socialcapital | [ JACKSON HEART ]

[He looks back at the tent wistfully.]

I'd like to. After all, they have a place in his heart, too. But... you're right. This first.

Theeeen, in here!

She flutters into what appears to be empty space and disappears, then pokes her human head out (again, of empty space) and waves him in.

A permeable barrier...? Convenient.

[Well. Better just to do it.

He steps forward to join her.]

Inside it's... a different tent! It's not quite a war tent (it seems to be like, mostly a normal one, for sleeping in) but it's not not a war tent, given the intentions of who's in there. He's sitting by a small table covered in papers.

There's something a little bit interesting about his Inner Darkness Level. Because this is also Firuz, the one Satin talked to, the one who exists as an independent entity, he shares a soul with Umbra, who is (as of the beginning of heart games) at 0%. But because he also represents Firuz as he was in this moment in history, there's a faint echo of a shadow over him - at this point in history, Firuz was at a cool 80%.

Saida turns back into a bird, flutters over, and lands on Firuz's head.

[That... is interesting. And a bit alarming? Not that he didn't expect it to be high -- given this point in time, he was half convinced that if he'd rested a hand on the earth he'd feel those currents through the land itself. But to be able to sense both...

He steps to one side, and then back, like someone trying to see the full picture printed on a holographic card.]

Absently, he reaches up to grab Saida like she's a lemon and plonk her gently on his shoulder.

"You look a little taken aback."

Confused, more than that. I'd expected some things here, but the state of your heart is a new one.

"New in what way?"

The best way I know to describe it would be akin to quantum superposition -- it exists in two states at the same time.

"Hmm... well, I wouldn't know anything about that, exactly, but I guess it makes sense."

I don't really know that it should. But it's you; I can't say I'm surprised.

Given that, I don't think there's much I'll be able to do to help. These moments are what they are, and painful or not, they are important to you.

"If anything, I'm probably in a position to help you. You're collecting items, right?"

Am I?

"For the gate...? I'm not just a memory, even in this context, you know."

[He shakes his head.]

It's not that. I just hadn't thought of myself as "here to collect things".

I came here for you.

Saida does a series of little chirps that sound like laughter.

Firuz sighs, like he was hoping he could just gently redirect away from A Conversation but knew it wouldn't happen. Alas.

"Well. Here I am."

Would you mind if I took a picture of the two of you together?

"Of me and Saida?"

Yes.

I have no idea if the images will last, but I hope they will.

"... Sure, I don't see why not."

He plucks Saida off his shoulder and just throws her straight up in the air, something she apparently has a lot of fun with because she turns back to human at the highest point in that arc and does a flip when she lands.

Exalts, man.

"How close together should we stand? Should we pose? Ohh, should we light up a little?"

I'm taking it for future-you, so I would recommend whatever kind of image would make you smile in the future.

"So let's center Saida mostly."

"Let's center me! For ONCE."

"Hey."

"Juuuuuuuuust kidding."

I can take more than one.

[He takes his phone out, trying to do an at least passable job of centering as directed.]

Smile for me? Or do whatever else you'd like, if that feels better.

On three, two, one --

Saida does a fun and cheerful pose! She would have loved Estoria. She would have been an influencer.

Firuz has a bit more trouble with a sincere smile given the life period he's currently embodying, but Saida is cute and cheerful so a little bit of sincerity does creep into his expression.

[He does take a few, just to be sure. And stops to look at the last.]

That will do.

Thank you.

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