IC: Overflow (Cerealia)

[reprizesal]

Gotta keep on goin'.

For any threads in cerealia , once the posts hit recaptcha.

Comments

[masakados]

[And Naoki watches for now... but yeah, looks like the photographer isn't budging. Naoki makes a mmf noise of thought before shaking his head.]

I don't think you're gonna be able to get anywhere with him after all.

[reprizesal]

[He holds his blade up for a while, before he finally lowers it. But he wouldn't sheath it just yet.]

Then someone else might know.

[masakados]

Then, we'll check it out. I'm Naoki, by the way.

[Since he'll be... accompanying.] If you don't get a proper answer from them, though, don't be too surprised.

[reprizesal]

...I'm Sayo Samonji.

[No proper answer? That'd be bad, since there's no way to properly inform his comrades against this and form a counter-measure.] Alright. But it'd be better if I do get an answer from them.

[masakados]

For them too, it seems.

[He smiles wryly, but nods. Sayo, huh.] I wonder what kind of things they're capable of, if they can go so far as to steal souls for a bit. If that's what they were trying to do.

[reprizesal]

[He blinks, before that possibility finally sinks into his head.]

...So they're not actually doing this on purpose? They could be innocent.

[Well. Well.]

[masakados]

Yeah, they could be. Or they might be guilty. It's hard to tell.

[When they behave in such a way that it's inevitable they're going to be seen as suspicious...]

[reprizesal]

[A bit of a pause, as he considers that possibility again.]

...Very well. But I won't be lenient if that person is guilty next time.

[masakados]

That's fine. I wouldn't expect you to be either, in that case.

[But for now, a light nod in approval.]

[reprizesal]

[Yeah, now that's more or less settled (?), Sayo looks up at Naoki in silence.]

...Thank you.

[For the aid and all that.]

[masakados]

[Naoki gives him a light smile, a little bemused.]

You're welcome? I didn't do much, though.

[reprizesal]

...You watched over my vessel. Anyone could have taken me away if they want.

[The fact that Naoki just brought him to a chair, and nothing else, is a point in his favour.]

[masakados]

Ah, that.

[Naoki just smiles and shrugs his shoulder.] I know if anything like that ever happened to me, I wouldn't want someone to have just taken me away somewhere.

[reprizesal]

...Yes. It's terrible when you get taken away by someone by force.

[He doesn't sound happy about that thought. Personal experience can be a pain. He looks at Naoki, up and down to take in his features.

Are those lines glowing?]

[masakados]

[You're gosh darn right they are-- even under the lighting in here, they're visibly gently pulsing green.]

I haven't had it happen to me, so I'll take your word for it.

[He smiles, though.] But you're safe right now.

[reprizesal]

[He slowly nods, and stares at the green, pulsing lines. Before he finally asks.]

You're not human, are you?

[Like, straight out asking.]

[masakados]

I'm human, [he returns at once, with the ease of someone who's received that question before, many a time...]

But, my body isn't. I've got a demon's body.

[reprizesal]

You got a demon's body? Did your human body turn into one?

[Which isn't that odd. There's all sorts of stories of people transforming into demons or spirits. So... demon body, human...soul?]

[masakados]

That's right. A parasite changed my body.

[Good, he gets it right away-- sometimes, well, the reactions can vary. Naoki doesn't blame anyone for being puzzled by it, his reaction would probably be the same if he were back to his normal human self.]

[reprizesal]

A parasite?

[Thinking, thinking... Nnnope, he doesn't quite know what a parasite is.]

Is it like... being possessed?

[masakados]

[--ahah. Should've used different terminology, eh? Naoki smiles apologetically.]

For me, sorta. The parasite-- well, it's called a magatama. It's the very essence of a demon. So it can change even humans into one.

[reprizesal]

[Probably. Something like that would fall under a doctor's or sorcerer's sword's knowledge.]

A demon's essence changing a human... Wouldn't that be dangerous?

[masakados]

Now that you mention it, yeah... I guess it would be. I didn't really get a chance to think about it.

[He runs one of his hands absently down the opposing forearm, his fingertips tapping his tattoos.] It did hurt a lot.

[reprizesal]

Do you... [What can he ask about it? Sayo seems hesitant before he finally decides on his words.] ...ever wish it never happen?

[masakados]

......

[To say that that question doesn't cause his chest to lurch would be a lie. Naoki's eyes have gone a little wide and he looks at Sayo before turning his face.] Well...

[He tries, to keep his tone purposefully light, as though he's not thinking about everything that came of what he become. The people who died. His failure to save them.] Sometimes, I guess I do. But I can't change that it did.