❧ 002 [video]

[shadowblends]

[When the TAB first flickers to life, all that's visible is an intricately scarred cheek with just the slightest peek of ivory fangs past blue lips. There's the faint sound of something shifting about and finally, Kurt comes into full view.

He's sitting on the edge of an old stone fountain, his tail swishing back and forth behind him, a grin plastered across his face.] I know very little about this holiday, but I've read a few things in an attempt to try and understand better.

[Meaning that he has forgone all the really romantic and couple-esque things about 'Valentine's Day' or whatever they would be calling it on Thisavrou.]

Giving chocolate to someone you like is traditional and I have more than a few friends and other people that I enjoy being around, so ... [He reaches over to pick up a small black box and pops the lid off of it, revealing the candy inside.]

Who wants some chocolate? [A soft laugh follows shortly after his inquiry as he replaces the lid and clutches the box to his chest, smile somehow broadening.]

I'm more than willing to deliver it, too.


(ooc: cw for anyone that decides to read the thread with kurt and j. [mentions of self-harm, internalized transphobia and ... self-loathing?])

Comments

[promises_to_keep]

[Technically he never lost the organ--he still had blood and stuff--but the loss of the ethereal heart seems no less devastating, all things considered.

[He grins at Kurt's reaction. It's always a little refreshing to see somebody react to this sort of thing for the first time. After they know you can do it, it's never as genuinely amazing to them in the future. When Kurt lifts his hand as if to touch the flame, though, Lea recoils quickly, though apparently not quickly enough to prevent a little exclamation from Kurt.]

Well of course it's hot, you lunkhead, [he says, though not indictingly.] Are you okay? [He's laughing a little, but only because Kurt didn't manage to actually hurt himself.] Metahuman? [He's not familiar with the term, but he can parse what it means, for the most part.] Mm, magic is something I think just about anybody can do, back home, you just need training. I had no idea I could do this sort of thing until after I... uh... [Joined the mafia?] Well, I met some people who could do this sort of thing--control ice, control earth--and they helped me kind of figure out how things worked. Not enough to prevent me from burning my eyebrows off, but I guess it's better than nothing.

A lot of places I visited, people thought magic was a bunch of hooey, but I mean... I'm just a normal guy, so far as I know. [He shrugs.] I think anybody can do it, with the right training and such. [He might have had a bit of an advantage, seeing as how the whole Organization seemed to suddenly acquire impressive abilities upon the loss of their hearts, but Riku could do magic, and he'd never lost his heart. Donald, too, though he's not sure if being a talking duck has anything to do with that...]

[shadowblends]

[Lea's in luck, then. Kurt's always enthralled by the idea of elemental powers and how they work, so he will most likely ask to see the fire again sometime soon.

He's still left with the slightest warmth on his fingers, regardless of his attempts to be rid of it by rubbing them over his leg. A nervous chuckle escapes him, his shoulders shrugging at the 'lunkhead' comment and his head nodding toward the question.] Ja, I'm fine. I didn't get close enough to actually hurt myself. [He ponders a way of explaining the word, though when Lea continues speaking about magic, he can make the assumption that the redhead probably knows what he's talking about.] Anybody? It's funny that you say that because a friend of mine told me that in his world, only certain people could learn magic. [Pause.] ... do you think you'd be able to teach somebody?

[Don't let him talk you into teaching him magic, Lea. He might find reasons to use it against his housemates for pranks.] So, these people that you met helped you figure out how to use your power. Each of you could control a different element of some sort? [Should he ever get the chance to meet either of them, he's sure to have plenty of questions for other magic-wielders, especially a talking duck.]

[promises_to_keep]

[Lea is always happy to set some shit on fire.

[He gives a nod then, looking contemplative.] Yeah, I mean... I think some people have a predilection toward certain types of magic and such... Like me, Fire is my game. I can cast other spells fairly well--Thunder, Aero--but certain types I just suck at. Don't ask me to demonstrate any ice-based magic, all you'll get is maybe a cold breeze and a puddle. But so far as I can tell, anybody has the potential. Not sure if that's limited to just the places I happen to have been to, though.

I could try. [He really wouldn't mind trying to teach Kurt magic; he's been a mentor/tutor before, and he kind of really enjoyed it. Doing something like that now, outside of the Organization's control, might actually be kind of fun. He gives a nod then.] Mm, like me, they could all cast other magic, too, but they kind of specialized in certain areas. Not always just elemental, either--one guy I knew was a wiz at casting illusions. Could make ya believe just about anything. It was kind of horrifying, honestly--he was one guy I always made an effort to try not to piss off.

[Don't trust talking ducks, Kurt, they never heal you when you need it. =__=]

[shadowblends]

[Just so long as there's nothing important in the way when that fire gets started.]

That makes a bit of sense, actually. See, back in my world, anyone who has an elemental power can only control one thing, like the fire or ice, but then there's a friend of mine that can control the entirety of the weather. It's really magnificent. [When it isn't trying to kill him, that is.]

No harm in giving it a go, ja? If it works, it works, if not then ... that's okay. I'll have to accept that I might not have a hand for magic. [Kurt nods this time, too, shifting to open the bag at his side and remove the package of oddly shaped tube 'fruit snacks' there; they sure look weird, but they're fruity and chewy, like they're supposed to be, so he's fine with the knock-offs. He tears into the package, removes a few colorful cylindrical treats and pops two into his mouth, offering the other one out to Lea. Green, like those wild eyes of his.] The things that someone could do with the power of illusion is more than a little frightening. [Pause, chew, swallow.] One could use someone else's deepest, darkest secrets and fears against them and render them unable to effectively fight back.

[gdit Donald, why are you so useless sometimes? 8|]

[promises_to_keep]

No harm at all, I'd say. Just try not to blow me up or anything. [He's mostly joking. That only happened once.] Just lemme know when you're free sometime, and we'll see what shakes out.

[He accepts the fruit snack with an appreciative nod, sort of squishing it between two fingers experimentally before popping it into his mouth and making a pleased noise. Ooh, apple! He gives a nod then, his expression apprehensive.]

Yeah, no kidding. I always did my best to keep anything deep and dark away from that guy, but it really didn't make him any less menacing. [In theory, Ienzo still has that capability, too, in the same way Lea can still wield Axel's fire... Best not ever let Ienzo know he does actually feel a little guilty for having, you know, killed him horribly and all.

[He shifts a little where he sits and regards Kurt a moment.]

So... I have to ask... are you a 'metahuman', or something of the like, like you mentioned? I gotta admit, I've never met a blue guy with a tail before. [He wags a finger, grinning.] It's a pretty cool tail, for the record.

[shadowblends]

I'll do my best. [Surely, accidents will happen, but avoiding explosions would be good.] My schedule should become more steady, now that we are all settling into our homes.

[Another enthusiastic grin spreads across Kurt's face when Lea accepts the candy, the empty hand raising to cover his mouth in an attempt to stifle his snicker at the delighted sound the redhead makes. He'd chosen a perfect flavor for his new friend!]

Oh, uhm, [he pauses briefly, finishing his own snack before continuing,] deep and dark like, he 'broods' a lot or he's actually dark? [There isn't a lack of secrets Kurt would like to keep hush hush about on his end, either. Things happened and as he's said many times: 'The past is the past and that's where it should stay.'

The demon-eyed boy straightens his posture, spine straight and his shoulders back, his lips curved upward like the chesire cat. Maybe he's preening a tiny bit.]

I am, ja! 'Mutant' is what we usually introduce ourselves as, but if that makes you uncomfortable, 'metahuman' is absolutely fine. Even on Thisavrou, my appearance is peculiar - there aren't many people with my skin color and a tail. [His chest puffs a little more, the heart-shaped end of the mentioned appendage dipping over his left shoulder.] Thank you! It's also a rather useful tail.

[promises_to_keep]

[Lea makes a bit of a face at Kurt's question. Well, Zexion did brood quite a bit... and also Nobodies were literally made of darkness, so... yes? He waves a hand, shaking his head a little.]

Oh, no, no, I mean I tried to keep a poker face while he was around, 'cuz I didn't wanna give him any ammo. I mean, he was kinda broody, but for what it's worth, I don't think he was evil or anything. I just didn't trust him a fraction of the distance I prolly could'a thrown him.

'Mutant', huh? [He shakes his head, smiling a little. The word might have something of a negative connotation in certain circumstances, but if it doesn't bother Kurt, that's good enough for him.] If that's the word you use, that's the word I'll use.