one bite

[seeksherownsalvation]

[ video ]

[ CRINKLE ]

Hey, so, that machine lady--

[ CRUNCH. ]

Y'know, the one that starts nagging us right when we get here.

[ A lurching blur, another CRINKLE. ]

She's not so bright, is she, huh?

[ And the blurry, disjointed image on the communicator's screen finally resolves into something coherent: a teenage girl eating chips and staring at the device with a fiercely unimpressed expression. ]

If she's not gonna listen when I tell her I ain't no hero, she kinda sucks at this importing thing!

[ CRINKLE CRINKLE CRUNCH ]

Seriously.

[ She balls up the now-empty bag of chips and flings it away off-screen. ]

Someone better tell me how I get outta here soon or I'll just hafta mess up the place. That'd prove I'm no hero, right? But it's a waste of time if there's an easier way, so you should probably just let me know now.

Comments

video

[seeksherownsalvation]

You probably shouldn't say with me. It's not like we're gonna be allies.

[She squints down at the picture--]

Like, you're probably some kinda monster. I bet I'd get a power boost from defeating you. Right? Should I check it out?

video

[bumbumbum]

[He wrinkles his nose.]

I am not a monster, I am Klarion the Witch-Boy.

video

[seeksherownsalvation]

[Oh oops...she jolts to her feet, one chip still half-bitten in her mouth, and juts her chin out at the communicator.]

Even better! I knew there had to be witches here. It's weird if you can talk, but it won't make much of a difference in the end.

video

[bumbumbum]

I am not a witch, I'm a witch boy. And of course I can talk-why wouldn't I?

video

[seeksherownsalvation]

[ Nope, busy examining the communicator now. It seems to be translating English for her; maybe it translates between witch and human too? That's kind of creepy. She doesn't really want to think about it. ]

Witches don't talk, ya dumbass, I'd have noticed by now if they did. This place doesn't really follow the rules, though, so who cares?

[ She moves one hand away from the communicator to manifest her Soul Gem in it, out of view of the camera, and...it doesn't show her any sign of witches nearby. That's odd. ]

Since you can talk...you got a Grief Seed yet?

[ Maybe "witch boy" means "familiar" in witch language. In that case, she'd better hold off. ]

video

[bumbumbum]

[Klarion is just looking at this girl, frowning. It's obvious that he's super confused and really doesn't know what she's talking about.]

A what?

Re: video

[seeksherownsalvation]

[So it takes her a minute to realize that he's actually confused and even more clueless than she is, but once she does--]

Uh...

Hey, never mind, anyway. It's not important.

[Quick, try to backpedal! Obviously he's a different sort of witch, in this totally weird world, and she has to cover up all that stuff she just said.]

So how's a witch boy different than a regular witch? Other than...y'know.

[She points...down. And looks kind of vaguely embarrassed and maybe blushes slightly?]

Being a boy instead of a girl.

Re: video

[bumbumbum]

I can tell you how we are different from the witches you know. We are not monsters. As for the rest, it's simple. I am not yet a witch like my father was. I am still a boy.

[He's still quite wary about her, though a haughtiness is coming back in Klarion's voice. He's PROUD to be a witch-boy. Teekl hops up on his shoulders and meows. Have an orange tabby cat in frame now, Kyouko.]

I can do magic.

[seeksherownsalvation]

Huh, you're not much of a witch, then, are you? I bet you can barely devour one whole soul.

Magic's no big deal. You gotta know how to use it.

[bumbumbum]

I killed the Horigal and reversed the ages of all superheroes back in my world! I controlled Etrigan the demon and have made men my slaves on many occasions. I'm sure I could easily devour a soul if I ever tried.

[seeksherownsalvation]

Huh? Superheroes are real? Maybe this 'Porter's not so crazy.

But it still won't impress me. Start devouring souls until you--

[In a rare flash of prudence, she manages to stop herself from talking more about Grief Seeds. Casting about for something else to say instead, she focuses on the cat.]

Devour that cat's soul! That's barely any trouble at all, right?

[bumbumbum]

[Klarion GASPS. When he speaks again, he sounds so affronted and pissed off.]

How dare you suggest I do that to Teekl! He's my best friend! I wouldn't hurt him like that.

I'll simply devour your soul instead! [Not that he knows how to do it or anything.]

[seeksherownsalvation]

That's more like it. Call me when you've figured out how and we'll fight it out!

[bumbumbum]

Oh believe me, I shall!