IC: Overflow (Cerealia)

[reprizesal]

Gotta keep on goin'.

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

Comments

[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.

[reprizesal]

[He watches Naoki and hear his response. The answer that he sometimes wished otherwise, but it still happened in the past.

Sayo had similiar thoughts about it before, whenever he's not continuously haunted.]

...Yes, you can't change the past. [It's the unspoken rule in the army. Preserve history, never change it.] I... don't have any other questions, Naoki-san.

[masakados]

[Naoki finds his smile again after a moment, his shoulders rising and falling in another careless gesture. If he could shrug off the feelings about his past...

Ahh, dark thoughts. Back to the present, Naoki, he tells himself.]

You can just call me Naoki, if you want.

[reprizesal]

...Okay, if you say so, Naoki.

[It feels rather personal for him to use, but if that's what Naoki wants. Sayo doesn't want to waste time on arguing it.]