falsepretentious | IC INBOX

[He understands her question quite well even without the gesture. To think he used to be a human... either a proud heir of a powerful company or a talented young animator... but now he has none of that. Just some food to help him forget the pain.

With a low growl, the No Face bows his head in a sad confirmation.]

[... So it's a curse then.

And one she's never heard of, not in any lore or among the city residents. Whatever happened to it must've been recent she feels, and she plants a hand over her mouth, thinking.]

Do you know if there's any way to change you back? I can help.

[A way to change back... he pauses as he considers that. The witch had offered to restore his memories only if he completed the task within the time limit. But he doubts that it would undo this curse if he accomplished it late. What else could it be...

Well, the only things he's missing are his memories. Of his name and of his life here in this city. So maybe, if he could at least unlock those...

The No Face points to himself and taps his head. Help him... help him to remember...]

[To her, it looks like it's saying she might have to brainstorm, but there should be a way... and that's fine. By this point she's settled herself on the grass with her hands in her lap, determined]

Okay... well, maybe if we narrow down who you were, we'll get close to the truth.

[At least she's on the right track. Um--]

First, do you remember being a girl? A boy?

[Actually, she has an idea--! She always has her trusty tote with her, and from within it she'll pull out a sheet of paper and a pencil, quickly drawing a Y for Yes and a N for No.]

Okay. Let's try again. [She holds up the paper for it to point to.]

Are you a girl?

[He finds himself impressed with how logical the girl is with him. Not many would give him the time of day, much less sit with him and try to figure things out. To help him.

Maybe things aren't so hopeless.

Her question is a simple one. And he points straight towards the 'N'.

Still, as he sees the paper and the pencil... he thinks back to his attempts at drawing before he failed his task. His body may have changed, but maybe he could still...

After a pause, Byakuya makes a motion with his hand, beckoning for the pencil.]

[So it -- well, he -- is a boy. Okay, that solves that. Though at the beckoning gesture, Sakura's eyes grow wide. She slowly offers the pencil to him, along with the paper]

Can you write?

[The spectral being gives a soft nodding motion. He finds it harder with these hands, but he still marks the paper.

Sloppily, he writes, "I can write. Draw a little."]

[Messy or no, they're words on a paper and she can read them. Sakura gives a delighted smile]

Perfect! Then you can answer my questions in more detail.

[Hmmm... but what to ask first? She feels like she's on the clock, and so resists wasting time with questions that won't benefit him.]

Okay, um... Do you remember what you looked like?

[What he looked like... It feels like a lifetime ago, but he still remembers looking in the mirror and examining himself. Trying to stir up any of his own memories.

So he writes down.]

I do.

[He hesitates and then pulls back the pencil. He could try to sketch his face from memory... but he has no confidence in his ability to do so. He can't feel the talent of the SHSL Animator, no matter how hard he tries.]

[She waits a beat, obviously expecting him to try, but his lack of motivation catches her attention soon enough.]

Well... I know how to draw. Maybe if you give me some descriptors, I can draw something to your previous likeness?

[He glances towards her and softly nods.

Then he slowly and messily starts to write down some descriptions that apply to him. Short blonde hair. Blue eyes. Chubby cheeks.]

[Ah... reminds her a bit of Byakuya.

Except no, this doesn't match up with her assumptions of him being too quick-witted to be caught by a spell. Her pencil slows, attempting to draw someone who doesn't look exactly like her former friend.]

Did you wear glasses? Just curious.

[He watches as she draws, curiously. And he thinks about her question. He doesn't remember wearing glasses - and yet his roommate said something about glasses, didn't he? Did he wear glasses?

He wonders. And he scrawls simply in one margin. "I don't know."]

[He doesn't know, huh? Interesting. Well, she ends up sketching them on the bridge of her subject's nose anyway.

... It really is starting to look like Byakuya, though.

But to that she just laughs, sadly and in apology. Briefly she puts down the pencil.]

Sorry, I know this isn't you...I guess I just have a person on my mind right now.

[...He pauses and sidles closer as he gets a better look at the sketch. It really does look just like what he remembers... what he remembers looking like.

He stares silently for several moments before he tries to write again, directly below the drawing.

"This looks correct."]

[...

...

Her reply will be slow. There's an ungodly amount of staring before she even thinks to speak]

Byakuya-san?

[He immediately sets down the pencil and stares right at her - with what seems like a spark of recognition in his eyes.

The way she says it... He starts to feel something. That might just be part of his true name...]

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