IC Inbox [Empatheias]

[hamnation]

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[hamnation]

[Gundam is leaning down several feet of Red, and he looks hesitant about his suggestion.]

When I first arrived here, I did receive some basic instruction from this land's serpent tamers. [He pauses for a moment.]

...I may bear some interest in your insights on the matter. But grasping the hand of one such as myself is much more easily said than done!

[gottacatch]

[ Gundam knows how to pause him, but a confidence settles into Red quick enough. ]

That's fine. It doesn't need to be easy. [ He looks at one of his own hands, the closest to Gundam, bringing it up to inspect. ] But I know I'm willing to make the attempt because I want to share this with you.

[ He points the hand out in Gundam's direction, looking up at him. ]

I'm ready for the challenge! Are you?

[hamnation]

[Gundam eyes him warily, in deliberation. He always feels unsure about physical contact and closeness with others, even people he's befriending. But he's given Hinata and Sonia a chance, so...]

Hmph... You know not the forces you are tampering with. Should you start to feel even a hint of poison at my touch, you should withdraw your hand immediately!

[He reaches, with his bandaged arm.]

My sealed arm should be sufficient.

[gottacatch]

[ Red can't help but smile when Gundam relents, understanding the intimacy without the boy having to speak word of it, and grateful. He wasn't one to go taking peoples' hands on the regular, and here, he takes hold of the lower part of Gundam's hand, near to his wrist. ]

Thanks. I'll be careful and hold here! [ Was it weirder, to not be a full grip? But any touch was sufficient, and offering to take any other part of Gundam's arm seemed a waste after all that. And he won't delay now, eyes closing with the small smiling still playing on his lips. ]

The way I see how dunamis works, it's about linking emotions to abilities, and how they make you feel to imagine. The effects we create have to be linked to us some way! And [ heh ] it's been working to help me control it into something useful for my pokémon. And others. [ As seen here. ]

So for the lullaby, I already had a way figured out how to do that. Lapras can make a song to inflict sleep that I've heard before, and I thought about that- how the song makes your body calm when it catches you, and how it feels to be caught in it too.

[ Minds linked and contact established, Red offers a sample of that now as the soft sound of the creature can be heard in their minds, the real one silent as she watches the pair. It's distant, as if coming from another part of the city, that itself meaning to dull the effects down, but not to silence them completely. The wash of calm that comes is like a blanket, but when only being draped over briefly, to experience the way the limbs might succumb without letting it be a reality, the sleep to the back of the eyes wearing them all in a moment, and then passing, just leaving a trace of itself in them. ]

That's what the power of putting someone to sleep is to me. A calm so strong that you can't break out of it. The song doesn't matter as long as you tap into that feeling! [ Did Red swap to mind chat here for some reason, yes he did. His eyelids part to look at the wurm next to him, already content in rest, and he looks over to Gundam. ]

Did you bring the Dark Devas with you? We can try with them, one at a time, so you can practice!

[hamnation]

[Gundam is a bit tense, but he's patient as he listens to Red's explanation, with occasional curious glances towards the Lapras as he explains. Then he hears that soft sound, and his limbs do almost go numb as he takes in that incredible sample of calmness. He remains where he is, but the calmness has caused his posture to loosen up, and for his expression to look softer. Gundam then smirks and closes his eyes as he mentally replies.]

Kehehe... So that is your sleeping spell. Very interesting...

You will find that the Dark Devas of Destruction are never far from my side. [Except when they're with Sonia, but still. And this is when the hamsters peek out from Gundam's scarf.]

[gottacatch]

[ For as common as they are, Red doesn't see hamsters all that often, so to spot the little familiars make their appearance without word gets a ping of excitement between their joined hands, in time with Red's face lighting up into a grin of small laughter. ]

Great! [ Just going to wave to the four as he talks to Gundam. ] You can keep standing if you want, but sitting might be easier. I'll supply you with that feeling, and you focus on that and a song, any song, so you make a connection between the two and that feeling, and you can learn it for yourself. Just keep your back straight and don't fall asleep! After we give the first Devas a nap, you can try putting the next one to sleep on your own.

[ Sound like a plan to you, Gundam? And yes, Lapras is catching those glances --or the first few, before he head turns and her eyes close. She might even appear to be smiling, if one believes the shape of her mouth can form such a thing. ]

[hamnation]

[There's little twinges of warmth expelling from Gundam's end as he smiles towards the dark devas. He may have gotten used to having them around again on some level, but on some level he will still always feel grateful to be have some extra time with the creatures.]

Very well. I will seat myself in order to properly receive your instruction! [He has a bit of a boisterous energy as he crouches into a seating position, and one of the hamsters scampers onto their connected hands. It's San-D, who is slowly nibbling on a half-eaten seed, and he looks up at Red with sparkling eyes.]

Know that the Dark Devas of Destruction are not to be understimated! If your spell can truly put them to a slumber, then it would truly be worthy of acclaim!

[Oh, and he blushes slightly when he sees Lapras smiling.]

[gottacatch]

[ Don't be weird about his lapras. ]

My spell is Lapras's spell, and she's not just a cute face either. She's one of my best fighters! [ Hey, we're not going to be modest about how rad Lapras is. ]

Do you have a song ready? It can be a chant, too, or even a tune. Whatever it is it's going to be your sleeping spell, so it needs to be something you can repeat again!

[ He can use new lyrics later. ]

[hamnation]

[He will always be weird, though.]

Yes, your efforts combined as one... Very interesting!

Hmph. A chant would be the most fitting. Perhaps... 'Little Demons, be at Rest!'

[gottacatch]

Alright, then let's start at the count of three! [ Red spares a look to the singular hamster, before straightening his back. ] One... two... three!

[ And what comes then is that power that had made its way into Gundam's body before, that he might even feel a lump there, in his throat. An energy he need only to take and focus on the individual before him, to let out into his words...

but for real who knows how it will go. At least it's only a sleeping spell?? have fun, Gundam. ]

[hamnation]

[Gundam mentally counts along with him, and then he gets to work.

He feels the powers, and he does his best to harness it bombastically with his voice.]

Little Demons, be at rest! [It takes a moment, but the little hamster's eyelids begin to feel heavy, and he starts snoozing. Gundam's natural reaction is to cackle madly.]

Fuhahahahaha! I have unlocked a new ability as the nightmare prince!

[gottacatch]

[ Good job, Gundam.

It's half-tempting to clap for Gundam with a reaction like that, but let's cut off the energy, and give a - ] Good job! [ instead. That seems better, the wurm against his lap stirring with a grumbling at all the noise, and Red pats at them. ]

You won't always get someone to fall asleep as quick as that -- it depends on what their resistance is like. Sometimes, you need to carry it longer or they'll snap back awake. But the practice means you get better at resisting it too!

... it's better to just attack whoever's trying to put you to sleep though.

[ You know. Just a smart idea in general. ]

[hamnation]

[And you didn't even have to use a Rare Candy! Gundam smirks in return as he tenderly holds the sleeping San-D in his arms.]

Kehehe... I see. It makes sense. Creatures with different power levels should have different levels of resistance! And I will do all that I can to resist such a spell's pull on me. But there would be no need to feel concern for me in such a showdown. [Or so he wants Red to think.]

Next, you must teach me 'Dream Eater'!

[gottacatch]

Huh? [ Teach Dream Eater?? To who?? The hamsters?? Huh? Whuh???????




wait ]

You [ yes, Red's pointing a finger ] want to learn how to use Dream Eater?

[ YOU you??? The You you kind of you??? ]

[hamnation]

[He nods firmly and speaks with complete confidence.]

My power level should be more than sufficient, Red. You have taught me the forbidden lullaby, and it only stands to reason that Dream Eater is the next natural step!

[gottacatch]

[ ...

Red's never even considered learning Dream Eater for himself. How would teaching that to a person even go? Or learning it in the first place to teach? Was it possible?

It's definitely a request (or whatever you want to call it, coming from Gundam) deserving thought, brow low and mouth pinched. Well, there's at least another thought to pause that one. ]

What would you do with it? I dunno if it'd be the same for humans as it is for pokémon... Hmm...

[hamnation]

[Those are questions only sane mortals ask.

Gundam watches patiently as Red thinks it over.]

Have you forgotten? I am no ordinary human. And it should be obvious... Once I put my foes to sleep, I will use that move to consume their dreams and drain their energy!

[gottacatch]

.......

[ Red is trying really hard to imagine this. ]

Mmm... [ ugh, does he really want to consider this... ] ...I'll see what I can do, but I don't know how it's going to work. Lapras's lullaby was easy because I knew what emotion to put to it, and we have a connection! But Dream Eater... what emotion would you put to a move like that? And if dunamis doesn't turn the dream into energy...

...

... why don't we just learn 'absorb'?

[hamnation]

Hmph... I sought to become a consumer of nightmares. [He looks mildly disappointed.] I suppose that it is up to me to develop this power... [Or to pretend to.]

...

...You may tell me more about 'Absorb'.

[gottacatch]

[ Maybe one day, Gundam.........

Red doesn't want to promise anything of that magnitude however, so, uh, yes. Absorb. ]

It's a Grass type move. I don't have any pokémon with me who can use it, but trying to learn how to absorb energy first might make things easier before moving onto dreams. [ That was his idea, but actually thinking about it like a normal person and not just naming pokémon moves because you're a nerd? ]

...I don't know how you would do that either. [ His mouth got ahead of him, ok. ] But you know, you won't know until you put the time into it and experiment! You still need to try putting one of the Devas to sleep with my help. Do you think you can do that?

[ Do you remember anything before you started thinking about how cool eating nightmares for sustenance was, Gundam. ]

[hamnation]

[Gundam abruptly stands up and balls up a fist as he cries out joyously.]

Then I will be the master! One day, I will teach you how to drain your enemy's very life force! Kehehehe... Prepare yourself to commit my hellish techniques to memory!

[Then he looks at the napping hamster for a moment, and his expression softens as he starts to stoop down again.]

...Still, I suppose that there is some truth to your words. I should focus on completing mastery of this new skill first. I remember your teachings well... and I will put every last one of my dark devas of destruction to a luxurious slumber! [He remembers. Maybe.]

[gottacatch]

[




Gundam. ]

[gottacatch]

[ It would be impressive if Gundam did, considering Red didn't expect this to be an instant feat to accomplish, and to require some further practice to be able to remember it and make truly his own.

But he'll give Gundam the chance to prove himself, gesturing with a hand. ] Then let's see what you've got!

[ just

keep the theatrics down...... maybe... ]

[hamnation]

Fuhahaha! You should be careful what you wish for. If I showed you everything that I have, this world could come to an end! ...Yet I will settle for this simple trick.

[He then takes Maga-Z in his hand and tries to mimic the trick.]

Little Demon, be at rest!! [...There's a long pause. And Maga-Z only sneezes.]

[gottacatch]

[ The wurm grumbles as well. Please keep it down. ]

Hmm... are you remembering what it felt like before? The power comes from feeling, and the words are how you let it out!... well, we only did it once, too. It's too quick to get the hang of it like that. Unless you wanna try one more time.

[ You know, just to say you tried, Gundam. ]