Heaven's BBS | Text | This is Probably a Bad Idea

[justclaws]

From: Chiyou
Date: June 14

I do not think this is the time for beach parties. Half of us cannot remember who we are. Those of us who know a shinki's past could kill them with a single word, without ever meaning for them to come to harm. This should not be accepted as normal without so much as an explanation as to why it is necessary.

What reason could there possibly be to strip someone of all memory?

Why does nobody seem to know what is going on?

Comments

[justclaws]

That assumes that everyone has the same information, when clearly they do not.

It is during such breaks that we endanger one another. It is easy to forget at such times that things are not normal, but it appears that simply greeting a friend is to say too much. How are we to guard against something as simple as that?

[handle]

... Wait. It's too much? Sorry, but how is that. I'm still pretty new to all of this myself.

[justclaws]

As Gods, we are cautioned against revealing a shinki's past if we should know it, which sounds straightforward. What that does not make plain is that the prohibition does not just cover talking of the experiences we may have shared with them. Something that seems as harmless as revealing that you know their name can be every bit as dangerous.

It is only too easy to forget that, when you meet a friend. I do not want anyone else to be hurt.

[handle]

In other words, you don't want us to get distracted by all of this. I get what you're saying, but at the same time... While I might be new, gods and shinki are there to take care of one another, aren't they?

Still, thanks for watching out for all of us.

[ And while that might be optimistic, he thinks that most of the Gods he's met here care for their Shinki. ]

[justclaws]

I believe we must be.

It is troubling, though, how imbalanced the partnership seems.

[handle]

Imbalanced... Is that how it seems? For my partner and I, it's been balanced, but...

It's not right that they can't remember anything without endangering themselves.

[justclaws]

I agree entirely. And withholding that knowledge - or not - puts those of us who hold it in a position of considerable power over those who do not. There is nothing a shinki can do about the things we might say, except to hope we are not callous enough, or foolish enough, to betray what we may know.

It is not right to give one man that kind of power over another, and simply trust that he never use it.