I met a man named Momo recently who has the soul of a moth. His wings produce a dust that induces dreamless slumber. I volunteered to help him test it, and it worked for me without negative consequences.
He is looking for others to test it, and also intends to turn it into a medication. I thought this might help you, if you were willing to try it.
[Oh. It would seem His Highness has avoided the use of these devices to a greater extent than Dedue has.]
The space bar is the unlabelled long button in the center on the bottom of the key board.
If it is easier, I can obtain the medication and deliver it to you. If you have questions, however, it would be best to direct them to Momo. You should be able to search for him on the device.
i wouldnt want to trouble you. though if youre getting some for yourself as well, it wouldnt be much trouble to get some for me as well, right
oh there's another piicture with punctuation and numbers on it!!!! that's helpful. how are you capitalizing words? you don't seem to be making any errors either. is there a way to correct words once written? i feel like i should just walk down the hall. it would be far easier just to speak with you.
[Dedue can't help smiling at his device as he reads. It's... Well, very cute to watch Dimitri try to figure this out. Not that he'll express as much.]
Good. And yes, I am at times plagued by nightmares as well, so I will be getting some for myself in case of a bad night. Momo believed it was perhaps less effective on me because of my natural soul, but it still worked in the end.
I am not making errors as I have put significant time and effort into practicing my typing and correcting my own mistakes. It takes me a long time to write, still. I also sometimes use the button where one speaks to the device and it writes the words for you, and then correct any mistakes afterward. It is the strange symbol on the left at the top of the key board.
[Said "strange symbol" is representing a microphone, but how would they know that.]
There is an up arrow which allows you to capitalize the next letter you type. There is also an arrow that points to the left with an X inside, which allows you to delete a letter you have typed.
You are welcome to visit my room, and I could show you more things I have learned. We are also able to speak to each other through the devices with our voices, with another odd button.
[That symbol is of a telephone, but again... How would he know.]
Thank you, those are very helpful instructions. I will also have to try dictating. It may prove far easier. Though I’m curious what you mean by speak to one another.
As for the nightmares, I’m aware. I’ve heard you some nights. It is no surprise. In fact, I would be surprised if any of us were not plagued by nightmares from time to time.
Do you know what your natural soul is? Have you transformed yet?
This is very silly. I should just come speak with you.
[There's a long pause at the beginning of the message before Dimitri finally says something.] I think this should send you my message. If not... well, then I'm just talking to myself and I will feel a little foolish.
Dedue, you needn't apologize for your dreams. It's not as though it's something within your control and, as I said, it would surprise me if any of us did not suffer from the occasional nightmare.
I didn't realize you visited Kelesis as well. My transformation also occurred there. Your transformation was not painful, I hope.
My own was a bit... on the nose. I believe it is a lion.
No, not painful, but alarming and... Disturbing, I suppose.
Wow. Yes, quite. I wonder if the souls are chosen for specific relevance to us.
Have you noticed any lion features forming now even while in Karteria? I have some patches of metal on my arms and legs that are slowly increasing in size.
You're right. This is incredibly useful. Far faster than writing as well.
I'm glad it's not painful. Have you considered trying to shift on purpose? It's something we should be able to do.
Perhaps the souls are chosen for us. Perhaps they choose us. I'm not sure how alike I am to a lion though. Your soul sounds far more beneficial. I'd like to see it.
I've... awoken with a tail once. And with more bestial ears more than once. But I've been able to shift them away each time. I suspect as the corruption progresses that will no longer be the case.
Yes, on purpose. From what we were told and what we've seen of those who were brought here before us, shifting and eventually permanent transformation is all but inevitable. It may be wise to be prepared. It's unlike learning how to wield a sword or cast a spell. It is a skill and a tool, and we aught to be proficient at it.
Of course, I'd like to see it. I'm curious.
And I'd rather train with a partner rather than alone. I'll bring my spear, perhaps we can spar as well.
There is a large open field in the city with a few trees scattered throughout. I've seen others engaging in some kind of sport I didn't recognize there. I've also seen some augmented using the area to shift in. I think that would be a fine place. Or, if you'd prefer, we could venture outside the city. We should not need to go far.
[And then the silence starts to stretch as Dimitri clearly struggles with trying to hang up. First, fighting to get the screen to wake up, and then struggling to figure out how to end their communication. He finally manages to end the call, though.
A little less than an hour has passed when there's a knock on Dedue's door. Dimitri has foregone his armor and opted for clothing alone - more than adequate for some training and, eventually, a trial shift. He'd also brought along the plain lance that he'd ended up with in place of his relic. Again, it was perfect for practice.]
[Dedue hears the silence and gives Dimitri a hint for how to end the call before he hangs up. Then, he goes to don his armour, but realizes... Well, he won't need it once he shifts. He's at a loss for what to do with himself, so he gets dressed in looser-fitting clothing and polishes his axe while he waits for the knock.
He steps out promptly. Stifles the urge to make a formal greeting.]
Hello, Dimitri.
[A faint smile tugs his lip as he closes his door, bringing his shiny axe along. Karterians don't seem to like it much when you brandish a weapon in the streets, but he wants to see what wielding it is like while shifted. It's strapped to his back in a way he hopes is less threatening.]
How has your day been, aside from the frustrations of the Syntrofos?
Not a bad-looking axe you have there. Did you arrive with it, or did you procure it here?
[He doesn't remember seeing it on Dedue, but he'd been so out of it the day they'd arrived that it easily could've slipped his notice. But if he had bought it here, knowing where a weaponsmith was couldn't hurt.]
Fairly uneventful. I took my usual walk... And then couldn't resist a nap in mid-morning sun.
It is mine, from home. Once I arrived and checked into my room, it was waiting there for me. I suppose they do not want to give us weapons right away, understandably.
[Some people probably wake up here pretty upset, and disoriented besides. He could easily see the staff being attacked.
The corner of his mouth quirks ever-so-slightly at the mention of a sun-nap. He can't resist teasing.]
Ah, the very same with this. [He says, motioning with his lance. At least he knows better than to try to twirl it while still in the hotel hallway.] And you are probably right. [He chuckles softly at the thought of a bunch of them arriving with weapons. No... keeping the weapons from them until they'd at least gotten to the hotel was a much safer option.]
What?! No. Come now. You can't tell me that you don't sometimes nod off while reading in the sun. It's hardly my fault that the chair was comfortable and the sun was perfectly warm. [He's mostly teasing, but also feeling a little sheepish. He's still not sure what to think about these changes, and he certainly wasn't ready to embrace them just yet.]
It's not far to the park. [He offers up as they step outside, and he leads the way. It's a spot he often visits.] How are you feeling about potentially shifting? [The audio-only conversation had left him lacking in the details he felt he could only pick up while having a face-to-face conversation with Dedue. Even now, he glances in Dedue's direction, curious and trying to pick up on his many unspoken cues.]
[Dedue smiles faintly at the thought of Dimitri falling asleep like that. It's cute.]
I suppose. Where did you sleep?
[In a chair... He's glad Dimitri is getting more sleep, but hopes he did not leave himself too vulnerable by falling asleep in public.
He falls into step with Dimitri, taking his familiar place by his side.]
Hm... The first time I saw my corruption, I was quite disturbed. But now that I know what it is, I think it will be good to see what power it could bring.
And you?
dimiduenari triangle of doom... set in early-mid nov
[October was a very hard month, and the only thing that kept Dedue from going totally dormant was the care of his imprints and the kindnesses of other friends who would bring him food or visit with him. They gave him reason not to be shut down all day, reason to find the will to go on. He's starting to feel a little more like himself now. More functional, more responsive, more present. He is starting to look forward to things again.
Today, he invites Tighnari to the Valentia for dinner, and to his surprise, he actually feels able to cook something. Just a simple stir-fry with vegetables, shrimp, and a sauce that's sweet and savory, served over rice. To his own meal, he adds some small metal bits and bobs, things he found in the dump and washed clean. Small nails and screws, nuts and bolts. He incorporates them into the stir-fry so well that you almost can't see them unless you look closely, camouflaged by the sauce and the irregular texture of the other cut vegetables. He wants to develop delicious meals for every soul-type, and his own comes first, out of necessity. Since he started adding metals to his food, he's been healing more quickly and getting his strength back.
He serves the meal to his friend hot and fresh with a small smile before joining him in the booth.]
I hope it is to your liking. I have not cooked in a while, but I felt up to it today.
[Anyone who has known Dedue longer than a week knows that food is his love language. To him, putting a homemade plate in front of someone is the equivalent of a heartfelt 'I care about you.']
So I get treated? I'm honoured. [As on edge and ill at ease as Tighnari is in the Valentia these days, his smile is warm, looking with fondness at the plate, then at Dedue.]
How are you finding the vegetables? I want to scale up the farm's production further, but we need to be careful not to deplete the soil. [Though the slurry under Kelesis could probably fertilise the farm for the next thousand years, there's something... unpleasant about that prospect, given what those plant creatures are.]
They are good. There could be more variety, but I cannot complain. I can work with anything.
[He carefully shovels a bite into his mouth. His left hand has less bandaging on it now, enough to see he's missing a finger. He hasn't found it too much of a hindrance, now that the pain has lessened, but it's still a good thing he's right-handed.]
I think we should focus on ensuring the farm operates well in its current state before scaling up. And yes, we must monitor the soil closely... Sheer volume will not matter if we cannot sustain it for longer than a few seasons.
[Which means Tighnari also needs to not overwork himself, but he's not saying that part out loud. Lines can be read between, he's sure.]
meanwhile in icie thinks too much about plants tags...
There will be a little more variety once we start rotating the crops, which will help with the soil, as well. Having more variety safeguards against disease and pests, too, but with Terra augmented able to shorten the growing period significantly, that's going to limit losses from those factors. It's hard for a crop to fail if we've already harvested it.
[He stops speaking long enough to try some of the food. The meal is perfectly cooked, and just to Tighnari's tastes.] Thank you, this is delicious. [But... his eyes linger on that finger, or, rather, lack of finger. Perhaps...] Even as it gets closer to winter I can't imagine the growth slowing down too much. It might be more difficult to stop growing where Terra are concerned.
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