effortaverse | Heckin Inbox

[There is a very buisnesslike knock on Kalim's door at a time when Nanami is fairly certain only Leona is in. He's trying his best to look calm and reasonable, but if Leona opens the door at all he will likely be able to smell how nervous Nanami is right now.

He isn't there to cause trouble, but that doesn't mean he thinks there will be no trouble at all.]

[there's a distinct, tired yell of a "what?" before a pause and some footsteps, and finally the door opens.]

What'd you forg—

oh.

[Leona stares blankly, blinking.]

...Yes?

[He's not sure what he expected, but at least the door isn't being slammed in his face.]

Would you mind if I came in? I have something I would like to talk to you about and the hall is a bit... public.

Is there a problem?

[Leona asks, but... he does step back and out of the way.]

[Nanami lets himself in. He's trying not to stare at everything, that's not why he's here.]

I hope not, but I'm not sure of the etiquette here.

I've acquired this recently, and I was hoping you might help me learn how to use it.

[He digs in his pocket and retrieves a pen with a gem on the end in a blue that matches his wings.]

[Nanami presents his pen, and Leona is presented with a lot more questions. he doesn't react much, though, instead raising a brow slightly and asking;]

Azul give you that?

No. He doesn't know I have it. And I would like to keep it that way, for now.

[He's remained very serious, but there's a sudden spike of stress. He hadn't considered that Leona could potentially spoil things for him.]

So you're askin' me next.

[ugh. figures.]

You think I'm just gonna tutor you for free?

I'm asking you because I have something you may want in return for teaching me. That is, if you're interested in getting into Heaven as a permanent resident.

[Staring him down, dead serious.]

And why do you think I would be?

[he crosses his arms, surveying— and trying not to suggest one way or another how he feels about it with his expression.]

You're living here, and the standards in Heaven are much nicer than the alternative. And it's something I can offer you. I've done it before.

I dunno what you mean. I'm living just fine in Mr. Asim's good graces and all, but my room is just fine.

[he says, never in the damn room.]

Besides.

You think the goons downstairs are gonna take an angel like me seriously? Please.

[he isn't shooing Nanami out yet, though, so perhaps there's more to it...]

Mr. Asim is also scheduled to return to life at some point. If he goes back before you, where will that leave you?

[He rolls his eyes at that last comment, though.]

Are you really going to tell me you're irredeemable? [He's going to be in so much trouble if it gets back to the man, but he adds:] And that you're somehow worse than Azul?

[that, though, shocks a laugh out of Leona.]

So Azul's the standard of comparison, now?

Oh, that's rich.

You know you're askin' me if I ain't worse than a big blubberin' baby, right?

[He's utterly caught off guard by that.]

What do you mean? I've known him for over a year now and even when he was a child frightened and unable to walk on legs he'd never had before he didn't cry.

[Leona snorts. short, at first, and then as he realizes Nanami's serious, a longer one, followed by a full on laughing fit so big he has to rest his hands on his knees.]

Oh, man.

I can't tell if you're stupid, or if he's just that good.

[Nanami is thoroughly confused and starting to think he shouldn't have tried to do this with Leona.]

I'm not sure what you mean.

But if you're not interested in getting into Heaven through the proper channels, I will find someone else. Perhaps I should ask Cater to help me with this. I just suspect he wouldn't be able to keep it quiet.

Now, now. Don't get your shorts all wadded up just cos you don't know my schoolmates.

[Leona snickers a little more, deciding to humor Nanami a bit further. he feels that way about the Cater comment, too— oh, Cater's a blabbermouth, but more than that...

ah, but speaking of Cater;]

You willing to use that little heaven-swapping trick on someone else, if I told ya to?

It's hard to imagine I don't know someone I've been dating for well over a year.

[His shorts are definitely wadded. But he is still here for business.]

It's not a trick, it takes work on the party who wants to move up. But I know what it takes and I'm willing to act as both a guide and a sponsor. Who did you have in mind? Because I can't help them if they don't want help.

I'll ask. And if that doesn't end up bein' what I want, I'll think of something else.

Fact is, you're not gonna find a better instructor around here, which means you get to wait.

[he puts his hand on his hip.]

I'll find a price for ya. In exchange, I'll let you in on a little secret.

I came to you first with this because you seemed the most capable of any of your cohort. No offense meant to them. I can be patient on this matter. As far as I can tell these wands aren't dangerous by themselves.

[He puts his away again, since there's no use in having it out if he's not going to learn how to use it right now.]

I'm not sure that exchange works out evenly, but I'm curious what you want me to know all the same.

[Nanami isn't going to point out that Leona seems to be helping him because he wants to help, that might sour the deal. But he is considering that and how it weighs into his complex mental calculus about Leona.]

Don't go gettin' excited yet. All I'm tellin you's enough to buy me some time.

[but he pauses, and then;]

No, you know what? It is rather generous of me, ain't it.

All I'm tellin' ya is this; the core foundation of magic in our world is the imagination. If you can't imagine it, you can't do it. And if you can, well. Depending on how well you do it, you might be able to manifest somethin' good.

That's the point you need to start at. The power of your own imagination.

You're welcome to all the time you need. I belong here... not Heaven, exactly, but I'm not going back to life. At least, unless I can find a way to follow Azul.

[He's very serious about that, like he as about most things.

But then Leona just... helps. Without asking for anything. And Nanami is once again trying to tabulate how he should feel about Leona. It must look a little bit like he's short circuiting from the outside.]

That's fascinating to know. And kind of you to offer like this. I'm even more curious how anyone could teach imagination, though.

Tch. Ain't nothin' kind about it.

If anything, i just know it's gonna give that cephalopunk half a headache if I bother teachin' ya.

[he crosses his arms, taking in what Nanami's said about 'not going back to life', but not currently pressing on it.]

And as for teaching imagination... that's a complicated process. It's something you teach yourself, if you've got any sense. What I have for you are the studies of the application of imagination. The skill, the theory.

All the rest is up to you.

Heckin Inbox

I finally found your inbox!

LMAO you found it before I did...!!

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