cyclists | audience: ookurikara

[ Just what the heck is that supposed to mean...? Are the two of them spying on everyone here? Why would that even surprise him?

His hand does slow in the middle of stirring the stew he's been working on, but Ookurikara doesn't turn around to face Sol again, instead settling for frowning down at the food. ]

I don't want your apologies.

[ What would he even apologize for? There's so much, in Kara's eyes, that Lune and Sol have done wrong - are still doing wrong, and it doesn't look like that's changing anytime soon. What's the use of an apology, in that case? ]

[...they're half-tempted to turn around and just leave because, well, what's the point? But they did sort of kind of make a half-promise...]

I don't care. [Sol?] I just wanted to say that I talked to Tsurumaru and I get why you're so mad. So. I'm sorry we're not working fast enough and for saying this might be more important than the...Revisionists.

[ Now, that? That gets him to turn around, and any hint of resentment is just gone. ]

You can talk to him?

[ Not gonna acknowledge the apology, though. ]

...something like that? [They seem to be trying to find a way to get past the universe censors but also keep Kara's attention. (Truthfully, Tsuru told them stuff before he died but they aren't going to clarify if they don't have to.] I can't explain everything just yet, but...soon, I hope.

[ Well. That shouldn't be as surprising, or disappointing, as it is. With a roll of his eyes, Kara returns to the pot on the stove, stirring in a few extra spices. ]

Is there anything the two of you can explain?

They're safe. [So there's that.] Do...you think we like having to keep this stuff from you guys?

They're dead.

[ That's a very weird definition of safe, even for a sword. ]

Why does that change what I just said? [They're not even arguing, they're just waiting.]

If they were safe, they would be alive, where they're supposed to be. Not - here.

[ Wherever "here" is even supposed to be, in all that vague universe nonsense. ]

[That's...true...but at the same time Sol shakes their head.]

In some worlds...death isn't actually the end. Some places, in order to be whole again, you have to go through that process. [They're wording this carefully so Kara doesn't flip his shit, but they're also just sort of calmly explaining.] And that's sort of what's happening here.

I can go into more detail at another time, but...I wanted to tell you that much, at least.

[ The concept isn't as hard to understand as Sol thinks - Kara's looking at it as someone who has seen broken and lost swords recovered at the citadel, because the saniwa knew the right way to summon them back to life. That's why it's so important to get Tsuru's shards home - there is a chance they may be able to summon him again. Even it won't be this Tsuru, even if he won't remember, he'll be alive again.

Still, he shakes his head, scowling at Sol. ]

They shouldn't have to at all.

[ They didn't choose to be here. They didn't choose to be killed, or be corrupted. ]

What are either of you doing to fix this?

Lune and I are tracking down other places the corruption is tampering with. If we can clear those places, it gives us something to help stabilize the core here and fight back so that this doesn't keep happening. I'm trying to find workarounds, too, to get here on Thursdays.

...when the darkness sets in, we're cut off from the village. We can get here after some time, but without a light to guide us we're lost for some time.

You don't have to believe me, but...there are things happening that will make this better.

[ ...Have either of them mentioned that they apparently can't get here on Thursday nights? If they have, Kara has apparently blocked it out - but it does give him a thought. ]

What would you do, if you could get here?

[ They haven't been very useful thusfar, so he's not expecting much now, but... what is their plan? ]

If we could get here, we'd be able to find our corrupted and stop them before they actually hurt anybody. Lune and I are also seeking new ways to purify the corrupted instead of just what's been happening. Death is a sure way of cleansing, but that doesn't change the fact that it's someone being taken away.

[They haven't mentioned it specifically to the ground at large, but nobody's asked either. Most people are just angry on Friday mornings.] You've seen the houses we've created to bind the corrupted, haven't you?

[ Kara does have other questions, but... okay. Since Sol is actually offering this information, he'll let them lead the conversation for now. ]

Yes.

They're designed to help contain those who have been corrupted without hurting themselves and without hurting you guys. Lune and I can't change anything major, but our powers and our roles here allow us to make minor changes to the village including that house. Imprisonment isn't the best solution either, but it's better than death.

If we could catch our corrupted and keep them separated until we found another way to purify them, that's our most peaceful option right now. But that's if the universe even allows us to do that yet.

[...] We didn't know that the lights would disappear that night. Otherwise I don't think either of us would have gone home. And now there are things on the other plane that mean we have to be separated. Does that make sense?

[ Kara's eyes narrow. ]

Then why not leave them there? You went straight to executions.

Because it's the universe's trade. [...] That, and given that this happens and there are days between, the manifestation of the darkness is already a lot. It's harder to purify someone the longer the darkness festers.

[ Okay, he'll let that line of thought go, because in a weird way, it makes sense? But. Going back to his previous question... ]

Is there a way to set up a light so you could get here through the darkness?

[ Kara may not like either of them, and still doesn't believe they'll provide much help... but he's not going to risk losing the chance for them to prove their worth. ]

[That's a good question.]

How are you doing with your powers? [They're aware of what Kara possesses, after all.]

[ He's going to take a moment to remove the pot from the stove and turn off the burner before glancing back at Sol, leaning back against the counter next to his sword. ]

I train with it each day. [ Magic clearly isn't his strong suit, but... ] As long as I have my sword, I can hold it.

[ And because he has an idea where Sol may be going with this, he has to add: ]

I won't be able to do that, without a way to stay awake.

[They're curious what he's made but they won't move. This seems to be going decently enough but they're still on guard just in case.]

A catalyst. Good. [They seem a little pleased.] You're not the only one like that.

[But the amusement disappears almost immediately.] ...there are ways, even if Lune and I aren't the ones to provide them. But I can still ask and see if there's anything I can do. If the universe really doesn't want us to intervene, it'll be impossible. But we can try. It doesn't make any sense otherwise.

How? Lune said I had to find someone first, before they can help.

[Immediately distracted, they pause again.]

You talked to Lune already? What exactly did he say?

[ Sigh. ]

When I asked what the two of you have done to stop the darkness, Lune told me to talk to "the people who have lived through it."

[ Whatever the fuck that means. ]

They said if I put in that effort, they might be able to give me a way to stay up when the darkness comes. That's all.

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