Conversation Space II.

[powersthatbe]

As Thorne shared with the network, Travelers who vanish find themselves alone in a small room. But it doesn’t look quite as described last time. Paper lanterns hang in the corners, and a lemniscate of live, spicily scented blue roses traces a figure eight on the floor. A little marble plinth sits beside the looping roses, with a champagne flute balanced on it, pink, fizzy liquid quietly effervescing within. In place of the throne that was there before, each half of the loop holds a brown leather sphere - a yoga meditation-ball chair. They’re a little tricky to balance on.


The walls, floors, and ceiling are tiled, a prismatic fade from one color to another, each tile unique, just slightly different in hue than those around it, each colored line giving a sense that it belongs to a bigger pattern, but never revealing enough to allow anyone certainty about what that pattern might be. It is only a glimpse of a larger world… in this small, quiet space.

Comments

[fridgeninja]

Ah.

There's a part of Souji that's been looking forward to this, and a part that's been braced for confrontation. It depends, he supposes, on who it is, but he has a very keen idea of the possibilities at the moment and none of them make him terribly upset.

He eyes the champagne closely, adjusts his glasses, shakes his head, and steps into the loop of roses to sit calmly on the balance ball and wait.

[cupidand]

"Hiya," says PSYCHE. She's back to the pompadour she had at Heartbeat Academy and she's wearing a gold lamé suit. "You know, you could have gone a bunch of ways. Maybe not Emperor's court, but Astræa could have taken you." She raises a glass of pink champagne in salute. "But I think we're a pretty good match!"

[fridgeninja]

"... I think I could do all right at being the dad type..." Souji says, but it comes out a little dubiously. "So, you've decided that we're a good match for each other, then?" It doesn't surprise him - the Fool or the Magician, Judgment and Justice, and Lovers all make sense. The way things have been, he couldn't really argue with the Hermit or the Hanged Man, either. And in any case, he has better reason than most to know that all the Arcana match some aspect of himself, or some relationship he has.

[cupidand]

"Yep," PSYCHE says cheerfully. "Didn't you just prove that with Sol and 'Madnakshu's' girls these last few weeks?"

[fridgeninja]

"Ah... you know about that," Souji says, faintly, going red as a beet and almost, for a moment, losing his balance before he centers himself again. "I hadn't been thinking about it that way... but one way or another, we might be a good fit. Although... there are some things I don't understand."

[cupidand]

"Shoot," PSYCHE replies, grinning.

[fridgeninja]

"Why did you and .... MALBOLGE... do what you did to SAGE?" he asks, direct and serious.

[cupidand]

Her expression gets very stiff. "Self-defense," she says, shortly. "Do we need more of a reason?"

[fridgeninja]

"Do you?" he counters. "I hadn't realized he was threatening you."

[cupidand]

"You don't need to threaten to harm," she says shortly.

[fridgeninja]

"That's true," he agrees, solemnly. "PSYCHE-san, I apologize if the question offended. But under the circumstances, it's important that we get to know each other."

[cupidand]

She sits back on her balance ball and takes another drink of champagne. No matter how much she drinks it, there doesn't seem to be any less in her flute.

"It is. You are one of mine, after all. I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun with you and the others this next phase of the game."

[fridgeninja]

He's a trifle taken aback, but well, this is how she is. He can accept her for that.

"... I hope we will," he says, diplomatically. "Although, if the Jaunts are meant to be fun for us, I have some suggestions."

[cupidand]

"Shoot," she says.

[fridgeninja]

"We'd prefer to avoid Jaunts where we kill anyone," he says, with scholarly sobriety. "I know that's not how you're likely to operate, but you have... a friend... who seems to enjoy those kinds of Jaunts."

[cupidand]

"I do," she says, suddenly sober. "I can pass that on to zem--but zey might not take it well. And zeir Jaunts may involve different kinds of corruption and vice. It's zeir archetype, after all."

[fridgeninja]

"I understand that," he answers, earnestly. "But there are parts of that archetype that aren't a problem for us. Standing up to authority, or only doing what we want to do - things that don't mean we have to hurt each other."

[cupidand]

She gives him an oddly sincere smile. "You know, I don't think a lot of people would be willing to consider Malbolge's good points, much less you Travelers."

[fridgeninja]

"Most people don't have voices in their head hinting about how they can get closer to the devilish people in their life," he explains, holding out his hands in a 'what can you do?' gesture. "There are people I won't try to reason with - but only when it's urgent, or after I've gotten to know them."

[cupidand]

Psyche smirks. "Is that what you call it?" she asks, low and teasing.

But then she shakes her head. "Zey're only acting according to zeir nature. Just as I am. Just as any of us are. And just between you and me... zeir nature can be pretty fun sometimes."

[fridgeninja]

Despite himself, a faint smile threads across Souji's lips. "I'd like to think that's true of everyone," he says, glancing up as he thinks to watch her reactions more closely.

[cupidand]

"You're a good kid," Psyche says, looking fondly back at him. "I think maybe you're my favorite Traveler. Don't tell the others."

[fridgeninja]

"I'm pretty bad at keeping secrets," he says, truthfully but also impulsively. "Do I get something, for keeping this one?" There's a hint of teasing in his tone, if she can pick up on it.

[cupidand]

She laughs. "Do you want a kiss? I'd offer more, but I think your girls wouldn't like to share you with anyone but each other."

[fridgeninja]

Souji freezes, surprised, then his expression eases and he ponders a moment, body language slowly uncurling.

"... That sounds interesting," he concedes, after a moment. "If you'd like to kiss me, then yes, I'd like that too."