Even after a day full of celebration in Meridian, the people wouldn’t stop their joyous activities even as the sun started to set. A new Sun-King was crowned and with that, there was hope for the Carja again. For the nation.
Kherus had guarded the process carefully throughout the day, following Avad around like a hawk. Even now, when the Sun-King retreated to his quarters for some well needed peace, Kherus followed, until he reached the doors of the king’s room. He made ready to stand guard outside the quarters, when Avad paused, arching an eyebrow in confusion.
“You’re going to stay out here?”
Kherus gave him a slow look in return. “Your quarters have already been secured, Sun-King. Unless you want me to do another sweep?”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s well protected. But… you owe me some answers, remember?”
“What about your rest?”
Avad waved his hand dismissively. “I can rest afterwards. Come along now.” The servant who had been holding up the door for Avad, did the same for Kherus as he somewhat unwillingly followed Avad into his quarters. The Sun-Kings usually hadn’t been that curious about him… but then, they hadn’t glimpsed his true self so early on, like Avad had.
The servant was quickly dismissed, despite their insistence in helping Avad dress into more casual clothes. Instead, the former prince removed his headdress, placing it on the low table in the middle of the room. Keeping his hand on it, he wearily looked around.
Thankfully, he couldn’t see anything that reminded him of his father in here, even though he knew this had been Jiran’s personal quarters beforehand. No personal touches remained. Only intricate furniture, thick carpets and tapestries dressed the room. Circular in design, the north wall of the room was an open balcony, allowing him a gorgeous view of the landscape below.
Avad stepped out there, placing his hands on the stony balcony rail. Watching out over what was now his kingdom. A charge he didn’t want, but had no choice but to accept as the only remaining prince. Well, there was Itamen of course. But the boy was far too young to lead a nation.
Kherus slowly followed him, finding himself looking out over the landscape as well. Despite the centuries, he wasn’t sure he’d ever grow accustomed to the lack of… civilization. These open landscapes, untouched by humanity’s hands. His head had lowered as he thought about it, looking off somewhere to the side.
Avad noticed. “What are you thinking about?”
Kherus startled slightly, glancing over at the Sun-King. He quickly straightened up, resuming his more guarded look through the room instead. “Nothing of importance, sir.”
“Ah… no man carries a forlorn gaze like that while thinking about ‘nothing important’,” Avad playfully chided him. “And please, call me by my name. It’s bad enough that everyone else refuses to.”
“I possibly could not -”
“Please.”
“As you wish… Avad.”
Avad gave him a relieved nod in return, before his fingers started tapping against the railing. Then he leaned down on it with his arms, shifting his gaze back to the horizon.
“Would you be as kind as to explain… what you are, Kherus? And how you came to serve the Sun-Kings as their bodyguard?”
“That is a very long story. Are you sure you wish to hear it today, after such a taxing day already?”
Avad glanced back at him briefly. “Humour me.” Kherus shook his head with some amusement, visible in his eyes only, as he still wore his mask and helmet. Seeing his eyes softening brought a faint smile out of Avad as well.
Kherus had to give it to Avad, the man was stubborn like few others. He had that in common with Khuvadin for sure. A fearless curiosity. Settling his gaze to the horizon as well, he began to explain the same thing he had told the previous Sun-Kings.
About sand demons, their origin; as much as he knew anyway. Their strengths and weaknesses. Their immortality. Avad listened patiently as Kherus talked, looking intrigued by the man’s words.
It wasn’t until Kherus went into the details about his own life, that Avad’s expression turned into concern. How he witnessed the end of humanity so many centuries ago. How he had been there from the start, devoid of human contact for centuries. Seen as nothing but a wild beast for decades.
Kherus spoke of it with ease, but Avad could see the painful memories reflected in his eyes.
When Kherus started to talk about Jiran’s threats, Avad scoffed loudly. The threats of banishing Kherus from Carja lands were bad already before he knew the truth but now? Knowing how Kherus had wanted civilization and company for so long? Those threats were despicable.
Avad cleared his head by shaking it. “You have been through so unbelievably much, Kherus. Seen so much. I’ll be honest, it sounds like a fairytale… but I already know that lying isn’t your forte.”
“You would not be the first to think that. But it is the truth. I promised Khuvadin I would always guard and aid the Sun-Kings —” Kherus paused, frowning slightly. “— Within my vows, that is,” he continued, as Jiran certainly hadn’t respected that. “And I intend to continue doing so. Whatever you need, Avad, it will be my pleasure and duty to fulfil it.”
Avad smiled softly, raising his hand however. “If that is the case, I wish you not to treat me like the Sun-King.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t need another guard or a yes-sayer whispering in my ear and trying to win my favour. I want someone who isn’t afraid to voice his opinion. Someone who will keep me company and treat me like… anyone else. A person.”
Kherus looked at him for a long time. “You are describing a friend.”
“... Perhaps I am.” Avad looked down at the stone railing. Then he gave a sad chuckle, realising his folly. “An impossibility when you’re the Sun-King, alas.”
“If you desire a friendship, it is my duty to comply.”
“Exactly. Your duty.” Kherus’s brow furrowed further. He saw the dilemma Avad presented there. It was… familiar. Kherus had never been a king, but he had been a leader. Everyone who answered to him, did so out of duty. In truth, he couldn’t even recall if there had been any friends among them. Not that he had required them.
Was that a hint of regret growing in his chest? No. It had been for the best. Because if he had been close to anyone back then, they’d have died. Along with everything else.
“If I may be frank…?” Kherus asked suddenly.
“Of course.”
“Even as the Sun-king, you cannot request a friendship. Not if you want a genuine one at least. And I know that is what I would prefer if the choice was mine.” Avad gave a slow nod, having realised such already.
“Friendships need to be earned. With time. I cannot be your… friend, right now, Avad. I am not even sure I am capable of such. But we can both… try to earn it.” Kherus went to place his hands on the railing as well, giving the Sun-King an earnest look. Avad returned a surprised one, even as Kherus continued to speak.
”In the meantime, I will still be your guard whether you like it or not. And I can still voice my opinion freely, if you wish. In truth, Khuvadin preferred that as well.”
Then it struck him. Had he and Khuvadin been friends perhaps? Or had that too been affected by the power difference?
“Then I shall be content with that,” Avad gave him a hopeful nod. He’d have his work cut out for him the next months if nothing else, to keep him occupied. Friendships would have to wait. Still, he was quite relieved to have an ally like Kherus in the meantime
( Ryoma ) “Hide! You know this place well enough that I'm starting to wonder if you've always lived here.”
sentence meme
Was it that obvious? When you had lived as long as he had, some places and some habits became like the back of your hand. Normally, he knew better and played ignorant but he had become familiar enough with Ryoma that he was starting to slip up.
Kyoto was very familiar to Hide. And yet, he was supposed to be here for the first time.
He shifted a little uncomfortable, as if he'd been called out.
"I've just studied the maps very closely. Got a good memory."
Y'all, I think it's time I come to terms with the fact that there will never be a better color combination than Orange/Teal. Pack it in every other color dichotomy, there's a clear winner.
Even though Hide is only a half demon, he possesses their full strengths and their weaknesses. An extra bonus for being half human, is that he looks fully human and can actually live in society. Until his eyes will glow blue upon using his abilities, in which case most humans start to grow fearful of him.
Strength: Hide is much stronger than an ordinary human, although years of being shunned has taught him to hide and control it well. No human can possible overpower him. In his demonic form, he’s even stronger.
Speed: He’s incredibly fast, having honed reflexes for many decades. As a full on demon, he can dash a great distance within the blink of an eye.
Senses: A tad above a trained human’s capability but nothing particular. Demon Hide has a good sense of smell and hearing.
Immortality: Perhaps his greatest asset (and curse) is the fact he cannot die. Upon receiving a killing blow, his body will fade into mist much like any yokai of Nioh does. His Guardian Spirit will appear for a moment before drifting off as well, anchoring itself at the nearest holy site. This can take minutes, hours or even days and weeks depending on the extent of the damage. A ‘regular’ killing blow such as being impaled by a sword takes minutes, having his whole body destroyed would take days or weeks.
In the world of Nioh, he’ll reform a minute or so at the nearest shrine, unless he’s killed by his own dagger/the sword it later becomes. Then he will take a very long time (even years) to come back after a blow by that. While he tries to avoid any injuries in general (it still hurts), injury/death by his own weapons are even worse. They tend to leave him mentally drained and wrecked for weeks or months. Not to say scarred. His cheek scar is from an injury during childhood from his dagger.
Weaknesses: Like any yokai, he’s very susceptible to corruption of any kind. A sign of this occurring is that his eyes will turn red and he’ll become hostile. Sometimes it’s enough to knock him out for him to regain his senses, sometimes it takes killing him. In worst cases, one has to banish whatever’s corrupted him. Intense emotions, like watching someone he loves get badly hurt, can also trigger this state of mind. It’s one reason Hide keeps his emotion so controlled.
Some magical rituals, aimed to trap, can affect him.
Is this a heart-to-heart? Feels like it's approaching that territory.
I have his scent, Isonade murmurs, voice like ship planks creaking, Lure him close. Grant me a taste.
Right. Let's not get too intimate.
William waves the shark away; it vanishes into blue sparks. "I still am. Everyday I choose to learn. Sometimes it isn't a choice." He shakes his head, huffs a laugh. "Like the cat in my head. This place is more home to me than anywhere else I've lived. I want to make it more so." The barest hint of a smile turns his lip. "How's my Japanese, by the by?"
Hide was aware of Nekomata's presence around William; difficult not to when the spirit lingered around Hide as well. He was certain that Nekomata had been of great help to William too. The guardian spirits' ways were to be admired; being able to be everywhere all at once.
"It's good," Hide nods with a faint smile. "You have practiced."
He signed a few times with his hands, smirking this time. "Some languages are more secret than others though." There were no expectations on William to understand it. Hide just enjoyed the teasing.
"You speak Japanese better than I speak... English." Which was to say nothing. The interest was there. It could be useful, especially if he'd ever venture outside of Japan. "Reading first, I think." It would certainly be easier.
The door to the longhouse slides open and Sakamoto Ryoma sticks his head in. "Hide?"
Toeing his boots off, he lets himself inside. He hopes Hide's here. This idea feels too important to share with anyone else. It's a real game-changer. A step forward. Proof that the world outside is full of wonders. All one has to do is be brave and look.
He really hopes Hide is here.
Settling in a spot by the hearth, Ryoma tips his face up to the ceiling. He can't do it. He can't keep it locked in his head any longer. "Hear me out," he says, "Pigeons."
From the garden just behind the thin wall, a shuffle can be heard before Hide's briefly shown, helping a cat jump over the fence. Brushing off his shirt, where the cat had attempted to climb, he stepped back inside.
His brow rose at the words, coming to a halt.
"Pigeons," he repeated.
"Perhaps that's why all the cats are trying to get inside the longhouse..." comes the amused aside. The shiftling stirs the hearth, before setting some water to boil to make tea.
"You didn't bring one in here, right?" Please tell me you did not.
I'm sort of still here, between the warmth of summer - which I handle very poorly- and vacation where I try to catch up with everything else I can't normally, I'm just not actively reaching out as much. Low energy and all that.
But if you want a starter or plot something or similar, just lemme know!
"STOP PUTTING YOURSELF INTO DANGER!" PROMPTS
* assorted dialogue for expressing your fear that the person you care about might get themselves hurt if they keep acting like this, adjust as necessary
i thought i told you to stay back.
i love you too much to let you get hurt like this.
this affects me, too, you know.
every time you leave, i sit up all night waiting, praying you'll come back alive.
you keep pulling stunts like this and something bad will happen.
do you have a death wish or something?
this isn't fair to me.
i deserve better than this.
i didn't get any sleep last night because i was so worried about you.
you promised me you'd stop going out at night.
i don't like hearing this.
you've been risking your life, and for what? so you can feel like a goddamn hero?
i said i would handle it.
what the fuck are you doing here?
you told me you'd stay put.
so much for laying low.
you remember how bad it was last time.
seems like you haven't learned anything.
i believe you promised me you'd lay low.
i can't keep doing this.
don't give me that look.
we'll discuss this later.
this stops now.
i'm tired of picking up the pieces once you've left.
you keep throwing yourself into danger.
you don't give a shit about yourself, do you?
i'm sitting here, worried out of my mind, while you're out doing god knows what.
that was really stupid of you, and you know it.
i thought you knew better than this.
what's your excuse this time?
you do realize what this does to me, right? seeing you get hurt like this? you know it hurts me, too?
you really don't give a shit how this affects me, huh.
that was the dumbest possible thing you could have done.
i need you to stop throwing yourself into harm's way.
that was completely unnecessary.
they had it handled.
you didn't need to step in like that.
why do you think you're invincible?
the last time you pulled a stunt like this, it nearly got you killed.
i can't just sit here and watch you get hurt.
what are you trying to prove?
you just like fucking with my heart, don't you.
this shit hurts me, too, you know.
you're not the only one affected by this shit.
you've got a lot of people counting on you to come home every night.
what happens if you don't come back?
you think we can just carry on without you?
you think i can handle things if you end up dead?
i'm not sticking around to watch you get hurt.
you're not even slick.
you think you're invincible, don't you.
quit pretending you've got everything under control.
let someone else do it for a change.
you can't keep putting yourself through shit like this and expect me to just sit back and watch.
i'm done with this.
next time you do this, i'm not coming back.
promise me this is the end.
look me in the eyes and tell me you'll stop doing this.