exsilium | (two.)

[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.

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[Erza remembers Kyouko, she's a Magical Girl like Sayaka.]

Some people find happiness in helping others. Perhaps they smile because they're simply happy to be alive and they take heart in knowing that they aren't alone in a world like this.

[hey, it's that intense lady]

Yeah, maybe. [she frowns, more thoughtful than annoyed for once] It doesn't seem like enough though. Why do people who don't have anything worry so much about others? It doesn't make any sense.

[Erza had given this some thought before. In many ways Exsilium reminded her of Edolas and the desperate situation there as well.]

It's like you said, they've been here longer than we have. They've likely accepted that if every person fended for themselves no one would survive for very long in the end.

I don't think it's so odd that people come together to help one another when things are bad for everyone.

[She isn't completely oblivious to Kyouko's demeanor though.]

This seems to be be weighing on your mind quite a bit.

Edited (Sounded too preachy before. Hopefully just the right amount now |D ) 2013-04-02 19:48 (UTC)

I think that you know what to think. [ A bold statement coming from a stranger, but Anna's certain of her words. ] You expressed so many things just now.

[She's sitting at a table with her chin resting on her forearms, her tablet propped up on something else.]

Hey... [She actually sounds (and looks) a little unsettled by the topic of conversation.] Maybe you shouldn't talk about their dead people like that.

It freaks me out sometimes when they try to be nice. [She guesses.] I don't want to owe them anything. [Or the other way around.]

A church, huh?

[ ... hm. her words plunge him into deep thought, and after a minute or two; ]

It might be better, but some people just aren't wired that way, you know?

[It is pretty bold, and it's instinctual for Kyouko to frown at boldness that isn't her own.] Huh? What d'you mean by that?

Like what? Dead is dead. Not like they can hear it.

[It's blunt, a little rude. But she isn't the sort to sugarcoat.] I hate owing people stuff. It's better to look out for yourself. [...] But I don't think they want anything outta us. That's the weird part. They should be angrier.

Are you religious, Kyouko?

Yeah, I guess so. [about it weighing on her mind, she means] I just never see stuff like this work out. Whenever someone gives up so much for another person, they always end up unhappy. That's what I see all the time.

Yeah, a church. [She glances up at the cross.] It's in bad shape. [she rubs the back of her neck.]

'Wired that way...' So they don't have a choice. [...] Kinda sad.

[the question visibly takes her aback. after a while, the surprise gives way to one of her usual irritated looks. she doesn't like to call herself religious. she'd screwed up so much it didn't seem like the right thing to say.

instead:] My dad was a priest, that's all.

If they can smile in a dump like this, it's because of two things.

[Sheryl delicately lifts two fingers in view, her other hand tucked under a chin.]

They're either trying to get by and hide what they truly feel so people won't pity them, or despite how rough they have it... they were able to find happiness.

[A gentle shrug. Is she speaking from experience, or just guessing? Her tone can suggest either way.]

Edited 2013-04-03 03:31 (UTC)

[ Sorry Kyouko, she didn't mean to step on your territory and all that. ]

Everything you said about this place. You care for it, don't you?

You seem rather convinced of that. Can you really say for certain, that their lives would be so much better?

It's all they have.

I see. I suppose the implication is that you don't share the faith yourself.

You've experienced something like this before?

[That's true, she knows, but they're these people's dead and not the Transports'. An agitated line creases her forehead.] Nobody wants to turn on their phone and just hear about death!

[It's rare for her to agree this off the bat.] I think they should be, too. It's not like they can just rebuild everything out there. Almost everything's a wreck out beyond where we live.

But why be mad at us?

People who favor shitty places over ones which are not falling into ruin?

[Said with a cheery smile, too.]

Caring for others in the midst of despair and ruin is an indicator of one's strength.

Does it make a difference if they're given rites?

That's part of what makes people so amazing, isn't it?

[ Her own insecurities almost stop her from answering this, but in the end she compromises: audio instead of video, a far more calm, collected tone than usual. It's already been over a week since she's seen Kyouko, and she doesn't want the other girl thinking the problem lies with herself. ]

I didn't know you thought about this stuff. [ She doesn't sound surprised (though a few months ago she might have), just curious. ]

Somethin' like it. [An idle shrug.] A man I knew was just like this.

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