Waking the Dead 2.0 || May 16, Shin Yamatai || Coming Home.

[icarusalsoflew]

[He had been... vague, whenever they had asked him exactly where they were going. Lenneth had known the moment he had oh-so-casually mentioned a detour now that the Hounds were done with their route. It had been in her eyes.

At least she is loyal. At least she respected him enough to say nothing.

He leads the War Hounds through a forest in the far reaches of the island, and they end up stepping out to a waterfall. A little further down, along the river, there's a beautiful house there. It's been restored to its former glory, properly furnished, renovated and modernized wherever it had to be. There's a garage, for one.

He takes just one moment out take the sight of it in, and try not to think of the ghosts. It never gets easier, coming back here, and yet...

Turning to them with a smile now.]

So. This was my old house. I think we can take a break here for now.




[OOC Notes:
+ The Shinta House is your typical traditional Japanese home from like, centuries back - furniture is all old and traditional. Yes, there are photos from lots of different life times here and there; if you want deets, lemme know. There's a garden out back, a small training hall, and a path into the forest that actually leads to the graves of his parents.
+ Feel free to make your own threads if you guys want to explore on your own and talk to each other! You're also welcome to tag Hikaru's thread, which I've put down there just because.]

Comments

[icarusalsoflew]

[Jesus, okay, that is pretty crazy. Even crazier than crazy usually goes for the Awakened.]

Hmm. I'm going to need some time to think if I want to be able to match that one.

[bladeweaver]

It doesn't have to be too crazy. I'd settle for a fun story, Hikaru-san.

[Or... he's going to test something out.]

Hikaru-kun.

[icarusalsoflew]

[Well, that was slightly unexpected. But actually kind of okay?

Chuckling now.]

You know, I can count on one hand the number of people who call me that.

[bladeweaver]

It's a good thing you have another hand then, right? [He grins cheekily.]

Now if only we can get Yulia to use a familiar suffix with you... [He laughs now.] She really admires you, you know? I'm actually kinda glad she's seeing you now for the human that you are.

Though if Yulia loved the Blade King first, I think Kaz was the first to love Hikaru Shinta first. Wouldn't you agree?

[Takes a sip of excellent sake, radiating waves of Innocent Concern (TM).]

[icarusalsoflew]

[He sees what you're doing there, man.

Have an amused shake of your leader's head.]

And when did you end up falling in love with me?

[bladeweaver]

[Have a round of rich laughter from Taning. Oh you, Hikaru.]

I meant it more in an "I love you, man" kinda way, but I'm sure you knew that, you dog you.

[Hikaru is an excellent drinking buddy.]

[icarusalsoflew]

[Also a tease. Have a tiny pout.]

That's all? Bromance? Whatever happened to kneeling before me and telling me that you'll follow me?

[bladeweaver]

[Really? You went there?

Taning is startled, but quickly recovers. Now he is wearing a sheepish grin.]

I did, at that, didn't I? It's true anyhow; it's just you keep jetting off to strange places to hide from people and well. Bros respect that, man.

[Better than drama. Drama, ugh.]

[icarusalsoflew]

But sometimes bros need some special bro time.

[If you know what he means. :3

Yes, Taning.

He's still there.]

[bladeweaver]

[Playing along now, feigning innocence, because what the heck else can he do huhu.]

I don't know what you mean by that, Boss. [Rolling his eyes smilingly.] Besides, Sabina would brain me with her axe.

[Wait...]

You're gonna say something about sharing is caring, aren't you.

[icarusalsoflew]

Thank you. Now you've saved me the effort.

[:D!]

[bladeweaver]

[Chuckles, offers a toast.]

You have a way with words, my friend.

[icarusalsoflew]

[Tapping his cup to yours, then, and taking a hearty sip. This one loves his alcohol, and not getting drunk easily for him just means that he can enjoy it for longer before something's got to give.]

You're going to do something about that one, I hope.

[Sabina, he means.]

[bladeweaver]

[On the other hand, Taning is beginning to feel the need to pace himself, lest he be too wobbly to get down from the roof without his drinking buddy's help. Embarrassing, and avoidable, so.

At Hikaru's question, he ducks his face a bit, a soft smile on his face. No need to hide his emotions from this guy, after all. If someone gets it, it's him.]

... Yes.

[Some hesitation, then...]

Although I'm not really sure what we are, at this point.

[icarusalsoflew]

Ah, well.

[Smiling a little, with just the right amount of sympathy. (Also moving the bottle closer to him, because yes, he's noticed that you should probably stop soon.)]

Mind if I give you some advice?

[bladeweaver]

[He sees what you're doing there, Hikaru-kun. But he's grateful.

Does he mind if Hikaru gives him advice? No, certainly not. What is surprising is that Hikaru is offering. Or maybe it shouldn't be. He's always been a charitable man.

He's just asking himself whether it's wise to accept his advice, whatever it is. He doesn't seem to be in any particular charge of his love life these days. Though, he supposes, that some people have always been so much better at giving than receiving.]

Not at all. I'm listening.

[icarusalsoflew]

Don't think about it yet. Wait until you're actually in the same space, and read her from there.

[Read everything: her words, her silences, her body language, her face. Everything.]

[bladeweaver]

Trust me, Boss, if there's one thing I'm very talented at, it's not thinking.

[Whatever that means is up to you.]

[icarusalsoflew]

Are you sure about that?

[Lifting an eyebrow in your direction now. Measuring.]

[bladeweaver]

[He shrugs. Delivered as a joke, meant as a life tenet.]

Sure I'm sure. 'Course, I didn't mean, not think through engagements or important shit like that. I meant, everything else, you know? One of the only things I picked up from my late esteemed father is that there's no sense thinking about things you can't do anything about.

[He takes the last sip of sake in his cup and leans over to grab the bottle from where it's sitting close to Hikaru. In deference to his friend/boss' attempt to keep him from getting drunk, he only half-fills his cup.]

It's just that for so long, everything seemed like something I couldn't do anything about. So, heck, why think about it?

[He lights up a cigarette.]

I'm sure that you, having lived this long, can identify somehow. It's why I suspect you throw yourself into everything you can. So you don't get bored. Because when smart people such as you get bored, their mind goes into playback mode. And it's always easier to play back the bad than the good.

I'm talking too much, huh. Great sake, Hikaru-kun.

[And because he's a dork like that, hums Dancing Through Life.]

[icarusalsoflew]

[Watching all of that, not shifting away even once, nor failing to continue to look attentive, concerned.

The truth is, he CAN relate. But this isn't about him just yet.]

You're not. And you're welcome.

[Getting a cigarette for himself.]

[bladeweaver]

[He certainly feels like it is. It's been a while since he's talked about his problems, and it's not exactly good for his digestion. His hands twitch as he feels the need to ball his fists, but consciously stops it from happening.

Calm. He needs to be calm. Too much emotion won't help.

He notices Hikaru looking at him concernedly and waves an airy hand, as if to say, bah, 'tis nothing.]

Don't worry about me, Hikaru-kun. I'll be fine. You chose me after a fashion, after all. I'm sure we'll find out I'm made of sterner stuff. Worry about yourself, and the way you're pushing yourself so hard.

[Well, that's a bit contradictory with what he just told him...]

I mean, I understand, even agree with, what you're doing. But try not to overdo it? People are relying on you. Heck, people care about you.

He stabs a finger in Hikaru's direction.]

Remember that it is always up to you to choose how you see yourself. Weapon first, or human first? That's always been up to you. In my humble opinion, you're human, plain and simple. More human than most of us, probably, since you've had more practice at it than almost everyone. And the thing about humans is, we die. You die. Ergo, human. It need not be more complicated than that.

[That pronouncement has the ring of an article of faith, but in actuality, he means it to be a statement of fact. Planets orbit the sun. Forces magic helps me manipulate gross energies. The sun rises in the east. Hikaru Shinta is human.]

[icarusalsoflew]

[It's not the words that really get to them: it's the way that they're said. It's always going to surprise this one how, in spite of everything (including his very nature), he was going to end up running into somebody who didn't seem to give a crap about who he was and what he was capable of. Someone who saw him for what he had in common with the rest of them: that he could feel, that he could get tired, that he could get angry, that he could bleed.

Excuse him for the softness in his voice in the next moment, and the look in his eyes. He's allowed to be weak, right? Just this one.]

Thanks. I'll try my best to keep that in mind from here on.