Heaven's BBS [old man yelling on social media about social media]

[killsthebuddha]

Posted: 03 May 2016
From: Genjo Sanzo

There are too many nosy fuckers with nothing better to do. I can't look through here without tripping over too much information about your personal lives.

There are enough brats on here that someone has to say it. Knock it off already. It's a pain to scroll past, and you're just handing out ammunition to any half-literate asshole that wants to use your emotions as a weapon.

The rest of you: get a damn job or do something worthwhile instead. No one cares about your navel-gazing idiocy.

Comments

Action!!

[sanzohoshi]

[She's gone for roughly 10 minutes before she sends another text.]

Close your eyes, okay? I'm teleporting back soon.

[And then, a follow-up text:] Are they closed? They better be!

[She teleports back, no bear in sight, but her hands are behind her back and she's giving him a sanzo pls look] I told you to close your eyes.

[killsthebuddha]

I'm not letting you get the drop on me.

[ She might have actually brought a bear or something, after all. He's not getting ambushed with one.

Only after giving her a flat look does he shut his eyes. He's not humoring her. Not really. It's more to preempt annoying complaints. There, now she can get the drop on him. ]

[sanzohoshi]

[It's a good thing he closes his eyes and misses her throwing her arms up in exasperation, but she moves in and holds something out in front of his face.] Okay, open them!

[Then she taps its nose to Sanzo's and makes a 'muwah!' noise] Heehee!

[killsthebuddha]

[ For just a moment, as he opens his eyes, his expression is entirely nonplussed. It's a surprisingly vulnerable look on him, for all that it vanishes in an instant.

Enjoy the flattest of half-hearted glares instead. ]

Too small.

[sanzohoshi]

[What a cute look that's utterly ruined by the glare. Ahh, Sanzo is incredibly not-cute in a very cute way.]

It's not the size that matters, Sanzo! Jeez! [But she drops the bear from his face and gives him a look of fond exasperation]

[killsthebuddha]

You're only saying that because it's so small.

[ He holds a hand out expectantly. Hand it over. ]

[sanzohoshi]

Well, a real, big one might cause some problems, you know?

[She hands it over and then sits down next to him, nudging her shoulder to his] Are you going to name it?

[killsthebuddha]

[ He sets it next to him on his other side, ostensibly turning his attention to his phone. ]

It's not like it'll come when called. It doesn't need a name.

[sanzohoshi]

Even objects deserve names. Maybe if you treat it like a real bear enough, it'll become one! [Get possessed, gain a soul, or something. Look it happened in Fatal Frame 2 alright?

She leans her head on his shoulder to peer at his phone] Are you being nice?

[killsthebuddha]

Tch. Don't expect me to be nice.

[ Well, he is. Sort of. The girl he's messaging sounds young, but at least she has the slight added protection of being called a god. ]

[sanzohoshi]

I expect from you only that which you are capable of giving. [She speaks in a mock-wise sort of tone, but she can't keep the smile off her face.]

Everyone's going to get the wrong impression of you here, you know. [Or at least conflicting ones. She sighs a little.] When I told you to talk to people more, I meant to play nicely.

[But she pulls out her own phone to look over his responses again. Something's been bothering her a little...] 'Use your emotions as a weapon,' huh...

[killsthebuddha]

I don't care what they think. [ It wasn't in his nature to, but... ]

If I were looking for soft targets, it'd be on here. [ He taps the screen, his tone growing cooler and more distant. There were too many kids out there.

While he was probably not the right person to say it, it was frustrating to watch. There wasn't anything he could do, and he hated the helplessness of it. ]

[sanzohoshi]

[Sanzang knows that physical affection and physical comfort don't do it for Sanzo like they do for her, but she settles more firmly against him, a solid, comforting weight against his side. She's here, she's supporting him.

'You can't protect everyone,' she wants to say, but he knows that much. There's no point in her pointing it out. She keeps her tone gentle.]

I think it's the nature of humans that if you tell them not to do something, they're going to turn around and do it anyhow--probably even more, out of spite. Most of them are very young and they have to fall before they learn.

I don't think we can stop most of them from making those mistakes, but we can help them after they do, when they're actually prepared to listen and to learn. ["We," she says, as if it's a natural, obvious thing.] But it's frustrating, I know. No one wants it to get to that point to begin with.

[killsthebuddha]

[ Sanzo lets her settle against him, not moving from his seat. He knows what she's doing, even resents it some, but it doesn't change the fact that this is the way she is. He can accept that about her.

But this is the way he is. ] That doesn't change the fact that someone has to say it. It might be useless, but that doesn't make it not worth speaking.

[sanzohoshi]

And of course you'll be the one to speak it. [It's not accusing, more just... a resigned amusement? That's how he is, indeed. She sighs a little, plucking idly on some loose strings on her pants.]

I'm not saying you're wrong for it. I'm sure you speaking up will make some people think about it more and inaction is always far worse. It's just... going to be frustrating. [And she wishes she could help it be less so, especially for him. The world would be a lot easier if everyone just did she what wanted, you know??]

[killsthebuddha]

[ He doesn't reply right away, though he does slouch just slightly. It's not a coincidence that she fits against him more comfortably when he does.

Finally, abruptly, he asks: ] It didn't sting you, did it? That feeling.

[ He tried to be painfully disciplined about what he'd allow himself to feel, but he had to admit that he didn't always know the limits. ]

[sanzohoshi]

[She laughs lightly and tilts her head up to look at him]

It didn't, don't worry. I think it was explained to me that it's only if you feel guilty about something. So long as you live with no regrets, I'll be fine.

[Sanzang's quiet a moment, shifting a little until she's comfortably fitted against his side] I don't mind it anyhow. It's easier if I can feel what your emotions are so you don't have to try and put it into words, right?

[killsthebuddha]

Is that how that is? [ He glances down to meet her gaze before deliberately looking away. That kind of vulnerability doesn't sit easily with him. It's still uncomfortable, for all that he's let it happen again and again with different people.

But she had already known how to read him somewhat. She knew how to respond.

He trusts her with this. ]

I just wouldn't put it into words if I could avoid it.

[sanzohoshi]

[She looks back at him quietly, and doesn't try to force it when he looks away again.] Well, I'd say we could always test it out, but... [Probably not the best idea, you know?? She giggles a little--just joking, don't go getting huffy sanzo!!!--and rests her head back on his shoulder]

That's not good for you either. [She laughs softly.] If you can discuss it, it'll help more than bottling it up too. We're partners, you know, so you can do that much with me. [A pause and she gives a thoughtful little hum]

Partners...Well. It's more than that, I guess... [She's not sure she could really put a word to what they really were.]

[killsthebuddha]

See? It's too much trouble to talk about that.

[ They're certainly not partners, not precisely. It's strange, how she could somehow stress and soothe him in equal measures. He was always aware of the people around him, almost painfully so when they were close enough to touch, but...

She's warm and soft as she leans against him, resting against him. He can't recall or even imagine anyone else doing such a thing, much less him allowing it this easily. somehow, she'd gotten in under his guard. He can't help but find that he doesn't mind the way he should.

Yet it seems like an impossible task to put it into words. ]

[sanzohoshi]

We don't need to put it into words anyhow. We're just... us, and that's more than enough.

[They don't need to explain anything to anyone, really. What they have between them is just... them. It's for them, and Sanzang doesn't think they could put it in a way anyone could understand anyhow.]

And if anyone pushes for an answer, I'm sure we can gently convince them to not bother. [A mildly pointed look. SEE THAT KEYWORD THERE, SANZO?]

[killsthebuddha]

If they die, they can't ask again.

[ Said the theoretically dead man, not that he believed the idea. Still, there's a somewhat softer quality to his voice despite the content of his words. ]