IC Inbox (Sol Raveh)

[oldschoolghostbuster]

Phones are a pretty cool invention, huh? Anyway, Nikkari isn't able to answer right now, so leave a message.

Comments

[hornedwarrior]

[It takes him a few tries to get the damned device on and working properly, and even when he does the angle is still completely skewed the wrong direction.

It's... progress at least?]

Ah... Nikkari... ? I hope I'm sending this to the right device..

[oldschoolghostbuster]

Ozuma! You finally figured out how to leave messages, huh? Good job.

[It would probably sound a bit passive aggressive if most people said it, but Nikkari just sounds so genuinely happy about the progress.]

Anyway, what's up?

[hornedwarrior]

[Oh thank Sol Raveh it worked! He really didn't want to accidentally send this message to someone else. Or not send it at all.]

I'm... learning. Slowly.

[He grins sheepishly, absolutely embarrassed that he seems so inept with this device even after all this time.]

I was wondering if... we could talk, actually.

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[Considering how much he's overheard old people complaining about not understanding new tech, Nikkari's actually quite impressed by how well people from worlds that don't have anywhere near the tech level for anything equivalent have been managing to pick up the phones.]

Of course. I'm always up for a chat with you.

[hornedwarrior]

[Ozuma is just stubborn and refuses to lose out on any potential contact even if it means struggling through why does it move when I touch it.]

Would you like to meet in the garden then?

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[If that question had been asked in front of Nikkari, he definitely would have made an innuendo of it.

Since it hadn't been, he simply lights up at the prospect of spending time with Ozuma.]

It would be nice to talk there. Shall we race to see who gets there first?

[He might already have started off at a jogging pace while still holding the phone up, whoops.]

[hornedwarrior]

!

[Nikkari, you cheater!

Ozuma doesn't even answer, he just puts his phone away and starts moving.]

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[Nikkari picks up the pace as soon as Ozuma hangs up, laughing all the way to the garden. Shame? Why feel shame for starting first? It just makes the game a little more interesting, ne?]

[hornedwarrior]

[Ozuma could easily use his powers of light to just jump there, but unlike someone he's not a cheater!

But he does go as fast as his legs will carry him, only being held up by the elevator that is required to get to the rooftop garden.

He'll be there, though whether before or after Nikkari remains to be seen.]

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[It's not cheating if you have farther to go~

Between his head start and being pretty quick, Nikkari does just barely manage to get there ahead of his friend. When Ozuma steps out of the elevator, Nikkari will be waiting with a smile, still flushed from the run.]

[hornedwarrior]

[Even so! Starting a race like that!

But there's Ozuma, equally flushed and slightly out of breath. He stumbles to a halt and rests his hands on his knees.]

Ha... I haven't had to run like that in a while.

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[If he had lungs, Nikkari's sure he'd be in a similar state. Less so, of course - his entire fighting style is based around being quick, and he physically can't get out of shape - but nonetheless...

Somehow, he finds himself thinking that it's nice to see Ozuma in this state; seeing him here, outside the walls and ceiling where he always has to be the avatar of a god at least a little, disheveled and out of breath... It makes him seem that much more alive.

Nikkari can't help but find him that much more beautiful.]

It's fun, right? If you're that out of shape though, you should start training with me, ne?

[hornedwarrior]

[Gosh Nikkari it's almost like you like him or something...]

I probably should. I suppose death and resurrection takes a toll on one's body after all.

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[Probably the only ones who don't know it are these two, really.]

I wouldn't know. This body doesn't really work like that.

But you wanted to talk. Shall we sit down somewhere?

[hornedwarrior]

[They're so clueless...]

Oh, right. Yes. There's a spot near the edge that I like to sit at.

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[So very clueless. Maybe someday someone will take pity on them and clue them in.]

Lead on, then, Captain.

[hornedwarrior]

[Or one of them will actually figure it out on their own.

Ozuma gives a nod and heads that direction, finding a spot near the edge where one of the bigger trees stands, offering additional shade that the passing clouds above don't.]

Here we are.

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[It's possible they'll manage it that way, yes. Especially if they have help from mistletoe or something like that.

Nikkari can't help but smile widely as he sits at the base of the tree.]

You have good taste in spots.

[hornedwarrior]

[Or maybe Ozuma is starting to see things thanks to a certain shadow...]

I don't get to come up here often, but when I do, I enjoy looking out over the ocean.

[It reminds him of the freedom he once had, before this castle became his home.

His prison...]

I feel like there's a lot to talk to you about...

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[The Queen would be so salty if she were to realize that she helped with her arch nemesis' love life, pfffft.

Nikkari nods. The ocean is indeed beautiful from here. A pity the smell of salt heralds the ever-present danger of rust.

A pity that his only times near the sea have been as a device of war.]

That's fine. I have all the time in the world, you know?

[hornedwarrior]

[So salty.

It would be glorious.]

Ah... hah, well. Yes. You do. I'm afraid the same can't be said for most of our heroes.

[He smiles awkwardly at Nikkari, trying to not sound as bumbling and foolish as he was feeling right then.]

I suppose that's my burden to bear, though, isn't it?

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[Salty enough to rival the Dead Sea, perhaps, and what a sight that would be to behold indeed.]

Our burden. I've been here since the very first batch of heroes, you know? What's the point of being summoned first if I'm not supposed to be shouldering some of that burden for you, right?

[Nikkari's smile is sure, and his voice utterly uncaring of how foolish he might sound.]


Light and dark, gods and queens... I don't care that much about those things. I fight because you and Yorda and Ico love this world, and it doesn't need to be any more complicated than that.

[hornedwarrior]

[Considering how she already is, it's entirely possible that is the solution to beating her after all.

Probably not, though.]

I wish it was that simple. It would make things so much less complicated for us all, but...

Yorda never wanted to hurt anyone, nor does she want her mother to continue hurting people, but that's something that can't be helped no matter how hard she continues to try. She is a pure child absolutely devoid of the hatred her mother feels towards others. It's painful to watch her suffer under the actions of the woman who raised her.

Ico loves his village, his friends and the surrogate family he made there. He was shown what would happen should he refuse the sacrifice and a gentle soul such as his, no matter how stubborn he may be, would never risk the lives of so many just for the sake of his own freedom. He is truly selfless.

And I...

[He trails off, looking to the sky where a distant white bird can barely be seen against the fluff of clouds parting from a distant storm.]

What would you say if I told you that the reason the castle exists in the state it does is because of a mistake I made?

[oldschoolghostbuster]

I'd say that you're a good man prone to getting in over his head, and that you tend to beat yourself up over it. You really try your best though, right?

[He leans forward and places a hand on Ozuma's shoulder, visible eye locked with his dear friend's as he gently presses their foreheads together in a comforting gesture.]

Nikkari Aoe is a sword named for the smile of a ghost he slayed, and was used to take the lives of many not yet dead. Yep, that's what I was: a tool of death. Does that change your opinion of me?

[He says it confidently, but there's still that small, persistent fear that the answer might be "yes."]

[hornedwarrior]

Haa... in over my head. That feels like an understatement now...

[He didn't think so when he took on the task delegated by the capital to find out what was happening in the castle, but now...

Well.]

That's something I've always known about you. Of course it doesn't change my opinion. What I've told you, though...

It's something I myself have only just come to recall.

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[This brightens Nikkari's smile just a bit more.]

Then you have my answer. Recent recollection or not, I still feel the same.

But I wonder what else you had to tell me? It feels like there's more to this than just that confession.

[It should probably be noted that Nikkari has yet to actually move enough for his face to no longer be making contact with Ozuma's. Why move when it's pretty comfortable?]

[hornedwarrior]

[It's an odd gesture for him, yet Ozuma finds that he doesn't mind it much. He doesn't make any effort to move away, though he does give an uncertain shake of his head.]

I don't like hiding things from the others, but I also don't know who else to talk to about the things I've been recalling...

Yorda was still very much under the thrall of her mother, convinced that she could be saved when the capital wanted nothing more than to end her life entirely. The woman that I took the head of was nothing more than a hand maiden who had been sacrificed and dressed as the Queen. Yorda knew this, and I think deep down I always felt the end had simply been far too easy for all of us.

That didn't stop me from defending Yorda's actions in the end, though. There was no need to blame the child for doing what she thought in her heart was right.

That means, though, that the reason we are both here... the "sacrifices" of the horned boys born as a result of my failure to end the Queen's tyranny. These things were not her decrees. It was the capital and the Priest-King that saw fit to lock the castle away in this manner.

If anyone is to be blamed for the need of the heroes in this place now, it would be me.

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[Nikkari listens to the whole thing without a word. Throughout, his smile slowly fades. How long had it been since he'd remembered? How long was "recently"? Weeks? Months?]

Is that what you want? To be blamed?

[He gently slips his arms around Ozuma's neck, not once breaking eye contact.]

You didn't ask for people to be sacrificed. The people who decided that have that on their heads. But you? You made a mistake, but you tried, right? You tried, and you're taking responsibility for that. I can't blame you for that, you know?

[hornedwarrior]

[Since the Queen took him, actually.

There was a reason he was so reluctant to talk to anyone about personal issues after that. Dove tried hard to get him to speak on what happened, but all he did was smile and shake his head.

"It's not important" he kept saying, all the while aching deep down because he was keeping vital information from his heroes.

Again he doesn't move, though it's him who breaks eye contact by closing them and resting his forehead against Nikkari's.]

Would the others feel the way you do? Or would Yorda and I be chased away for being the ones that played a part in all of this?

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[He almost says "Zeno will help!" Then he remembers that ah, neither Zeno nor Shin-Ah are here anymore.]

Isshin- er, Ishikirimaru will back me up on this, I think. I know Signless definitely will, and I'm sure Volga will help us too.

I'm sure some of the others will try to chase you away at first, but I think most of them will understand or at least not care. I won't let them chase two of the people I care about most away from the only home we have right now.

[hornedwarrior]

[A part of him wants to argue, to say that Nikkari doesn't have to do such a thing or risk himself just for his sake, but...

He knows that's an argument Nikkari won't listen to.

He lets out an amused sigh, managing a smile. It's tired, but genuine.]

Thank you.

I was wondering if I could ask you something as well...

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[Though he can't see the smile due to the proximity of their faces, Nikkari can't see the smile. He doesn't need to though. They say that a smile doesn't have a real sound, but he knows better.

A person's smile comes through in their voice, if only one listens.]

Anything.

[hornedwarrior]

[At least he knows.]

You... gave me a favor some time ago.

[Something he was still somewhat unsure about, but at least now he can think to put it to good use.]

Would something like that possibly include perhaps having my own room? Or, rather, sharing a room... with you?

1/?

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[There's a brief pause as the question filters it's way through Nikkari's consciousness.]

Eh?

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[And then it hits like Imanotsurugi when thrown by Iwatooshi, or at least with the force that Nikkari assumes the combined efforts of the two Sanjou blades would have.

He jerks back to stare wide-eyed at Ozuma, quickly working his way towards a brilliant red that his pale skin does absolutely nothing to hide.]

Eeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh?!

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[It's so sudden. He knew they were friends, but being close enough to be asked this? And with what he'd specified the wish to be used for...]

Ano... I... ah... eh...etto...

4/4

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[After another few moments of stammering (and who can blame him? Asking something that takes him completely off guard like that...) Nikkari manages a smile and a coherent answer, even if he's still very, very red.]

That would make you happy, huh? Like I specified the favor be used for?

If that's the case, who am I to refuse?

[hornedwarrior]

[Ozuma thought for certain that he had asked something completely inappropriate from that reaction, stepping over some cultural line he didn't quite understand in to something taboo. He was close to apologizing, trying to stutter it out when Nikkari regained control of himself and smile.]

Ah-- ... y... you're okay with it then...?

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[This gets a small laugh and another hug from Nikkari, who's still very, very flushed.]

I wouldn't have offered when we did your first network announcement if I wasn't, silly.

[hornedwarrior]

[That makes two of them.]

I wasn't sure... I could have easily misinterpreted what you were willing to give me for that.

[Cultural norms and all that.]

[oldschoolghostbuster]

I'm not sure how else that could have been interpreted. I wouldn't have mentioned my brothers if I was propositioning you.

[Not that he'd be at all opposed to that, but that's prooooobably not the best thing to suddenly tell your new roommate.]

[hornedwarrior]

[PROBABLY. NOT.

Might be a good idea to take this slow still, even if Ozuma is now in the "let's move in together" phase without ever having had the things that generally happen behind closed doors phase yet.

Relationships are complicated...

In any case, that makes Ozuma laugh awkwardly, giving a nod.]

I understand that now. Thank you for agreeing, though. I really should have removed myself from the altar room months ago.

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[Nikkari returns the sentiment with a fond smile.]

Yep yep. You definitely should have. It's alright though. [His arms tighten around Ozuma.] I can be there to protect you now.

[hornedwarrior]

I'm glad. Thank you, Nikkari.

[This certainly went better than expected.]

[oldschoolghostbuster]

[On both ends.]

Thank you for choosing me.