Heaven's BBS | Text

[dioception]

Posted: May 14
From: Anon

I've been wondering, is there any kind of stigma against a god and shinki flirting, or even dating? Not just any god and shinki, but like... a partnered pair. Or is that too weird, is it like getting hit on by your boss or something?

The whole 'god and weapon' relationship is still strange for me, and I'm trying to wrap my head around it, but I might be holding a torch for my partner. I'd just like to know if it's something I should pursue, or if I should attempt to put it down.

[He thinks that's probably enough for the question, mostly since he doesn't want to be found out, nor does he want to accidentally say something about their past and mess up everything.]

Comments

[koukai_kirai]

I suppose I can understand that. I was never personally interested in anything with my own superiors.

[And honestly, he was creeped the Hell out when a higher-class man his own age showed an interest in him that was clearly driven by some kind of urge to show him his place. No thanks, Itou.]

But there's never really anyone who doesn't have some kind of power imbalance between them, whether it's age, or class, or gender, or money. It isn't as if anyone's obligated to say yes based on any of those imbalances, and a man willing to abuse that sort of power isn't worth working for in the first place.

And a close relationship on terms comfortable to both of you can have more benefits than the obvious ones, as far as loyalty, trust, willingness to work together and learn from each other, sharing a personal connection with someone who can really understand and care about the work that you do... That sort of thing was openly encouraged where I came from.

[dioception]

I see. That makes some amount of sense, though I do feel like some relationships carry less of a risk than others, as far as the imbalance of power.

But I suppose you also have a point in that the most important part is the quality of the person in power and their willingness to abuse their power over others.

[He couldn't speak for his own 'quality', but at the least he knew he wasn't going to hold anything over Masaki's head if she said no to him. He may simply want to build her trust in him first, so that she would also feel as if she were in no danger if she turned him down.]

I think that helps me a little in making my decision.

[koukai_kirai]

Someone willing to use their power that selfishly doesn't deserve any. If it wasn't clear from my initial statement, I in no way think you have any right to demand your subordinates' attention or make them uncomfortable with unwanted advances -- just that, if the interest is there and mutual, my own culture always thought of it as a good thing.

I was with someone like that, before. I'd never have done so much as looked at him for too long if he hadn't made it abundantly clear that he wanted my attention.

[He pauses in his writing, and there's a few minutes before he continues. This is anonymous, he reminds himself. It's too personal to tell anyone, but does it have to be, if no one knows it's him?]

He was one of the best things in my life until the day he died. I never loved anyone the way I loved him. And it's difficult for me to see much good in myself at times, but I think that he'd have said something similar of me.

I think it would be a shame to miss out on something like that because of whatever the Hell people around here think is or isn't appropriate.

[dioception]

[He could understand that feeling as well. The one where you are with someone you love, who was as important to him as that, and then losing them to something that might as well have been death. The difference there was that Dio had probably deserved to lose him, as he probably deserved to lose everyone else.]

I think I agree. It would be a shame to miss out on something like that because of what others think. If I didn't pursue people based on what others would think, I'd probably have been wholly alone for the last year and a half. [It didn't sound all that long, but it had felt like an eternity, and he'd have gone mad if he had spent it alone.]

I do hope you can find something like that again. It may never be as intense, but not going after anything more because of that could just leave you feeling empty.

[koukai_kirai]

Thank you. I'm not sure I'll ever really be interested in anyone again if it's not him -- I had plenty of women and men before him, but none after, and when he was gone, I don't think I could have brought myself to be with anyone else if I'd tried. And I know he won't remember me...

[Wait, Hell, had he not mentioned that the guy's a shinki now before? Well, shit. That's... out there now, but it's still pretty vague and anonymous, so in for a penny, in for a pound, he guesses? And at least technically, he didn't say it's his shinki...]

But I'll always have my memories, and we have a chance to make something new again here. I'll be happy to be whatever he wants me to be for him this time, even if it's not the same as before.

I hope things work out for you and your shinki. Sounds like you've got some potential to work with from the outset, so at least that's hopeful.

[dioception]

That's a little sad, don't you think? Especially now with your lifespan extended infinitely, the idea that you can only love one person and that's it is rather... well what if something should happen to them?

Love can be found everywhere, but you are lucky to have a second chance. Cherish it while you do.

[It was strange, that sort of thing coming from Dio, but he'd learned it was true. After losing Jonathan when his 'second chance' didn't work out, and losing Enrico before even courting him, as well as losing Sam on a sour note because of his own idiocy.

Somehow, he'd managed to fall in love again, and even if Masaki had forgotten him, he wanted to take full advantage of the time he had.]

And I pray that you never lose this second chance. Don't cling too tightly, but don't squander your opportunities either.

[koukai_kirai]

I don't think it is, not really. It's just that he was more than I could have ever asked for. I didn't much believe in sentimental things like love before him, and somehow he still made me feel that way... is it sad, to be satisfied with that and not to want anything else in its place?

[No one really expected that sort of a reaction out of someone with the reputation for womanizing he'd earned himself in his youth. He knows how the men back in the army he led talked -- honestly, the only reason he let them keep thinking he'd taken up with Ichimura, no longer a child but still something very like a son to him, was so none of them would get any ideas about throwing themselves at him now that he didn't have a "favorite" since Souji died. It would have just been a nuisance to him.]

But don't worry. I'm not the sort of person who gets enough chances by luck that I've ever been careless with the ones I do have. And if nothing else, I won't hesitate to do whatever it takes to make him happy this time.

[dioception]

It's sad if it leaves you empty and wanting when it's gone.

[Dio wasn't optimistic enough to think that everything wouldn't end. Especially after Fort Between and it's many hardships. And with people apparently disappearing here as well, but at random... He won't trust any of it.]

I hope that you get what you need as well.

[koukai_kirai]

Life is that sort of sad. No getting around that.

But thank you. I'm certainly going to try.