[More weird bragging. An expert on walking. Sincerely, the things Alberto feels the need to boast about are baffling...]
So you've been on dry land a lot longer than him, huh?
[That Alberto taught Luca to walk on land and not a parent? He's questioning that piece of information right now. Little pieces are falling into place bit by bit.]
[ He responds so quick and smoothly, like somewhere secretly inside Alberto, this answer has already been bubbling up, just waiting for the right question. ]
Yup! I grew up on land. I've lived on land baaasically my whole life~
[ He pauses, then waves a hand dismissively, throwing Katsuki a sarcastic look suddenly. ]
...Ehh, I guess that probably doesn't sound all that special to you— but believe me, it's impressive...!
The way you talk, everything is an accomplishment...
[He's getting a bit tired of all the weird bragging at this point? Walking. Growing up on land. Having a tail. He can sit and listen to it for a while. But he has limits. Alberto sure does know how to push them exceptionally fast...]
[ And, just like that, the cocky facade cracks at that next question. Alberto falters, face falling slightly; he repositions himself to sit upright more, his frame made a little smaller as he idly clasps his folded leg with both hands. His body language tells so much more than he does, always. His fidgety nature works against his prideful nature... ]
O-Oh. Um— Wellllll... We, uh— We think for ourselves, heh— y'know? And most people just— don't understand people who think for themselves... Usually sea folk don't go anywhere near the surface, totally off limits, like it's weird to even talk about it, let alone go there. But they don't realize that the surface is fantastic. My dad didn't wanna live like that — so he left. He could stay stuck there, orrrr he could go see the world... So that's what he did— I mean— that's what we did.
[ That is... a really weird answer. Like so many of his answers are. But there's a tint of something uneasy about it, compared to anything else Alberto's talked about. What kind of reason is that for an adult to break taboo and to not just go on land, even live permanently on land, but to actually raise a child on land...? Spitefulness? Counter-culture? If under the assumption that Alberto grew up with humans in a human town, that's one thing. But the reality is far more baffling. There's something tentative and distant in his tone that subtly points to that, along with how Alberto himself doesn't seem to have a straight answer. But he doesn't seem to be intentionally dancing around a lie, somehow; no, he simply has no clearer answer, really. He's just parroting his father's rhetoric on the matter. There's an odd hiccup of a detail at the end, though, and he corrects himself — not just including himself in his father's move above, but really just a nod to the fact that, like his father, Alberto, too, left to see the world, rather than stay stuck. ...Of course, the gravity of any of that subtext is completely unspoken — but indeed, still silently written all over his body language, always more transparent than he knows. ]
[Katsuki is sincerely glad Alberto is an open book emotionally. Even as bad as Katsuki can be at reading what someone is feeling, he knows he's poked at something sensitive here.
He remembers distinctly that questioning Alberto's upbringing was what got him shoved last time. No mention of a mom here at all. Just a dad who... for some reason decided to raise a kid away from other seamonsters?
This sounds potentially complicated and way over his head for the moment.
He's going to need some time to chew on this one. He watches Alberto silently for a few beats.]
So basically you and your friend are a couple of rebels. Livin' up here with humans.
[Maybe... drop the parent stuff for now? Maybe move on from questions all together for now.
He relaxes his own body language in contrast to the way Alberto's just tightened up. He leans back on his hands, head tilted back, looking up at the ceiling for a moment.]
Gonna show me that tail you were bragging about then?
[ Alberto looks smitten — not smug, like before, just smitten — when Katsuki brings up Luca and describes them as "rebels," crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back with a little smile. ]
Yup~!
[ When asked about his tail, though, his eyes light up and he grins even more genuinely, sitting upright and alert at the suggestion. It's this kind of reaction that, for all his annoying boasting over trivial things, shows that at the end of the day, Alberto's just a kid desperately fishing for compliments. He leans forward excitedly, grasping his feet again, something a little conspiratorial about him. ]
Yeah? Heh, it's not just a tail, y'know— I've got scales and fangs and claws and all that, ha... You won't be scared, will ya?
[ He's clearly trying to joke but... is he really joking? Given the context of this whole debacle, there's probably still a part of Alberto that's scared Katsuki will be scared — despite all his bragging about his cool tail... ]
[Okay. The excitement is kind of cute? Even Katsuki can admit that. Not out loud. But the way his whole demeanor shifts again, so clearly delighted at getting attention for something?]
Hah! As if I'd be scared! I tracked down a dragon not long ago and I'm makin' it my friend!
[It was too tiny to fight. So. He's... trying to tame it. Trying to teach it tricks.
He shoots Alberto a grin. Looks like it's Katsuki's turn to brag?]
[ Alberto stands right away when given the go-ahead, eagerly stepping over the mound of cushions again to make his way to the bathroom. But he stops midway to turn back to Katsuki with a short, silent stare, making the most incredulous and baffled face; but he obviously still has good humor about him when he responds after a beat. ]
Wait— ...You're friends with a dragon...? We'll come back to that.
[ He points his finger accusatorially at Katsuki, but it's all for the sake of sarcasm. He zips into the bathroom, but then has a second thought, and pops his head back out the door. ]
Uh— Did you wanna see me make the Change or did you wanna be surprised?
[ Alberto's never revealed himself for the sake of it before. He's either been unintentionally exposed, revealed himself to go fishing with two people who already knew he was a monster, ooor revealed himself spitefully to horribly betray his best friend. Never just, y'know, casual, conversational transformation. He's not sure how this is supposed to go down. This is the first willing reveal in good faith he'll have ever made — the first of many more he'll undoubtedly make for the rest of his life... any time he gets close to someone, he'll have to have this conversation. There's no model for how this should go. It is what is is. È così. ]
[Katsuki will revisit the dragon thing in a bit. It's a work in progress. Taming a wild animal isn't easy.
But right now his attention is focused on this. It is becoming increasingly obvious this is a Big Deal.
He has no more idea than Alberto how this is supposed to go. Completely and totally winging it. He sits up a little more at the offer. He saw what it looked like for scales to spread a little across Luca's face. But that was just a few scales. This was a whole transformation.
[ Alberto gives a puff of a chuckle and a lopsided, almost sheepish smile, nodding shortly, and waves Katsuki along as he steps back into the bathroom. Katsuki will hear him turn on the shower and draw back the curtain noisily before he even makes it in.
The bathroom is completely different from the rest of the house in that it's just... a normal bathroom. White tiles floors, white walls, white fixtures, wood cabinets... Completely undecorated, no tchotchkes or whatnots. Not even anything all that weird in here, surprisingly. They have no shampoo or conditioner, but there's at least a bar of soap on the soapdish in the shower. There's an empty bowl on the edge of the tub, but it's not dirty; not the strangest thing...? Otherwise, the countertop around the sink looks human enough, really: toothpaste and two tooth brushes (only because they came in a pack of two and Alberto was excited to give the other one to Luca; not because they have the sense not to share a toothbrush — they're only copying what they saw in Massimo and Giulia's bathroom, anyway); a small collection of cheap scented candles (including more than one aquatic scent with something-something-"sea" in its name) scattered about for their special bathtimes; a jar of hair pomade (they've moved on from snail slime! Luxury!) next to a clean fork— ...wait, a fork? Welp. There had to be something a little off here... Notably no hairbrushes or combs (thus the fork) and, worst of all, no deodorant to be seen. They're getting there. The world is lucky they have soap and toothpaste. The bathroom is cleaner than you'd expect for two preteen boys, buuut it's also inhabited by two preteen boys... Not gross, but far from pristine.
When Katsuki enters, Alberto's already standing in front of the tub, contraposto with his hand on his hip, his smile showing both his excitement and a hint of nervousness. He tried to be scary when he revealed himself to Giulia, which he very much succeeded at... but when he revealed himself to Suzume in Stardew, she marveled at him and felt his frills. So he's just gonna have to trust Katsuki to react marginally as well as a five-year-old girl. ]
[ And with that, Alberto steps into the shower, standing to face the showerhead so that the water hits his face first. It's barely a moment before he's fully soaked — and fully transformed... He may look extraordinarily different — and definitely not even remotely human — but there's still somehow something that's very recognizably Alberto in his features. And as promised, when his tail sprouts from seemingly nowhere, it does indeed slide right out a concealed tail-hole sewn into his pants, made just for moments like these. Crafty little kid. With those spikes like he'd described, though, yikes, yeah, no, he definitely needs a tail-hole in his pants.
He turns to face Katsuki and splays his arms and legs out, standing theatrically with a showman's pose and one foot propped up on the side of the tub to show off his flippers, idly swishing his tail slightly behind him. He bears an awkward, toothy grin, now with a mouthful of yellowed fangs, making deliberate eye contact, the whites of his eyes now yellow, his pupils elongated and irises a little brighter green. He's even got one fewer fingers on each hand now, webbing between all four of them. It's definitely... a Change, for sure. Aptly named. ]
...Ta-daaa~...? Ahah...
[ At least he's evoking good humor about it. This is night and day difference from their last confrontation over this. Why couldn't he have just played magician like this from the start?! ]
[A cursory glance at the bathroom doesn't register anything off. When he's not distracted by someone turning into a seamonster before his eyes he'll probably start noticing the weird things. But a once over of it doesn't even have him registering the fork. Which will definitely be the first thing of notice when he's actually able to pay attention.
For the moment, Alberto has his full attention.
There's definitely no fear in his expression, even as his eyes widen a bit. He even moves closer for a better look. It's not even a thought in his mind to keep his distance, despite how threatening some of Alberto's features may appear. In fact, getting a good look at those teeth even triggers a memory.
A boy with red hair and eyes is standing in front of him, grinning with a mouthful of razor sharp teeth. His body slowly transforms--his quirk--his skin becoming hard and almost rocky looking. His fingertips sharpening to look like claws. Everything about him sharp and dangerous looking. But his voice is friendly and excited when he speaks. "I call this move... Unbreakable!!"
Katsuki pauses for a few brief moments as the memory flashes through his mind before shaking his head to clear it and taking those last few steps. Eyes sweeping over scales and fangs and webbed fingers...]
Kinda like a Kappa. Except without the turtle features. What's it like to go between having a tail and not having one? And the teeth... they completely changed too. Is it hard to adjust to that?
[ Alberto notices something odd and distant slowly grow in Katsuki’s eyes for a split second, and Alberto’s own facetious smile slowly melts into a little grimace in turn, until Katsuki shakes the shock of the sudden memory off. While Katsuki had explained to Alberto when they first met that this happens to him, how should Alberto know how to identify it? Let alone distinguish that blip of a lapse from Katsuki’s potential reaction to his own reveal? Nevertheless, after skipping a slight beat himself, he answers Katsuki’s questions smoothly, as if he has no lingering question marks hanging about how Katsuki is really feeling about this. He leans against the shower wall, crossing his arms over his chest, feigning nonchalance as usual, though he keeps the water running. ]
Umm, ha— the teeth, yeah, I mean, not really? Depends what you’re eating… As for the tail— that’s weirder. Sometimes you still feel it? Like you can move it as if it’s still there… My dad called it phantom tail. You get used to it. But it still feels really weird, hah…
[ He’s just gonna ignore the Kappa comment — as he does with most things he doesn’t understand, he doesn’t bother to ask for clarification. Besides: just a month or two ago, he drew a picture of terrifying crab people who raise show-fish, as he and Luca were conceiving a sea society in another ocean as an alternative universe to their own… So why not turtle sea people? His concept of the possibilities in the universe have drastically widened ever since he arrived in Kaisou and found himself spontaneously living in the fucking Twilight Zone… So sea turtle people now seem perfectly plausible. ]
Kind of like when someone loses a limb. Some people report still feeling it.
[Katsuki definitely misses the way his pause affects Alberto. But with no more questions for the moment, he circles back to the memory.]
I don't think he was a seamonster. He didn't have scales or a tail. But the other me knew a guy with teeth like yours.
[And it's nice to see a memory that didn't feel... ominous? As scary as the guy in his memory appeared, there was no sense of danger or threat. More like a friend showing off.
Like Alberto is showing off now. Katsuki even grins at that realization.]
Heh. He was showing off a different form too. He could make his body all spiky and tough.
[ He raises his brows at that in both surprise and confusion. But he can tell Katsuki's sharing this as a good thing, seemingly...? He's smiling, at least? That's something. Alberto's not quite sure what to make of this whole variant-memories thing; it's a bit over his head yet. ]
...So— a guy you remember knowing, but... don't know? Was he human? Why was he spiky? Like a sea urchin?
[ Because if Katsuki's bringing it up, Alberto of course expects him to have answers. He stays leaning against the shower wall as they chat, letting the water hit him casually, paying no mind to how it sprays slightly onto the floor below since the curtain is drawn open. Who cares about puddles, right. ]
I think that was his super power? Making himself... all spiky and tough? Like a human shield. From what I've seen, everyone in that world has special powers.
[Katsuki hasn't yet noticed the water pudding on the floor. He sees an opportunity here and he intends to take it.]
Actually, last month, my friend and I started being able to do the things we could do in those memories. He can float through air now.
[Floating isn't even Izuku's main power. But they don't know that yet. That whole thing was going to be a ride once they started piecing it together.
Right now though, Katsuki’s grin grows wider, a glint in his eyes as he leans forward just a bit.]
[ Alberto's eyes widen skeptically at the mention of his friend and him gaining super powers from another dimension's versions of them, like — th-that's a lot to process in one sentence...? Let alone the floating. But Alberto already is wary of Katsuki being able to explode things with his mind as it is, so while he wants to see some surely crazy inter-dimensional magical magic, even Alberto has sense enough not to do it in a tiny bathroom...
He flips the water off and goes to step out of the tub, but as soon as he does, he slips in the puddle on the tile. He slides this way and that as he almost loses his balance, but barely maintains it enough to keep standing, making a miraculous save without falling, frozen akimbo looking at Katsuki with a comical wide-eyed grimace. ]
[ But ever so smoothly, he collects himself and struts past him and out of the bathroom with a smirk and a confident swagger, tail swishing slowly behind him, leaving a little wet trail in his wake. ]
...That's my super-power: Not-Dying. Ha!
[ Goofy ass kid... He's in good humor as he brags jokingly now, tongue-in-cheek knowing that he's full of it. He waves Katsuki along behind him with a webbed hand. ]
Dai, andiamo. Show me out here. In case more things explode, eh~?
[ He flashes a teasing, fanged grin at Katsuki over his shoulder. He's being sarcastic, but it's a good sign that he's already joking about their last mishap, maybe... ]
[Really? Almost falls and breaks his face and already joking about it?
But it's the end of all that he chooses to focus on. Yeah, about that... He still has to explain what happened. And then explain that... his actual explosion powers aren't the same thing?]
Right. That wasn't really me last time. That was the kitsune. The fox spirit I mentioned before? When I get really emotional, sometimes things start breaking around me. I can't really control that...
[He follows Alberto, more mindful of the puddle. And debating if this should be done indoors? He can control how big they get, to a point...]
[ Alberto is immune to failure and embarrassment — or at the very least has become so deeply familiar with failure and embarrassment that he's perfected his deflections to an art form. Katsuki will get to know this more and more as time goes on — Alberto will always find some kind of accomplishment in his failure. And, thankfully, he usually extends that grace to those around him, too.
He already assumes something's gonna explode or start flying around or something bonkers, so he'd already intended to go outside. Not that the outside is... much better than the inside... They have a little balcony outside the kitchen, which they've just filled with more bull shit tchotchkes... But there is a little stool and an old rocking chair and a large wooden barrel overturned to be used as a table — all clearly things "rescued" from garbage collection.
He listened carefully to Katsuki on the short walk out, but he waits a beat to respond. Once they're out, Alberto plops down in the rocking chair, sliding his tail through the hole between the back and the seat, crossing his legs and resting his arms behind his head, as he starts idly rocking as soon as he sits down. ]
Okay, so, first of all — I don't know what "fox spirit" means. But that's what happened? Things randomly explode if you get upset? Because of— that?
[ Alberto twirls his hand in the air at Katsuki, as if waving at these words he doesn't know. When Katsuki had mentioned the fox spirit to him prior in that fateful text conversation, it went over Alberto's head because he was focused on his own panic, but regardless, he has no idea about spiritual possession or, um, foxes... And when he doesn't understand something, he's awful for just remaining silent, rather than admit to his own ignorance. Unless he has to. Like right now. But it's becoming more bearable, given the context... ]
[So. It's going to be a little more explaining than he was anticipating. Luca hadn't asked any real questions. But that didn't necessarily mean he understood. He'd just been very accepting of whatever Katsuki was telling him. Ridiculously chill, especially compared to Alberto.
But it probably makes sense Alberto doesn't know what a fox is. Seamonster thing aside, he was from a fishing town and they weren't really known for being full of foxes right?
Katsuki settles on the stool and reaches for his phone like he had when Luca mentioned not knowing what a raincoat was. This time he pulls up a picture of an arctic fox, holding his phone out.]
Kind of like this. But... Magic? Has more tails. And it can talk to me. But it doesn't do that a whole lot. When I was a kid, I fell in a river and... it offered to save my life. But I had to let it attach itself to me. It's called possession. And... that's my secret? Like you being a seamonster. I've really only told people like me. And Deku--my friend. And now you and your friend.
[Secret for a secret. He'd been trying to reassure Alberto and it failed because of Alberto having no idea what he was even talking about... in hindsight he realizes he did a really poor job of it. But he's open to explaining better now. If Alberto has any questions. He knows it's kind of a lot and also confusing...]
[ After looking at the picture, Alberto listens carefully, still idly rocking in the chair, pushing himself with his flipper-like foot propped up against the balcony's railing. It's still all a bit over his head, but the gist of it strikes home. The guy almost drowned; Alberto worked very, very briefly as a lifeguard toward the end of his stay in Portorosso. He knows it's scary — and it makes him wonder if Katsuki knows how to swim now. But to hear that they've been roped into this apparently very small circle in the know, Alberto feels a little more... ashamed... at the way he'd acted in their fight. It takes him pause to reply, but when he does, he stops rocking for a second, leaning forward to face Katsuki more intently. ]
So... Why do you keep it secret? Do people hunt fox spirits, or— err— people who're... possession-ed by fox spirits...?
Something like that. There's groups out there that want to get ahold of us.
[He actually hesitates here a moment. Honestly... the full answer to what people would want with possessed people... Katsuki isn't sure he wants to delve into it again. He has some pretty distinct memories burned into his mind from June.
From Jun's nightmare. Learning a bit about Krusnik. About the experiments they did trying to create possessions. He didn't actually know the answer to what they did with the successes. Wasn't sure he wanted those answers.]
There are some fucked up people in the world. We'll leave it at that. Besides, you wanted to see what my power was didn't you?
[ That answer draws a quietness from Alberto again, liking but not liking that they have this in common, sort of. But he's relieved when Katsuki changes the subject back to their whole reason being out here, and he smirks at him with his mouth still full of sharp teeth. ]
Heh. Yeah. Show me what you've got~
[ Alberto stays leaning forward, propping his arms up on his knees and resting his chin in his hands, watching with an eager smile now. His scales are slowly starting to disappear as his skin dries, though the air is moist and humid from the rains. His tail stays, as he's sitting on a wet cushion, but lavender scales are slowly morphing into patches of tan skin everywhere else. ]
[The summer heat has been a benefit when it comes to his newly acquired power actually. As well as making it more of a pain at times to deal with.
It's... kind of a gross power when you know how it works, honestly. But Katsuki isn't jumping to share that it comes from sweating nitroglycerin and somehow being able to detonate it. He's been putting a lot of effort into learning how to control the output the last two months. And that's about to be put to the test.]
Don't get too close.
[He turns away a bit, holding his hand out away from Alberto, palm up. At first it's just little sparks of light and soft popping sounds as he focuses on keeping it controlled. But as he lets them build a bit it becomes more obvious what he's doing. Tiny explosions. Almost like little fireworks popping out of his palm.
And okay... yeah he's showing off a bit. But can you blame him? He hasn't really had a chance to get excited about his power because mostly he's been either accidentally blowing up his furniture or using it to fight.]
They can get bigger. I used 'em to fight in last months realm. But I probably shouldn't show you that or I might blow up your balcony. It's separate from what the kitsune does. This I can control.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ninetydegrees
(no subject)
So you've been on dry land a lot longer than him, huh?
[That Alberto taught Luca to walk on land and not a parent? He's questioning that piece of information right now. Little pieces are falling into place bit by bit.]
(no subject)
Yup! I grew up on land. I've lived on land baaasically my whole life~
[ He pauses, then waves a hand dismissively, throwing Katsuki a sarcastic look suddenly. ]
...Ehh, I guess that probably doesn't sound all that special to you— but believe me, it's impressive...!
(no subject)
[He's getting a bit tired of all the weird bragging at this point? Walking. Growing up on land. Having a tail. He can sit and listen to it for a while. But he has limits. Alberto sure does know how to push them exceptionally fast...]
What made your folks decide to raise you on land?
(no subject)
O-Oh. Um— Wellllll... We, uh— We think for ourselves, heh— y'know? And most people just— don't understand people who think for themselves... Usually sea folk don't go anywhere near the surface, totally off limits, like it's weird to even talk about it, let alone go there. But they don't realize that the surface is fantastic. My dad didn't wanna live like that — so he left. He could stay stuck there, orrrr he could go see the world... So that's what he did— I mean— that's what we did.
[ That is... a really weird answer. Like so many of his answers are. But there's a tint of something uneasy about it, compared to anything else Alberto's talked about. What kind of reason is that for an adult to break taboo and to not just go on land, even live permanently on land, but to actually raise a child on land...? Spitefulness? Counter-culture? If under the assumption that Alberto grew up with humans in a human town, that's one thing. But the reality is far more baffling. There's something tentative and distant in his tone that subtly points to that, along with how Alberto himself doesn't seem to have a straight answer. But he doesn't seem to be intentionally dancing around a lie, somehow; no, he simply has no clearer answer, really. He's just parroting his father's rhetoric on the matter. There's an odd hiccup of a detail at the end, though, and he corrects himself — not just including himself in his father's move above, but really just a nod to the fact that, like his father, Alberto, too, left to see the world, rather than stay stuck. ...Of course, the gravity of any of that subtext is completely unspoken — but indeed, still silently written all over his body language, always more transparent than he knows. ]
(no subject)
He remembers distinctly that questioning Alberto's upbringing was what got him shoved last time. No mention of a mom here at all. Just a dad who... for some reason decided to raise a kid away from other seamonsters?
This sounds potentially complicated and way over his head for the moment.
He's going to need some time to chew on this one. He watches Alberto silently for a few beats.]
So basically you and your friend are a couple of rebels. Livin' up here with humans.
[Maybe... drop the parent stuff for now? Maybe move on from questions all together for now.
He relaxes his own body language in contrast to the way Alberto's just tightened up. He leans back on his hands, head tilted back, looking up at the ceiling for a moment.]
Gonna show me that tail you were bragging about then?
(no subject)
Yup~!
[ When asked about his tail, though, his eyes light up and he grins even more genuinely, sitting upright and alert at the suggestion. It's this kind of reaction that, for all his annoying boasting over trivial things, shows that at the end of the day, Alberto's just a kid desperately fishing for compliments. He leans forward excitedly, grasping his feet again, something a little conspiratorial about him. ]
Yeah? Heh, it's not just a tail, y'know— I've got scales and fangs and claws and all that, ha... You won't be scared, will ya?
[ He's clearly trying to joke but... is he really joking? Given the context of this whole debacle, there's probably still a part of Alberto that's scared Katsuki will be scared — despite all his bragging about his cool tail... ]
(no subject)
Hah! As if I'd be scared! I tracked down a dragon not long ago and I'm makin' it my friend!
[It was too tiny to fight. So. He's... trying to tame it. Trying to teach it tricks.
He shoots Alberto a grin. Looks like it's Katsuki's turn to brag?]
Bring it on, Nickels. Can't scare me that easy.
(no subject)
[ Alberto stands right away when given the go-ahead, eagerly stepping over the mound of cushions again to make his way to the bathroom. But he stops midway to turn back to Katsuki with a short, silent stare, making the most incredulous and baffled face; but he obviously still has good humor about him when he responds after a beat. ]
Wait— ...You're friends with a dragon...? We'll come back to that.
[ He points his finger accusatorially at Katsuki, but it's all for the sake of sarcasm. He zips into the bathroom, but then has a second thought, and pops his head back out the door. ]
Uh— Did you wanna see me make the Change or did you wanna be surprised?
[ Alberto's never revealed himself for the sake of it before. He's either been unintentionally exposed, revealed himself to go fishing with two people who already knew he was a monster, ooor revealed himself spitefully to horribly betray his best friend. Never just, y'know, casual, conversational transformation. He's not sure how this is supposed to go down. This is the first willing reveal in good faith he'll have ever made — the first of many more he'll undoubtedly make for the rest of his life... any time he gets close to someone, he'll have to have this conversation. There's no model for how this should go. It is what is is. È così. ]
(no subject)
But right now his attention is focused on this. It is becoming increasingly obvious this is a Big Deal.
He has no more idea than Alberto how this is supposed to go. Completely and totally winging it. He sits up a little more at the offer. He saw what it looked like for scales to spread a little across Luca's face. But that was just a few scales. This was a whole transformation.
He's curious.]
If you're offering, I'll come watch.
1/2
The bathroom is completely different from the rest of the house in that it's just... a normal bathroom. White tiles floors, white walls, white fixtures, wood cabinets... Completely undecorated, no tchotchkes or whatnots. Not even anything all that weird in here, surprisingly. They have no shampoo or conditioner, but there's at least a bar of soap on the soapdish in the shower. There's an empty bowl on the edge of the tub, but it's not dirty; not the strangest thing...? Otherwise, the countertop around the sink looks human enough, really: toothpaste and two tooth brushes (only because they came in a pack of two and Alberto was excited to give the other one to Luca; not because they have the sense not to share a toothbrush — they're only copying what they saw in Massimo and Giulia's bathroom, anyway); a small collection of cheap scented candles (including more than one aquatic scent with something-something-"sea" in its name) scattered about for their special bathtimes; a jar of hair pomade (they've moved on from snail slime! Luxury!) next to a clean fork— ...wait, a fork? Welp. There had to be something a little off here... Notably no hairbrushes or combs (thus the fork) and, worst of all, no deodorant to be seen. They're getting there. The world is lucky they have soap and toothpaste. The bathroom is cleaner than you'd expect for two preteen boys, buuut it's also inhabited by two preteen boys... Not gross, but far from pristine.
When Katsuki enters, Alberto's already standing in front of the tub, contraposto with his hand on his hip, his smile showing both his excitement and a hint of nervousness. He tried to be scary when he revealed himself to Giulia, which he very much succeeded at... but when he revealed himself to Suzume in Stardew, she marveled at him and felt his frills. So he's just gonna have to trust Katsuki to react marginally as well as a five-year-old girl. ]
Okay. Prepare to be amazed...? Hah~
2/2
He turns to face Katsuki and splays his arms and legs out, standing theatrically with a showman's pose and one foot propped up on the side of the tub to show off his flippers, idly swishing his tail slightly behind him. He bears an awkward, toothy grin, now with a mouthful of yellowed fangs, making deliberate eye contact, the whites of his eyes now yellow, his pupils elongated and irises a little brighter green. He's even got one fewer fingers on each hand now, webbing between all four of them. It's definitely... a Change, for sure. Aptly named. ]
...Ta-daaa~...? Ahah...
[ At least he's evoking good humor about it. This is night and day difference from their last confrontation over this. Why couldn't he have just played magician like this from the start?! ]
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For the moment, Alberto has his full attention.
There's definitely no fear in his expression, even as his eyes widen a bit. He even moves closer for a better look. It's not even a thought in his mind to keep his distance, despite how threatening some of Alberto's features may appear. In fact, getting a good look at those teeth even triggers a memory.
A boy with red hair and eyes is standing in front of him, grinning with a mouthful of razor sharp teeth. His body slowly transforms--his quirk--his skin becoming hard and almost rocky looking. His fingertips sharpening to look like claws. Everything about him sharp and dangerous looking. But his voice is friendly and excited when he speaks. "I call this move... Unbreakable!!"
Katsuki pauses for a few brief moments as the memory flashes through his mind before shaking his head to clear it and taking those last few steps. Eyes sweeping over scales and fangs and webbed fingers...]
Kinda like a Kappa. Except without the turtle features. What's it like to go between having a tail and not having one? And the teeth... they completely changed too. Is it hard to adjust to that?
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Umm, ha— the teeth, yeah, I mean, not really? Depends what you’re eating… As for the tail— that’s weirder. Sometimes you still feel it? Like you can move it as if it’s still there… My dad called it phantom tail. You get used to it. But it still feels really weird, hah…
[ He’s just gonna ignore the Kappa comment — as he does with most things he doesn’t understand, he doesn’t bother to ask for clarification. Besides: just a month or two ago, he drew a picture of terrifying crab people who raise show-fish, as he and Luca were conceiving a sea society in another ocean as an alternative universe to their own… So why not turtle sea people? His concept of the possibilities in the universe have drastically widened ever since he arrived in Kaisou and found himself spontaneously living in the fucking Twilight Zone… So sea turtle people now seem perfectly plausible. ]
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[Katsuki definitely misses the way his pause affects Alberto. But with no more questions for the moment, he circles back to the memory.]
I don't think he was a seamonster. He didn't have scales or a tail. But the other me knew a guy with teeth like yours.
[And it's nice to see a memory that didn't feel... ominous? As scary as the guy in his memory appeared, there was no sense of danger or threat. More like a friend showing off.
Like Alberto is showing off now. Katsuki even grins at that realization.]
Heh. He was showing off a different form too. He could make his body all spiky and tough.
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...So— a guy you remember knowing, but... don't know? Was he human? Why was he spiky? Like a sea urchin?
[ Because if Katsuki's bringing it up, Alberto of course expects him to have answers. He stays leaning against the shower wall as they chat, letting the water hit him casually, paying no mind to how it sprays slightly onto the floor below since the curtain is drawn open. Who cares about puddles, right. ]
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[Katsuki hasn't yet noticed the water pudding on the floor. He sees an opportunity here and he intends to take it.]
Actually, last month, my friend and I started being able to do the things we could do in those memories. He can float through air now.
[Floating isn't even Izuku's main power. But they don't know that yet. That whole thing was going to be a ride once they started piecing it together.
Right now though, Katsuki’s grin grows wider, a glint in his eyes as he leans forward just a bit.]
Do you wanna see what mine is?
1/2 just cuz i seldom get to use his sea monster icons and NEVER get to use this one lol
He flips the water off and goes to step out of the tub, but as soon as he does, he slips in the puddle on the tile. He slides this way and that as he almost loses his balance, but barely maintains it enough to keep standing, making a miraculous save without falling, frozen akimbo looking at Katsuki with a comical wide-eyed grimace. ]
2/2
...That's my super-power: Not-Dying. Ha!
[ Goofy ass kid... He's in good humor as he brags jokingly now, tongue-in-cheek knowing that he's full of it. He waves Katsuki along behind him with a webbed hand. ]
Dai, andiamo. Show me out here. In case more things explode, eh~?
[ He flashes a teasing, fanged grin at Katsuki over his shoulder. He's being sarcastic, but it's a good sign that he's already joking about their last mishap, maybe... ]
Pffff Alberto is such a precious mess. Boy pls.
But it's the end of all that he chooses to focus on. Yeah, about that... He still has to explain what happened. And then explain that... his actual explosion powers aren't the same thing?]
Right. That wasn't really me last time. That was the kitsune. The fox spirit I mentioned before? When I get really emotional, sometimes things start breaking around me. I can't really control that...
[He follows Alberto, more mindful of the puddle. And debating if this should be done indoors? He can control how big they get, to a point...]
Prince Gremlin
He already assumes something's gonna explode or start flying around or something bonkers, so he'd already intended to go outside. Not that the outside is... much better than the inside... They have a little balcony outside the kitchen, which they've just filled with more bull shit tchotchkes... But there is a little stool and an old rocking chair and a large wooden barrel overturned to be used as a table — all clearly things "rescued" from garbage collection.
He listened carefully to Katsuki on the short walk out, but he waits a beat to respond. Once they're out, Alberto plops down in the rocking chair, sliding his tail through the hole between the back and the seat, crossing his legs and resting his arms behind his head, as he starts idly rocking as soon as he sits down. ]
Okay, so, first of all — I don't know what "fox spirit" means. But that's what happened? Things randomly explode if you get upset? Because of— that?
[ Alberto twirls his hand in the air at Katsuki, as if waving at these words he doesn't know. When Katsuki had mentioned the fox spirit to him prior in that fateful text conversation, it went over Alberto's head because he was focused on his own panic, but regardless, he has no idea about spiritual possession or, um, foxes... And when he doesn't understand something, he's awful for just remaining silent, rather than admit to his own ignorance. Unless he has to. Like right now. But it's becoming more bearable, given the context... ]
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But it probably makes sense Alberto doesn't know what a fox is. Seamonster thing aside, he was from a fishing town and they weren't really known for being full of foxes right?
Katsuki settles on the stool and reaches for his phone like he had when Luca mentioned not knowing what a raincoat was. This time he pulls up a picture of an arctic fox, holding his phone out.]
Kind of like this. But... Magic? Has more tails. And it can talk to me. But it doesn't do that a whole lot. When I was a kid, I fell in a river and... it offered to save my life. But I had to let it attach itself to me. It's called possession. And... that's my secret? Like you being a seamonster. I've really only told people like me. And Deku--my friend. And now you and your friend.
[Secret for a secret. He'd been trying to reassure Alberto and it failed because of Alberto having no idea what he was even talking about... in hindsight he realizes he did a really poor job of it. But he's open to explaining better now. If Alberto has any questions. He knows it's kind of a lot and also confusing...]
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So... Why do you keep it secret? Do people hunt fox spirits, or— err— people who're... possession-ed by fox spirits...?
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[He actually hesitates here a moment. Honestly... the full answer to what people would want with possessed people... Katsuki isn't sure he wants to delve into it again. He has some pretty distinct memories burned into his mind from June.
From Jun's nightmare. Learning a bit about Krusnik. About the experiments they did trying to create possessions. He didn't actually know the answer to what they did with the successes. Wasn't sure he wanted those answers.]
There are some fucked up people
in the world. We'll leave it at that. Besides, you wanted to see what my power was didn't you?
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Heh. Yeah. Show me what you've got~
[ Alberto stays leaning forward, propping his arms up on his knees and resting his chin in his hands, watching with an eager smile now. His scales are slowly starting to disappear as his skin dries, though the air is moist and humid from the rains. His tail stays, as he's sitting on a wet cushion, but lavender scales are slowly morphing into patches of tan skin everywhere else. ]
(no subject)
It's... kind of a gross power when you know how it works, honestly. But Katsuki isn't jumping to share that it comes from sweating nitroglycerin and somehow being able to detonate it. He's been putting a lot of effort into learning how to control the output the last two months. And that's about to be put to the test.]
Don't get too close.
[He turns away a bit, holding his hand out away from Alberto, palm up. At first it's just little sparks of light and soft popping sounds as he focuses on keeping it controlled. But as he lets them build a bit it becomes more obvious what he's doing. Tiny explosions. Almost like little fireworks popping out of his palm.
And okay... yeah he's showing off a bit. But can you blame him? He hasn't really had a chance to get excited about his power because mostly he's been either accidentally blowing up his furniture or using it to fight.]
They can get bigger. I used 'em to fight in last months realm. But I probably shouldn't show you that or I might blow up your balcony. It's separate from what the kitsune does. This I can control.
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Posted by:oof this got lost, sorry!! down to either continue or drop as you please
Posted by:We're all good. It can probably wrap pretty soon?
Posted by:yeah, sounds good! whenever you please!
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