chippedsoul | The Journal [Inbox]

[ Susato pours herself a mug as well, and though the dragons are likely disappointed when Kazuma denies them, she will oblige, allowing them to add some sugar and spices. She takes a sip to taste, and seems satisfied enough, having no visible reaction when Kazuma's question comes.

She goes quiet, suddenly finding the fish stew very interesting as she glances its way, but it still needs more time yet. ]

About as well as can be expected. [ She's not going add to Kazuma's worries, but she won't lie, either. ] . . . Some nights I wake up in a cold sweat, and it's difficult to breathe. And I think I must have had a nightmare, but I can't remember it.

[ She doesn't know whether that's better or worse. ]

I don't know if the chamomile really helps with that, but it does put me out faster. Maybe it can do the same for you.

[Too late, Kazuma is concern. He comes closer to her.] Because of this place? [Because of him?]

[ Maybe she can sense his thoughts a la Mikotoba Mind-Reading, because she sure does shake her head when he approaches, looking rather desperate to backpedal. ]

No, I-- [ . . . ] Well, I suppose I don't know. It seems like everyone is getting them with increasing frequency lately.

[ She's not special. ]

...That's true. Ever since the moon has gone missing. [For now, it seems like Susato has successfully move the subject elsewhere.]

Thinking about it, we should try to prepare for what could possible come from this. [He looks down at his teacup, his reflection staring back. The Story Eater...or perhaps a Dream Eater now is preparing for something terrible he's sure.] My dreamotion abilities still needs some work.

[ The serious look from Kazuma into his teacup causes Susato to copy him, rippling what little remains with a gentle swirl. If Kazuma's abilities still need work, she doesn't know what chance she could possibly have, but she has taken very well (comparatively speaking) to fire. Getting to practice it casually around the kitchen, and using the rainbow crystal they'd gotten as a power-up certainly helped. ]

Mine, too. [ She hovers her teacup over her free hand, stroking a small flame into existence underneath. The flame looks wispy and smoky; fragile, like it may go out at her first breath. ] Some days it comes so naturally, and others... [ She balls her hand into a fist to extinguish the flame, then opens her palm again, showing the hand as empty as she holds it up.

Poof. ]

...Unfortunately, something like this takes time. A power tied to your thoughts and emotions, not exactly things that you can rely on to be consistent. [He watches the flame she created get extinguished.]

But I do find if you carry any sort of doubt, it affects the dreamotion's proficiency. [He puts out his hand. Kazuma, steadfast with a strong spirit, easily conjures flames in his hand. Though larger than Susato's, it flickers to and from existence.] Hm. Even I can't hide my own flaws.

[ Doubts, huh? What he says isn't exactly new to her, and it may not change how she approaches fire dreamotion, but she had never really considered how much her self-doubt would hold her back.

She watches Kazuma's flame as she considers this, though in her eyes, he was always perfect as he was. ]

You don't have to hide them. [ Not from her. ] After all, how can you address them, if you do? They will just eat at you, and then your flame can't grow.

...That's right. [He lets the flame flicker out of existence. He isn't going to argue with her point, because it is something he continues to not do and should.]

One can grow through one's flaws. Unfortunately, I'm not exactly willing to be open about it. I suppose that could be considered a weakness of mine.

. . . [ Well. Susato won't really argue with him either. It's a weakness that has only become more evident since he's been on his own, both in the Realm of Stories and here in Reverein. The fact that he is willing to acknowledge it as a weakness already puts him a cut above most, however, and hopefully--if she has anything to say about it--she would be here to see him through it.

Before she can commend him on this, however, there's an interruption, and she hurriedly gulps what remains in her teacup before jotting a couple of orders down in her ever-present notebook. ]

Not to worry. I will cover for those weaknesses of yours. [ After all, is that not what she was raised for? She won't forget that she's made a similar commitment to Ryunosuke by this point, of course, but that just means she has twice the stupid boy energy to take care of. Her life. ] ...In the meantime, let us get back to work.

[A curious glance as she casually offers to cover for him. Will she now? Could she? ...Whatever he thinks of this doesn't matter. She'll never back down.]

Of course. Pass me one of the orders. [Pray he does not set the kitchen on fire.]

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