[Oh this could turn out to be a hell of a speech if prompted.]
Charm is difficult to rank. Dogs are still quite special for their impressive loyalty, and so many have been developed with the sole purpose of being companions. Being a creature that only exists to delight is about the most virtuous reason to be created. No dog could ever be considered useless.
Couple the delight of those dogs with the elegant smoothness of creatures meant to be hydrodynamic, made plump with the roundness and softness of infancy? Baby seals have both the charm of a pomeranian and their soft-eyed, sleek parents.
[He's made him have to think about this in depth.]
...But wait, mermaids are real for you?
Then they might be for us. [They've been exclusively researching creatures of the surface! Why have they not been plunging the depths! How ignorant they've been! He feels so foolish, considering he's discovered other human myths are accurate. Mermaids are an important bit of human lore.]
Aren't there mermaids that are seals, too? Wouldn't it be remarkable to transform between a form of streamlined cuteness back into a person... [He's so lost in thought he's going to end up missing where he needs to go.]
[Kirschtaria nods, clearly impressed by the articulate yet concise manner of ranking the cuteness of the animals.]
You are very enthusiastic about animals. [One doesn't recite all that precise with that passionate (?) voice without favoring the topic.] Have you ever been in a nature reserve yet?
[He doesn't know if there is one in these places, or if it'll be safe to visit. It's best to stick with the zoo plans for now, but perhaps when he returns home, he could do that. They should be a better place to animal-watch than their cloistered enclosure. Unfortunately, pandas...would be difficult.]
I am a mage... I've visited many places and seen many wonders. Although the Mystery after the Anno Domini began to fade rapidly, making most demonic, phantasmal, and divine beings either become extinct or flee to the Reverse Side, some linger. Dragons died out this way.
[His tone is slightly mournful. He's spotted a few mermaids during the Mediterranean Sea Singularities when he was aboard Captain Drake's ship. But he is aware that some mages kept some of those alive in their workshops. For what purpose, he never asked.]
Hmm. Perhaps. I haven't tested the theory. It is plausible that the ones who lingered on the surface got caught and transformed by human common sense perception, but does that exist where you come from? [Kirschtaria mulls this theory, stroking his chin, then halts, realizing they might be aimlessly drifting around.] Pardon me. [He excuses himself to stride to the old couple that's walking nearby. He returns after a brief exchange to inquire directions, smiling and pointing at the road to his right.]
Flowers, too. We've had many extinctions on the Homeworld. [He's still hesitant to talk about this kind of thing with humans, even in spaces where it doesn't matter.] Earth animals are unique and it breaks my heart that Earthlings squander them.
[He trails off thoughtfully, then, just idly following with his hands in the pockets of his tidy long gray coat.]
I've not left Tokyo. Not until stumbling across this space. [Because it's basically requiring little travel.] I don't have enough PTO for a long trip. I doubt I'll ever have the chance. [To go to a reserve before humanity is gone, that is.]
I don't think so... But then again, Earthlings don't seem to possess common sense in abundance... no offense. Obviously there are exceptions.
Extinction events happen very often, with or without intervention. [He's neutral when he says that. It's a reality. Humans are only the latest addition to why it happens, but they've always existed.] Are our animals different from the ones of your original home?
[He sends him a curious look. He can infer that they might not have the same variety of 'adorable' appearance with how he appraises that.]
That is a shame. I'm sure Tokyo is a wonderful city, but there are so many sights to see. [He shakes his head. From buildings to landscapes and animals. ] I'm sure you'll enjoy partaking in a safari. And--[The corner of his eyes crinkle with a mischievous light.] China has the biggest reservoir of pandas... I heard you can hug them, too.
[He'll let that sink in to explore the options.]
Hahah, none taken. [Kirschtaria chuckles and understands how so many actions could be taken as folly.] I think everyone's just doing their best, even if that leads to many mistakes. That does not lessen anyone's value. [His words are dripping of full, unbasheful trust. That is the unconditional love he possesses for all of humanity.] "Common sense" is how mages call this: it is the shared consensus and perception humanity reaches. It modifies the texture of the planet: from its history, its appearance, the laws of physics--
[He elaborates while he double checks the sreet names, following the kind couple's directions.]
Most humans believe their science is an analysis of the truth, but what they do is create and shape a reality to accommodate their understanding as the current prime species. It's an unconscious process.
[In a world that sees magical beasts as myths, then--]
That is why I said your theory was sound. At least in my world.
More leathery coverings and exoskeletons. Not that I don't adore our animals, but I've found a unique sort of stress relief in observing fluffy and cute things. Earth creatures are much shorter lived than us. [He knows he mentioned that.] We don't have seasons, and our flowers fruit in such a way that flowers never actually wilt. That Earth has cycles is still very strange to me.
[Somehow the idea of humans possessing an unconscious power also makes a lot of sense. It might explain how the Rangers get chosen or... something. Maybe if they found a way around that, he could talk his-]
[-No... No he should just do his job and move on. Ashe and Ur need to get home. When the couple give them directions, he kindly bows his gratitude before moving off.]
The spirits I mentioned a while back are children. They're very young, connected to a sakura and an oak tree. The sakura only appears during the spring. ...Dandelions also can form small beings when their seeds blow. [He is sure if people saw the tiny people attached to wafting dandelions they'd never tear another 'weed' from the soil.] So far, no humans I've noted have observed them. But something about whatever I am lets me see them.
If there are mermaids, we might be the only ones who can easily perceive them.
Like bats? [Kirschtaria reckons he'd also feel strongly attached to pandas and kittens if all the animals he knew were like that.] I see, but that too is a consequence of the current texture humanity created. Where I come from, at least, it wasn't always like that.
[He glances at the sky, pursing his lips. The celestial spheres here are filled with more ether than in modern London; it makes any mage look at ease. ]
When gods were the prime species, it was slightly different; although the idea of cycles was common, it was for a different reason. The planet's surface appearance is a result of the current species that occupies the seat of dominance. When that changes, the world morphs to a new shared understanding. What makes humans or gods thrive as species are different things.
[ It must be wild speaking of this, but it isn't even theoretical, or a speech from those mages who lived in the Ages of Gods. He knows how textures work; he is capable of overriding them and recreating them if given enough energy at his disposal. ]
It is not wrong to say that, in a sense, the world is a dream of that dominant species. It will disappear one day when they pass the torch to their successor. All the old mythological textures and worlds vanished when divine spirits retired to the inner sea. Ah--
[He's talked too much of this old, dusty topic only mages who yearn for their old glory care about.]
They may be young fairies. [Probably 'false' ones born of those lingering plant or animal souls. It's easier for those to manifest than those who come from earth's soul. And, he strokes his chin, he said he lived in Tokyo. Islands away from continental mainlands have a fair share more of lingering Mystery. ] If your world functions similarly, they may also try to mask themselves from prying eyes using a glamor to avoid any existential backlash. That's also why we mages hide our talents and our existence from the rest of humanity. [He gives him a pointed look before glancing forward. Only a few blocks and they will reach the zoo.] Your observation wouldn't cause that.
[He doesn't need to clarify why. He is a foreigner to that system.]
Oh, it might. In the most remote and isolated shores or the deep sea sanctuaries. Are you going to search for one?
[The General has an inclination to overthink and even that sounds like a lot.] I don't think the children are doing that, at least consciously. They very much think like children, and I think they would like to be perceived. One of them is technically 'dead' now. His tree was cut down, but until the wood fully dies he'll be fading.
[So, probably not fae, probably just little Yokai. Sad little yokai who love each other very much, and treat this strange alien like their caretaker.]
Humans aren't well-travelled yet in my home. ['Luckily' he avoids saying.] There are several interplanetary empires. Mine's made up of several species but we all have yellow eyes, pointed ears, and some level of sharp teeth. [Rooney's and Ur's are more like little vampire fangs, while the General, Trigger, and Muller have a mouth full of nightmares.]
We'll probably go searching now. I'll have our R&D team focus on pressure and deep-sea research just to investigate for the presence of merfolk.
[He's all formal until they reach the strange new zoo. Then his eyes widen behind his overgrown bangs a bit in anticipation. Something new? Hopefully something new.]
Are flying foxes in your top ten cute creature rankings?
[ Kirschtaria looks amused at the quick clarification. Childlike, huh? Peperoncino should be more of an expert in the Mystics of Japan. ]
That may be an unconscious defense mechanism. [ Wodime's gaze softens when he hears that creature's fate. He can understand it. To slowly waste away and have one's life being cut short, even so-- ] How about uprooting a cutting and planting it elsewhere? [ He may at least suggest something to avoid the worst-case scenario. ] It may restore that creature's life. Or perhaps it will birth its new generation.
[Propagation is not uncommon among those types of small elementals; it would not be an end for them.]
Oh, humans may never travel to the stars as we are now, at least not as a species. [He says lightly, eyes upturn at the sky. There are individuals that probably can do like the Magicians.]
It's our physical bodies, and because we are bound to the planet. Just as the surface of our world is a shared dream humanity has, we are the dream of the planet. Until we claim full independence as adults, we shall remain in its embrace. Even so...
[He presses a hand to his chest as he takes a low breath.]
The next version of humanity born from us, or a new brand species created by us, shall carry on. That is how planets propagate. In time, I'm sure all older versions of "humans" will accept that it is our time to pass on the baton that once came into our hands.
[No doubt it will have to wait until they are emotionally ready to accept it. Kirschtaria has nothing but unflappable trust in this rite of passage.]
It must be fascinating to travel like that. I envy you a little. My speciality is Astromancy, therefore my magecraft relies on the celestial bodies. Seeing them up close rather than observing the ones we fashioned with our firmament must be striking.
[Only a little. In truth, he's very satisfied with his life, even if things didn't go his way and he suffered chronic pain since he was a teenager. He still considers himself blessed.]
Well, I hope you find what you are looking for. I will be careful not to disturb them too much. It could affect the flow of the leylines in the water.
[He nods, and stops. There is a long staircase to the gates of the zoo. Time to put Caenis' strict training.]
[There's not much he can do for little Oak. He's literally a bench now, and will fade more and more over time.]
He'll be happy to spend the rest of his time with her, the Oak and the Sakura. [But they're so childlike, he's not had the heart to bring up that the Oak will eventually fade out. Who knows, they might still have a very long time.]
[Better to not think about that right now, he supposes. They might have decades yet.]
[He'll have to work out the significance of leylines later, right now there's a more practical problem, and he whispers in somber realization-] I don't know if my credit card will work here. [How he has a credit card, or money, or what the Evil Organization does to get money? One can only guess.]
I understand. [ Kirschtaria sighs softly.] Short or long, a lifetime with a loved one is a very joyful outcome.
[There is no need to grieve those who are happy with this, in his opinion. It is only one's own heart that feels heavy. He's silent afterwards, clearly he needs some time to mull over his feelings for those nature spirits.
Oh, and he could hear that whisper. He's not that far to be completely unaduible.]
This is on me. I invited you, didn't I?
[He assures him, searching for his wallet in one of his coat's pockets. He has settled in these...places and has a job to afford the currency. That experience is novel, but if it's possible, he can do it. Perhaps he is a little like that Oak spirit, waiting for the dream to fade.
The line to purchase tickets is short; it only takes a couple of minutes, and Kirschtaria pays for two adults. From a distance, he can hear a rumble, a roar, and other animal noises. But his eyes fall not on the enclosures but on the crowd. Actually, on the animal ears some children and teenage girls are wearing. It looks...
... ]
Hmm. There is only one thing I need to do before we start the tour. Could you wait here for a moment?
[He doesn't say what it is before he takes off to the souvenir shop. Aren't surprises the best?]
[He watches the other man leave, before a small boy stumbles beside him and catches himself by grabbing onto the General's coat. That successfully distracts him, and by the time Kirschtara is returning he's helping the kid right himself and return to his mother. For all that adults seem pretty nervous around the General, not one child is scared of the giant man. They just look at him with an air of, 'Oh. Tall.' innocence. Like he's immediately okay and/or a landmark they can navigate by.]
[He doesn't even notice that he's back yet, because now that one child has identified the General is safe to talk to, two little girls have decided to explain all the best places to visit in the zoo and he's just nodding sagely, listening and genuinely taking in all their advice as legitimate. He holds a lot of stock in the wonder of human children. They've proven accurate too often to disregard.]
[ Kirschtaria returns amidst his companion's lively chat with the two young girls. He smiles faintly and keeps to himself, waiting patiently for their conversation to end. When it seems the case, he clears his throat and bows at the children who are waving goodbye with their tiny hands. ]
May I cut in?
[ He's back, and he looks different. Atop his usually well-groomed blond hair, there is a pair of fluffy white rabbit ears. The right ear is upright, and the left one is drooping above his eye. He hopes that won't block his sight too much. ]
I apologize for leaving like that. [ He says as he lifts the bag he's carrying with the logo of the souvenir shop and offers it to him. Inside the bag, there is another headband with animal ears; panda's to be precise. ] I bought this one for you. I hope you approve of it.
[He gives him the questioning look of a man unsure, but after some staring and debating he hesitantly puts them on his head. In the way of, 'is this allowed'? But then decides, internally, after a great deal of debate that his love of pandas is far superior that his desire for conformity.]
[Once they're on, he almost immediately forgets that they're there.]
So if they have these then they likely have pandas?
[Dammit, he can't just wait for hours for the perfect moment for a picture. He has to limit his exposure! For the sake of companionship!]
[Kirschtaria nods encouragingly, looking like the picture of grace itself despite the rabbit ears he placed on his head. His neutral expression breaks into a small smile when he sees them fit. How relieving. He got his headband size correctly.
Like that, he also hopes to make his companion appear more approachable to others. He's noticed that some people seem strangely averse to his presence. Now, Kirschtaria causes a similar effect, but it is more of a cowed sense of admiration to watch him from afar. He's never worn these before. He would like to indulge in this harmless whim.]
I asked the shop clerk, and there is a panda enclosure.
[The young mage figured that would be in his immediate interests. He offers something else this time: a zoo pamphlet with a description of the favorite stops and a map.]
Mmm. Right now would be prime Panda activity hours, unless they've established a completely different schedule than those of Uenono zoo. [He's tactically figured out the exact panda visitation for the best photo opportunities.]
But if I take too long you're welcome to roam and come back to find me.
[He has quite the dedication to his craft of finding the perfect panda picture.]
I'll spend less time than usual. [He will spend SIGNIFICANTLY less time than usual. But if he has a chance to get pictures of new pandas from a different place, then he's going to do his very best to capture the indomitable beauty of more than one of these creatures.]
[He's still very intense, but Kirschtaria's thought process was sound because even though he still has an intimidating aura, the presence of an ear headband is enough to make people make a double take at the alien rather than veer pointedly around him. Like they're not sure they're seeing this right.]
We can take as long as you want. I don't have anything to do today. [He only needs to return before it gets too late.] But please remember that other animals might want your appraisal.
[He says as diplomatically as possible. Having a favorite is fine, but wouldn't the others feel slighted? (Not that they are aware of this). Of course, Kirschtaria does not sense anything unusual, but he's the mage who treated that Lostbelt Zeus as a close friend, and his aura would make most kneel. But it'll gladden him that he's replaced some of the unease with confusion.
He unfolds his pamphlet (he brought two) and, after a glimpse at the map, he points to his left. ]
I sincerely doubt they would care. [But he can acknowledge that if he's sharing entertainment with someone they can go quite tired of it. With human lifespans they grow impatient for experience- they can hardly be blamed. Having to wait on someone like him is phenomenally tedious to them.]
[He remembers when he first saw the zoo animals. He'd been appalled to just see humans keeping wild, predatory animals in enclosures- luckily the zoo he went to treats the animals well. Likely this one does too. But he knows that's not always the case.]
I normally don't share my day with anyone. So I'm not particularly experienced with it. [Like something like that would take experience.]
They probably would if you are allowed to give them pets. [That seems regulated, but in some cases, permitted with some species. He would understand his feelings about zoos. He experienced a dislike when he visited one as a child and never stepped in again until today. He does understand its necessity. Some animals kept in zoos are rescues from circuses or other captivity scenarios, and cannot be returned to the wild. And some, like the panda, wouldn't survive in the wild as a default. Even so, he prefers to observe birds flying high in the sky over the caged ones. ]
It is all right. I was aware of all this when I invited you. [He gives a nod of reassurance as he starts walking toward the panda's enclosure path. If anything, this would assist him to practice his people's skills, and to encourage some confidence in this poor man to socialize in the future.] I assure you that your company is very pleasant.
Alas. I would love to know how soft they actually are. But I know it's better for their health if I keep my distance.
[He's absurdly formal about all this. Especially for a guy now in a headband. The General is restricted in his availability- he knows he'll likely never see Earth animals in the wild. This is about as good as he can do. He has to stay in range of Headquarters.]
[Maybe this counts as travel, though, however he gets here. Like a warp gate that has much better range.]
[Though he's surprised at the comment his company is pleasant. He glances over, surprise hidden by his heavy bangs. Out of work, that's not expected. His coworkers like him, but as a leader, not as a friend (well, Rooney thinks he's a friend, much against the General's will).]
[Actually, he thinks Kirschtaria might like Rooney better than him if he met him. They have a lot in common... No, no. Don't think of coworkers right now. Don't think of work. Think of pandas. Pandas are the important part.]
[It's easy to forget one's troubles when watching a rolly polly panda child.]
You're very kind. I'm surprised you don't have many friends.
[Kirschtaria points sincerelly. True, he can appear too stern, but that only supplies greater contrast to his thoughtfulness. Hopefully, he can befriend more people around these liminal places. Even going on adventures in the wild together!
(Hmm, maybe he should advise packing emergency survival tools; it can happen unexpectedly.)
Whether Wodime noticed his surprised expression, he's making no comment about it, eyes flitting around between the enclosures and the people. He's more focused on the crowd, their happiness and wonder, than the animals themselves. At heart, that makes him more content.]
We're almost there.
[He announces as they are about to reach the "Bamboo forest" replica that houses the local panda population of the zoo. ]
[He has the courtesy to say-] Thank you. [But the self-awareness to admit.] I'm responsible for that. I just don't seek them out.
[He very genuinely dislikes being off-putting. But he also has no great urge to surround himself with people, especially people he's going to have to kill. But then there's... It's not a pervasive loneliness, but it is one he feels every once in a while. The rare times he needs a person and doesn't have one.]
[The moment they make it to the 'bamboo forest' area, though, that sense of awe settles in, and he's immediately rapt. Conversation forgotten briefly as he makes his first contact with the devine creatures- lounging specimins gloriously on display, enjoying their bamboo and dispassionately regarding the public in their uniquely carefree way. Much to his luck there's a younger one failing at climbing in a manner he can only describe as 'joyfully incompetent'.]
[What handsome creatures...]
[Every bit of tension in the General seems to have left him. He's like a nervous child given a security blanket. A helpless, bumbling thing has been put before him and he feels nothing but affection for it. Just wait him out, this might take a little while.]
You'll have the chance to mingle, if you are willing, when you visit places like this.
[He understands setting boundaries. In that sense, Kirschtaria feels this man has a lot in common with Daybit and his aversion to social interaction. He understands why his friend kept his distance, despite not knowing the details; he's aware of his condition as an outsider to the Human Order.
His footsteps halt when they reach the enclosure, falling just a step behind his companion. Initially, he's content to silently appraise the fluffy-looking animals leisurely nibbling bamboo or falling from attempts to climb a tree. His gaze drifts toward the taller man, inwardly chuckling about how mesmerized he looks.
He has no intention to disturb him who is caught in this glorious moment. He didn't exaggerate when he admitted them to his favorite animals.]
[It does take a full twenty minutes. Complete with the General occasionally spamming pictures whenever they do something remotely different. He's completely enthralled. But he does, eventually, manage to pull himself out of whatever fluffy-induced fugue state he's in.]
[He tucks away his phone and looks around, expecting Kirschtaria to have wandered off. He's fully forgetting that he's wearing animal ears, so while having children stare at him at the zoo is nothing new, now there's a few adults passing glances his way.]
[When he positively locates him, whether he's gone or still there (which would shock him)-] I took photos of all of them. I'm okay to move on now. [He probably should have taken a video but apparently a ton of photos works more to his interests.]
[Kirschtaria hasn't moved from the spot by his side. He's honored his word to be a companion in this adorable animal appraisal outing. He's divided his time between watching the animal's cute antics and studying the General's enthralled expression. He usually looks so stoic that it was almost shockingly different to see his face like this. Good for him. He looks like he is having a lot of fun.]
Are you leaving without sharing at least a photo with the pandas?
[He lifts his eyebrows while his gaze darts to the man's phone. Even if mages are worse with technology than the average person, that type of device shouldn't pose a challenge.]
[He actually looks a little startled by the idea, like it's something he's not even considered before. Him? With the pandas? Wouldn't that take away from the splendor of the pandas?]
[But maybe he should, to prove it happened. To have it in a folder somewhere in the depths of his phone.]
[He opens up the camera app, eventually, deciding it's not as if anyone would bother messaging him toda, anyway, and hands to to Kirschtaria, assuming that the 'push the circle to make picture' isn't something he'll have to explain.]
I can try.
[He assumes the position, hands in pockets, not smiling but not ominous. Just, you know, there. With pandas in the background. That seems sensible.]
[ Kirschtaria nods as he stretches out his right hand to receive his precious camera. He has a serious Leave-This-To-Me expression as he lifts it to search for the perfect angle. Fortunately, phones' cameras aren't complex, and he acclimatized to technology thanks to Olympus and Chaldeas (not all mages are as fortunate as he is).
He takes two shots. One vertical and one horizontal, thinking he'll appreciate the options. ]
Now we should take one together to commemorate this moment. [ He lowers the phone and steps closer. ] Is that all right? [ A 'selfie' could work, but if their angling fails, perhaps they could ask someone else for their assistance. ]
[He looks surprised, again, because no one has wanted to take a picture with him before. He'll have to make sure Rooney never sees, because the jealousy Rooney would feel is potent, given the similarity between him and-]
[He shoves at the mental reminder of Work Folks to keep them out of his mind, a deliberate, rough shove, before he nods and reaches out to take the phone. He has long arms, he could get a good selfie. Maybe not their full body or anything but it would be a sufficient commemoration.]
[He has offered without expectation that his suggestion will be accepted. He's even thought of a polite response to follow the rejection. Even so... It was an honest offer.
When the older man agrees, Kirschtaria pauses, glancing in his direction with a slightly widened-eyed expression that he shakes off when he walks even closer. ]
Pardon me.
[ He says before he tentatively reaches with his right arm to encircle his companion's shoulders. They are both very tall; if they don't hunch a tad and stick closer, they might block the pandas from the photo frame. ]
[He leans his weight into him as he tilts the phone, making sure he gets at least one panda in the shot. He does note, vaguely amused, that they have opposing color schemes. Something he hadn't really noticed until they were in the same frame.]
[Satisfied, he shows Kirschtaria the picture.]
Does that one look decent? Luckily there was a particularly fluffy panda convenient for documenting.
[Before the photo is taken, Kirschtaria lifts his other hand to perform the commonly known "V" sign with his gloved fingers. He feels elated with his impulsive decision. Normally, he'll have a perfect upright, graceful pose in pictures--the one expected of a noble mage of the Clock Tower--but this time it'll come as just a young man having fun with a friend in a zoo.]
Oh, and I can see the panda is nibbling bamboo.
[ Kirschtaria nods in approval, flashing a warm, bright smile. ]
[He's not sure how phones work in this space yet, if somehow magically numbers just function. But he nods. He'll figure it out, even if he has to put it on a USB stick.]
I normally don't take personal pictures. [He'll take pictures of food and of animals, but never anything his. He's too worried about being compromised.]
I suppose if I had someone to take them with I'd be more inclined to.
[It does seem illogical, but he has heard that Avalon has Wi-Fi, thus has no room to complain about irregularities from his perspective. Well, he can add him to his very short friend list category in his phone when they sit down in the zoo cafeteria later.]
You should start. [He suggests with a small smile.] Many things don't last, as you said earlier. And you should remember it as your moment too. Although a friend's presence does make everything better.
[He looks back over his shoulder at the pandas. Then back to his phone. He normally exists outside of moments, an observer rather than a participant. Even on his days off, he can't really be a part of a world he's meant to destroy. But this one- he won't need to worry about. His homeworld has no ambitions for a place they don't know exists.]
['Friends' further complicates those feelings.]
Where do you want to go next? [His primary goal has been met. Now he's ready to idly wonder, rather than address feelings.]
[He doesn't take back his words. Kirschtaria thinks he needs to hear this. To take a picture to document his precious animals is good, but it would be even better if he also took a reminder of his moments spent with them. He is a man wearing a panda ear headband proudly, he knows he isn't embarrassed by the association.]
What if we visit the enclosures to our left? We don't need to follow a detailed schedule today.
[ He proposes with a shrug. He's tried to be less structured after his death. (the second one) It helps him to get in touch with his genuine feelings. ]
It's strange to not. Usually I have a very rigid schedule- which is why I'm so protective of my time off.
[His time off is almost as regimented as his work schedule, except for the days he decides to stay home. But he does walk with him, curious as to what else this zoo has.]
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Charm is difficult to rank. Dogs are still quite special for their impressive loyalty, and so many have been developed with the sole purpose of being companions. Being a creature that only exists to delight is about the most virtuous reason to be created. No dog could ever be considered useless.
Couple the delight of those dogs with the elegant smoothness of creatures meant to be hydrodynamic, made plump with the roundness and softness of infancy? Baby seals have both the charm of a pomeranian and their soft-eyed, sleek parents.
[He's made him have to think about this in depth.]
...But wait, mermaids are real for you?
Then they might be for us. [They've been exclusively researching creatures of the surface! Why have they not been plunging the depths! How ignorant they've been! He feels so foolish, considering he's discovered other human myths are accurate. Mermaids are an important bit of human lore.]
Aren't there mermaids that are seals, too? Wouldn't it be remarkable to transform between a form of streamlined cuteness back into a person... [He's so lost in thought he's going to end up missing where he needs to go.]
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You are very enthusiastic about animals. [One doesn't recite all that precise with that passionate (?) voice without favoring the topic.] Have you ever been in a nature reserve yet?
[He doesn't know if there is one in these places, or if it'll be safe to visit. It's best to stick with the zoo plans for now, but perhaps when he returns home, he could do that. They should be a better place to animal-watch than their cloistered enclosure. Unfortunately, pandas...would be difficult.]
I am a mage... I've visited many places and seen many wonders. Although the Mystery after the Anno Domini began to fade rapidly, making most demonic, phantasmal, and divine beings either become extinct or flee to the Reverse Side, some linger. Dragons died out this way.
[His tone is slightly mournful. He's spotted a few mermaids during the Mediterranean Sea Singularities when he was aboard Captain Drake's ship. But he is aware that some mages kept some of those alive in their workshops. For what purpose, he never asked.]
Hmm. Perhaps. I haven't tested the theory. It is plausible that the ones who lingered on the surface got caught and transformed by human common sense perception, but does that exist where you come from? [Kirschtaria mulls this theory, stroking his chin, then halts, realizing they might be aimlessly drifting around.] Pardon me. [He excuses himself to stride to the old couple that's walking nearby. He returns after a brief exchange to inquire directions, smiling and pointing at the road to his right.]
We should go this way to the zoo.
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[He trails off thoughtfully, then, just idly following with his hands in the pockets of his tidy long gray coat.]
I've not left Tokyo. Not until stumbling across this space. [Because it's basically requiring little travel.] I don't have enough PTO for a long trip. I doubt I'll ever have the chance. [To go to a reserve before humanity is gone, that is.]
I don't think so... But then again, Earthlings don't seem to possess common sense in abundance... no offense. Obviously there are exceptions.
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[He sends him a curious look. He can infer that they might not have the same variety of 'adorable' appearance with how he appraises that.]
That is a shame. I'm sure Tokyo is a wonderful city, but there are so many sights to see. [He shakes his head. From buildings to landscapes and animals. ] I'm sure you'll enjoy partaking in a safari. And--[The corner of his eyes crinkle with a mischievous light.] China has the biggest reservoir of pandas... I heard you can hug them, too.
[He'll let that sink in to explore the options.]
Hahah, none taken. [Kirschtaria chuckles and understands how so many actions could be taken as folly.] I think everyone's just doing their best, even if that leads to many mistakes. That does not lessen anyone's value. [His words are dripping of full, unbasheful trust. That is the unconditional love he possesses for all of humanity.] "Common sense" is how mages call this: it is the shared consensus and perception humanity reaches. It modifies the texture of the planet: from its history, its appearance, the laws of physics--
[He elaborates while he double checks the sreet names, following the kind couple's directions.]
Most humans believe their science is an analysis of the truth, but what they do is create and shape a reality to accommodate their understanding as the current prime species. It's an unconscious process.
[In a world that sees magical beasts as myths, then--]
That is why I said your theory was sound. At least in my world.
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[Somehow the idea of humans possessing an unconscious power also makes a lot of sense. It might explain how the Rangers get chosen or... something. Maybe if they found a way around that, he could talk his-]
[-No... No he should just do his job and move on. Ashe and Ur need to get home. When the couple give them directions, he kindly bows his gratitude before moving off.]
The spirits I mentioned a while back are children. They're very young, connected to a sakura and an oak tree. The sakura only appears during the spring. ...Dandelions also can form small beings when their seeds blow. [He is sure if people saw the tiny people attached to wafting dandelions they'd never tear another 'weed' from the soil.] So far, no humans I've noted have observed them. But something about whatever I am lets me see them.
If there are mermaids, we might be the only ones who can easily perceive them.
[He's idly pondering.]
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[He glances at the sky, pursing his lips. The celestial spheres here are filled with more ether than in modern London; it makes any mage look at ease. ]
When gods were the prime species, it was slightly different; although the idea of cycles was common, it was for a different reason. The planet's surface appearance is a result of the current species that occupies the seat of dominance. When that changes, the world morphs to a new shared understanding. What makes humans or gods thrive as species are different things.
[ It must be wild speaking of this, but it isn't even theoretical, or a speech from those mages who lived in the Ages of Gods. He knows how textures work; he is capable of overriding them and recreating them if given enough energy at his disposal. ]
It is not wrong to say that, in a sense, the world is a dream of that dominant species. It will disappear one day when they pass the torch to their successor. All the old mythological textures and worlds vanished when divine spirits retired to the inner sea. Ah--
[He's talked too much of this old, dusty topic only mages who yearn for their old glory care about.]
They may be young fairies. [Probably 'false' ones born of those lingering plant or animal souls. It's easier for those to manifest than those who come from earth's soul. And, he strokes his chin, he said he lived in Tokyo. Islands away from continental mainlands have a fair share more of lingering Mystery. ] If your world functions similarly, they may also try to mask themselves from prying eyes using a glamor to avoid any existential backlash. That's also why we mages hide our talents and our existence from the rest of humanity. [He gives him a pointed look before glancing forward. Only a few blocks and they will reach the zoo.] Your observation wouldn't cause that.
[He doesn't need to clarify why. He is a foreigner to that system.]
Oh, it might. In the most remote and isolated shores or the deep sea sanctuaries. Are you going to search for one?
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[The General has an inclination to overthink and even that sounds like a lot.] I don't think the children are doing that, at least consciously. They very much think like children, and I think they would like to be perceived. One of them is technically 'dead' now. His tree was cut down, but until the wood fully dies he'll be fading.
[So, probably not fae, probably just little Yokai. Sad little yokai who love each other very much, and treat this strange alien like their caretaker.]
Humans aren't well-travelled yet in my home. ['Luckily' he avoids saying.] There are several interplanetary empires. Mine's made up of several species but we all have yellow eyes, pointed ears, and some level of sharp teeth. [Rooney's and Ur's are more like little vampire fangs, while the General, Trigger, and Muller have a mouth full of nightmares.]
We'll probably go searching now. I'll have our R&D team focus on pressure and deep-sea research just to investigate for the presence of merfolk.
[He's all formal until they reach the strange new zoo. Then his eyes widen behind his overgrown bangs a bit in anticipation. Something new? Hopefully something new.]
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[ Kirschtaria looks amused at the quick clarification. Childlike, huh? Peperoncino should be more of an expert in the Mystics of Japan. ]
That may be an unconscious defense mechanism. [ Wodime's gaze softens when he hears that creature's fate. He can understand it. To slowly waste away and have one's life being cut short, even so-- ] How about uprooting a cutting and planting it elsewhere? [ He may at least suggest something to avoid the worst-case scenario. ] It may restore that creature's life. Or perhaps it will birth its new generation.
[Propagation is not uncommon among those types of small elementals; it would not be an end for them.]
Oh, humans may never travel to the stars as we are now, at least not as a species. [He says lightly, eyes upturn at the sky. There are individuals that probably can do like the Magicians.]
It's our physical bodies, and because we are bound to the planet. Just as the surface of our world is a shared dream humanity has, we are the dream of the planet. Until we claim full independence as adults, we shall remain in its embrace. Even so...
[He presses a hand to his chest as he takes a low breath.]
The next version of humanity born from us, or a new brand species created by us, shall carry on. That is how planets propagate.
In time, I'm sure all older versions of "humans" will accept that it is our time to pass on the baton that once came into our hands.
[No doubt it will have to wait until they are emotionally ready to accept it. Kirschtaria has nothing but unflappable trust in this rite of passage.]
It must be fascinating to travel like that. I envy you a little. My speciality is Astromancy, therefore my magecraft relies on the celestial bodies. Seeing them up close rather than observing the ones we fashioned with our firmament must be striking.
[Only a little. In truth, he's very satisfied with his life, even if things didn't go his way and he suffered chronic pain since he was a teenager. He still considers himself blessed.]
Well, I hope you find what you are looking for. I will be careful not to disturb them too much. It could affect the flow of the leylines in the water.
[He nods, and stops. There is a long staircase to the gates of the zoo. Time to put Caenis' strict training.]
Shall we?
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[There's not much he can do for little Oak. He's literally a bench now, and will fade more and more over time.]
He'll be happy to spend the rest of his time with her, the Oak and the Sakura. [But they're so childlike, he's not had the heart to bring up that the Oak will eventually fade out. Who knows, they might still have a very long time.]
[Better to not think about that right now, he supposes. They might have decades yet.]
[He'll have to work out the significance of leylines later, right now there's a more practical problem, and he whispers in somber realization-] I don't know if my credit card will work here. [How he has a credit card, or money, or what the Evil Organization does to get money? One can only guess.]
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[There is no need to grieve those who are happy with this, in his opinion. It is only one's own heart that feels heavy. He's silent afterwards, clearly he needs some time to mull over his feelings for those nature spirits.
Oh, and he could hear that whisper. He's not that far to be completely unaduible.]
This is on me. I invited you, didn't I?
[He assures him, searching for his wallet in one of his coat's pockets. He has settled in these...places and has a job to afford the currency. That experience is novel, but if it's possible, he can do it. Perhaps he is a little like that Oak spirit, waiting for the dream to fade.
The line to purchase tickets is short; it only takes a couple of minutes, and Kirschtaria pays for two adults. From a distance, he can hear a rumble, a roar, and other animal noises. But his eyes fall not on the enclosures but on the crowd. Actually, on the animal ears some children and teenage girls are wearing. It looks...
... ]
Hmm. There is only one thing I need to do before we start the tour. Could you wait here for a moment?
[He doesn't say what it is before he takes off to the souvenir shop. Aren't surprises the best?]
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[He doesn't even notice that he's back yet, because now that one child has identified the General is safe to talk to, two little girls have decided to explain all the best places to visit in the zoo and he's just nodding sagely, listening and genuinely taking in all their advice as legitimate. He holds a lot of stock in the wonder of human children. They've proven accurate too often to disregard.]
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May I cut in?
[ He's back, and he looks different. Atop his usually well-groomed blond hair, there is a pair of fluffy white rabbit ears. The right ear is upright, and the left one is drooping above his eye. He hopes that won't block his sight too much. ]
I apologize for leaving like that. [ He says as he lifts the bag he's carrying with the logo of the souvenir shop and offers it to him. Inside the bag, there is another headband with animal ears; panda's to be precise. ] I bought this one for you. I hope you approve of it.
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[Once they're on, he almost immediately forgets that they're there.]
So if they have these then they likely have pandas?
[Dammit, he can't just wait for hours for the perfect moment for a picture. He has to limit his exposure! For the sake of companionship!]
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Like that, he also hopes to make his companion appear more approachable to others. He's noticed that some people seem strangely averse to his presence. Now, Kirschtaria causes a similar effect, but it is more of a cowed sense of admiration to watch him from afar. He's never worn these before. He would like to indulge in this harmless whim.]
I asked the shop clerk, and there is a panda enclosure.
[The young mage figured that would be in his immediate interests. He offers something else this time: a zoo pamphlet with a description of the favorite stops and a map.]
Would you like to go there first?
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But if I take too long you're welcome to roam and come back to find me.
[He has quite the dedication to his craft of finding the perfect panda picture.]
I'll spend less time than usual. [He will spend SIGNIFICANTLY less time than usual. But if he has a chance to get pictures of new pandas from a different place, then he's going to do his very best to capture the indomitable beauty of more than one of these creatures.]
[He's still very intense, but Kirschtaria's thought process was sound because even though he still has an intimidating aura, the presence of an ear headband is enough to make people make a double take at the alien rather than veer pointedly around him. Like they're not sure they're seeing this right.]
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[He only needs to return before it gets too late.] But please remember that other animals might want your appraisal.
[He says as diplomatically as possible. Having a favorite is fine, but wouldn't the others feel slighted? (Not that they are aware of this). Of course, Kirschtaria does not sense anything unusual, but he's the mage who treated that Lostbelt Zeus as a close friend, and his aura would make most kneel. But it'll gladden him that he's replaced some of the unease with confusion.
He unfolds his pamphlet (he brought two) and, after a glimpse at the map, he points to his left. ]
The panda's enclosure is that way.
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[He remembers when he first saw the zoo animals. He'd been appalled to just see humans keeping wild, predatory animals in enclosures- luckily the zoo he went to treats the animals well. Likely this one does too. But he knows that's not always the case.]
I normally don't share my day with anyone. So I'm not particularly experienced with it. [Like something like that would take experience.]
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It is all right. I was aware of all this when I invited you. [He gives a nod of reassurance as he starts walking toward the panda's enclosure path. If anything, this would assist him to practice his people's skills, and to encourage some confidence in this poor man to socialize in the future.] I assure you that your company is very pleasant.
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[He's absurdly formal about all this. Especially for a guy now in a headband. The General is restricted in his availability- he knows he'll likely never see Earth animals in the wild. This is about as good as he can do. He has to stay in range of Headquarters.]
[Maybe this counts as travel, though, however he gets here. Like a warp gate that has much better range.]
[Though he's surprised at the comment his company is pleasant. He glances over, surprise hidden by his heavy bangs. Out of work, that's not expected. His coworkers like him, but as a leader, not as a friend (well, Rooney thinks he's a friend, much against the General's will).]
[Actually, he thinks Kirschtaria might like Rooney better than him if he met him. They have a lot in common... No, no. Don't think of coworkers right now. Don't think of work. Think of pandas. Pandas are the important part.]
[It's easy to forget one's troubles when watching a rolly polly panda child.]
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[Kirschtaria points sincerelly. True, he can appear too stern, but that only supplies greater contrast to his thoughtfulness. Hopefully, he can befriend more people around these liminal places. Even going on adventures in the wild together!
(Hmm, maybe he should advise packing emergency survival tools; it can happen unexpectedly.)
Whether Wodime noticed his surprised expression, he's making no comment about it, eyes flitting around between the enclosures and the people. He's more focused on the crowd, their happiness and wonder, than the animals themselves. At heart, that makes him more content.]
We're almost there.
[He announces as they are about to reach the "Bamboo forest" replica that houses the local panda population of the zoo. ]
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[He very genuinely dislikes being off-putting. But he also has no great urge to surround himself with people, especially people he's going to have to kill. But then there's... It's not a pervasive loneliness, but it is one he feels every once in a while. The rare times he needs a person and doesn't have one.]
[The moment they make it to the 'bamboo forest' area, though, that sense of awe settles in, and he's immediately rapt. Conversation forgotten briefly as he makes his first contact with the devine creatures- lounging specimins gloriously on display, enjoying their bamboo and dispassionately regarding the public in their uniquely carefree way. Much to his luck there's a younger one failing at climbing in a manner he can only describe as 'joyfully incompetent'.]
[What handsome creatures...]
[Every bit of tension in the General seems to have left him. He's like a nervous child given a security blanket. A helpless, bumbling thing has been put before him and he feels nothing but affection for it. Just wait him out, this might take a little while.]
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[He understands setting boundaries. In that sense, Kirschtaria feels this man has a lot in common with Daybit and his aversion to social interaction. He understands why his friend kept his distance, despite not knowing the details; he's aware of his condition as an outsider to the Human Order.
His footsteps halt when they reach the enclosure, falling just a step behind his companion. Initially, he's content to silently appraise the fluffy-looking animals leisurely nibbling bamboo or falling from attempts to climb a tree. His gaze drifts toward the taller man, inwardly chuckling about how mesmerized he looks.
He has no intention to disturb him who is caught in this glorious moment. He didn't exaggerate when he admitted them to his favorite animals.]
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[He tucks away his phone and looks around, expecting Kirschtaria to have wandered off. He's fully forgetting that he's wearing animal ears, so while having children stare at him at the zoo is nothing new, now there's a few adults passing glances his way.]
[When he positively locates him, whether he's gone or still there (which would shock him)-] I took photos of all of them. I'm okay to move on now. [He probably should have taken a video but apparently a ton of photos works more to his interests.]
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Are you leaving without sharing at least a photo with the pandas?
[He lifts his eyebrows while his gaze darts to the man's phone. Even if mages are worse with technology than the average person, that type of device shouldn't pose a challenge.]
I can take a picture for you.
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[But maybe he should, to prove it happened. To have it in a folder somewhere in the depths of his phone.]
[He opens up the camera app, eventually, deciding it's not as if anyone would bother messaging him toda, anyway, and hands to to Kirschtaria, assuming that the 'push the circle to make picture' isn't something he'll have to explain.]
I can try.
[He assumes the position, hands in pockets, not smiling but not ominous. Just, you know, there. With pandas in the background. That seems sensible.]
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He takes two shots. One vertical and one horizontal, thinking he'll appreciate the options. ]
Now we should take one together to commemorate this moment. [ He lowers the phone and steps closer. ] Is that all right? [ A 'selfie' could work, but if their angling fails, perhaps they could ask someone else for their assistance. ]
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[He shoves at the mental reminder of Work Folks to keep them out of his mind, a deliberate, rough shove, before he nods and reaches out to take the phone. He has long arms, he could get a good selfie. Maybe not their full body or anything but it would be a sufficient commemoration.]
Alright, get close to me. I'll take one.
farming the grand duels...will be slow ;;
When the older man agrees, Kirschtaria pauses, glancing in his direction with a slightly widened-eyed expression that he shakes off when he walks even closer. ]
Pardon me.
[ He says before he tentatively reaches with his right arm to encircle his companion's shoulders. They are both very tall; if they don't hunch a tad and stick closer, they might block the pandas from the photo frame. ]
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[Satisfied, he shows Kirschtaria the picture.]
Does that one look decent? Luckily there was a particularly fluffy panda convenient for documenting.
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Oh, and I can see the panda is nibbling bamboo.
[ Kirschtaria nods in approval, flashing a warm, bright smile. ]
I must ask you to send me a copy of this file.
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I normally don't take personal pictures. [He'll take pictures of food and of animals, but never anything his. He's too worried about being compromised.]
I suppose if I had someone to take them with I'd be more inclined to.
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You should start. [He suggests with a small smile.] Many things don't last, as you said earlier. And you should remember it as your moment too. Although a friend's presence does make everything better.
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[He looks back over his shoulder at the pandas. Then back to his phone. He normally exists outside of moments, an observer rather than a participant. Even on his days off, he can't really be a part of a world he's meant to destroy. But this one- he won't need to worry about. His homeworld has no ambitions for a place they don't know exists.]
['Friends' further complicates those feelings.]
Where do you want to go next? [His primary goal has been met. Now he's ready to idly wonder, rather than address feelings.]
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What if we visit the enclosures to our left? We don't need to follow a detailed schedule today.
[ He proposes with a shrug. He's tried to be less structured after his death. (the second one) It helps him to get in touch with his genuine feelings. ]
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[His time off is almost as regimented as his work schedule, except for the days he decides to stay home. But he does walk with him, curious as to what else this zoo has.]