Heaven's BBS | Text & Video ~ A Stolen Voice

[takenwithhim]

Posted: May 21st
From: Sousuke Yamazaki

What are shinki?

I’ve not been here long, so I don’t know the truth. Apparently no shinki can. But I’ve experienced enough.

I don’t like it.

We’re shinki. We weren’t told anything upon our arrival. All we knew is that we’re dead and know nothing else. Other shinki probably had the same experience I did: stumble around until someone told me I had to find a god or something before something bad happened to me. We have to rely on whatever our gods tell us as the truth. We’re told we’re supposed to help our gods with their duties and wants and protect them or fight for them. We can’t exist without you; gods give us form and prevent us from fading away. We have to depend on you to survive.

So what are we to you?

I have a god. A Master. He tells me that I’m human more than I’m his shinki. I don’t know if I believe him entirely.

Not all Masters are like that, are they. Some don’t care what a shinki feels. I guess that’s not far from the truth though. After all, shinki are really nothing more than tools to gods. Gods can pick us up simply because they want something from us. Maybe you feel good having us at your side because you think we remind you of something. Maybe you want us because we’re useful to you or you like our looks or fit your fighting style or powers.

But if it doesn’t work out, if we piss our gods off or don’t please them, they’re allowed to discard us like a broken item. Gods can even cycle through us one after another until they’ve found the perfect tool to fit their current needs. And when you’re done, you can throw us away until you’re ready to use us again. Or left to wander for someone else to maybe pick up before we fade away into nothing.

And we have no choice but to come when you call us whether we want to or not. Because we’re nothing without you. We’re valuable possessions to keep close or useful but expendable objects to get the job done.

I don’t know if all gods are aware of this; I know the shinki aren’t. Gods can even steal shinki from another god without asking. Force a new name upon us and give us a new form and power. And if we’re stubborn, apparently blackmail and threats are just as effective. Or you can simply hurt us until we break or get rid of us because we’re not working as you want. Like we’re some kind of toy for your amusement.

We’re told we’re entering a partnership with our gods, but in reality, it only goes one way. We have to choose between vanishing or living as a weapon, companion, prize, tool, whatever, for a god we don’t even know.

If you’re a shinki, think about this. If you’re a god, ask yourself why you have a shinki.


[A video feed flicks on. A full moon glows yellow in the sky above, encircled by spiraling clouds. The edge of a sakura tree billows pink and gentle at one side of the screen, releasing ghost-light sakura petals into the winds that carry them away. It’s silent, some for himself to gather his thoughts, some for letting whoever’s listening to him think. Maybe it is rambling, but the experience he went through…]

So what are our rights? Does anyone want to tell me how this is supposed to work?

All of this may not be something some of you gods care about.

But the shinki should know.

[His is a quiet voice, deep like the dark waters far below the surface of the sea.]

I’m aware I’m probably a rare case; most of the gods I’ve met seem decent. Some of you say you’d never act like I’ve described or think like this towards a shinki. That we can trust you. But we don’t know you. So how can we trust you? Ultimately we have to trust our gods because we don’t know anything else. Whether you use that to your advantage or not is up to you.

It’s a disgusting feeling to know you’re powerless against someone else. I can be stolen and wielded by any god who wants me, regardless of how I feel about it. And if I don’t want that, I have to eternally stick by my Master’s side like a frightened child. We’re not free; we can’t even rely on ourselves because our powers, beyond the borderline, is useless unless directed by a god. I didn’t want this, I don’t know if any shinki does.

[A quiet breath seeps backwards above the screen and the edge of a shirt sleeve flutters into view on one side of the screen. Sousuke’s leaning against the wall beside the window, not in sight, but obviously here if someone feels like talking.]

And if any of you gods haven’t yet learned how to track or trace your shinki, you should start working on that now. Otherwise you're going to find yourself out a useful tool for a while simply because some other god wants to do something different for a change.

Comments

excuse his 'what?' moment, mama bear

[takenwithhim]

Being dependent on anyone isn’t helpful. You ultimately have your own strength to rely on, regardless of whatever you’re doing. I know they want us to work together here; I’ve seen it and felt it. But forcing a bond doesn’t work. It shouldn’t. I don’t want someone telling me what I should do or feel.

I’m responsible for myself.

Weren’t we all newcomers though? Everyone came from somewhere to this place. [This is the first time he’s come across the notion of “you” and “us” as this person’s talking about so…] But you don’t have control over what kind of bond a god makes with a shinki. A shinki doesn’t have control over what kind of value a god sees in them.

Nora, hm? [So that’s what that word means. Good to finally know.] Are you so sure? I was forcefully named by another god. Blackmailed if you want specifics. Unless you’re a different sort of god, the same could happen to your shinki, as far as I know.

Some people don’t care about respect.

If you know something that can be done, I’m listening. []

you're new you can buh-wha at her all you need

[dominatriarch]

These bonds were never forced. However, I can see how they can be given these gods know nothing of how things were before they arrived.

Unlike most of you, I am a god of this world. I have always been a god and not one brought from another world. The same holds true for my shinki. I met them as spirits of the Near Shore and named them. Amaterasu didn't assign them to me. Things were different before the first new arrivals came. It's clear this difference and how gods and shiki come together now is causing a loss of those traits we held. Every standard of respect between gods and every bond we had with our shinki seems to amount to nothing with each newcomer. It pains me to see this. It pains me even more that a god has disrespected you this way, even more that they've resorted to blackmail.

This is a problem we've never had but it's clearly a problem we must address. I can only assume for now, our best option is to find those responsible [ and kill them ] and bring them forward.

switched to 'private'

[takenwithhim]

I think most of the ones who came here used to be humans. That probably says a lot of things.

A god of this world? [Logically that makes sense then. The distinction between ‘them’ and ‘us’ as they put it. He sees a name and grip it.] Amaterasu. Is that the guy who brought us here and forced us to be paired up like this? [What he’ll do with this information, who knows. Not like he can yell at that god for his current frustrations.] I don’t know what your time was like before all of ‘us’ started arriving, but if the shinki there were more equal and enjoyed it more, good.

[It’s about all he can say to that right now.] I’m surprised you’ve never had it before; gods wielding this much power over a shinki would be a temptation even in your past. Shinki have different powers and abilities, different behaviors. Those…. nora you call them… they existed before ‘we’ came here, right?

[He accepts the admission of pain over his state, but he’s not about to let himself or her linger in it. It’s not her burden to bear in his opinion. Besides, she does mention something else: addressing the problem. Specifically ‘finding.’]

What will you do if I give you a name and description?

private text;

[dominatriarch]

It does. We gods were never human. This is why we have exemplars. They serve as our guides, having known human fault and human weakness. Having gods who know these things due to having been human is uncommon. Highly uncommon, at least until lately.

Amaterasu isn't responsible. She only knows as much as we do. That is to say, not very much either. But she has been searching as many of us have for those responsible.

No, it's never happened before. If any shinki agreed to serve another god, it was always of their own will. If a god would forcefully name another's shinki, they would be swiftly punished. Our shinki treasure their names and don't allow themselves to be so easily named by another. In the same vein, a shinki will never take the same shape for another god. If one of mine were to become a sword for me, they may take the shape of a bow for another. Noras have always existed. Their presence has always been unwelcome to say the least. These are things we rarely speak of. If a god uses a nora, it isn't something readily admitted.

I didn't choose to become a god. I was indeed given a name and a description, as you ask. Who did it, I can't say. But it was the first thing I recall and I would imagine the first thing any future incarnation of mine will recall: my name and my purpose as the god of war.

[takenwithhim]

So now you’re getting an influx of gods that used to be human, when that was originally rare. Do you have any idea what might have changed? [As gods, and all, it’s strange to think that they would be taken by surprise about something directly messing up their chain of power and way of life. Not that he can say much, since he has no memories or experience.

Oh, Amaterasu’s a female. Excuse him then. He made a bad assumption.] If she finds something, she should let everyone else know. Gods and shinki alike. Call it rude, but having to learn things third hand is frustrating. [Especially when those “things” deal with how he’s expected to run and handle his own, new life.]

I don’t know if you’d call what happen ‘free will.’ I agreed to his demands and let him steal me because he threatened to kill someone I know and go after my god if I didn’t cooperate. I don’t think it mattered, since he made it clear he’d take me by force if I continued refusing. [He’s glad this is text right now, because his voice would’ve sounded extremely… nasty, having to admit something like that.] I hated serving as his shinki. It didn’t sound like I was the first one either. It sounded like he went through a lot of shinki searching for a weapon that suited him for this job. [The fact this god stalked him already only added to the disgust.] I don’t want to be a nora; I don’t want my god having to see someone else on me when he looks at me.

[He reads through her words, describing her name and choice. Surprising, a little, that she didn’t choose to become a gob, but rather had simply been one. Without knowing would be even worse than knowing, he guesses. She’s a god of war, hm… That’s interesting.]

At least you’re a humane god; I can see that now. I’ve said some things I’ll probably have to reconsider later when I’m not angry. And I didn’t mean I would name or describe you.

I was asking what you, or the gods, would do if I gave you the name and desctption of the god who stole me.

[He may be angry with what happened, but he’s not looking to make an enemy of a god right now.]


[ooc: i saw nothing]

[dominatriarch]

I will be honest: what he's done is deplorable in my eyes. Even more, the way he seems to treat you all as tools.

[ It leaves a bitter taste at the back of her throat. Going through several shinki... finding weapons that suited him... it disgusted her. ]

He will be brought forward. Any shinki he's still named against their will shall be released. If we know who he is, we can prevent him from forcefully naming another shinki.

As for what changed, I can't say. The first batch of newcomers came without warning but Amaterasu did host a welcoming banquet for them. It's enough to say that she knew of their arrival but perhaps she didn't know anything of how they arrived.

ngl, Bishamonten reminds me of Chogolate Misu from Bakaretsu/Sorcerer Hunters

[takenwithhim]

No one’s condoning his actions. I’m glad to see his attitude is a rarity here. But if things are changing from what’s ‘normal’ for you and the other native gods, it might not be a unique thing later.

[He reads through the words and, no doubt, there’s an adolescent and vindictive feeling shooting through his mind the moment he absorbs the idea. Getting back at someone mingles with the sense of wanting the guy to be dealt with for his actions. While there’s something to be said for privacy, his assaulter sacrificed it the moment he invaded Sousuke’s privacy.]

His god name is Loki. Long orange hair with whitish silver on the top in certain lighting, blue eyes, and tan skin. Tall. I know he’s attacked another shinki named Goten; Goten’s god is Archie, so you can ask them too for information.

He apparently has telekinetic and telepathic abilities because he restrained me so I couldn’t move my arms or speak. Plus he threatened to Goten again, and my god Eros, if I didn’t submit to being his shinki. He has the power to teleport too and read minds. So if you want to attack him, you better do it when he’s not expecting it or somehow clear your mind.

I’m going to stay beside Rin for a while now because I don’t trust Loki not to come after me for revealing all this. I switched to private a while ago, but knowing him, he’s probably watching the network and knows people are talking about this.

[He’s not sorry at all for dumping that incriminating evidence. The other god asked for it.]

...oh man I see it.

[dominatriarch]

Anything that could allow us to get the upper hand when dealing with him is appreciated. So thank you. I'll probably have to find a few more gods willing to assist me in taking him down.

[ But she does take note of that description. He sounds like he stands out so it probably won't be hard for her to pick him out. ]

Were you and Goten the only ones he'd named? I hope you don't mind my asking for these details. I just want to know as much as I can about all of this.

shall i start shopping for some lovely black suspenders?

[takenwithhim]

That's as much as I know. He's a pragmatic coward and he'll run if he's not in control. [Yep, no lost love here.] When you go hunting him, I want to be there. I want to take him down and see the results.

[Maybe it's vindictive, and he will ask his god if that's okay with him, but Sousuke knows he won't be satisfied with simply getting a message on his voicemail of "we got him" or the like.]

Aa. Goten and I were the only named ones. Like I said, he made it sound like he went through multiple others until he found me.

I actually met him my first day here and I insinuated he'd claim me if I didn't find my god soon, or simply take me later when he was ready. []

Tsuguha might be insulted if we add suspenders to her

[dominatriarch]

[ Ah... so he's one of those types. Already she's formulating a plan to take him down. It's going to take more than her and her shinki to corner him clearly. ]

So he's been naming shinki and discarding them as soon as he finds them unsatisfactory or at least when he's done with them.

[ Definitely worse than she thought. ]

Did he tell you what he wanted to use you for? Did he release your name afterward?

We don't want that now do we

[takenwithhim]

[Sousuke's not painting Loki a very flattering picture here; Sousuke's not caring much about that here either.]

It was heavily implied. He wanted me as his shinki for a job despite already having one. And seemed a lot happier with what I turned into.

[Considering the other things Loki had told him during their first meeting, his dismissing of Sousuke after the job was done, and the overall situation of the whole "theft" event, yes, it's all but given that Sousuke's merely one of Loki's part time tools.]

To defeat an ayakashi. Aa, he released me once the job was done, but he'll come back if he wants me again.

Nah. She can be pretty testy >>

[dominatriarch]

[ The fact he was able to do this already paints a huge flaming red X on his face, at least as far where this war god's concerned.

She can understand these gods not having any love for the shinki they've been paired with. That's a given but the fact that he's discarding shinki, naming them against their will and treating them as tools? She's not having any of this.

Right now, her plan is to subdue this god and make sure Sousuke can keep him away if he comes back. ]

Do you know how to create a borderline?

[takenwithhim]

[He's ready for whatever Loki has to face for this. Admittedly, Sousuke's always been concerned about gods misusing their powers towards shinki even from the start; he'd been determined not to become a tool... but life kind of forced his hand when it came to his true god.

Does he regret it? ... Sometimes. Sometimes a lot. But in the end, he doesn't want to leave Eros. He made a promise.]

Aa. I know how to create one. I'd like to know how to create one without having to move my body or talking though.

[dominatriarch]

An advanced technique like that will require further training.

[ She isn't one to talk about shinki magic. While she knows what shinki are capable of, she won't be able to teach it properly.

But thankfully there's someone she knows who can. ]

Speak to my exemplar, Kazuma. He'll know best how to advise you.

[takenwithhim]

A few people have said similar on here. I'll do what I have to to get stronger.

[Because he doesn't want to be in this situation again. He wants to protect himself, protect his god, and not be anyone's tool so much as he can help it.

The mention of a name earns a glance of interest and recognition.]

I've heard of him before as well. Is there anything I should know about him or should I just send him a message?