[If and when Yuji comes by, he'll find the door to Raidou's room slightly ajar, as if he was anticipating him. Inside, Raidou is sitting up on his bed, eyes closed until he hears someone at the door. He looks pretty run down.]
[ He has time; it doesn't take him long at all to get there, poking his head inside. Woah, he looks... Rough. They're not even on a mission yet, so...? ]
[He looks down, embarrassed over what he wants to ask. Yuji wouldn't have had help through it - shouldn't he just bare it alone too?]
I, ah... I got that healing upgrade as well this morning. A-And in case anything happened, I didn't want to not be able to fight.
[With the events of the last couple of weeks, it seems likely they could be needed at any moment, and he didn't want to be stuck as a liability, even more than he already feels he is.]
So, I was hoping that m-maybe, you could help... speed up the healing from the surgery.
[Yuji can pull over the desk chair. Yuji carefully sits up a bit more with a wince. He's been through worse, but that doesn't mean this isn't pretty awful.
He looks at Yuji's hand, and take it after a moment.]
[It's obviously a struggle for Raidou, which makes his choice of getting this upgrade a little ironic. He recognizes it as something he's going to have to overcome in order to help.]
I will. Does it take long? [And then an added thought:] Does using it effect how you feel at all?
[He nods. He can handle that. He's got a lot of energy.
Not right now though. He looks pretty tired, but that'll start to improve soon.]
If... [He looks down, frowning, wondering whether this was worth talking about.] If they could have even brought one of my demons, I... maybe I wouldn't have had to do this, but I don't regret it either way. It's just another tool I can use now.
[ Yuji doesn’t feel as though his strength has been limited, but he recognises the power of this ability. He empathises with the pain Raidou is struggling with, because he was right there like this a month ago. If he can do something to ease it… ]
What’re your demons like? Do they help you fight? Fushiguro has shikigami, is it like that?
[That question at least gets him to stop frowning. He does miss his demon allies, though. Like not realizing what he had until it was gone.]
Similar, but different. I've known onmyouji who use shikigami. They're more like conjured creations. Demons are their own sentient beings. More difficult to control and cooperate with, but stronger, with more potential to grow.
That's still really impressive. It takes someone really dedicated to do that kind of thing.
[ Yuji gives the compliments freely, and he doesn't think about the emotional impact. He leans back, thumb absently stroking against Raidou's skin as he lets himself think. ]
Curses? Only for a few months. It was after I ate the finger that I learned about that whole world.
[ His hand stills as he realises what he's been doing, and then he huffs a little noise. ]
I bet I sound like an old-timer when I talk about it though, right?
[Raidou knows a lot about magic, even if the only kind he uses is in commanding his demons. There are several kinds back home, but curses is a new one. So it only sounds a little insane. Hearing about how these things work in other worlds is fascinating to him, though.]
But you ate it, and... didn't become a curse. Just gave you the ability to use their magic-- ah, their energy?
[Alright. Makes sense, he supposes. "The more of them I eat", though...]
[ There are definitely people who think he's insane, and he's fine with that. If it means he can help people... ]
That's right. I became his vessel, so normally he's inside me and if I'm not super careful he can take over. He hasn't been around since I was brought here, though.
[ Ah, well. Fushiguro said not to worry too much, but... ]
Oh, I think it's like... Fifteen or something now.
[He looks concerned. So he's possessed? Raidou can exorcise demons, but he's not sure if that can extend to curses. He'll keep that in the back of his mind, though.]
Fifteen? How many fingers does this man have... [Very gnarly.]
[Look who's already starting to feel better. Maybe it's hard to tell when he's pale normally, and quiet, but at least he seems a little more animated.]
Can I ask... Is there a way for someone to do what you do that doesn't involve eating cursed objects? Ah, us summoners, you have to be born with the ability. Not anyone can do it.
[ But he doesn't want to dwell on that, and he shakes his head a little before he focuses. ]
Well, people are born with cursed techniques. Sometimes you might be able to use a cursed object, but having cursed energy makes it better, easier. There was a thing, recently, that 'awoke' other people, but that's not something you'd want to do voluntarily.
Ah, no, I imagine not. [The idea of a bunch of people suddenly becoming summoners and having no idea what they're doing interacting with demons would be a disaster.]
"Cursed energy"... I guess it's similar to us. Mag, we call it. It's what gives people the ability to cast magic. Strange how these things translate from world to world...
[Another thought strikes him.] This world doesn't seem to have demons. While I wish mine had come along with me... maybe it's best they didn't.
[Was that why LILITH didn't? Would it be causing a whole new problem in this world?]
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[If and when Yuji comes by, he'll find the door to Raidou's room slightly ajar, as if he was anticipating him. Inside, Raidou is sitting up on his bed, eyes closed until he hears someone at the door. He looks pretty run down.]
... Yuji?
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Yeah, it's me.
[ He moves a little closer. ]
What's going on?
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I, ah... I got that healing upgrade as well this morning. A-And in case anything happened, I didn't want to not be able to fight.
[With the events of the last couple of weeks, it seems likely they could be needed at any moment, and he didn't want to be stuck as a liability, even more than he already feels he is.]
So, I was hoping that m-maybe, you could help... speed up the healing from the surgery.
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Yeah, of course! I get it, but... It hurts, doesn't it?
[ Yuji isn't about to crawl into bed with Raidou, but he does head over, sitting down beside him and holding out his hand carefully. ]
I'll do what I can.
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He looks at Yuji's hand, and take it after a moment.]
It's fine. It'll be worth it. Right?
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[ It's easy to hold on to Raidou's hand - Yuji doesn't really care about physical intimacy too much - and he squeezes a little. ]
Let me know if it starts to work, okay?
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I will. Does it take long? [And then an added thought:] Does using it effect how you feel at all?
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[ But he's not about to crawl into Raidou's bed and spoon him without asking first. ]
It gets tiring, if you do it a lot, but it wasn't too bad.
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Not right now though. He looks pretty tired, but that'll start to improve soon.]
If... [He looks down, frowning, wondering whether this was worth talking about.] If they could have even brought one of my demons, I... maybe I wouldn't have had to do this, but I don't regret it either way. It's just another tool I can use now.
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[ Yuji doesn’t feel as though his strength has been limited, but he recognises the power of this ability. He empathises with the pain Raidou is struggling with, because he was right there like this a month ago. If he can do something to ease it… ]
What’re your demons like? Do they help you fight? Fushiguro has shikigami, is it like that?
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Similar, but different. I've known onmyouji who use shikigami. They're more like conjured creations. Demons are their own sentient beings. More difficult to control and cooperate with, but stronger, with more potential to grow.
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[ Yuji leans closer, grinning. ]
It sounds like you're pretty strong, you know? That's all really impressive.
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He also has such a hard time with Yuji's earnestness and compliments. He looks away shyly.]
I-I've been training for it my whole life, so...
[He needs to find a way to deflect. He shoots a glance at Yuji.]
You fight curses, yes? Is that something you've done a long time?
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[ Yuji gives the compliments freely, and he doesn't think about the emotional impact. He leans back, thumb absently stroking against Raidou's skin as he lets himself think. ]
Curses? Only for a few months. It was after I ate the finger that I learned about that whole world.
[ His hand stills as he realises what he's been doing, and then he huffs a little noise. ]
I bet I sound like an old-timer when I talk about it though, right?
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Just keep asking questions, that's the way to go.]
Only a few months? Really? [That really does surprise him. So does the comment about eating a finger? That's a new one on him.]
A... a finger, though?
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[ Yuji isn't paying any attention to Raidou getting embarrassed or having any kind of reaction, he's just happy to be here and help. ]
That's how I got cursed energy. I ate the finger of Ryomen Sukuna.
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I see. [He thinks.] So this, ah, finger, gave you the ability to work with curses.
[A pause as he looks a little bewildered, turning to Yuji again.]
Why did you have to eat it?
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[ Which all sounds totally fine and normal to him, but he appreciates that other people might think he sounds a little bit insane. Which... Fair.
Shrugging a little, he shakes his head. ]
If I didn't eat it, a curse would have, and that would've been worse.
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But you ate it, and... didn't become a curse. Just gave you the ability to use their magic-- ah, their energy?
[Alright. Makes sense, he supposes. "The more of them I eat", though...]
So you've eaten... multiple fingers. [Gnarly.]
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That's right. I became his vessel, so normally he's inside me and if I'm not super careful he can take over. He hasn't been around since I was brought here, though.
[ Ah, well. Fushiguro said not to worry too much, but... ]
Oh, I think it's like... Fifteen or something now.
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Fifteen? How many fingers does this man have... [Very gnarly.]
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[ Yuji doesn't even like knowing he's had fifteen, but... ]
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Only five more fingers to eat, then. Lovely.
[Look who's already starting to feel better. Maybe it's hard to tell when he's pale normally, and quiet, but at least he seems a little more animated.]
Can I ask... Is there a way for someone to do what you do that doesn't involve eating cursed objects? Ah, us summoners, you have to be born with the ability. Not anyone can do it.
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[ But he doesn't want to dwell on that, and he shakes his head a little before he focuses. ]
Well, people are born with cursed techniques. Sometimes you might be able to use a cursed object, but having cursed energy makes it better, easier. There was a thing, recently, that 'awoke' other people, but that's not something you'd want to do voluntarily.
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"Cursed energy"... I guess it's similar to us. Mag, we call it. It's what gives people the ability to cast magic. Strange how these things translate from world to world...
[Another thought strikes him.] This world doesn't seem to have demons. While I wish mine had come along with me... maybe it's best they didn't.
[Was that why LILITH didn't? Would it be causing a whole new problem in this world?]
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