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

[true_noir]

Very little that is pleasant or fit to be shared in general. She was not a nice person, if I was being honest. And the more I see of her, the less I think that I like her.

[daemonized]

I see.

[There's a noticeable pause, given that the conversation has suddenly shifted into slightly more serious waters.]

If I might be so bold to ask (and only because this is something I've wondered about myself), does remembering /her/ make you feel any different about yourself now?

[true_noir]

Sometimes, but a lot of times it is like dipping into a skillset, into pieces that aren't me, a toolbox I can steal from while not letting myself be her.

I may not like her, but I can admit that things she knew were useful.

[daemonized]

But you're able to draw that line, or at least that's what it sounds like. That's good, of course.

[true_noir]

I am able to try, at the very least. And trying seems to be pretty important. It's easier to stay 'you' if you try to stay you.

I think, though, that I know one of the biggest warning signs. If I ever say it, it would definitely be a bad sign, but I think I'll keep it to myself for now.

[daemonized]

[If this were a face-to-face conversation, Ardyn would be raising a brow, but since it isn't, it'll just have to be imagined.]

A warning sign specific to yourself, or something that could be applied to all of us?

[true_noir]

Specific to me. It's a thing the other girl says sometimes. Nonsensical, meaningless, stupid sounding and bordering on idiotic. If I call myself it, though, it means I really am thinking like her.

[Seriously, what kind of nickname was "Noir?" Who called themselves Darkness or Black as a nickname anyhow? It would only sound impressive to Americans, who thought everything french sounded automatically exotic and romantic.]

[daemonized]

I see. You're very critical of your other self, aren't you?

Stlll, I'm glad that you have something of a... ah, "warning system" that you can utlize. Perhaps I should consider doing this for myself.

[true_noir]

She's a killer. It's kind of hard to really love what she does, even if she might have been killing awful people.

It's a sort of obvious one. I don't know if others will have something quite so obvious, but self-awareness is wise.

[daemonized]

A killer?

[What a revelation. It's the first that Ardyn's heard of someone having that questionable of a "past life", but to be honest, it had been a worry of his for awhile. How would that affect a person, truly?]

That must have been a worrying revelation for you.

[true_noir]

Well, considering she is following orders, and those she's killing are what most would consider bad people, yes and no. In the end, though she is not me, and I am not her.

I just do not like her very much.

[daemonized]

Much like an assassin, then?

In any case, my advice is that you keep to your current way of thinking. Retrospec attempting to muddle up our minds with these memories is likely exactly what they want to have happen.

[And they'll succeed, over and over again. Ardyn may (attempt) to draw a line between his past self and his current self, but never will he not be curious.]

[true_noir]

Not like, she is an assassin. In fact, I almost want to say she is quite proud of what she is, much like an accomplished sniper would be.

I intend to. It's harder sometimes, but it's not impossible. By doing things that keep me away from what she did? It helps. I'm thinking of taking Karate. It's not meant to kill, after all.

[daemonized]

[An assassin? Good lord.]

So, a physical outlet of sorts. One that runs parallel, but not precisely the same, as the skills that your previous self had.

[At least, one might assume so.]

The issue is that you may trigger another memory faster by doing so.

[true_noir]

And one that does not involve murdering everyone I happen to fight. Added bonus.

I will live. I can't avoid them forever, clearly. I've had several already.