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

[senpaidol]

"Oh. Right. The...departed guys."

Rise bows her head a bit. She never met them or anything, but it's sad that the Arcana lost...siblings? Members of the same metaphysical species, anyway.

"I was sorry to hear about that. So does this mean this is all happening because some of you are missing?" she asks, wondering if that's where Durga is going with this.

[callmemeibe]

"This happens despite their deaths. The game continues, though we've lost so many." She frowns, reversing her previous motion to make the cards disappear. "But I intend to fix that. I will return us to our full number. But I need to be the victor."

[senpaidol]

"What else are you going to do if you win?" she asks, genuinely curious. "All of you guys want something different out of this game, right? Making the universe more like you?"

[callmemeibe]

"Indeed. Patience, compassion, stability, perseverance, comprehension, serenity, gentleness, softness. Would the World suffer with more of these? I think not." She seems to be fairly proud of that fact, holding her head high. "If I revive our fallen, we'll be stable. Such a thing is... inherent to my nature."

[senpaidol]

"That all sounds...well, wonderful, actually," Rise says, sipping her drink. "I think if I have to be on any of your guys' side, this sounds like one of the best ones."

"I just...I think it's only fair I tell you. I've met gods who had all the best intentions for the world before, but that doesn't necessarily mean I agreed with them," she cautions.

"I'm happy to be on your team, but uh...you don't mind if I hold you responsible for doing right by humans, right? Or Travelers, I guess I should really say. I'm probably being too suspicious, but my best friend is a detective."

Not that she could imagine Naoto ever saying the same thing to Sun, but it's a convenient excuse.

[callmemeibe]

"I am glad you think so. It will make the coming matches much smoother." She smiles almost fondly, adding, "I'm glad I was able to choose you."

She considers the question, carefully, twirling her spear from hand to hand almost as a reflex. "You must understand one thing first. I will protect my kind. If the Travelers choose something foolish, then..." Durga pauses once more, her spear suddenly stopping in her hands. "But where I see no threat. To our lives, or to my idiom. I will help all Travelers, and you especially."

[senpaidol]

"I think that's a deal I can work with," Rise says, nodding. Easier than contract negotiation, really, since this is more a mutual understanding that they're keeping an eye on each other.

"So what exactly do you need me to do?" she asks. "Keep everyone, uh, balanced? Is there gonna be like a briefing or something when it's your turn to play?"

[callmemeibe]

"Do not allow the weak to be undefended. Show mercy to your enemies if they surrender. Keep yourself calm in turbulent times. So in other words... exemplify my values."

Durga thinks on it for a second, then nods. "I will guide you when I play."

[senpaidol]

"Well, I tried to do that already," she says, nodding affirmitively. "I guess watching everyone almost make huge mistakes in Inaba prepared me for this journey, huh?"

"You've got yourself a deal, Durga-san."

[callmemeibe]

"Thank you. I will keep my promise, too. I wish you luck on your Journey."

She bows her head toward Rise, extending her eight arms elegantly, and in the next moment, she finds herself back in Liminal Space, as if nothing had ever happened.

Well. Save for a rose at her feet.

[senpaidol]

"Aw," Rise says, kneeling down to pick the flower up. "I like this new thoughtful kind of weird interdimensional conspiracy."