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]

Can you transform an animal into another animal as well? I mean, not yet, but is that something people with animal magic can do?

Could you turn me into an armadillo? [He gives a small laugh at the thought.]

[beautyrest]

I am not sure, perhaps with time?

But I know not this creature, what is an armadillo?

[bakudan_bambino]

It's a mammal that walks around with armor! It can roll up and looks like a ball! Here!

[He's enthusiastic about animals, and he's sure he can find some picture of it on his device before linking her to it]

[beautyrest]

Oh! It's simply adorable! [Aurora would never find any animal ugly.] It's a little rolly-polly knight!

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera is even a fan of monsters, so she'll just find him equally enthusiastic.]

Like a less spikey, larger version of a hedgehog!

[beautyrest]

Oh! I have encountered a hedgehog family once, they were incredibly kind. Do not let their spikes fool you, they are very gentle creatures... within reason.

[bakudan_bambino]

That's most creatures, though! I've not met many I didn't like, or that I would bother.

[beautyrest]

That is very true. I have also never met a creature I didn't like. We have so much in common in that sense.

What is an animal you have always wanted to meet, Gokudera?

[bakudan_bambino]

It's a shame I've got Light magic, then.

Hm? Oh, I always dreamed of meeting an befriending an Ogopogo, but my familiar is as close as I can get! Aside from that... I think I've always wanted to meet Bigfoot. Or the Dover Demon! They're all cryptids, but I'm sorry I've never gotten to or will likely never get to see a thylacine. They're extinct in my world, unfortunately

[beautyrest]

A crypt-id? I am afraid this word, and such creatures, are unknown to me. I've never heard of them before.

[bakudan_bambino]

Cryptids are creatures thought to exist, but there's no proof.

The thylacine looks real though, doesn't it? Like a mix between a dog and a tiger!

[beautyrest]

Ah, I see. Yes, that is quite different than faeries, unicorns, and dragons, those have plenty of proof. [She's met two of the three so yeah, she would know.]

I would not be so surprised if they were real. [Someone needs to tell her the platypus is a thing.]

[bakudan_bambino]

In my world, there is no proof of faeries, dragons, or unicorns. Not the same kind of proof we have for most animals. Probably because those are magical, and my world is not so magical...

[beautyrest]

But there must be some proof of them. After all, when I said those words, they were not unknown to you.

[bakudan_bambino]

No. In my world they are something people have made up to excuse some things. That... and it's just fun to hear stories about creatures like that.

Even if they were real, the proof is well hidden. I've never seen proof for them

[beautyrest]

Seeing is believing for you, then?

[bakudan_bambino]

Just because there's no proof doesn't mean I don't believe in them.

[beautyrest]

Well, hopefully, I can introduce you to my aunts sometime, then.

[bakudan_bambino]

[But Aurora is so nice and Gokudera very much isn't! He has a kind heart, sure, but he cringes at the mention of her aunts.]

I'm sure they would not approve.

[beautyrest]

You don't know my aunts.

[bakudan_bambino]

They don't know me either. You also don't, come to think of it...

not very well enough to think that I should be introduced to your family.

[And if he was cursed by fairies, why would he wants to meet new ones?]

[beautyrest]

It makes little difference, they are not here. But you are correct, I do not know you, nor should I have presumed, my apologies.

[bakudan_bambino]

It's fine.

[Nothing against her. She seems nice, and Gokudera is just trying to be very clear that he is...

unsavory.]

[beautyrest]

I hold no expectations, but if you are amiable to telling me if the curse is lifted, I would not discourage such good news.

I suppose, until then, another time, Gokudera.