915/The Rephaite and the Reader

The Rephaite and the Reader
Date of Scene:	04 November 2014
Location:	A Quiet World
Synopsis:	A tempered soul and an errant spirit arrive in a place of stories.
Cast of Characters:	183, 238

---

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Even if natural cycles are only illusions here, things without any sort of purpose beyond their aesthetic value, they persist in their occurrence around the library. Rather than the usual rain, a soft sheet of snow has begun to fall around, and already it dominates some of the parks around town. Certainly it has touched the central park that Beli arrives i -- several small 'puddles' of the stuff have already collected atop the community gardens, childrens' playgrounds, and the nearby streets where some cars silently travel past. Naturally, this snow falls from a sky of unchanging blackness that dominates the region.

    Mizuki would have given Beli coordinates that lead further North, past a few winding roads demonstrating the chaotic placidity that serves as the foundation for the urban paradise: people rushing by on their merry way, all those stories interweaving, all of them alike in their blissful ignorance of eachother's wants, needs, and struggles. The maze of flesh and concrete would eventually have a stark contrast at the end of a certain road, though: a mismatched monument of Gothic make rests on the far end, the moon hanging in perfect, eerie symmetry with the castle-library beneath it, as if a part of some ritual meant to call any brave enough to enter near. That feeling of beckoning would not falter until the coordinates bring her to the ornate double doors at its front, which would open completely of their own accord to welcome their guest.

    Then the interior would be presented in full, a sound finally penetrating the established silence. A trickle of water from the central fountain upon whose side Mizuki is, as she usually is, resting herself, along with the equally gentle, humming tick of the myriad timepieces gathered at a cluttered desk that presumably belonds to the librarian. Said librarian would turn from a mobile, tall ladder meant to allow access to the towering bookshelves to give the rephaite a smiling, somehow nostalgic wave.

    She would almost certainly feel as though there were some pattern to this; as though this very same scene had happened in the same way for countless visitors over countless years. But such is the unchanging nature of a world wrought in a proverbial painting.

    Noticing her guest, Mizuki would lift her gaze from the water of the fountain and hop to her feet in approach. When she comes close enough for her voice to reach her at a polite indoor tone, she would do so, complete with the typical curtsey, folding of her hands, and bowing of her head. Her eyes would level with hers as soon as this other ritual is finished. "Good evening, Miss Klum. I apologize if the trip was a bit taxing. The warpgates on my world can be a trifle... errant. That's to say, they can't seem to decide on a proper place to stay and never seem to afford visitors the convenience of proximity." She gives a polite, conversational smile. "Alas, I'll assume that a little walk hasn't slain you. Or hope for as much, at least -- we've a little sojourn yet before reach the place that I was hoping to take you. Up several flights of stairs tucked away in the back. Come, come! I'll show you."

    With that, she would turn and start for the back, leading her past innumerable tomes and the sequential chandeliers and archways of the ceiling. It's a dimly lit place, all in all, with very little but said candlelight from above to light their way. Nevertheless, Mizuki would see to their safe arrival, guiding Beli to a pair of grand staircases that bend inward in a circular fashion to a risen platform to which two more such walkways would wind into doors on either side. Mizuki would walk off to the left, but it would seem each leads to the same destination. Another boggling walkway with a checkerboard of black and white tiles, covered boldly by an endless crimson carpet with a golden trim upon its edges stretches before them.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Ah, but, perhaps something else? At this point, Beli might swear that she sees some mobile silhouettes in anthropomorphic shapes wandering the halls, phasing through doors, and other such. It's a bizarre phenomenon, but unlike some would insist, not inherently one of a horrific nature; more something that would make her question whether or not she is awake. Though, it could be said this entire world is like that.

    Still, Mizuki would helpfully attempt to clarify the sensation before leading her further on down the passage. "Don't fret if you happen to see a few... 'ghosts' in the library, okay?" She smirks. "They're called the shadow people, and they're rather simple folk that enjoy reading more than all else. Shy beings, though, and they'll attempt to fade from sight almost as soon as they're seen. And if you make too powerful an effort to focus on them, well..." Mizuki squeezes her eyes shut a moment, contorting her expression in some semblance of lament. "... then they may be wont to mimic some great fear of yours in order to force you to look away. So do take care, and remain near me whenever possible. While positively halcyon under the right circumstances, I'm afraid this place can become quite dangerous in the wrong conditions."

    Quite dangerous indeed, when there are so many of those shadows lingering just on the periphery of her vision. But Mizuki is here, and she's probably got this under control. Right? Right.

Beli Klum (238) has posed:
    Fortunately, Beli is capable of (and even prefers) flight, so the journey from the warp gate all the way over to the great library is not one she minds at all. Particularly when there's such fascinating scenery to observe on the way; snow, in particular, has always been a favorite weather condition for Beli. With such silence, uniformity, and calm, how could a chaotic being such as herself not find solace in it?

    However, keeping Mizuki waiting is of a greater concern, and so the rephaite chooses not to tarry for long in her travels. Soon enough, she comes up to the library, where she touches down and allows her wings to slip back into her back from the vertical slit granted by her usual clothing.

    Even then, though, it's another fascinating walk as Beli proceeds through the doors, arms folded and eyes flitting from one interesting thing to the next. She probably would miss Mizuki completely if the girl didn't wave for her attention and come toward her, stunning the angelic demon out of her temporary reverie and drawing a vaguely sheepish smile to her lips as she regards the librarian.

    "Good evening, Mizuki," Beli replies, nodding her greeting as she speaks with that strange, soft voice, reverberating with soft bells and a volcano's dull rumble. "It is really nothing to apologize for. I am used to traveling a lot, in any case. After a few decades of not settling in one place for long, one gets used to journeys." Those last words are said with a soft laugh, even if they may not indicate the happiest of situations.

    When Mizuki leads, Beli follows without hesitation, once more taking the opportunity to glance around at her surroundings. It's certainly a massive place; perhaps not as gigantic as Purgatorio, at least as far as she can tell right now, but that place is on a scale of its own. And such fascinating design, too. It almost seems there's never a loss for something to gawk at...those strange, shifting shapes included. With her familiarity with Inferno, they don't disturb her much, but they do draw some curiosity. Not enough for her to start wandering off, but just enough for her to stare a little longer at where she thinks they appear.

    Her attention quickly turns back to Mizuki when the strange shapes are explained. "Ah...that is interesting. I guess I should leave them to their peace, in that case." A pause as she lifts her hand, idly combing her fingers through long, black hair. "...they remind me of demons, almost, or perhaps the shades that are fated to turn into them. In any case...I can understand their desire to be left alone, certainly."

    Beli's head lifts again, briefly glancing at another such shadow before she catches herself and glances away again. "...what sort of place is this? I am afraid I know little of your world, if anything."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Mizuki would widen her smile at the first words out of Beli's mouth and nods. "I'm quite the opposite. I'd not left my home for far, far too many years until recently. It was jarring, exposing myself to the realities of other worlds again! It's so loose here, and there's so little pressure imparted by its characteristics. I could still swear that whenever I return I feel as light as a feather by comparison..." She steeples her fingers, glancing upward in their walk. "... but I digress. More germane is the simple fact that my home's malleable nature makes it a fair bit easier to stay put. After all, when you can just create new areas to explore, there's no real reason to expose yourself to the elements."

    Noticing her awe a bit, though, Mizuki would playfully narrow her eyes, hiding her mouth with a sleeve of her dress. "Rather taken in, no? I had thought you might be. Not because of my own narcissism, really, and more because... well. How to put it." She pauses a moment or two here, closing her eyes in contemplation. "I do not know if you've ever been to Ariamis, the world in which Priscilla resides, but it is a literal world inside of a painting. A place of almost inherent stagnation, but in a beautiful way -- where constancy is the mantra of each nuance and happy visual one comes across, and where peace is a guarantee. It is my belief that my world, and perhaps even Purgatorio, are similar. They lack a key element of vulgarity and chaos that comprises the standard world that one would visit." She allows for a pause. "And it is because I believed you might comprehend such things, in a format of pure feeling if not in word, that I asked you to come here. It would appear that I was not entirely mistaken after all~."

    As for the 'demons'. "Yes, well. Their nature is a tricky thing to parse. They are... old thoughts. You see - and this ties in with the latter question regarding my world so I would assign especial prevalence to subsequent statements thus - they are aspects of my own mentality. That's to say, each of them represents a microcosm of my own thoughts, or a specific collective of thoughts. These ones specifically are 'old' because they've been recycled. The regions in which they used to dwell have been destroyed either by the patterns of my waning curiosity or, more recently, through violence." Her expression becomes a bit more severe all of a sudden. "... and on that note, this hall has gained a great many new residents lately, but I'll not bother you with the details of that. Indeed, it's not a happy thing for a mother to reflect on the mass death of her children."

    She turns to face Beli more fully as they walk, consequently traveling backward through the hall. "But that's enough mystery on my part, isn't it? I'm ever so happy to indulge any curiosities you have with regards to my home. So, firstly," She gestures around herself, "this is Silent Night, my personal archive and library. It is the pseudo-concrete manifestation of all of my experiences, memories, and the thoughts and feelings I associate with those things. It is managed by Fenestra, whom you might have seen tending the books nearer to the entrance. The upper floors - those we are in now - house an abundance of artifacts that I have recovered from other worlds I have visited, or at the least mental facsimiles of those things. Contained here are the histories of thousands of worlds that have ended, and the individuals that lived within those places. Here I document their lives so that they may be immortalized through word, and their existence substantiated for those that never had the opportunity to hear their voices."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    She goes on. "Referring to the larger world, the entire plane that characterizes my home: it is essentially my mind. That's to say, we are each inside of a dream that I am actively conjuring within that bounds of a specific sphere allotted to me by the universe. The only reason that it is so well-established that it might /appear/ physical to you is because I have particularly powerful control over my mind. I am able to give form to the undefined, and in some isolated cases my thoughts become sapient themselves and are able to do the same. We're all a happy collective of thoughts, as a wonderland cast adrift in the void of the mind. And we quite enjoy our station."

    Once she has finished speaking for the time being, she would turn back around and head over to a door with a star-shaped handle. It would slide open gradually to reveal a circular room with a massive tome bearing the likeness of a river and its surrounding nature, all of it cloaked in the same ice that is beginning to encroach upon the world outside this building. All around said tome are rows and rows of bookshelves that nearly dominate the entire wall, all of them labelled with names. Presumably, this is one of the archives that she meant. Idly, she would wonder over to a display case set before the tome and retrieve a pendant in the shape of a crystalline heart, gingerly draping it over Beli's neck if she allows her to do so.

    "This, for instance," She would smile, "was once a family heirloom passed down in a certain house of royals. It amplified the arts of healing, which were in innate talent of the princesses of the land. Ironic, then, that one such princess was ultimately the one whose darkness rended the world from existence."

Beli Klum (238) has posed:
    "If you would like to see vulgarity and chaos, I think you would be better off visiting Inferno," Beli remarks, laughing softly. "But...yes, I do understand what you mean. I have not visited Ariamis, but Purgatorio is...it feels eternal, I suppose, and unchanging. Unless I were to actively do something to it, I do not think it would be any different from how it was when I obtained it after millenia had passed. Assuming I am still alive by then." She takes a breath, then, releasing it in a slow, steady sigh before glancing around at her surroundings once more. "...this is the kind of place I would have enjoyed retiring in, I think, so many years ago. Books have always been a helpful form of escape for me, and this environment...I think the demon in me must appreciate it."

    Again she glances back to Mizuki at the explanation of the shadows. The rephaite blinks curiously, her head tilted at a slight angle to one side. "...I see. That is...that is very interesting, actually. You have my condolences for their passing, of course, though...forgive me for being particularly interested in exactly how such things are formed. I have never been to a place so...conceptual before."

    Ah, and then there's some elaboration. Beli politely remains quiet, wrapping her arms around her waist as she listens carefully to Mizuki's explanation of this place and its workings. She's not going to pretend that it makes perfect sense to her - she, of all people, could hardly completely grasp the meaning of a world entirely influenced by one's mind - but she at least understands the gist of things, and refusing to think too much on the whole situation no doubt saves her some mental strain.

    Another door opens, and Beli stops to carefully peer over Mizuki into the rest of the room before the librarian wanders in. The rephaite lingers for only a moment, regarding the strange nature of the room in question with no small amount of fascination, but soon she follows, trailing behind Mizuki again. The pendant being offered is a surprise; at first, she doesn't exactly know how to respond to it, how to react, so she simply remains stock still for a few moments before bending down to allow the much shorter girl to reach high enough to place the pendant around her neck.

    The rephaite blinks once again, lifting the crystalline heart gingerly in her fingers so that she can peer and study it, watching how the glow of her own skin makes its surface sparkle. A curious little thing, and with an unusual story to match. One that draws a slight frown to Beli's features, the kind that comes from hearing something that is all too close to home. Whatever her concern, however, she pushes it aside to offer Mizuki a light smile in turn before lifting the pendant from her neck and offering it back again. "...a sad story, but at least her heirloom has found a peaceful place to rest. It sounds as if your home is just the place for such things; a place where others can simply find...peace, after their lives have faced such tribulation." Her smile grows soft and thoughtful. "...I hope I will be able to make such a place myself, really."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    "If I would like to see vulgarity and chaos, I need only look so far as I need to to know that the union of so many worlds has spawned such a polarized conflict as the one in which we are currently involved." Her look becomes a bit distant and bitter for a moment. "I could scarcely comprehend the heights we could reach were we to all work together rather than continuing in the obscene fashion in which we do. If only people were less short sighted, surely they would see that even the most depraved of Confederate desires could be fulfilled in some less unsavory form were we to devise solutions -as one-, but no. Never." She grows a bit spirited as she continues speaking, heaving a rather heavy sigh along with a look of profound irritation to cool herself off afterwards. "... but I digress. That is a conversation that would lead nowhere, and has lead nowhere far too many times for me to seek a satisfying answer. Forgive me."

    Collecting herself again, the next words to come out of Beli's mouth renew her smile. Her arms fold and squeeze gently together in appreciation of them, her head beginning to nod as a show of her approval. She's clearly struck a wonderfully resonant chord here, and Mizuki's response would come with a softness to mirror Beli's own. "... well. Whether or not you elect to retire here, any who comprehend my ideal of peace are always welcome in my company. These books... are far more than ink and paper. They are actual gateways into the worlds that they represent. If ever you fancy a traipse into a world that has ended, or a world that has advanced so far as to transcend my own comprehension, then it would be my distinct pleasure to be your guide." She could not have been more right about the rephaite, it seems.

    The statements of forgiveness cause her eyes to grow wide, and her hand to wave fervently in denial of her concern. "Oh, nonono. Never you fear about that. Your condolences are quite welcome, but melancholy -" She raises an expository finger, "melancholy is a very enjoyable feeling for me. One might say that I am the concept of the bittersweet in addition to being the concept of myself, really. Why else would my library so filled with tales of finality or apocalytpia?" She smiles, though there's an odd quirk to it that may hint at some ingenuousness, or at the very least, hyperbole. "Really, though, you need never apologize for your curiosity. It is a thing that I desire in almost unhealthy quantities, earnestly. I am a being that subsists on the acknowledgement of my existence by others as though it were word, and beyond even that, I consider myself a sort of eclectic artist. For each of these reasons, interest and perception of the things I create are extremely important to me. Rather than you giving me an apology, I should be giving /you/ thanks. People like you allow me to continue to live in a very real way."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Once the pendant slips around Beli's neck, she would listen quietly again, her expression seeming to melt with a sort of silent yet profound gratitude. At the conclusion of her commentary, she would sigh, squeezing her hands together as before. "Yes. You grasp everything precisely as I would wish for you to. This is a place of rest. It serves an ulterior purpose as an observatory of the celestial phenomena that underlie existence, and imagination, but it is primarily a place for dreamers. For souls that, after lives of hardship, wish only for respite in the sweet embrace of night." Her eyes would close. "... I suppose my vice, then, is in wishing that I may expand that heaven to every soul in the Multiverse. There are many who would reject such a peace, you know? Many souls who would pursue 'rest' in the form of some eternal war, or hunt. I cannot understand such people, and if I am being earnest - far more earnest than perhaps I should be - I would prefer to see them changed to my way of thinking so that we may all have a world filled..." Her eyes would reopen, displaying a candid glint behind their frames. "... filled with snow, and quiet the likes of which we are accustomed to. Such a goal is far beyond my reach as of now, but perhaps if I pursue my path of linguistic knowledge far enough, I may one day find a sequence of words that would open the oyster of every soul to my dream."

    Mizuki would hang her head some time after completing her not entirely brief lecture, meandering over to a low bookshelf and retrieving one of the various named tomes from its inventory. She would give the cover a long look, eventually mumbling the name on the cover to herself - Madeline - as the pages would autonomously scroll in a cacophony of clapping paper, and the translucent form of a gently-featured, brunette woman would appear across from Beli. She would remain there, flickering, without saying a single word, or moving a single finger. "This is what I mean when I say that the books contain entire worlds." She would smile. "The forms of the people are contained in these rooms and feed back to the tome in the center. This particular maiden was a simple one, working with her mother at a store that peddled unique floral arrangements. The contained story that captures her character is one about a young dove," Said bird would flicker into existence in the girl's now cupped palms, "that she fed, prolonging their life by a great many years. Such a gentle, pleasant soul she was."

    Soon, though, her gaze would move to Beli again. "I'm curious. Why is it that you take such pleasure in the thought of giving others peace? And why do you seek it yourself? Many people desire the same, but those sorts of motivations can reveal even more about them on occasion."

Beli Klum (238) has posed:
    Mizuki's sudden fire toward the Multiversal war is a little surprising, but...Beli can't help but giggle softly to herself toward it. In a way, it's surprising, but it's also very much /not/ surprising when she considers how almost theatrical the girl can be. She simply seems to find it amusing, then, seeing it in person, but she doesn't really remark on it directly, beyond a soft remark. "There is nothing to forgive. Do not worry."

    The rephaite is quiet, then, as Mizuki continues elaborating on the strange nature of this place. It's fascinating, really. Books that literally serve as gateways to other worlds, other stories and places? What she would have given to have such a thing years ago, when her world was the only one she could access. Perhaps the escapes she sought could have been truly physical ones, then, rather than purely mental.

    "...that is not so much of a vice," Beli remarks, smiling softly as Mizuki speaks of her wishes for not only her own world, but all those in the Multiverse. "I would wish the same. But...I also know that part of me may not be entirely happy with that. Half of me embodies wrath, after all; even I find some enjoyment in combat and struggle. Perhaps that is part of why I am so willing to put myself in harm's way. At the very least...I think it allows me some insight into the minds of those who find greater pleasure in conflict and struggle than in endless peace. There will never be an answer that satisfies absolutely everyone, I do not think, but...there will always be compromises, so long as we are willing to treat others fairly."

    When Madeline appears, Beli's attention shifts to her, green and blue eyes curiously observing the girl and her lone dove. It's a pleasant and peaceful sight, one that draws a soft, warm smile to the rephaite's lips...but Mizuki's questions soon bring the angelic demon back into the world, her smile faltering as she turns her gaze back to her current host. "Ah..."

    It's not the easiest question to answer. Beli's lips purse together in thought for a moment or two, and as she considers, her hand moves to grasp her opposite elbow. "...well...to answer that, I would have to explain my world to you. It may take a bit, so forgive me for that."

    Beli's eyes shift aside, narrowing slightly as she speaks. "In my world, there are three primary entities, not including myself: the demons that reside in Inferno, the angels that reside in Paradiso, and the humans that live on Earth, whose souls will travel to either Inferno or Paradiso depending on how they lived in life. The angels and demons hate one another more than anything, believing that no good can come from the other, for they embody opposites that cannot coexist. Virtues such as charity, temperance, and justice on the one hand, and sins such as greed, gluttony, and corrruption on the other. They would each do anything to see the other fall. And, to that end...they have formed a war between one another. Each one conquers regions on Earth, staking claim over certain populations of humans and influencing them without their knowledge to live their lives in sin or virtue. When they die, their souls have no choice but to go to the afterlives of whoever influenced them the most in their time on Earth, and in time they grow to forget who they are and find a new life as either an angel or a demon, completely subservient to their new lords."

Beli Klum (238) has posed:
    The rephaite breathes a slow, tense sigh through her lips, glancing up at Mizuki again once she seems ready to continue. "I was created when one human who lived far away from the influence of either Inferno or Paradiso came to wonder if the warring factions would be given pause in the face of an entity that held the traits of both of them. So he bound together a demon of wrath and an angel of kindness. He died in the attempt, and when the angels and demons found me, they immediately grew to hate me more than even each other. I was an abomination to them, and they gave me a name that told everyone what they thought I was: Beli Yo'il, 'worthless'. The next few decades, as you can probably imagine, were...lonely, and hateful."

    Her smile, when it returns, is soft, perhaps slightly sad. "I would not wish that kind of life on anyone. So...I want to live the rest of my life not as someone who is hated or ignored, and so too do I want to make sure others have that same peace. I want to give the humans of my world a chance to make their own choices for how to live their lives, the freedom to do so without having their time determined by others and forced into actions. I...suppose I want freedom more than anything, not just a peace that is forced on others."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Mizuki folds her arms, bowing her head slightly as she contemplates a reply to being told that her desire is not a vice, and the associated extrapolation. After a breath, she states, "It is not a vice until you realize that, underneath all of the noble verbage, it is really something quite invasive. I have little regard for feelings of wrath, no matter the positive contributions things like 'competition' might bring in to this world. No matter the songs, the friendly rivalries," She rolls a hand, "that sort of thing. I acknowledge them, but refute them. And in that omission my vice lies." She looks to the rephaite with slightly narrowed eyes, though in this case it seems to come more from tiredness than from any ambivalence she might feel on the subject.

    "I would gladly, if given the chance, consume this entire Multiverse and everything beyond it in my rapture. Quite regardless of the feelings others have on the matter." She would fold her arms. "I would use the influence that my peace gives me over people to align their priorities to my own. To be sure, it would make them happy, but it would remove a key aspect of who they are. I would be defying my own precedent of individuality. And even so, I can not care. I am willing to sacrifice very much that is not mine to offer to the tempest of philosophy for the chance at forging my own heaven. In creating a utopia that would suit all by tweaking sentience as I see fit." She would smirk a bizarre, not quite malicious sort of smirk. To an extremely astute person, this might hint at an extremely well-hidden, twisted view of self. "This is why it is a vice. I give myself many liberties whenever I entertain the notion, remorselessly."

    What Beli says next seems to make her genuinely curious, though, the lady tilting her head faintly and showing a questioning countenance. "... is not a creature born of the union of wrath and love alike a human?"

    She allows that inquiry to hang in the air as Beli explains the specifics of her past, to which she responds with more reticence and apparent intrigue. At the culmination of it all, she speaks thus:%r
    "... certainly I do not understand the mechanics of your world terribly well, but the way I have seen it, humans truly are the nearest thing to a fusion of angels and demons. They are vessels of infinite possibility in either direction, and in a sense, they are far more unlimited than either being could ever be regardless of any power they may possess. If anything, I should think the angels and demons should envy you, not despise you -- you have each the power of divinity, and the potentiality of a mortal. I can think of nothing else more beautiful in a world so polarized and locked into place. Your freedom from the subjugation of either feeling," She would nod to herself, "is an enviable thing indeed." And a small for the rephaite. Probably not the most effectual or original pep talk that Beli has ever received, but nevertheless Mizuki seems grateful for having been allowed her two cents.

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Though of course, where she is given the allowance of two, she's wont to take four. "I respect your goals. Ever more do I respect your humility. I wish so much that I could believe simple freedom could extricate people from their pain, but some... some need more guidance than others. Elsewise they'll destroy themselves and all those around them with the depth of their internal conflict. My goals aside, though, I believe you have already found freedom. You have chosen this cause of your own volition, and I should think you have pursued it to the fullest extent of your capabilities." She would brush a lock of hair from her face before settling her hands back at her waist. "... you're fairly inspirational, you know? I've never endured hardship, myself; rather, I've simply observed the pains of a thousand others and welcomed them into my home where I have been able. My Seekers are that way -- children, the lot of them, who have been denied their youthful bliss by the harshness of the reality I so desire to obliterate. My goals could never approach the level of validation that yours must possess as they are born more of a blind heroine's complex than out of experience. But again, I digress. Do forgive me."

    Mizuki would shut the tome, allowing Madeline's form to fade peacefully, quietly out of existence. Then she would open the door again, beckoning the rephaite outside. "Come, come. There is one more thing I would like you to see before we part, at the least. Down the hall, at the end." She would hold the door for her offering a quiet look of all the grace she can muster if she elects to pass through. Then she would walk, past a number more of those shadowy shifters, many of which seem to silently appraise Beli from afar. The stares are by no means malicious, she might feel, but curious. Anxious like a child looking upon a stranger, too, perhaps.

    And when they reach their destination, Mizuki would push open a small pair of stained glass doors, opening the way to a balcony that overlooks the garden surrounding the library, and the city beyond. The view of the stars here is so lovely that it should only be able to exist in a world where there was no light pollution whatsoever, but nevertheless it exists in this very city, at this very spot, at this very moment. Such is the whimsy of a world where reason can be defied so. Mizuki would gesture up at the sky.

    "No matter the simplicity of its nature, a grouping of gaseous lights amid a sea of absentia," Mizuki would gesture upward, "this is where I look whenever I need to be reminded of my smallness. This world of light and dark, infinitely vast and infinitely beautiful... will ever remind me of just how much there is in our world. So much that no being, no matter how omniscient, could ever see at once." She would turn to face her again, now. "Likewise, this is the meaning of my namesake. 'Beautiful moon' is Mizuki's meaning in a certain human dialect. The moon that absorbs the light of the sun and shares it with the world when even it can no longer show itself, and the moon that observes as nations rise and fall, people live and die, and the epochs tick across the celestial clock of happenstance." She would exhale. "... in that way, we are not so different. Similarly endowed by the love and zeal of those around us to push us ever onward in the interest of realizing the goals we've set out for ourselves."

Beli Klum (238) has posed:
    "And yet," Beli remarks, still resolute even as Mizuki elaborates on her personal vice, "you are in the Union. You are among people who attempt to strive for the greater good in a way that all can benefit from it. Indeed, what you wish would invade upon the desires and wishes of so many, but have you yet acted on it? You may say it is simply impossible to consider, but that would not stop you from beginning to try if you were truly so inclined, would it? And yet I have not heard of you subjugating anyone in such a way, or forcing them into your concept of peace. You have control over yourself, and clearly you must care in some regard, even if it is only a selfish wish for others to not look down upon you or cause you strife. Does that matter quite so much, really?"

    The rephaite's eyes drift closed, her head lowering slightly as she seems to withdraw into herself. Strange how small she can seem, even with how tall her stature is. "...I have, many times, considered simply flying across my world and slaughtering every single human I came across, so that I could take their souls and carry them into Purgatorio where they would, hopefully, be safe. But...then, I think, I would not be much better than Paradiso and Inferno, who I hope to overthrow. Their lives would be cut short by my hand, forcing them into their new home before their lives would naturally end. I could say it is for the best for them, but who am I to dictate what is best for billions, when I do not even know what the end of my goal looks like? And what would others think of me, then? Those who gave me the strength to make my own choice, and who supported it faithfully?" She shakes her head, then, eyes drifting back open to look up at Mizuki. "...everyone has dark thoughts and desires, wishes to enforce their will and make everyone follow what they believe, whether or not that is what those everyone else wishes. What matters most is whether those desires are acted upon, or if they are recognized for what they are and restrained, tucked away for the freedom of everyone else. Surely it is a vice, but if it is not one that is acted upon to the detriment of those around you, if it is controlled so that those around you are not impeded, even if you benefit from their convenient failure...if I do not slaughter millions for 'their own good', if you do not subjugate everyone under your concept of peace and utmost happiness, no matter what are reasons for such restraint are...does it really matter that such wishes exist?"

    Beli blinks, then, with a soft chuckle, shakes her head. "...forgive me. Now I am the one rambling, it seems."

    Mizuki's flattery is more than enough to take Beli out of her thoughts. In truth, Beli had never thought of her nature that way. It's true in a sense, though, isn't it? She could be easily pulled toward either sin or wrath, just as any other human could in their lives, and she is also not as bound as either angels or demons. Where they are locked in their actions as embodiments of what they represent, she, at least, is a form of potential; chaos, as some of the divine entities have put it.

    She smiles, then, her pale cheeks tinted by a faint blush. "...thank you, Mizuki. There is nothing to forgive; I am grateful to be praised so much, even if I may doubt how accurate it is. I have...at least, grown to understand that I may be wrong about myself, more often than not. Such outside insight is certainly helpful in that regard. And if I can be of assistance to others, even if it is merely inspiration, then...I am content." Her hand lifts to rub the back of her head in an awkward, idle gesture. "Ah...yes, but I do not mean to hold you up with my own rambling. Please, I would be happy to see what else you wish to share. You have already been so gracious."

Beli Klum (238) has posed:
    The rephaite follows along once more, trailing behind Mizuki. The stares don't go unnoticed, but Beli doesn't seem to mind them too much; they aren't gazes of resentment or spite, as she had grown so used to in her home world, and she offers a similar kindness by not turning her attention to the shadows as they pass. They seem willing to give her her peace, and so she grants them theirs.

    When they at last reach the balcony, Beli is once more given pause. Her attention turns up to the sweeping blanket of stars, gazing up at it in silent appreciation. It brings an honest smile to her lips, warm and content. "...it is a beautiful name. And a fitting world for the one it belongs to." Her gaze shifts down to Mizuki again, one hand lifting to rest over her own heart. "My new name, Beli Klum...individually, each word means 'lacking' and 'nothing', but together...I believe that is true for myself, now. With those beside me who care and encourage, I truly am lacking nothing that I could ever need for myself. And with such strength, I believe I can see through my goals to their end, no matter what comes in front of me."

    The rephaite's hand falls, coming to rest on Mizuki's shoulder. Her touch is warm and gentle, almost more like a comforting blanket than a person's hand. "I hope that we can find both of our goals, in time, no matter what comes before us. Worlds of freedom, of peace...and snow. Surely they cannot be too far away."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Mizuki opens her mouth in futile attempt to respond to the rephaite a number of times, but ultimately elects to allow her to finish before she comments. In spite of any irritation that desire to speak might have allowed to rise on her, in the spirit of the conversation she does not allow it to manifest as an action or word. She instead exhales and waves a hand to dismiss her concerns. "... I would be hypocritical if I were to criticize you for windedness. There is, likewise, nothing to forgive. Your words, and your counsel," She would allow an understated smile to resurface, "are quite welcome things. This conversation could have taken the form of a heated debate in a public forum, but instead it has manifested here as this, a peaceable conference and sharing of experiences." Mizuki's look suddenly becomes a bit more severe. A bit more... resolute? Were it that she could ever be such a thing, she certainly is now. "However."

    Mizuki's own eyes drift closed now. "... I make no promises that these thoughts will not one day become an action. That this whole world may know imagination, peace, and mercy is an unshakeable desire of mine. Every day it tempts my mind in its direction, captivating me toward paths that would lead to an earnest method of attaining what I wish for. Unlike some, I would not be so bombastic as to say that my way is superior -- it is not. Indeed, in the world that I hope to shape, the concept of hierarchy would not exist at all. I could never found it upon such inane principles." Her eyelids slide open, but her gaze remains averted. "... if... I were to be given the capability. If I were to be faced with a decision. A reality in which I may welcome all of my newfound friends into a realm of happiness... I might have to take that chance. And if ever I do." She would smile up at her now, but her eyes would display the same sort of withdrawal that Beli may well have felt at other stages of the conversation. "... I expect that you all will do all that is within your capabilities to stop me. And if I fail, so be it; I will live from then on knowing that I made an effort to break the cycles repeating before my eyes."

    Once they've reached the balcony, Mizuki would summon her sword, pointing it toward the moon as a cluster of ticking clocks would appear. "All of these natural machinations that comprise the world. All of these phenomena that make possible the emotions of fear, and hate, and need. I would dash them all, and upon these conceptual corpses forge something new. Something pristine, and an idealized mind that could safely and consistently dwell in such a place. Naturally, this would mean the shedding of some of myself as well. All of this passion would melt away as it lost its reason to be. That is something I have long since accepted." Gently, she would let fly her blade as though it were a paper airplane, watching as it soars into the largest ticking clock in the center of the collection she had summoned previously. All of them would crack at once afterwards, showering the both of them in countless glittering lights. "... I want to live my life in such a way that will make this woeful compromise - this 'reality' - regret every moment of its apathetic cruelty. I will make it rue the day it allowed sapience to exist within its borders. We, the sentient, shall inherit eternity, and we will do with it as we will. Because we --." However briefly, she falters. "... each one of us who thinks and assigns meaning is a God. We, who have created beauty; we, whose thoughts constitute universes; we, who have been able to conjure the feelings of love and hate. In our toil, we have more than earned the right to infinite happiness. I seek to realize that right."

Mizuki (183) has posed:
    Her blade would dissipate, her lifted arm falling slowly with the expression on her face. She doesn't apologize for the ramble this time as she assumes, at this point, such a thing would be implicit in her going on. So instead she softly turns to face her, as a specter dancing in the light of dawn, to listen as she shares the meaning of her own name, and... attests to the appropriateness of her own. Honestly? No matter how majestic she may be trying to seem right now, that still gets to her. She would fall into a wide-eyed silence, her cheeks dying a gentle pink, and bowing deeply. "... y-you're really too kind. It's a fanciful title, the one I've given myself. In spite of all the lofty goals I may have, I hope only to live up to its meanings. One day." Then, on to Beli's own name. Her humility makes her smile again, here. "And those people whose lives you touch are blessed in kind to have a friend so willing to listen as they decay the components of their ears with their wanton verbatim." She would lift a sleeve to her mouth, here; that was probably a jab at herself meant in good humor. "... but earnestly, it is a delightful balance you seem to have found for yourself. Guard it with all that you have, as you have been. You will only find more truths to follow on that path I am certain."

    Mizuki would jolt slightly when Beli's hand comes to rest on her shoulder, and her blush would most certainly be rewned, but another smile would assure her that the gesture was not unpleasant. She would nod along with her words before, as always, adding her own. "... as do I. Somewhere in the vastness of this sandbox of opportunity we've been allowed access to we will find our answers, and our dreams. If there is no fate to speak of, than we shall forge our own. Give meaning where there would otherwise be none." Turning her gaze to the sky again, she would conclude, "For such is the way of we transients."