View source for 2440/Friendly Ex-Humans

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/02/01
|Location=Mitakihara - Downtown
|Synopsis=Lacrima seeks out Hana for a chat about who she is and where she comes from. Hana is happy to oblige, even if her answers are not always pleasing.
|Cast of Characters=160,189
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima heard from Kunzite that some new 'Witch' awoke but that the witch was different because it was 'coherent'. Lacrima was drawn to this for a number of reasons. One is that she had felt that draw and pull the other week. The other is that much like herself, this person sounded like an odd youma/human hybrid that shouldn't exist but despite everything holy and right- does.<br /><br />She goes seeking somewhere in downtown first. That sounds like a good place for hiding, and it's also dense that she can rule it out as a place to search relatively quickly. She extends her senses, trying to find something, anything that might lead her to Hana Shiori.<br /><br />Sometimes she runs into other youma in her search. She catalogs in her little Eclipse PDA to look into later, but otherwise doesn't fight to disturb other activities.<br /><br />She finds herself drawn an apartment building. This is the first thing that isn't an alley or a sewer entrance that's gotten her attention.<br /><br />She head tilts a bit and flashes through the Dusk Zone to a place somewhere just at the apartment's door.<br /><br />She head tilts at it. Yeah there's something there.<br /><br />She could just try to bust in- but that's impolite and she's looking to talk or examine, not fight- so she tries the mundane thing first.<br /><br />Ding Dong.<br /><br />That's the doorbell.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not terribly hard for one to locate Hana Shiroi if one goes through the trouble to look. This is primarily because she doesn't seem terribly concerned with hiding- or at least, not all the time. She undoubtedly has places to escape to, should she wish to not be found. But she also has an apartment atop a residential skyscraper in downtown Tokyo- the same apartment, in fact, that she occupied over a year ago during her brief time causing trouble in the city. It's not her ''only'' residence, but it's still one that she returns to, for a variety of reasons. Today, it seems, Lacrima is in luck.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's easy, for those attuned to such things, to feel the sense of liquid unreality oozing from the apartment. Hana's aura is much like that of a Witch's labyrinth, a dream-like state of the world made malleable, except that instead of confined to a pocket dimension, like a normal Labyrinth, it leaks from her into the real world around her. As Lacrima appears outside the door to the apartment, the feeling is very strong- like a waking dream. Although the world around her appears no different, it ''feels'' as though she's stepped into a Labyrinth.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This feeling may be compounded as, when she rings the doorbell, the door simply swings open by itself, without anyone there to actually open it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The central room of the apartment, surely meant to be a living room, is entirely empty of furniture save one piece. The wall is a solid bank of floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Tokyo. In the very center of the room is a chair- a red leather chair, high-backed and padded, almost throne-like.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sitting in it is Hana Shiroi. She is a petite woman, though she appears to be in her early twenties, dressed all in white- pants and a high-collared jacket that buttons down the left side, and boots with heels. She has long, very straight black hair. The most obviously inhuman thing about her are her eyes, which constantly swirl with myriad colors, like someone is turning a kaleidoscope just behind her irises.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Those eyes fix on Lacrima as the door swings open. Her face is impassive- not emotionless, just neutral. It's unclear if she has been sitting there, alone in a chair in an empty room, or if she sensed Lacrima coming and prepared herself to receive a visitor.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hello." She says, simply.

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima generally passes for a sickly looking human when she's well fed- which she is right now. Pale skin. Stark unnaturally violet eyes, long purple hair. It's easy to say you suffer from some condition. Those that know the magical world know something is off about her though. Just enough to itch at the back of your head. 'Not human. Not human.'.<br /><br />She walks in and the apartment is completely and utterly bare. Eyes trace the walls and ceiling and floors. The feeling of something here is palpable. Lacrima has never been in a Witch's Labyrinth- so she doesn't know what one feels like. This place feels odd and weird to her. That 'other world' feeling.<br /><br />Her eyes fix down on Hana. "Hello." she says.<br /><br />"You are Hana Shiori." she says. This is more a statement of fact rather than question, but might be taken as one. Her tone is always just deadpan.<br /><br />"A fellow told me you were the cause of a disturbance not too long ago. I felt that. He told me you were a 'coherent witch'." she says.<br /><br />"Is that truth?" she asks.<br /><br />A long pause as her eyes seem to search the ceiling while she's searching her thoughts. "Ah. Yes."<br /><br />"I am Lacrima." she says.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hana's kaleidoscope eyes study Lacrima as the girl steps into the apartment. The door swings shut behind her with a soft click. Whether she can tell that something is 'off' with her visitor is unclear from her expression, which remains passive, though it's a good bet that sensing such is within her capability.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To say that the apartment is completely bare is not quite correct- there's at least one other thing in the room, although it may not have been obvious until Lacrima got further inside- a small painting on an easel, by the windows. There are also a few doors leading to other rooms, and the glimpses through them seem to show furniture. In here though- just the chair.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am." Comes the steady confirmation to the statement of her name. "Causing a disturbance was never my intent, but it is likely that you are correct in your assertion." She shifts, leaning her elbow on the arm of the chair and her cheek on her hand as she regards Lacrima.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Coherent? I like to think so." There's the faintest hint of amusement in her tone- though her emotions are subdued, or perhaps strictly controlled, they are not absent. She is not a robot, she simply keeps a tight reign on herself. "A Witch? Mmm.. perhaps it is more complicated than that. But it is not untrue."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And why, if I may be so bold as to ask, have you sought me out, Lacrima?" A very faint narrowing of those multi-colored eyes.

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima makes notes of movement and tones. Amusement. She takes notes. She head tilts and shakes her head. "Well it's my understanding various parties may have sensed it." she says. She shakes her head a bit.<br /><br />"Why? Ah."<br /><br />"I'm La Vampira. Vampire." she says. "However. That is a fancy way of saying I am a mass of Dark Energy with Higher Intelligence than your basic Dusk Zone denizen that needs to feed on people's identity to keep something resembling my own when I was human." she says flatly.<br /><br />"I do not know many like myself. Something like a monster that was maybe human once upon a time." she says.<br /><br />"I'm eager to know how others are in such existence." she says.<br /><br />"Ah... yes. This isn't a... confrontational? Visit? Yes. I'm not here to fight. There's no particular reason for me to." she head tilts.<br /><br />"I do not think you're very interested in me." she says. "But I am very interested in you. If you would entertain questions." she says flatly.<br /><br />"What's this feeling, if I may ask? It's very heavy and permeating." she says.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am sure that many people sensed it." Hana says, with regards to the phenomena surrounding her rebirth to a physical form. "But it was not my intent. The world often forces us into circumstances, actions, that we do not intend. That is part of its cruelty- though the wise can turn such situations into opportunities."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She doesn't move from her position as she speaks, or as Lacrima does. There is a stillness about her that is definitely unnatural- as if she's a mannequin that sometimes moves and speaks. Indeed, though her face is human (other than the eyes), it has an almost 'too perfect' quality to it that evokes something of the Uncanny Valley effect.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I see." Is her only comment as Lacrima explains her nature. Her expression betrays neither interest nor disinterest, a look of vague consideration the only response for long moments. Then: "I do not consider myself a monster, if that is what you are implying. Once human, yes. Now? Something else. But being inhuman does not make one a monster. Humanity is not the sole rightful occupier of this or any world."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I have no wish to fight you. In truth, I have no wish to fight anyone- though it seems my wish is one-sided. Cofrontation, I have learned, is generally unavoidable. It is nature, I suppose. Species compete for dominance, even if co-existance would be preferable. We cannot deny our instincts."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A shift of eyes, a glancing around as Lacrima asks about the 'feeling'. "This is my reality." She says, simply. "You have entered the world that bends to my whim. For the moment it extends no farther than the walls of this apartment, though one day.. perhaps farther."

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima listens. She shakes her head. "You do not consider yourself a monster. I do not consider myself a monster. But we are still monsters because that's what the outside thinks. If there's one thing I've learned is that you are not entitled to your own identity." she frowns.<br /><br />"Not. You, you, but the person." she says.<br /><br />"Oh. So this is a Labyrinth?" she asks curiously. "Or rather. The effects of one. This doesn't look anything like Riventon-sama's reports on the matter." she says.<br /><br />She expected bizarre landscapes and maybe dancing marshmallow soldiers or something or something like a Rap Witch.<br /><br />"May I politely ask for a chair then?" she asks softly.<br /><br />While she waits for a yes or no, she continues.<br /><br />"Your wish. It's funny you should mention that." she says.<br /><br />"Don't Puella Magi only get one?" she asks in perhaps deadpan, dry and macrabe humor. "What was it, if I may ask?" she asks.<br /><br />"I didn't ask to be this way. I'm the victim of a circumstance no one could had particularly planned for." she says.<br /><br />"But. You. You had to ask for something to get here. Am I right?" she asks.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I must disagree with you there." Hana says, though her tone remains neutral, almost laconic. Passion is apparently not a thing that she does- or at least, it takes a lot more than simple discussion to bring it out of here. "I do not define myself by what others consider me. I consider my reality," She gestures around the room with a motion of one hand, "To be the correct one. If people on the outside wish to think that their definitions are more correct than mine.. well. Then we shall have conflict. Because they are wrong."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A faint shrug. "Witches, by which I mean the final evolution of those you would call Puella, all have the ability to create their own localized reality. Most are not strong enough to overwrite the 'real world' with that reality, and so you have a Labyrinth- a pocket dimension, controlled entirely by the will of that Witch."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"In my case, I have the power to impose my will upon the 'real world'. I do not have to lurk within a pocket dimension. I can enforce my dominion.. here."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She pauses, and then almost grudgingly adds, "Within a limited area of where I stand."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking of standing, Lacrima asks for a chair. There is suddenly a chair behind her when she looks, though there was not a moment before. It is similar in style to the one Hana occupies, but notably less ornate.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"All Puella get a Wish, yes." She says, without answering the question of what hers, was. "Though I did not wish to become.. what I now am. You see," She sits up, steepling her fingers, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "The Incubators like to think that they are brilliant, and that they control every aspect of the system they have set up to ward off Universal Entropy. But this is simply not true."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Any system of sufficient complexity will result in anomalies. Unintended results. It is simply statistics. I am one such result. So is Homura Akemi, though of a different sort. In both cases.. the Incubators granted Wishes without fully understanding the potential consequences. Neither, at the time, did I- but then again, I was but a child. What I am is, in effect, the result of the interaction, or perhaps the failure, of the laws of the Puella System and a Wish which, by its nature, broke them."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A faint smile. "You might say that I am the result of a Puella System Blue Screen of Death."

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima head tilts. "That isn't my understanding of a 'Kyubey Wish'. My understanding is that as long as you have the 'karmic potential', they 'have' to grant the wish. If you do not- or- your potential is 'tied to something else', then they can't. I would call it 'less an error' and more 'working exactly as intended, whether they wanted the outcome or not' and they know it. So. 'Interaction' seems more apt than 'failure'." she says. "Mainly. I may have tried to wish to Kyubey to be human again to be told I could not and why."<br /><br />"Though I still do not quite get what they get out of granting wishes to fight creatures they make themselves." she says waving a hand dismissively. "He wouldn't tell me that much."<br /><br />"Homura Akemi wished something about time. I understand this much. I've only looked into Witches because Riventon-sama was exploring paths." which ended up with her favorite pet. But no reason to mention Nyubey here.<br /><br />"Your choice of words seems interesting for this. You say evolution but once again, many people outside this room would use the word 'corruption'." she says.<br /><br />"Why do you think it's an evolution?" she asks.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I do not wish to offend you," Hana says, with absent carelessness that makes it clear that she really doesn't care if she offends her visitor or not, "But just because Kyubey told you something does not make it truth. Even so, what you say is more or less correct- but it is still a failure. It is perfectly within the ability of the Incubators to simply not offer a Wish to someone. And just because they were aware of the potential flaws in their system does not mean they are not flaws. The simple fact of the matter is that they felt, or so I assume, that the incidence of anomalies were small enough so as to be negligable."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A faint smile, the barest upturning of lips. "Which is always the case until they actually arise."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am aware of Homura Akemi's wish- and the repurcussions. She and I have had a.. long association. Though not, I must confess, an amicable one."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A pause, then, with a faint lowering of her eyebrows, "It is an evolution because I am a greater being than I was before. I have advanced my state to one more powerful. People outside this room can use whatever term they wish, but the fact remains that I do not care. Their opinions are meaningless to me. I suspect they are merely formed of jealousy- it is logical, is it not, that the powerless would wish to come up with some reason to deem the powerful 'corrupt', as an excuse to destroy them."

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima says. "Oh. I know I'm correct. The incubators know their wishes could go wrong. They just don't care. As you said, if they did, they would just say no." she says. "I've seen too much through a friend of this." she says.<br /><br />"Too much trying to see if I could cheat the system for a 'wish'." she says. "When I thought I had a chance of fixing my situation. Though I quickly found out I'd just be trading it for a similarly awful one. Not to mention the 'problems' you talk about. That could go wrong. 'I wish to be human again'. What happens when it's time to 'Witch'? Do I still remain human? Does the system 'bluescreen', as you put it?" she asks. "Or did I 'cheat' the system because I can't Witch because I wished to become human again?"<br /><br />She shrugs.<br /><br />"Well. /You've/ become something greater. You still have some sort of 'coherency' as it was put to me. If the more common witches have 'coherency' then it's on some level that others can't grasp. I've not encountered a Witch. It's my understanding they became scarce around the same time I became this thing. Which would explain why."<br /><br />"Can you talk with normal witches, Hana-san?" she asks. "Do they remember?"

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You ''think'' you are correct." Hana says, with no hint of anger or judgement, merely an impassive gaze. "But you are not an Incubator. As one would imagine, I too have had many discussions with those creatures over the long years since I first met them. I assure you- they care. They simply refuse to admit it. To do so would be to admit that their system is not perfect- that they, themselves, do not always know best. This is something they are unwilling to do. At least to anyone but themselves."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shrugs her shoulders. "Awful is in the eyes of the beholder, I imagine. Personally, I enjoy my situation now much more than what it was pre-wish. As a human, I was miserable. As a Puella, more so. Now? I am fulfilled. Though, I suppose you are correct- it is impossible to guarantee and outcome like mine. If it were so, it would be much more than an anomaly and the Incubators would surely act."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Witches.. ordinary Witches.." Hana pauses, thinking. "They are not mindless. They have some form of coherency.. intelligence. They are more than animals. But it is an alien intelligence. It does not operate in the same way as human intelligence, or indeed that posessed by you or I. It may seem they act without thought, but that is simply because humans cannot understand their thought. It is too different."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I cannot speak with them.. as such. But I am closer to them than any but their own kind, and so it is possible for me to make myself understood. I do not ''control'' them. But they respect my power, and often do as I wish as a result, though I cannot compel them to do so."

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima shakes her head with a sigh. Part of her wonders if this girl is being used by 'Kyubeys' now for some ulterior purpose. Surely, an entire race that lacks any obvious emotional capacity wouldn't just leave a system that has apparently broken numerous times that they know about run unless it's running as intended because of something like 'pride'. Then again. She keeps friends because she's hoping maybe she'll feel 'happy again' and that's also just as hopeless. She taps her bottom lip in thought.<br /><br />"I understand how that feels." she says. "In regards to others. I'm more closer to a creature from the Dusk Zone than anything. I can feel their presence and touch their minds sometimes, if I wish. Most are instinct and animalistic. I can't 'talk' with them in so much I can 'talk' to a dog or a cat." she says.<br /><br />"Sometimes I run into something powerful and that will have some more to it than a 'dog' or a 'cat'- but it's still instinct driven. Flashes of words and feelings that are just things like 'eat' or 'rest'." she says.<br /><br />"I can't touch other creatures that are more on equal footing with me- or greater- like that, but when you're getting to that level I can just talk to them like I'm talking to you right now." she says flatly.<br /><br />"I do much studying about 'creatures' and their development. Most notably the Dusk Zone, but others aswell- like Witches. I don't. Very much feel connected to Earth anymore. I don't feel the warm sun or cool moonlight. But I feel the wind and swirl of the Dusk Zone and that makes me feel comfortable and safe like the sun and moon used to." she says. "I'd say it reminds me of feeling happy, as I can't feel 'happy'."<br /><br />"I imagine your labyrinth must feel the same way to you." she says.<br /><br />"So I study and learn about it and it's inhabitants."

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hana offers no real insight into the behavior of the Incubators- she has her opinion on the topic, as Lacrima does, but she is no more an Incubator than the other girl. Only the Kyubeys ''really'' know what the Kyubeys are doing, and why, no matter how strongly outside observers might feel on the topic.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She doesn't offer comment as Lacrima explains her connection to the Dusk Zone and the creatures that inhabit it. It's hard to tell how interested she is- her expression remaining more or less impassive. But she also does not get up and leave or insist that Lacrima do so, so there must be some degree of interest. She is hardly the type to humor someone.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The perception that one sort of reality is 'right' and others 'wrong' is something I very much disagree with." SHe finally says. "Just because this 'Earth' is the current default does not make it best, or even the most natural. For all we know, there was some other version of 'reality' long ago, and this one simply overwrote it at the whim of some long-forgotten god or creature of power."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"My reality is the reality which suits me. I make no claims that it is anything else. I am comfortable within it because I have made it comfortable. It is what I wish it to be."

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima nods. "I agree with that statement. According to Homura Akemi, during a presentation to explain a particularly catastrophic event, it was made clear that she was in realities or alternate dimensions or timelines where things besides 'Puella Magi' didn't exist." she says.<br /><br />"However, the majority of people believe this is the prime reality and they will defend it to the death- and have done so in the past." she says.<br /><br />"No one would do that for the Dusk Zone except me I think. Maybe some others who call it home, or draw their power from there. I imagine it's the same for you." she says.<br /><br />"Why did people fight you the first time around? Surely you weren't just sitting here like you are now." she says. "I would say most of the people I know are reactionary, yes, but hardly the type to just haul off and smite someone for doing essentially... this." she says, motioning her hand around to the literal nothing in the room.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"People always wish to believe that their own reality is the 'best' reality. I can't claim to be an exception to that. Trust me, I am well aware that most of the inhabitants of this world will fight to defend it." Hana says, her lack of concern evident in her voice. "It is true that none save I would fight for my personal reality, at least at the moment.. mostly because there is no one else who dwells within it."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She pauses at the question of why she was fought last time she made an appearance in Tokyo. A somewhat wry expression steals briefly across her face. "I was.. overzealous, I suppose. Perhaps that is hard to believe, looking at me, but it is the truth. I attempted to impose my reality on this city, and to pre-emptively eliminate those I judged as a threat to me. I underestimated their strength, and I paid for it."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A single brow is raised. "A mistake I do not intend to repeat. A wise person does not simply repeat the same actions and hope for a different outcome."

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima head tilts. "There was another that this power before me. A long time ago. He is dead. Though I still maintain an imprint of his extensively long life that was passed on- aswell as some base mannerisms and cultural ideals--- which is why I know things such as the Spanish language and how to conduct oneself in a Spanish noble court. I dream, often, of events of his life. I rarely have dreams of my own. But it leaves me with a good baseline of 'what not to do' if I don't want vampire hunters, or heroes, or priests or rival creatures on my doorstep every morning." she says.<br /><br />"Preemptive assaults will always get you unwanted attention. Especially here in Tokyo, where even enemies will work together sometimes if it means fighting a common enemy." she says.<br /><br />"I was told you managed to upset some powerful organizations that operate outside of Earth's boundaries as it is. That's a quite a feat. Usually, they just don't /care/." she says.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Having a good baseline for what not to do is always useful." Hana says, with a mild shrug. This is her only comment on Lacrima's explanation of her power's previous owner.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for preemptive assaults- "I was not looking to avoid attention. I was looking to crush my enemies before they had a chance to strike at me. Unfortunately, as I said.. I underestimated their strength. As you say.. the situation was not quite as I had assumed."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A faint smile touches her lips. "Still. Live.. or die, as the case may be.. and learn. There is much to be said for a more.. patient approach."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She quirks a brow at the comment about powerful organizations. "This I was not aware of. Nor, truth be told, do I particularly care about them, either, so I suppose that is fair enough."

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima head tilts. "Well you're talking about at least one that has completely taken over one world." she says flatly. "I do not know how long their memories run." she says. "-and the other doesn't exist anymore." she says. "-and their remaining elements are on the 'good' side now. One of them is what made me aware of your existence. Long white hair. Tall." she says.<br /><br />"Do you know why people were dreaming about you?" she asks flatly. "Was that another unintended side effect? I did not dream about you. As I said. I rarely have my own dreams. They are always someone elses." she says.<br /><br />"But others in the organization I worked for and friends talked about such things." she says softly.<br /><br />"You know Naru-chan. Of course." she says.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What they may or may do in other worlds does not concern me." Hana reiterates, unimpressed. "If they wish to raise greivances with me, I invite them to do so. Otherwise, I invite them to kindly stay out of my way. Surely if they have conquored their own world already, they have no particular need for mine."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At the description of Kunzite, she makes a faint 'mm'. "Yes, the servant of the Prince. I am aware of him. He was very polite to me. I do not find him particularly distasteful."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for the dreams, she merely shrugs. "Unintended, yes. I was dreaming, and it seems in the state I was in, I could not contain them. Being in that state was an.. odd experience. Dreams and reality intermixed quite freely. I would apologize, but you say you did not experience the phenomena yourself so, I see no need."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At the mention of Naru, there's a faint smile. "Ah yes, the Little Bird. I do enjoy my conversations with her. She is a fellow artist. We have much in common."

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima shakes her head. "I wouldn't accept the apology even if I did. Not... on an antagonistic basis, rather, I know what it's like to 'not have control' of things. I used to wake up in odd places when I would starve myself when I was denying my base nature- having signs of done things beyond my rational control. It's terrible to feel that way. Out of control?" she asks.<br /><br />"Yes, but he wasn't always like that. When you were around last time- he was working for others--- out of his control of course. Brainwashed and all that." she says.<br /><br />"How long have you been like this? Do you still remember what it's like to be human?" she asks.<br /><br />"A real. Human I mean." she says.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"His state the last time we met is irrelevant." Hana says, with her continual, patient dismissal of anything that she doesn't deem important to the here and now. "I do not believe I encountered him then. What he is now is all that matters, and what he is now is polite and rather handsome. As I said. Pleasing."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She quirks a brow at the question of how long it's been since she became the being she currently is. She clearly has to think about it for a moment, but when given her answer is clear and fairly precise. "It has been about seven years, I believe." She says. "And yes. I remember perfectly. That feeling of miserable helplesness, of being bound to the will of others and unable to assert control over my own existence."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, I remember. I am much happier now."

:'''{{#var:160|Norie Okana| (160)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Lacrima head tilts. "Seven years and you remember. Okay. That's good. I mean." she says. "That's not good for you- if you don't like remembering that time, but I fear I'll forget one day. If no one kills me I will live many many years and I fear I'll forget things like that."<br /><br />"I'm like this because I bought a necklace." she says. "That's it. I didn't wish. Or ask for this. I bought a necklace. It was pretty." she says miserably.<br /><br />"So I value my memories of when I was human. I value the feelings I know I'm supposed to feel. Without those things, I'll just end up another confused creature who tries to do things like 'take over the world'." she mutters.<br /><br />"Because that's a lovely idea." she rolls her eyes.<br /><br />"I should go now. I think I understand some things better." she says.<br /><br />"Ah. Right." she says.<br /><br />"If...." she says with some distaste, as if using the term as an insult. "'Heroes'. Decide to come do something about you without prompting. Do call for help. I don't like that kind of behavior." she says, as she begins to stand up from the chair.

:'''{{#var:189|Hana Shiroi| (189)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It is a lovely idea." Hana says, without a hint of irony or any sign that she his offended by Lacrima's obvious antipathy to the idea. "Though I suppose not everyone has the required.. force of will."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She watches Lacrima rise, and merely shrugs. "As you wish. I have no desire to stop you. I have enjoyed our chat, Lacrima, for what it is worth. It is always worth my while to gain knowledge.. and I feel as if I have learned several things this morning."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The door swings silently open behind Lacrima, allowing her to exit. "I will bear your offer in mind." She says, at the last. "I have no intention of starting conflict.. yet. And I do have means to defend myself. But I shall take you at your word.. if it becomes necessary."<br /><br />"Do have a pleasant day." The door remains open until Lacrima passes through it, and Hana remains in her chair until it swings shut and latches again, obscuring sight of her.
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