VIDEO; UN: SMOKING_BOMB

[bakudan_bambino]

[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.]

Comments

[whatsamada]

I don’t think so but I wouldn’t be surprised if they was a witch involved!

[He might be vaguely familiar with the Arthurian legend but even he knows there’s always a witch being a part of the story!]

That’s usually how it always goes in magical legends, right? If there wasn’t, how else would the heroes fight?

[bakudan_bambino]

It feels like something a witch would do. But it also seems like a specialty kind of item...

[He wonders if this all can be solved by just walking in and purchasing a potion. Wouldn't it have to be suited to counteract whatever his curse is? Is that easily diagnosed?]

I'm not sure how much of this world is based off of fairy tales or magical legends... a lot of it, but then... we've got Merlin on our devices. It's all very odd.

[whatsamada]

[Meanwhile, as Ken crossed his arms, he had to think about what he said.]

You're telling me, it's always making me wonder exactly what this world can do.

[He said before giving a small hum]

Between potions, curses, and magic? I'm just worried if I might get the wrong potion and accidentally curse you even more.

[bakudan_bambino]

I don't like it.

[Which isn't exactly the most reassuring thing to hear, but he's not looking to be a sort of role-model, no matter how old his companion at the time is. As they walk into town, he's a little more on edge, visibly tense and then pops a cigarette in his mouth to help cut his nerves down. He lights it and takes a drag before blinking surprise over at Ken.]

Aw- shit! I hadn't even thought of that. [And he thinks and overthinks everything. The possibility of a potion making his curse worse, or adding on new effects hadn't even been one he's considered.]

[whatsamada]

[Ken did have to raise an eyebrow at what he saw. Wasn't Gokudera a little young to take a cigarette? As much as he wanted to say something, he wondered if he should keep his mouth shut.

He was already reminding him of a certain somebody back home. Especially if he was falling for his slight trolling!]

I'm not sure if it's possible but it is something we have to think about! Let's just hope we choose the right one and that it doesn't involve digging even bigger holes.

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera doesn't care how old he is or isn't for a cigarette. He's addicted, and they help him with his weapons. There's no way he'd take well to anyone mentioning his age about them.]

Of course it's possible. I'm beginning to think anything in this world is.

[He gives a soft scoff and looks away.]

I don't care about the holes that much...

[whatsamada]

[With that, Ken gave a small smirk before gesturing him toward the city. As he walked along, he had to turn around to see if he was falling behind.]

Sounds like you came from a world where magic doesn’t exist, doesn’t it?

[Maybe it was wrong of him to assume but...]

Or at least, you’re not thinking about using your imagination! [Yup, still trolling]

[bakudan_bambino]

I'm sure it exists.

[Gokudera corrects Ken and then shakes his head.]

Just not as blatantly as it seems to do so here.

Tch! I don't need a curse to dig up a hole and put you in one, kid!

[Don't make him angry, Ken. He's drop-kicked five year-olds.]

[whatsamada]

[With that comment, he was really reminding him of someone. He didn't mean to chuckle but he couldn't help himself at that comparison.]

Fine, I'll stop talking about curses and holes until we get the potion! [He said with a smirk before turning his head forward.]

But that's interesting. What kind of magic goes on in your world?

[bakudan_bambino]

[The chuckle earns him a shove on the shoulder, not too hard, but enough that if Ken doesn't brace himself, he could fall over. Gokudera's not aiming for that, he's just going to stop the laughing at him, ok?]

It's not really easy to explain. It's nothing like this place and yet I'm sure it's the same kind of magic, just used differently.

[Gokudera shoves his hands in his pockets, slouches some, and tries not to get a bit homesick.]

Bullets that can cause possession, some that will kill you unless you have some desperation or dying will... the strongest people in my world cursed to be infants... there's a lot of weapon stuff, too.

[whatsamada]

[Ken should have expected that. As he felt him shoving his shoulder, he did take a step forward before laughing once again. However, it was more at himself. Hopefully Gokudera would be someone whom he could get along with.]

I see. In other words, those bullets can give you those powers? And depending on how strong you are, it can sometimes kill you?

[He said before placing his arms behind his back.]

That’s not too different from how my powers work back home. We use guns too but in a slightly different manner.

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera gives a scoff and a roll of his eyes at the laughter. Kids. Never mind that he's not an adult himself. He's not met many people younger than himself that don't antagonize him one way or another.]

One of the bullets, yeah. It makes you act on your last will. There's another one that just focuses on self-pity. I wouldn't exactly call it a power. And like all bullets, they can kill.

[Despite the magic the mafia families put on their experimental bullets, bullets are just that.]

Oh yeah, aside from shooting enemies?

[whatsamada]

[For a moment, Ken wasn't too sure if he should say something. He figured for a teenager who smokes and uses guns, the topic shouldn't bother him.

That's why he stopped before leaning back to look at the older teen.]

We don't use it for shooting enemies. [He gave a pause as he wondered if he should say something.] More like we use a fake gun to shoot ourselves to use our powers.

cw: mentions of guns?? just tryin' to be safe and considerate

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera's in the mafia. He's not bothered by most topics. If anything, he can be made most uncomfortable by things that normal people appreciate.

He keeps walking and only stops at Ken's side as he notices he's being looked at.]

Does shooting yourself depend on the gun, the bullet in it, or the fear of being shot? [He's wondering what the source of the power ultimately is, or what triggers it. Logistically, he doesn't understand.]

[whatsamada]

It depends on the gun but there aren't any bullets in it.

[He was taking a huge leap of faith here. While he knew his leader back home would probably be annoyed at having someone else get involved in their world's problems.

However, he could allow himself just this opportunity right? It's not as if people were innocent bystanders.]

It's the fear of being killed is what allows me to use my magic. [Which involves summoning a 10 foot creature that looks like a transformer but...]

[bakudan_bambino]

So any empty gun? Would you assume it's loaded, and that's where the fear comes into play?

[This is not the kind of conversation he expected to have with a child, but... his mafia boss' tutor is one year old and the greatest Hitman in the World.]

[whatsamada]

Something like that.

[He said before shifting his weight. As he continued to look back at him, he wondered if he should explain anything more.]

But anyway, what about you? What kind of magic do you use once you are shot?

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera shakes his head and then walks on ahead.]

I've only been shot at. To actually kill me. Not for any powers. I don't have powers.

[whatsamada]

[Now that made him raise an eyebrow at the teen.]

Really? Then mind if I ask how do you fight?

[He hoped he didn't come across as rude but if he was in a world with magic and yet, he didn't have any?]

[bakudan_bambino]

[He has magic in Avalon, of course, but back home...]

My fists primarily. But I’m also an explosives expert. I also know how to use a loaded gun.

[He’s not looking to scare Ken by telling him he’s always loaded to the teeth with dynamite, so being vague is his best bet.]

[whatsamada]

[Maybe it was because Ken knew what it meant to fight that there was an inference behind his words. Which was why he looked up before saying something]

I see, so that means you're somebody who already knows how to fight to the death.

[He said with a pause] Especially with explosives! That's pretty cool you fight with them.

[bakudan_bambino]

I've been on my own for a long time.

[Fighting to the death is par for the course considering homelessness and being in the mafia. He's not going to go into detail.]

Yeah. They are pretty cool.

[Not him, though. Gokudera won't be accepting compliments, thanks.]

[whatsamada]

[The more Gokudera spoke, the more his story reminded him of that certain person. If only Akihiko or Shinjiro were here to speak to him...]

I wonder how that would work with magic. I bet there must be something pretty interesting to make it work with you and your world.

[Pause] My senpai would never be that willing to go that far.

[bakudan_bambino]

How magic would work with explosives? I've no idea.

[Gokudera glances at Ken, not having any idea what the kid means.]

What do you mean?

[whatsamada]

[How in the world did he get into this mess? Somewhere, he could hear Mitsuru telling him to let others get involved in their world's business. However, she wasn't here now, was she?

Shall he take the risk?]

Let's just say that if my senpais ever were to find out I used explosives to fight, they would scold me and ground me into forever!

[Is this him trolling or is this him being serious. It was up to Gokudera]