Day 127 | Open | Enjoy the Gardens!

[yinyangfox]

Who: Seimei and everyone/anyone
Open: Open
When: Day 127
Where: The new and improved Hitachiin-Abe Estate
What: Kaoru wanted Seimei to have a house-warming party ages ago and he declined. Now he intends to because its not just his home anymore.
Format: Prose
Warnings: SHOULD be safe...


Yesterday the southern Bastion was suddenly dominated by the rise of a beautiful, elegant Japanese estate. Trees, two ponds, a deck reaching out and resting atop the river; a work of historical art nestled away from the noise and bustle.

Having sent Kaoru out for food and to talk with people about the home being open to others for use of the garden, Seimei himself was reclining on the deck over the river, stretched out and dozing while Taisan sat nearby, eyes closed as his hands moved fluidly over the strings of a plain koto, the music rising and falling in harmony with the rush of water beneath the deck.

The doors in the home were open, front and back, leaving a clear line from the entrance to the gardens where the music drifted on the breeze. At Seimei's request, there was a little sign at the door illustrating taking off one's shoes. Not a demand, simply a request. It was a garish thing he didn't want to keep, but he wanted to at least initially indicate it was polite to do, for those without knowledge of the preference.

The home was now open, and Seimei himself was open as well. He had brooded and been bitetr long enough. With recent revelations between himself and Kaoru, and the sudden influx of newcomers, it was simply unreasonable to remain a hermit.

The onmyoji was back in service, socially and professionally.

Comments

[blackblooded]

There are too many potentials, too many wrong things that might happen, and it's a wonder Crona manages to ever go anywhere or do anything. So many things could go wrong. But Crona knows this is not a good idea, and is about to say something else when Seimei changes the subject.

"... People can be cruel, you know?" But Crona doesn't hate them, or fear them. And self-hatred has never crossed the meister's mind. "But I just don't know how to deal with them."

[yinyangfox]

And at last, Crona says something Seimei understands all to well. Dark eyes linger on the younger company before lowering and looking away as the onmyoji set his emptied teacup down, folding his hands into his sleeves.

"People can be very cruel. Even without really intending to do harm, the words and actions of others can be absolutely devastating. Sometimes even things meant to be kind can cut to the very core of a person and do irreparable damage."

He sighed softly, tilting his head to watch Taisan's hands move as he played gentle music across the deck. He let the relative silence stretch for a moment before speaking again.

"Shall I confess something, Crona?" he asked, those dark eyes drifting up to face the meister. "I do not know how to deal with people either, sometimes. I may live forever, and never really come to understand them any better than I do now. Before all of this, it was my job to work with many people in many ways. I was expected to be very social and cooperative. I...was not. Admittedly, I was very skilled - the most skilled, perhaps - in my field. But I was very, very terrible at my job," he related at length, closing his eyes and leaning back to listen to the notes as they drifted.

"People...frighten me, I suppose. I do not like them very much, though I do try to overcome this whenever I can. Now I am opening my home to people. Even now I worry if this is the best choice."

[blackblooded]

Crona has never encountered accidental cruelty. Even Medusa's kindest words had been intentional, scripted to rip through Crona's soul and leave the child shaken.

"You can't think of them all in a group. People are scary when you look at them all at once. One person at a time is all you need to think about."

Ragnarok grins, all flat teeth and chittering laughter.

"Tch. They're more scared of you than you are of them, moron!"

[yinyangfox]

"That is actually very fine advice, Crona," he remarked, and he meant it. While he understood the principle and shared the outlook, it was pleasant to hear it spoken from the youth and enlightening, as well.

When Ragnarok finally spoke up, Seimei pulled a sleeve back enough that he could gesture with one hand to the tea set aside for him.

"I find that the same can be said in my position as well. The people of Kyoto were often terrified of me. Rumors of my skill and my heritage caused me a great deal of trouble."

[blackblooded]

Crona manages a little smile, pleased and flattered by Seimei's agreement. But then of course Ragnarok had to be his normal annoying self and ruin things.

"So? People are scared as hell 'cause me and Crona murdered shitloads of people! Who gives a fuck what they think, huh?

[yinyangfox]

"Is that supposed to startle me?" he asked, tilting his head to regard Ragnarok coolly. "Or are you deliberately trying to trouble Crona? Perhaps hamper his ability to form another friendship? Ragnarok-san, tsk tsk. How unkind," he drawled, refreshing all of the teacups and doling out desserts on separate plates.

"Frankly, I doubt many people here know about it at all, so unless you say something, you have complete freedom to be whatever sort of person it pleases you to be. Myself, for example. I am trying, at least, to be more available to others, where before I avoided them quite spectacularly. In this new and strange world, I am permitted friendships. However, only if I permit myself to have them as well."

[blackblooded]

"I dunno. You scared, foxface?"

Seimei obviously thinks more deeply on friendships than Crona does. The meister simply doesn't have enough experience for this.

"I don't know about things like that. People who want to be friends just make themselves your friends. That's what happens."

[yinyangfox]

"Frightened? Of you? No. I rather like you both," he remarked with a shake of his head before arching a brow at Crona, expression thoughtful.

He looked away, giving it a moment to settle in before nodding and tilting his gaze to regard them both.

"Yes, but sometimes we make ourselves inaccessible out of fear of the unknown or a lack of willingness to devote the returned effort of being a friend. Among other things. Friendship requires work on the part of both people in order to maintain it. True friendship, anyways. Hm. Do you have anyone you would do anything for, Crona? Someone that you would move the earth and stars for, just to see them safe?"

[blackblooded]

"You don't have to like Ragnarok." Maybe that's petty, but Crona doesn't care. Ragnarok's been a bully, violent, hateful, constantly making Crona's life miserable. And Crona needs him. But it's understandable if no one likes him.

Then Seimei's next words freeze Crona again, cutting into things the meister doesn't think should be shared.

"I...." Yes. A nod, because Crona can't manage to talk anymore. Maka. Crona would do anything for Maka. Crona would (almost did) die for Maka. Crona did betray Medusa for Maka (and Medusa was a horrible person, but Crona would never had the strength to fight back if not for Maka).

[yinyangfox]

"I don't have to, no," Seimei remarked with a chuckle and nod. "But I do, nonetheless. Even trouble-makers are worth getting to know. I can say with absolute sincerity that some of my better friends have been some of my worst enemies. Not that I consider you an enemy," he remarked, indicating Ragnarok and rubbing his fingers together, dusting them off after eating a bite of mochi.

"Someone, hm? Good. Not him, though, right?" Seimei asked with a smirk, once more indicating Ragnarok. "Good, though. I was worried about you, but I see I should not be too hasty. What I saw in the swamp was...suffice it to say I was concerned for everyone, not merely myself. I simply have enough to lose now that self preservation was a key motivator."

[blackblooded]

"See! You're an idiot, Crona!"

Crona's used to Ragnarok, doesn't bother to ignore the insults and more than occasional punches. It isn't like he's wrong. And Crona is also distracted by the thread of conversation, the friendly prying into Crona's most precious secrets.

"... S-she's here now. Maka is." In the swamp, Crona had thought Maka was there, had recoiled from angry words from a statue that crumbled so easily under the shakey press of a hand. But now Maka is here, really in the Bastion, and that means more than the world to Crona. Let everyone else crumble into nothing. Maka is here.

The rest of the man's words are ignored.

[yinyangfox]

"Is she really?" he asked, smiling slowly and looking off to the side. "Well, I'm pleased to hear it. Everyone deserves close company they enjoy, and everyone should have something they hold dear. If this Lady Maka is your precious thing, you should protect it, protect them," he remarked, looking down into his teacup thoughtfully, before flicking dark eyes up to focus on Crona.

"Nevermind what anyone else says to you, Crona. Nevermind Ragnarok, nevermind anything else. You follow your heart where this is concerned. It would be a pity if your head led you astray and you wound up having one of those missed opportunities."

[blackblooded]

"There was..." Another 'Maka' had been here before. "Someone... um. Someone said I was in love with her. But I... I don't know. I don't know how to deal with that."

But Crona had been willing to die for Maka. Crona had taken a blow through the chest, a strike that would have killed Maka had it hit. Crona had nearly died. For Maka. Maka is everything to Crona.