audience: shess

[cyclists]

Comments

[nonbelligerent]

[he promptly writes,]

Was the second new partnership the result of someone's trade?

[cyclists]

It was not.

[they'll still gesture for shess to come and sit with them though!]

Such an item cannot be delivered by the young one and I.

[nonbelligerent]

[he sits down.]

Then how was it done?

[cyclists]

[and only because lune knows that this might sound familiar - ]

It is given by accomplishing tasks against the instability that dwells within the gateways.

[nonbelligerent]

What Akane, North, Four, and Nana did?

[cyclists]

[there is a hum this time - it seems as if spoken confirmation might be a bit too much to manage without being muffled

but the hum is a very pleasant, melodic series of notes

so that's probably an affirmative]

[nonbelligerent]

[lune did you just hum a song to say yes, why]

That is good to know, then. It seemed rather odd that they supposedly helped and yet we had even more corrupted this week.

[cyclists]

[lune probably has a nice voice when they're not being muffled]

The fluctuations of the core are a bit difficult to predict - but I can say with certainty that it would have been worse if they did not act.

You are doing quite well in your information search. Have you encouraged others to engage in the same?

[nonbelligerent]

I think they're already proactive enough without my encouragement.

[some of them (coughkaracough) just need to be better at actually paying attention to people.]

[cyclists]

In that sense, I am not so certain.... but regardless, I hope you all will be able to work together.

[there is a pause at that]

I had told one of you at trial that kindness is merely knowing your opponent - and while I would rather you all be allies, I believe that should the corruption force you each against one another, familiarity with a person's nature would better help in solving some of these mysteries.

[nonbelligerent]

To understand the reasoning behind their victims and actions?

[cyclists]

Indeed.

After all, there remains one corrupted in your midst, no? It may be rather hard to determine their actions... but you possessed all the pieces you need to discern who they might be. You need only but information about their morality and countenance in order to make the accusation.

[that's lune's guidance anyway]

But that is merely the observation of an old man.

[nonbelligerent]

I'm not in the habit of trying to figure out deaths. My kind usually doesn't need an excuse to kill people.

[he is not suited for this??

and jan is dumb??? STOP]

[cyclists]

[there is another soft laugh at that]

It is merely the advice that I am bringing to any who will come see me - I believe it to be important for all of your continued safety, after all.

But I suppose you are correct. When you are among beings who will take life simply because it is what they have always known, it is an odd problem to face.

[nonbelligerent]

Will the remaining corrupted act again next week, along with whoever becomes corrupted then?

[cyclists]

[their gaze lifts upward in thought]

While I cannot peer into the future...

I find it difficult to discredit the possibility.

[nonbelligerent]

So we should expect even more deaths next week, then.

[cyclists]

[there is a pause at that and a glance to shess]

Are you worried?

[nonbelligerent]

Of course. At this rate, it's feeling more like we were brought here to be live sacrifices than anything else.

[cyclists]

Live sacrifices...

{there is a pause and a frown in their voice]

I had not thought of it that way. I suppose one might wonder what it is that the universe had intended by bringing you all here.

Even so, I do not believe that you have been fated to lose either.

[nonbelligerent]

Us, or the universe as a whole?

[after all, a victory for the latter doesn't mean a victory for individuals.]

[cyclists]

Each of you.

What purpose would there be to bring you all here, if it may only cause further instability? Is it a test of wills? Of the ability of not only each human, but each different race and spirit?

And yet it has been proven that there are some tasks that can be completed only by each of you - as the young one and I are bound to positions of overseers only.

Perhaps it is a question of whether each of you will be able to work faster than the darkness.

[thoughtfully, followed by a sip of tea]

Would you care for a cup?

[nonbelligerent]

You said it yourself, didn't you? Once the corrupted is no longer alive, they have been purified. Therefore, if purification is the ultimate goal, then what difference does it make to the universe if we become corrupted—so long as we all kill each other by the end?

[...]

All right.

[cyclists]

I suppose that would depend on if purification is the ultimate goal - there are others in your number who may not find it so easily agreeable.

[but they'll pour that cup for shess, offering it over to him]

[nonbelligerent]

I don't mean our goals. We're not the ones who set up this system.