Luckily for him he doesn't remember, but he's also not entirely sure where he is. Actually, it seems as though the only thing he remembers is his name and that he's dead- so that's something. Though every time he thinks about being dead there's a certain amount of dread.
It makes enough sense, who wants to remember how they died? Should he just stay here until somebody gets him...? Is somebody going to show up for him? Nobody's really explained anything.]
[ When he's told that he has a shinki waiting for him, Shouto isn't entirely sure what to anticipate. He's been given the basic rundown of everything, of what he's meant to be doing here, of what it means for him, but the idea of using someone else as a weapon... it doesn't sit well with him. He thinks of his father, of how he was meant to be Endeavor's tool for his legacy, and he doesn't -
He doesn't want to repeat that.
But when he's given the name of his shinki, it feels like his right side has overtaken him, his blood going cold and leaving everything frigid in him. It takes a while for him to really feel ready to come and get him, but he forces himself to, if only because it's not fair to make him wait without any answers.
So he - all he can do is stare at him, when he sees familiar, curly hair, easy to spot when you're seeking it out.
Shouto takes a deep breath, and then he approaches. ] Midoriya?
[He perks up when he hears his name, but there's no glimmer of recognition on his face. As far as he knows this guy with the two-toned hair is a stranger. But a stranger who knows his name.]
Yes? Who are you?
[It's not as though anybody's sat him down and explained what he's supposed to be doing around the heavens.]
[ Something stings, when Midoriya looks at him like a stranger, when he asks him that. But Shouto knows it's not his fault, and it's not the sting that they'd warned him about. It just... hurts, really.
But he just inclines his head, tucking that feeling deep down in his ribcage where he can hide it away for now. ]
Todoroki Shouto. We're meant to be... [ He turns some words over in his head before he answers. ] Partners. While we're here.
Midoriya Izuku... Oh... I guess you already knew that.
[It's a bit strange, but this entire situation is. Aren't the dead just... supposed to stop existing?
Here he is with a body and with no memories but his name. He looks at Shouto a bit puzzled for a moment, but something about him- he feels content at the word 'partners'. It fits somehow, a feeling with a reason that's been hidden away.]
Partners... I think I'd like that. What will we do together?
It's fine - it's more fair if you get to introduce yourself, I think.
[ Not that Amaterasu's court took that into consideration, but they don't really have any good ideas on what to do with them besides put them to use. Maybe they'll figure out what's going on and be able to go back...
Can Izuku go back? Seeing his death, being hit in the face with it and having that hurt just as much as him not remembering... He's not sure.
But he does know that they're partners. They were back home, and he'd like them to be here. ]
This place has monsters called ayakashi in it, and they could hurt a lot of people if left unchecked. We're meant to fight them, so that those people are safe, since they can't fight them themselves.
[A part of him wonders, 'how does he know my name' but it's quickly buried by the feeling of don't question it.
He listens to the explanation and nods.]
If we can help people who can't help themselves, then I'd like to. Um... How do we fight ayakashi? [He's never heard of them before- but he's missing so much maybe these things existed wherever he was before too.] How does it work?
[ There are definitely things he should find a way to explain in better detail, but Shouto'd prefer doing that... you know. Elsewhere. Apparently he has a shrine? He doesn't know what Nemesis' shrine would look like, but that's neither here nor there.
Instead he gestures between the two of them with a hand, because he can kind of explain this. ]
Gods and shinkis work together to face them, is what I've been told. You - apparently you take on another name, and the name's linked to a vessel? Shinki can turn into weapons.
Honestly it doesn't make much sense to me, either.
[A shinki, so that's what he is in the afterlife. He supposes that's not the worst thing that could have ever happened to him.]
I... turn into a weapon? That's... That sounds a lot like something you'd watch in a cartoon, but it's real isn't it? This is real.
[He's dead, but at least he can still help people from beyond the grave, in a way. It's not what he expected, but somehow he's content with that knowledge.]
What do you mean by another name though? I already have one.
[ If his sense of humor could trump the sadness that's undercurrent to this entire interaction, he'd probably laugh at that description a little. But it can't, so it doesn't. ]
Magic is real. Powers are real. Monsters are definitely real, here. There are actual gods, and those of us that act as replacements.
[ Shouto inclines his head a little towards him. Technically, Midoriya Izuku already has two. But he can't tell him that. ]
The name's connected to your vessel. When a god gives you it, you can turn into it. When they say your real name, you turn back.
[ Considering he's used to Izuku looking at people like that, Shouto doesn't seem particularly fazed. He's mostly just trying to parse what he's gleaned from the visions of his death, of his life, that he's picked up.
But the questions don't shock him, much as it refocuses him. ]
I'm a replacement for the goddess Nemesis, apparently. [ It's a little funny. ] But yeah, you're right. And if that's really what you want - I don't want to do anything that you're against. Partners work together.
You're a replacement for a goddess? [That's... a little weird, but he supposes the heavens know what they're doing. Well, he hopes the heavens know what they're doing.]
I want it. I trust you.
[He doesn't know why that is exactly. But his heart wants to trust Todoroki.]
That's what they told me. [ Shouto gestures at himself with a hand, an up and down motion. Yeah, he knows it's weird. The choice is darkly funny though.
The humor fades with that admission, and he ducks his head some to seemingly hide under the fringe of his two-toned hair. Even without his memories, there's still - it's still Deku in there.
He nods and straightens. ] I'll have to give you something that suits you, then.
[Todoroki's very much male. His god(dess) is Nemesis or Todoroki Shouto then. Actually, considering how he introduced himself it's much more likely that he prefers Todoroki.
He's a bit puzzled at the reaction but again there's that voice that says don't push, leave it alone, it's safer this way.]
[ All things considered, his name is a welcome address compared to Nemesis. Funny as it might be to find himself the replacement - reincarnation? whatever - of the goddess of retribution.
He pushes that thought aside, looking Izuku up and down thoughtfully. Unfortunately, he's logical and tactical, not necessarily creative. There's a conundrum here. ]
Apparently I have a temple that's home while we're here. We should go there and I'll think about it.
[ The one reassurance in all this is the fact that, even without memories, there doesn't seem to be much of a change in their dynamic. It helps him keep his focus, instead of falling into thoughts about what Midoriya can't remember. ]
[The heavens don't seem that well equipped, he thinks silently to himself. You'd think he at least know where his temple is before needing to pick up his partner.]
... So they just left you to wander around heaven until you happen to find it? Are there really that few temples around here?
[ On that, they'll agree. Shouto's had worse headaches back home, but this one's a fierce runner up in the sort of mess that it's making itself out to be.
Then again, he could have gone to his temple before going for Izuku. But he didn't want to make him wait more than he already had, so. ]
I highly doubt it, but I have a feeling that it'll be fine. At least, this will be.
[If they end up wandering around heaven- well... he guesses that's fine too? It'd be nice to have a place to sleep. But... he's dead, does he even really need sleep to begin with?]
[ Who knows? He sure doesn't, buthe does know that this whole thing has left him feeling drained, so maybe they do. Regardless, though, he considers what he was told, and eventually nods.
He's always trusted his instincts, so... ]
Let's head this way. [ Time to wander, he guesses. ]
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Shinki/God swap
Luckily for him he doesn't remember, but he's also not entirely sure where he is. Actually, it seems as though the only thing he remembers is his name and that he's dead- so that's something. Though every time he thinks about being dead there's a certain amount of dread.
It makes enough sense, who wants to remember how they died? Should he just stay here until somebody gets him...? Is somebody going to show up for him? Nobody's really explained anything.]
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He doesn't want to repeat that.
But when he's given the name of his shinki, it feels like his right side has overtaken him, his blood going cold and leaving everything frigid in him. It takes a while for him to really feel ready to come and get him, but he forces himself to, if only because it's not fair to make him wait without any answers.
So he - all he can do is stare at him, when he sees familiar, curly hair, easy to spot when you're seeking it out.
Shouto takes a deep breath, and then he approaches. ] Midoriya?
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Yes? Who are you?
[It's not as though anybody's sat him down and explained what he's supposed to be doing around the heavens.]
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But he just inclines his head, tucking that feeling deep down in his ribcage where he can hide it away for now. ]
Todoroki Shouto. We're meant to be... [ He turns some words over in his head before he answers. ] Partners. While we're here.
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[It's a bit strange, but this entire situation is. Aren't the dead just... supposed to stop existing?
Here he is with a body and with no memories but his name. He looks at Shouto a bit puzzled for a moment, but something about him- he feels content at the word 'partners'. It fits somehow, a feeling with a reason that's been hidden away.]
Partners... I think I'd like that. What will we do together?
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[ Not that Amaterasu's court took that into consideration, but they don't really have any good ideas on what to do with them besides put them to use. Maybe they'll figure out what's going on and be able to go back...
Can Izuku go back? Seeing his death, being hit in the face with it and having that hurt just as much as him not remembering... He's not sure.
But he does know that they're partners. They were back home, and he'd like them to be here. ]
This place has monsters called ayakashi in it, and they could hurt a lot of people if left unchecked. We're meant to fight them, so that those people are safe, since they can't fight them themselves.
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He listens to the explanation and nods.]
If we can help people who can't help themselves, then I'd like to. Um... How do we fight ayakashi? [He's never heard of them before- but he's missing so much maybe these things existed wherever he was before too.] How does it work?
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Instead he gestures between the two of them with a hand, because he can kind of explain this. ]
Gods and shinkis work together to face them, is what I've been told. You - apparently you take on another name, and the name's linked to a vessel? Shinki can turn into weapons.
Honestly it doesn't make much sense to me, either.
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I... turn into a weapon? That's... That sounds a lot like something you'd watch in a cartoon, but it's real isn't it? This is real.
[He's dead, but at least he can still help people from beyond the grave, in a way. It's not what he expected, but somehow he's content with that knowledge.]
What do you mean by another name though? I already have one.
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Magic is real. Powers are real. Monsters are definitely real, here. There are actual gods, and those of us that act as replacements.
[ Shouto inclines his head a little towards him. Technically, Midoriya Izuku already has two. But he can't tell him that. ]
The name's connected to your vessel. When a god gives you it, you can turn into it. When they say your real name, you turn back.
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Then you're a replacement for a god, judging from the way you're speaking about it. And I'm your shinki and partner? Did I get that right?
Will you name me? I... I'd like to help as many people as soon as we can.
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But the questions don't shock him, much as it refocuses him. ]
I'm a replacement for the goddess Nemesis, apparently. [ It's a little funny. ] But yeah, you're right. And if that's really what you want - I don't want to do anything that you're against. Partners work together.
[ Midoriya taught him that. ]
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I want it. I trust you.
[He doesn't know why that is exactly. But his heart wants to trust Todoroki.]
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The humor fades with that admission, and he ducks his head some to seemingly hide under the fringe of his two-toned hair. Even without his memories, there's still - it's still Deku in there.
He nods and straightens. ] I'll have to give you something that suits you, then.
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He's a bit puzzled at the reaction but again there's that voice that says don't push, leave it alone, it's safer this way.]
I'm sure you will, Todoroki.
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He pushes that thought aside, looking Izuku up and down thoughtfully. Unfortunately, he's logical and tactical, not necessarily creative. There's a conundrum here. ]
Apparently I have a temple that's home while we're here. We should go there and I'll think about it.
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Alright. What's it like?
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[ The one reassurance in all this is the fact that, even without memories, there doesn't seem to be much of a change in their dynamic. It helps him keep his focus, instead of falling into thoughts about what Midoriya can't remember. ]
I guess we'll just have to find out.
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[Even as much as he doesn't know, it's somehow a bit reassuring to know Todoroki's a bit out of his depth here too.]
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He sighs, narrowing his eyes and looking off into the distance. ]
They didn't really tell me how to get there, either. Kind of implied that I would just know where I was supposed to go.
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... So they just left you to wander around heaven until you happen to find it? Are there really that few temples around here?
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Then again, he could have gone to his temple before going for Izuku. But he didn't want to make him wait more than he already had, so. ]
I highly doubt it, but I have a feeling that it'll be fine. At least, this will be.
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If you think so, Todoroki.
[If they end up wandering around heaven- well... he guesses that's fine too? It'd be nice to have a place to sleep. But... he's dead, does he even really need sleep to begin with?]
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He's always trusted his instincts, so... ]
Let's head this way. [ Time to wander, he guesses. ]
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... What were you doing before you got here? Um. If it's okay to ask.
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