Lavi

[scrapdraught]

this time there are no otome points only deep concern

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[scrapdraught]

He was sweet to me. [Her lips purse, stare hardening. Then she shakes her head, picking at the lint of her sweater. When is she going to get this thing properly laundered? She's sick of smelling like mild swamp funk.] With these fun tattoos, I mean. Otherwise I didn't know what to do with him. He acts too much like a cartoon to take seriously.

And the whole trial, he was just...regular. Pulling antics and refusing to swear. It wasn't until the very end that he even showed a hint of something off.

[bookpapers]

...And only because we cornered him. How would he have acted if we'd voted wrong? Would he be out here too, talking about justice?

[...]<

Or would he have killed all of us right then and there?

[scrapdraught]

Maybe he would have. There wasn't much holding him back.

[Fuck. So, is it going to be a matter of perfect timing? She doesn't think a lot of people hold the same physical imposition as a gun-laden cyborg, but maybe their special skills get fully unlocked once they've killed for the cult.]

I'm pretty fucked on every front, there. People like you and your buddy are gonna have to keep holding the fort for the rest of us. [A beat.] Though from the looks of it you're pretty spoiled for back up.

It's a big cross to bear, though. How old are you again?

[bookpapers]

[It makes sense to ask the question, so Lavi responds easily enough, all casual as anything --]

Old enough to enlist! And to own property, and even marry.

[cheeky, though it's more muted since this is a boothill is gonna die pc]

[scrapdraught]

[So a baby. She turns her head to better face him, curious. A bit concerned.]

Kanda told me you don't get a choice in becoming an exorcist. Is this really what you want?

[bookpapers]

](lavi voice) age is just a number]

...He's not wrong, but I'm a special case. My Gramps and I only joined because the Church said we could leave when we want to.

[wow lavi how come you get to have two jobs]

But it's not the same for the others.

[scrapdraught]

[lavi's in the mood playlist but it's just this twenty times.]

So it's a family affair? [What about the generation in-between?]

What makes you guys the exception?

[bookpapers]

[in the name of aaliyah hallowed be her name]

Our main job's recording history that the public doesn't know about, like hidden wars, which the Church is a part of. We let them have access to our other records in exchange for our autonomy.

But the other Exorcists are regular people -- former teachers, civilians, orphans, whoever has the specific qualification that can make 'em an Exorcist. Once the Order discovers that you have that, then they'll do pretty much anything to get you to join them. Money, medicine, a reason to fight in a holy war, or threats.

[scrapdraught]

[Camille listens. It's nice that he's forthright about it. Far more detail than a lot of other folks were willing to cough up, even about details that wouldn't matter in a cult town ten lightyears out of your own orbit.

They're not pleasant details, but they help.]

So you lucked out of the draft. [Wealth would do that for you. In his case it was a legacy of old knowledge, not a dad with deep pockets.] What's the qualification? Some kind of divine gift?

What happens if you refuse?