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[karlach is out near the swamp! sitting on a stump of some kind, staring into a box. she's in her default clothes, which means her glowing red chest is more prominent. her tail sways back and forth behind her. she seems lost in thought.]
[ hello! kate has changed into her normal clothes. she sees this and spends some time watching from a distance, before finally deciding to approach. up to you if karlach noticed that hesitation. ]
... Were you hoping to find something else, perhaps?
... Were you hoping to find something else, perhaps?
[she gets the sense that someone is watching her, but she's kind of used to that here considering. she does startle a little when she's approached, blinking up at kate, and then... doing mental gymnastics for a second.
and then apparently she decides that she does not care what this shadow child looks like and just gives her a little smile instead. she has Seen Weirder.]
Whatever I was expecting absolutely wasn't this. [...] I can show you, but promise not to freak out.
and then apparently she decides that she does not care what this shadow child looks like and just gives her a little smile instead. she has Seen Weirder.]
Whatever I was expecting absolutely wasn't this. [...] I can show you, but promise not to freak out.
Hm...? Yes, of course.
[ a nod. she's fairly sure she won't freak out. ]
[ a nod. she's fairly sure she won't freak out. ]
[she shows her!
there is a whole-ass heart in the box. it is fleshy, and a little bigger than a human's, and sad and squishy. no blood! but it's there. karlach just kind of looks... a little uneasy about it.]
there is a whole-ass heart in the box. it is fleshy, and a little bigger than a human's, and sad and squishy. no blood! but it's there. karlach just kind of looks... a little uneasy about it.]
[ looks at it.
a trail of smoke starts rising from the top of her head. ]
What...
Where did this come from?
a trail of smoke starts rising from the top of her head. ]
What...
Where did this come from?
That's a damn good question.
[she glances at the smoke, frowning just a bit.]
It shouldn't be here. Or anywhere, for that matter. It should be ash, if it is what I think it is.
[she glances at the smoke, frowning just a bit.]
It shouldn't be here. Or anywhere, for that matter. It should be ash, if it is what I think it is.
Long story. Short of it is a devil took it. Gave me this instead.
[she raps her knuckles against her chest. it makes a thudding metallic sound.]
[she raps her knuckles against her chest. it makes a thudding metallic sound.]
An engine, yeah. Infernal. [she figures most people have like, seen it, so she doesn't care much about keeping it a secret. who cares, right.]
And you say a devil did it...
Pardon me for asking, but are you also...?
[ a devil? ]
Pardon me for asking, but are you also...?
[ a devil? ]
Nah. I know I probably look like one, but I'm not. It's a whole different thing - I'm a tiefling.
Oh... I see.
I've never heard of tieflings before.
[ that smoke from earlier seems to have stopped pouring out of her head, at least. ]
I've never heard of tieflings before.
[ that smoke from earlier seems to have stopped pouring out of her head, at least. ]
You know, a lot of people have said that here!
[she's glad the smoke has stopped - she's been glancing, concerned.]
We've got fiend blood, but it's not me, it's my ancestors. Some human fu-- [a beat.] Uh, some human got married and had babies with a demon waaaay back in my family tree.
[she's glad the smoke has stopped - she's been glancing, concerned.]
We've got fiend blood, but it's not me, it's my ancestors. Some human fu-- [a beat.] Uh, some human got married and had babies with a demon waaaay back in my family tree.
I see. So that's how...
[ lol. ]
... I'm afraid I don't have such a clear explanation for my own existence as a shadow. Our origins are... not very well understood.
[ lol. ]
... I'm afraid I don't have such a clear explanation for my own existence as a shadow. Our origins are... not very well understood.
Is that what you are? Sorry if that's insensitive, I'm just curious.
Never met a shadow before.
[well. she has, but she's not going to say those shadows tried to murder her, she's got some tact.]
Could you tell me a little more about it? You're not like... someone's shadow? You're your own person.
[well. she has, but she's not going to say those shadows tried to murder her, she's got some tact.]
Could you tell me a little more about it? You're not like... someone's shadow? You're your own person.
It's a bit difficult to explain... but yes. I am my own person.
The Shadows House where I reside is populated by many shadows like me, but the information made available to children is very limited, I'm afraid.
The Shadows House where I reside is populated by many shadows like me, but the information made available to children is very limited, I'm afraid.
[huh.]
Are there not-shadows? Humans or... I guess anything that looks like me. You seem like you know what a devil might be.
Are there not-shadows? Humans or... I guess anything that looks like me. You seem like you know what a devil might be.
I'm afraid the only place I've seen anyone like you is in storybooks.
[ and not usually in flattering contexts... ]
... In addition to the Shadows family, we're attended to by servants who act as cooks, cleaners, and Faces. They make up more than half of the residents of the manor.
[ and not usually in flattering contexts... ]
... In addition to the Shadows family, we're attended to by servants who act as cooks, cleaners, and Faces. They make up more than half of the residents of the manor.
[oof. she gets the implication there, but it's fine.]
Faces?
[curiously.]
Faces?
[curiously.]
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