...[He doesn't like that. He frowns heavily as she speaks and he's hesitant, but he moves just a little closer.]
I'm not sure what part I'm supposed to find silly, actually. Wanna explain it to me? [That is to say, trauma is not exactly something amusing for anyone and he's not, like, bothered about it. Even if she is.]
[Huffing out a thin laugh, even if nothing about this is funny. After another pause, she'll reach out from the sheet and tug on his sleeve. For once, she does not mind if he gets close when she's feeling vulnerable.]
It's my own doing, really. I antagonized the demon and likened him to a mutt last night.
[...]
I did not expect him to tear into me like one, is all -- or make good on his promise to try and kill me, if I were the one to execute him.
[A lot of things went a bit differently than she expected, even if she doesn't actually regret any of her actions.]
[He'll move as close as she'll allow him to, shifting so she can lean into him if she wants.]
The demons are more powerful and smart than we give them credit for. But you're not wrong. They're listening to someone else's demands, just like mutts. [...] Did Illumi know? About that memory.
[So long as he doesn't mind that she still smells faintly of blood, she'll lean into him, silently grateful for the support.]
The one he saw -- well, I suppose both he and the demon saw it, didn't they? -- in any case, it was the memory of the stone my spirit was trapped in after my death.
[... wincing a little bit, she's not actually proud of this next part]
I didn't take very kindly to dying, and anyone who touched the stone was immediately killed.
[Nope. Like, is she still actively bleeding? Does she require an assist? It's something he checks even as he pulls her closer.]
...if the stone was tampered with to kill anyone who touched it, how were you supposed to be freed from it? [Could that even work? He's keeping this casual because even if some of the things Tamamo says scare him, he doesn't outwardly show it.] I guess that means the demon knew you were...vengeful, sometimes.
Tamamo does not remember how human bodies work, and forget explaining the harm an infection could do to her.]
A monk approached the stone but didn't touch it. He sensed my spirit and begged me to put down my grudge against humanity, so that my soul could pass on. [Heaving a tired sigh. Talking has actually helped pull her out of the worst of her thoughts, and her tone starts to even back out] It had been many years since anyone had even talked to me, and I was... tired of being a demonic spirit, we shall say.
[Shifting a little, and wincing at the pain -- but she ends up scoffing at Junpei's words]
Vengeful doesn't cover it. I'm sure that demon assumed I have the same type of bloodlust as him. All they want to do is fuck and kill. It's disgusting.
I'll do it, of course -- as you've seen -- [gesturing to that dick knife that's on the floor, pressed up against the wall] But it doesn't bring me any joy.
Yeah, and you can have that when you're not at a risk of dying from gangrene. [He says, even as he's holding her like a total moron.] Besides, you always have my attention whenever you want it.
We've been trying to figure it out for years, too. [Viruses and illnesses are a thing. Nevertheless she pouts at him and he settles this by nudging her forehead with his nose in some strange form of affection because it's sort of funny to him.]
That is irrelevant. I did my duty and would have done so without the help of that knife, if necessary. It just happened to make the job easier.
[Just effortlessly switching into business mode, even curled up against him]
-- Which is why I want you to carry it. I might have more experience fighting than you, but my body is too injured to be of much use for a while. If a demon were to attack me, I'd likely be killed before I could defend myself.
On top of that, everyone knows I have possession of the knife. Including whoever is being possessed by a demon.
[She hopes he sees what she's getting at; it's sly and dangerous, but should a demon want to hide that knife from anyone who could kill it, it's best that the knife not be in Tamamo's possession at all.]
[Even as she speaks, his arms tighten around her a little more when she mentions that a demon could outright kill her. He knows. He'd rather that not be the case, Tamamo dying while she can't properly defend herself and he's knocked out elsewhere. But at the same time, he absolutely understands her words.]
...and if they lose track of the knife, it'll be safer that way. [He takes a breath and exhales slowly.] ...alright. I'll hold onto it for now and use it if I have to. People probably won't expect me to have it.
[Though, ha... she feels how his arms curl around her and smiles despite herself, reaching up with a hand to ruffle his hair. It causes her to wince from her wounds, but it is a gesture worth making in her opinion]
Be at ease, Master. I would not die so easily, regardless. I have a few promises to keep, after all.
[He looks down at her even as she ruffles his hair and t's maybe a little hard to erase the fond look from his face.]
I know, I know...I'm allowed to worry for the next ten minutes and then I'll stop. Alright? [He will never stop, but he's pretty sure they both know that anyway.]
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[Curling further into the sheets]
When I was... outed as a fox spirit to the emperor, he sent an army after me, as I'm sure you're aware.
[Her next pause is thick and heavy; it's clear she doesn't want to admit to this, but well, he's already found her shivering on the floor]
He sent hounds after me as well, and trust me -- they can be far more vicious than humans when they have a scent up their nose.
[...]
I'm sure it seems a silly thing for someone like me, but I-- [mm]
I am not very fond of dogs attacking me.
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I'm not sure what part I'm supposed to find silly, actually. Wanna explain it to me? [That is to say, trauma is not exactly something amusing for anyone and he's not, like, bothered about it. Even if she is.]
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It's my own doing, really. I antagonized the demon and likened him to a mutt last night.
[...]
I did not expect him to tear into me like one, is all -- or make good on his promise to try and kill me, if I were the one to execute him.
[A lot of things went a bit differently than she expected, even if she doesn't actually regret any of her actions.]
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The demons are more powerful and smart than we give them credit for. But you're not wrong. They're listening to someone else's demands, just like mutts. [...] Did Illumi know? About that memory.
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[So long as he doesn't mind that she still smells faintly of blood, she'll lean into him, silently grateful for the support.]
The one he saw -- well, I suppose both he and the demon saw it, didn't they? -- in any case, it was the memory of the stone my spirit was trapped in after my death.
[... wincing a little bit, she's not actually proud of this next part]
I didn't take very kindly to dying, and anyone who touched the stone was immediately killed.
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...if the stone was tampered with to kill anyone who touched it, how were you supposed to be freed from it? [Could that even work? He's keeping this casual because even if some of the things Tamamo says scare him, he doesn't outwardly show it.] I guess that means the demon knew you were...vengeful, sometimes.
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She's probably still bleeding.
Tamamo does not remember how human bodies work, and forget explaining the harm an infection could do to her.]
A monk approached the stone but didn't touch it. He sensed my spirit and begged me to put down my grudge against humanity, so that my soul could pass on. [Heaving a tired sigh. Talking has actually helped pull her out of the worst of her thoughts, and her tone starts to even back out] It had been many years since anyone had even talked to me, and I was... tired of being a demonic spirit, we shall say.
[Shifting a little, and wincing at the pain -- but she ends up scoffing at Junpei's words]
Vengeful doesn't cover it. I'm sure that demon assumed I have the same type of bloodlust as him. All they want to do is fuck and kill. It's disgusting.
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But he'll deal with that later.]
It does sound a little exhausting to be isolated for that long. But I'm kind of glad you did listen to him. [He just makes a face right back though.]
...well, do you? [Lightly. Just to see where her head's at.] What would you call it then?
1/2
[If nothing else, she sounds certain of this.]
I'll do it, of course -- as you've seen -- [gesturing to that dick knife that's on the floor, pressed up against the wall] But it doesn't bring me any joy.
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Normally it doesn't bring me joy, if I wasn't testy to begin with.
[Okay so, "vengeful" might have been the perfect word]
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...what else did the demon say to you?
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Are you interrogating me while I'm injured?
[She's honestly just giving him shit because even when tired and faintly traumatized, that is her go-to]
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[Burrows into the sheets and just flops more of her weight against him]
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I will carry you to see Dick. Don't tempt me.
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[Probably.]
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[this is the equivalent of a divine tantrum for her and she knows it but refuses to move. There is a petulant pout on her face before she sigh]
...Fine, give me five minutes or so, and then I will tend to my wounds.
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I'll even be nice and give you ten.
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Alright, ten minutes.
[Before she has to buck up and deal with the world again.
-- Though before she relaxes into silence:]
Master, before I forget -- take the knife I used against the demon.
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What? Why? [That seems important.] You kind of earned it.
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[Just effortlessly switching into business mode, even curled up against him]
-- Which is why I want you to carry it. I might have more experience fighting than you, but my body is too injured to be of much use for a while. If a demon were to attack me, I'd likely be killed before I could defend myself.
On top of that, everyone knows I have possession of the knife. Including whoever is being possessed by a demon.
[She hopes he sees what she's getting at; it's sly and dangerous, but should a demon want to hide that knife from anyone who could kill it, it's best that the knife not be in Tamamo's possession at all.]
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...and if they lose track of the knife, it'll be safer that way. [He takes a breath and exhales slowly.] ...alright. I'll hold onto it for now and use it if I have to. People probably won't expect me to have it.
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[Though, ha... she feels how his arms curl around her and smiles despite herself, reaching up with a hand to ruffle his hair. It causes her to wince from her wounds, but it is a gesture worth making in her opinion]
Be at ease, Master. I would not die so easily, regardless. I have a few promises to keep, after all.
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I know, I know...I'm allowed to worry for the next ten minutes and then I'll stop. Alright? [He will never stop, but he's pretty sure they both know that anyway.]
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