#Calliope Interactive

[calliope-stories]

Help Us Market Our Stories!

Calliope catapults your imagination with written stories introduced by vibrant —and interactive— animations. In our app, these interactive animations act as portals that submerge readers into written stories. We love reading, but reading today is tricky. At Calliope we’re passionate about enchanting readers away from visually striking apps (like Instagram) and back into the realm of the imagination.  

We’re a small company founded by two nerdy Venezuelan girls looking for people who share our zeal for reading, and who want to create a world where reading is colorful, vibrant, and immersive for everyone.  

What we’re looking for: 

- Experience with social media and digital marketing.

- Seasoned experience in orchestrating paid campaigns on Instagram and TikTok (—and Tumblr).

- A flair for creating dazzling content (no need to be a graphic designer or videographer, but a good taste and an appetite for learning are essential).

- The skill to grasp and embody our brand tone, understand our audience inside out, and devise enchanting content.

- Proficiency in SEO and data analytics.

- A balance of independent initiative and teamwork.

- Agile adaptability, attentiveness to feedback, and the capacity to grow from constructive critiques.

- Proactive problem-solving and execution.

- Near native written English.

Your Role:

- Developing inventive social media strategies to amplify visibility and subscriptions.

- Designing content that’s both captivating and relevant to our audience.

- Spearheading advertising campaigns on social media.

- Analyzing and reporting the successes and lessons of campaigns and strategies.

- Staying on the cutting edge of social media trends, particularly in our niche.

What We Offer:

- We value your thirst for learning and involvement more than your past experience.

- A 100% remote work setup: your performance matters, not your location.

- A goal-oriented work environment: manage your time and enjoy flexibility.

- A unique opportunity to grow with us and lead the marketing team as we expand the project.

- Competitive pay with prospective salary growth and bonuses as the company thrives.

How to Apply

If you’re eager to make reading vibrant and fun, we’d love to hear from you. To apply, please send the following to contact@calliopeinteractive.com.

A resume; 

A portfolio of your previous social media or digital content creation work; 

A brief cover letter explaining what attracted you to Calliope; 

And two sentences describing three Instagram or TikTok posts that you would make for Calliope.  

If you’re interested in learning more, please check out our app in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store; and our social media: Instagram & TikTok

[zan0tix]

Assorted homestucks number 72382683

[fir-fireweed]

Cantata RO drop! I hope you’re as excited about this little spark plug as I am!

Calliope Cato (she/her)

The inventor/artificer, Calliope can build and fix any machine. She is 2 years younger than you, petite, with gold eyes, rich brown skin and black hair in multiple braids. Her hair and clothes are adorned in rings, belts, and pins which double as tools. She carries a man’s cane sword with her everywhere, which she wields in a fight along with a hand crossbow.

She’s curious, optimistic, excitable, and easily distracted by her many projects, but much of that is to keep her mind occupied. In quiet moments when she thinks no one is looking, you glimpse a profound sadness on her features.

[tobystuck]

oh jane…………..

[e-c-artis-t]

yeah thats about it. for now.

[hiccupscloud-26]

Hicvember Response

Oh my gosh, hello everyone! I'm not dead, look at that! So, back in November, @elacular-kink rolled my beloved Indyko by chance as the prompt of "someone else's OC" (link to that posted below)

Seven months later, I FINALLY FINISHED THE RESPONSE!!! Thank you again for writing my character, now here is the promised response. Sorry it took so long.

CW:

Fast hiccups

Uncomfortable hiccups

Hard hiccups

Arousal

Mentions of masterbation, but nothing graphic

And without further ado...

Hicvember Response

Calliope groaned as she walked back inside, soaked from the pouring rain. It was days like these that she'd disliked her job. Unlike any sane person who'd care about their employees, the outdoor service remained open during a thunderstorm.

She was having an overall crappy day. She'd been yelled at by 5 customers whose orders had been wrong–which was not her fault–her team had been reprimanded about orders being delivered late, even though they'd requested backup multiple times with no response, and she hadn't even gotten her first break and she'd been there for three hours and fifteen minutes.

She was so done with this place. Every day, she felt like she wanted to quit, find somewhere else to work while she went to college. But that was just wishful thinking. She felt her eyes start to brim with tears, completely overwhelmed with everything that was going wrong. She worked hard to hold them back, her coworker that felt more like an older sister noticed her look and wrapped her up in a hug.

“Go on your break, girl, I know it's hard right now,” she told her kindly and Calliope couldn't argue with her.

The coworker, her name was Cherry, helped her out of her jacket and sent Calliope on her way. Calliope would be forever grateful for Cherry, her warm smile made it seem like everything would be okay.

Calliope walked to the breakroom, her boots squeaking on the floor. Shoppers all around looked at her, but she just flat out ignored them, avoiding eye contact. Her social battery had completely fizzled out to nothing. She pushed open the double doors to the break room and sat down on the barstool. She placed her arms on the table and put her head on top, finally letting the tears silently fall.

She cried for a good five minutes before she felt the familiar vibration of a message from Indyko. Calliope wiped her face with her sleeve before grabbing her phone and opening the message.

“.. what the heck?” She whispered and sniffled softly when she saw a 10 minute audio file, along with the headphones emoji, a winky face, and bubbles emoji below it. “What, are they blowing bubbles?”

Calliope sent them a message back, a simple ‘???’ to portray her confusion. It didn't take long for them to respond back to her, encouraging her to listen to the file with headphones. The woman rolled her eyes at the vagueness of it all, but did as they wanted.

She grabbed her earbuds from her pocket, connected them to her phone and hesitated a minute before pressing play.

The message began and Callie heard the first hiccup and her face just exploded in a deep blush, her eyes widening and jaw dropping, before she paused it, her breathing quickening. Calliope couldn't listen to this in public. She hurried to her locker, grabbed her car keys, and ran to her car, getting soaked by the rain, but that didn't matter right now.

She unlocked the door, opened the door, and went inside the backseat. Out of breath from running, she put her hand on her chest to try to calm down, but the excitement of listening to the rest of the clip was exciting her too much. So after readjusting her earbuds and turning the volume up, she pressed play and let the sound of Indyko's hiccups take her away.

“Oh my gooossshhhh,” Calliope covered her face, “I can't believe they did this…they recorded themselves…with h-hiccups…for me?”

She couldn't help but feel her eyes watering again, this time out of happiness. She couldn't believe that she was lucky enough to have a par-fiancé that would do this for her.

She couldn't help but feel the urge, thankful that she'd gotten tinted windows recently. They would definitely come in use now.

“Wow, they're so fast,” Calliope commented to herself, unzipping her jeans and moving her hand down between her thighs, “nnngh, how I wish I could've felt your body during these…I could just imagine.”

She closed her eyes and imagined seeing Indy as they were describing themselves and their case and how their case was affecting their body. She pictured how their head was probably being pushed back by the force of each hiccup. How their chest popped out and their tummy bounced.

She listened to the entirety of the file, labored breathing following her little session as she lay in the back of her car in euphoria.

“Holy fuck…” she muttered quietly, then realized, “I don't have a change of underwear…”

Calliope looked at the time on her phone, noting that her fifteen minute break was over. She couldn't find it in herself to care. She sent a quick text to her work friends group chat, messaging them that she was going home because she wasn't feeling well. Then she got into the driver's seat, started her car, and drove home.

The drive home was uneventful and not long at all. Calliope took a deep breath as she walked into the house. Indyko looked up from their spot on the couch, confusion on their face as their chest jolted suddenly.

“Call–ie? What're you-*HUCK!*-oh,” Indy placed a gentle hand on their chest.

The soaked woman took off her boots and socks before heading over to Indy and laying down on top of them, snuggling close.

“They came back?” Calliope whispered as her head jolted with Indyko's chest.

“Yeah, a few *HOLP!* minutes ago, actually,” Indy chuckled quietly, ending on a loud double hiccup. They stroked Calliope's wet hair, not minding themselves getting wet from the dripping rainwater.

“Thank you…for sending me that first case,” the redhead leaned into the hair strokes. “I dunno how I ended up so lucky to have you as my fiancé. You must've sensed how rough of a day I was having.”

“Oh no-*HNK!*, dear…you wanna ta-*HAUK’KMP!*-mm, excuse m—me, sorry…do y-*IP!*-you want to talk abou-*HOOP!*-t it?” Indyko moved their other hand to rub her back soothingly.

Calliope sighed and nuzzled impossibly closer, subconsciously rubbing Indyko's stomach, providing her fiancé some comfort. Eventually, she shook her head, “no, I just want to lay here and relax on top of the most amazing partner-”

“Fia—fiance,” Indyko corrected fondly.

“Right, fiance…I keep forgetting that,” Calliope nuzzled her face into their chest.

Indyko smiled, “well, do you *HNK'GLP!*-mm want to get com-*HMK!MMK!*-oof comfortable? Ge-*HEUP!*-get your pjs on-*hnkgm!*-mm *HICK!*-ooh *HIGGUP!grrrruulp!HULP!*-fuck, scuse me.” They covered their mouth, head thrown back by another silent jolt.

Calliope's breath shuddered, “I'm not leaving this spot…” She continued rubbing their tummy. “Tell me about your day?”

“Pretty much *HU'UP!* was busy all day *HUP!*-mm *HULP!*-jeez,” Indyko rubbed their chest, “fir-*ERK!*-first…” and they regaled the events of their day, hard, loud hiccups interspersed in between with no signs of slowing down.

“Go-*HAUK!*-osh, I don't *HMK'M!HIMPK!*-ah know why the-*HEE!*-se are so ba-*HAULGK!-HIP!-HAUP!*-ngh, so bad *HICKOLP!*-ah,” they frowned.

Calliope frowned up at them, “you can cure them, if they're hurting you. Please, I encourage you to.”

“They don't hurt *HUP!* they're just unusually fast *HILK!HIMPK!* and hard and lasting lon–*NGK!*-longer,” Indyko admitted, “the tu-*HUH!*-tummy rubs are nice though- *HMK'M!-HNK!-HICK'L!*-oof *HUCK!*-ugh *HOLP!-HILP!-HICKUCK!-HOUP!*-ok, ok.”

Indy sucked up some air and held it, strong muffled hiccups jolting their body even worse than before. Calliope pouted, wishing there was something more she could do to help her fiancé. She just kept rubbing their tummy, as it growled loudly. Calliope blinked and looked up at Indyko, “when was the last time you ate anything?”

Indyko thought about it as a strong *HMM'MMK!* made them release their breath. “Good *HULP!* question.”

“You're hungry,” Calliope told them, “that's why your h-hiccups are so bad.” She blushed at the stammer.

“O—oh…” Indyko realized, “that makes sense *HUP!HUP!*-uff-*GOUP!*-fuck *H'GUP!*-stoooo-*HOP!*-oop.”

“I'm ordering us a pizza,” Calliope grabbed her phone and went to their favorite pizzeria's website and ordered two pizzas, one all cheese, one with ground beef and pineapple. “It'll be here in 20 minutes. Will you be okay until then?”

Indyko nodded, the next hiccup forcing their head to hit the arm of the couch, “owww…”

“Okay, come on, we're getting you a snack right now,” Calliope stood up and dragged Indyko with her to the kitchen.

“Callie-*HICK!*-”

Calliope shoved a granola bar into their hand, “eat.”

Indyko obeyed, opening the snack and taking a bite. They carefully waited for the next few hiccups to pass before swallowing the bite. They did the same for the second bite and by the third bite, their hiccups slowed and quieted down a bit.

“Addin-*ngk* don't forget lunch t—to my to do list forev-*herk!*-forever,” Indyko dragged a hand down their face.

“Right, or else your fiancé will be very mad,” Calliope warned them.

“Apparently, so will my diaphragm, heh-*HICK!*-oops,” they patted their chest.

Calliope smiled and kissed their cheek, “well, it's not all bad. You got to show off some amazing h-hiccups…but I don't want a repeat of this, kay?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Indyko saluted.

Indyko's hiccups went away as they were waiting for the pizza. Calliope finally changed into some comfy pajamas and the two lovers enjoyed the rest of the night with their pizza and a movie with cuddles.

Fin~

[h0dgep0dgee]

two warm up sketches i decided to post cause they felt Cutesy and ive got brain worms

[dizzybevvie]

if i posted mystreet self insert shenanigans would u still love me

[c-kiddo]

↖️ it became unwell thinking about calliope and caduceus again . that one like 6 minute conversation in ep 130 . deeply unwell from it . when caduceus told calliope: "I don't think I'm coming back. And I'm not okay with it, but I'm making peace with it. If there's a way for my body to get back here, I'd be very grateful, but there's every possibility that that won't happen. I'd like my name somewhere if I'm-- if there's nothing to bring back. That would be a comfort." and also "And I want you to take care of everybody. And especially, I want to make sure you take care of yourself, and don't, don't get locked up here on my account. Your job is to get everyone situated and then make sure that you find whatever destiny you're supposed to have. I don't think you're supposed to be here. Not forever."

[knoxwallace]

closed starter for @calxwallace at cal's home

Of the two sisters, Cal was without a doubt the more difficult one for Knox to randomly drop in on. He knew that there was every likelihood that she wouldn't want to see him, but he also was delusional enough to believe that the second she saw him all would be forgiven. He was, after all, just that charming. Or so he liked to tell himself. Zipping through town on his motorcycle, Knox came to a stop outside her place, revving the engine noisily and obnoxiously a few times to draw her attention. Hopping off as he cut the engine, he bounded his way up to the door, knocking loudly a few times before it opened. "Cal Gal. Brought some scratchers, you got any coins?" he greeted, making every effort to keep things jovial, to act like it was all good and that a few cheap scratch off tickets could make things right.

[bewitched-if]

Are Beatrice and Ophelia also sisters?

yes, they are! :>

[fir-fireweed]

I LOVE CALLIOPE SO MUCH <33

AUGHHHH

shes actually one of the things that drew me to cantata (along with the plot obvi)

BECAUSE

i actually since 2023 have had an OC named Calliope, and when I saw Calliope C.'s art my jaw DROPPED. the ONLY difference between the two was the clothing style and that my OC has vitiligo!!!!

also their personalities? one to one. identical. zero difference. i love that for me

Great minds think alike! We manifested her! 🙌🏻❤️

[missus-paint]

personalize

[hiccupscloud-26]

Hicvember Day 18: 2+ Cases

Hey guys! This was actually my favorite one I've written so far. This was actually the story that prompted that post reminding myself that I'm an adult, lol.

Just Indyko and Calliope as usual

Hicvember prompts: 2 cases at a time/induced/cuddles/fantasies (got a lot done with this one, lol)

CW:

Fast hiccups

Induced hiccups

Burping/belching

Burping in face

Horniness

Arousal mention

Make out section

Mention of a gun

Flirty teasing

Implied sexy times not written

Without further ado, enjoy

Indy and Calliope were just relaxing and watching a movie when Calliope had brought up one of her fantasies that she'd wanted to try. Indyko was curious as always, experimenting with Calliope always ended up being really fun and entertaining.

She had told them that she'd always dreamed of witnessing 2 cases of hiccups at one time, or having the hiccups alongside someone else. Indyko had smiled and nodded and told her that they could plan out a day for them to have them together.

Today was finally the day. Calliope had gotten herself her go-to inducer: a bottle of soda. Indy didn't know what would induce their hiccups, but they did know spicy foods did it. They honestly didn't want to deal with the heat.

“Maybe we should wait until I have the hiccups first,” Indy brought up their concerns, “I'm not sure I want to experience those heat hiccups, if I'm being honest…”

Calliope nodded, “that's valid, hun. I don't want you in any pain. Then it'd be no fun. Do you wanna try my method?”

“If you show me how to do it,” Indyko blushed slightly. “Maybe it will work for me too.”

“Let's hope so,” Calliope giggled quietly and placed a kiss on their still blushing cheek. “We're so goofy, people usually want to get rid of hiccups, and instead we're actively trying to get them. Weird, huh?”

“Eh, who wants to be like everybody else? Normal is boring, you gotta live life the way you want to,” Indy shrugged. “If that makes it weird, then we'll be weirdos together.”

“Indy…” Calliope looked at them in complete awe before going over and placing a kiss on their lips.

Indyko squeaked, gasping in shock and swallowing a bubble of air as they kissed her back. The two of them continued to kiss each other, getting a little distracted by each other. Indyko grabbed Calliope's stomach, playing around with it as they deepened the kiss, noting their breathing quickening. They were on their way to a full blown make out session until Calliope felt an instantly recognizable and hard thump in Indyko's chest. Her eyes widened as she quickly felt another, this one forcing their lips apart with a loud *HMPK!* caving their throat inward.

Indy placed a hand on their chest as they tried to catch their breath, though it was extremely hard with their hiccups jolting them every few seconds, give or take.

“I-*HICK!*‐I thi-*NK!* that d-*HUP!*-did it,” Indyko looked at Calliope, smiling slyly, “your *HOLP!* tur—urn~”

As much as Calliope had wanted to just witness this extremely rare fast case of hiccups that they'd been blessed with, she nodded, picking up her soda and getting to work. She didn't leave her spot on Indy's lap, feeling every jolt, every jump, she was excited, her head flooded, yet floating at the same time.

Indy was preoccupied, playing with Calliope's tummy as they rode through these rapid fire hiccups. They'd never had a case like these before. They were almost too much for them to bear.

Almost.

Calliope drank her soda, watching Indyko play around with her tummy. It sloshed and gurgled with the liquid being poured down. She released and burped loudly. Right in Indyko's face. Calliope covered her mouth, “oh my gosh, excuse me, I'm so sor-*hick'it!GRRRREULLP!* excuse me.”

Indyko hiccupped through a quiet groan, “fuck *HUCK!* that was so-*HOLK!* hot.”

Calliope's eyes widened like saucers, then smirked, deciding to play along with them, “oh ye-*hiyuck*-yeah? You like it when I *hup-GRRRRUUULLLUPP!*-aah burp in your face?”

“Callieee-*HICK!*-eee*HEEK!*-oof,” Indyko's head was thrown back twice by the force of those hiccups.

Calliope giggled, “sorry, just a little teasing. How are you holding up?”

She frowned slightly at the lack of hiccups. She started drinking more soda until the bottle was empty.

“I'm *HU-UP!* doing alright *H'GUP!*, though I may n-*HNK!*-need to, um…” they blushed profusely and looked down, trying to avoid looking at it.

“Oh shit,” Calliope knew what they were getting at, “ok…you wanna- *huck!*...*HUCK!HUCKAH!GUP!* Fi-*ic'KULP!*‐nal-*hngkuh*‐ly, whew the-*heek!*-these are *huck!* f-*hu'uk!*-fas–st, fu-*huck!*”

Indyko whimpered, holding onto Calliope's stomach, thanking whoever invented crop tops. They held on tight, but not rough, as the hiccups bounced her stomach fat, making it jiggle stunningly.

“Gosh, Ca-*HIUP!*-lliope, you are *HUCK!* stunning,” Indyko whined, their hips twitching slightly. They pulled Callie closer to them so that she was now straddling them, “please *HULP!* Callie.”

Calliope froze before burping in their face again, eliciting a beautiful sound from them she hadn't heard…ever. “Oh excu-*holpkuh!*-excuse *HULK!GIUP!* me, je-*HEEK!*-jeez.”

Indyko winced, “Callie ple-*HEEK!HIK!HUCK!*” At their increased excitement, their hiccups quickened. “It hu-*HERK!*-urts.”

Calliope frowned slightly, “your h-*ic'KULP!*‐hiccups?”

Indyko shook their head and blushed even more as they steadily played with Callie's stomach, their own chest jolting alongside their hips. Their jeans were getting tighter and tighter. Calliope slowly processed, but when she did, she smirked slyly, “is tha-*HACK!HUCK!*-that a gu-*GILP!grrrup!*-gun in your po-*hu'uck!*-pocket *HI'UH-RRRP!* or are you *hngkuh!hip!GUP!* excited to see-*heeeek!grrruuullp!HULP!*-mm, me?”

Indyko glared at Calliope unamused, “you're *HUPAH!* cruel.”

“Okay, o-*hup!*‐kay, clothes o-*hmpf!*‐ff, get re-*hip!*-ready for a wild *HIYUCK!*-oof, ride.”

~~one sex scene later~~

The two partners were now laying on the couch, both naked, cuddling up with each other, out of breath, but not out of hiccups apparently. Indyko was on the couch, Calliope on top of them. They had somehow gotten their hiccups to sync up with each other.

“How was *hyuck!* that?” Calliope giggled at the *HULP!* that Indyko copied.

“Incredible,” Indy beamed and continued cradling Calliope's tummy Like it was the most precious and fragile thing in the world. “Thank-*HNGK!* you.”

“Mmhm-*hmkmk!*-mm *HUWICKUP!*-nnngh *ic’KAUP!* shit,” Calliope groaned.

“You okay? *hip!* Not slowing down, huh? *hingk!*” Indyko gently rubbed her tummy, noting their hiccups were now out of sync.

Callie's seemed to be speeding up again while their own were slowing down.

Calliope shook her head, “not at *huuuuck!* all, *KUP!*...aren't organism-*hmpk!CUP!*-ms supposed to sto–p hiccups?”

Indyko tried not to laugh, “you mean or-*huck*-orgasms?”

“You knew what I meant *HOUP!*-oof,” Calliope shrugged, laying her head on Indyko's chest, listening in on their last few hiccups.

“Yeah, or so I've *hk* heard…well, I guess it *ic* kinda worked for me,” Indyko shrugged and placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

“Y'know, that was *huuckiiip* my first time?” Calliope noted and Indyko almost jumped up.

“No way, what? Wait, why am I surprised, it was my first time too…” Indyko couldn't help but chuckle at themselves and Calliope joined in too.

They held each other as they laughed, enjoying their moment before they eventually calmed down, wiping tears from their eyes. “You know I really do love you, Calliope, don't you?” Indy looked at her with all the seriousness they could manage.

“I know, Indy, and I love you too,” Calliope reached a hand up to cup their face, “I love you so much and…I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Indyko's face instantly lit up in the brightest red imaginable. “...” They couldn't even conjure words to throw a sentence together.

Was that a proposal? That sure sounded like a lighthearted proposal. Or maybe they were just thinking too deeply into it.

“Hehe, did I break you?” Calliope chuckled and nuzzled closer to them.

“A-a little bit, yeah,” Indy admitted sheepishly.

“Aww, what did I break you with? Just curious,” Calliope smiled endearingly up at her beloved.

“Oh…uhhh, just…when you said you looked forward to spending the rest of your life with me…” Indyko blushed impossibly redder. “Implying that…you wanna marry me?”

Calliope blinked as she realized and nodded, “yeah…I really don't envision me with anyone else, and…I wanted to give you a whole extravagant, surprise engagement, but I kind of ran my mouth a bit too much, huh?”

Indyko blubbered out total nonsense, just at a loss for words before they calmed down. “I don't need anything big or extravagant…”

“Oh…but it's what you deserve,” Calliope reached down and grabbed Indyko's left hand.

“Maybe, but I prefer small and quaint,” Indy squeezed her hand gently.

“Huh…then, would you say yes if…I were to ask now?” Calliope could feel her heart thumping heavily in her chest.

“There's only one way to find out…”

Calliope slowly sat up and looked at Indy incredulously, but one look at their face was all she needed to make her decision. “Indy, will you be my life partner and marry me?”

Indy couldn't hold back their tears as they covered their face. They were prepared for her to ask the question, but still lost their composure. They nodded their head, “yes…yes, of course I'll marry you.”

Calliope beamed and softly chuckled, hugging them close, also tearing up slightly, “I'll get you a ring, the best, most beautiful ring, you'll see.”

“I can't wait, love,” Indy blubbered out and hugged their girlf-no, their fiance back.

Fin~

[ocean-dreamer]

Intro - Calliope

( Abigail Breslin / twenty-eight / cis female / she/her ) even in the darkest night in themis i could recognize the person the gates just opened for. CALLIOPE STARR, the PRINCESS OF HOUSE STARR, FLED TO TRUSIA ONE YEAR AGO, and the kingdom of kir has asked them to contribute to it’s safety through their COMPASSION. however, they must make sure their INDECISIVENESS does not get them killed sooner or later.

[playlist] | [face] | [aesthetics]

Calliope's birth mother was a seamstress who had died giving birth to her while her birth father was unknown, which led to the queens adopting her when she was two months old, so growing up in the palace was all she knew.

She and her siblings are all extremely close; they are the only ones who can get away with calling her Callie, and she would do absolutely *anything* for them.

When she wants to distract herself from being homesick, Calliope either goes to explore the city or gives music lessons to any children who ask (with their parents' permission of course)

She is very indecisive at times, which makes her glad she isn't queen like her sister.

[kyuureimu]

"...It doesn't feel right," Heidi concludes, after several minutes of restlessly tapping pencil to paper in stead of the practice exercise Kyurem had given her. "Being the only person learning this. It feels... wrong. I dunno. Like... I can't be the only one who *should* be learning this." (@balancebonded)

– — "'Should'?"

Kyurem immediately frowns, brow furrowing. Normally he is a lot more patient with Heidi, understanding well that words don't come easy to her, and harder still to share them aloud. But this time, for whatever reason, her words almost strikes a nerve, and in response his words flow out of him like a leak in a dam.

"This isn't a matter of 'should,' Heidi, it's would. Since the beginning I have overseen all the discoveries and teachings of the art, and every melosir had to be vetted through me before they could be considered masters of their craft. You have seen first hand of all the good that it is capable of, but you have only scratched the surface of the dangers it possesses in the wrong hands."

"I haven't taught anyone in well over two thousand years. The art of sealing was once my gift to humanity, and in those two thousand years I intended to let it all be buried and die along with me."

The dragon finally catches his breath and turns away, face more unreadable than ever. He folds his arms over his chest, and before silence overtakes them—and before Heidi could interject, Kyurem continues.

"...I teach you because you asked. Perhaps because you already developed a knack and a growing passion for it, perhaps because I don't want to see you blow yourself up trying to learn on your own. I just..."

"...I want to trust you. To prove me wrong." That this gift of the gods wasn't a mistake after all.

@balancebonded