prismatica | 01 ★ video

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01 ★ video

[When the video turns on Natsume appears to be outside on the street somewhere, standing in front of a darkened building. It's... A little creepy actually, not at all helped by the fact that he's wearing a dark robe.]

Good NIGHT~ ★ While I have made myself known to some of you there are just as many whom I am not acquainted WITH, so allow me to introduce mySELF.

[He curls his fingers in the air, something like green light seeming to glow around them just briefly before he places his hand to his chest dramatically.]

My name is Natsume Sakasaki, and I am a magician and fortune tellER. In my endeavor to enrich the lives of those here with the allure of enchantment and the occult I ask you to allow me to announce the opening of Chymica Esoterica!

[He grins and snaps his fingers. Instantly the building behind him lights up, revealing what appears to be a small shop. The windows are hung with tasteful string lights and somehow candles seem to be flickering inside, although it's hard to tell exactly through the curtains that are made of some shimmery and slighty-sheer fabric.]

In addition to offering my services as an advisor and fortune teller I also can provide you with brews of all SORTS, as well as items to grant your own special magic power for a short WHILE. If you happen to be of the more discerning and particular type I would even be open to making something special just for YOU.

I now welcome any quesTIONS, but until then let all enjoy the darkness and stars of the evening together until we meet aGAIN...

[Natsume winks and waves before snapping his fingers again and the video ends.]

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[Natsume can't tell if this guy is really unaware of what he's doing or if he's simply good at playing dumb. He hums, tilting his head.]

Some say that mimicry is a form of flattERY, but I've always found little to be consoling about such sentimENTS. So I will ask openLY.

[His intonation shifts.]

Are you attempting to copy my magic by imitating me? Unfortunately echoing things without understanding will not have the result you desire.

[ He is, sadly, just that unaware. Looking even more puzzled as Natsume's voice changes again, less with the raise in volume, more of a total shift in cadence. Shino frowns, shaking his head. ]

I don't have any magic. [ A demon isn't magic, he's more a force of nature. Okay?! ] So what would be the point in imitating what you say?

[ Stop saying the "not have the result you desire" thing! He knows that! He's learned that lesson! Though wait, a pause, a moment, let him catch this thought flitting past: ]

... Wait. Was I echoing what you said?

[Hm. He does seem to be genuine at the very least. Natsume is good with reading people and thanks to how... Eccentric... Most of his schoolmates are he's fairly used to dealing with all types.]

Everyone has magic capability lying dormant inside of THEM, but whether or not they try to cultivate and use it is their own CHOICE.

[He pouts a little.]

You should be more mindful of how you interact with the world and are perceived or you will make enemies quiCKLY.

[ That does finally pull a frown out of him, before he looks away. ]

I don't think people are that set on judging each other so quickly. Or that minds can't change.

[ and glances back. ]

Do you?

Being able to quickly assess and aim for one's weak points and accurately read a person is something of an occupational haBIT. After spending so many years observing the practice and then taking it on myself it's almost impossible to resIST.

[And he's definitely taking note of that reaction.]

Eesh, no wonder store owners can be scary... you do that with everyone you meet?

[ Not that he looks scared, so much, more curious when he does glance back at the camera. ]

It doesn't get exhausting?

[ Rio does this too, he thinks. ]

ExhaustING? HardLY. Or perhaps I can simply say that with such certainty because it is all I have ever KNOWN...

[He chuckles.]

Perhaps I don't know what I'm misSING, but I would also prefer not to live my life being worried about such vague things that might or might not have bearING.

But it does help with your whole business, right? Like you said, reading and knowing what it is that appeals to people, or what they think they need, or really need... you don't get it wrong?

[ Still curious, and a wee bit doubtful, but that's less on Natsume and more on Shino's awareness that humanity is filled with flawed people who manage to get by damn well, even if some are closer to perfect than others. Annoyingly enough. ]

I have no control over what a client does with the fortune I give THEM. I simply offer them advice on what I foreSEE, but what they do with it from there is up to them to decIDE... They're even free to decide not to believe it at all and resign themselves to their FATES.

Ultimately the focus on what is most important isn't up for me to decide eithER. But I have never been wrong in what I've foretold YET.

[There's a reason he's on television and an idol and able to also take personal clients. He has a reputation and while some of it comes from his mother's name he also has earned a place for himself.]

Huh.

[ Yeah, really: huh. Not that he can't believe it, but most the foretelling he knows... ]

How much of what you see is clear versus kind of... vague?

[ Most of it is either too clear, or the whole nice prophecy no one can agree on the meaning and everyone thinks the details indicate something else.

Or the so general ones that "you will die a cursed ending" can pretty much sum up why knowing the details really doesn't matter. ]

Every instance is differENT. Some moments will be clearer than othERS, but I generally don't relay that sort of thing to my clIENTS. I dislike trying to sway those who come to me towards one detail or another and would prefer to let them ask for more elaboration if they want and interpret on their OWN.

[Many people want their fortunes sugar-coated, especially since many come to him for relationship advice. But while Natsume might be a liar about some things he definitely doesn't sugar-coat things when it comes to work.]

But people also often confuse fortune-telling with propheCY, and I do not claim to be a proPHET. The future can always be changed by those involVED.

Mm, then your customers are luckier than they probably realise.

[ Shino smiles at that, because oh, people are going to do all that on their own anyway, and it'd be so easy to lead them toward one assumption over another. He's been led by the nose like that before, hasn't he? In some senses, wasn't his family, with all they did for him, and then how that had failed?

Hope cuts both ways, a sword with no blunt edges. ]

Prophecy is a pain in the ass. [ He says, blunt. ] Even more if reincarnation's supposed to be involved.

[Natsume seems a little surprised for a moment before he smiles gratefully.]

I agREE. While it perhaps might seem hypocritical of me I've personally never been able to put much merit into propheCY. While I do believe that certain things should happen I don't believe that they are inevitable and I would prefer to believe that people hold some control over their FATES.

[He tilts his head.]

I take it that you have been on the receiving end of an unpleasant prophECY?

[ Shino makes what's best described as a dramatic face, flopping off camera. Not intentionally, but he's been staying in frame with such dedication that seeing him go off frame and now be reduced to a shoulder and arm because he flopped sideways with an aggravated sigh is notable. ]

Or an annoying one? They're so stupidly vague, and it's like things align for them even when they make no sense and you're told you have to do ridiculous things like find six specific people in a world of millions, and for what reason? Who knows!

[Natsume just raises an eyebrow at the dramatic flop but opts not to comment on it. He can still hear him so it isn't a big deal.]

Were there any more details than just a numBER? That does seem very frustratingly vague and nearly impossible if NOT... Although even if you were provided more information it's hardly easy to conduct such a search unless you have vast resources and connecTIONS.

[ Some habits born out of being thirteen for five years has some amusing aftereffects. ]

No! ... Well, that we're all born with beads, [ he says, sitting up and fishing out a bead from an inner pocket, which he flashes in front of the screen. not enough to read the character, just to show what looks like a round, orange-red bead. ] in our hands, but like that's going to make more sense, putting an ad out in the paper! I suggested it, but we're supposed to keep the search quiet back home.

[ He slowly pushes himself back up, looking balefully at the screen. ]

How's that supposed to help anything? And then he wouldn't say exactly who isn't supposed to know, but obviously there's someone. Ugh! It's just a headache!

[Natsume peers over the bead, leaning a little closer with a thoughtful noise.]

That really does sound like an irritatingly vague situatION, especially when you don't even seem to have the full details necessary to aid YOU. Then again I suppose since I'm not directly involved I can't really speak to such a thing in an objective WAY.

Was it ever specified that those you were searching for were from your own WORLD? I don't want to give false HOPE, but could there be a possibility that some might be found HERE?

[ Shino belatedly turns the bead so the single character inside—filial piety (depending on how one wanted to read it) or devotion (again, dealers choice)—points directly at the camera eye. He's figured that much out for the purpose of what he wants to post about in the future, so this? This is just along those lines. ]

I guess it's possible, since I'm here, but it's not what the guy who set me looking for everything believed. I'm not even sure what it all relates to, except stopping someone, maybe, and... something.

[ He looks off to the side, visible chagrined. ]

I don't remember the details as well as he does, but to be fair, I was the one he didn't think needed to know more than to go off and find the missing bead-people.

[ Rio! Right, Rio? It's not like... he fails to hold interest in stories you tell, possibly because he just has a need to buck against your demands time to time. ]

[Natsume squints a little to make out the character before he sits back and crosses his arms.]

I apologize that I can't be of more assistANCE. I'm hardly a private investigator and as of yet I haven't quite established my usual network of informaTION.

[Back at school he has not only secret passages but bugs and surveillance cameras almost everywhere. You never know when you might need to blackmail someone or be able to collect information on your classmates, after all.]

But you shouldn't let yourself grow too disheartened just YET. There are a considerable amount of people from my world who keep arriVING, so there is a chance that the same will happen in your CASE.

[ He gives Natsume a wan smile, then shakes his head and brightens up. It's half sincere, half not, but Shino prefers not to linger in dark thoughts. They steal too much away from him when he does, and they're already inescapable on a certain level, and he's not defeatist by nature. ]

Yeah, you're right. Thanks! I'll just keep checking out the moon base and see if any of the new guys who wake up out there are familiar... it's what we can do, huh? Keep hoping.

That's RIGHT, in times of trouble the only option is to keep pushing forWARD.

[He pauses, humming thoughtfully before adding:]

A magician's job is to help bring joy through maGIC, so while I can't grant your wish of completing your quest I could perhaps help distract your THOUGHTS. If you find yourself wanting tea or company feel free to visit my SHOP.

That's... kind of you. You're a decent guy.

[ He doesn't sound surprised by this, more pleased to learn it's true. It takes all kinds, right? And despite the fact it's... entirely likely he'll accidentally mimic speech patterns again if he's around him in person, it's also possible he won't!

Plus, he's fond enough of teas, and he's constantly at a dearth of company. ]

Thank you.

Hmph. Don't grow too complaCENT, I'm a liar as WELL.

[Even though that isn't really true. While Natsume might purposefully talk oddly and act or speak in ways to distract from his actual feelings it isn't usually too hard to read through all of that to the truth.

And even when he does actually lie it's generally pretty harmless. Usually.]

... But you're welcome I supPOSE.

You're human.

[ Shino says, his smile wry. The implication seems to be: he's not surprised that he's a liar, because he's human? Or because humanity lies? It's not like Shino doesn't, depending. Lies by omission are still lies. ]

I'll definitely stop by sometime, so when I do, I'll be in your care!

That is TRUE.

[Natsume understands what he's implying. He's well aware that everyone lies in some way, he's simply more aware and up-front about it.]

I look forward to it.

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01 ★ video

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