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[flustered, scowling:] A little fair warning helps, you know! Jeez...what the heck did you do to wind up like, like that?

[He didn't get a warning about turning into this, so you get no warning he's like this. Apparently.] I don't know, what did Diluc do to become a lizard? It happened, it hasn't gone away...and I've been trying to figure that part out.

[He at least knows it's likely tied to the Patron of the month? And that metamorphosis is the key. He's been praying it's not permanent.]

I don't know...I always figure Diluc's up to something that bites back in some way...

[he peels himself off the wall and warily steps over, frowning, squinting...and eventually poking at visible scaly bits.]

This is like the board game...but worse...

So, with your theory, this is some divine retribution for some grievance I've caused...?

[Is he understanding you correctly, sir? Because, if so: Rude.]

Hey--Watch it. [Don't make him start a slappy-hand fight. At least ask to touch the scaly bits!]

I was in that board game...I'm not sure if I'd call this worse. I'm not currently being hunted, thank you.

[poke. pokepoke...pick.

holding out a scale:] I dunno, people might pick you for bits they can trade at market if you're not careful.

What did you just--[Blink. Blink. Stare.]

Why. Why are you like this? [Excuse him while he just...tries to grab that right back, thank you.]

I've barely been outside of here...Went to the Archives once--twice. [This week maybe. He's been more than that. Oops.]

Hey-! [he double-blinks, then pouts. he was looking at that!

quickly recovering:] Nothing in the books about this? Or any funny blood-potions to fix it?

[He might give it back. Maybe. If he feels like it.]

Nothing workable. There's a possible connection to this month's Patron...But that's a loose theory based on the fact that it's known for transformation, metamorphosis. The thought is that change of some kind is the key to the whole process.

[He frowns, tail coiling underneath him to hold his weight.]

Mnh... [grimacing.] That tracks. People were changing body shapes and genders not that long ago, so why not scales? [...] Weird that it's not when that giant snake was roaming around, though...

I'm guessing that either happened before I was here, or I missed it entirely...[He sighs, and flicks the scale back at Manabu.] She's my Patron, the snake. If change is part of the process, I can only assume I need to make some changes of my own to counteract this. But I'm not sure what that might be.

There are plenty of possible avenues...

[he has to juggle a bit to keep from fumbling and dropping the scale, give him a second here to just - CLAP - his hands over it and freeze a beat before blinking again.]

A, aa...And if you can't find answers yourself, Diluc or others may figure it out, too! So...so you probably won't be a snake forever. Or very long, maybe.

Very reassuring, Manabu. Thank you.

[But well, he may not have a choice but to rely on what answers others come to first.]

Ange suggested that it may begin to fade with the monthly change. If it is tied to the Patrons. Having another taking their place may have it wane...

[that! better not be sarcasm! he's still not good at detecting it, ok!!!]

Right... So if it lasts longer than a month, then we worry.

[...]

I guess...you don't have to worry about wrecking your shoes in the thaw for a while...

[It was absolutely sarcasm. It's one of Kazuma's many talents.]

Right...[That should be comforting, but he doesn't like not doing something.]

I won't ruin my shoes. Instead I just have to drag myself through the muck. [Sarcasm, again. Talent.] There's also the problem of not really generating my own heat. Nights have been a bit cold...

Eh-?! You-you're a coldblood now, too? [wait, no--] Er...no...like a... Oh, right. Reptile. [grimace.

he rubs the back of his head.] That is a problem, huh... It's not like I can be an all-hours furnace for that kind of thing, either.

It would have been more convenient if it changed my bloodtype. [At least then it wouldn't be a pure annoyance.]

...Ah yes well...I've leeched heat where I can, when I can. [RIP Ryunosuke in particular.]

[he pockets the scale with one hand, rubbing his face with another.] Mnh, yeah...I, I had to do that a lot early on when I was adjusting, too... [BLANKETS, NOT CUDDLING, YOU LECHER]

I bet now that the sun's back and things are thawing, I could find someone willing to part with a bloodstone heater...

I'm hoping I won't have to adjust on a more permanent basis. [Look! Blankets only help so much! He's not trying anything.]

A bloodstone heater...[Promising, promising.] I would find somewhere sunny to just curl up in. But you've made it quite clear that some people might want to hunt my scales...

I mean, maybe...since there's lots of weirdos around. [present company EXCLUDED: he picked that scale out of CURIOSITY, not MONEY.]

But if I see anything promising, I can message you. [shrug!]

Still a worrying possibility. [Curiosity or profit--he'd rather not have more people picking at his scales, thanks.]

That'd be appreciated. [. . .] Your ability to generate heat...You can just do that on a whim, correct? [Asking for a friend. It's him. He's the friend.]

Eh? Um, [he scratches at the back of his head, looking askance in thought.] sort of. I mean, sometimes heat or sparks kick up if I'm really mad or worked up, but I can also concentrate and make it happen. Like the kotatsu, remember?

Just looking to clarify. [Please ignore the fact that he's unraveling again. Or slinking across the room. It's not as though he's slithered into a loose, but ever-tightening circle around you or anything.

What? No temperature regulation remember? There's a draft.] So you could, as an example, make it a few degrees warmer in here?

Umh... [oblivious, thinking about it with folded arms.] Entirely? Probably. It might take a while without conjuring actual fire, though... [or spontaneously combusting, as one does.]

[Soft, quiet swshh, swsshh as he coils. That's definitely a small circle now, and Kazuma's not exactly hiding the fact he's within what one might call their 'personal bubble'.] Care to give it a go, then? At the very least the immediate space would do.

Mmm, I guess I could trRIGH--!! [he starts to pace, but there is a shitload of snake in every way, so instead he pitches forward about to eat shit.

Magnet let this happen. silent criminal.]

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