002 (feb. 3) / video.

[dissenter]

[qilby looks no more old or haggard than usual, which is a little weird considering the events of the past few days. if anything, he looks... energetic. tired about the eyes -- like he hasn't slept -- but he's got a bright, attentive look in them. 

the possible reason for both his lack of sleep and strange vigilance is readily apparent. the table he's recording from is covered in papers -- any paper he could get his hand on -- and the papers are covered in messy, foreign letters and drawings. the one he's writing on now is visible from the camera...]

Before I forget -- and yesterday's a day I'd certainly like to forget -- I feel I owe some individuals my gratitude for their assistance. [a pointed look. white-haired broody guy, demona, natsu, hades... you know who you are.] It's thanks only to them and the rest of the city's defenders that neither I nor many others ended up a statistic in the Death City Times.

[now that that's over with, qilby taps his pencil idly on the paper before him.] I need to know something, though. Do we know what a soul is? I mean, I've read as much as I can on the subject, but... [his ever-present smile falters, for once.] Forgive me for the morbidity, but if ours are destroyed, what happens to us? I'd heard of guests who've died in this world only to return later with no memories of what happened. And I've heard of guests who've been sent back to their world, souls intact, to show up again recalling everything they'd previously experienced.

As far as us other-worlders are concerned, it seems like our souls in particular are... Almost a repository for all our accumulated knowledge and power gained since coming here. But the same can't be said of people originally from this world, it seems.

[a pause, a pained look.] I saw... Many humans have their souls removed, yesterday. I don't suppose there's the possibility of a return for them -- not like we've the privilege of having.

Comments

[text]

[slightlylessfake]

uM, aREN'T SOULS JUST, kIND OF, a THING THAT EXISTS,

[yes good tavros is clearly scientist material]

video.

[dissenter]

[wow that was... a terrible answer

the text is unfamiliar, but it's not the first of its multicoloured kind he's seen. he smiles wryly.]

I'd hope there's more to it than that. Otherwise, I'm very soon going to run out of questions to ask.

I just can't not spam your inbox apparently

[slightlylessfake]

i GUESS, i NEVER REALLY THOUGHT THAT MUCH ABOUT IT,
iS IT, iMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT A SOUL IS?

i thought someone loved me :(

[dissenter]

I think it's important to learn about anything we don't know much about. Plants, animals, our worlds, other worlds... And the powers that may be in said other worlds.

As an example: what if we learned enough about our souls that it became possible to enhance, or even change the abilities that they granted us? [a far-off look. boy, speaking of "other worlds," it seems he's in his own world.] Wouldn't that be interesting?

are you saying my love doesn't count :(

[slightlylessfake]

hUH,
tHAT DOES SOUND KIND OF INTERESTING,
cAN THAT REALLY BE DONE, i MEAN, cHANGING AND ENHANCING SOULS,

aCTUALLY, wHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, bREW DID STUFF TO OUR SOULS WHEN IT BROUGHT US HERE, rIGHT?

[basic critical thinking: accomplished]

video forever

[mayotaku]

Dunno how souls work here, but if a soul is lost, I can't imagine it's easy to bring it back.

also video forever!

[dissenter]

No, I imagine not. It's not as if they're a set of keys you can misplace...

I wonder if those who've died -- lost their souls -- and had another iteration of themselves brought back to the city had all retained their original souls upon re-arrival. It'd stand to reason that they should get a new soul to replace the one they'd lost... But if not, then that might suggest that our souls are inherent to us as individuals. That as long as we're the same person with the same experiences coming from the same universe, our soul will manifest itself the same way each time upon coming to Death City. In that sense, it may be impossible for us to truly lose them.

[oh, he's doing that thing where he forgets he's holding a conversation with someone again, isn't he.] Forgive me-- I tend to think aloud sometimes. [an apologetic smile.] My name is Qilby. I don't believe we've spoken before.

Re: also video forever!

[mayotaku]

[Makes something of a scoffing noise]

Hijikata Toshirou, vice captain of the Shinsengumi. Haven't heard much about the topic until now to be honest.

[dissenter]

I'm sure many have thought of it before; I'm just the one talking about it.

[his interest is visibly piqued -- he makes a faint noise of recognition.] Shinsengumi, you say? Then you're friends with Itou?

[he vaguely remembers the name coming up in conversation-- but that would have been two days ago which... was also something he'd love to forget about.]

[mayotaku]

[GRUMPY FACE]

Co-worker.

[daimondai]

I know in my world we got something called digisoul that's based off emotions. I dunno if that's the same as a soul though...

video.

[dissenter]

There could be a connection -- who knows? Most people's worlds seem to have an analogue. In the world I arrived from, the soul was what allowed heroes to incarnate again after death.

Though, it wasn't something you could necessarily see or... Well, eat. Not like the souls in this world.

video;

[signhere]

I'm not sure that is has happened to the guests here before. I mean, from what I understand, people brought in by BREW have died here. But I'm not entirely certain their souls were taken -- or consumed I should say.

Of course, I could be wrong. I am relatively new to this world.

video.

[dissenter]

Aah-- I'd merely assumed that most guest deaths were related to kishin attacks. And further assumed that that would have resulted in the... Consumption of their souls.

But considering I'm relatively new as well, perhaps I'm not in a position to be making assumptions of any kind. [a pleasant, if somewhat-abashed smile.] I'm Qilby. I don't think we've met, young man.

video.

[signhere]

They very well could have been. It hasn't been documented through the network, at least.

[ And he's gone and stalked quite a bit of information off the network already! Including your post here, Qilby! ]

But close to my arrival -- or should I say our arrival as you must have arrived at the same time -- there was a death. The body was in tact for the funeral, which means the soul must have been safely contained. I don't know what becomes of them when one passes on in this world, but I believe the bodies would disappear were the soul taken.

Ah -- and no. We haven't met. My name is Light Asahi. It's nice to meet you, Qilby.

[dissenter]

[his eyes widen slightly at that.]

Is that so? I... Had no idea. [smile gone. frown, now.] The things I complained about seem so petty in comparison now, knowing those were the circumstances I came into.

[and he does manage to look very sorry over the death of a complete stranger...] Well. In any case, that's an interesting point about the bodies left behind. Unless the soul disseminates along with the corporeal form following a "natural" death, then I suppose it stands to reason that it'd be something in the act of soul severance that causes the body to disappear so quickly. Some separation of primal energies... A shock to the system, if you will. As if here, all that's holding us together is our souls.

[a beat. he clears his throat, not a little embarrassed.] And-- er-- it's nice to meet you, Light. I'm sorry, I have a hard time stopping once I get going.

[Voice]

[toukakoukan]

[All this is pretty close to Ed's heart, since he's had quite a bit of experience and heartache associated particular with souls.]

I'm one of those who was here before, but I don't remember anything. I've been told the me that was here before was from an alternate universe, so to speak. But the way I see it... a soul doesn't hold experiences or memories. That's the body's job. My soul might be the same, even if my body here isn't.

[He doesn't have a very good answer for the last bit.] There's nothing we can do about what happened... except make sure it doesn't happen to more people.

video.

[dissenter]

[a nod, a benevolent smile.] That's the best attitude to have.

As far as the issue of souls is concerned -- I'm sure there's no way of knowing now if you possess the same soul as your earlier counterpart did, though I very much wish there was. [qilby drums his fingers restlessly as he speaks, thinks, aloud. he always had trouble staying still while really thinking about something.

he also had trouble shutting up.] I'd heard of a few cases like yours that fall outside the usual pattern of serial arrivals retaining the memories of each of their stays, but this is the first time I've met someone who's had that experience. It must be... Unnerving, I imagine, not being able to recall something like that. But you admit that your previous incarnation was from an alternate universe; it's very possible that this would imply a different soul as well as a different body. After all, the same events that shaped your soul in one universe may not play out the same in another.

[a pause.] And... Aah, I'm afraid I must disagree with you. My experiences span countless millennia, and even more lifespans than that -- birth, life, death, and rebirth. I can say with confidence that it's thanks to my soul that these memories are preserved with each new incarnation.

video.

[toukakoukan]

[Now he's really caught Ed's interest. He's experienced quite a bit of that himself, but the talk of 'rebirth' is particularly interesting.]

Alright. So my experience here is the basis for this. [He starts motioning with his fingers as if they're trying to solve a puzzle together.] I've met others here who I know from my world, but they claim to be from this alternate dimension that my other self came from. Except for memories, they're completely the people I know. If two separate souls existed, that would mean they're--and I'm not--the same person at all.

I'm not saying souls aren't imprinted with memories; they absolutely are, I know that without a doubt. But if a body and soul doesn't contain memories of a life lived before, does that automatically mean they can't be the same soul?

[dissenter]

That's a question I can't answer in full confidence without some evidence to back up my claim, but here's how I see it--

[he takes a cue from the boy's body language and talks with his hands-- er, hand, as well.] Everything I've read on the subject so far has told me that no two souls are alike. This is within the context of the world's original inhabitants, of course, but I can't imagine BREW breaking that particular axiom without good reason.

That reason might be to preserve compatibility amongst the guests. If, at two separate times, you had two different versions of the same person with the same soul, someone who managed to partner with the first version may come to believe that the second version would be equally as good a partner as the first had been. And that may be true from a purely mechanical standpoint, like for resonation. But emotionally, developmentally, they may not be the same at all -- even if there are only minute differences -- and this could affect a partnership as much as any bad resonation might.

[hoo boy, he's going to need to get a glass of water if he keeps this up.] I can't imagine BREW letting an incongruity like this slip by, not with all its power. However strange its... Other choices may seem. If it can make sure every "instance" of a person -- alternate universe or otherwise -- has a unique soul, I believe it would.

... Well, either way, it all comes down to the fact that I don't yet have a good record of people's souls before and after their original stay and eventual return. If this is a question I want to answer thoroughly, it could be a project worth pursuing. [le smile.] You're a sharp young man. Not everyone's a good critical thinker.

[not here]

[dragneel]

[ Natsu's glad to see you're alright, Quimbley, but he's a little too pissed off about this whole situation to comprehend what you're saying.

Why are old men confusing? ]

[Video] Hah I finally have something I can tag you with.

[ih8spiders]

Why would you say that it's different for the people here?

video, /sparkles at

[dissenter]

Aah, well-- [he taps his pencil thoughtfully one of the several papers before him.] I just haven't yet found any evidence to suggest that it's possible for a native of this world to magically return, renewed, after death. And certainly not after losing their soul.

Meanwhile, death seems to hold little meaning for BREW and its choice of who it brings -- or brings back once more -- to the city.

video

[ih8spiders]

I don't believe there's any difference, though. There's no proof that the people being brought back, alive once more, are the same people who died here before.

[dissenter]

We won't know for sure until we find -- or start -- a record of the souls of all other-worlders. Granting that no two souls are the same, it'd stand to reason that should someone return with the same soul they had on their prior stay here, then they could be considered the same person they were before. Regardless of their so-called death.

[a pause... and a blithe look.] Either way, it all comes down to the fact that there's no significant evidence to back up either claim.