[Charm - Voice]

[cursegod]

[The audio starts off with static that dissipates into the sound of something slithering through grass. Dara lets out hiss-like exhale before speaking:]

There is no spiritual realm here, so my hand is forced. My shrine is missing. [...] Or, more accurately, the part of me that was sealed in that shrine did not come with me. This can be both very fortunate for all of you or a catastrophe waiting to happen.

[A tree branch snaps after a lengthy pause.]

If you come across a box bound in a white cloth with spells written on it, leave it be. Opening it will do me the favor of finding it, but that will involve collecting your corpse. [There's a wry smile in her voice:] Since this is not my territory, I'm technically not duty bound to prevent the curse from spreading.

[...Not that she wants to admit that she'd go out of her way to stop it. It's her cursed hand, after all.]

In any case, do what you will. You're all humans, aren't you?

Comments

[drugsnotclubs]

['Make it do something--' Fine by him, really. He typically only summons his Persona for moments at a time, just to throw out an attack as needed. He nods and glances up and sideways to the beast. Any skill will do, so he might as well use one that'll take the least out of him.]

Alright- watch your tail.

[And with that, the Persona lunges out, crashing into one of the solid trees close to them and splintering it. Any birds that haven't already been scared off go flying at the massive disturbance as Castor leaps through. And just as suddenly, it's gone, leaving the dead space of the clearing and a creaking, falling tree behind.

Meanwhile, Shinjiro lets out a short huff, reaching a hand up to rub at his chest. Stupid persona-- always eating his health to be summoned, instead of his mental energy.]

Attacking's about all he does. That and keep me healing a bit faster than usual.

[cursegod]

[Not a verbal command, huh? Another detail to add to the list along with the Persona not sticking around for long. The nearby tree's demise doesn't shock her, and she's quick to return to Shinjiro's side.]

You've certainly got a complex puzzle on your hands.

[There's a vice-like grip on his shoulders now as she eyes him up and down. Why would a god be healing its contractor if its meant to absorb vitality? To extend the pact? A million more questions pile up in her head, but the first thing she does is yank that stupid hat off his head. No hole to be found. Shinjiro will have to deal with boobs in his face once again while Dara cards through his hair where he "shot" himself, looking for any hint of a spell or supernatural hint.]

Do you remember how you got this Persona of yours? And who gave you those drugs you were using? Maybe it's the ingestion-- no, that shouldn't... [The god is clearly lost in thought, murmuring under her breath as she runs through different aspects to account for. That is, until one hand pokes the hole in his coat.]

This is bothering me, so you're going to get me needle and thread at some point. [THIS IS AN ORDER, NOT A REQUEST.]

[drugsnotclubs]

...Yeah. If it's not like- [-wait why is she grabbing him this tight and- that's his HAT??]

--Hey, what the hell?! [It's useless griping more than anything, and he continues making useless attempts to try to pull his head out of her grip as she hovers and rustles all over him, inspecting for bullet holes or sigils or who knows what else. One lip draws up in a snarl that's completely bark without a bite.]

And I dunno, we just-- had the potential. It's hard to remember exactly from first waking up to it. [He finally settles (slightly), seeming to accept the fact that he can't quite fight off six arms at once, and recants: folding his arms sullenly instead of fighting where she's looking through his hair and over the rest of him. Might as well just tell her about it.]

Just-- one night me and Aki were up too late and everything changed. People turning into coffins. The sky going green. Blood everywhere. And then these monsters crawling around. After a while it just sort of... blinked back to normal.

[His brows furrow deeper, frown settling in as she keeps scrutinizing him.]

It happened the next might, too. And every one after that. Eventually we got found by a group that was studying it. They're the ones who gave us the evokers to call our Personas out. Gave us a chance to fight.

[A beat and:]

And made the suppressants, too, but they act like they don't make 'em anymore. I get 'em from some other users who have an even worse tine've it than me.

[Wow disrespecting his coat. He does like this coat, though, so he won't turn down the- offer? Command? To fix it. But he will ask, a little snidely:] Is that gonna cost me extra?

[cursegod]

[Hey, at least she's not stripping him of all his clothes. His annoyance is easily ignored in the meanwhile, and Dara does return the hat after finding absolutely nothing. (First straightening his hair back into place before sliding it on.) As for Shinjiro's oh-so cute question, the god's expression reads along the lines of "listen here, you little shit" while poking him again:]

It's something I want, so no. You don't. [A pause.] That reminds me, if your gun misfires or you decide to kill yourself in these woods, I'm going to eat your corpse so that no one can give you a proper funeral.

[That's a threat! One that hopes to dissuade him from something stupid. Don't question her logic.

With that said, Dara removes herself from his personal bubble and grabs a branch to begin scribbling in the dirt. Really, just scribbles to the eye. Mental notes to herself.]

...How do you feel about tattoos?

[drugsnotclubs]

[The threat of eating his corpse just gets a look. Not quite worried or offended so much as clearly finding that distasteful.]

At least cook me first, shit. Just 'cause you're half snake doesn't mean you just need to ram things down your throat whole.

[And he is readjusting his hat, thanks!! This coat and hat has seen him through some winters and he is loathe to let some of his only possessions go.] Alright, needle, thread, and some sort of skill for trading.

[Whatever that means. Maybe something he needs to do for her? Who knows. He'll figure it out. As she scribbles, though, he leans forward, squinting at it, and adds:]

And a pen and some paper. [girl please you need like a composition notebook at the least. That's all just gonna get blown away? As for the tattoo question, he looks up quizzically.]

Never thought about 'em. Usually people think I'm up to shit even without that kinda thing. Why?

[cursegod]

Eh, cleanup is faster when it's whole. [Quick and uneasy unlike chopping up a body or roasting it over the fire. Alternatives attract attention, both in the physical and spiritual realm. Also woooow, don't diss her memory! Dara makes a shooing motion with an extra hand to dismiss the idea of him retrieving unnecessary things.]

A spell written on your body would be more effective than wearing a talisman. If we go through a refining process with the spell, the best solution would be making it permanent...Until that point, it would be temporary and need to be reapplied. If it helps, think of it like building up immunity.

[Her scribbling pauses as Dara looks to catch his gaze.]

It should work better than your drugs, but it'll hurt like hell when written. You think you can handle that?

[drugsnotclubs]

So's dumping me in the river. What's the point in eating someone if you're not even gonna enjoy it... [What is this conversation??? But also why would you even bother eating a whole corpse-- or does she have to eat? How does a former-human-priestess, now-snake-god even work, anyway?

...Well. However it works, at least she's willing to help him solve his Persona Problem. He does seem to consider her point-- and then nods. Sure. If it works even better than the pills, he'll sit through damn near anything.]

I'll handle whatever I need to. If I don't figure something out, it's gonna be a problem for more than just me, so... [Awkwardly, he rolls his hand in a useless gesture.] You gonna be able to get the tools you need?

[Because you are a giant snake lady. But maybe she doesn't mind rolling into town? Unsure. She sure didn't seem to care about hiding herself when she posted on the network, so maybe she can probably do her own shopping.]

[cursegod]

Because that makes a corpse retrievable...and I wouldn't have taken you to be a cannibal. [She gives a low chuckle with the tease, returning to her scribbles that are growing into patterns. Each "design" is similar with some elements swapped out or located differently.]

If you're set on grabbing me pen and paper, get me an inkwell while you're at it. Using my blood would make it more potent, but we'll save that for the second round.

[She taps one particular design, circles it, then seems to debate it:] Hm, I'll need a week to prep since I don't want to half-ass this. You'll have to do your best until I contact you again.

[drugsnotclubs]

Hey, I'm not-- Ugh... [Why even bother. He's sure she's just teasing him. But it's such a weird threat, okay! Of course he had to ask about it. Anyway, he just shakes his head to dismiss that.]

Inkwell... I guess this place is kinda behind the times, huh. I'll see what they've got. [But hearing that the alternative is her blood just kind of makes his stomach flip a little. Not our of rejection or disgust, but more realizing the full gravity that he really is out here making deals with a supernatural entity. One that has already stated her role revolves around Curses, and who wasn't originally some sort of god to begin with.

When he sees her again, he'll have to ask more questions. Especially if the blood will still be coming later.]

Alright. Your sewing shit, pen, paper, and ink. I can do a week. You gonna call me on this thing? [He lifts the golden charm out of his pocket- the same one Kotone had handed him when he'd first arrived, despite the fact that he'd had no idea who she was.]

[cursegod]

Yeah, let's go with that. [The god only gave a brief glance to confirm that he meant the charm, but she's right back at tapping her work in thought. But before she delves deep into the spell, Dara throws out one last comment:]

Don't forget to think about what you can offer.