dissenter: (hurr.)
altesse qilby. ([personal profile] dissenter) wrote in [community profile] soul_campaign2012-07-19 08:37 am

003 (mar. 7) / video.

[it's been over a month since qilby last showed his face in a personal post on the network, and since then the pile of books on his workspace have grown to obscene levels. either he's been spending all his food money on these things -- he certainly isn't looking any less gaunt than usual -- or someone's been seriously ignoring their due dates at the library…

due dates don't apply to kings, anyway. and that's the truth!

he smiles a tired smile.]
Believe it or not, I think I'm beginning to exhaust Shibusen's library of its resources. A word to the wise -- the selection is smaller than it first appears, when the majority of books are restricted to the public.

[is that a subtle jab at the way things are run? probably not. he's still generally-cheery looking, after all.] I wonder what the policy on traveling outside the city is, when one's not accompanying their partner on a mission. It's dangerous out there, of course, but I'm curious about the rest of this world outside the city's walls. It's not every day that I-- [well, that'd be a lie] ... That most people get to see a new planet, and I'm sure I'm not the only un-partnered individual who's got an itch to explore. The libraries of the world await...

... Perhaps, when things calm down a bit. [you know, when you mighty warriors can afford to sit around and lounge by the pool all day.] In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions as to other ways of acquiring study material? A man needs to keep himself occupied.

[you have no idea.]
ih8spiders: (perish the thought)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-07-30 02:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[Now it's his turn to look sheepish. Not that he doesn't feel pleased at receiving praise, but accidentally hitting on the way to make flower bombs kind of puts a damper on things. In fact, he looks more dismayed than flattered.]

Oh, I'm sorry. It's not really an inspired thought. [He rubs at his jawline below his right ear, an embarrassed, self-conscious gesture.] I only wondered if it's like the energy we use in my world. We can imbue objects with it and have it perform specific functions, with the objects as vessels--but it looks like it's not the same, after all.
ih8spiders: (there's always time for reading)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-07-31 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Kurapika shakes his head.]

There are parallels, but they're too different. It would be pointless to try to compare them against each other. From how I understand it, your wakfu naturally affects everything in your world, even inorganic objects. The energy in my world--we call it nen--is generated only by living things, and wielded only by those who have enough awareness of their own power. Its practicality is thus limited to those select few. The majority of the populace don't even know that it exists.
Edited 2012-07-31 14:18 (UTC)
ih8spiders: (dark eyes and dark path)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-08-04 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[nods] More or less. It's not that the knowledge is kept secret on purpose; it's just pointless to let normal people know about it. They'll have trouble understanding it, and might even grow to fear those who can wield it.
ih8spiders: (this is what I see)

last edit I swear

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-08-07 10:21 am (UTC)(link)
[He flashes Qilby a quick, reassuring grin.]

It's not that bad. The division isn't obvious. Those of us who use it understand that it's a dangerous power that the public at large would be better off not having any contact with, and those who don't, aren't even aware that there is a division to be felt. The only time normal people encounter nen is when the occasional unscrupulous nen user decides to involve innocent bystanders in their battles. [And here he frowns, obviously thinking back to some kind of personal experience.] Or sometimes, really talented individuals may awaken the ability on their own, without prior combat experience. I've heard of painters or musicians doing that.

[shrugs] But when that happens, normal people just refer to them as geniuses, without ever suspecting the influence of parapsychological forces. Encounters that trigger fear or envy--they rarely happen.

[It's clear that he's not dwelling too long on the idea of a society divided by what their people can or cannot do, which is why he finds Qilby's thoughtfulness odd--that last bit almost sounds wistful.]

I take it that's not the case in your world?
Edited 2012-08-07 10:40 (UTC)
ih8spiders: (and your point is)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-08-10 01:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[The relatively easy-going expression freezes on his face, and Kurapika looks at Qilby with some disbelief.]

Ten thousand--you're not implying--wait, just how old--

[He cuts the question, coloring a bit in embarrassment. The jokes, saying he's archaic, or a relic, talking about his society like he's been there all along, and if their civilization really does span ten thousand years--]
ih8spiders: (this bears considering)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-08-14 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[Mind = blown. He's looking a bit glassy-eyed at the implications. The countries were old, but not even they could claim to be present since the creation of their universe.]

That is amazing. You practically have all the time you need to learn everything there is to know about your world.
ih8spiders: (the greatest curiosity)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-08-16 02:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Really?

[headtilt]

I just tell myself not to consider limitations, or technicalities, or what should or shouldn't be possible based on known scientific laws. Accepting--or understanding that there are countless realities besides my own becomes a lot easier after that.

[He shifts uneasily.]

But I suppose you have a point. It's not likely an idea that I'd think too deeply on even if it were to occur to me, if I'm back in my world and can't remember anything of what happened here.
Edited 2012-08-16 14:20 (UTC)
ih8spiders: (decisions decisions)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-08-20 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
I don't really mind being subjected to BREW's nuances, but... [He shakes his head, looking rather resigned.] I've had time to get used to it, I guess.

There are no limitations to the kinds of worlds that might exist due to the numbers involved, maybe, but each reality has to be bound by a certain set of rules. We don't belong in this world. Frankly, I'm surprised that it hasn't imploded yet from all the laws that must be getting broken every time a new group is brought in...

... And don't you think they'd have found it by now, if there's another way out of this place? [He's trying not to give Qilby the look he reserves for newcomers and people slow to understand and accept their roles in this world.]
ih8spiders: (that's weird)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-08-27 11:11 am (UTC)(link)
They... did happen upon it entirely by accident, when Kid made that wish. We're all here, aren't we? [Not his best attempt at sophistry, but listening to any kind of opinion that runs counter to Shibusen's current efforts makes him uncomfortable.

But he continues in a more subdued tone of voice.]


Not very many, I'd imagine. But I don't believe that Shibusen isn't doing their best to find another way to send us back. Using BREW could just be the one that has the most guarantee of succeeding, since it's already proven itself capable of the task.
ih8spiders: (this is what I think)

haha help I think I'm tagging myself into a corner here

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-09-05 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[Kurapika shakes his head.] You won't be the first person I've heard talking like that. [He looks a bit sad, and confused, that someone so apparently wise and gentle would have opinions that don't run completely parallel with their purpose here.]

I just thought that it would be fairly simple--get stronger as quickly as possible, add combative units to their forces, tip the scales in their favor long enough for them to win... [The last is said in a soft mutter, like he's talking more to himself than to anyone--and then he looks up, and with a visible effort tries to continue the conversation, but it's clear that he's distracted, as if he's struggling to process thoughts that have never occurred to him before.] I guess that means you won't be fighting on the front lines, then?
ih8spiders: (this bears considering)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-09-10 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[A way out of an uncomfortable topic! His relief is almost palpable as he takes it.]

You underestimate yourself. I don't think you'd be here if you didn't have the potential.
ih8spiders: (so glad you asked)

[personal profile] ih8spiders 2012-09-17 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[That last bit, probably well-intentioned, has quite the strange effect: Kurapika's face shutters, for the briefest of moments, something dark and shadowed passing quickly through his eyes. Anger and impatience, maybe, and a handful of other emotions, but the interval where his expression slips is so brief that even people who know him well would wonder if they only imagined it.

Kurapika's voice, when he answers, is back to being mild-mannered.]


I hope so.