Hello Jin.
I have been informed that I am to return to my own timeline, for the sake of stability of my own time. I will be leaving shortly, but I felt that I should message you before I do so.
I am glad we met. I am glad that you have come so far, in accepting others and yourself. I hope you can continue to practice meditation... And I have a request for you. If possible, I would be indebted to you if you could continue to teach others in my stead, should they need it. Even if it is difficult. Even if you do not think they deserve it. Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer badness with goodness. Conquer meanness with generosity. Conquer dishonesty with truth.
Thank you, Jin.
I have been informed that I am to return to my own timeline, for the sake of stability of my own time. I will be leaving shortly, but I felt that I should message you before I do so.
I am glad we met. I am glad that you have come so far, in accepting others and yourself. I hope you can continue to practice meditation... And I have a request for you. If possible, I would be indebted to you if you could continue to teach others in my stead, should they need it. Even if it is difficult. Even if you do not think they deserve it. Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer badness with goodness. Conquer meanness with generosity. Conquer dishonesty with truth.
Thank you, Jin.
[For several moments, there's nothing: the message is marked as read, but It seems like there's not going to be an answer over text, or even an answer at all.
As Zenyatta begins to make his way to the portal room that'll ultimately send him home, the reason for that becomes clear.]
Zenyatta!
[Jin's quick footsteps echo through the hallway before he stops in his tracks, a few paces behind Zen.]
As Zenyatta begins to make his way to the portal room that'll ultimately send him home, the reason for that becomes clear.]
Zenyatta!
[Jin's quick footsteps echo through the hallway before he stops in his tracks, a few paces behind Zen.]
[He's glad the message was at least read. He's certainly left places on worse notes. He doesn't have any belongings to take with him that he doesn't already carry with him at all times, except now there's the addition of a cloth tied around some food provided by Mettaton.
Upon hearing Jin's voice, he turns, and sounds rather delighted.]
Oh! Jin. Thank you for seeing me off. I had hoped you would.
Upon hearing Jin's voice, he turns, and sounds rather delighted.]
Oh! Jin. Thank you for seeing me off. I had hoped you would.
Oh, please. Like I'd let you leave with just a letter.
[He smiles back at Zenyatta, expression warm, but bittersweet. He's said goodbye to too many people this way, and Zenyatta... well, he'd assumed, however naively, that he'd always be around somehow.
Apparently not.]
So... this is it, huh.
[He smiles back at Zenyatta, expression warm, but bittersweet. He's said goodbye to too many people this way, and Zenyatta... well, he'd assumed, however naively, that he'd always be around somehow.
Apparently not.]
So... this is it, huh.
You always have. Thank you.
[Even when he didn't feel like he deserved it-- sometimes, especially then.]
Hey, uh... I never told you this, but... In my realm, we traversed worlds, too. I'd just never been here-- and ALASTAIR doesn't have the same capabilities energy-wise that we did back home. Maybe I really could see you, as we are now, again. Once we've kicked Zymandis in the collective rear.
I'll tell you about everything you missed here. I promise.
[Even when he didn't feel like he deserved it-- sometimes, especially then.]
Hey, uh... I never told you this, but... In my realm, we traversed worlds, too. I'd just never been here-- and ALASTAIR doesn't have the same capabilities energy-wise that we did back home. Maybe I really could see you, as we are now, again. Once we've kicked Zymandis in the collective rear.
I'll tell you about everything you missed here. I promise.
it's a 12 hour log iirc it's a uhhhhhh [REDACTED] o'clock text
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pummelling
2017-09-27 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
it's not a GIVEN.
Cmon. How many missions have we been on now?? I'll play it cool
until i dont need to, that is
until i dont need to, that is
are you implying giorno's eyeliner is not always powerful??? hdu
digiorno
- 2017-10-17 05:02 (UTC) - Expand[A victory is something to celebrate, but instead, Asher finds himself feeling sad.
Somehow, the majesty of an intergalactic banquet does not quite strike him, not after being present at so many others. Bittersweet should be the word he uses to describe it, although the first word that comes to mind is just bitter, because he has never been very good at saying goodbye.
ALASTAIR has been many things to him, not all entirely kind, but each and every step forward he has taken this year has truly been his own. Many others have helped him on his journey to become a somewhat less detestable human being, but he has done it without having a fit into a specific mold that has been cast for him by his father or his teachers, or society itself. It is a horrible thing to realize after twenty-five and now twenty-six years of being alive that this is the first year he has truly been loved for who he is and not what he could be or what he should be, despite all the atrocities he's committed so far.
After loitering about the table with a half-full cup in hand, he gently nudges a familiar and comfortable shoulder, slapping on a pained smile.]
What it do, homie...?
[He says it with a playful air, not realizing that the words have been uttered before, although perhaps in a very different context.]
How you beeee, beyotch?
Somehow, the majesty of an intergalactic banquet does not quite strike him, not after being present at so many others. Bittersweet should be the word he uses to describe it, although the first word that comes to mind is just bitter, because he has never been very good at saying goodbye.
ALASTAIR has been many things to him, not all entirely kind, but each and every step forward he has taken this year has truly been his own. Many others have helped him on his journey to become a somewhat less detestable human being, but he has done it without having a fit into a specific mold that has been cast for him by his father or his teachers, or society itself. It is a horrible thing to realize after twenty-five and now twenty-six years of being alive that this is the first year he has truly been loved for who he is and not what he could be or what he should be, despite all the atrocities he's committed so far.
After loitering about the table with a half-full cup in hand, he gently nudges a familiar and comfortable shoulder, slapping on a pained smile.]
What it do, homie...?
[He says it with a playful air, not realizing that the words have been uttered before, although perhaps in a very different context.]
How you beeee, beyotch?
Been better.
[Even as he remains in the midst of the celebrations and merriment, Jin feels Asher's mixed feelings in the same way. It's not the first time he's had to bid friends here goodbye for good, and he knows it'll hardly ever be the last, but with the finality of both Zymandis and ALASTAIR disbanding...
Jin chuckles at Asher's words, his heart just as bittersweet.]
But we saved the world-- all the worlds, I mean-- so I guess I could be much worse.
[Jin sidesteps, moving so that he's standing directly in front of Asher. His hands, both free, rest on Asher's upper arms, sliding down to his partner's elbows.]
Hey. [There's a knowing cynicism in his eyes, a sad curve to his smile. We need to talk, he wants to say,
but he'd rather not remind Asher of it directly-- he'll be reminding himself of it that way, too.] This party sucks. You wanna get out of here with me?
[Even as he remains in the midst of the celebrations and merriment, Jin feels Asher's mixed feelings in the same way. It's not the first time he's had to bid friends here goodbye for good, and he knows it'll hardly ever be the last, but with the finality of both Zymandis and ALASTAIR disbanding...
Jin chuckles at Asher's words, his heart just as bittersweet.]
But we saved the world-- all the worlds, I mean-- so I guess I could be much worse.
[Jin sidesteps, moving so that he's standing directly in front of Asher. His hands, both free, rest on Asher's upper arms, sliding down to his partner's elbows.]
Hey. [There's a knowing cynicism in his eyes, a sad curve to his smile. We need to talk, he wants to say,
but he'd rather not remind Asher of it directly-- he'll be reminding himself of it that way, too.] This party sucks. You wanna get out of here with me?
[Jin does not understand the unintentional cruelty of his words.
Of course he wants to get out of here with you, you of all people. If only it were so easy.
Asher's conscience remains intact, unfortunately, and however wicked his own world may be, it is where he belongs.]
Yeah.
[He reaches out to take one of Jin's gentle hands in his own, clasping it selfishly.
Is this the last time?]
Let's go.
Of course he wants to get out of here with you, you of all people. If only it were so easy.
Asher's conscience remains intact, unfortunately, and however wicked his own world may be, it is where he belongs.]
Yeah.
[He reaches out to take one of Jin's gentle hands in his own, clasping it selfishly.
Is this the last time?]
Let's go.
[Away, away from the commotion and celebration they walk, past familiar face after familiar face, until the two of them are alone, standing in an empty corridor with Asher's hand held fast in Jin's own.
Gods, if he could just keep on walking. If they could just go back to his room, fall asleep, and wake up with ALASTAIR reformed: but it's not that easy, is it? And as much as he hates to think of possibly leaving, that nagging feeling at the back of his head-- of navigating around the truth instead of facing it, at last-- won't leave.
Guess he has to deal with it after all.]
Asher. You know what we've gotta talk about, right?
Gods, if he could just keep on walking. If they could just go back to his room, fall asleep, and wake up with ALASTAIR reformed: but it's not that easy, is it? And as much as he hates to think of possibly leaving, that nagging feeling at the back of his head-- of navigating around the truth instead of facing it, at last-- won't leave.
Guess he has to deal with it after all.]
Asher. You know what we've gotta talk about, right?
[The truth is that however right it may feel for them to be together, they do not belong in the same universe.
One of them is strong, built to last through a fight and struggle his way to victory, and the other is a weakling.
Or at least, that is what Asher himself believes.]
Why's it gotta be me?
[Because selfishly, he thinks, the distance will hurt him more.]
Why do I have be the one to say it?
One of them is strong, built to last through a fight and struggle his way to victory, and the other is a weakling.
Or at least, that is what Asher himself believes.]
Why's it gotta be me?
[Because selfishly, he thinks, the distance will hurt him more.]
Why do I have be the one to say it?
You think I wanted to bring it up? [Jin retorts, exasperated. It isn't as if he wants to bring it up any more than Asher does, but if they don't figure it out at all, well--
--it's not right to leave loose ends hanging, is it?]
I'm not going home, Ash. There's too much left of ALASTAIR's work that's not finished.
[Fearless as he is, he's still afraid of one thing. Jin swallows the lump in his throat and looks Asher in the eye.]
But-- but I don't want to stop you from going wherever you need to. I can't.
--it's not right to leave loose ends hanging, is it?]
I'm not going home, Ash. There's too much left of ALASTAIR's work that's not finished.
[Fearless as he is, he's still afraid of one thing. Jin swallows the lump in his throat and looks Asher in the eye.]
But-- but I don't want to stop you from going wherever you need to. I can't.
[Coming home with puffy eyes and a red nose isn't exactly dignified, but try as he might, dignified is not the first adjective that comes to mind when describing Asher Millstone.
It is the murder that should bother him most, and yet it does not.
Sam Keating may as well be another name in the papers. He is a specter of a man, a face from the first day of school, familiar but slowly fading in a mind that has had so much more to think about since then.
He does his best not to stir his supposedly sleeping boyfriend, entering abruptly and then stopping mid-motion as his hand tightens around the doorknob.]
It is the murder that should bother him most, and yet it does not.
Sam Keating may as well be another name in the papers. He is a specter of a man, a face from the first day of school, familiar but slowly fading in a mind that has had so much more to think about since then.
He does his best not to stir his supposedly sleeping boyfriend, entering abruptly and then stopping mid-motion as his hand tightens around the doorknob.]
[There's no such luck. As the door unlocks and creaks open, he rolls over, blinking sleepily in the darkness.]
Ash?
[Jin's never been a particularly heavy sleeper, and he just doesn't sleep as well without the familiar warmth of his partner beside him, anyway. To tell the truth, he doesn't much like having to sleep without Asher, either-- but when he sleeps so much earlier than him, he's got to compromise every once in a while.]
What time is it...?
Ash?
[Jin's never been a particularly heavy sleeper, and he just doesn't sleep as well without the familiar warmth of his partner beside him, anyway. To tell the truth, he doesn't much like having to sleep without Asher, either-- but when he sleeps so much earlier than him, he's got to compromise every once in a while.]
What time is it...?
[His classmates are killers too.
Asher should not find comfort in that, not so belatedly and not now when Jin turns sleepily towards him, cheeks flushed and lids groggy with sleep. Something about the peace of it calms him down though his mind is still reeling from the impact of what he has just learned.
Of all the time he has wasted pitying himself.]
I... I dunno, actually.
[The words are uttered with a half-smile.]
Late, I guess.
[He shrugs his jacket off his shoulders, the lush fabric of it still in his hands as he takes a seat at the corner of the bed.]
Sorry. Were ya snoozin'?
Asher should not find comfort in that, not so belatedly and not now when Jin turns sleepily towards him, cheeks flushed and lids groggy with sleep. Something about the peace of it calms him down though his mind is still reeling from the impact of what he has just learned.
Of all the time he has wasted pitying himself.]
I... I dunno, actually.
[The words are uttered with a half-smile.]
Late, I guess.
[He shrugs his jacket off his shoulders, the lush fabric of it still in his hands as he takes a seat at the corner of the bed.]
Sorry. Were ya snoozin'?
[He utters a non-committal, barely verbal sound of agreement. It's been a long day of more training and more preparing himself for their upcoming last stand; give him another second to wake up.]
Mhm.
[He manages to raise himself up on an elbow as Asher's jacket comes off.]
Hey. [A tired smile.] Come to bed.
[Thoughts of Zymandis can wait. This is about all he's got on his mind right now.]
Mhm.
[He manages to raise himself up on an elbow as Asher's jacket comes off.]
Hey. [A tired smile.] Come to bed.
[Thoughts of Zymandis can wait. This is about all he's got on his mind right now.]
Okey-doke, sleepyhead.
[Asher flops against the mattress and onto his side, leaning into the sheets.
The white of the archer's linens has faded to a darker hue, not quite as light as the first time he'd seen and felt them on his skin, but more comfortable, somehow. Still, the color contrasts with the various patches of red in his face, still sensitive and not quite dry.
Dim lighting aside, there's no way Jin won't notice.]
This close enough?
[Even if those words are followed by a half-hearted scoff, there is little pretense there. Asher in no way means to hide how he's been feeling, and in fact, a part of him selfishly seeks a reaction.]
[Asher flops against the mattress and onto his side, leaning into the sheets.
The white of the archer's linens has faded to a darker hue, not quite as light as the first time he'd seen and felt them on his skin, but more comfortable, somehow. Still, the color contrasts with the various patches of red in his face, still sensitive and not quite dry.
Dim lighting aside, there's no way Jin won't notice.]
This close enough?
[Even if those words are followed by a half-hearted scoff, there is little pretense there. Asher in no way means to hide how he's been feeling, and in fact, a part of him selfishly seeks a reaction.]
Edited 2018-01-09 07:16 (UTC)
[Dim lighting, nothing. As much as he'd love to simply smile and drift right back off, his partner beside him where he should be... Jin knows his boyfriend.
His voice is off. There's a conspicuous something lacking in his tone: it's the sound of Asher burying some problem or hurt, whatever it is that's weighing on his heart pulling him just a little lower try as he might to buoy himself back up to the surface.
Jin shifts, and the bed creaks a little under the movement. His hand reaches for Asher's face, and when his palm falls into place cupped around Asher's cheek, he feels the remnant of a track of tears under his thumb, sees the last bit of puffiness around his eyes.]
What's wrong?
His voice is off. There's a conspicuous something lacking in his tone: it's the sound of Asher burying some problem or hurt, whatever it is that's weighing on his heart pulling him just a little lower try as he might to buoy himself back up to the surface.
Jin shifts, and the bed creaks a little under the movement. His hand reaches for Asher's face, and when his palm falls into place cupped around Asher's cheek, he feels the remnant of a track of tears under his thumb, sees the last bit of puffiness around his eyes.]
What's wrong?
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