Heaven's BBS | Text

[reformedsinner]

Posted: July 18
From: Li Tieguai

Good afternoon, everyone. Please excuse my change of name: this is Cho Hakkai.

I appear to have reappeared. Although I don't want to give undue hope to anyone who's recently lost a god or shinki, I'd like to announce that my classes will be continuing as usual.

To those who were living upstairs at the school the past few days, I expect you to help me clean up the mess. You know who you are.

[There are animal cracker crumbs everywhere.

And apart from that he's just not going to mention the events of last few days. At least he wasn't an actual child, but....]

Does anyone have an idea what might have caused it? I'm certain I felt something in the air for a few hours before it happened.

Comments

video;

[mermaiding]

[It takes Oona about seconds of blank staring to make the connection. There's a-- it's not a scream, really, it's decidedly a squawk of alarm and there's some flailing and bam goes her communicator in a dizzy array to the floor as she fumbles and drops it.

There's a few angry noises, whistles and musical-like tones that give the impression of something akin to oh for fuck's sake before she snatches it up again and clears her throat, trying to look like that was either A. Totally on purpose, or B. ever happened in the first place.]

You! That, eh... Ehh... [She scratches at the back of her head and frowns] Gonou... Yes?

video;

[reformedsinner]

Are you all right over there? -- Yes. It's Hakkai now.

[Those scars... she looks as though she was half-flayed, he thinks, but doesn't look at them beyond a quick glance. It would be rude, for one thing. Scars are... very private.

Perhaps that's just his opinion, and not hers, but he'll treat it that way until she indicates differently.]

video;

[mermaiding]

Fine! [Don't call her out like this!? She tilts her head at the name change.] Hakkai.

[She makes a face; unlike Hakkai, Oona chooses to ignore all sense of polite social interactions and forges on ahead:] Why? What is wrong with 'Gonou'?

video;

[reformedsinner]

[At least his scars are, mostly, harder to see than hers. His expression goes a little distant at the question, but he smiles anyway.

It's funny that she's the first one who's actually asked.]

It didn't suit me anymore.

[... and she gets a lie for her trouble: but really, it wasn't going to be anything else.

He's a much better liar now than he was when he was young, at least. That's something.]

video;

[mermaiding]

Stupid. [That's not a good enough reason!! She huffs again, but her gaze is more serious and analyzing than one might think her capable of. She eyes the monocle, then leans forward as she props the video up so she can rest her elbows on the table and her chin in hand.]

Giving classes? You are still teacher as 'Hakkai'?

video;

[reformedsinner]

[He smiles at her complaint, looking into the video and considering that sharp, thoughtful gaze.]

Yes, I'm still a teacher.

Have you found yourself a mate yet?

video;

[mermaiding]

[There's an immediate embarrassed reaction, another angry/shocked series of noises as she puffs her cheeks out in a childish show of anger] Ahh, shut up! Shut up, shut up! Embarrassing! Said to everyone--!

[She holds herself tense a moment and then let out the rush of air with a sigh, scratching at her head, petulant.]

No. When little, was stupid. Head of romance and love and-- [She wrinkles her nose and makes a face before she sighs and looks off, eyes distant but still full of regretful anger.] ...Am not so stupid now.

[She huffs again, lighter this time, and eyes Hakkai] And what of your mate, then?

video;

[kokuyoyo]

[And, out of nowhere and deadpan- ]

Thank god.

video;

[mermaiding]

Except you.

[She looks pleased] Are special. [She says this next bit like he should be thinking himself seriously lucky:] Can stay.

video;

[kokuyoyo]

[what]

What? Why?

[how did this happen]

video;

[mermaiding]

You agreed, so long was you and me and the other boy.

[She grins] And, bit you, yes? [She points to her shoulder] So it is official.

[And because it's not technically a lie, she can say it]

video;

[kokuyoyo]

[Chikusa looks as if someone dumped water on him: confused and blinking]

Is that what that was.... I thought you were just copying Ken....

video;

[mermaiding]

[She laughs and grins again] It is not so bad. Am good, ehh... [She pauses a moment, struggling to find the word, then seems to give up with a shake of her head]

Head? Will protect and take care of you and... Ken? [She assumes that's the actual name of the other boy] Never have to worry! [She's having fun with this, clearly]

video;

[kokuyoyo]

[Way too much fun with this. Chikusa sighs, shoulders slumping.]

We're shinki.... The two of us are meant to do that for our god anyway.

[So they don't need to be part of a harem!]

video;

[mermaiding]

[She taps her chin thoughtfully and for a moment it might look like she'll concede defeat, except--]

Is okay. Am willing to share!

video;

[kokuyoyo]

[For a second, all he can do is stare blankly. They were kids, she's fucking with him, right?]

...What even happens from this whole thing, anyway.... [He'd say "arrangement" but he has a feeling big words would just make this more complicated.] I'm not moving out of my god's temple.

video;

[reformedsinner]

I was stupid when I was younger, too.

[Too trusting, for one. Too eager to believe in happy endings and strangers' goodwill, even when he should have known better.]

-- Please, don't worry about it. [He pauses for a moment, and answers:] She's dead.

video;

[mermaiding]

[It's funny how she had thrown the question out with an intent to hurt him, but now that it actually did (or, at least, brought up something like that) she's a bit remorseful. She had hoped it'd be more 'she's stuck back home and I'm still stuck here without her,' not... that.

There's a low whistle/hum sort of noise, a sound of mourning and heartbreak and sorrow that seems to be conveyed in just a few short notes and Oona looks away.]

Do not know how it is for humans, but for my kind, family and what you would call 'marriages' are very important. I am... deeply sorry. The loss of a mate is hard for anyone, but the head of family, especially... I am sorry.

Eh, the things I want to say... Do not translate so well... And do not sound so nice in human speech. [SIGH.]

video;

[reformedsinner]

[He has no more ear for music now than he did as a teenager, but the sorrow in Oona's liquid whistle is clear even so. He lets out a breath, glancing up at the video pickup with an expression half understanding and half carefully blank.]

Those things are very important to humans, as well. It's been several years, but thank you.

You do very well with human language.

video;

[mermaiding]

[She eyes him again, but whatever she seems to see in him she accepts and doesn't question-- even if it's been several years, the loss of a mate is no easy thing to get over.

His compliment? She assumes?? On her language skills is met with another huff and she looks both embarrassed and bitter.] Is not like have choice. [In a slightly lighter tone:] You humans are terrible singers. For most part.

video;

[reformedsinner]

[Even several years later, Hakkai is by no means over it. He's glad to let the subject slide by in favor of a less sensitive one.]

I certainly am a terrible singer. May I ask what you are, if not human? Are you a youkai?

[She doesn't look it, and her singing isn't anything like what he's heard, but he hasn't come near to seeing all the youkai that there are, either. He could just not know her tribe.]

video;

[mermaiding]

[She blinks slowly, the word at first unfamiliar until she connects it to the bit of reading up she'd been doing on Japan to help her cope with staying around the area.]

Ah. No? Perhaps, in some way... [She shrugs and shakes her head. WHO KNOWS.] Do you know what 'mermaid' is?

video;

[reformedsinner]

I've heard of them, but I've never met one before.

[He raises his eyebrows at the camera.] Should I say, "before now"?

Re: video;

[mermaiding]

Yes! Am mermaid! [She luff she up proudly, chin held high and looking smug. After a moment though she hesitates and looks a bit sheepish.]

...Removed tail, but... [He'd already seen how stiffly and painfully she'd carried herself as a child, so--] But did not do so good a job. Was rushed.

video;

[reformedsinner]

[And so: the painful legs, the difficulty walking and bending? Hakkai nods slowly, frowning. If she'd been able to re-do it, by now, he's sure she would have. She'd been tailless and in pain even as a child.]

I am a youkai myself.

[In a way. Not, unfortunately, the kind of way where he can offer her any advice on transformation magic; even if it weren't something that only a few members of certain clans can use, he's had no youkai training at all.

It's too bad, he thinks for the first time in a while, that Kurama isn't here anymore. Hakkai doesn't have that sort of expertise. What he does have --

The bruise salve had worked with unquestionably magical efficiency.]

... I'm currently occupying the role of a god of medicine. I might be able to do something about the side-effects from your tail. If you'd be interested?