perfectmatch | week four

They always do in stories, but I have no idea how these ones are supposed to work.

[WISHES AREN'T REAL WHERE HE COMES FROM!! with a wave of his hand, he slips into the dressing room to change, though he continues the conversation as he does so]

And she probably isn't! That's okay. If she decides not to take it, then-- [. . .]

I have other thoughts.

Such as?

[ Please, enlighten your poor auntie. ]

[HE WOULD LOVE TO, BUT--]

. . . it's about something shared with me in confidence.

I'll tell you-- I promise-- but not now.

[not while there are CAMERAS ON HIM. and he also would have to make sure it's a wish the subject would even. . . want]

You're a tease.

[ But she'll leave it for now, trusting that he will indeed tell her when he can. Very interesting. ]

... Do you really have nothing to use it on? For my part I have seen what can happen and want little part in it again, but I thought normally people might wish for all numbers of things.

[he will! at the very end!!]

[now clad in the rental yukata, Edamura pushes the dressing room curtain aside, emerging from same with a. . . slightly stilted, slightly awkward look. he is not used to dressing like this, okok]

What, things like money? Good health? A little bit of fame? [he shakes his head] I'm happy with what I have back home. I don't need any of that.

I suppose you are "self-sufficient" enough to get by.

[ iykyk,

And Odile reaches out to fix his collar a little, patting it gently once she's done. ]

Arm.

[ Once offered, she'll take it. Or she'll take it anyway. He'll get used to wearing it -- he'll have to if he visits... ]

When was the last time you went to a shrine like this?

[SIMPLY]

Freelancing pays pretty well.

[he says with a tiny li'l grin, allowing her to fix his collar to her liking. when she is finished, he holds out his arm for her to take, one brow quirked]

I always go at the first of the year, so. . . last January?

You should go more often. It doesn't hurt to curry favor with the gods, lonely as they must be with the invention of... "societal media", or whatever it is you children amuse yourselves with.

[ Yes, she is exaggerating a little for fun, but it's easy enough to see she's only poking playfully at it. ]

[a bit wryly]

I think I'm well beyond the gods' favor now, Odile. But maybe you do have a point.

[a beat]

. . . also it's "social media."

Edited 2025-06-23 22:27 (UTC)

Is it. Fascinating.

[ She Doesn't Care. Beyond the gods' favor is something else, and also impossible, but she's hardly one to turn his ear on that. ]

... Have you given further thought to my offer?

[I guarantee you he is not very religious. . .]

[but his features soften at that]

Oh-- yeah. I. . . have.

[a small pause]

. . . I don't really know if I'm suited for learning crafts, but. . . [with some of the things he plans on getting into after the show is over, then perhaps. . .] I'd like to give it a try.

[ ... Oh.

Odile smiles a little wider, squeezing his arm lightly. It pleases her more than she wants to admit to hear him say that he'd like to give it a shot, but maybe the pleased tone gives him a good idea of it. ]

I can't promise to be a perfect teacher -- I tutored for a time and didn't have many returnees, but I feel you'll pick up quick on the theoreticals at least. Doing is always more difficult.

[rocking into her side a bit as he pulls up another smile, pleased by her. . . pleased tone!]

I don't know about that. I might be a pretty tough student.

But I'm sure we could meet in the middle. . . somewhere.

[ Oh no... She's rocking back, don't start. You'll lose. ]

What motivates you? Praise, a feeling of accomplishment, tangible reward, revenge...

[his answer is. . . simple]

. . . I want to be able to help someone. That's all.

[ oh my god ]

I will do my best to make my lessons catered to that want, then. Creative Craft... can be used in a variety of ways, though things such as healing are better suited for those with an innate draw to Piercing for some reason.

[ And...

... Now that she knows who he really is, he is far more "Scissor" than he is "Paper", unfortunately. ]

[DON'T LOOK AT HIMMMMM]

What. . . is an innate draw to Piercing?

Think of it as what you feel most comfortable doing. It feels awkward for me to use Piercing and Protection Crafts, though I have Crafted skills in both areas, but completely natural when I use Creative Crafts.

[ Up the stairs they go... Don't let her beat you in stamina. ]

Most struggle with Crafts outside what they're born "good" at, but it is possible to do... It simply takes time and an understanding of Crafts to manage.

[ And a lot of stubbornness, of course, but unspoken. ]

I see. . .

[a pause as he follows her up the stairs, his grip on her arm tightening]

And you think I'd be most naturally attuned to Creative Crafts, too?

[ .................... ]

Perhaps. If not Piercing, going by what Craftonomy alleges.

[WHY IS SHE PAUSING]

. . . well, that doesn't completely matter! I'll learn whatever you can teach me, Odile. No matter how difficult it is!

[wow he is determined all of a sudden]

[ She No Longers Thinks He's Fit For The Creative Course. Odile chuckles softly, sighing at the end. ]

... The youth are always so determined. It's infectious.

[ Mirabelle had been, too. Though it had only started as a way to see Vaugarde on the cheap -- splitting costs is always better -- while saving the country along the way... she really had come to want to by the end. Even if it wasn't her home and could never be the way she wanted it to be, it was something she cared for and wanted to see done. ]

We'll try all three just to be sure, but... are you hoping to match me, Edamura?

[??]

Of course I am. [duh??? why is that a question??] . . . is that a bad thing?

No, of course not. It'll be easier to teach you that way.

[ ... There is no other reason, nope, definitely not. Not because it would make her happy if they were. And that he wants to match her. Nope. Neither of those things. Just the ease. ]

[. . . grins a li'l]

[he waits until they're off the stairs and on solid, level ground, before he turns to her and just pulls her into a BIG HUG]

-- you know!

I'm really excited to see your world, even if you don't have modern amenities. What's your coffee like?

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