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VIDEO; UN: SMOKING_BOMB

[The video starts with a boy at the training ground, sitting and looking at his nails. They are covered in dirt, and there's a large hole in the ground in front of him. He's got the back of one wrist against his mouth and he's looking mildly disgusted. There are a lot of sticks in that hole. It's not been covered up with dirt.]

Does... anyone know how to lift a curse?

[He remembers training, but digging a hole and filling it with sticks? No recollection of that. There's dirt on his face if he moves his hand away from his mouth.]

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Maybe but I don't want to ask him. He said I was acting strange.

...And this isn't strange?!

Being in this world is strange! Absolutely everything is fucking strange!

Yeah but we're talking about a curse! I think wanting to lift it would take priority over finding out you were acting goofy or something!

The idiot I was with thinks everything normal is strange! I can't trust him with something like this...

What do you mean 'they think everything normal is strange?!' How does that even work?!

Back home, I'm a part of... an organization that deals in some pretty shady things. The idiot sees that and laughs and thinks it's all a game.

He's an idiot, is what I mean. Plain and simple.

...

... ...

... ... ...

Wait...

BEING A PART OF A SHADY ORGANIZATION IS BASELINE "NORMAL" FOR YOU?!

yes.

some people get to live completely normal lives. Happy ones. Some don't. I don't think it's any of your business.

But yes. That's unfortunately normal for me.

Edited 2021-01-13 04:33 (UTC)

[Darin drags his hand down his face. Okay. Okay.]

Alright, fine. I won't argue that you've got a point.

Anyway, I'm not an expert on curses, but from what it sounds like, this all started with that Black Knight, his sword, and wherever it was you took him on. Is there anything else you can tell me about the knight? Maybe I can...I dunno, walk things back and figure out the real nature of the curse.

I was just acting as a distraction so we could get the sword back in order to stop the Storm. Other people fought the Black Knight.

I haven't heard of anyone dealing with a curse like mine...

I remember making a shield, and then it shattered, and then when I came back to my right mind, we were already making our way back to the city with the sword.

That's...a huge gap of time to be missing with only one witness...

...Wait, can you explain this 'Storm' to me?

You must be new around here. There was a winter solstice festival, and some stone slabs we had to dribble water on. Anyways, apparently that started some sort of...

[He wasn't so focused on the problem so much as trying to steal some glory.]

Imbalance of power and a giant storm hit the city. We had to stop it, but in order to do that, had to get a sword from the Black Knight. There were multiple swords, so someone had to have gotten the real one, since there is no longer a storm. Anyways, I'm still cursed. Went into that with a curse, came out of it still with a curse.

Now I'm just... missing parts of my day and acting strange?

Just dropped in this week. Literally.

Damn...

You know, I was looking into the schools of magic. I might be a healer but there was something about...cognitive magic? Maybe you can find someone that can do a deep dive into your head and find the root of all of this.

Wouldn't I be more likely to dream of the shit I've done if it were really deep in there?

I doubt it's something some newbie with mind powers can help me out with. If it's really a curse, they'd probably just be like..

[He puts his glasses on, shuts his eyes, hums for half a second, then nods.]

Yep, you've been cursed alright. Stay away from brunettes.

[Gokudera rolls his eyes. He feels like he's gotten nowhere fast with this entire network post.]

Just let me know if you ever learn how to make healing potions that can lift curses.

You could be reflexively blocking it out. Who knows? Until the nature of the curse is figured out, it'd be hard to say either way. But there's gotta be some people around here who aren't as new as I am.

...I'll look into it. I can't just leave a guy wandering around cursed, after all. In the meantime, though...

If you need anything or remember something, don't be afraid to come find me. Name's Darin Altway, Master Blacksmith.

[...A blacksmith who can apparently heal. That's not weird at all.]

I'll be sure to remember that, Darin. I'm Gokudera. If I ever need a blacksmith, I'll be sure to head your way.

[Maybe he'll commission something to put someone at the bottom of the lake they all arrived in once he figures out who put this curse on him. A nice pair of iron boots perhaps?]

Gokudera, got it.

Listen...be careful. I'll keep my eyes and ears open too. This world is pretty similar to mine...which hopefully means I should be able to dredge up information the same way.

Tch! I don't need to listen to your advice. I've dealt with some pretty bad shit. I just need a curse lifted. That's all. Nothing major or life threatening.

If you can lift this curse or find out how I can, I will reward you handsomely. If I can't do that, I'll owe you a favor. I never forget a favor.

Why are you so cranky! I'm just tryin' to help! Geez~!

And I don't need a reward! What if I just don't want to see you get killed by a dumb curse?

I'm not cranky. [Here, have a dramatic eyeroll for that observation.]

Whatever your reason, I'll have to pay you back one way or another.

I'd call exactly what you're doing 'cranky.'

What, are you gonna force a reward on me or something?

Complaining about a curse? I see that as completely valid.

No but I'll find some way of returning the favor one way or another.

No, complaining about being given helpful advice.

You're a stubborn one, aren't you.

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