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

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

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.

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[She’s right in her feelings; anger and frustration is more or less rampant on his side and it’s not a stretch to say it’s probably spreading some through the network and minds of people talking to him. Injustice is a contagious thing, especially since this is—oddly, in his surprised opinion—a novel concept. But he’d rather the word get out before someone else has to go through this. It’s not a pleasant feeling at all. For him, or for his god.

The question, however, surprises him, and he stares at the screen for a moment. Instantly there are answers, but most of them revolve around adolescent, injured-pride revenge. And that’s not going to help anyone but himself. But to answer it… He doesn’t know enough.] I’m not sure. For shinki to become gods? For us to get back everything we’ve lost by becoming shinki? [They’re obvious answers, but stupid as well. In this world, there seems to have to be that split between them, to force the reliance upon the other even if it is unbalanced.]

Can gods and shinki ever be equal? One of them still owns the other no matter what a shinki can do or remember. [There is a Master and there is a Servant, a god and a shinki. They’re probably different in their very nature, a spirit and a deity, right?]

I’ve not been here long, so I don’t know the relationship well.

Gods are sitting ducks without shinki-- we can't beat ayakashi without you. But I do see your point, so...

[ So. So what? It would be frustrating to feel this way as a shinki. Even if her own shinki doesn't share this stranger's sentiments, she can see how others might. A feeling of powerlessness is infuriating and scary. And as a god, she doesn't want anyone to feel that way either. Moreover, as a god who believes she's here to serve and protect the wishes of others, leaving this as it is doesn't sit well with her. ] We need to do something.

I don't doubt that there have been gods who have mistreated their shinki-- and if it's happened and continues to happen, it needs to stop. I don't know if there are any laws among the gods here, but something should be written in stone to discourage it from happening.

But that's not enough, is it? [ She says after a moment, brining a hand to her chin as she thinks. ] I'll-- er, we who believe something should be done must think of some way that the shinki are better able to protect themselves. A way to stop a naming from happening, if they don't want it. Or a way to negate a naming, if it is unjust...

[ She pauses as a few more ideas occur to her. ] And if those things don't exist, we can just try to make methods of our own. [ They need to try at the very least!! ]

I heard about that and saw it personally while I was stolen. I think it’s odd gods would be limited like that, but… that’s how it is.

[It is frustrating. He can see how it’s frustrating for a god too. Sousuke knows if he were a god tasked with protecting something and yet was unable to do it without relying on someone else’s help, he’d have an issue with it too. Whether it’s the same kind of frustration though, he doesn’t know. It’s two very different experiences and he can’t claim to see it from a god’s point of view. Even if he’s making some pretty damning remarks about gods right now.]

We need to. I don’t know if we can.

This sounds like it’s the first case. Or at least the first case someone’s been able or willing to bring up publicly. I assume you’re a god. Did they say anything to you when you first got here about shinki? Treatment or laws or something?

[Doesn’t sound like it, considering she said ‘something should be written’ regarding those laws. But might as well ask just in case. His god’s told him some things about what he’d been told, but not everything.]

Being able to refuse or negate a naming would be helpful. Or be able to activate our own powers rather than being limited to only a borderline. Gods can walk through those if they want after all.

[So he thinks at least.]

The most I heard was that there was shinki labor department... but all I know about that is that they send out surveys in the mail, and have some interviews with shinki. [ Like a magazine or something. She shakes her head, taking a breath. Where to start, where to start? ] Other than that, no, I haven't heard anything. But I can start with asking the older gods and shinki here.

[ She pauses for a moment after that, gathering her thoughts. ] ...As a god, I believe that the traditional hierarchy isn't with the gods at the top. Instead, it's a upside-down pyramid-- the gods are capable with their shinkis, and together we have this sort of power to serve all of the humans, life, and the earth that is above our shoulders. [ It's a philosophy she's kept with her since before she knew she was a god in her own world. ]

A god is born from a human's wish, and if there are no humans that believe in that god or pray to them, then that god will cease to exist. [ At least that's what she knows of this world, and it's quite similar to her own. ] And someone's wish to a god is a powerful thing-- it's where we can draw our feats. If your wish is to have a way for the shinki to protect themselves from an unwanted naming, or to sever a name, then... [ She looks at him. ] It could be possible.

[ Or maybe she's entirely too hopeful. But she's satisfied with her theory thus far, and she can go from there. At last she nods to him, her bow knitted with sympathy. ] My name is Sanae Kochiya, and I am the god of miracles. If I can't bring this miracle to you-- if I can't answer this wish, then... [ A breath. ] ...Then I'm not worthy of being a god.

[ She, at least, is one of the few that believes she has been brought here for a purpose-- to help. So she sees it as her duty to help any and all, including this young man she just met. ]

Oh. I’ve not heard anything. Or got anything. But I’ve been inside a lot… [Getting lost in Rin’s castle and trying to figure out how this shinki god thing is supposed to work and all. Did they even get mail? He doesn’t know. Rin’s usually the one that does that if they do. Sousuke’s usually the one starting the breakfast. Mundane things, mundane thoughts. A momentary break from all the drama flying around right now.]

I spoke with an older god, but she seemed surprised this kind of thing actually happened. If you find anything though, you should share it on the BBS.

[He quiets as she begins her talk on gods, wanting to hear what she says about them. While he’s angry at the gods right now, his logic isn’t so far gone that he knows he needs to try and at least understand the god’s point of view and position before writing them off completely as untrustworthy opportunists. Which he knows the majority of them are anything.]

So you’re saying the humans are at the “top” of that model.

[He can see the whole “we believe in you so you exist” aspect of the gods; whether he believes it, Sousuke’s not sure. It seems a fragile existence in that sense. It makes sense, but it also makes sense that belief fuels a god’s powers, not the god’s existence. But he’s not a god and she knows more about this than he does. Sousuke frowns at the suggestion; he’s still staying off the screen’s view, but she can hear it in his voice.]

A shinki praying to a god to remove a god’s control of a shinki seems rather oxymoronic. If a shinki can even pray to a god like a human can. We’re dead.

[But hey, it’s a start, and he’s not saying not to try. But he’s… not really one to go praying to a god to ask for something for himself. So that will probably have to wait a while. He wouldn’t even pray to Poseidon to simply locate the god’s lighthouse temple. Proud thing he is. Plus he’d rather see this conversation around them play out before they start jumping to possible fixes.]

Sousuke Yamazaki. I’m the shinki of Eros, the god of love.

Of course you can pray to gods. And there are, hmm-- six million of us? [ "Myriad gods" in the Japanese pantheon, supposedly. ] At least that much. Anyway, there is a god for everything, and if not something specific... I could consult with a god of breaking chains or a god of partings. They might help, too.

[ Annnnd she mumbles some more rambling of what she can do, but the ideas are mostly nebulous. She a few in mind among the newbies here that she may ask, what with their interesting powers.

Eventually she speaks up again, looking at him kindly. ] Yamasaki-san! There is hope. [ She says, smiling warmly, her tone gentle and sincere. ] You don't need to pray to me-- [ Hell, her own shinki would pray to her and be on board for something to prevent other gods from making him a Nora, too. ] --but you should know that this terrible thing the god did to you, without your permission... I'm sure many people here are enraged by it, gods and shinki alike. And this other god must feel your turmoil, through blight. [ Which if this post is anything to go by, it must be quite the crippling blight to the god. ]

It was very brave of you to come forward.

I figured I could, but I didn’t think it worked the same way as the living people. [Considering he’s literally living with and working with a god of his own, in the realm of the gods and all. He blinks at the mention of that number.] There are six million gods here? [Taking her literally, that makes this place huge. Are there even six million people in the city they normally go to? Tokyo?]

Creating a change in the entire shinki system is probably something you gods want to discuss among yourselves. [Yes, she could consult that god, but if that god decides to start breaking the rules and checks and balances of the god/shinki relationship, Sousuke doesn’t see that ending well. Even if it does get him what he thinks is a better route for the shinki.

Considering the event, Sousuke’d rather not make enemies of more gods if he can help it. If a change happens for one shinki, it should happen for them all. Simply freeing himself, while nice, is… So maybe he’s not as cold as he appears.]

I see that now. I’ve said some things about the gods I’ll have to reconsider later when I’m not so angry. [At least he admits to it. While he’s still bitter, the idea of completely shutting all gods into the “untrustworthy” default is starting to lose its ground. Seeing a number of gods taking affront with this is helping.]

I doubt the other god’s feeling any blight. I was forced to become his shinki, but I wasn’t forced to do something “wrong.” [Sure, both his original god and the thieving one had to deal with his high emotions over the event, but without a sin being committed, the painful blight he’s heard about shouldn’t be happening. That’s his thoughts on it at least, from his limited understanding.]

It'd be nice if it had.

Well, it's just a saying that there are eight million. What it means is that there's a god for everything. [ The "yaoyorozu no kami".

But she waves her hand, as that's not the point she's trying to make. Instead she focuses on his last statement. ] You were forced into something you don't believe is right. [ I.e. wrongful naming. She tilts her head. ] It would be strange if he wasn't blighted-- not that I'd recommend blighting in the first place, as it can harm you, too.

Anyway, it's important to stop things like this from happening. I'll try to work on something that might help, okay? [ If there is anything at all. ] You shouldn't have to suffer any more from a treacherous god like that-- and I'm sure there are many people that want to help you, too.

Oh. [Hard to argue that. A god for everything somehow sounds familiar. Though that can definitely get a little crazy after a while. People come up with new things all the time, or think of things at different angles. But that’s a discussion for later.]

Aa. I don’t want anyone else to have to deal with that. [He shrugs a little at the comment and rests his head against the wall behind him, eyes closed as he listens to the breeze outside.] I think blight only happens if the shinki does something sinful. Something they think is wrong. Protecting my god, even if I had to listen to that guy, isn’t wrong.

[He nods at her offer to help. Yes, he does think she has made several good points, but he wants to prepare a little more and discuss it before jumping into a supposed fix that could make a lot of waves for others.] Aa. It’s nice to know god and shinki care about this.

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

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*eight million whoops

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