Second Shock | [text]

[idkmybffgon]

Posted: May 3
From: Killua Zoldyck

well it looks like im out a god again
so how about it
anyone looking for a super skilled
super cool
godless shinki?
cause i could use a place to sleep
for more than a few nights
damn its like this place wants me to just get pissed
pls dont try to take me if youre just gonna let me go
got it?

Comments

[eternalshield]

[True to his word, Zeno is on his way outside with a box of frosted chocolate cupcakes he found in some grocery store bakery in the Near Shore.

Yes, he definitely needs to have something in his hands, or else he's going to hug the kid, or pat him on the head, or something. He's much smaller than Zeno expected.]

You didn't get lost, did you~

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua grins and gives Zeno a thumbs up.]

No way! I've got a pretty good sense of direction.

[He comes closer, seemingly completely open and excited.]

Do you have the chocolate??

[He loves chocolate...]

[eternalshield]

Do the cakes work?

[He balances the tray on one arm and holds one out with a lot of frosting.]

There's other kinds of chocolate, but these are the softest and fluffiest, so Zeno went with them.

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua's eyes go wide and his mouth forms a small 'o' in delight as he immediately snatches the cupcake away and stuffs the whole thing in his mouth, paper and all.]

Oh! Man! It's delicious!!

[Childish delight is etched onto his face, aww.]

[eternalshield]

[...the thing about self-preservation is that it's like any other muscle. If you don't use it, it will wither and atrophy until nothing remains. And the thing about being overwhelmingly sad for a very long time is that any excuse to be happy is worth treasuring, worth feeling. Being able to cause happiness, to share it with someone else-- that's a total luxury and Zeno can't stop himself from ruffling Killua hair.]

Zeno's not gonna know what to do if you choke. [Problems he's never had before.] Sure you're getting enough to eat? Because Zeno can always spare a bit.

[Not like he needs to eat to survive or anything.]

[idkmybffgon]

[....... the ruffling is weird. And Killua winds up just staring at Zeno in mild bewilderment, chocolate frosting smeared all over outside of his mouth.]

I won't choke! [First, he reassures the guy, then...] And I eat plenty! I just really like chocolate.

[eternalshield]

[...and that's also cute, but Zeno's mostly gotten it out of his system by now. Why are all the dead children in this place so cute? There are so many people living lives that could use a little exuberance, a little cheer from this. Zeno lived a life like that for a very long time.]

Well, all right.

Have any luck with your other questions so far?

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua shakes his head and stuffs another cupcake into his mouth.]

No' really. I's no' like 'm lookin' hard though.

[Ah yes, talking with his mouth full. He looks so joyous about it.]

[eternalshield]

Chocolate is more important, right?

[Eh, he's the god of youth. And nothing is quite so youthful as this...]

Do shinki get stomachaches...?

[idkmybffgon]

[Nod nod nod!! Chocolate is VERY important!!

He finally swallows again and considers Zeno's question.]

I dunno! I haven't gotten one yet though!

[Wait... except...]

W-well... no normal ones...

[eternalshield]

Nothing's more normal than stomach aches. Zeno hasn't had one in a very long time...

[He tilts his head. What can harm someone who's already dead...?]

What'd you eat?

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua makes a face.]

Stomach aches are awful, I don't think they're normal at all!

[Ah, but... thinking about those chocolates makes him super bummed.]

...cursed chocolates. They were the worst.

[eternalshield]

[Oh, that makes more sense! People curse the dead all the time.]

People were talking about that when Zeno first arrived. It was that bad?

[Even with the elasticity of true youth?]

[idkmybffgon]

[He nods, still frowning.]

I couldn't stop throwing up and it was like something was trying to eat me from the inside out! Really horrible...

[Worst day of his (after)life.]

[eternalshield]

Who would try to kill people who are already dead? Unless it was just for gods and the shinki were collateral damage...

[idkmybffgon]

I really don't know.

[He pouts.]

They never found out who did it or why. It really sucked though.

[eternalshield]

Safe to say there's no god of mysteries solved nearby, then~

Probably they were too busy not finding out why we're here in the first place. That's Zeno's guess anyway!

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua lets out a snort. SASSY, good job Zeno.]

Yeah, probably! Honestly, I'd be happy for just... no more of that stuff, even if we don't get answers.

[eternalshield]

[He has a lot of practice being capital-D Done with the local pantheon... It doesn't usually manifest out loud, but when it does, it comes out as cheerfully as everything else.]

Oh~? That makes you wiser than Zeno.

[idkmybffgon]

[He laughs, softly, almost like it's not even there.]

Yeah, it's not hard to be wiser than most people around here.

[The snark is just SO STRONG.]

[eternalshield]

Good thing you took a break just now, hmm?

[...quickly stuffing some candy into his own mouth to cover the gentle ripost. The tiny bit of arrogance is adorable, but bravado is never wise, and if this plants that idea into Killua's head for later, Zeno is all right with that.]

As well as wise, you're smart! Taking your wellbeing into your own hands like that is difficult, more difficult than waiting to see how things shake out.

[idkmybffgon]

[There is a brief moment where Killua just stares wide-eyed at Zeno.

And then he lets out a bark of laughter.

That quickly turns into a peel of laughter as he clutches his stomach.]

Oh man, oh man! You got me good! I totally fell into that one!!

[eternalshield]

[Oh dragon-gods no. The arrogance is cute, and graceful-exuberance in his response here is cute, too. Why are there so many cute children in this heaven? The world needs this.]

It's excusable, since you're so careful the rest of the time.

[idkmybffgon]

[The laughter subsides as Killua wipes at his eyes and turns a grin on to Zeno.]

Hehehe! You get me! I like that.

[...oh and he's gonna grab another cupcake. Whatever.]

[eternalshield]

[Zeno has plain forgot how many cupcakes they started with...]

Goddess of youth specialty, is Zeno's guess.