[It's a familiar, comfortable moment of sharing food and dogs making puppy eyes at their humans. They often did so during work--
Ginia's words bring Archer back to reality.]
Right, he sent me photos. Their influence reaches so far. [he pauses.] It's another argument towards at least one god or shinki aiding the leader or leaders of the cult.
I'm more interested in what is their goal. Everything so far is planned too well, and hints at a lot of knowledge about the Heavens as well as humans. They hide their tracks well.
[Archer's frown deepens. It's like putting together a puzzle with only a few pieces in hand, while the big picture is still unrecognizable. Suddenly he turns to Ginia.]
[There's a sudden change of topic. Given what they were talking about previously, Ginia frowns slightly.]
You better not be implying what it sounds like you're implying.
[There's the defensive attitude Archer probably knows, the protective streak that runs deep. She glares a little before softening. Archer isn't a fool. There are far better suspects around.]
I went to him back at the start of January seeking out information about the masked ayakashi Shun mentioned at Zelda's meeting and the demon we were investigating. His shinki were guarded and reluctant to get involved only because of the suspicion the Heavens already cast their way and they didn't want to get Ebisu involved. Ebisu, however, was insistent they led me their support because humans were already involved and hurt and he wouldn't stand for that.
He's a child in many ways, but he cares deeply about protecting humans. He takes his role seriously, and I also trust the shinki he surrounds himself with.
[Archer meets her glare with a level look. He doesn't really suspect Ebisu; it's too obvious, especially with him already getting executed on Heavens' orders. There's too much pointing to him to consider him seriously. His shinki, on the other side... who knows what games the gods play between themselves and how far their influence reaches. Even with the social stigma tied to nora he doesn't dismiss a possibility so easily.]
I'm not implying anything. From all the outsiders you're living here, and are observant enough to notice small details. [he sighs and shakes his head. There's something else that he wants to ask.] Does he not mind nora?
[Ginia pauses for a moment, debating how to answer Archer's question. For all that's happened, she still trusts Archer enough and knows he isn't careless with information. He also wouldn't judge Ebisu's shinki for being nora.]
All his shinki are nora. Many of them for reasons beyond their control, but still stigmatized all the same.
[There's a briefest flash of surprise at her reply. Archer isn't going to judge anyone for their choices, though. After all, it is not a decision made lightly.]
That's surprising, given the Heavens stance on nora. I was worried- [a pause, but then he continues with a sigh.] -that they may look down on you for choosing several gods. I'm glad it's not the case.
It's largely an open secret among the old gods that Ebisu employs nora as I understand it.
[And they've suffered for it. Takami's dream is a haunting eye-opener to why Ebisu's temple is so woefully understaffed, a thing unlikely to change any time soon. For a second, she's angry at the Heavens, but her expression settles fast.]
I'm advised to keep things to myself in public though. A shinki of the new generation serving an old God of Fortune is alarming enough without me being a nora.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Ginia's words bring Archer back to reality.]
Right, he sent me photos. Their influence reaches so far. [he pauses.] It's another argument towards at least one god or shinki aiding the leader or leaders of the cult.
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[It's more effort targeting specific shrines than targeting all the shrines in an area.]
It worries me, honestly, preparing for whatever is coming next. Wondering how many gods the cult have on their side.
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[Archer's frown deepens. It's like putting together a puzzle with only a few pieces in hand, while the big picture is still unrecognizable. Suddenly he turns to Ginia.]
What do you think about your current god?
[It's obvious he's not asking about Alex.]
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You better not be implying what it sounds like you're implying.
[There's the defensive attitude Archer probably knows, the protective streak that runs deep. She glares a little before softening. Archer isn't a fool. There are far better suspects around.]
I went to him back at the start of January seeking out information about the masked ayakashi Shun mentioned at Zelda's meeting and the demon we were investigating. His shinki were guarded and reluctant to get involved only because of the suspicion the Heavens already cast their way and they didn't want to get Ebisu involved. Ebisu, however, was insistent they led me their support because humans were already involved and hurt and he wouldn't stand for that.
He's a child in many ways, but he cares deeply about protecting humans. He takes his role seriously, and I also trust the shinki he surrounds himself with.
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I'm not implying anything. From all the outsiders you're living here, and are observant enough to notice small details. [he sighs and shakes his head. There's something else that he wants to ask.] Does he not mind nora?
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All his shinki are nora. Many of them for reasons beyond their control, but still stigmatized all the same.
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That's surprising, given the Heavens stance on nora. I was worried- [a pause, but then he continues with a sigh.] -that they may look down on you for choosing several gods. I'm glad it's not the case.
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[And they've suffered for it. Takami's dream is a haunting eye-opener to why Ebisu's temple is so woefully understaffed, a thing unlikely to change any time soon. For a second, she's angry at the Heavens, but her expression settles fast.]
I'm advised to keep things to myself in public though. A shinki of the new generation serving an old God of Fortune is alarming enough without me being a nora.