altesse qilby. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dissenter) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
soul_campaign2012-07-19 08:37 am
dissenter) wrote in soul_campaign2012-07-19 08:37 am
Entry tags:
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.]
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.]
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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--]
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Far, far older than I look, as I've been told numerous times. The souls of my siblings and I have been around since the creation of our universe. It's our quirk of endless reincarnation that grants us the gift of what is practically immortality-- and the somewhat more-dubious gift of being able to experience all that comes with a normal lifespan. [just a little sardonically.] I don't know what I'd do if I could never know what it was like for a body to grow old.
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That is amazing. You practically have all the time you need to learn everything there is to know about your world.
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[he shakes his head, tossing his long hair.] My kind are in a better place than most to comprehend the implications of the infinite, and we Eliatropes had known for a long time that there were too many planets besides ours to count-- but the idea that there're entire other realities out there is one that's difficult for even me to fathom. I don't think there's a place out there with a greater collection of people from all these different universes.
It'll be a simple thing for me to visit these worlds once my powers are returned to me. But I understand that will only happen when we're sent home-- and we're not likely to remember anything that's happened here once that's done. Either way, it's a nice thought...
[what a curious thought, forgetting something...]
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[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.
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[he'd been smiling (somewhat enigmatically, even) but the expression slips somewhat.]
It's a shame, the way BREW takes things from us. There are many things we could have brought in with us in order to help end the war. But there's even more we could take away from this world-- experiences, knowledge, friendships. This is a world where many may flourish, both buds and... [a self-deprecating little laugh] ...Even withered old stalks like me, if you can believe it. I hardly did, myself.
I can only assume that its BREW's mechanisms that result in our forgetfulness upon being sent home. [soberly.] I wonder if that could be avoided, should another method of departure present itself.
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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.]
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I'm not saying there is, without a doubt, another way to get home... But I certainly don't believe that nine months is anywhere near enough time to exhaust all possibilities, especially where travel between worlds is concerned. Call it wishful thinking... Or experience, on my part.
[and he only sounds a little regretful when he adds:] But Shibusen has their priorities, and ending this war is quite understandably at the top of their list. It's probably for the best -- who knows how many people would continue to risk themselves helping win the war, if they knew there was another way to get back where they belong?
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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.
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[kurapika's discomfort doesn't go unnoticed; qilby softens his tone just as well.] I hope you don't think I'm being too critical of our hosts. Believe me-- as a king, I know all too well the desire to protect my people by any means available to me. I... Truly empathize with Shibusen's plight.
But with that, I also believe that they wouldn't put the interests of the guests over the interests of their people, which is why I doubt they'd be so enthusiastically looking for a way to get us off their world before the war ends. [soberly.] The conflict must resolve itself one way or another, and I'm sure they hope it's in a way favourable to them. We're their best chance of making that happen.
haha help I think I'm tagging myself into a corner 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?
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good. shibusen was stagnating -- he'd seen the signs a million times before -- and qilby knew that he'd have to have people who were dissatisfied with that if he was ever to have a hope of seeing his own goals accomplished. he just couldn't do it alone.
his tone's light and conversational but pointedly-so, as if he's just trying to be sensitive to kurapika's mood.] And no-- not so much, I should think. I'll do what I can, but this body's seen its fair share of one war already. I'm not sure it'll be able to see a second one through.
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You underestimate yourself. I don't think you'd be here if you didn't have the potential.
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But perseverance-- or bullheadedness is, I suppose. If there's potential... I'll find it. [a cheery smile.] I'm sure I'll be seeing you on the battlefield at some point, eh?
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Kurapika's voice, when he answers, is back to being mild-mannered.]
I hope so.