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bakerstreet2013-02-09 10:16 am
darjeeling) wrote in bakerstreet2013-02-09 10:16 am
The Gift Giving Meme
 { how to play } 1. Post your characters along with any preferences in the subject 2. RNG yourself or choose a number between 1-15 and tag others. 3. Feel free to include pics/links or write the notes that go with their gifts! { tie it up in a pretty little bow } 1. 'Tis The Season! → It's some holiday or another, and you don't want to be the one who breaks tradition by not giving a gift. 2. Happy Birthday! → Another year older! Is it their sweet sixteenth? The no-holds-barred-finally-legal 21? Or that stately eighty candles that might set the cake on fire... 3. Sweet Valentine → Not that you need a commercialized excuse to butter up your sweetheart, but if the heart-decorated chocolate truffle fits... 4. Anniversary → You didn't forget 5. Wedding Bells → It's the bride and groom's happiest day and you want to give them something to commemorate this momentous occasion! 6. Housewarming → Those new neighbors of yours are still getting settled. Why not give them something to welcome them to the neighborhood? 7. What Bribery? → It never hurts to get on someone's good side, right? Especially if they could make your life miserable if they don't like you... 8. Get Well Soon! → Someone's stuck in the hospital and you just know that a gift will put a smile back on their face. 9. Going Away → They have to leave and you can't go with them, but you'll wait until they return. Give them something to remind them of you while they're far away. 10. I Miss You! → Has it been a week? A year? However long they've been away, you want them to know you're still thinking of them. 11. I'm So Sorry → You've screwed up big time and apologies just don't feel good enough, but you'll give them a token of your sincerity. 12. You're Appreciated! → There's just no one else like that person! You know everything they've done for you and others and you to show your appreciation. 13. Glorious Victory! → Hail the conquering hero! It doesn't matter if they've run a marathon or usurped a kingdom, this calls for mighty spoils! 14. Secret Admirer~ → You haven't quite worked up the courage to give them something in person, and hopefully they don't recognize your handwriting... 15. Wildcard → Anything else, go crazy with it. |
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I am Kirei Kotomine from next door. [And then, because next door could mean more than one house, he adds:] The rectory.
[He holds the basket a little higher.] I've brought this to welcome you to the neighborhood. Welcome.
[He speaks as if reading a prepared speech, which isn't the case, but his wooden delivery and careful diction make it sound rehearsed.]
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Kirei Kotomine, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. [His gaze is redirected momentarily in order to take in the building in question. Then, looking back to the young man, Yuri accepts the basket.] Thank you. I'm Yuri Petrov.
[The child is quiet enough, but still a stranger. Inviting him inside might not be the best of choices, so he gestures to the swing on the front porch, instead.]
Would you like to stay for a moment?
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I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Petrov.
[But along with the fruit, he was given a message to deliver.]
My father, Father Risei, says you are welcome at the rectory or the church, even if you're not a religious man.
[Given the invitation to stay, he nods. It's polite to stay and be sociable. As a member of the priest's family, it is one of his duties to reach out to the community, as it is his father's. He takes his duties seriously.] Yes, please. Thank you.
[He makes his way toward the swing. As serious as he is, the swing does hold some appeal for him. They don't have one at the rectory, and he'd like to try it. He sits, and his feet don't quite reach the ground. He remains still, his hands folded in his lap, in spite of the temptation to try swinging.]
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[If nothing else, the church would be able to offer him some insight into the community and the types of persons living there. Unrelated, but also of importance, his mother's state of mental health; visits to the church could, potentially, be of benefit to her, though it would certainly be a risk to expose her at all to the public. Best if she remained indoors and resting.]
Are you often the one to greet new members of the community, Kirei?
[He follows the young man upon slipping into a pair of slippers and stepping out onto the porch. The door is shut behind him, and he takes a seat on the opposite side of the cushioned swing, the basket set between them.]
I couldn't possibly eat all of this fruit myself, so please, have some if you'd like.
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[Kirei will remember to do just that. He usually does as he's told.]
Sometimes. I asked my father if I could go by myself, this time. He said it would be all right. Usually we go together.
[Kirei's on the quiet side, but not at all shy. He answers questions without hesitation. He likes to be able to carry out duties for the church, like his father, and it makes his father pleased when he does. He senses that his father is even happier when he takes the initiative. It doesn't make him happy, but he wants to do what's right for the church. He doesn't consider his own happiness.]
When I'm older, I'm going to be a priest, too.
[Of course. What else would he be?
Kirei examines the fruit basket thoughtfully, asking himself whether taking some of the fruit would be the proper, approved action. He brought it as a gift, but it's also polite to accept an offer of food. Finally, he decides to take an apple, but he doesn't bite into it yet, holding the bright red fruit in his hand.]
Thank you. What do you do, Mr. Petrov?
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[Pushing with the toe and then heel of his slipper, Yuri rocks the swing slowly back and forth. It is a new addition, acquired just prior to the move. His hopes had been to sit with his mother there, to talk with her about simple things like the weather, the garden, the way she disliked the leavings of tealeaves resting in the bottom of her cup unless they had settled in some sort of shape with which to look at...but that was a long ways from being something that he could acquire, and her, a long ways from being a level of clarity and forgiveness which she could achieve.]
[You do not deserve forgiveness.]
...I am surprised he would permit you to go to a stranger's home alone. [Either a very trusting father, or a very neglectful one.] Your ambition is commendable, however.
[When Kirei takes an apple, Yuri selects a tangerine. Using a fingernail, he is able to lift the skin away from the tender and orange insides of the fruit. Halfway through peeling, however, Yuri pauses. The youth's question strikes him.]
I am a judge.
[The irony of their meeting does not escape him; one who will absolve the wicked of their sins, and one who punishes them...]
no subject
[Kirei's feet swing along with the swing, in rhythm with it. He's pleased by the motion, though he doesn't do much to contribute to increasing it. He doesn't worry about being at a stranger's house. He has no fear of Yuri. Although he is mannerly, he isn't a friendly or expressive child. His grave air doesn't lighten, and there's what could almost be called coldness in his eyes.]
I'm old enough. I know self-defense.
[He's been training in martial arts since he was old enough to stand, and he's very strong for someone of his age. He could incapacitate most adults, he thinks. You're not supposed to hurt someone unless they're trying to attack you. Sometimes he wishes someone would attack him, and then he would have an excuse to fight them, to use his skills to hurt them. He wouldn't be afraid. He doesn't ever voice that desire to his father. Reluctantly, he adds:]
And he can watch me from the rectory.
[Obedient as he is, he'd rather not have his father watching. He's old enough to do this alone. There's no sign of anyone watching now, but it's quite possible someone might be peering through the curtains of the other house. Kirei doesn't take a bite of his apple yet.]
I want to serve God. God is a righteous judge, who expresses his wrath every day. Do you like being a judge?
[Kirei quotes from Psalms without hesitation. He's read through his Bible many times, until the pages grew soft with wear. He's the top student at his parochial school.]
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[Kirei's gaze is similar. Purposeful. At such a young age, Yuri can only wonder at the cause. Is it the boy's will, or that of his father's? There are more questions to ponder, but he has been silent enough. He resumes peeling the tangerine.]
What form of self-defense are you familiar with? I have practiced a little myself. It's a good skill for anyone to know, both for protection as well as discipline.
[Another glance up, toward the rectory, as if in doing so, he might catch a glimpse of the boy's father watching them from some window. He sees nothing, of course, and so, turns to glance sidelong at the boy.]
Would you prefer the apple peeled? Or this?
[A wedge of tangerine is held out in offering, the peel now resting on his lap in a neat pile. And then, after the quote, Yuri nods.]
It is less something that I like and more something that is necessary, Kirei...but I do not dislike my work, either. Justice requires steady hands to guide it.
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He feels more comfortable with adults, who act more like he does. He would rather sit with this strange man on his porch than endure the "fun" of the playground at school.]
I study Bajiquan. What do you study?
[His father had thought self-defense was a good idea, for Sternbild could be dangerous, but it was Kirei himself who had selected the discipline, and it was Kirei who had devoted himself to practice so intensely that he earned the praise of his teachers. He excels at everything, but that doesn't make him happy or proud, just as he is neither now.
Kirei considers the offered piece of tangerine. Apples are his favorite, but he likes tangerines as well. After a moment's consideration, he takes the offered piece of fruit with one hand while still holding the apple in the other.]
Thank you.
God will judge us all, but He needs man's judgment here on earth. You do His work.
[Having said this, matter-of-factly, Kirei takes a bite of tangerine.]
Do you punish many sinners? [Punishment has always been an aspect of his faith that has interested him, and there are similarities between the courts of men and the judgment of God.]
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[It's a lie. He's had to familiarize himself with much more to be able to contend with the Heroes, but it wouldn't be wise to publicize that fact, not even to a child. Keeping his connections to that line of work to a necessary minimum is in his best interest.]
Bajiquan, though...that isn't common. May I ask what inspired you to choose that form to practice and study?
[Calmly, he observes as the young boy accepts the fruit from him. Overall, Kirei appears very cheerless, taking no pride whatsoever in his pursuits or talents. Though Yuri isn't soft of heart, he does feel some form of sympathy for the child...and what's more, he finds himself growing a little more curious as their conversation continues.]
[At the mention of God and His judgment, Yuri can only think, I obey only the voice of Thanatos. Of course, as before, it is a thought he cannot share with Kirei, much less with anyone else, not as he is, maskless.]
[Giving the swing another push, he nods.]
I do all that I can to make this city a safe place worth living in. If that requires punishing many who break the law, or only a small handful, I will do my duty. A judge must be without bias, and he must do what is right, even if the choice is a difficult one to make.
[A soft sigh, and he takes a bite of his tangerine. Upon swallowing, he asks softly:] You are interested in that sort of thing?
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I thought it was interesting, and I liked it best. They teach it to bodyguards. It means "open gate eight extremities fist", because the punches are strong and hit the weakest places. I like fighting closely. I'm good at it.
[He says this last without pride. It's only a fact. He does prefer that kind of fighting. Short range. Explosive. The power of it. Finding and exposing weaknesses. It's one thing he does enjoy, striking at the weak point, making his opponent stumble back. He's not supposed to hurt them, but he likes to. That's the one thing he's been chastised for, not always pulling his punches enough. His one mistake. But it isn't really a mistake. He doesn't tell anyone that.
He swings along with the swing when Yuri swings it, placidly, listening to the man talk.] My father says the city is safer than it used to be. [So that must mean Mr. Petrov is doing a good job. Kirei finishes his wedge of tangerine.]
Is it hard to tell who's bad and who's good? [Sometimes he wonders if he's bad or good. His father always says he's good, so he must be, mustn't he?]
[Kirei nods.] Yes, sinners should be punished. They will all be sent to Hell, unless they repent and ask for God's forgiveness.
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[Heroes, whom his faith in is minimal, whose performance and sense of justice is sorely lacking, but as curator he cannot say that, least of all to the public, less so to a child, however...peculiar that child may be.]
That method of fighting sounds highly efficient.
[He eats the wedge he peeled off before offering another piece to Kirei.]
[I like fighting closely. I'm good at it. Those words stay with Yuri, striking him as...out of the norm, and they are, aren't they? What child Kirei's age could boast the same without a smile or flash of pride?]
So you wish to become a priest, but you also study a defensive art that bodyguards learn. Your interests are quite broad, Kirei...but flexibility is an excellent trait for a young man to have.
[The swing rocks back and forth, and Yuri's gaze shifts once more to the neighborhood. The sound of a car horn going off interrupts the peace and quiet for a moment, and then soft laughter from down the street: a couple apologizing for having bumped into the vehicle.]
Judging those that are guilty and separating them from the innocent is not a difficult task. The evidence often does most of the work. Of course, there are times when it is not as easy as I would like it to be, but then...passing judgment upon another is never something that should be strictly easy to do. When it becomes so, then something has gone wrong with the judge.
[Closing his eyes, Yuri leans back on the swing.]
I suppose I agree with that statement.
[No, no he does not. Oh, indeed, sinners should be punished. Where they go after that he cannot say, of course, but one thing is for certain: repentance will not rescue them. Feeling sorry for themselves, acknowledging their wrongdoings, begging for mercy, for forgiveness...that is not his idea of justice.]
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[But Kirei grows thoughtful at the mention of Heroes.]
Some priests say that NEXTs come from the Devil, but my father says their gifts are given to them by God, and we should be grateful for them. What do you think?
[He has more than one reason for asking this question. NEXTs are very interesting to him, personally.]
It is efficient. It is fast. Sometimes you only have to strike once, if you do it right.
[However, he likes for things to be more prolonged than that. It's not as good when it's over with quickly.]
I'm interested in many things. A priest should know as much as he can about everything, so he can better help others. When I'm a priest, I'll be able to defend all my parishioners.
[His father praises him for excelling in everything, says that his gifts are the gifts of God, and that he prayed to have a child like Kirei: his miracle child, born late in his life. Kirei doesn't react to the car horn or the laughter. His expression remains the same, his attention fixed on the judge.]
Man makes mistakes. What if there is no evidence, or if the bad person didn't commit a crime, then how do you know? Wouldn't it mean you were better at your judgments if it were easier?
[Doesn't one get better when one practices more? He's interested in this subject too, that of judgment, of matters of innocent and guilty. His father says that if one is good, one loves God, but he doesn't think he loves God. He doesn't know if he loves his father.
He's glad to have Mr. Petrov's agreement on the subject of sinners, and he nods.] God is wrathful but also merciful.
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[Thoughtfully, his pale green eyes open and come to rest on the boy once more. There are no sounds from within his home, no indications that his mother is awake, which suits him. Especially at the soft mentioning of the Devil.]
[What does he think? That is a loaded question.]
NEXTs are no different than you and I. They are people with an extraordinary ability, or, in some cases, not so extraordinary. Much like those that excel in sciences or art, or those that possess a talent beyond their years in martial arts, NEXT have their own specialty. I don't believe their abilities are a godsend or a gift from the Devil; they are simply powers which have manifested, which may even be genetic.
[Passed down, from father to son, even if the power itself is not the same...]
Hm? Striking once... [Like his fire.] It must be quite demanding, also. The precision one would need to have mastered in order to perform...I'm quite impressed, Kirei. Perhaps, sometime, I can see a demonstration.
[If he can find the time between work and tending to his mother.]
In any case... [He finishes off the last of the tangerine, then looks down at the apple Kirei has yet to touch.] ...a priest should also be able to smile.
[Among other things, but for now, Yuri lingers on that. The boy hasn't shown even a flicker of cheer since he arrived. It would be unnatural not to comment, though doing so also borders a bit on prying.]
As to your question, it is true: men do make mistakes. It is human nature. However, when there is no evidence, we proceed more carefully. Convictions cannot be made if there is no proof, either. [A soft sigh.] If the bad person did not commit a crime, I would wonder then why it is they were considered bad at all, I suppose. And...that last question is difficult to answer. It does sometimes mean that one is better at their job if it becomes easier, but it should never become easy to punish. Sentencing should not be easy because it is the act of holding in your hand the life of another. Do you understand, Kirei? Although, it is all right if you do not.
[Even as Lunatic he does not punish easily. He weighs the crimes of others, selects his targets carefully...but there is never mercy. There is no wrath, either, in fact. There is only justice.]
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[He displays no self-awareness or sign that he thinks these might not be normal things for a child his age to say. One wouldn't guess from speaking to him that his father smiles often, tries to involve Kirei in games, gives him toys and pets. He's gentle with his somber son, maybe even a little too indulgent.
Mr. Petrov's answer regarding NEXTs seems to please him well enough, not that his expression shifts into one of pleasure. It doesn't displease him, because he nods, as if he agrees with part or all of what Yuri has said.
This is the most personal conversation he's had in some time, except for when he's talking with his father, and he's enjoying himself, in his way. He rarely has conversations with the other boys at school, and never like this. Maybe he likes talking to him because the man is solemn, like himself, and answers his questions seriously.]
I don't watch Hero TV. My father says they shouldn't commercialize heroism. He says I'm not a NEXT. He says God gave me the ability to perform miracles.
[He makes this admission matter-of-factly. It's not as if it's a secret. His father has told others in the Church what he can do. So there's no reason Mr. Petrov wouldn't hear of it, if he decides to go to church, as (in Kirei's mind) he should. His father may believe NEXTs were given gifts by God, but he believes his son is something entirely different, set apart.]
It is precise. You have to hit in just the right way. I can demonstrate for you. [When he chooses to be precise, not to "accidentally" expend too much force, his technique is near-perfect.] I train every day, twice a day.
Why should a priest smile? [Kirei asks this question earnestly. He doesn't see what smiling has to do with serving God. It is his solemn duty.]
What if a person thought bad things but never did anything bad, even if they wanted to? Would they still be bad? [This is another question of personal importance to him.] A thought can be sinful.
[He nods again, seeming to understand what Yuri has said.]
I understand. To judge is an important job, and men don't have the wisdom of God. You shouldn't rush, or someone might be hurt who shouldn't be, or a sinner might go unpunished. [And we can't have unpunished sinners.] It is the same for a priest, to deal with life and death.
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[Truthfully, Yuri did not expect to become so engaged in conversation with the boy. He'd thought to entertain him for a moment and then send him on his way again, but things had rapidly become...intriguing. More and more questions were rising to the surface, and among them?]
[Well, he was beginning to wonder what Kirei's opinion of himself was, and if he thought he was bad.]
You do not watch Hero TV? I cannot say that I blame you, but that is between you and I. [Said with a small smirk, that is there and then gone again, quick as beat.] I feel as though the purpose behind broadcasting the heroic acts of the NEXT is done with the best of intentions in mind. Doing so has brought Sternbild much wealth, and it has given people hope, faces that they can relate to, not to mention eliminating much of the prejudice people have against NEXT. Yet, for all of that good, I still feel as though the program sometimes makes a mockery of those who are different...making a show of the damage they cause, which ultimately results in distrust between NEXT and those that are not.
[Suffice it to say, he thought the Heroes were idiots, but he is careful not to directly imply as much. After all, they are good people, even if their judgment is sorely lacking, and their conviction to their duty is weak.]
...I'm sorry. I did not mean to carry on about that. I suppose it is one thing I am passionate about, although, it isn't likely to come as a surprise.
[It goes hand-in-hand with being a judge, after all, but rather than linger on that, Yuri finds himself unable to inquire:]
You say your father says you perform miracles...? May I ask what kind?
[Was this boy a NEXT, too? And if so, what was his ability?]
If you've time this weekend, Kirei, after church - as I think I will be attending, after all - I would like to see then.
[He stands then, setting the tangerine peels on the swing to be collected after. For now, he paces to the railing circling the deck, leaning his frame against it.]
A priest should smile for the same reason Heroes do. The public looks to them for support. It does not mean you must smile always, but sometimes. You do not want to give the impression that following a righteous path is one that can only be rewarded with a heavy heart, do you?
[A glance back at Kirei, although he is not smiling. His expression is as solemn as the boy's. Perhaps that is why he has found it so easy to converse with Kirei?]
...Ah. Negative thoughts, or those that are sinful. I was wondering if that was what you were referring to. You see, Kirei, a judge is a person who passes judgment upon the actions of man. It is not my place to punish anyone for thoughts they've not acted upon. The jurisdiction of intent and the mind actually lies with doctors...and priests.
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He listens to Mr. Petrov talk about Hero TV, and in some ways, what he says is similar to what Kirei's father says. He nods, obediently taking in everything, as he does when listening to others talk. He'll remember what was said.]
I don't like Hero TV, but they talk about it at school, so I hear about it. [It's impossible not to, living in Sternbild. The Heroes are everywhere.] There are still many people who don't like NEXTs, or if they do, they only like the Heroes. They think other NEXTs will hurt them. Because sometimes the bad people are NEXTs, too, and the Heroes can't always stop them in time. If I were a NEXT, I wouldn't be a Hero. I would still be a priest. Do you judge the people the Heroes catch?
[He stays where he is on the swing, rocking it himself for the first time, if only slightly, politely, hardly making any noise.]
I can heal the sick. If someone's hurt, I can fix them. [He glances down at his hands. He has to touch someone to heal them.] You should come to church. I can show you, if someone needs me to fix them. Or if you're hurt.
[He can also manipulate the body in other ways and do the opposite of fix, but he doesn't mention that. He's only tried it on himself, but it was easy enough to re-heal the injury afterward.]
I want to help the people. I do love God. It is a joy to serve him. One should rejoice in the Lord always.
[The words are a little wooden (and sometimes Kirei doesn't know if he means it, when he says things like this), but he dutifully attempts a smile and manages a small one. It barely touches his eyes, which are raised toward the man standing near him him, but it is undeniably a smile. It quickly fades back into Kirei's habitual stoicism, but it was there.]
No matter how bad the thoughts were, you wouldn't be able to say they were guilty? What if the bad person doesn't want to tell the doctor or the priest?