daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[ how.... can he possibly phrase this? ]

Create something? ... no, it's more like ... manifest a certain kind of strength ...

[ A pause. ]

It might be easier if I showed you.

[Create something? That's a sweeping statement, and so of course Ardyn will welcome Yu to come and show him the specifics.]

Of course. I'll be here waiting, if you'd like to head over.

Alright. I'll be there soon.

[ Yu will hang up, not given to long phone conversations in the first place, and turn up not long later. Seems like he might have already been on his way over when he called, hoping for - relying on? - his uncle's acceptance.

He'll let himself in, calling out: ]

Uncle?

[ It's become more common for him to use "Uncle" than "Izunia-san," slowly but surely. ]

[Ardyn greets Yu in the entrance hall, walking towards him with a welcoming grin that's been schooled heavily by a nagging concern.]

Yu. [Obviously, he's been waiting. He eyes his nephew, but nothing looks quite out of place, and so he's still left to wonder what all this is about.]

Would it be best for you to show me what ails you in the living room? Come, sit.

[He ushers him further in.]

[ Without even really thinking about it, Yu relaxes a little the moment he sees Ardyn, his shoulders dropping some of their tension. He'll blow out a sigh and nod, following, not speaking just yet. He seems to be thinking about how to choose his words.

When they reach the living room, Yu won't sit, instead hesitating. ]

... it might be best if we were outside, actually.

[ if he sets his uncle's house on fire he will never forgive himself ]

[The silence is telling, and perhaps the request even more so. The man can't help but lift a brow at Yu, but of course he'll be kind enough to humor him. He trusts his nephew's judgment, regardless, and nods.]

Of course. [He turns on his heel with slightly less of a flourish than usual, and leads them out to the backyard instead. The weather's nice enough, a slight breeze making one tall tree sway to and fro in the back.]

Will this be acceptable? [He motions to the space all around them.]

[ Again, Yu trails after him, quiet. He'll step out freely into the backyard, tilting his head back to stare at the sky. It's nice to be a normal size again, some inane piece of his mind thinks.

With absolutely no preamble, Yu will hold out a hand, his fingers gently curling beneath a glowing blue tarot card that suddenly appears, floating, above his palm. He doesn't do anything with it for now, though. Lets it disappear again and closes his fist before turning to Ardyn. ]

... I'm not sure I can completely control it yet.

[When Yu holds out his hand, he's still not sure what to expect. A blue, glowing tarot card appearing out of nowhere is definitely not what Ardyn expected.

It's surprising, but he manages to not sound or look too much in shock. His tone of voice is impressively unwavering.]

What is it? [A card?] Some sort of magic?

[How easily Ardyn uses the term, after met with his own regain.]

[ Ah, the "calm exterior, concerned interior" thing must run in the family. Yu has the appearance of outward calm, too, his only real tell at the moment being that his eyes are half-lidded. ]

I think so. [ he doesn't ask why ardyn so naturally comes to the conclusion of magic. at this point, anything supernatural no longer feels far-fetched to him, anyway. ]

... hang on. I'm going to try it for real.

[ Yu will take a deep breath and again hold up his hand. The blue tarot card reappears. He doesn't know how he knows this. It's pure gut feeling to crush the card in his hand.

Before them a figure will materialize, translucent and glowing faintly blue. Yu will stare up at it - him? - for a long moment, expressionless. Mada only hangs there for a few moments before shimmering back out of existence. ]

[The "calm exterior" part of his personality can only be streched so far. When Yu crushes the card in his hand, that's startling enough. But when a massive... figure materializes out of nothing, hovering above their heads, Ardyn's eyes widen.

He takes a step back, words practically escaping him.]

What-?

[But then it fades away, and Ardyn is left wondering what the hell he just saw. He stares at the empty space a moment more before his eyes flicker back to his nephew.]

What was it?

[ Ardyn takes a step back, and Yu's gaze cuts to his face, unreadable, watching. His gaze flicks away again, looking towards the place Mada just was, and Yu curls his fingers around the wrist of the hand he used to crush that card.

A sigh. ]

I'm not even really sure. I just know it's something that I can do, and that it has power.

[His eyes flicker back up to where Mada had appeared, and a moment passes before he exhales. If that's the end of the display, he can let calm settle back into his features, his body language. The proper amount of calm allotted for such a situation, at least.]

What... sort of power? [He looks at his nephew again, concern flickering in his eyes.] And does it affect you in any way, summoning that thing up?

[Are there consequences to using your powers, Yu, much like there are with his?]

[ A slight frown. ]

I'm not really sure. I have this feeling like I'd get tired out if I did it too much, but I haven't pushed things that far yet.

[ A sigh through his nose. ]

I think ... it might have some kind of fire magic?

I see.

[He won't ask Yu to show him this display of fire, either. His nephew doesn't seem to be particularly... well, thrilled about these new powers, only uncertain. And that, he can hardly blame him for.

And so, a different question. Far more important than the rest.]

And how are you doing? Parsing all of this? I know it can be... difficult to reconcile.

[ It's probably silly to be frightened of your own abilities.

But, if he were honest with himself, maybe he's just scared of losing control over himself, which feels like it's happening more and more with each day and each memory.

Yu will press a thumb into the center of his other palm and then curl his fingers around it, an idle, restless gesture. ]

It is, [ he admits rather plainly. ] ... adapting to memories was one thing, but a power? Who was I?

[ what was he?

And is "was" even the right question? Are these memories, this power, real? Is it a past life he's remembering, or something else entirely? ]

[It's not silly at all. He's only shared this admission with one other person, but Ardyn's newfound power scares him because of the context of what they do in relation to his memories -- the growing question of what are the consequences if he uses them.

So he understands completely, if Yu feels that way. Ardyn's brow creases, and he reaches out to place a hand on his nephew's shoulder.]

Let's continue to talk about this inside, hm? Would you like something to drink?

[They can commiserate together, but more importantly, Ardyn wants to be a pillar of reassurance if Yu needs it.]

[ He can't help it. Yu lets his gaze cut sideways to Ardyn's hand on his shoulder before he looks back up at his uncle's face.

Some piece of him feels an instinctual need to get away, to not let someone like "family" get close to him, because won't he just get let down again, eventually left alone?

And the rest of him just feels ... absurdly, speechlessly grateful. Family he can trust outside of Souji. He still can't really wrap his head around it.

So he'll smile, faint and hangdog and very sincere, and nod. ]

I'd like that.

[He smiles, faintly. The hand drops to his side, and he nods.]

Come, then.

[And inside they'll go. Once settled in the living room, Ardyn will take a minute to bring out a glass of whatever it is Yu had requested prior. He hands the glass to his nephew, before taking a seat on the other end of the couch.]

So... I joked about existential crises before. Unfortunately, it seems to be coming to fruition with many here, and is certainly not a joking matter anymore.

[He shifts in his seat, looking at him directly.]

Who you were is a question unanswered. But do you think these abilities will change who you are now?

[ It's water. It's always water, because Yu is an essentially simple dude. He'll shift slightly in the seat he's claimed on the couch, watching his uncle, feeling ... strange. Should he guard his feelings, like always? Should he ... not? He can ... trust Ardyn. He can. ]

... I--

[ He stops abruptly, sighing out through his nose. Slowly: ]

I think ... in these memories, I was some kind of leader. Someone the people around me relied on. Somehow, I can't help but feeling like ... that's the person I need to be now, too.

[He lets Yu speak, uninterrupting. Allowing the boy to place his words in front of him, because Ardyn knows that it can't be easy. He feels gratitude, a soft appreciation, that his nephew trusts him enough to have these types of conversations with him. In that way, at least, Ardyn feels of some use to those he cares about.]

And does this make you uncomfortable? [A beat, considering Yu's personality.] Leadership qualities are not a bad thing, but they can be if pursued out of obligation alone. But if this is something you actually desire, then it isn't a bad goal to have.

[ ....... ]

No. I just ... I'm not sure that's the kind of person I can be. It's something that ... I want to be.

[ A pause. Very quietly: ]

I think Souji would be better at it than I would.

[...ah.

Ardyn will definitely pause this time. He wonders if this is treading into the territory of personal insecurities, so of course he's going to choose his words in a tactful manner. Though his expression does tug into a frown, and his reply is just as quiet.]

And what makes you think you don't have that same capacity as your brother?

... he's Souji, [ Yu says, as if that's explanation enough. There's even a faint sort of incredulity in his voice, like shouldn't it be obvious? But then he'll sigh, giving his head a small shake. ]

Souji's just better suited to being a leader than I am. I don't handle attention very well, and in stressful situations, I'm sure he'd be more reassuring to others than I would. A leader should be able to inspire...

[ He actually smiles, faint, though there's something sort of hangdog about it. ]

That's Souji.

[He knows what he means when Yu says he's Souji, but he wants to hear the explanation from his nephew. He wants to know where he thinks the differences lie.

And yes, the differences are obvious; Ardyn was able to parse that much out almost immediately when they had met face-to-face, and it's often by their demeanor that he can tell them apart when they're standing right next to each other.]

And yet, it isn't Souji's memories that saw you as a leader. It was your own.

[He motions towards Yu.] Is that not proof enough that you have that capacity? It may take a bit of growth on your part, but if it's something you desire, then I have no doubt you can become an accomplished leader as well.

[He exhales.]

No one in their youth is perfect, but that's the blessing of being your age. You're still learning, still being shaped by your experiences and own motivations. Who's to say you can't find a balance between what makes you you, and what modes of self-improvement you want to achieve in the future?

[ Yu blinks, once, twice, surprise temporarily arresting his features.

It was your own.

But... that's not...

No, that is the point. Yu glances away, thoughtful and uncertain, but ... listening. Why can't that be the point? Why can't his uncle be right? Why couldn't he be a leader, too? Despite himself and his own words, he's still been trying. Pushing himself to do the things a leader would do, think the things a leader would think. Maybe he won't get it perfect, but... is that any reason not to try?

(souji will still be better at it than you)

Finally Yu looks up at his uncle again, a faint crease in his brow speaking to the shift in his thinking.

Softly: ]

You think I can be a leader, uncle?

[ Whatever he thinks, whatever anyone else thinks, that's one thing. But Ardyn? Ardyn believes that? ]

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