Felih cocks his head curiously, an ear twitching as he folds his arms. "No. What's that?" he asks. His world lacks a Schrödinger, but if anything it ought to make this whole mess even more interesting to consider.
"Schrödinger is a human on most Earth-like planets. A brilliant one at that. He posited a thought experiment, wherein... well, I will not go into full detail, but the summation is that he was attempting to disprove an interpretation of his life's work. He posited that a cat be left in a sealed box with a flask of poison, theoretically speaking. Then he posited that the box was monitored by a device which would, at the subatomic level, detect a change and automatically break the flask, or would detect no change at all and not automatically break the flask. The cat in the box would be, according to this particular interpretation, both alive and dead whilst the box was sealed, as there would be no way of knowing if the change had occurred or not. But clearly, the cat would be either alive or dead when the box was opened and observed."
Felih listens curiously, head still tilted, although he frowns slightly. Why must a cat be used as the helpless creature in this sadistic thought experiment? Though the disapproval is clear on his face, he thinks a moment and murmurs, “So what does this thought experiment have to do with all of us being here?” If it’s meant as an analogy for their existence here... well, doesn’t it still not answer the question? It must surely be one state or the other! Mustn’t it?
His tail lashes anxiously behind him where he sits.
"When you are not under observation, you Travelers are that cat." He lets that sit for just a moment, before explaining, "That is, you are capable of such changes within liminality. It's actually rather fascinating, from our point of view. We cannot change in that way."
"So you're saying we're both here and not here, all at once," Felih murmurs in absolute confusion. That- that doesn't quite match up to his understanding of reality, but at this point he's not sure if he believes in anything as solidly sacred or real anymore.
"So what happens when this game of yours ends? What will become of us, when we're out of this liminal state?"
"I am saying... you are you from each moment in your timeline, all at once. You are both here and not here. You are liminal." He pauses for a moment before asking, "You do know what liminal means, do you not?"
Death frowns at Felih's next question, but it doesn't take long for him to respond. "It depends entirely on who wins the round. Each of us has a different idea of what the World should look like. I intend on letting you all go home, if I win."
Felih sighs. "Liminality... it's not something that really comes up unless we're talking about traveling between worlds. Which I suppose is what we're doing, isn't it?" he admits after a moment, before he suddenly tenses.
"Are you saying we may well all remained trapped here should you lose?" Felih asks, straightening up and fixing Death with a much harder gaze, tail starting to bristle anxiously.
"Think of it as... a threshold. A border between one place and another. The In Between. That is what Liminality means. That is what it is."
Death's mouth purses into a thin, hard line, and he nods solemnly. "Some would keep you here. Some would let you go home, as I would. But I will allow you to remember your time here."
Felih considers his words carefully, still trying to wrap his mind around it- but after a few moments, he sighs, resigning himself to his fate, though his tail is still clearly bristling and lashing in blatant upset and anxiety.
"Right, of course. Well, I don't quite favor that outcome, and I don't like losing, so I think we're going to work well together. At the very least, you haven't given me a reason not to trust you, so as long as we can keep it that way, we're golden."
Death nods at Felih's answer. "I can explain more as time passes. I am bound by Fortune's rules to keep certain information hidden for now. I want to work together with you and my other Marked, though. I want to make sure that this tournament never claims another life, whether Traveler or Arcanum."
"Yes. She was the Tenth of our number. She is dead now, along with three others."
Though he is the embodiment of it, the discussion of the death of his own kind always leaves Mortimer looking rather depressed. Further, the discussion of Möbius is always difficult. After a moment of solemn contemplation, Death nods. "You can experience death within Jaunts, but it is not a True Death. And outside of Jaunts... Travelers have never been permanently killed. I have seen to that personally. But I could do nothing with regard to the deaths of the other Arcana."
Felih can see the way it's affecting Death, and he sighs softly, his ears lowering in sympathy. "I'm sorry," he murmurs. "I know the feeling," he adds, though he swallows thickly- both to calm himself and to swallow his pride and admit such things.
"I too was helpless to stop the deaths of those I cared for."
"And that is why I found you suitable for my team of Chosen. You understand me in a way that most do not or cannot."
Mortimer pauses for a moment, and then he adds, "I hope to work with you so that you are no longer helpess to affect change on the world. I hope to work with you so you can prevent the wanton destruction of lives."
Felih listens to this, before nodding. He feels more relaxed now than before, though he is still not willing to take drink from new faces just yet. He's feeling more trusting of Death for now- even if he was technically part of those that kidnapped him, so far it seems as if the outcome could be good so long as he does what he usually does.
"I... would like that very much," he murmurs, still haunted endlessly by the many times he couldn't save.
Death nods, relaxing his shoulders slightly. "Good. Then let me tell you of my idioms and your other teammates. Then I can explain how I can help you." He takes a swig of his own drink, as if to clear a parched throat. "What do you know of Tarot?"
Felih hums curiously. "Tarot... in my realm, there are such cards used for Divination, though the deck I am acquainted with is likely not the same as yours. It seems very few worlds share such things in common," he murmurs, tail idly swishing as he considers the people he's met so far, and how different their worlds all seemed.
His ears are perked up and face forwards intently, quite curious.
"Not the same, but similar," he answers with a bit of a grim smile. "Knowing of Tarot only makes the process a bit easier, that is all. But to your teammates, first. Your other teammates still in ambit are Daniel Cross, Taleenya Flyleaf, Naoki Konishi, Malik Al-Sayf, Matthew Swift, Yosuke Hanamura, and Malin Lindberg. I have no doubt you will meet them soon. Your teammates out of ambit are October Daye, Natasha Romanoff, and Jun Ushiro."
Felih listens carefully, trying to commit the names to memory in the event he meets them. He knows it's more likely he'll meet them all eventually.
"I see. Well, I'll be sure to try to make nice with them," he replies after a moment, considering it all carefully. A team... well, that gives him something to work with. He won't have to feel too alone, at least- he hopes they're all pleasant.
"Now, what does 'out of ambit' mean? 'Ambit' I take to mean 'present in this place'- but if the pieces aren't here, then where are they?"
"Matthew doesn't like me very much," he answers, almost an amused smirk on his face. "The others seem to like me well enough. I try to remain honest and helpful to everyone, within the bounds of the rules."
Mortimer nods carefully. "Essentially, though you are... missing a few key elements I am unable to discuss. Needless to say, they won't be showing up in Liminal Space unless a dungeon brings them back, usually."
Felih tilts his head. "Why not?" he asks, curious as ever, before considering his other answer.
"I... see," he says, though he can't help but wonder what it is that Mortimer can't tell him. He sighs and shakes his head, before considering something.
"There's... something else I'd like to ask you. You- all of you Arcana- have immense, incredible power. You took beings from all universes and worlds, even those that could be called gods, and you subjected them to your will, your game. You can do anything- can't you?"
"I do not subject anyone to my will, Felih." Death's sunken eyes harden then. "I find that assertion rather insulting, actually. And to answer your question - no, I can't do anything. I can only do what Death is capable of doing. It may seem a lot, to mortals, but it is not limitless."
At Felih's last question, Death seems a little sad for Felih's sake, and a bony hand gently presses against his chosen's shoulder. "It is possible for Haurchefant to be chosen as a Traveler. But it is not up to me to choose whom is brought here; that is all by Fortune's design. I can only mark beings for my team when they are here. I do not wish to lie to you: I think it is a very small chance. But it is a chance. That's... all I can tell you, really."
Felih's ears pin back quickly with shame when Death chastises him. "Apologies," he murmurs, tail tucked between his legs. "I- I simply..."
He was a desperate and broken soul, but his pride won't let him admit that out loud.
The kind touch to his shoulder has some tension easing out of him, though the misery lingers. The mention of his beloved's name stirs an ache in his heart, old and stubborn, and he blinks back tears. So there is truly so little a chance... He is likely to truly be parted from his fiance forever.
"I- I just... we barely had time," he says quietly, shaking his head before murmuring, "I... will do my best. I suppose it's all I can do- to try and find my way home."
To the plane where his lover's soul will one day greet him with a smile.
Death sighs, then, rubbing his temple a little. "I didn't mean to take out my frustrations on you. It's just that... many of the Travelers seem to think I enjoy this. Taking people from their universes to use as soldiers in a war, or pieces in a game, or... whatever analogy you wish to make. I don't. I enjoy seeing you learn, and transform, and recreate, and change. But if keeping you here in Liminal Space is the price I have to pay for it, I would sooner send you back home."
He pats Felih's shoulder, and adds, "If I have my way, you will see him again. Whether he is chosen as a Traveler and brought here, or your life ends and you join him Beyond... you'll see him again.
Felih's ears remain flat, drooping against his hair as he nods.
"I- it's a comfort, to hear you say that. Knowing that not all Arcana see us as toys to play with is... good. It makes being here more bearable," he murmurs. "I'm glad I was marked by you. I've heard less pleasant things about others already."
"...thank you." His heart aches. "...I just wish to hold him again."
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His tail lashes anxiously behind him where he sits.
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"So what happens when this game of yours ends? What will become of us, when we're out of this liminal state?"
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Death frowns at Felih's next question, but it doesn't take long for him to respond. "It depends entirely on who wins the round. Each of us has a different idea of what the World should look like. I intend on letting you all go home, if I win."
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"Are you saying we may well all remained trapped here should you lose?" Felih asks, straightening up and fixing Death with a much harder gaze, tail starting to bristle anxiously.
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Death's mouth purses into a thin, hard line, and he nods solemnly. "Some would keep you here. Some would let you go home, as I would. But I will allow you to remember your time here."
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"Right, of course. Well, I don't quite favor that outcome, and I don't like losing, so I think we're going to work well together. At the very least, you haven't given me a reason not to trust you, so as long as we can keep it that way, we're golden."
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"Claims another life? So- Travelers and Arcana alike, we have died for this game of yours?"
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Though he is the embodiment of it, the discussion of the death of his own kind always leaves Mortimer looking rather depressed. Further, the discussion of Möbius is always difficult. After a moment of solemn contemplation, Death nods. "You can experience death within Jaunts, but it is not a True Death. And outside of Jaunts... Travelers have never been permanently killed. I have seen to that personally. But I could do nothing with regard to the deaths of the other Arcana."
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"I too was helpless to stop the deaths of those I cared for."
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Mortimer pauses for a moment, and then he adds, "I hope to work with you so that you are no longer helpess to affect change on the world. I hope to work with you so you can prevent the wanton destruction of lives."
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"I... would like that very much," he murmurs, still haunted endlessly by the many times he couldn't save.
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His ears are perked up and face forwards intently, quite curious.
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"I see. Well, I'll be sure to try to make nice with them," he replies after a moment, considering it all carefully. A team... well, that gives him something to work with. He won't have to feel too alone, at least- he hopes they're all pleasant.
"Now, what does 'out of ambit' mean? 'Ambit' I take to mean 'present in this place'- but if the pieces aren't here, then where are they?"
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Mortimer nods carefully. "Essentially, though you are... missing a few key elements I am unable to discuss. Needless to say, they won't be showing up in Liminal Space unless a dungeon brings them back, usually."
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"I... see," he says, though he can't help but wonder what it is that Mortimer can't tell him. He sighs and shakes his head, before considering something.
"There's... something else I'd like to ask you. You- all of you Arcana- have immense, incredible power. You took beings from all universes and worlds, even those that could be called gods, and you subjected them to your will, your game. You can do anything- can't you?"
His ears are pinned back, but he asks softly,
"...can't you bring my mate back?"
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At Felih's last question, Death seems a little sad for Felih's sake, and a bony hand gently presses against his chosen's shoulder. "It is possible for Haurchefant to be chosen as a Traveler. But it is not up to me to choose whom is brought here; that is all by Fortune's design. I can only mark beings for my team when they are here. I do not wish to lie to you: I think it is a very small chance. But it is a chance. That's... all I can tell you, really."
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He was a desperate and broken soul, but his pride won't let him admit that out loud.
The kind touch to his shoulder has some tension easing out of him, though the misery lingers. The mention of his beloved's name stirs an ache in his heart, old and stubborn, and he blinks back tears. So there is truly so little a chance... He is likely to truly be parted from his fiance forever.
"I- I just... we barely had time," he says quietly, shaking his head before murmuring, "I... will do my best. I suppose it's all I can do- to try and find my way home."
To the plane where his lover's soul will one day greet him with a smile.
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He pats Felih's shoulder, and adds, "If I have my way, you will see him again. Whether he is chosen as a Traveler and brought here, or your life ends and you join him Beyond... you'll see him again.
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"I- it's a comfort, to hear you say that. Knowing that not all Arcana see us as toys to play with is... good. It makes being here more bearable," he murmurs. "I'm glad I was marked by you. I've heard less pleasant things about others already."
"...thank you." His heart aches. "...I just wish to hold him again."