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[waitingforplayer2]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHIAKI NANAMI.

FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX

*** galagamer has joined XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
<galagamer> This is Chiaki Nanami.
<galagamer> I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

Comments

[toaflame]

Yeah, it's just...you know how to do it. No real way to explain it otherwise.

[It's like breathing, or being able to move your limbs. It becomes an extension of yourself, regardless of whether it makes any sense or not.]

Guess its kinda a miracle I ain't burnt half the woods down by now, but Foggy would bite my ass if that happened for sure.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ Well, Nanami has an absolutely visceral reaction to that. Her heart hammers a little at the thought! ]

I'm glad you didn't too! There'd be so many trees that would get hurt! Maybe animals and monsters, too!

[toaflame]

[Ah. Adrian seems to realize in that moment he’s shoved his paw in his mouth.]

…sorry, I- I won’t actually do that. You ain’t gotta worry.

[Normally he wouldn’t care, but with Nanami it’s different.]

[waitingforplayer2]

I won't worry. She'd probably be way more upset if you did that than I would.

[ Said casually, in part because - well he's one of Her followers now, so She'd probably be more lenient with him anyway. ]

[toaflame]

Yeah, prob'ly.

[Adrian can't say he's scared of her, persay. He knows she's got a lot of power, and she could easily destroy him for his insolence, but...he also understands that she cares about him for some insane reason and probably wouldn't kill him unless he fucked up real bad on purpose.

Which is weird to think about. Is he projecting? Maybe he's projecting.]

It'd suck if I did that anyway. I like to come here.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She nods, and looks around. ]

I might come back here more often too... if that's all right. It's nice to be around trees and nature, like this.

[ It feels like being underwater as a merperson: right. ]

[toaflame]

Mm...? It ain't up to me whether you come here or don't, so...do what'cha want.

[He does pause though, peering at her through one eye.]

I'd just be careful. It's not really a good place to be if you ain't got a deal with the Fog.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She cranes her neck around to look behind her. They are still just at the edge of the foggy patch, where Adrian emerged from. ]

Yeah... a friend of mine got lost here, once, and I tried to track her with Ikusaba-san. So I know about the foggy patches...

[ They hadn't stayed long, but it had been enough to give her an impression. ]

But I've been able to avoid those so far... the trees help me stay away from them, and know how to get back out.

[toaflame]

[Hm...]

Even with all the fog...it don't bother you?

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She shakes her head. ]

Not really. It's kind of hard to explain why.

[ But she'll try. It's just the two of them, and he's Fog-aligned. She toys with that little blade of grass again. ]

The Fog... it's what makes us like this, right? So... I guess it kind of feels like... the fog is where we're supposed to be, now.

[toaflame]

[That's an interesting way to put it, but he also does get it. It feels...right, in a strange sort of way. At least if you're in a position where you don't feel unnerved and put off by its very existence, of course.]

An' have you talked to Her yet?

[waitingforplayer2]

Mm... a while ago. When I first changed.

[ There's a bit of guilt there, like she should have talked with Her again since then. But there's been so much going on and so much on her mind.

And she's been wanting to get as much information as possible before making any sort of decision. ]

I just... wanted to thank Her, I guess.

[toaflame]

Thank Her...why?

[That might be too personal of a question to ask, so he'd understand if it went unanswered.]

[waitingforplayer2]

Well...

[ How does she explain this? That conversation was months ago, but she tries to remember, and put her finger on it. ]

If... mm. [ Is it too depressing of her to bring up her own death.

... They are in the middle of the fog forest. ]

She kind of... gave me another chance. And... in a way that's not too bad, mostly.

[toaflame]

[Adrian is silent for a moment after that, simply contemplating Nanami's words.]

...I think I get it. She gave me another chance too.

[waitingforplayer2]

[ She remembers Adrian's stage - how could she not? But it wasn't her place to be there, and she still feels embarrassed about it.

Still, she has a little context for what he's saying, at least. ] ... I'm really glad She did. [ A little smile. ] And I'm glad... that that meant I got to meet you, too.

[toaflame]

[That's really not something Adrian thought he'd ever hear, to be honest. But Nanami is just...]

Yeah. You're...you're a real good kid, Nanami. So. I'm glad I met you too.