[VIDEO | un: inkmetal]

[inkedspell]

[It's disgustingly hot and humid and even with most of her hair pulled up and twisted back away from her face, she's got curly tendrils hanging down and a light sheen on her forehead. Ugh. But at least she's back to finding things to keep herself busy.]

My chair is open at Ursula's again, if anyone is looking for regular tattoos or some runework. Want anything more intricate let's talk and we'll see what I need and what deal works for you.

[Best way to act like nothing is wrong is to go right back to what she was doing before, right? Right.]

Catching up on the insane shit y'all love to get up to, but what little changes, a lot stays the same, doesn't it? Like how I still don't know who most of you asses are. Keeping track of the coming and goings ain't easy. Anyone keeping a list?

Comments

[inkedspell]

Better to ask than to assume you know, or that you're better off never knowing. [All of the questions just mean she cares enough to ask, which Saeri will always respect.]

If I didn't make my magic visible, no one would know about it. I have to write it down. Don't assume something you can't see or feel means that it doesn't exist. It just hasn't been fully explored yet. And maybe it is showing itself but in a way you wouldn't think is out of the ordinary. Magic can be annoyingly opaque.

[tealeafs]

[ Chizuru lightly hums, seeming attentive. Really trying to take in the other's answer here, and consider it - and even more so what it means for her under her own circumstances. ]

Is there some way then to definitely find out what kind of magic you have then? Or.. do you just need to try things out forever until there's suddenly magic at some point..?

[ That sounds difficult. Maybe some people might never find out what their magic is that way.

But on the other hand, Chizuru isn't too sure whether she has a different option anymore at this point. ]

[inkedspell]

Might be better off asking another paleblood there. I only know what I've seen and studied, haven't experienced it personally. They could lead you better in how to use being a paleblood thank I could. Darkblood, remember?

[tealeafs]

.. okay.

[ There's a small nod on Chizuru's end. Honestly, she's so clueless when it comes to the concept of magic as a whole that she even has a hard time wrapping her head around the differences between the different kinds of magical blood here.. ]

Thank you for everything you've told me. [ She hesitates a little, her expression having dropped, but then she adds: ] I'm sorry to have bothered you..

[ It only feels polite to at least say that, because especially with that last answer it does kind of feel like she's been asking poor Sarona unnecessary questions. She feels dumb. ]

[inkedspell]

Oh, please. [She huffs a laugh.]

It's never a bother to help out a cute girl looking to learn. If you have any more questions that I can help you with, feel free to hit me up.

[tealeafs]

[ Hold on.

Wait.

Any sense of guilt is suddenly gone. Maybe just for a moment, but it's pushed into the backseat by another emotion entirely that has Chizuru sputtering. ]

C-C-Cute girl?!

[ It's easy to think she's just startled, but no, she's definitely flustered. Those aren't words she hears very often! ]

[inkedspell]

[Oh yeah, definitely worth it.]

You should know already, but if you don't, yeah. You're super cute. Especially with that look on your face.

[tealeafs]

I.. um, I mean, of course I don't know that! No one has ever said before—

[ Look at her. She can barely figure out a full sentence to say here, that's how flustered Chizuru is at this point. She's just rambling. ]

I-I really think you might be mistaken, sorry..! I'm not that cute..!

[ AAAAHHH. ]

[inkedspell]

So the only time you're assertive is when asserting how not cute I have to find you?

[tealeafs]

[ Smart, Sarona.

Smart enough to make Chizuru go completely quiet for a moment. The girl is baffled. ]

Is.. that a good thing..?

[ Apparently that's the only thing she can bring herself to ask here... S-She's not smart enough for this in comparison! ]

[inkedspell]

Try adding more assertive, less denial of other people's feelings about you, maybe. A good balance to have.

[She's going to keep on going.]

Besides, how could I say no to that face you make when you're putting your foot down so politely?

[tealeafs]

I-I wasn't--!

[ Chizuru starts to protest, but then cuts herself off when she realises that, ah, she really was putting her foot down there, wasn't she.. Sarona is right after all..

It leaves an awkward, but slight moment of pause before she does continue. ]

.. I mean.. um, I think it's very kind of you to think I'm cute.. [ Even if Chizuru may not believe she's cute herself.

But it's like Sarona says. Less denial of other people's feelings about her! She's trying right here and now! ]

S-So thank you for saying that..

[inkedspell]

[Her smile is more genuine then.]

I don't need thanks for expressing my own feelings. [And she doesn't want her to feel like she has to show gratitude just because someone else showed interest--however playful it may be.]

But if it bothers you that much for someone think you're cute, I'll stop bring it up. [Eventually.]

[tealeafs]

No..! [ She quickly replies. ] It doesn't.. bother me..

[ Chizuru doesn't think so, anyway. And she's being honest about it. If it did bother her, she might have kept quiet, but she wouldn't have outright denied it by lying about it. ]

It's just that I've never thought about myself that way, so hearing it from someone else is..

[ Hang on, Sarona. She needs a moment to find the proper word here, because there's so many she could use. ]

.. a little surprising..

[ That's putting it mildly. ]

[inkedspell]

[That is a mindset Saeri can relate to. Not that she would say that out loud, oh no.]

Surprising? Maybe that means I need to say it so often you get bored with it.

[tealeafs]

[ ...!!

Chizuru doesn't say a word, but just her facial expression alone and the way she perks up like a dog shows that she's pretty flustered by the mere idea.

Not to mention the way she sputters when she speaks up. ]

W-well.. O-Only if you want to!

[ Please, Chizuru. As if Sarona sounds like she even minds. ]