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

[bakudan_bambino]

[He sighs.]

Unfortunately...

No.

[beautyrest]

Just out of some curiosity, do you recall who I am?

[bakudan_bambino]

I don't remember if I got your name, but I know that you tried to help me.

[beautyrest]

Well, now that we can speak to one another, my name is Aurora. What might your name be, you never gave it.

[bakudan_bambino]

I uh...

[He knows he shouldn't give his name out; that it's unwise.

But she did try to help him. He can use some of his manners.]

It's Gokudera.

[Well, what's the worst that could happen? He's already clearly having a bad time, so maybe she'd take pity on him even if he doesn't want it but badly needs it.]

[beautyrest]

Well met, Gokudera.

As for curses, unfortunately, there can be any number of ways of breaking them. You would first need to know what you did to gain it.

[Her's was "be born."]

[bakudan_bambino]

I could literally take your through a daily account of things I have done since I've been in this world, and I have not done a single thing that would get me cursed.

[And he is 100% mistaken because throwing dynamite at pixies isn't nice. It's rude.]

[beautyrest]

Indulge me, please. I do wish to help.

[bakudan_bambino]

Well I regularly go out and offer help to the innkeeper. This curse had to have happened around the Winter Solstice, so I went to run through the forest, and on the way back to the city, I stepped in a few pixie circles.

I danced, and then I left. At one point, in one of the circles, my boss and I got knocked into by another couple, so I yelled at them. They apologized, and offered my boss a drink. He politely declined, and then we left. I was turned small, but when I woke up, I was normal size. Then, I helped get the sword from the Black Knight, and during my attempt to distract him, I blacked out.

[beautyrest]

Oh dear, the pixies most likely caused the curse. I can't think of how a knight could do such a thing lest he were magical.

Are you aware of what your curse is? It was on full display for me, if you were not sure.

[bakudan_bambino]

Why would they go and do something like that?! They hurt my boss! It’s only natural I reprimand someone who would hurt anyone I care about!

I don’t remember much about the Knight, admittedly. Any of the times this curse has taken effect, I can’t recall what’s happened. It feels a lot like sleep-walking.

[beautyrest]

Yes, if you cannot recall much about the Knight, then I suspect you will most certainly have been cursed by the pixies.

As for why I cannot say, I was not there and do not dare to presume. But I have been cursed by fae and blessed by them too. Why they choose to do anything is known only to themselves.

We shall simply have to find the means to end the curse. Beseech them, or find another magical being here willing to tell you the way to break the curse.

[bakudan_bambino]

...

[Her wording makes him feel like she doesn't blame him, so he's left to blame himself. Still, a small comfort he won't overlook.]

I think I'll seek out council with the fae. That might help?

[beautyrest]

It may benefit you to go with someone who knows their language and customs, a native of the kingdom, perhaps? Just to ensure another curse is not accidentally cast upon you.

[bakudan_bambino]

Maybe. Thanks.

[beautyrest]

Not at all, I only wish to help where I can. I know what it is to be cursed by a fae.

[bakudan_bambino]

Are you currently still cursed?

[Maybe if he finds one way of fixing his curse, he can help her.]

[beautyrest]

I... am honestly not sure. I do not think I am, presently. This is far too vivid for all of you to be a part of my dream.

[bakudan_bambino]

Well, if you ever find that you are, I've gotten a lot of responses on the network, so I'd suggest reaching out through it to find help in lifting the curse.

Would you call this a good, or a bad dream?

[beautyrest]

I shall. I know the means of breaking my curse, I am just rather sure it will not be something easily attained, is all.

It is an interesting one, to be sure. Not nearly so disappointing as my usual ones. [Yet.]

[bakudan_bambino]

If you are still cursed, Aurora.

[If there's a way to lift his curse, Gokudera doesn't think his is easy enough to attain, either.]

But your home world has magic? Is it really different?

[beautyrest]

If indeed.

It does, I was actually raised by fairies back home. My aunts, or well, godmothers. Oddly, the magic is not so dissimilar, though it tends to be in the hands of mythical creatures and the gifted rather than everyone.

[bakudan_bambino]

Mn.

I don't think a lot of the locals in Camelot have much magic, though, do they? Just every person brought here from their home world?

[beautyrest]

I'm not sure. I am not ungrateful for it, though. I have never had magic before. [Yes she did, she had Disney Princess Magic™️.] I've not yet tried transforming parts of myself to resemble animals.

[bakudan_bambino]

I feel like most people I've met have Elemental, animal, light, or healing magic...

What all have you done with your magic instead of transforming yourself?