Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

[wolfsclothing]

Ah, well...yes. [But he should mention it when meat is being offered to him, right? He wonders what type of world this is where they can easily offer meat to someone. He guesses meat here isn't quite taboo at all.

He glances down at the other.]

No, I can eat cheese. Byproducts is fine and some of the ways we can get our protein. [Though the other says another funny word.] Vegan?

[proudofme]

Oh, you just arrived? Fell through a mirror, huh? [Soren answers, just... all too casual about that.]

This is Aefenglom, it's like... a great, big, magic city deal. Lots of use are from different worlds, just sorta. Pop! In here. Oh! I'm Soren. [he'd shake a hand, but... Yikes. Pass.]

They would probably be pretty big on you, but might be better than nothing?

[plasticasshole]

"It is. I had to accept it, too."

He smiles, just a little. He gets it. It's hard to accept.

"But that's the world I've been living in for the past year. It's also the only way I can explain how I've been here for that long when you apparently only saw me a few hours ago. And it's the only way I can explain those memories, too. Those were real."

He wants Markus to believe him. He needs him to.

[northernmist]

[Even though his pride is a little bruised by essentially backing down from his threat like that, Ao Lengshan does save face by accepting the offering. It's technically a fair trade, and he'd rather be bought off than admit to being unable to follow through with the ferocity he was threatening. Some great dragon indeed.

In a way, Styx actually provided a perfect excuse for the de-powered creature.]

Show me.

[Well, manners are still a work in progress. He's supposed to be practicing those, but so far it's been a gradual improvement.]

[wolfsclothing]

It's taboo to eat meat. That isn't to say it doesn't happen. [Of course it happens. He has been in the Back Alley Market before. He had been well acquainted with it even. He had also eaten meat before, but he hopes it won't happen again of course.]

Yes to all of those. We eat things like eggs or beans to get our protein, but eating meat isn't exactly something you would consider to do in good company. Especially if your fellows are Herbivores. [That would be pretty sadistic to do.]

I, uhm, can't drink. I'm not of age. [Though the way his tail wags at the talk of good food...He's been fasting and food sounds good right now.]

[northernmist]

[ The features are actually quite attractive from a dragon's standards, but also strange when they are only certain areas, like small traits a shapeshifter was unable to hide. He raises his head as Vex turns to him, both trying to make himself bigger (sadly ineffective) and also showing honest confusion at the correction. ]

Why not? How else do you expect me to find out what you are?

[ Oh. Is it supposed to be something he can see through? ]

It's not obvious just by looking at you.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ The frustration reaches a breaking point. Berserker chooses to headbutt Kotomine instead of trying to reason through this utterly baffling situation. No warning is given and he's fast. Sure, it's not the most diplomatic solution, but when has he ever been a diplomat? Violence is a first resort. ]

[wolfsclothing]

Ah. Thank you, Haru. [He takes it from her to tie it around the bag.


...It only seems marginally less sketchy but it's still pretty sketchy. Does this really make it better? Legoshi seems pretty pleased though with the way his tail wags and his ears perk up some. Maybe it's just the fact that Haru was helping him. He was a simple man.

A wet and slightly cold simple man.] Haru. Did you arrive recently then? [Hopefully in a more fortunate way than he did.]

an unusual arrival, ilu

[mensrea]

[ Jonas has recently departed for class at the Coven, leaving Stiles to prepare for his daily ritual of dressing down for bed. With a yawn, he heads upstairs to get changed, only to freeze at the unexpected noises coming from down the second-floor hall. What the hell? He saw Jonas leave through the front door. Unless his best friend has mastered teleportation spells – rude not to tell Stiles, frankly – then there’s an intruder in the cottage. In an effort to remain calm, he tells himself that maybe he’s just hearing Eddie get frisky in the terrarium; with that in mind, Stiles sidles toward Jonas’ bedroom to check. The door squeaks open on old hinges despite his attempts at remaining stealthy. Cursing, he sticks his head inside and peers at the terrarium. Eddie stares back at him balefully, emitting a warning hiss. From behind Stiles, the noises continue. Shit. Why couldn’t it just have been Eddie? ]

Fuck you, [ he mouths to the lizard, just for good measure, before quietly closing the door and approaching the bathroom.

Stiles counts to three, steeling himself, and then throws open the door. After the story of their latest trespasser, he thinks that he’s prepared to deal with the worst. And yet the sight of a girl – nope, that’s a flat chest, never mind – marinating miserably in their bathtub is so baffling that for a moment he forgets to be afraid. Then Suigetsu opens his mouth, revealing those teeth, and Stiles is reaching for the first thing he can find (a can of shaving cream) to hurl it at the young man’s head with a shriek. ]

Sakuya Sakuma | A3 | Witch

[alwaysmiling]

[I. Arrival]

[Sakuya raised his arms above his head as he let out a breath of relief that his work was done. Now that he double checked everything and finished what he had to do he could practice. There were a couple of scenes he wanted to go over before they had their rehearsal. He walked out his room, but stopped when he saw the mirror on his way to the practice room. He checked his hair when everything started to shift around him. Sakuya closed his eyes as he landed on floor in a strange room. He stood up as he rubbed his head. Where did he end up? Oh no! Was he in someone's room?]

Sorry! Can you tell me where I am?

[Yes, he knows he in a completely new place, but he didn't want to disturb anyone.]

[II. At the Goblin Stalls]

[When Sakuya saw the stalls it reminded him of home that he wanted to check it out. Maybe he could find something he could use since he didn't have much with him. He walked along the stalls as he looked at the different items that were offered. He stopped when he saw a notebook with a nice leather cover on it. He could use a notebook to write down all the new things he's learning. Sakuya looked up when the goblin asked if he wanted it.]

It's a very nice notebook. How much does it cost?

[Anyone can come in at any time to help him.]

[III. Magic time]

[There were so many new things in this place that he didn't know where which one to question first. There was the woods, the goblins, the new place where he ended up, and he found something knew to add to the list with every passing moment. Out of all the things that existed in this world the one that surprised him the most was his ability to use magic. He could use magic now! Sakuya wanted to test his new power, he found a cup and placed his finger over the edge. He grinned when the water swirled around inside.]

I can't believe I did that! I can use magic! Can you use magic too?

[He's pretty excited about this.]

[IV. Wildcard]

[If you have any ideas hit me up! You can PM his journal or hit me up on plurk at sunnycrow]

[wolfsclothing]

Uh...well, I don't know what a turnskin is so... [He can't say if he is or not???] And I don't know what kind of comparison we're making, but I guess it would be yes? Though, I have no idea what kind of animal you are. [The other was still human enough that he can't identify what they were. After all, he hadn't seen a human before until arriving here. Other than the Monsters (which still looked different to what he's used to), there was a lot of humans and it's quite the culture shock. All of it is.]

Oh. The watch. They're a little old fashioned, aren't they? It took me a moment to figure them out, but they seem to function like phones.

[Legoshi doesn't think much of the other mentioning a deer. There's no reason for him to assume Louis was here.

He's careful to take the offering from the other. It's probably obvious that he was used to handling items given to him with certain care as to not accidentally claw someone.]

Eating meat isn't taboo where you're from then. It seems like it isn't taboo here either.

boaltinn

[blyat]

[Similarly submerged in the floral-scented water, Cain is lounging with his head back, jackal dog-ears flat to his skull and clawed hands hooked on the bath's edge. Serene, peaceful, relaxed...

Until he becomes aware of those beady eyes on him. Prickling with awareness, he slants a gaze over at the strange monster sharing the water a small distance away.]

What's up? [Where normally he might question the circumstances, Cain's not unused to sudden onset arousal - so the friendly aroma of the rose-water is just another Tuesday.] Uh, you wanna... I mean. You're kinda weird looking, but I guess I'm up for it.

WILD CARD

[taciturnly]

Death. Undeath. The dead won’t stay where they should, and Lan Wangji’s probably suffered his tenth heart attack in the span of a few hours. It started with Wei Wuxian a whole season ago, and it never stopped. Song Lan’s melancholy is an ache that still finds an echo in Lan Wangji’s chest, a fate that could have been his own. Easily. He tries not to dwell on what ifs, but it’s a pain so raw and so selfish his gratitude sometimes shames him. Wei Ying is here, flesh and blood and bones while others are not...

...until they are.

He mentions an uncle. After everything that’s happened in the past few days, anything is possible, and Lan Wangji returns home swiftly, only to be greeted by a sight that’s just as foreign as it is familiar. Xiao Xingchen, standing tall in the backyard of his cottage, as gentle as he remembers him to be. Lan Wangji stops in his tracks, freezes, because no matter how peculiar this world may be, he doesn’t think he’ll ever fully adjust to its odd realities.

Something squeezes in his chest, a little forlorn, and Lan Wangji stares wide-eyed until he remembers himself, bowing low in a mix of genuine respect and awe. “Daozhang,” he says softly, as if he hasn’t recently held his sword for Song Lan, and he visibly swallows.

[kingsroads]

[ Like hell Strange is going to let Alucard leave. He walks towards the man, intent on following him as long as possible. ]

We can chat while you walk. Was there anything of note about the mirror before you walked past it?

[fortunefound]

"... thank you," he mutters, catching the cloak with a lighting-fast reflex. that's... new. but he's much too tired now to process it, but he pockets it for now. it'll come up again, he's sure.

molly pulls the cloak around his shoulders, tightly, and gods above, it feels nice. the water on his skin is hot, almost too much to bear, but the cloak somehow... evens it all out for him. he should be freezing, he can feel the air outside is nice and cool, but the water nearly feels like it's boiling when the air hits it. molly takes a half step closer to felix, and now that he's not burning alive, he's going to try and make this work.

"i'm mollymauk. molly. i ... can't explain this, it feels strange. like i've been shoved into a body that isn't mine." again. "or at least a body that's been... i don't know. changed, somehow. is this just me? i feel insane."

[thatsamoray]

[He sways again on his feet, lips curved up in a smile.]

Yeah, they're pretty interesting, Seagull! [ez nickname, ez life] At some point I'm going to run out of potion and I'll be saying goodbye to legs.

[he kicks his foot out, angling his ankle in a strange direction]

Say, can you fly with those wings? How high, how high?

[gale_arc]

[ Hisui is never going to want to see a sand dune again by the time this is all over. It's a miracle his shoes aren't made of sand at this point.

Hisui takes the nearest seat he can, scrubbing his face and groaning in frustration. Of all the bizarre things to happen to him on this trip, ending up on a completely different world was far from the top of his list. At least the sunlight still feels nice. A lot nicer than from how harsh it was in the desert, that's for sure. It's making him a little tired, actually.

Then again, he was just about to go to sleep before everything happened. He'd probably be tired either way. Yeah, that's probably it.

When Kor arrives again, Hisui - who had been on the edge of dozing off - sits up and folds his arms. Okay. Interrogation, take two. Let's go. ]

About time.

[ Doesn't mean he isn't still going to throw a few jabs around, though. ]

So what the hell is this place? And what's with the freaky monster people walking around?

[ That's probably gonna earn him some stares if one of those "freaky monster people" happens to hear him. And unknown to either somatic, Hisui doesn't have a whole lot of room to talk. ]

[lastcomfort]

[ He definitely doesn't look human, but she also knows that the Captain of the 7th Division is a giant puppy who used to wear a bucket on his head. So, Orihime really isn't in the position to be judging anyone in that regard. ]

A-are you sure? Let me see!

[ Which means she's going to call out the magical faeries in her hairpins, but--

--all she ends up doing is standing there kind fo staring. The suddenly looking down at the hairpins on her lapel. ]

W...what? Ayame? Shun'o? Where did they go!?

[princessascended]

[Right, that probably wasn't the most comforting thing in the world to be told even with her quick reassurance. No matter, she can explain! She hopes.]

Nice to meet you, um... Miss Inoue.

[Yeah. She'll just go with that for the foreseeable future. Or until she's asked to call her something else. No big deal to her either way.

More importantly, it's time to clear up some misconceptions. As quickly as possible, preferably, since the poor girl is clearly spooked.]

We're supposed to do the hunting, actually. Except actually going that far is kind of optional. We mostly just need to burn off energy, specifically magic energy, because apparently we're all getting way more of it than usual.

[A bit of an oversimplification, but basically right as far as she can figure from what the coven said in their message.]

If you don't want to go hunt horrible dark beasties, and frankly I can't blame you if you don't, you can just let loose around here. How, exactly... well that kinda depends on you. Just go with your instincts, I guess!

Victoria Argent | Teen Wolf | turnskin wolf

[matriargent]

i | an unusual arrival

[The steel bite of the knife, a necessary counter to keep to the code, a flash of light on the pane of glass, moonlight probably, and then rippling darkness. Peace? Peace.

But that would be too easy.

Her arrival is steeped in neither beauty nor grace. Instead, she falls from it, back breaking the plane of an ornate shop mirror. Where she last remembers the heat of her husband against her, she now feels nothing but cool air and a violent stop as she completes her trip. There’s a loud crash, the sound of glass breaking, and a grunt of pain from her. Gasping for air, her eyes are wide and briefly panicked as she tries to process what the hell just happened.

She was dead. And now she’s not. A hand flies to her chest, to the bloody hole in her shirt and the healed scar beneath it.

Get up! She hears her own voice in her head, strong and fearless. It’s angry too. Her training kicks in and she pushes herself up off the floor with a suppressed noise of pain, glancing around her. It looks like she tumbled right into a shop in Harry Potter, or some place far more real and unforgiving in history. She doesn’t like either option.

Then a magical voice cuts through the early morning air. She listens, and takes it as a warning. If she’s certain about one thing, it’s that she’s not about to be collected to a coven like a possession. A flash of silver catches her attention and she smiles, straightening her self and smoothing out her sweater.]

Oh good, a sword.

ii | goblin market

[Any that knew her wouldn’t be surprised that she’s quickly acclimated to the fashion of the time, presenting herself as a woman of standing. Nothing too ostentatious or flashy, but she’s clearly put together, dressed as smart as one could while trying to keep her less than human features hidden in the shadow of a hood.

All things considered, she thinks she pulls it off nicely. Not that she actually expects to actually fool anyone here. The influx of people arriving and experiencing changes is all anyone is talking about these days. There’s just no accepting the truth of hers.

There’s nothing meek in the way that she carries herself as she meanders through the run of the mill markets, then to the less than savory pop ups that are scattered suspiciously around the City. Cleary they’re operating outside what this place likely considers legal, and as such, they’re likely to have what she seeks.]

Do you have any wolfsbane?

iii | wildcard

[ooc: Have another scene in mind? PM this account and we can work something out!]

AS I LOVE YOU

[liquidate]

(if only he were back home, the can biffed at him would be caught without thought. his body would move on its own and it wouldn't be the problem it is now, landing squarely on a row of bottom teeth jutting out with a petulant gasp. his teeth easily puncture tin, pressurized air and foam bursting from the needled holes in its side.

and it sprays abso-fucking-lutely everywhere.)

–huehhh! (a gag reflex kicks in, the cream getting into his mouth, immediately hacking up a lung as the thing's splashed around for and thrown back with a surprisingly powerful arm.) Are you trying to poison me? Ptoo, can't a guy soak in peace?! I'm dehydrating here!

(what a damn mess, it's floating all up in his bath water and—actually, it smells kind of nice. if only the chemical taste wasn't sticking around.)

[lastcomfort]

...Oh. That's...awful.

[ Knowing that she isn't there doesn't exactly make her feel much better. David Bowie coming out might help, but even then his entrance might be a little tasteless given this revelation.

She shifts awkwardly, casting a now uncertain glance at the people around her. ]

I probably should have paid more attention before following those people here.

[holybeasts]

[It's all a bit of a mess honestly. Saber flares her wings and for a moment Maria does actively attempt to catch the other woman, an instinctively gesture that she has to squash when she notes the wings.

In the end she sort of stands with her hands a little in the air in part from awkwardness and part from natural prey instinct. The sleeves on her buttoned-up blouse are short and from the cream-colored fur on them and everything else combined, from clear cloven hooves to the ears twitching atop her head, she's yet another Monster seeking solace in the woods.

A Monster seeking solace and apparently playing with the wildlife? Even now a bird settles on her shoulder on it's own, a dove of some sort. The blonde laughs herself, half real amusement and half embarrassment.]

Nor did I! Forgive me, I should have thought better before I started just dashing around.

[wolfsclothing]

Ah, no. It's alright. I think maybe it's a lot to ask of since it sounds like your normal and my normal are very different. It can't be helped, since I still don't really know what a human is other than you are one. [And her being human isn't really going to change how he treats her, he thinks.

At her question, he reaches behind to hold his tail up.] I have a tail. [She can touch it if she really wants to.]

We are. Well, dangerous. Scary depending on who you ask, I think. It comes with being a carnivore though. [He's used to being considered dangerous or scary.]

[anbu]

[At least Naruto doesn't reflexively punch him in the face. Winning against Sasuke, in this situation.]

It isn't. [A flat stare, unrelenting and still very much alive.] Have you not noticed the state of your own chakra?

[Gone, a fact that - while still inconvenient on a daily basis and somewhat alarming occasionally - Itachi has begun to grow accustomed to. He has magic to replace it, after all, and he's learning to wield that adeptly instead. Next step: world domination. (I mean, world peace.)]

It is true I died. [Casual conversation for the middle of a busy marketplace.] What is the last thing you remember?