Yeah. Cale is just going to reflexively lean away, clutching his Raon plush tightly against his chest in his one-and-a-half arms, a startled expression flashing across his face before it settles back into something more neutral. ]
...Hello Sophia.
[ He looks disheveled and a bit sleepy, with some fading red creases still on one side of his face from where he slept. The missing forearm makes it fairly obvious why he requested some assistance with his bedhead. ]
...My youngest would think your arrival was pretty good.
[ It's something he can't help but think of — how all Sophia would need to do is strike a pose and introduce herself and her behaviour would be a close match to Raon. ]
Third party praise accepted through your proxy. Thank you! [She doesn't know what a bad arrival would look like, but she's glad she passes scrutiny.] Are you feeling better?
[The whole arm thing is... not ideal! But he doesn't look on the edge of death, so that's good.]
[ It takes a minute for Cale to decide how to answer.
His arm has been regenerating well, and the Crybaby is just waiting until he has enough energy stored up to rapidly regrow his elbow all at once. After that it will be easy again until it's time for a new hand.
But aside from the initial injury and recoil effects, which he was mostly unconscious for anyway, Cale feels about the same? ]
...I guess so? Recovery is going well. It's just taking all of my energy, which is annoying.
[ Cale doesn't know how external healing might impact the Vitality of the Heart's work, and learning how long it takes to regrow an arm is useful information to have. ]
It should be fully regenerated within another week. [ ...He feels it's probably important to add: ] Ah, and I'm a bad example for how a regular human handles injuries like this.
[ He can't help the shiver that runs through him at the thought of all the awful outcomes of his ability becoming known. ]
...It is a passive and powerful ability I have no control over. It wouldn't be difficult for someone with ill intentions to abuse that.
[ Not entirely unlike his concern regarding Sophia's programming being taken advantage of. Though one of these concerning possibilities is more likely than the other. ]
I see. [She hasn't gone through the mad scientist dungeon yet, so she doesn't entirely see, but his word is enough to accept. Keeping secrets isn't difficult for her, at least. Someone tells her not to share, and it is sealed. (Unless revealing it might be funny. That's a thing.)] We will avoid that kind of situation, then. You will be safe.
[She opens the drawer to fetch the brush, examining it briefly. After spending several weeks in the RV with the Phantom Thieves, she's witnessed the others using brushes and combs and various products, so she's not unfamiliar with the theory of hairbrushing. It's just not something she's done before.]
[She scoots into the space behind him, peering at his hair, then the brush, then back again, and gently presses one to the other, gliding it carefully through Cale's locks. Her movements are very slow at first, but she'll pick up as she adjusts to how it's supposed to feel.]
[ Cale thinks, not for the first time, that he should cut his hair short again. It's already midway down his back and a pain to manage. Realistically short hair would be nothing but an overall benefit to his slacker life, yet the thought of chopping it off is unpleasant to him. ]
You're doing a good job.
[ While slow at first, the care Sophia takes means there's no discomfort at all. Between her presence and his ancient powers, Cale allows himself to relax, letting his guard down. ]
[Her voice is softer than usual, not upset or anything, just quiet, as she absorbs this whole new experience. After a bit of quiet, she starts to hum a little. It's not a full song, more like a record stuck on the same circling line of notes, but she sounds happy, so hopefully the repetition won't be too annoying.]
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Of course! I can come over right away. What help do you need?
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So fast?
Isn't she staying with friends? ]
...Just help brushing my hair and tying it back?
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I've never done that before. But I will try!
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[ Tossing his Leaf to the other side of his bed like it's a hot potato because he has no clue what the fuck to expect. ]
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Hello! I have arrived. [Obviously.]
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Yeah. Cale is just going to reflexively lean away, clutching his Raon plush tightly against his chest in his one-and-a-half arms, a startled expression flashing across his face before it settles back into something more neutral. ]
...Hello Sophia.
[ He looks disheveled and a bit sleepy, with some fading red creases still on one side of his face from where he slept. The missing forearm makes it fairly obvious why he requested some assistance with his bedhead. ]
...My youngest would think your arrival was pretty good.
[ It's something he can't help but think of — how all Sophia would need to do is strike a pose and introduce herself and her behaviour would be a close match to Raon. ]
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[The whole arm thing is... not ideal! But he doesn't look on the edge of death, so that's good.]
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His arm has been regenerating well, and the Crybaby is just waiting until he has enough energy stored up to rapidly regrow his elbow all at once. After that it will be easy again until it's time for a new hand.
But aside from the initial injury and recoil effects, which he was mostly unconscious for anyway, Cale feels about the same? ]
...I guess so? Recovery is going well. It's just taking all of my energy, which is annoying.
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Would healing help, or is it simply a matter of time? I'm unfamiliar with this manner of injury.
[As far as she's researched, humans can't usually regrow a whole arm, but what the heck does she know, apparently.]
it's too hot 😠i'm too canadian for these temps
It should be fully regenerated within another week. [ ...He feels it's probably important to add: ] Ah, and I'm a bad example for how a regular human handles injuries like this.
GIRL SAME
[Yeah, she's clueless to what that could mean.]
🫠🫠ðŸ«
[ Cale is definitely looking forward to when he has at least part of his forearm regenerated, since he'll be able to do more at that point.
Overall it's annoying and he would rather not lose a limb again, but he doesn't regret saving Arman from taking a fatal blow. ]
...It could be dangerous for me if people find out about this ability, so you must keep it a secret.
who knew puddles could tag
[Without question. ...Well, okay. One question.]
What would be the danger? Isn't it a good thing?
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...It is a passive and powerful ability I have no control over. It wouldn't be difficult for someone with ill intentions to abuse that.
[ Not entirely unlike his concern regarding Sophia's programming being taken advantage of. Though one of these concerning possibilities is more likely than the other. ]
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Of course.
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Do you have a brush for your hair?
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[She opens the drawer to fetch the brush, examining it briefly. After spending several weeks in the RV with the Phantom Thieves, she's witnessed the others using brushes and combs and various products, so she's not unfamiliar with the theory of hairbrushing. It's just not something she's done before.]
May I sit behind you?
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[ He shuffles to make room for her. ]
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You're doing a good job.
[ While slow at first, the care Sophia takes means there's no discomfort at all. Between her presence and his ancient powers, Cale allows himself to relax, letting his guard down. ]
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[Her voice is softer than usual, not upset or anything, just quiet, as she absorbs this whole new experience. After a bit of quiet, she starts to hum a little. It's not a full song, more like a record stuck on the same circling line of notes, but she sounds happy, so hopefully the repetition won't be too annoying.]
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