"Well, I'm not heartless. Just empty." She tilted her head a little bit. "Even if I have to fake it most of the time, if I smile at people; If I make them happy, I can experience their heart through them. I can know their joy and love instead of their hatred. It's the best I can do now, all things considered."
She reached forward, pressing a finger to Kairi's chest. "In fact, I'm reflecting your heart right now. That's how I know you're such a good person! It's bright and warm and full of more facets than I can count!"
"People have told me that before. A heart of pure light, they keep saying." Not that she could really argue after everything she'd seen and experienced.
It just never seemed like it really helped her much.
"So you're kind of an... emotional mirror, then? What happens if you're around someone depressed?"
"Whoever told you that is right. It's almost too bright for even me." Koishi was still all smiles.
"Kiiind of. I try to make people happy. But I'll take sadness and pain over emptiness any day. It's something. Which is more than nothing." A pause. "Besides, deep sorrow is delicious. If nothing else I can consume parts of it."
"Does.. that affect the other person, when you eat their sorrow? Or any other emotions?"
Actually, that might be kind of helpful, consuming their sadness. Maybe it would help them cope. On the other hand, with a sorrow like what Koishi was describing, that pain probably should be there.
"Yes. Kind of. It's temporary. Very temporary. And I lose a lot of my meal in translation. But humans need pain. Without being sad how will they know when they feel happy?"
She shrugged. "Besides, if a human is that sad its better to just wait and let them die from disease or age or whatever. Then I can eat the sadness more efficiently since its always easier when the emotion is inside of something. Like flesh and bone." Or a heart.
"That leaves a scar behind. Emotional texture that shaped that person's life during the time they were sad. I'm not just consuming raw emotions. I eat the significance of those emotions too."
Koishi was looking thoughtful (and perhaps salivating a little.) "Fear is good too. I'm supposed to be a predator, not a scavenger. So I guess that makes sense. But I prefer having human friends and that's kind of hard if I'm known for attacking people. But it's fine if they're already dead since they've moved on and they're not using their body for anything anymore." A very pragmatic outlook. If a little morbid.
"I mean, you'd still have your scary dream. You just wouldn't feel scared. Which can drastically change the nature of the dream since dreams are fueled a lot by emotion."
Well, dream fear-eating involved more snuggling than sucking. Usually. "I suppose so. It's not like I have to eat like that very often anyway." Her third eye was slowly closing, her presence wavering a little bit. Though she was right back to cuddling Kairi.
And just like that she was gone. But not for long. It was as if she entirley lapsed out of Kairi's perception for a moment. But the nuzzling on her shoulder brought Koishi back into focus. She had, perhaps, pushed herself to remain lucid a little bit too long.
[No matter how long he's stuck on this world, the moon's effects are something he'll never get used to. And this cycle, he's been hit hard with the heat.
Loathe as he is to do this, there are only a couple people he can rely on and call for help. Koishi's one of them, so he sends her a text message, hoping she noticed it.]
Koishi? I need your help. It's Iris. Are you available to come over to my place?
It took a bit before Koishi answered, the little youkai fumbling the device as usual before putting it to her ear.
"What? Hello? Yes...? Yes! I can come over!" The same jovial tone as always. "I can come over right now if you want. I'm not doing anything." She was no doubt just floating around. As usual.
"Ohh! Yeah I'll come right away!" The wind on the phone's receiver had already shifted as she changed direction in the air. "I won't be long, okay? You should be more careful and not run out of chroma. That's really bad." It was a gentle scolding.
[It was some deserved scolding, to be fair. Someone like him requires a lot of Chroma, and sometimes his reserves can quickly deplete.
Regardless, he doesn't say anything more, even though the problem is more than just Chroma. He'll just wait on the bed in his bedroom until Koishi arrives.]
Not that he had to wait long. Shortly after she hung up he heard a knock. Not at his door but at his window. As usual the little youkai opted for the most direct route. "Hello! Can I come in?" At least she wasn't getting her fingerprints all over it this time.
[He was expecting the knock on his window, and so leaves the bed when he hears it. The window opens, and Koishi is greeted by a frazzled looking Soundwave, in his avatar, face flushing red.]
Hm. Come in.
[In fact, he'll go ahead and grab her wrist, gently pulling her in for a hug.]
Koishi's smile melted into an expression of concern, and then surprise as she was grabbed. She allowed herself to be pulled in, arms wrapping firmly around his torso, squeezing. Several tendrils slid from her sleeves, winding their way down his waist.
"You're really low, aren't you? That's not good. Not good." There was genuine concern in her tone. "Call me sooner next time, okay?"
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