[Random apartment received! She'll package up the yukata as carefully as she can in a nice box before setting out. There's nothing stopping her from continuing to message while on the walk over, though!]
Good. I'm sure you've already got people if you need it, but let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
[Yeah, that makes sense. Based on what Kotone herself experienced, well... she's sure whoever did this to Dara is going to suffer just as much as she did, if not more.]
I dunno, I've known a bunch of gods, and they usually make me worry a lot!
[#JustPersonaThings. Anyway with that message out of the way, in short order, she's knocking on the door to Dara's chosen apartment, fully willing to just let herself in if the door's open.]
[The door sure is unlocked, and Dara moves to the entrance-way. She's opted to continue using her snake-legs since waking in the hospital. Sure, some time has passed, but bringing out the full length of her tail has been avoided so far. As for the apartment, it's easy to tell from a glance that Dara doesn't plan to stay in this place; aside from her writing materials on the floor, the place is completely empty. She's well aware of this too.]
Welcome, and thanks for stopping by. Sorry I don't have much to offer in terms of hospitality.
[Very genuinely: could be worse. No matter how many times she sees it, tail-less Dara is still a little strange, leaving her blinking for a moment before shrugging and moving in without hesitation to present her "offering" of a nice box tied with a bow. Was that necessary? Probably not, but it felt weird to just carry a yukata in her arms. So, a nice box it is!!
As she holds it out, she doesn't hide her curiosity at the sight of the paper.]
[As Dara reaches out to grab the box, a light brush of her hand against Kotone's makes her pause. The teen won't have a chance to pull away before one of the extra hands snatches her wrist. The box remains secure with one set as Dara forces the palm to light and squints at it with vague confusion.]
Huh...I don't remember cursing you? [From Kotone's point of view, the god is staring at nothing in particular.]
[She opens her mouth to ask for more detail -- or even just to cheer her on, because after everything Gogol has done, to both Dara and others, she's all for whatever the snake goddess has in mind. But she freezes when her hand is snatched, blinking a bit but not resisting.]
Oh, umm... I touched your stomach with my Persona.
[At least she has the grace to look embarrassed about it, hunching her shoulders just a bit.]
[Dara raises an eyebrow then ends up shaking her head with a shrug.]
...Don't know why you're apologizing. You're the one who was affected. [She taps a finger against the middle of Kotone's palm.] It's not like I lose anything when someone resonates with my curse. All I know is that it happened 'cause there's a mark.
[The god releases her grip before rubbing the back of her neck. Does she owe Kotone an apology? The idea is strange since the teen didn't die or go crazy. It's just her nature, after all. She pauses a moment before turning to go back into the apartment, one hand gesturing for Kotone to follow as she speaks to her over her shoulder.]
Anyways, sorry about that. Hopefully whatever memory you got wasn't too bad.
[Kotone looks at her own hand, though of course, she can't see anything. She'd thought the worst of the curse had already faded, but she can't help thinking about what Scott would say if he heard Dara talking like this. Like, he'd probably get pretty upset at her again, huh?
But she follows without resistance, rubbing her palm with her thumb in a kind of residual imagined feeling there might be something there.]
You were biting someone. It felt like revenge.
["Biting" seems like the most polite way to describe exactly what she experienced, even if it's hardly accurate.]
[Dara glances to the teen, with a quirked smile:] Biting...? HAH! You're funny.
[How polite of Kotone to describe cannibalism in such a way. If the memory IS based on the original curse, then a very specific person comes to mind. There are all the village people who plotted against her, but none of them were the focused targets.]
You saw either my elder twin or my parents.
[The apartment is simple: a small main room with attached kitchenette furnished with a simple table & chairs, and the two other doors lead to the bedroom and bathroom. Clearly Dara has only been occupying the space at the table, as it is currently covered in office supplies and books (mostly thick academic ones but there's one thin pink one in a stack labeled "♡ 101" on its spine). The god places the box down on the floor, makes a vague gesture to a chair, then unceremoniously works to pull her dress up and over her head. Just stripping right in the middle of the room without a care. Kotone's already seen her tits, so obviously it must be fine.]
I was dismembered when I died, so I needed to acquire arms when I became a vengeful spirit. Who better than to take from those who took from me, right?
[Overly casual about it all, Dara opens the box and starts the process of dressing in the kimono.]
[Well, what else can she say to that? Either her elder twin or her parents, not to mention everything else... Kotone takes her seat, though she doesn't answer immediately, still turning that over and over in her head. Dara clearly isn't looking for sympathy or pity, nor does she want to hear platitudes or apologies. It's a fact from the past, horrible as it is, and nothing Kotone says can change that.
Plus, that feeling she'd felt back then... well, it's hard to not empathize with her when Kotone had, for all intents and purposes, experienced it herself. So she just nods and shrugs in a wordless acceptance, quickly glancing away to give the goddess some privacy while she changes. Just because she's seen her tits doesn't mean she's expecting a free show!
...Wait. She sees the opportunity to give Dara an out if she doesn't want to talk about this.]
Hey, what's this book?
[You know which one she's reaching for. One of these things is not like the others.]
Of course I am. They're the ones that decided to kill me. I was a just scapegoat for them, like some convenient tool. Getting backstabbed pissed me off too much at the end, so they paid the price.
[Dara's tone remains calm and collected, as if talking about a bit of bad weather last week. It doesn't make her feel uncomfortable talking about the events that led up to her ascension. She enacted her grudge, and she feels nothing towards the atrocity of ending her family's bloodline with her own hands. Serves them right. She's still fulfilling her duty, after all.
Just as the god pulls the yukata over her shoulders, she glances towards Kotone. Dara chokes on a gasp when she sees what her curiosity is about:]
W-wait, don't touch that!
[Too late! Kotone has acquired one (1) "Love 101" book.]
[Yeah, that's about as intense as she might have expected from a memory like that. Dara's words align with what Kotone had felt during that memory, too -- revenge. She can't say she doesn't get it.
More importantly than that ancient history that Dara isn't worried about-]
What's this for~? [Dancing backward, just in case Dara might think about stealing it back, Kotone sneaks a peek inside. How basic is the advice at a glance?]
[The sputtering fizzles out into...still something anxious but leaning more towards a timid nature. Obviously this bothers a lot more than parricide!]
...Well...I was thinking........ [UGH. Dara hesitates while putting on her obi as a silent excuse.] W-What if someone isn't sure if the person they like likes them the same way...Not that it really matters, right? I mean, for me. I'm just, uh, looking into it as a curiosity.
[Too bad the only time she's good at lying is when it involves murder.]
[A much better topic than parricide! Way easier to talk about (for Kotone), no need to think about the weird meld of memories and feelings.]
Ooooh... [Yeah, this is definitely about someone else... definitely not about Dara at all... Kotone keeps her attention on the book, though, as if totally fooled, and adds,] I always just asked.
[As if it were the simplest thing in the world. Just ask!]
[She glances over at Dara and mercifully sets the book down, instead coming over to help smooth out some of the wrinkles. Sorry about the lack of personal space, but Kotone's never really been one to worry too much about things like that.]
Anyway, I think it's easier not to say anything no matter what somebody is like.
[She leans up on tip-toe to adjust Dara's collar whether she wants her to or not, offering the goddess a smile.] But most good things aren't easy, are they?
[Dara is just thankful that the book has been returned! If it means Kotone getting in her personal space, so be it. She even lets her take over to keep from moving around and making more wrinkles.
Also, she hates that she's right. Dara practically pouts at the wall in front of her, silent while chewing on a thought in mind. Maybe...she could let Kotone know. Would it be so bad? She doesn't seem like the type of person to openly mock people if they didn't succeed at something..........]
Do you...happen to know..........i-if Shinjiro is against dating?
[Kotone doesn't get surprised easily. When she does, it's usually pretty subtle! But this time, Dara's treated to the younger woman's wide eyes and dropped jaw because oh?! Luckily, the surprise quickly shifts into delight, because while Kotone might have had a crush on the Shinjiro back in her world, that had been a long time ago and isn't even the same Shinjiro as the one Dara's talking about.]
No idea! [she informs brightly, which probably isn't the answer Dara is looking for, so she continues quickly,] But you gotta try! I'm pretty sure he's not the type to make the first move, so you gotta just, [and she claps her hands together to mime a sudden action,] Go for it! He won't hold it against you if he's not interested, but I bet he will be!! Who wouldn't be?
[Like damn for all of her talk about ~not being attractive~ Kotone's absolutely certain that Dara definitely is. And hey, even if Shinji's not interested in dating, it's always nice to be asked!]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Scott was making her stay home to "rest" and "recover" and "stop being cursed" or whatever, and she had to stay busy somehow, so-! Yukata it was.]
You don't owe us anything, though. How're you feeling?
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[Stop being cursed is an important step in self-care.]
I don't? Then I'll just toss out these seals I'm working on.
Doing okay. Been occupied by unfinished business. [GOTTA TRAP A CLOWN.]
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[Scott went Somewhere and she is going to go stir crazy. Plus, she's been feeling way better recently, so-!! Let her out!!]
👀 You're making seals? Really? Thank you, Dara-san!!
[But more importantly...]
Did you find the guy who did it?
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Yes and no. I know who it is, and I have the best plan for getting retribution. I'll be hunting him down once the trap is set.
Also, you're welcome.
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Good. I'm sure you've already got people if you need it, but let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
Are you doing okay?
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Thanks for the offer, but this is my specialty.
Worried for me? I'm a god, so you don't have to.
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I dunno, I've known a bunch of gods, and they usually make me worry a lot!
[#JustPersonaThings. Anyway with that message out of the way, in short order, she's knocking on the door to Dara's chosen apartment, fully willing to just let herself in if the door's open.]
I'm here!
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Welcome, and thanks for stopping by. Sorry I don't have much to offer in terms of hospitality.
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[Very genuinely: could be worse. No matter how many times she sees it, tail-less Dara is still a little strange, leaving her blinking for a moment before shrugging and moving in without hesitation to present her "offering" of a nice box tied with a bow. Was that necessary? Probably not, but it felt weird to just carry a yukata in her arms. So, a nice box it is!!
As she holds it out, she doesn't hide her curiosity at the sight of the paper.]
What're you working on?
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[As Dara reaches out to grab the box, a light brush of her hand against Kotone's makes her pause. The teen won't have a chance to pull away before one of the extra hands snatches her wrist. The box remains secure with one set as Dara forces the palm to light and squints at it with vague confusion.]
Huh...I don't remember cursing you? [From Kotone's point of view, the god is staring at nothing in particular.]
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Oh, umm... I touched your stomach with my Persona.
[At least she has the grace to look embarrassed about it, hunching her shoulders just a bit.]
I was told I got cursed by that. Sorry.
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...Don't know why you're apologizing. You're the one who was affected. [She taps a finger against the middle of Kotone's palm.] It's not like I lose anything when someone resonates with my curse. All I know is that it happened 'cause there's a mark.
[The god releases her grip before rubbing the back of her neck. Does she owe Kotone an apology? The idea is strange since the teen didn't die or go crazy. It's just her nature, after all. She pauses a moment before turning to go back into the apartment, one hand gesturing for Kotone to follow as she speaks to her over her shoulder.]
Anyways, sorry about that. Hopefully whatever memory you got wasn't too bad.
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[Kotone looks at her own hand, though of course, she can't see anything. She'd thought the worst of the curse had already faded, but she can't help thinking about what Scott would say if he heard Dara talking like this. Like, he'd probably get pretty upset at her again, huh?
But she follows without resistance, rubbing her palm with her thumb in a kind of residual imagined feeling there might be something there.]
You were biting someone. It felt like revenge.
["Biting" seems like the most polite way to describe exactly what she experienced, even if it's hardly accurate.]
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[How polite of Kotone to describe cannibalism in such a way. If the memory IS based on the original curse, then a very specific person comes to mind. There are all the village people who plotted against her, but none of them were the focused targets.]
You saw either my elder twin or my parents.
[The apartment is simple: a small main room with attached kitchenette furnished with a simple table & chairs, and the two other doors lead to the bedroom and bathroom. Clearly Dara has only been occupying the space at the table, as it is currently covered in office supplies and books (mostly thick academic ones but there's one thin pink one in a stack labeled "♡ 101" on its spine). The god places the box down on the floor, makes a vague gesture to a chair, then unceremoniously works to pull her dress up and over her head. Just stripping right in the middle of the room without a care. Kotone's already seen her tits, so obviously it must be fine.]
I was dismembered when I died, so I needed to acquire arms when I became a vengeful spirit. Who better than to take from those who took from me, right?
[Overly casual about it all, Dara opens the box and starts the process of dressing in the kimono.]
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[Well, what else can she say to that? Either her elder twin or her parents, not to mention everything else... Kotone takes her seat, though she doesn't answer immediately, still turning that over and over in her head. Dara clearly isn't looking for sympathy or pity, nor does she want to hear platitudes or apologies. It's a fact from the past, horrible as it is, and nothing Kotone says can change that.
Plus, that feeling she'd felt back then... well, it's hard to not empathize with her when Kotone had, for all intents and purposes, experienced it herself. So she just nods and shrugs in a wordless acceptance, quickly glancing away to give the goddess some privacy while she changes. Just because she's seen her tits doesn't mean she's expecting a free show!
...Wait. She sees the opportunity to give Dara an out if she doesn't want to talk about this.]
Hey, what's this book?
[You know which one she's reaching for. One of these things is not like the others.]
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[Dara's tone remains calm and collected, as if talking about a bit of bad weather last week. It doesn't make her feel uncomfortable talking about the events that led up to her ascension. She enacted her grudge, and she feels nothing towards the atrocity of ending her family's bloodline with her own hands. Serves them right. She's still fulfilling her duty, after all.
Just as the god pulls the yukata over her shoulders, she glances towards Kotone. Dara chokes on a gasp when she sees what her curiosity is about:]
W-wait, don't touch that!
[Too late! Kotone has acquired one (1) "Love 101" book.]
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More importantly than that ancient history that Dara isn't worried about-]
What's this for~? [Dancing backward, just in case Dara might think about stealing it back, Kotone sneaks a peek inside. How basic is the advice at a glance?]
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N-nothing! Just some book I found!!!
[Liar. Dara doesn't lunge for Kotone, but she's quickly becoming red in the face.]
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[No mercy! Kotone keeps flipping through it, skimming it with an ever-widening smile. It's kind of cute, honestly!]
It's nice you're putting in the work to learn! Can I help at all?
[Maybe it's a little rude to think that someone a literal sliver of Dara's age can be helpful, and yet, she doesn't think it's that far off...]
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...Well...I was thinking........ [UGH. Dara hesitates while putting on her obi as a silent excuse.] W-What if someone isn't sure if the person they like likes them the same way...Not that it really matters, right? I mean, for me. I'm just, uh, looking into it as a curiosity.
[Too bad the only time she's good at lying is when it involves murder.]
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Ooooh... [Yeah, this is definitely about someone else... definitely not about Dara at all... Kotone keeps her attention on the book, though, as if totally fooled, and adds,] I always just asked.
[As if it were the simplest thing in the world. Just ask!]
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[Does that devalue her opinion? Who knows. Dara continues to tug the fabric lightly to help perfect the creases and flatten out wrinkles.]
Maybe it's easier to not say or ask anything. For someone who doesn't have your qualities.
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[She glances over at Dara and mercifully sets the book down, instead coming over to help smooth out some of the wrinkles. Sorry about the lack of personal space, but Kotone's never really been one to worry too much about things like that.]
Anyway, I think it's easier not to say anything no matter what somebody is like.
[She leans up on tip-toe to adjust Dara's collar whether she wants her to or not, offering the goddess a smile.] But most good things aren't easy, are they?
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Also, she hates that she's right. Dara practically pouts at the wall in front of her, silent while chewing on a thought in mind. Maybe...she could let Kotone know. Would it be so bad? She doesn't seem like the type of person to openly mock people if they didn't succeed at something..........]
Do you...happen to know..........i-if Shinjiro is against dating?
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No idea! [she informs brightly, which probably isn't the answer Dara is looking for, so she continues quickly,] But you gotta try! I'm pretty sure he's not the type to make the first move, so you gotta just, [and she claps her hands together to mime a sudden action,] Go for it! He won't hold it against you if he's not interested, but I bet he will be!! Who wouldn't be?
[Like damn for all of her talk about ~not being attractive~ Kotone's absolutely certain that Dara definitely is. And hey, even if Shinji's not interested in dating, it's always nice to be asked!]
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