at making assumptions... If he's your friend, it's to be expected.

[But he's not letting it rest with that, folding his arms across his chest]

You call it forced servitude, but he remained in vessel form no longer than it took to eliminate the ayakashi that would've killed him. He's not my shinki, but at this time, I would intervene if his safety were concerned...and nothing more. I acknowledge I bear some responsibility until this is settled.

[Statements of simple, plain fact]

I don't change my own shinki's forms without their consent, barring cases in which they would otherwise be killed. That was discussed and agreed on. They show up to joint missions, they do their work...and some other shinki injures them. I've got no reason to believe you're going to stop him, because no one has up to this point.

[He puffs out a sigh only for the sound, looking at his shoes, and shaking his head]

Strength exists to protect... But I should be speaking to him about this, when he calms down. Right about now...

[Roxas trails off, taking a half-step back and unfolding his arms so he can pull up a sleeve. Blight's livid against his skin]

Right now doesn't seem like the time for it.

He bears the name you gave him against his will. Whether you're leaving him in his other form or not, Roxas, you're forcing him to remain your shinki, because he has no power to reject his name.

[Hakkai's gaze flicks unsympathetically to the blight on Roxas's arm, and back to the shadows of his hood.]

I don't know when or where he encountered you or your shinki. I wasn't aware they'd been attacked. Now that I know, I can respond, and I will.

Unless you'd prefer to allow him to blight himself, and you, to death, of course.

It appears from your condition that that is the other option.

I wouldn't let that happen. The shinki I was assigned to...they've got their own darkness, and I'm used to it.

[Roxas replaces his sleeve, having no need to leave his skin exposed any longer than that, and folds his arms again]

His god must've known, because I responded that first time. I healed him afterward, out of respect for the fact that his god is responsible for him, but he wasn't deterred.

[And so once more he'll visit the same ground]

As I said, I plan to talk with him, if not his god too. But if we're talking about his agency...making a choice in his absence, about his future, isn't any better.

As long as you leave the name you gave him on his skin, you are bound together, regardless of whose responsibility you believe he is or whether you use him.

It doesn't matter what you're used to if you leave him to be consumed by fear.

[Hibari had been incoherent: it will eat at him. It won't get better. How does Roxas plan to manage his blight: does he think he can just endure? Wait it out until Hibari thinks of that extra bond as normal?

Hakkai notices, with an analytical interest, that he is starting to get very angry again.]

I think I can say with confidence that if you don't revoke his name, you will die.

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