This is what Sotoba felt like all the time. There's no obaasan to gossip, but I'm still getting the occasional stare so it's close enough.
[ He'd probably be just as miserable like he was then if not for Anon. Still, the coincidences aren't easy to ignore, and it's enough to irritate him when he sits to think about it, especially the last part. ]
That was the name of the village I'm from. It's also a type of grave marker, though.
[ Yeah, pretty morbid. And probably not. ]
A rural place in the middle of nowhere with nothing going on, so people would just talk about me because I was an outsider. I guess I'm used to it but...
[ He really doesn't want to go here either, but he's also not the type to just avoid something. ]
He's even stupider than I thought if he thinks that I'm going to risk everything just to piss him off. Or whatever he thinks I'm going to do.
Shadow cracks open one eye to look at Natsuno as he speaks, then closes it back with a grumble. He knows exactly who Koide is referring to]
He's frightened. Lonely. Confused. Surrounded on all sides by people he perceives as enemies, and expecting retaliation at any moment. [Shadow shifts, uncrossing his legs and then crossing them back the other way] It's going to be a long week.
[ He'll meet Shadow's gaze, his own his usual brand of stoic with a slight hint of a scowl. ]
I like vengeance. But there's no point if it would risk what-who I care about. Besides, he's just another mistake I made. I'm supposed to be trying to move past those, I think.
[ Offhandedly, like he could go either way. Which is the truth. ]
[Shadow's getting better at interpreting Natsuno's microexpressions, at least]
Vengeance always feels so good, so viscerally satisfying. I'd be a hypocrite if I said that revenge is pointless. Sometimes that cruel happiness is worth the effort, but most of the time it isn't. Most of the time... it's best to just learn your lessons and move on from the past, let your success be the revenge.
Maybe I should have told him that I brainwashed my best friend into helping me before letting him die from the start. He probably would have understood what kind of person I am better, then. It worked with Ozaki at least. [ Throwing that out there oh so casually. ]
Well, in general, if you want something from someone, telling them you are willing to brainwash your friends and then letting them perish is probably not the way to go about it. Even if it is truthful.
[Shadow gives Natsuno a small glare] ... I do hope you're not doing any more brainwashing any time soon, Koide.
It worked the first time. [ If he sounds petulant he's not sorry about it. ] Ozaki sensei never expected me to uphold some rigid moral compass. And no I didn't brainwash him into working with me.
Good. Because, as someone who has been on the other end of brainwashing, I can say it is not a fun time. If you can accomplish your goals without doing such things, I highly recommend it.
For Marchosias' wings? [Shadow tilts his head, then nods] That sounds reasonable. I always prefer abilities that improve one's utility. I'd like to keep Andras' wings as well, but... technically, with my jet boots, I can already sort of fly.
Mhmm. It's not the same and you wouldn't have feathers either. [ Because that matters apparently. ]
I didn't have that jinrou power for the longest time, so I've gotten used to it. And when I got it back, the one person I was going to use it on didn't matter anymore.
Ha. You a fan of feathers, Koide? [Shadow summons his wings in a flash of golden flame. Up close, it's clear they aren't just black -- there's faint red and charcoal barring on the undersides. And since they're owl wings they're heckin soft]
Yeah. [ This face, so maybe Shadow shouldn't ask. On the other hand, it's thanks to the talk that this is life now.
Either way he looks at the feathers curiously, the barely visible red catching his eye. ]
Nightvision, functional immortality, regeneration, superhuman speed and strength, voice projection, poisonous—sedative bite, day walking, and the brainwashing. I think that's it, but I'm the last jinrou left and I never got along with the other ones to ask.
[Like he hasn't been watching you and Anon. Dreamworld isn't very big, Natsuno]
[Shadow nods a bit as he listens. All sounds pretty par for the course for powerful vampires] Let me guess, you are somehow responsible for killing them all?
[ Tentatively reaching out to touch a wing. And heyyy he's been trying to use the avian privacy screen when he remembers. Remembers being the key word.
There's a satisfied smirk that creeps onto his lips when he responds. ]
Me and Ozaki. I took care of the leaders and gave him intel, and he took care of the average Shiki by flushing them out and going on hunts with the villagers he won over. I think he's the one who set the entire village on fire too, but I was kinda busy and never got the chance to ask.
[ Par for the course, softly stroking the owl feathers while causally chatting about genocide. ]
The other way around. Shiki are failed jinrou, they can't be in the daylight without burning, and they're not as strong or as fast either. They have to drink blood in order to survive, jinrou can get by on human food even if it's...not great.
[ That's why he was extra stoic the first two weeks, smh. Starving kinda makes you cranky. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 7 monday
It's weird being stuck on this side, even if it's only been a few days.
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It's boring and it makes me anxious.
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[ He'd probably be just as miserable like he was then if not for Anon. Still, the coincidences aren't easy to ignore, and it's enough to irritate him when he sits to think about it, especially the last part. ]
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[he's pointedly not commenting about the stares. You think this is any more fun for him?]
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[ Yeah, pretty morbid. And probably not. ]
A rural place in the middle of nowhere with nothing going on, so people would just talk about me because I was an outsider. I guess I'm used to it but...
[ He really doesn't want to go here either, but he's also not the type to just avoid something. ]
He's even stupider than I thought if he thinks that I'm going to risk everything just to piss him off. Or whatever he thinks I'm going to do.
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[there are worse names for villages.
Shadow cracks open one eye to look at Natsuno as he speaks, then closes it back with a grumble. He knows exactly who Koide is referring to]
He's frightened. Lonely. Confused. Surrounded on all sides by people he perceives as enemies, and expecting retaliation at any moment. [Shadow shifts, uncrossing his legs and then crossing them back the other way] It's going to be a long week.
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[ He'll meet Shadow's gaze, his own his usual brand of stoic with a slight hint of a scowl. ]
I like vengeance. But there's no point if it would risk what-who I care about. Besides, he's just another mistake I made. I'm supposed to be trying to move past those, I think.
[ Offhandedly, like he could go either way. Which is the truth. ]
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Vengeance always feels so good, so viscerally satisfying. I'd be a hypocrite if I said that revenge is pointless. Sometimes that cruel happiness is worth the effort, but most of the time it isn't. Most of the time... it's best to just learn your lessons and move on from the past, let your success be the revenge.
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[ That's blunt and cold, but judging from the way he leans forward onto his palm there's something else at play here. ]
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[Shadow has his eyes open all the way now, at least, and he's watching Natsuno]
Sometimes people just don't get along, and it takes time to figure that out.
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Maybe I should have told him that I brainwashed my best friend into helping me before letting him die from the start. He probably would have understood what kind of person I am better, then. It worked with Ozaki at least. [ Throwing that out there oh so casually. ]
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[Shadow gives Natsuno a small glare] ... I do hope you're not doing any more brainwashing any time soon, Koide.
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[ Returning that glare with an intense deadpan. ]
I don't have any current plans.
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["recommend"
DON'T DISAPPOINT DAD!]
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I was thinking of trading it for wings when we leave here.
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.... but it's not the same.
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I didn't have that jinrou power for the longest time, so I've gotten used to it. And when I got it back, the one person I was going to use it on didn't matter anymore.
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... What other things can jinrou do?
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Either way he looks at the feathers curiously, the barely visible red catching his eye. ]
Nightvision, functional immortality, regeneration, superhuman speed and strength, voice projection, poisonous—sedative bite, day walking, and the brainwashing. I think that's it, but I'm the last jinrou left and I never got along with the other ones to ask.
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[Shadow nods a bit as he listens. All sounds pretty par for the course for powerful vampires] Let me guess, you are somehow responsible for killing them all?
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There's a satisfied smirk that creeps onto his lips when he responds. ]
Me and Ozaki. I took care of the leaders and gave him intel, and he took care of the average Shiki by flushing them out and going on hunts with the villagers he won over. I think he's the one who set the entire village on fire too, but I was kinda busy and never got the chance to ask.
It was great.
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You'd think the talk of genocide would be uncomfortable, but Shadow doesn't seem fazed. He's just not surprised, honestly.
Plus, he can't talk -- he eradicated an entire species.]
Is a "shiki" a kind of jinrou? Or... the other way around?
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The other way around. Shiki are failed jinrou, they can't be in the daylight without burning, and they're not as strong or as fast either. They have to drink blood in order to survive, jinrou can get by on human food even if it's...not great.
[ That's why he was extra stoic the first two weeks, smh. Starving kinda makes you cranky. ]
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