darkinferno | [ic inbox]

Well, that's inconvenient for you.

[Understatement.]

Do you think it'll return to you soon?

If you're asking whether or not the space is an extension of myself, I don't know. I hadn't sensed it there prior, not until something decided to make its home there. Either way, it's highly distracting. Is it not the same sensation for you?

Fine, fine. No appreciation for building suspense at all 😩

You were a fake. A clone of some guy named "Riku". Phony.

[Hey now, who's supposed to be cheering up who here? She musters up the smallest of smiles, stroking his side idly with one hand. It's still amazing, to experience this level of intimacy was something she'd only dream of a few short months ago. Now, she's come this close not only with a lover, but with her best friend as well. Though the two sensations are very different, she can't help but feel spoiled that she can lose one, but still find warmth in the other. It's almost too easy. Does she really deserve this?]

Maybe I'll have your children after all.

no clue. we've been trying to make it reverse, it's kind of like one of those freaky weekend movies, fortune cookie and all, but nothing's worked so far

[And he's got Dirk's sense of aspect, which means that he can sense people's souls in a way... it's all pretty inconvenient and a little bit frustrating, really!]

that's a tough question, prof. with my sword, it's not too distracting. i didn't even realize i had it until i summoned it for the first time, it feels like it's a part of me and if i think about it i can feel it there, past couple weeks aside

all that being said, i got something else from dirk too. he called it his sense of aspect--he can sense people's souls

that part's really distracting

Good. What's our best bet for getting into the subway? I've never been down there before, so I don't even know where half the stations are supposed to be.

And yeah, no rocket launchers or grenades. It'll just bring down the whole tunnel and ruin all the hard work we put into it. Is Retrospec even sending those out to people?

[ He hasn't heard of it but also, he wouldn't be surprised in the least if they did. ]

oh no, you're not getting out of this that easily

who was that supposed to go to

probably to unlock one of the service gates that have been closed. otherwise we have to sneak past the guards every time we want to go in, but if we leave a gate unlocked, they'll never know

i don't know of anyone that's wound up with stuff like that yet but the way we've been going it's only a matter of time

[RING RING, who could this absolutely random number be?]

[It's the name his eyes catch on first. Riku. Riku is this guy he's been reliving the memories of, this guy with the silver hair and the bright aqua eyes and the sword shaped like a bat's wing. Riku is the name of the boy that lost his heart to the darkness, that was wandering through that afterworld.

Not "Dante."

At first the rest of it is only secondary. But after a couple minutes he rereads the test, the name "Riku" still running through his mind on repeat... but wait. That's wrong. He remembers meeting a fake him.]

what are you talking about arlene

i wasn't a fake

i was real

[And just like that, the cloud that had been descending on him seems to lift and vanish. Dante laughs, shaking his head.]

Maybe? You'll have to hope that whoever I'm with at the time is all right with that, too. Even Ari might draw the line at me getting you pregnant.

There's a difference between artificial insemination and you actually knocking me up, you know.

[Pointing at him!!!]

God, I was joking, what am I even doing defending this.

[RING RING, Dante usually doesn't make a habit of answering unfamiliar numbers! Maybe he should let it go to voicemail...?

(Nah, he won't actually do that.)]

This is Dante.

Ah. The half-cat boy.

[Guess who Souji called.]

A pleasure to match a voice to a name.

How sure can you be of that? He looked *just* like you, and I bet he thought he was the real one, too.

[It nags at her like a lingering itch: the awareness that her memory was only a brief part of a greater scene, conversation without context. It feels like she should be able to remember more if she really tries, and maybe then they'd know who's really right.

In the absence of that... well, the answer is always more trolling, isn't it? Maybe she'll provoke him into telling her more.]

[She hasn't remembered much, but that's a blessing and a curse both. The picture that she has is nowhere near complete, but the things implied worry here nonetheless. She has always been one for details.

She's out to meet him almost immediately, wearing a light long sleeved sweater and jeans. They're not going out anywhere nice at this time of night so there's no point dressing up. Her hair, though, has been twisted over her shoulder; she often does this when she's nervous and can't keep her hands out of her hair.]

Dante, [she murmurs, relief and happiness settling in her expression. She doesn't hesitate to hug him. It helps to ground her, and of course hugging Dante is always lovely too.]

No one. I was just wondering out loud, that's all.

Why are you so concerned?

The half-ca--so you were the one Souji was sending that to?

[He doesn't even know who it is he's talking to? Souji, why are you sending shit like this to people he doesn't even know...]

He's full of shit.

wondering out loud and typing it all up and hitting "send," huh?

concern is a strong word. exasperated is a better one, who are you spreading lies to

[It doesn't matter whether she's dressed up in a dress and heels or sweater and jeans--Dante thinks she looks perfect either way. He notices her hair though, an indicator of her current state, and when she steps into his arms, he won't hesitate to wrap his arms around her, hugging her tightly. What's been going on...?

(There's definitely some kissing in there too, if she's amenable to it. Hugs and kisses are always helpful in times of stress, right?)]

Is everything okay?

Yep, isn't that all people ponder about things?

I'm not spreading anything and they're not lies.

I should hope so, or I'd be desperate to have you in my lab already. As it is, I'm fascinated enough by your sword drawing abilities, but you can blame Ardyn for letting that slip, not Souji.

[SHE JUST KNOWS ALL KINDS OF THINGS ABOUT HIM, DOESN'T SHE.]

Dr. Rosalind Lutece. I called you at random, hoping to dial a stranger, but this will do perfectly.

Is there anything in particular you "do" in order to summon it? A state of mind, perhaps? Anything advice you can offer would be helpful to me.

Souls? That they simply... exist within a person?

Hang on, you're saying I'm going to wind up with a child and I don't even get the fun part of it all?

[His expression bounces from affront to what's almost distaste as he appears to think about it for a second.]

Though maybe that's for the better. That'd feel too much like incest for my liking.

[Why's she defending it? Because it's entertaining. Dante flashes her a grin to let her know that he was joking too.]

[No. He was the real one. He distinctly remembers the other version of him saying he'd been made out of Dante--out of Riku's own data. Why would the real Riku be saying that to a replica...?]

how do you know he was named riku?

Alright, so when do you want to do it? Those subway stations may be able to wait forever, but I've only got summer break to help set this up.

[ And preferably sooner, so he can actually get some practice in down there before the school year starts. ]

Yeah, go figure. Besides, if anyone could figure out how to mail a rocket launcher, it would be Retrospec.

[ic inbox]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

7/14

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject