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I'm not sure, I'm not familiar with the term. Artificial human is probably close, though she has abilities much stronger than that of any human I've come across.

For your reference, a golem where I'm from originates from Jewish folklore where an anthropomorphic being is constructed with mud and/or clay. The witches I know of, make their golems out of stone or crystal, fill them up with magic and they can look more or less human depending on the craftsmanship.

Free will is another story, but I think based on what you said, it seems artificial human we both agree with.

I talked with someone on the network that said wherever she walked, flowers sprouted under her feet. I wasn't watching closely, so I didn't catch that.

Ah, I see. I don't know the specifics of how she was made, but she very well could be. But you mentioned the one being an odd duck? Is that a trend or just the one personality?

I didn't see that either, but if that's the case, she'd have to be very powerful. [Which, he already thinks she is based on some other evidence that he's come across, so he can believe it.] ...Wait, like they bloomed even in all the mud left behind? That's impressive.

Edited 2020-11-27 01:56 (UTC)

Well... Oren (the golem- he works at the cafe too) isn't like any other golems according to my boss because he's not made out of any materials you find on Earth. I don't know that much beyond that, but he's also a clean freak if that's anything to you.

Powerful enough to help us, but not entirely to break from whatever bonds she has.

[Oh yeah, and there was another thing she wanted to talk about with him...]

No injuries on my person btw.

All things considered, I definitely sailed by on dumb luck this time.

I'm not sure how much of that can be generalized to this situation, you know.

I'm glad to hear it. I was also fine, just cold. If it hadn't been for people like you helping me out, I'm sure it would have been a lot worse. Thank you for that.

I know, just being silly 😉

[There's a noticeable gap of a few minutes that occur between Natori's last text to her before she replies back.]

I'm glad you're fine too.

If there's another dangerous situation, I'll try to think of something better than throwing a grown man around.

You are not the first person to have thrown me around, though I do hope you're the last. It was a good decision and it bought us time. Don't regret it.

That said, yeah I guess we have a better idea of the scope of things we'll have to plan for.

I'll be a bit more honest here

[or so she says. It's easier to obfuscate over text.]

You remember I told you I can't feel pain and you know I'm strong enough to at least pick a grown man up.

Anyway, that doesn't mean I'm particularly good at using it.

[Ah. That's right; that mark of hers is concerned with keeping her alive. That comment about finding out if she could drown came at a time when they had more important things to focus on, but...]

That should be a good thing, right? That you haven't had to do something like this before.

Maybe.

It's kind of clear to me now that I can't be as leisurely.

And that's what makes me concerned.

[There's a bit of a pause-- it's understandable, given what they all just went through-- before he asks]

For yourself or for others?

[As long as no one gets on her bad side, she can only hope it's fine, but doesn't type that out. But even after that, she remembers lashing out at just about anyone, spitting out twisted words that made the truth darker than it should be.]

Both. I guess.

Naotri, that ayakashi you have. Were you born with it?

I know for sure, I wasn't always like this.

As far as I know. I didn't meet any other humans who could see it until I was a teenager, but I don't remember a time when it wasn't there.

[He's not sure what would be worse, now. Maybe if his personality had had a chance to develop before-- but just as likely, maybe it would have only made him more resentful that much sooner. Because of that, it strikes him that it's likely a sore subject, but after a few seconds he adds on]

Did something in particular happen? When you got it.

[And whether she reads that as 'did something happen for you to get it' or 'did something happen after you got it,' he'll leave that up to her.]

From what I can recall, I was on the beach. I was in a cave exploring by myself as a kid.

[There's a delay as she combs through her memory, really, truly trying to remember the exact details. It's not strange to feel disconnected to recollections of one's younger self, but for her it's difficult in a different way, as if she wasn't quite present for what happened and started to become someone after that day.]

My older brother found me at the time because I had passed out and was laying there inside. I just remember there being some plants in there, some flowers, maybe? But he was the first to notice that I was marked. He and my dad thought it was just some bruise.

Edited 2020-12-04 03:38 (UTC)

[He can't get a sense of how old she was-- the memories of a young child? Or was it vague because something about the incident stopped it from sticking out strongly in her mind? He can imagine any number of scenarios; any number of ways that she started to discover just what had changed. Any number of ways that could have ended badly for her and the people around her.]

Shortly before I came here, I realized how important it is to have help in carrying heavy things. With all the different types of people here, there has to be someone who can help you figure out the limits. Better to find out now than in another emergency, right?

[It sounds like a nonsequitur, but. There's no need to make her fill in the blanks when what mattered was moving forward.]

It's a good idea.

[As for her limits though, that's tricky especially considering the following events where she let the limiter off so to speak.]

I was never a combatant type-- shocking, I know -- but I am considered a danger where I'm from because no one knows what it is I have.

[That's according to Iona anyway. The witch, in a moment of seriousness, had let Monts know that anything of unknown and unearthly origins was extremely scrutinized by the higher magical forces. If nothing else, Monts was unofficially protected by working at the Midnight Grind where Iona and Oren could keep tabs on her.]

It's dumb to not want to be helped, but I don't know anyone that could help me. No one I'm comfortable with yet anyway.

That said, I appreciate that you're chatting about this with me.

Gracias.

Haha, I don't think it's that unusual to be hesitant about it. It's a big thing to be wrestling with. [And seriously, what sort of hypocrite would he be to encourage someone to confide their vulnerabilities in near-strangers?] Just that maybe you're less of a danger here than you might be used to, given everyone (and everything) else.

Though I was also never a combatant type, so even if I did meet your comfort level I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Shocking, I know.

Yes, let us not forget that it was I, a non-combatant, that tossed you onto a roof.

You weren't even the first person to throw me here, did you know that? I was "yeeted" into the ocean for no real reason other than because I could be. At least I asked you.

Oh no.

This isn't going to be a thing for you is it? I hope not...

If it is, I know who to blame! You're the one who made it a habit, after all.

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