chalicearrow-blog

[chalicearrow-blog]

dropping hajime aikawa (kamen rider) for now! housing was apt 348.

Dropped for you!

–Mod Lyra

[chalicearrow-blog]

fcxrcin‌:

“Ah,” Has she never explained what a Gumiho was? She’s going back on her memories with Hajime and yeah, she never mentioned what they really were. Not ENTIRELY. It’s an absent-minded thing, but here she is, grabbing one of the fluff tails and holding it for comfort it seems. “A gumiho is….a creature with nine tails. They’re fox-like creatures, and mostly would take the form of women. MOST women who are gumiho are beautiful. They lure men, seduce them, and they supposedly eat their livers.” She falls silent, “But in my memories, I’ve done so many bad things.” She didn’t blame them for wanting to erase her memories completely and have her live a normal life. In fact, she often time found herself wondering why didn’t they just finish her off. Be done with all the problems that she would cause. 

I won’t judge you for it. 

He couldn’t judge her. They were both in the same situation it felt like. But….it still felt damn nice to hear that. That at least in this world she had a friend she could count on. 

“It might just be me but I feel like I can just tell you everything. I’ve never spoken much about what I am. I just assumed people knew since Gumiho are so similar to Kitsune….they just don’t know the whole thing, and I just let them know what they want.”

“I understand. Thank you for telling me.” During the descent of the Darkroaches, how many people had gotten killed in their aggression and destruction? It was his fault, even if they were only a side-effect of his existence. He could grasp her lingering guilt, something divorced from her current self but still a part of it. 

“It’s good you feel that way, or it would be... one-sided.” As he’d said, he’d given away his secrets by now. There was a trust in her and in their similar circumstances --- an innocent mortal would be much harder to explain to. Amane had never known, in all that time.

“The person you’ve become from all of that is admirable. You can show such a cheerful face to others. Are you happy, now?”

[chalicearrow-blog]

I’ve been crying over Zi-O for almost half an hour, thanks!

[chalicearrow-blog]

promosis‌:

“Thank you Hajime.” It was nice to converse with someone polite; even if that was just part of his job. “I would like to appear friendly…welcoming..” The alien gestured with his arms and hands. “I am physically incapable of smiling, which I am aware, it is a big part of my problem. I do not want to appear human, I just want to be seen as…nice, and not creepy.” 

If he could appear somewhat non-threatening in a portrait, then there would be hope for him in real time! “I understand if this task is impossible, but I am willing to go along with any suggestions that you might have.”

Hajime shook his head, gently but without hesitation. “It isn’t impossible. There are ways to make humans look powerful or sinister with the right lighting. It is also possible to make a pleasant mood for anyone. Smiles help, but as long as you look sincere in your own way your feeling should get across.” 

Instead of something dangerous, it mainly looked like the new customer had traces of concern and confusion in his expression. If that was just his natural appearance, it was a good resemblance.

“Soft lighting should work, and a white background to create enough contrast. If you’ve ever thought that other people look softer when the sunlight isn’t harsh outside, the same goes for you.” 

[chalicearrow-blog]

With no devoted sleep schedule to conform to, Hajime was only returning to the apartment on their floor when the news lit up his phone screen. He kept it together with a furrowed brow at most, but a panicking girl he knew left her apartment to slide down against the wall, breathing frantically. He spent a few minutes with her. Awkward as his comfort could be --- a quiet voice and a listening ear --- it seemed to help, and then he moved off to his own door to prepare.

In his room, he picked up the bow and arrows from the city for the first time in a while. He hadn’t even had the chance to use the night fragment, which he could use on... someone. It was a good idea to have someone he trusted watching his back in the chaos and player killers, and they could use the effect...

...Which is how he ended up in front of Doru’s door, knocking politely. “Are you awake? Did you see the news?”

He was the one roommate Hajime had seen, probably. The glimpse of a strange shape crawling out of the corner of his eye that day might have been his imagination. In either case, if the man tried killing him for points, it would make things tense in the apartment. Hajime hoped that was enough for someone he hadn’t really met.

@nesatios

[chalicearrow-blog]

fcxrcin‌:

Lowering her head, she’s silent for a moment. She can only wish that Kang would have trusted her more. But wishing that wasn’t going to ever bring him back. No matter how hard she’d wish for it, he wouldn’t come back. Clearing her throat she looks up at Hajime, pushing bangs away from eyes, “Kang wanted me to live a normal life. With the memories of what a Gumiho does to survive, there was no way I’d live that way. So while he sealed my abilities that comes with being a Gumiho, he sealed my memories, too. It’s why for the longest time I believed I was born and raised in Boseong-Dong. It was why for the longest time I thought Kang and Yi were my family.” Don’t get her wrong. SHE STILL would view them as such. Even while Kang was no longer with her and even though Yi saw her as a monster, to Hansol, they were her family. “I wasn’t meant to know any part of my Gumiho life. I had nightmares about it and I remember telling Kang….But I think maybe he was scared, too. He tried to brush it off as just a nightmare.”

Hajime wondered for a moment what it would have been like to experience that: no memories of his destructive past, a belief he was human. Then a smirk traced his lips, focused on the table from his bowed head. His time being toyed with by the Serpent Undead had given him that, and had been unpleasant from start to finish.

“What do you mean by Gumiho?” were the next words to leave his mouth. His expression grew serious again. “There are things I haven’t learned yet, in my time of... awareness.” Was that the best way to put it?

“Whatever your past --- or your self --- might be, I won’t judge you for it.��� Couldn’t judge, really; even if she was on the level of trying to exterminate all life on Earth, she could only match him.

[chalicearrow-blog]

tovanity‌:

“I’m glad that you see things my way.” She hums. “Wishful thinking is wasted on the people of this city. I assume you have yet to see how easily they turn on those who do not share the same emotions towards topics. A sad sight, truly, to see someone shunned for daring to think differently.”

“I’m not sure if I’ve seen it, but it would be useful to consider what someone with your view believes. Some might not realize they could find helpful methods instead.”

“I think I’ve made peace with time. If you hold any worries at all, you seem like you carry them with poise.”

[chalicearrow-blog]

fcxrcin‌:

It made it easy that Hajime already knew about the reincarnation. She was actually glad that she had told him about it in the past. otherwise, things might’ve been pretty confusing for him (maybe). “the only difference between our reincarnation is that he grew up knowing, in each life, what his job was. His job was to keep me sealed, to make sure I did no harm to anyone. Eventually,  while each Kang remembered everything about their pasts and their duty, I was led to believe that I grew up like any other children, had a normal life just like any other child…” she could only wish that Kang could have told her the truth. Maybe then she wouldn’t have had those nightmares and maybe then those nightmares wouldn’t have driven her into losing the people she cared about. Her family.

“I’m sure he had his reasons for keeping everything a secret.”

That subtle feeling Hajime had gotten back then, that no one was waiting for her at home, came to mind. It didn’t make sense if Kang also continued to reincarnate eternally and stayed at her side. Hajime didn’t know how to ask about it with as little as he’d been given, so he uncertainly tried shifting his thoughts to something else.

“He should have trusted you more,” he said quietly. Both of them, Hajime and Hansol, were aware of whatever they could be and avoided it. Even if that awareness could encourage someone to be a monster, it could instead help them plan to subdue it.

“But... what was it you weren’t meant to know?”

[chalicearrow-blog]

promosis‌:

@chalicearrow liked for a starter

“Ah, yes. I would like my portrait taken.” Despite this entire dimension being full of non-human beings, Promosis still seemed out of place wherever he went due to his …ahem, above average height. He had to duck down or, keep his body slightly tilted so he wouldn’t constantly scrape his head against ceilings. 

The Mermaid cove mall wasn’t so bad though, the ceiling was fairly high; but…the ceilings inside the shops were much smaller. When he approached Hajime, he kept his body slightly tilted in that awkward way. “I’ve never had my portrait taken in a professional manner, so I am…excited to have it done.” 

The ceiling posed a challenge to the new arrival, but he was clearly conscientious of anything that might be hazardous to him or vice versa. Someone Hajime already knew that was endangered by low door frames tended to unintentionally slam his head on things and injure himself. It was easy for him to pull on his Sales Persona because of both the observation and the memory at once; a co-worker off to the side looked more concerned, possibly for some fragile equipment’s sake.

“You’re welcome here. I’m Hajime AIkawa.” So said his name tag, too. There was a little more light to his eyes and a friendly smile on his face, but he was still the calm to others’ pep. “If you have any ideas of what you might want, we can figure out how to show them. Showing how you want to be seen can be as simple as changing the lighting, for example.”

[chalicearrow-blog]

fcxrcin‌:

Talking about her past was something she wasn’t comfortable with. She had shared a little bit before. The past Hansols were Gumihos she did not recognize,  did not TRULY know. Still, it wasn’t like she could keep these to herself. Hajime had shared his story, shared his struggles and it was only right for her to share with him what he didn’t know.  It was the right thing to do. “Have I told you about the reincarnation of Kang and how every time, he was the one who cared for me?” To others, it might just not make any sense, but she believed that Hajime of all people would understand. 

After a few moments of thought, picking apart what he knew, he nodded. “Kang was the shaman able to seal you.” So, he’d gotten one piece of it all. The rest were in the dark. Far back at the start at their misfortunes on the island, he’d seen her able to conjure fire and easily take down their enemies with it, but that was hardly a reason to need to seal her. Like the forms of Chalice she’d witnessed, it had to only be the surface.

“Was it a reincarnation cycle like your own?” If that was even a good way to phrase it. Such a different kind of immortality was alien to him, but he had certainly tried to understand it clearly.

[chalicearrow-blog]

tovanity‌:

“On the contrary, it accomplishes nothing. These topics do not come up for any special reason. They are only reoccurring to reinforce the fact that most of this city’s inhabitants constantly wallow in self-pity without doing anything to change it. Think about it, haven’t you seen the negativity that comes with each discussion?” Finally, someone who may just agree with her.

“That is... a logical way of looking at it.” And a cold one, but with even less ability to join in and test it out himself, it made enough sense. “Then the more somber discussions are only mistakes. It must have been wishful thinking that it offered some comfort to them.”

[chalicearrow-blog]

tovanity‌:

“Which topic do you speak of? Love? Relationships? Or the underlying depression everyone seems to feel at being unable to be with their loved ones? Perhaps all three combined?”

“All of them. It should accomplish something if it means going through that difficulty each time.” He also hasn’t seen the beauty of complaining, when it’s petty.

[chalicearrow-blog]

“Is there a reason some speak up about a topic they find disheartening often?” It’s sincere, if questionably phrased, curiosity.

[chalicearrow-blog]

lalbatros-blog‌:

Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Elevation Of Love (Seven Days Of Falling, 2003)

[chalicearrow-blog]

fcxrcin‌:

She remembers the first bit. He had talked about it with her during one of their first few interactions in the past.  Still, she may know about it, but she wasn’t about to cut him off. She let him remind her, because perhaps she needed the reminder of what exactly Hajime was. Joker was a different Hajime and Joker was something that made it so, so difficult for Hajime. She couldn’t help but wonder how Hajime truly viewed himself. Did he see a monster when he looked in the mirror because of Joker? 

“I won’t let Joker harm anyone. I won’t let it get you to harm anyone. I promise.” She had to keep this promise, and she intended to do so no matter what!

“Thank you.” It felt less pleasant explaining this. A twisted sense of selfishness was now less afraid of Joker than it was a disastrous second meeting. Both would bring about the same result, but he could only barely tolerate the thought of their curse following him everywhere, forever. He had forever to wait, but he didn’t want to be at time’s mercy if he could have it any other way.

“I don’t know much about you,” Hajime observed, willing to make eye contact again. “I know what circumstances we share, but the details and stories behind them are different. I would like to know, if you have your own answers for what you asked me.”

He wouldn’t push for it; the option to continue toward the barrier near the volcano was there to take. Although he’d be disappointed, he had forever to wait.

[chalicearrow-blog]

spiderstaff‌:

She’s started to relax; this guy seems nice. It’s rare, but she doesn’t inherently dislike humans. It just takes her a while to warm up to people.

“I don’t dislike it,” she shrugs. “I just can’t be out in it. It hurts my skin and my eyes…” Her eyes drop to the ground as she continues. “And I can get sick if I’m out in the sunlight too long. Like an allergy.”

It’s the best way she’s found to explain it, not that she often does. Her eyes snap up, looking from Hajime to his camera equipment.

“You have a cool camera, and seem to really like taking pictures, so… I’m sure it’ll turn out OK.”

He offers his name and she pauses. There’s no harm in sharing, right? Most people don’t even ask.

“My name is Kay… and…” she averts her gaze again, embarrassed. “Can I see the pictures when you’re done?”

That made sense. The allergy sounded inconvenient to him, but there was still a city through the night. Graveyard shift workers still kept businesses running through the late and early hours. It was two different experiences of Spirale, beyond just a photo during the day and a photo during the night.

“Exploring the city during the night sounds like a different world. It’s good that you get to see it.” The other possibility here was her being unable to stand outside at all, but even then, people could create worlds of their own.

“It’s nice to meet you. I could bring by a few prints another time, if you would like to see them somewhere else than the LCD display.” He would wait to offer one until he found out they came out well and she appreciated them. No point in preparing to shove over a subpar result.

[chalicearrow-blog]

fcxrcin‌:

It was something she was going to think about for awhile. This person that Hajime wanted her to meet. One day. If it were possible and they ended up here, she’d have to do what Hajime had said. She didn’t understand and probably couldn’t understand at the moment. You’d think someone who was in a slightly similar situation would understand, but she couldn’t and she could only hope that one day everything would make sense. Until then, she’d just have to listen carefully and keep her promise. 

“Okay,” Is her simple answer.  Before she realized, she may have gotten quite similar items as Hajime, but also a few little souvenirs here and there. She couldn’t shop and get stuff without thinking about her employees and friends. 

“Hajime oppa…would you tell me more about what this power is capable of? What is it called?”

With the shopping finished, he kept an eye out for the place to rest she’d suggested. It looked like there was an area for shoppers to take a moment off their feet, small as it might be. For the time being it wasn’t too crowded, and he drew her over to a table further from the walking paths.

Once he did, he tried to find somewhere to start.

“I’m not sure what I’ve told you before. What I am, and what we were meant to do.” This could either be a reminder or a first go --- Hajime didn’t think he would’ve kept this aspect vague before. It was the context he needed to set down to start unraveling the tangled story, either way. “I am one of the Undead, a member of a battle royale meant to decide the species that would have control over the Earth. We were created only for that purpose. To fight each other, to survive, and to win.”

What followed was undoubtedly new territory, if only clearly explaining what he’d spoken of in the past. “I was called the Joker. You could call that power by the same name. I existed to destroy, and they considered my strength and lack of restraint to make me one of the most powerful. Now, that part of me is a form of control our Creator holds over me: a chain to the Undead and the battle, even if I live quietly among humans. It can force me to return to that destructive mindset to finish what we were made for.”

“I don’t want to harm anyone now, but what you want doesn’t matter when you are an Undead.” A bitter smile focused on the shopping bag he’d ended up with. “I want it to be peaceful if he returns. It comes down to a question of whether that control will allow it. I don’t have the answer.”