(two.) | video.

[invocation]

[It's rare that she addresses the network at large, but today, Kyouko is perched on a far-off rooftop. The remains of the domed ceiling and the slightly bent, scorched cross atop it suggest that this place, wherever it is, used to be a church.

She is dressed as a Puella Magi for this, and with a care that belies her usual behavior, wraps the chains of her separated spear around the bent cross, and begins to pull, slowly. The comm device catches bits and pieces of this work — her boots, the strain and squeaking of old metal and wood. Eventually the cross is righted as much as it can be without tipping over and crashing to the ground below, and apparently satisfied, she leans against it, unwraps a candy bar, and places her comm device in her lap, staring down at the screen.]

[She turns away a little, and speaks in a contemplative tone of voice.] Y'know, the people who live here have hard lives.

[She takes a bite out of her candy bar, and continues to speak. Seems she's in an introspective mood.] Not you guys, [rude.] the people who lived here before we got here. When those bombs hit, a buncha of these buildings didn't make it. A lot of the people didn't either.

[A grin, but there's little humor to be found in it.] Heh, and this place is still here. It's a dump, but people come in here anyway. There's no priest and no books, but they leave junk here at the altars, even though the rain leaks through. They bury people without givin' 'em their rites. [...] I wonder if they even remember 'em. Betcha they don't, huh?

[She continues to chew.] I got here almost a year ago, and this building's still the same as the first time I saw it. I used to think nobody gave a damn about it, but I see them coming in and out of here all the time. An' even after the bombs, and what just happened, they always smile at you when you walk by. People give me stuff for no reason. I used to think that kinda attitude was stupid. Who smiles in a shitty place like this? Why give a buncha strangers anything? It's better to just care about yourself. They'd live better lives if they did.

[The wind is soft. Still. Kyouko's expression appears to close off, becomes difficult to read.]

Maybe. I don't know what I think now.

Comments

permavoice;

[isinganyway]

A sept? Is that...out in the city?

permavid

[invocation]

You mean a church? Yeah, there's more than this one too. But they're all torn up like this.

[isinganyway]

But where are the septons, the brothers and sisters devout to look after them?

[invocation]

Eh? You think the people here have got time for that? They're too busy tryin' not to die. It's lucky this place is even still here.

[isinganyway]

But even in the midst of war and desolation, the people need something to hold on to.

[ That's how it was in King's Landing. She remembers Sansa going to the castle sept to pray before the great battle, the rumors trickling into the castle and the Vale of the destitute faithful flocking to the capital. ]

[invocation]

[A contemplative pause. That sounds like something her father used to say.] This place isn't much, but they look like they're holding on to it to me. They wouldn't come in here if they didn't.

[isinganyway]

Perhaps you're right.

[ She still feels dubious, but what does she know of the common septs? The only ones she's known are in castles or the Great Sept of Baelor. ]

Is yours the only one in the city?