I'm so glad you're back. I absolutely have time to talk. I always have time for a friend.
[ She's so curious as to what it's about Alluka can barely wait until the next day. She considers asking about meeting before class, but she already got up early recently. ]
[And he will indeed be lurking after classes, just outside of the academy. Sure he'd missed a few, but he'd more or less caught up, and that.. surely was the important part. Surely.
At least with the weather less miserably, bitingly cold he can go back to his preferred lighter, but still black and still leather jacket. With wings visible and ruffled up against what chill there is, it's pretty obvious immediately that all the white barring he'd sported til now is entirely missing - but it matches so nicely with his usual choice of clothes it's probably not an ominous sign.]
[ Alluka is so impatient for classes to end. She packs up and gets out of school like a bat out of hell, or how she imagines a bat leaving hell school would go, backpack and all. She skids to a stop when she sees Sephiroth looking rather like himself. Black leather jacket and Legend wings. The wings look a little different, but he went and cheated and got older again.
Alluka beams at him, waves, and makes her way over. ] Oh, you look healthy. That's good. You're okay?
[But only by a couple weeks! It's not like he was gone for years!
.. Which hopefully won't happen any time soon, he knows what happens when he grows up. Everything burns. Best avoid it.
The burn-scarred reddish 'hound' he occasionally kept visible company with sidles in their direction; pets aren't allowed in the classes he's in, which is perfectly reasonable. He hasn't told anyone that's not a pet.]
As well as can be hoped for. [Which is to say, he's not doing okay at all but that's bog-standard normal for him and not likely to change.] I'm glad the weather's finally tilting towards warmer, if I never see another snowflake it'll be too soon. Thank you for bringing some of my work to Mr. Valentine, I keep getting behind.
[There's a reason he's asked to see Alluka. She's about the most innocent person he knows.]
[ Her eyes fall to the dog with Sephiroth because... dog! She has dog ears mixed in her hair right now. They're the same color, so they don't stand out. It's one of her most common forms she turns into as a Familiar. ]
I can hope for pretty good. May I pet him? [ The dog, she means. ]
Cruel Summer and Tides shouldn't see any snow. At least, they haven't before in my experience. Epiphany is close to Wintermute. So it's probably more likely to be affected. Ah well, as you said, it's warming up!
I'm happy to take notes for you and bring Mr. Valentine your homework. We could even do some study sessions together if you want. To help you catch up more.
[It's the closest he gets now to the perks of being a Familiar; it had only lasted a few weeks in the summer but it had left him with the strong impression he'd much rather be permanently reclassified.]
I feel like everywhere I go the snow will follow. I'm ... pretty well caught up. [That's extra socializing, and socializing is a distraction from the things he NEEDS to get done.. ... but also it wouldn't really hurt would it?] But maybe.
[That never does answer the question about the dog and whether or not he's pettable though.]
We've had weather like that before, but I don't think it's happening right now. If it does, hang out with me. I'll bring sunshine, and we can make rainbows. [ That would be extra pretty. She could take pictures of them all on her relic. It's also yet another reason to hang out with a friend of hers, though she doesn't need any. That it might help him only makes it better.
Not that there's anything inherently wrong with snow. Snow is gorgeous. She crouches before the dog at the maybe and holds out her hand for the dog to sniff or lick or rub his head against. A nice little "I'm not a threat" introduction. Not that it'd be easy to take her for a threat. ]
Okay. What about him? [ Besides the fact that he's cute. Maybe she can turn into a dog and introduce herself that way? ]
[It reminds him of the tiny double rainbow over his cup of water not so long ago. Rainbows .. were also suspicious.
Everything is suspicious, the more he thinks about it. Even ordinary weather had a good chance of being bizarre or dangerous or likely to turn everyone into something else. But if it's not snow it's probably better.]
Is it ... bad. If he weren't a dog at all, but I didn't tell anyone, so they'd keep being willing to treat him like one?
[Said 'dog', an excised portion of his own soul and mind, is as uncertain as he is about whether or not a move should be made before there's an actual answer, very canine apprehension on every line of its lean body, head ducked a little, ears back, tail and long tentacle carefully still. If Alluka reacted the way Sharon did.. it wouldn't go well.]
[ The dog, or not quite a dog, doesn't lean into Alluka's touch in any way. She leaves her hand there, open and willing to give scritches or pets should he decide he wants them. The not quite dog also looks like he could use a hug but a hug might scare him. She holds back. ]
Oh hello, Mr. Not Quite a Dog. How are you? I'm sure you're still a good boy.
[ Alluka looks up at Sephiroth. It seems like he expects a bad response. Perhaps he's already gotten one from someone else. ]
I'm sure some people might be upset you mislead them, but we think most things are a dog if we don't know what they are. I don't know what reaction you're worried about, but it's not his fault he's not a dog. I wouldn't hold that against him.
[It's said very reluctantly. But he's still standing there, so it's not like a Familiar's change, not exactly.. but similar enough maybe that the idea of treating a person like an animal might be a problem. Has been a problem.]
A while back I ... decided I needed an ally I could rely on and .. misinterpreted the spell other worlds use to create something called an 'omen'. Instead of being made of smoke and blood, Casimir is .. part of my soul cut out and given a different shape.
[And they very much share opinions on everything, including the deeply ingrained yearning for contact. A hand held out is one very much that dog or teen or both would want to lean into, but ... but.. that's not a good idea, is it?
People don't touch other people the way they do animals. People don't get scritches. Don't get the good spot behind their ears rubbed. Don't get to play tug or get a belly rub. Things a dog can enjoy freely.
When the 'dog' chooses to speak, he sounds ... almost exactly like Sephiroth himself, as if heard from down a long hallway. Just another teenager.]
People treat us differently. Nobody plays with a person, but they'll play with a dog. People won't pet him but they'll pet me, or give me a hug, or play with me, and they won't with him.. but I can share that, and we both can feel it. It feels a little bit like belonging somewhere. We don't tell anyone, so they'll keep doing it. Is ... are we bad?
[ Alluka looks between Sephiroth and the not quite dog. There's something ironic about the fact Sephiroth now has two bodies that are both him, and Alluka and Nanika share one body. Some kind of inversion. Yet as different as that is, Alluka understands being different and being treated poorly for that difference. Even if people don't mean for it to be poorly. ]
I hope it doesn't hurt you, doing the spell then, or existing in two parts now.
[ She listens to... Casimir Sephiroth called this part of himself. Casimir. It's strange hearing Sephiroth's voice coming from somewhere else while Sephiroth is also standing right there. Alluka leans in close and gives the (not quite) dog a hug. She scratches behind his ears. Then she stands and gives Sephiroth a hug. A good hug. She's good at hugs. She also then scratches behind his ear. It feels stranger, yes, but everyone deserves to have affection. ]
You aren't bad, either of you, but you know, Sephiroth, you could've asked me for hugs or scritches or head pats any time. You belong here. You belong with me. And finding belonging isn't bad. We're all doing the best we can.
[It hurt then, because he thought it should - and so it did. It sounded like it should be painful but maybe not the worst he'd ever experienced, and so after a fashion it could be tolerated.
It was a hard lesson in managing his expectations and getting more information before he jumped in when it came to real actual magic.
Because it's somehow different when it's a dog, it's fine for Casimir to lean into the hug, or an ear scratch, but Sephiroth knows humans are held to different standards even if he wasn't one, and so he does no such thing, but it's ... it's still nice. Touch that doesn't come with the promise of fighting, no need to worry about defense or retaliation. A warmth largely lacking in his life, and unheard of until this year. And though he doesn't return the hug directly, still certain there's a line that can't be crossed, a 'dog' can just fine. And that long tentacle that sprouts from Casimir's shoulders is perfectly good in lieu of arms.]
... Thank you for saying so, but I know it's .. you can't just ask for things like that.
[Weakness. Forbidden.
Did he ... really belong here? Far from Shinra's reach, far from the inevitable fate that waited in his own world? It was a nice thought, warm in a strange and appealing way, like being killed by Caduceus had been.]
One of the only other people who knows ... said doing this wasn't right, in so many words. That I was being manipulative, selfish. But I don't know if she's saying so because she knows my future, and I thought since you don't..
[ Alluka makes it a long hug, but she pulls back to listen more to what Sephiroth has to say. She cannot help the small frown that forms when Sephiroth says you can't ask for hugs or scritches or... what, any kinds of affection? That's not right. Nanika doesn't ask because her demands have consequences, but she can still say what she wants. Zechs gives them both hugs. Lots of people give them affection because people need that. ]
You can ask me for things like that. I enjoy giving hugs and head pats and everything else. So you know, you'd be doing me a favor, letting me know they'd be welcome.
[ Maybe it'll help if it's for her? Alluka doesn't mind asking for what she wants, and she's going to ask for hugs from Sephiroth more often. She doesn't have any hangups about that.
As for the description of the dog-like extension of Sephiroth, Alluka shakes her head. ]
I don't know your future, that's right, but what you're doing now is what you're doing now. It doesn't matter if you did it or someone whose future she approves. It is what it is on its own. It's not manipulative or selfish. I don't know how many times I've gotten head pats and hugs while transformed into a dog. Familiars turn into animals all the time. There's dog spirits. It's not like Casimir is the first instance of a dog being a person, not just a dog.
There's nothing wrong with wanting love and affection, and that's what you get with Casimir.
[ Even if Alluka thinks he should also get it as himself. ]
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[ She's so curious as to what it's about Alluka can barely wait until the next day. She considers asking about meeting before class, but she already got up early recently. ]
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[And he will indeed be lurking after classes, just outside of the academy. Sure he'd missed a few, but he'd more or less caught up, and that.. surely was the important part. Surely.
At least with the weather less miserably, bitingly cold he can go back to his preferred lighter, but still black and still leather jacket. With wings visible and ruffled up against what chill there is, it's pretty obvious immediately that all the white barring he'd sported til now is entirely missing - but it matches so nicely with his usual choice of clothes it's probably not an ominous sign.]
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Alluka beams at him, waves, and makes her way over. ] Oh, you look healthy. That's good. You're okay?
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.. Which hopefully won't happen any time soon, he knows what happens when he grows up. Everything burns. Best avoid it.
The burn-scarred reddish 'hound' he occasionally kept visible company with sidles in their direction; pets aren't allowed in the classes he's in, which is perfectly reasonable. He hasn't told anyone that's not a pet.]
As well as can be hoped for. [Which is to say, he's not doing okay at all but that's bog-standard normal for him and not likely to change.] I'm glad the weather's finally tilting towards warmer, if I never see another snowflake it'll be too soon. Thank you for bringing some of my work to Mr. Valentine, I keep getting behind.
[There's a reason he's asked to see Alluka. She's about the most innocent person he knows.]
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I can hope for pretty good. May I pet him? [ The dog, she means. ]
Cruel Summer and Tides shouldn't see any snow. At least, they haven't before in my experience. Epiphany is close to Wintermute. So it's probably more likely to be affected. Ah well, as you said, it's warming up!
I'm happy to take notes for you and bring Mr. Valentine your homework. We could even do some study sessions together if you want. To help you catch up more.
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I feel like everywhere I go the snow will follow. I'm ... pretty well caught up. [That's extra socializing, and socializing is a distraction from the things he NEEDS to get done.. ... but also it wouldn't really hurt would it?] But maybe.
[That never does answer the question about the dog and whether or not he's pettable though.]
He's.. actually what I wanted to ask you about.
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Not that there's anything inherently wrong with snow. Snow is gorgeous. She crouches before the dog at the maybe and holds out her hand for the dog to sniff or lick or rub his head against. A nice little "I'm not a threat" introduction. Not that it'd be easy to take her for a threat. ]
Okay. What about him? [ Besides the fact that he's cute. Maybe she can turn into a dog and introduce herself that way? ]
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Everything is suspicious, the more he thinks about it. Even ordinary weather had a good chance of being bizarre or dangerous or likely to turn everyone into something else. But if it's not snow it's probably better.]
Is it ... bad. If he weren't a dog at all, but I didn't tell anyone, so they'd keep being willing to treat him like one?
[Said 'dog', an excised portion of his own soul and mind, is as uncertain as he is about whether or not a move should be made before there's an actual answer, very canine apprehension on every line of its lean body, head ducked a little, ears back, tail and long tentacle carefully still. If Alluka reacted the way Sharon did.. it wouldn't go well.]
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Oh hello, Mr. Not Quite a Dog. How are you? I'm sure you're still a good boy.
[ Alluka looks up at Sephiroth. It seems like he expects a bad response. Perhaps he's already gotten one from someone else. ]
I'm sure some people might be upset you mislead them, but we think most things are a dog if we don't know what they are. I don't know what reaction you're worried about, but it's not his fault he's not a dog. I wouldn't hold that against him.
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[It's said very reluctantly. But he's still standing there, so it's not like a Familiar's change, not exactly.. but similar enough maybe that the idea of treating a person like an animal might be a problem. Has been a problem.]
A while back I ... decided I needed an ally I could rely on and .. misinterpreted the spell other worlds use to create something called an 'omen'. Instead of being made of smoke and blood, Casimir is .. part of my soul cut out and given a different shape.
[And they very much share opinions on everything, including the deeply ingrained yearning for contact. A hand held out is one very much that dog or teen or both would want to lean into, but ... but.. that's not a good idea, is it?
People don't touch other people the way they do animals. People don't get scritches. Don't get the good spot behind their ears rubbed. Don't get to play tug or get a belly rub. Things a dog can enjoy freely.
When the 'dog' chooses to speak, he sounds ... almost exactly like Sephiroth himself, as if heard from down a long hallway. Just another teenager.]
People treat us differently. Nobody plays with a person, but they'll play with a dog. People won't pet him but they'll pet me, or give me a hug, or play with me, and they won't with him.. but I can share that, and we both can feel it. It feels a little bit like belonging somewhere. We don't tell anyone, so they'll keep doing it. Is ... are we bad?
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[ Alluka looks between Sephiroth and the not quite dog. There's something ironic about the fact Sephiroth now has two bodies that are both him, and Alluka and Nanika share one body. Some kind of inversion. Yet as different as that is, Alluka understands being different and being treated poorly for that difference. Even if people don't mean for it to be poorly. ]
I hope it doesn't hurt you, doing the spell then, or existing in two parts now.
[ She listens to... Casimir Sephiroth called this part of himself. Casimir. It's strange hearing Sephiroth's voice coming from somewhere else while Sephiroth is also standing right there. Alluka leans in close and gives the (not quite) dog a hug. She scratches behind his ears. Then she stands and gives Sephiroth a hug. A good hug. She's good at hugs. She also then scratches behind his ear. It feels stranger, yes, but everyone deserves to have affection. ]
You aren't bad, either of you, but you know, Sephiroth, you could've asked me for hugs or scritches or head pats any time. You belong here. You belong with me. And finding belonging isn't bad. We're all doing the best we can.
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[It hurt then, because he thought it should - and so it did. It sounded like it should be painful but maybe not the worst he'd ever experienced, and so after a fashion it could be tolerated.
It was a hard lesson in managing his expectations and getting more information before he jumped in when it came to real actual magic.
Because it's somehow different when it's a dog, it's fine for Casimir to lean into the hug, or an ear scratch, but Sephiroth knows humans are held to different standards even if he wasn't one, and so he does no such thing, but it's ... it's still nice. Touch that doesn't come with the promise of fighting, no need to worry about defense or retaliation. A warmth largely lacking in his life, and unheard of until this year. And though he doesn't return the hug directly, still certain there's a line that can't be crossed, a 'dog' can just fine. And that long tentacle that sprouts from Casimir's shoulders is perfectly good in lieu of arms.]
... Thank you for saying so, but I know it's .. you can't just ask for things like that.
[Weakness. Forbidden.
Did he ... really belong here? Far from Shinra's reach, far from the inevitable fate that waited in his own world? It was a nice thought, warm in a strange and appealing way, like being killed by Caduceus had been.]
One of the only other people who knows ... said doing this wasn't right, in so many words. That I was being manipulative, selfish. But I don't know if she's saying so because she knows my future, and I thought since you don't..
[An outside opinion.]
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You can ask me for things like that. I enjoy giving hugs and head pats and everything else. So you know, you'd be doing me a favor, letting me know they'd be welcome.
[ Maybe it'll help if it's for her? Alluka doesn't mind asking for what she wants, and she's going to ask for hugs from Sephiroth more often. She doesn't have any hangups about that.
As for the description of the dog-like extension of Sephiroth, Alluka shakes her head. ]
I don't know your future, that's right, but what you're doing now is what you're doing now. It doesn't matter if you did it or someone whose future she approves. It is what it is on its own. It's not manipulative or selfish. I don't know how many times I've gotten head pats and hugs while transformed into a dog. Familiars turn into animals all the time. There's dog spirits. It's not like Casimir is the first instance of a dog being a person, not just a dog.
There's nothing wrong with wanting love and affection, and that's what you get with Casimir.
[ Even if Alluka thinks he should also get it as himself. ]