bakerstreet | what's your number?

...can it not decide what counts?

[She thinks that's why hers keeps pingponging between a few numbers. Four seems to pop up the most.]

[She looks up, a little bit confused herself.]

That or it can't decide if I'm a different person now than I was then. Yours seems to having a similar issue.

Yes...I'm pretty sure four at least count. Everything else is a little unclear.

[She she taps her knuckles to her cheek in thought, though for all of that her face is impassive. Her eyes barely narrow.]

Hmm...perhaps it's for you to really decide then what the truth is? And who really counts as a partner? Do you really count all of them?

The truth is I wasn't myself. I was made to enact plans I didn't want to be a part of. Things got out of hand while performing certain tasks.

[She reaches up, waving her hand through the number. It's settling on 0 more often but still flickering.]

So if I don't want to count them I don't think I should have to.

Then, there is your answer. Zero. And the silly thing should stop bringing it up.

[She gives a little smile. Her numbers are still flickering, but she's decided not to worry too much about it.]

I'm Byleth, by the way. It's...an interesting way to me somebody new...learning how much fooling around a person has or has not done.

What is this even made of?

[Now she swats at it, as if fanning it will make it go away. It does seem to be settling on zero with only a few flicks of three.]

I'm Usa. It's pretty rude if you ask me. It's not that I'm embarrassed but it's not something I go around broadcasting to the world.

Considering the circumstances involved, I can understand that.

I...wasn't raised normally, and all my acts were...as myself, so they don't hurt me. I just...don't know where fooling around is just that, and when it becomes proper sex.

[Byleth's still having troubles with her ping ponging numbers, and she also takes a swat at the image for a moment before shaking her head.]

I'm not sure. Magic, but nothing used in my world that I can pick up on?

Everyone's probably got their own ideas where that line is. So I guess it's up to you. Just like it's up to me to decide about how to look at my past. Decide where your limits are and see what the number does.

[Usa makes a small circle, seeing if the thing follows her. It does, turning in the direction she's facing. How annoying.]

I don't feel anything from it either. There has to be some way to make it go away. Somehow I doubt attacking it would do any good.

[She thinks...and then yes, it settles on four.]

Well, at least that's fixed...

I can't really think of any usual way to take care of it...but though I can use magic, the theory behind all of it is just a little...beyond me. I just know if I knew the possible theory I could get it but...

[Another moment, and she lets out a loud sigh and moves to rub the bridge of her nose. No other signs of frustration show up on her face though. At most, maybe her eyes narrow.]

Hopefully it's just some sort of jinx and will wear off in time if not figuring out what it wants.

[Usa studies the number over Byleth's head, reaching out to put her hand through that one, too.]

You have the ability but don't know how to use it? Most I've seen requires imagination or willpower. I'm not sure what kind of theories are involved.

[She reaches up again to the number over her head, pretty stable now. Her hand passes through with no change.]

What could it possibly want? We figured out how to make it stop changing.

In my world, magic and science are one and the same. There are rules to it. Formulas and such are written. I only understand the basics. Three of my students are amazing at it.

[She hums, looking at their numbers again.]

Jinxes...are like curses in a way. They don't last long though, and are more for childish mischief than anything else. The most common one being based in white magic. Silencing a person. It lasts a day at most and can be broken by doing something the caster thinks would take a while to puzzle out. I usually ask my students who learn it to make it saying somebody's name during practice...if it works on the same rules, it's probably something the person who set it up would find difficult themselves.

I know someone who would love to visit your world.

[She folds her hands behind her back and walks in a slow little circle, glancing up from time to time to see if her new shadow was still following.]

So all we have to do is figure out what it's conditions are and then do that? What would make someone want to see our many partners we've had? Are they embarrassed? Jealous? I don't want this thing up there for the rest of the day.

Who knows...like I said. It's mischief. They probably wanted us to be embarrassed. Frustrated... I think for it to be completely personal though, who ever did it would already know the numbers.

So, I'm thinking it's just impersonal. Maybe somebody wanting others to lighten up? Conversations can take rather dark tones around here...

But I suppose they also don't understand how traumatic the subject can be.

So it's probably no one we know because we didn't even know one another before now. Maybe they were embarrassed by their own number and decided that if everyone's was visible they could blend in. Maybe... oh, that's an awkward thought.

[She shrugs and crosses her arms, staring up at the number.]

You're right. Too many dark tones. I want something more. I suppose making a new friend would count. If I'm not assuming too much.

I enjoy making new friends.

[This time, Byleth really smiles, brightly all the way to her eyes.]

Should I tell you a funny story? I can go on about my number problem, or my students. My students always make me smile.

Good. Because I don't have many, so having more is probably good.

[She grins, until it smooths out into a proper smile.]

I like funny stories. Go ahead, either way.

Well, let's go with one that involves my number and my students.

[She hums for a moment. How to word this.]

A battle happened in my world and I had been convinced I wouldn't see any of them again. After five long years we had been parted, I cried one for one of the few times in my life. Then, they all came back, one by one. And ...well, they were all grown up.

I still don't know what really came over me, but I cornered one. As we were kissing, he suddenly made the strangest noise and pushed me away. Just as I was about to apologize, he stammered "I'm sorry. I just thought the goddess had come to me and...I came too."

[She reaches up to adjust her hair, and also takes another little swat at the number. While Byleth speaks, she listens intently, her cheeks darkening a little by the end of the story.]

He... just from kissing? Wow, you must be a really good kisser.

[And after she blurts that out, she blushes a bit more.]

I just meant that... um, what happened next?

Edited 2020-03-25 00:30 (UTC)

He was always a shy young man, I'm sure lacking experience also did him no favors...

Though if you want to try, maybe you can tell me how good I am?

[She's teasing...kind of. She just has a hint of mischief in her eyes.]

I calmed down, he was embarrassed and we ended up just having tea after he went to change.

Yes, I've heard that can be... a problem.

[Now her cheeks match her hair.]

Try kissing you? I don't know... I mean... what if it makes my number change?

[She laughs. That was an awkward reply. She's not against the idea, just surprised.]

I'd probably be embarrassed too. Especially if I really liked the person.

Offer is still on the table.

[She huffs, laughing in her own way.]

I mean, then I would be the first one you could count on.

I know. Now it's just a funny story. Though I'm sure he's still a little flustered by it, I think we grew closer. He's a lot more confident with girls who used to bowl him over, so...maybe I helped? Or it's wishful thinking.

Wait, seriously?

[She puts her hands on her hips for a second, then reaches up and touches her chin as she thinks about it.]

That would make you my number one. I guess it's a good thing we're friends now.

[She grins, taking a little step closer.]

I think you did help. It may not have been how he imagined that situation going, but he probably really liked you and getting to share that with you is something he'll never forget.

You'd...just have to be a little patient. I have more experience with men than women.

[Just because she's good at teasing everybody, doesn't mean she is quite as good at getting much farther.

Though that doesn't stop her from slowly placing a hand on Usa's hip.]

I want to believe that. I don't know if it was 'I met a goddess' worthy, but... I feel like my students helped me become...a more human individual. I had a lot of difficulty expressing myself before them, not because I didn't understand my feelings, but they just never came to my face. It wasn't from any real trauma, they just...never showed. Because of them I can laugh and smile.

I can be patient, when I want to be. My experience is... [Her number flickers.] ...let's assume I don't have any.

[The number goes back to zero. Usa feels a little thrill at the touch and in turn she places a hand on Byleth's shoulder. She's feeling a little giddy, smiling more than she had in a long time.]

Maybe to him it was just like that. I could easily see you as a goddess. Reaching out your hand toward the future, molding young minds and helping them grow. That seems very goddess-like to me. And even better, you grew, too. I'm still learning to express myself, without tripping over things like... you know, words. Sometimes it's easier to just do something rather than think about it and try to explain.

[She huffs in laughter again, and ever so carefully pops her hip to touch Usa's. They may have admitted this is going towards a passionate kiss at the very least, but they still only just met and got to know each other.

Which is why she's not assaulting Usa like she did poor Ignatz and starting with a set of small, playful kisses starting at one of those cute ears and down her jaw line.]

I'm still working on that. Explaining my thinking.

what's your number?

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