first breath ✧ action

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[There's a pale, shirtless figure walking through the woods just outside town. His footsteps are silent, and the book he holds in one hand remains unopened. The only article of clothing he found at the scene when he awoke was his hat, which he's returned to its rightful place on his head. He'd be normal looking if not for the face-like growths

Comments

[Action]

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[That familiar presence is around here somewhere. Isamu is feeling disconnected enough at the moment that the source of Magatsuhi is like a lure. He doesn't quicken his pace any, but there might have been a little more emotion in his voice when he asks for the demi-fiend again.]

Naoki...?

[Action]

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[Isamu is immediately more at ease.] There you are. [Because his presence was expected, obviously.]

...What is all this? Did you do it?

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[Frowning now. That isn't what he wants to hear.] What are you saying?

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[Isamu's expression is very 'Dammit, Naoki, why do you fail me?' right now. The frown remains as he looks around again. That would at least explain why this didn't seem like the world he'd envisioned.]

How did that happen? Was that thing just lying to us?

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[While his first inclination is to go off and search for answers on his own, the sudden switch is still somewhat disorienting. Naoki has helped him, or at least attempted to help him, so far. If he's his only lead for the moment he might as well not waste time.

After a thoughtful pause, Isamu nods.] ...All right.

[Action]

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[Three and four hundred...? Isamu starts to follow, stops, scowls, then finds himself following again anyway. He doesn't want to be among that many people. Wasn't that the whole point of his reason?

...Didn't Naoki agree with him?] And you're just living among them? I didn't think four months would have changed you so much.

[He's also glancing over his shoulder at his own wings now - at least what he can see of them. They give a twitch and he makes another face. What was the point of those?]

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They're ridiculous. [He reaches back and runs his fingers along one of the end feathers.] But they're fine, otherwise. They don't hurt.

[He tilts his head.] You have changed, though. Or it seems that way. Unless you were just lying all those times you claimed to support me.

[Action]

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[Don't look so shocked. It's putting Isamu on edge too.]

...Yeah. With my Reason. What, you don't remember?