alma_karma | 012 ☯ Alma [VIDEO]

[So has anyone been keeping an eye on the little garden on the sunny side of the apartment building? It's actually... progressing, and quite a bit as of late. Some colorful flowers are scattered about along with... peas? Yes, those look like pea pods, and maybe a row of carrots. Know what to look for and you might even spot a small patch of what will probably be potatoes. Overall, the plants are kind of sad looking, all with a sort of half-wilted look to them. Nothing particularly amazing... or even vaguely impressive by normal standards, but considering the main caregiver (a.k.a. the person who stands outside and stares at it the most) is an eleven-year-old boy working with stolen seeds in what might as well be a wasteland? It's doing fairly well.

Small dirt formations are standing guard all along the edges of the small garden reminiscent of the little sculptures that Alma's attempted in the past, and that's where the boy is today. He's prodding slowly at a lump of mud, Mr. Bats fluttering almost lazily by one shoulder. Alma smiles at the camera once he's sure it's on, waving muddy fingers.]

The plants are growing. I'm not really sure when they're supposed to be done... Does anybody know?

Oh, and I wanted to ask... [He rubs at the back of his neck awkwardly, smearing mud over himself by accident.] Um, Lavi? Or... Mister General? Do you think I could learn to speak Russian?

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[No, the unending debts do. And the backhanding. And the lions. And that whole being utterly shameless thing. But to avoid confusing Alma further--]

It's just a metaphor, Alma. Don't worry about it.

........ [Shruuuuuuug.]

He doesn't seem so bad to me.

Take my word for it, Alma. He's my master.

Your master?

My mentor, he trained me to become an Exorcist.

[He manages to keep the accompanying trauma out of his voice.]

Really? [Allen, you're only making him more interested.]

[--Notes that look with a twinge.]

[somewhat awkwardly:] Er, yes. He's-- Not quite the nurturing sort, though.

I guess not. But neither is Yu. I wonder if he'd train me...

I'm not sure if he's up for another apprentice.

[Pauses, mentally going over a discussion he had with Karkat the other day.]

You'd like to be trained?

[He looks awkward.] Well... I know I don't have Innocence, but I should be able to help too.

[Well, Allen knows that feeling. Rubs his face and switches to video. He looks tired, but outwardly fine otherwise.]

You don't need Innocence to be able to fight, but you don't always need to fight to be able to help either. [ an encouraging smile ] You've been doing a great job with the garden, for example.

[tone gentle to say he's not doing this to be difficult, just out of genuine curiosity:] So why do you want to learn?

Well... I'll have Innocence one day, so I should be ready, right?

[He prods at one of his mud-lumps with one finger, Allen's compliment forming a smile to replace what would've been a slightly troubled expression]

I like the garden. I like helping... but I want to be able to protect people too.

[Only foresight and a considerable amount of subsequent mental fortification keep Allen's tone and expression steady when he answers:] Yes.

[And did you hear that, Kanda? Allen kept this public for two reasons.]

That's what an Exorcist does, Alma. We fight to keep people safe, but―[ pardon all the hypocrisy to come ]―those who care about you will want you to stay safe too.

[Most specifically Kanda, regeneration or not.]

If we teach you to fight, you have to learn to protect yourself first, then when you get better, you can fight with us.

I want to protect the people I care about, too. I don't wanna watch people get hurt. [*COUGHkandaCOUGH*]

I know, and I'm sure you'll get there! Just remember that people don't want to watch you get hurt either.

[Having witnessed the lengths Alma went to to keep Kanda safe, this is something Allen has to get clear before making any promises. Things are different now, Kanda's a capable fighter with years of combat experience.]

Do what you can if it ever looks like we may need a hand ― and I don't doubt we will sometime! But until then, you can help us most by fighting to stay safe and keeping an eye on those who can't fight.

[He sighs, obviously not quite satisfied, but what else can he do?]

... I can do that.

Thank you ― and soon you'll be able to do more. You're a fast learner, right? You'll improve.

[Until then, it's better for everyone not to have a bitty caught in the middle of some epic battle.]

[It really is for the best, regeneration or no. It's just so hard.]

I will.

012 ☯ Alma [VIDEO]

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