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

[swinglow]

"Cairbre," it says, in a voice like the roar of engines. "If a name is needed. The Chariot. The Charioteer. Names do not matter. Seventh Arcana."

[goestoextremes]

Oh great, its voice just has to sound like that. It makes Korra miss both Naga and Asami at the same time.

She sighs. Names really do not matter because Korra has no idea what any of those mean. "So, Mister Names Do Not Matter... Why did you want to win the fight over me?"

Because that? Might tell her a lot more than any of those names. Maybe she should have tried to learn something about every Arcana before this conversation but this is fine too.

[swinglow]

"You possess my qualities," Cairbre replies. "Energy. Command. Bravery. Self confidence. Impulse."

[goestoextremes]

True, she has a lot of all of those. "So you are probably picking badass fighters to your team for this last round..."

[swinglow]

"Yes," it says.

[goestoextremes]

"And you are three years late to me even wanting to fight against anyone whenever there is an other option..." Doesn't mean she won't if she has to and just means she is one of the best/worst fighters here. "So, what kind of a game are you guys playing?"

[swinglow]

"Synodiporia," the Chariot answers. It bounces on its meditation ball.

[goestoextremes]

"Yeah, I have no idea what that means or why you are choosing teams. Aren't we supposed to work together? Dividing us into teams sounds like you're going to put us against each other in more ways than you have by now..." Or what the bounce means? Excitement? Well, it is a celebration for their last round... "Why are you bouncing?" Because she's not playing guessing games with this any more than she has to.

[swinglow]

"Action is preferable. If I must talk, I will act as well."

In other words, the Chariot has a case of the fidgets.

"Traveling together. Not working together. At times working to opposite ends. Tournament blocks. Only one Arcana may win."

[goestoextremes]

"And I don't mind acting but attacking is another thing..."

Oh she can talk the talk and walk the walk, but does she always want to do that these days? Depends on the situation.

"But we are supposed to work together while we Travel together..." Somehow 'opposite ends' doesn't surprise her with all these team selections going on. "...And what happens to the Arcana and anyone marked by the Arcana if --more like when from the sound of it -- an Arcana loses?"

[swinglow]

"When now. Arcana out of play. Travelers still traveling."

[goestoextremes]

"... There's really no option for more than only one of you surviving this?" Stubbornly trying to tell herself that there has to be another way.

[swinglow]

"Others may survive. Loss may not mean death. Only no longer competing. Only one can win."

[goestoextremes]

"...Sorry, I guess I jumped into some conclusions there about the death thing. But that doesn't sound so bad then, if they survive and -- wait, what are we competing for? What are you aiming to win with your possible ...well, win?"

[swinglow]

"Power, possibility, primacy. To be reflected throughout reality."