audience: shess

[cyclists]

Comments

[cyclists]

Mm, I would say so.

To lose track of one's own identity and ideals... It may as well be a second death.

[nonbelligerent]

Having one's soul altered like that could be considered an actual death, though that gets into philosophical questions about what constitutes a "being" and differs among races as well...

[things when you're from a canon with a lot of soul mechanics...]

But it's certainly something I'd prefer to avoid.

[cyclists]

[please no philosophy I'm mobile

but lune will just hum at that]

Then it is quite fortunate that you are not currently at risk. I'm glad.

[nonbelligerent]

I'm also glad to not be at risk right now, though the same can't be said of others, of course.

[cyclists]

Unfortunately not....

[and Lune will pause thoughtfully - ]

Do you know how you intend to proceed, moving forward?

[nonbelligerent]

For now? I'll most likely be dealing with Emma.

[so there's that.]

[cyclists]

... mm. She had told me that she does not think she would be suitable to be the last remaining.

[nonbelligerent]

She's also concerned that she may be among the corrupted of this week.

[cyclists]

Oh?

[lune looks thoughtful at that]

What makes her say that, I wonder....

[nonbelligerent]

Because she's killed here, and it puts her at greater risk.

At the very least, given her circumstances before being brought here, the idea of being possessed terrifies her.

[cyclists]

Mm. She had told me similarly.

[there's a soft frown at that]

... regardless, she has done well for those here - everyone she wishes to protect. I hope that the universe that gets made at the conclusion of all this is one that is kind to her.

[nonbelligerent]

Yes... she's endured and fought well to this point.

[cyclists]

I believe that all of you have.

[and that's said with nothing but the utmost confidence]

In truth, for those of you that remain... I would entrust the future to most of you.

[nonbelligerent]

You like everyone, though.

[cyclists]

Ahaha, I do, I do.

[HE AGREES TOO EASILY]

However... that does not mean that I trust everyone.

[nonbelligerent]

And what would you consider untrustworthy, in this case?

[cyclists]

A dangerous level of bias that would lead to forsaking life. Even if each of you have affected each other, and built your own preferences and grudges....

I would only grow worried if someone would allow this grudges to embolden them to act as an executioner.

Or if one would forsake the importance of both happiness and hardship in the world.

[nonbelligerent]

... I can't say I disagree with those.

[cyclists]

I would hope not.

[ . . . ]

And if I were to allow myself a moment to be selfish - I would rather like someone who might be willing to answer small requests of the young one and myself.

[nonbelligerent]

What are they? I've heard a bit about Sol's.

[cyclists]

If you know the young one’s, then that does take precedent. He has endured far more than I.

[ . . . that said]

My comrades and I are currently fighting a war. I do not know if Ookurikara or Tsurumaru got a chance to explain it to you - however it is likely a war with an end. There will be a conclusion, and we will no longer have a reason to fight or have the bodies that we do.

Even if our master is kind and understanding, they may have no choice but to return us to storage, display, or wherever it is that broken weapons are discarded to.

Consider it presumptuous of me - but I would rather like a way to let each of us have one final choice about what becomes of us. If they would like to become human, to live on in our current bodies, or to retreat without a battlefield into whatever state of non-living they would like.

[nonbelligerent]

[...]

Makes sense. If I end up being the one to decide, I'll remember that.

[cyclists]

I could hardly make good on my promise to meet you again if I did not possess a body to do so.

[gently points that out

but also]

... even so, I trust your judgment.

And I am sure that I would find a way regardless.

[nonbelligerent]

... I suppose not.

[although promises don't mean much.]

Yes, you can be rather stubborn in your own way.

[cyclists]

Thank you, thank you.

[WAS THAT A COMPLIMENT]

It would be concerning if steel were to bend so easily. What good is a weapon without integrity?