exsilium | (no subject)

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(no subject)

[the name associated with this post/account and all her subsequent comments herein (or elsewhere) is "Haruka Takahashi"]

I used to have dreams like this.

Well, not exactly like this, I mean. Nothing so specific. But you know how it goes, don't you? Girl dislikes her situation, the way her life is going, the way people treat her, wishes she were anywhere else but there. Then a strange thing occurs, and there's this whole other world that needs her, specifically her. This place sees her for who she is, sees her strengths and the change she wants, and it tells her that she's needed to save this other world. Protect it. She's the only one who can. Like a hero, a ruler, or something else. That part changes pretty easily, I think.

There's a lot of stories like that, too, of course. I don't think I'm the only one who's had a dream like that. We all have our little unhappinesses. And sometimes the new kingdom, she loves it so much she never wants to go home. Sometimes being there just makes her miss everything she left behind, and she does everything she can to go back.

Of course, when I say I used to have dreams like this, that would mean I woke up from them, too.

I suppose this is like that. In a way. It's been almost three weeks now, but I guess I'm still trying to get used to it, that's all.

What were your dreams? Did you have them? Or do you, still? Whatever they are, or were, I hope you keep in mind that you can't trust them. There's no Truth to dreams.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Then let me rephrase. I would not, or will not, try to force you to do anything or take any course of action, or inaction. Now or in the future.

I may make requests, but I cannot compel.

[That... hits her. Most humans consider the use of force a bad thing. So they do it when they decide to manifest that they're bad people. Haruka's not a bad person. Though she is a little defensive. A defensive liar? No, Haruka's a good kind of human. She probably wouldn't intentionally lie.]

You May Not Be Literal To A Fault But Youre Certainly Capable Of Impressive Precision Haruka

[ ~~kanaya no~~ "this is like a dream" + "you shouldn't trust dreams to tell you the truth" = "you shouldn't trust me to tell you the truth"

girls in eye patches will only break your heart ]

I've had practice.

[Well, at least she's been around the bend enough times to be pretty sure being human means she must be straight ~~which is good, because there are a lot of much more implausible eventual outcomes for the good impression Takahasi has left than--~~ Nope. Not doing the human romance thing ever again ~~until further notice~~, her subconscious spits that right back into the Furthest Ring where it belongs.

The thing is that Kanaya's entire subconscious thought reading this post is about nothing but Prospit. Where dreams could be trusted to tell the truth. (Would Haruka have dreamed on Prospit or Derse? That's a stupid question.) She hasn't brought it up out of its excessive fantasticism, even though Haruka would probably be reasonable about it. The point is that she thinks of Haruka as a purple-or-gold clad princess like herself, now, and just because that's not the same as their parallel existence doesn't mean the internal truth isn't honest. She doesn't pull at the seams much more than that because she wants more than anything not to wake up from Exsilium. Not to go back into the nightmare.

She trusts Haruka to pretty much the limit of reasonable for someone traumatized to trust a peer she's met once and texted once. That level could be a lot higher, but somewhat lower.]

Have You Had To Exposit Your Planets Various Idiosyncratic Cycles To Other Species Before

[Though that might be incompatible with the whole "my life is so incredibly normal I just read interesting books" premise, she decides not to actually add any convenient outs like "was that common in your books" or "I know your planet rarely has those". On a conscious level, this is because that would just muddle the question.]

[ Unfortunately for Kanaya, Ruka knows traps when she sees them, and even when she doesn't. While the real answer to that question is a resounding yes, instead Kanaya receives: ]

Nothing as extreme as that! At least, I don't think trying to chastise a cat for bad table manners counts for what you're asking. I simply meant, I have practice with being a little more precise when it's necessary.

[Man she keeps hoping for the Alternian colony theory but nothing reinforces it. She wishes she had some good reason to suspect Haruka is in fact capable of real morality and goodness unlike the ordinary human being. Maybe she's just a freak like Utena. Or Sayaka... One was a putative prince and the other a magical girl like a knight. Maybe Haruka is a princess? Figuratively? Symbolically?

How can someone so outwardly normal be so confusing purely by virtue of being civil?]

I Didnt Know Cats On Your Planet Could Understand Intelligent Language
Wait I Reread That And Realized It Was The Opposite Of Your Intention
Ignore That
Ok
So Do You Just Mean
Practice With Difficult People Or Something Along Those Lines

Lawyers.

[ because
that explains everything?? okay ruka. ]

[STARES AT THAT WORD... she knows they're Earth legislacerators but they don't kill people they just throw them in prison which is inhumane and just so fucking weird. If there's one thing Kanaya does not understand about humans it's their justice system.]

Have You Had To Deal With Your Planets Justice System
Im So Sorry

No, no, nothing like that. I've known some over the years, that's all. And it's very hard to win an argument about anything with one if you aren't very precise.

Huh
From What Ive Heard About This Profession I Suppose That Would Make Some Sense

[Still sounds like an unfortunate encounter with an adult tbh.]

[ the worst possible fate tbh ]

What have you heard?

[Agreed]

Well
Theyre Like Legislacerators Except Theyve Managed To Slip Out Of Even The Basic Civility To Kill The Criminals They Prosecute
But That Comparison Is Almost Certainly Utterly Meaningless To You

[almost - she has to put that in there. Haruka has a deal!! What is it??]

Even so, I find it interesting. You would consider that a "basic civility" to the job?

[ god she does not stop being so suspicious!!! ]

But Of Course
If Someones Been Designated A Criminal
Then They Either Actually Deserve To Go Free
Or Have In Fact Committed Crimes Which Merit Death For The Sake Of Justice And The Common Good
Your Planets Institution Of Prison Is Actually The Most "Inhumane" Concept Ive Encountered In My Entire Existence

Humans fear death.

Many would rather whittle decades of their time away than face death.

Oh I Know That Only Too Well
That Youre Culturally Incapable Of Coping With The Concept
To The Point That Here In The Future The Initiative Has Made It Impossible To Permanently Kill Its Members
Which I Suppose I Cant Object To As A Military Advantage
But Morally
Is That Really Right

No.

[ well that took
no hesitation at all.

the rest comes in a second message but wow 2lazy4combos: ]

It's not even that much of a military advantage if they can't even use it on their own citizens. At least, that's what I've heard.

Maybe Not
We Actually Form The Bulk Of Their Practical Army Though

Wow that is pretty pathetic.

Yeah It Sort Of Is
That Certainly Explains The Situation Though
Why Else Would They Resort To This In The First Place

Who knows?

Maybe someone built the thing that brought us here for kicks, and they're simply taking advantage.

Though That Is Possible The Story On Official Record Is In Fact That They Are Just
Desperate
How That Factors Into The Dream Idea I Dont Exactly Know

You can't trust things presented in dreams as the Truth.

That's all.

Is There A Distinction Between Truth And The Truth

[AHAHA FUCK HER QUIRK IN THIS TAG... oh well she's not compromising it for anybody ever]

That would be Telling.

[ P) what a dick ]