[ BBS | Text ]

[gentilitea]

Posted: January 4, 2017
From: Jakob

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It has come to my attention that the god Henir, otherwise known as Add, has sown chaos during my absence. As his shinki I deeply apologize for any damage he has caused, and would personally like to make reparations to the affected parties. You may reach me at [ IC Contact ] at any time.

Of course, I will personally investigate these claims before taking action, but rest assured that I will do my utmost to prevent any further trouble.

[ Or at least he’ll try to keep the damages to a minimum. ]

Comments

[abgrund]

[ THATS FAIR ]

But he did it when you weren't here. So it's not your fault.

[gentilitea]

[ He looks away at that. ]

I was his shinki before all of that occurred. [ So, you know, gotta take responsibility retroactively and all that. ]

[abgrund]

Does it matter?

[ is the question that slips out - perhaps a little slowly, but it is immediate considering Ain's way of speaking. ]

Do you feel bad?

[gentilitea]

[ …FUCK. Enjoy that sting, Add. ]

I should have taught him better.

[abgrund]

[ So he does. Ain is... not surprised, some how. It's a human sentiment. ]

It's not your fault.

[ Maybe he has to keep repeating it until Jakob understands. ]

All that is in the past now. [ It means nothing. ] He made those decisions of his own free will.

[ It means nothing. ]

How will he learn this lesson if you protect him from it? He must understand this by himself... he must.

[gentilitea]

He evidently hasn’t understood enough. [ And his reunion with Add is already enough to convince him of this. ]

And we have a duty to make sure he does.

[abgrund]

[ Ain closes his human eyes, and the aura around him recedes just a little. ]

If that is your wish...

[ They have different approaches about it, and Ain isn't here to question it too much. But there's a point he has to make, though. ]

I would rather you not do something that hurts yourself.

[gentilitea]

I appreciate the concern, but I’m much stronger than you realize. [ At least he thinks so, after everything Add’s put him through. ]

Not to mention…you once said you were trying to prevent him from deteriorating. That is what I am doing as well.

[abgrund]

[ That's what they all say, before the darkness comes. He doesn't really want to buy it, but he will out of respect. ]

I see...

[ Then so be it. He tacks on a non-sequiteur: ]

Are you a human?

[gentilitea]

[ He stops at that, finally turning around to stare at Ain. ]

And what, precisely, do you mean by that?

[abgrund]

Are you a human?

[ The question is repeated with Ain wearing a slightly mystified expression. ]

We are all shinki, but not all of us are humans.

[gentilitea]

[ Well that’s news to him. ]

Yes. Yes, I am. What of it?

[abgrund]

[ Ain eyes him with a slow blink ]

I shall keep that in mind.

[ Humans are so fragile, after all. ]

[gentilitea]

[ …Right. ]

You had better not be looking down on me.

[abgrund]

[ shrugs a little bit ]

Why would I?

[gentilitea]

[ At the end of the day, he really can’t tell if Ain was truly fucking with him.

He supposes it doesn’t matter. ]

Indeed. I suppose there’s no arguing with you.

[abgrund]

[ Aruging? Were they even arguing in the first place? Ain tilts his head. ]

I just wanted to know.

[ He holds his hands out, palms up, in a gesture that could mean anything. ]

Humans are fragile. I would not ask you anything that you can't handle.

[gentilitea]

[ LET HIM BE TSUN… ]

I don’t even want to ask what you mean by that. [ He doesn’t even realize that Ain is actually pretty straightforward here. ]

[abgrund]

[ Then so be it. He shrugs again. ]

That's all I wanted to ask.

[ If his presence is unwanted, he'll be taking his leave now... by melting back into the shadows. ]