[BBS, Open]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

From: Nia
Posted: Jan. 10

So here's a question for all of you.

Say sometime in the future, a way home pops up. The stars are right, or the prayers of the world unite, or we find whatever brings us here and reverse it. Doesn't matter what, the key thing is that it won't last. You've got to decide right away. What do you do?

If you're a shinki, going home means you're dead. No more life like this that you can expect. Is it worth the gamble? What if you get stuck as a shinki in your own world, not remembering anything, no other shinki or gods? On the other hand, you stay here and you get stuck with whoever's left if your god takes off. Maybe they all do and you're off to the old gods, or unnamed. Either one's a raw deal.

Gods? You got it easy. You go back and pick up where you left off. Except you'd be leaving your shinki behind. No promise on what happens to them. Maybe they'll end up with someone okay, maybe not. Maybe even if you made an arrangement with someone who'd stay, it goes wrong. Do you just abandon them? Trust that the old gods won't be so bad?

Not saying it's going to work out this way. But it might. So what if?

Comments

[sassywelshcatgirl]

That's a pretty common sort of response, I've heard it from a lot of people. 'I like having a purpose', or something like that. It really makes me wonder, because I don't understand that thinking. The way I see it, having a purpose is great, but being your own person is better.

And you're right about all the tool stuff, but you have to admit that it's pretty well set up for us shinki to be seen as tools. Just because not everyone does it doesn't mean there's not a push there. Especially for the old ones.

[reformedsinner]

It seems like your problem isn't how gods, or other shinki, might see your role. The problem is that you feel like being in that role puts you in the position of being a tool, instead of being independent.

Which is valid, of course. It's just that it won't do any good for us to talk about gods who disagree if the real problem is how you see your role.

My advice would be to embrace your independence. Shinki aren't required to stay with gods they don't want to work with, for example.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Way ahead of you on that revelation. But the thing is, I call a system where I either have someone's name for me stuck on me or get eaten by ayakashi a bad system, and the people who support it aren't on my side.

[reformedsinner]

Yes, well. Please let me know when you find a way to stop ayakashi from eating souls.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

You say that like it's impossible. I'd rather be an optimist than sit around bemoaning the sorry state of the world. There has to be something about gods that protects us and empowers us. Who says it has to be from a god? Maybe there's another source. Maybe we can get whatever it is without it needing to be tied to a god. Maybe a lot of things. So I'm going to keep looking!

[reformedsinner]

To be honest, I do think it's impossible to change the nature of ayakashi, at least in a way that makes them safe to be around.

But it might not be impossible to give souls power that doesn't come from any god. That's an interesting idea.

I'll let you know if I hear anything about it.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Yeah, there's no changing ayakashi. If they didn't cause blight and all, they wouldn't be ayakashi. Same way I don't think we can stop being 'shinki' either. So I'm gonna keep up on this idea too. And if I learn anything, you can bet I'll let everyone know.

[reformedsinner]

Good luck.