Conversation Space IV.

[powersthatbe]

The small room is painted a dark beige, with stained wood paneling on the lower half, and lush burgundy carpeting. The ceiling, however, is cracked and bowed, sagging alarmingly, occasionally shedding chips of plaster. Wrought-iron lamp-posts in the corners suspend pale, wan globes of light, and between them along the walls run rows of painted sunflowers, all turned towards the center of the room as if listening attentively. A jutting spire of granite rises from the floor on a diagonal, its flattened top sporting a cracked wineglass from which the wine (a white) slowly spatters teardrops across the plinth. And there is no chair, but a therapist’s couch, blue with gold trim, and ornate scrollwork on the legs, beside which the fluted horn of a phonograph player pipes music into the room, quiet enough to just be background ambience.

Comments

[shiroganeheir]

Naoto takes a breath and nods, bowing again. "I will, Taiyo-sama. I wish to be helpful."

She takes a breath. "Is there anything you can tell me of what I am to do, however?" A pause, and she looks up at him, still nervous, but determined. "I cannot hurt those I love, no matter what happens."

[powersthatare]

"I cannot say such a situation will not come about - but it will not be of my asking," the figure replies. "You are to stand for Honesty in all things, and at all costs. For the energy to carry on despite all odds. For the glimmer of light to overcome the darkness."

[shiroganeheir]

"You are not in control of what others do, I can accept that."

She takes a breath, a tiny smile crossing her face. "It is what I have done before, and part of who I am." The light in the darkness, the light of Truth revealed. The determination to persevere no matter what. That is the core of a Shirogane. "I certainly can do that." Much better than she has been doing, at least.

"If I am to stand for all of these things, I need information, Taiyo-sama. Honesty is nothing without the Truth behind it. There are those who wish you harm, who would take action against you if they had the ability. I believe that would be the destruction of all of us, but I need to know what is going on, why we are here if I am to bring light to all of this."

[powersthatare]

"There are things that, for prudence or the restriction of the rules, I cannot share," he says. "But I am the light of Truth. Ask, and I shall answer where I may."

[shiroganeheir]

Naoto nods seriously for a moment, arranging her wild thoughts. There's a tiny, content smile on her face at the mention of 'light of Truth'. If Naoto worships anything more than anything else, it is Truth.

Taking a breath, she soldiers on. "It is obvious that we are here because you and your companions need us. If you can tell me as much as you can about our Purpose here, I can try to help others understand it."

A pause. She has questions about the deaths as well, but this is first. She'll switch tactics eventually.

[powersthatare]

"Our representatives are meant to spread our ideas, our values, in the loci they journey through," the Sun says, after a moment. "It is, perhaps, simpler to happen, than to explain."

[shiroganeheir]

"I believe I understand." She turns almost deathly serious for a moment. "Thus, the Travelers have more power than they realize on the outcome of what we are engaged in." There's a lot of power here, and she's not sure she likes the people who are stepping forward to wield it.

"Combined with what I suspect of the deaths of your fellows, Taiyo-sama, this is a bit worrysome. There are those among the Travelers who would kill you all without a second thought. I suspect that this would be among the worst ideas."

[powersthatare]

"It is not what I intend as an outcome," he says, energy measured.