shouxue my beloved

[egodist]

Comments

[ravenry]

[ she freezes at the word cage, but the doors burst open as this chicken bursts through the doors and tries to attack scien's face. ]

Xingxing! Stop at once!

[ the chicken doesn't listen. ]

[egodist]

[help

me as this fucking chicken

scien is just going to immediately swat at it and then try to grab it by the throat aaaAAAAA]

[ravenry]

[ the chicken is very grabbable. it's not the greatest attacker because it's so fat and (anna voice) bulbous, but it is great at flailing. it flaps its wings wildly even with its throat grabbed.

she tries to reach over and take the bird from scien. ]

Xingxing is a precious magic bird. Let it go.

[egodist]

[BULBOUS CHICKY!!!!!!!




he will just toss the chicken toward her then. with floaty gravity. unclear how well it works]

[ravenry]

[ she is going to swim(?) after the chicky. inertia dictates this chicken will keep going until something stops it. ]

Come. Here! Why can't you listen even in a - whatever this is!

[egodist]

Simulation. None of it is real.

[turns his head to cough out a feather]

[ravenry]

[ that almost makes her smile, but she doesn't. ]

It feels and looks real enough even if there is no - gravity.

[egodist]

[he deserves this and so much worse]

You're learning.

Technology at this stage can deceive you in many ways. The sights, the sounds, even the people that you meet.

[ravenry]

[ she catches her fake bird with less than graceful movements, and the chicken immediately tries to get out of her arms. ]

Not too unlike illusory magic.

[egodist]

Your fake precious magic bird doesn't seem to be your biggest fan.

[but he also pauses



and sighs]

Yes. Perhaps in your world, it would be akin to magic.

[it was clearly painful for him to admit this]

[ravenry]

It doesn't like anyone much.

[ she's used to it. she looks over at him. ]

Do you not believe in magic?

[egodist]

[he returned to fiddling with the I.R.I.S. now that he's not being attacked by bird, but he'll continue the conversation at the same time]

There is no magic in Apréchéle. I was finally able to discern that once and for all.

Everything is explainable by science, even if the answers are hard-won.

[ravenry]

My world may be in a better place if there were no magic, but how did you prove that for yours?

[ she tries to sit as neatly as she can in zero gravity. ]

[egodist]

[they are lowered to the ground..... 1%. this is going to be slow so that we can keep this pc going]

The citizens believe that our country is cursed, beloved by Death. I discovered the source.

[which i won't tell ara bc she's playing virche]

[ravenry]

[ i won't find out for 2 months or until someone kills me (face_holding_back_tears)

she looks thoughtful, sounds curious. ]

Did that improve things for your country? Or will it?

[egodist]

[staples you to life]

Yes.

Now that I know what's causing it, I can work on resolving it once and for all. But that is the work of humanity, not magic.

[ravenry]

[ her expression softens for a moment. ]

Science or magic, you are still helping everyone who lives there, right?

[egodist]

Of course. That's my responsibility.

[ravenry]

[ she can't write him off anymore. she's a little bummed about it. ]

Is it a duty you want? Is it a duty you chose?

[egodist]

Does it have to be either?

In a way, I chose it—because I'm the only one capable of fulfilling it. I know that I would never relinquish it.

[he glances to structure in front of them]

I'll ask you a question in turn. What do you possess a responsibility for?

[since if she's so interested in this line of questioning, it must mean something to her]

[ravenry]

It doesn't have to be either, but if you're able to choose it, isn't it better that way?

[ she thinks having a choice matters even if the feelings behind the choice aren't positive.

she follows his glance. ]

It was chosen for me. From a young age, I knew the history of my duty.

[egodist]

Then my answer is simply that I will never abandon it. It is not heavy.

[it is simply something he's meant to do]

Would you choose this same duty again for yourself, if it was not given to you?

[ravenry]

No. I would never choose to be the Raven Consort.

[ she doesn't hesitate. ]

If I could do what was requested of me without being the Raven Consort, I would consider it, but that's a fool's talk. If your duty is not heavy for you, that is a relief.

[egodist]

And yet you won't leave it? Or are you trying?

[ravenry]

[ his question dims all the light out of this sixteen year old's eyes. ]

It is not something that can be left. Once a Raven Consort is chosen, she is so until the next one is chosen.