TEXT ♞ SCARF FUNERAL

[tarotcards]

Souji Narukami shared a photo. 06/03 near Peach Beach and Boardwalk

RIP Izunia-san's Loyal Scarf. Sacrificed itself in a blaze of glory to save its master. A hero's funeral will take place tonight at 7PM at Ardyn Izunia's house. Please RVSP if you would like to attend. Dress code requirements: one loyal scarf. Please always cherish your scarves. You never know when one day they will just catch on fire and exit your lives forever. Love them and treasure them forever.

Comments

[originallutece]

So that's the story we're going with, is it?

[daemonized]

What, you're not convinced? And after all the trouble Souji went through to write it?

[originallutece]

It's a charming work of fiction. But sometime I hope you'll tell me the truth.

1/2

[daemonized]

I'll let him know that you said it was charming. That is, if he doesn't read this first.

private

[daemonized]

I don't think it's something he wishes to openly speak about, but if I said that it was a new, baffling ability of his, would that satisfy you?

private

[originallutece]

I'd be curious as to what precisely this ability is. And suggest that if he wants to keep it a secret, he ought to craft a better lie.

. . . and also suggest you invest in fire insurance.

private

[daemonized]

I still have to talk to him about it, but I'm sure /control/ is something he might be worried about. We'll find ways to make this new ability settle more comfortably within him.

(My house /is/ insured in case of a fire, just so you know.)

private

[originallutece]

How does it appear? Simply from his fingertips?

private

[daemonized]

[He laughs at that, not that she would be able to hear it.]

Not at all. Something manifests first, a... creature or sorts. I don't know how to describe it. But the fire happens /afterwards/, as if from nothingness.

private

[originallutece]

A creature? What the hell kind of creature? Is it sentient? What does it do?

private

[daemonized]

[Look, this is what he saw. How on earth do you expect him to come up with a detailed explanation on the fly ok]

Well, it set my scarf on fire, for one.

It wasn't exactly there long enough for me to have a nice little chat with it. It appeared humanoid. It had four arms, and a flame on its head.

[IS THAT HELPFUL?]

private

[originallutece]

[GET BETTER]

Have you tried summoning it again? Did it resemble your nephew in any way? Did the flame atop its head set your scarf on fire, or did it do something else?

private

[daemonized]

[YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE 2 MUCH]

He hasn't tried, no. And I would not ask him to.

It did not resemble Souji at all. If you like, I can draw you a picture.

And it was a separate flame. As if it was "cast", for the lack of a better term.

private

[originallutece]

I'd appreciate a picture, thank you. Why wouldn't you ask him to summon it again? Did it harm him?

private

[daemonized]

Give me a second, and I'll send you something.

To answer your question, I don't think he knows how to control it. And I'll not have him practice right now, if he wants to distract himself with a scarf funeral.

private

[originallutece]

You realize practicing is the only way to understand this?

private

[daemonized]

Did I say I was discouraging practice in general? You're making assumptions, Rosalind.

private

[originallutece]

[ . . .

Anyway, moving past that:]

Will you let me know if you get any further information on it? I suppose I could ask your nephew myself, but I doubt he'll want to confide in me.

private

[daemonized]

[Don't be like that, Ros. It's okay.]

For what purposes? Continuing to gathering data about what's happening around us? I'm not certain my nephew would take well to the fact that I'm sharing details of his abilities in full without his knowing. Let me talk to him first, and I'll see what I can do.

But I believe I can at least share a sketch. Here.

[Attached is quick little scribble of what Ardyn had seen. (Linked above, somewhere.) It's not the most detailed thing, but to be fair, he hadn't only seen it for a few seconds at the most.]

private

[originallutece]

Let me know soon. It isn't just to gather data on all of us in general. I'd be fascinated to simply study him and understand what's happening.

[But oh, that's a fascinating sketch, and she saves it to her phone immediately.]

Thank you, though. For telling me all this.

private

[daemonized]

You're welcome, Rosalind. But please bear in mind that he's not something to be set aside and /studied/ -- not without his express permission. I want for him to have time to come to terms to whatever is happening to him, first.

private

[originallutece]

[ugh just take all the fun out of being a scientist, why don't you]

He hardly has to answer me when I message him. And if he doesn't want to talk to me, I shan't badger him.

private

[daemonized]

Fair enough. Though I just don't want him getting the idea that his uncle is telling others about his abilities, just so that someone can come around and ask to experiment on him.