imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

'The unnatural'... [they certainly sound interested.]

But what would even count as something 'unnatural' in a world where you can make anything?

While we can make practically anything there is a natural order to it all. For example, animated armor is still considered strange and hardly can be found in the wild on its own.

But I thought the ability to make intelligent constructs was normal? Just not ones with 'souls'.

Normal, yes, but not natural. Life does ebb and flow without our meddling.

Mm... And did anyone think it was a bad idea? Making 'unnatural' things.

[He shakes his head.]

Not at all. To dabble in such is to learn. To study. To grow. 'Tis why we have an Office for it. Ever has the seat of Lahabrea been a key pillar in our halls of academics.

Like you said. my world was close. But I finally got the brain-washing accusation I told you I was going to get; it was even worse than I thought. The Minister of Education said my sibs and I were all set-sets along with Mycroft Canner, the Humanist President, the last Mardi survivor, and a bunch of other people all directly related to everything going wrong.

I'm sorry I missed that.

Now I am curious. Were you meant to work with Mycroft or against him? I know you became fond of him.

It was the first meeting of the Senate after everything went to hell. [They smile slightly, with some pride.] The rest of the memory wasn't so bad.

[A shake of their head.] Mycroft's just a friend. Eureka found out Mycroft was still alive a few months after their trial and we were curious—It's not like there's a lot of other professional homicides running around our planet. And my siblings knew I had a crush on them. So Ockham went and got them, and they've been in and out ever since like a stray cat.

You have always seemed one to take the positive in everything. Or at least look for opportunity.

Ah, they were not the cannibal you were referring to in the last game? Well, I stand corrected. I thought you were romantically involved.

And I suppose I do have one more order to give you, do I not? Then here it is. Execute one of the tasks on your card. There is no reason we can't double up.

No, I was in love with them. Let's just say they weren't in a position to return the same sentiment.

[Hmm.]

You can fly, can't you?

Care to explain?

[He nods.]

Start flying. I'll catch you. Is a five minute head start enough?

You don't have win---

[It's Cardinal.]

Very well. That should be more than enough time.

[And he does take off.]

[Cardinal just grins at him and waves.]

[Cardinal has never seen Emet move with haste, so this is no different. But he does get a decent head start and he ends up hovering high into the air with few tall trees or buildings around him. They did say 'chase' and not 'hide' after all.]

[Cardinal used the time to disappear; they're no-where in sight when Emet-Selch takes up his station. Things are quiet, no sign of movement.

Then the breeze picks up, swaying the trees in the distance.

And above Emet-Selch: a soft whoosh of displaced air. Aiming the warpstrike so that it doesn't harm Emet-Selch means Cardinal has to appear a fair height above him, high enough that it gives them a few seconds of freefall for Emet-Selch to notice.]

[It does take a moment for him to look up and he simply smiles, amused beyond measure. Oh, how he just assumed they would be restricted to their newfound abilities.

And so he stays still looking up.]

[Cardinal realizes Emet-Selch is not moving and has about half a second to figure out how to grab him while upside down. They manage it, twisting their body so that the weight of it swings down sideways when they fist an anchoring grip into Emet-Selch's shirt. This also has the benefit of not slamming their full body weight into Emet-Selch's chest. Cardinal's laughing, tail whipping wildly back and forth in an instinctual search for balance.]

Cardinal.

[He will wrap his arms around them so they don't fall.]

You really do love you thrills.

You were right, the thrill of the hunt does excite me. You should have run some more.

[But they're content with this situation, too. Once they're stable their tail starts swishing gently back and forth.]

I was a scholar, you know. Books and sitting down in front of fires. The life of being this active is not one that suits me.

[He's being dramatic.]

I see your tail is betraying you. I could drop you from this height. Would you simply teleport back up?

[Grins at him.]

Yes. But getting bounced is a little tame for my nerves; Take me somewhere.

Somewhere...

[He has to think about it for a moment, but what if he drops both of them off at the top of one of those really tall bridges.]

[This is an excellent choice. Once Cardinal has their feet, they tip their face into the wind and inhale deeply through their nose.]