Watchers - IC [Closed]

[Charlia]

"I don't run away from anything," she said calmly. "Perhaps your 'joy' is something I am missing out on. However, I still see no point in love. An attachment that makes you worry about someone other than yourself, with no guarantee that it would even be returned. Especially in my case," she added sarcastically. "You don't know everything about me."

He looked as her, puzzled. "I never said I knew everything about you. What I do know is that you are going to hurt yourself by trying to be your sister. And you have a very negative view of love as well...Have you ever been in love, Miss Seren?" he inquired, politely.

"No, and thank goodness for that," she said impatiently. "Love is a dangerous disadvantage, and sentiment is a chemical defect found only in the losing side. All emotions, and in particular love, stand opposed to the pure, cold reason I hold above all things. What benefit would it serve me to love?"

[Luminesa]

He looked as her, puzzled. "I never said I knew everything about you. What I do know is that you are going to hurt yourself by trying to be your sister. And you have a very negative view of love as well...Have you ever been in love, Miss Seren?" he inquired, politely.

"No, and thank goodness for that," she said impatiently. "Love is a dangerous disadvantage, and sentiment is a chemical defect found only in the losing side. All emotions, and in particular love, stand opposed to the pure, cold reason I hold above all things. What benefit would it serve me to love?"

"Then you obviously understand neither love nor reason. They are the two things that make a person human, and as much as you would like to think you are a robot who has no need for what you so contemptuously refer to as mere 'sentiment', the goal of reason is not to merely reach for what is in front of you, but for higher things as well. Abstract ideals such as joy, peace, honor, and most of all, love. But love is such a terribly misunderstood word, is it not?...Let's see..."

He walked over to the window and looked outside at the moon and stars. As he stared outside, he spoke very softly, as though he was watching a sacred ceremony taking place in the sky. Yet every word he spoke was clear:

"'Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.'"

He then turned and looked at her again. "Love is not merely the weak, passing feeling you describe it as. It is a way of life, a divine movement in the soul that pushes one towards another for another's good. You say that is not an advantage, but tell me, Miss Seren, when you are going through your life merely for yourself, with your mind constantly fixated on war without peace, are you truly living? Or are you merely surviving, like an animal foraging for food in the winter?" he inquired, more firmly.

[Charlia]

"No, and thank goodness for that," she said impatiently. "Love is a dangerous disadvantage, and sentiment is a chemical defect found only in the losing side. All emotions, and in particular love, stand opposed to the pure, cold reason I hold above all things. What benefit would it serve me to love?"

"Then you obviously understand neither love nor reason. They are the two things that make a person human, and as much as you would like to think you are a robot who has no need for what you so contemptuously refer to as mere 'sentiment', the goal of reason is not to merely reach for what is in front of you, but for higher things as well. Abstract ideals such as joy, peace, honor, and most of all, love. But love is such a terribly misunderstood word, is it not?...Let's see..."

He walked over to the window and looked outside at the moon and stars. As he stared outside, he spoke very softly, as though he was watching a sacred ceremony taking place in the sky. Yet every word he spoke was clear:

"'Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.'"

He then turned and looked at her again. "Love is not merely the weak, passing feeling you describe it as. It is a way of life, a divine movement in the soul that pushes one towards another for another's good. You say that is not an advantage, but tell me, Miss Seren, when you are going through your life merely for yourself, with your mind constantly fixated on war without peace, are you truly living? Or are you merely surviving, like an animal foraging for food in the winter?" he inquired, more firmly.

"I'm not a robot," she said, smiling. "I'm just not a goldfish. And please, leave off with the 'Miss'."

It's irritating beyond words.

[Luminesa]

"Then you obviously understand neither love nor reason. They are the two things that make a person human, and as much as you would like to think you are a robot who has no need for what you so contemptuously refer to as mere 'sentiment', the goal of reason is not to merely reach for what is in front of you, but for higher things as well. Abstract ideals such as joy, peace, honor, and most of all, love. But love is such a terribly misunderstood word, is it not?...Let's see..."

He walked over to the window and looked outside at the moon and stars. As he stared outside, he spoke very softly, as though he was watching a sacred ceremony taking place in the sky. Yet every word he spoke was clear:

"'Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.'"

He then turned and looked at her again. "Love is not merely the weak, passing feeling you describe it as. It is a way of life, a divine movement in the soul that pushes one towards another for another's good. You say that is not an advantage, but tell me, Miss Seren, when you are going through your life merely for yourself, with your mind constantly fixated on war without peace, are you truly living? Or are you merely surviving, like an animal foraging for food in the winter?" he inquired, more firmly.

"I'm not a robot," she said, smiling. "I'm just not a goldfish. And please, leave off with the 'Miss'."

It's irritating beyond words.

He cocked his head to the side, curious. "You don't like me being respectful to you? And the way I see it, you would like to think you are a simple killing machine like your sister, but you aren't. And may I ask what exactly you have against goldfish? They're quaint little creatures, if you ask me," he answered. "But that's slightly besides the point. Did you truly get nothing out of what I just said to you?"

[Charlia]

"I'm not a robot," she said, smiling. "I'm just not a goldfish. And please, leave off with the 'Miss'."

It's irritating beyond words.

He cocked his head to the side, curious. "You don't like me being respectful to you? And the way I see it, you would like to think you are a simple killing machine like your sister, but you aren't. And may I ask what exactly you have against goldfish? They're quaint little creatures, if you ask me," he answered. "But that's slightly besides the point. Did you truly get nothing out of what I just said to you?"

"It's demeaning," she said coldly. "As for goldfish, they might be quaint, but they don't think--they just sit there and blow bubbles. And what I got out of what you just said is that you like reading Shakespeare, but that was an easy enough guess. Was there more to it?"

[Luminesa]

He cocked his head to the side, curious. "You don't like me being respectful to you? And the way I see it, you would like to think you are a simple killing machine like your sister, but you aren't. And may I ask what exactly you have against goldfish? They're quaint little creatures, if you ask me," he answered. "But that's slightly besides the point. Did you truly get nothing out of what I just said to you?"

"It's demeaning," she said coldly. "As for goldfish, they might be quaint, but they don't think--they just sit there and blow bubbles. And what I got out of what you just said is that you like reading Shakespeare, but that was an easy enough guess. Was there more to it?"

"There's a reason I read Shakespeare. Very few writers understood human nature as well as he does, and considering you're essentially thinking of throwing away your humanity for power, I figured it might be good for you to actually consider for once what love actually is, before you do so," he replied.

[Charlia]

"It's demeaning," she said coldly. "As for goldfish, they might be quaint, but they don't think--they just sit there and blow bubbles. And what I got out of what you just said is that you like reading Shakespeare, but that was an easy enough guess. Was there more to it?"

"There's a reason I read Shakespeare. Very few writers understood human nature as well as he does, and considering you're essentially thinking of throwing away your humanity for power, I figured it might be good for you to actually consider for once what love actually is, before you do so," he replied.

She sighed, and smiled. How... amusing.

"Oh, Hashimoto... I do envy you."

More than you, or anyone else, truly knows...

[Luminesa]

"There's a reason I read Shakespeare. Very few writers understood human nature as well as he does, and considering you're essentially thinking of throwing away your humanity for power, I figured it might be good for you to actually consider for once what love actually is, before you do so," he replied.

She sighed, and smiled. How... amusing.

"Oh, Hashimoto... I do envy you."

More than you, or anyone else, truly knows...

He frowned, a little surprised. "...You...envy me?...Why so? I do not see myself as someone to envy..." he muttered.

[Charlia]

She sighed, and smiled. How... amusing.

"Oh, Hashimoto... I do envy you."

More than you, or anyone else, truly knows...

He frowned, a little surprised. "...You...envy me?...Why so? I do not see myself as someone to envy..." he muttered.

"I envy you so much," she said slowly. "Your mind... It's so placid. Straightforward. Barely used..." Her voice trailed off, and then bounced back to vibrancy. She was actually shaking. "Mine's like an engine, racing out of control. A rocket, tearing itself to pieces trapped on the launch pad. I need... I need..." Her eyes were wild. "What is it? The word... I've lost the word! I never lose words! What do I need, oh, this is why I--oh, is that it? OH!"

[Luminesa]

He frowned, a little surprised. "...You...envy me?...Why so? I do not see myself as someone to envy..." he muttered.

"I envy you so much," she said slowly. "Your mind... It's so placid. Straightforward. Barely used..." Her voice trailed off, and then bounced back to vibrancy. She was actually shaking. "Mine's like an engine, racing out of control. A rocket, tearing itself to pieces trapped on the launch pad. I need... I need..." Her eyes were wild. "What is it? The word... I've lost the word! I never lose words! What do I need, oh, this is why I--oh, is that it? OH!"

He sighed sadly. "...You're a young girl, lost in yourself and lost in the world. You've sought some sort of direction for all your boundless energy, and yet you feel at the same time...that you are getting nowhere...I believe the word you are seeking is peace, am I right? Is that what you want?" he asked, kindly.

[Charlia]

"I envy you so much," she said slowly. "Your mind... It's so placid. Straightforward. Barely used..." Her voice trailed off, and then bounced back to vibrancy. She was actually shaking. "Mine's like an engine, racing out of control. A rocket, tearing itself to pieces trapped on the launch pad. I need... I need..." Her eyes were wild. "What is it? The word... I've lost the word! I never lose words! What do I need, oh, this is why I--oh, is that it? OH!"

He sighed sadly. "...You're a young girl, lost in yourself and lost in the world. You've sought some sort of direction for all your boundless energy, and yet you feel at the same time...that you are getting nowhere...I believe the word you are seeking is peace, am I right? Is that what you want?" he asked, kindly.

"Young girl?!" she said in disbelief. "I'm twenty-five! And no, I'm not sure what the word is but I'm pretty sure that's not it! Ugh, what is it?" Her head was pounding, and everything would have been spinning around her had it not been for the sight Liai had given her. "Something so important... and I've forgotten..."

[Luminesa]

He sighed sadly. "...You're a young girl, lost in yourself and lost in the world. You've sought some sort of direction for all your boundless energy, and yet you feel at the same time...that you are getting nowhere...I believe the word you are seeking is peace, am I right? Is that what you want?" he asked, kindly.

"Young girl?!" she said in disbelief. "I'm twenty-five! And no, I'm not sure what the word is but I'm pretty sure that's not it! Ugh, what is it?" Her head was pounding, and everything would have been spinning around her had it not been for the sight Liai had given her. "Something so important... and I've forgotten..."

"I'm sorry, pardon me for sounding condescending...it's just that...well...everyone is young to you, when you're a thousand years old. Anyway, let's try a few more words. 'Acceptance'? 'Respect'? 'Clarity'? 'Wisdom'?" he inquired.

[Charlia]

"Young girl?!" she said in disbelief. "I'm twenty-five! And no, I'm not sure what the word is but I'm pretty sure that's not it! Ugh, what is it?" Her head was pounding, and everything would have been spinning around her had it not been for the sight Liai had given her. "Something so important... and I've forgotten..."

"I'm sorry, pardon me for sounding condescending...it's just that...well...everyone is young to you, when you're a thousand years old. Anyway, let's try a few more words. 'Acceptance'? 'Respect'? 'Clarity'? 'Wisdom'?" he inquired.

"No, no, no, no, no!" she snapped. "Something physical, not abstract! Something I need... to get out of this state... but the word, the image, the thought is just... gone... I hate being like this, so emotional..." She looked up from her frantic pacing, and tears were streaming down her face, a psychotic smile spreading slowly, her normal composure shattered and replaced with swirling emotions. Even the wisps of smoke that obscured her eyes seemed angry.

[Luminesa]

"I'm sorry, pardon me for sounding condescending...it's just that...well...everyone is young to you, when you're a thousand years old. Anyway, let's try a few more words. 'Acceptance'? 'Respect'? 'Clarity'? 'Wisdom'?" he inquired.

"No, no, no, no, no!" she snapped. "Something physical, not abstract! Something I need... to get out of this state... but the word, the image, the thought is just... gone... I hate being like this, so emotional..." She looked up from her frantic pacing, and tears were streaming down her face, a psychotic smile spreading slowly, her normal composure shattered and replaced with swirling emotions. Even the wisps of smoke that obscured her eyes seemed angry.

He watched her pace around the room, trying to think of something to calm her down. "...Hmmm...something physical?...Some sort of...medicine, maybe?" he questioned.

[Charlia]

"No, no, no, no, no!" she snapped. "Something physical, not abstract! Something I need... to get out of this state... but the word, the image, the thought is just... gone... I hate being like this, so emotional..." She looked up from her frantic pacing, and tears were streaming down her face, a psychotic smile spreading slowly, her normal composure shattered and replaced with swirling emotions. Even the wisps of smoke that obscured her eyes seemed angry.

He watched her pace around the room, trying to think of something to calm her down. "...Hmmm...something physical?...Some sort of...medicine, maybe?" he questioned.

Her eyes lit up. "That's it! Oh, that's brilliant, that's exactly what it is..." She fiddled in her pocket frantically, finally taking something out and popping it into her mouth, closing her eyes and waiting for the emotions and tremors to subside.

...Much better.

[Luminesa]

He watched her pace around the room, trying to think of something to calm her down. "...Hmmm...something physical?...Some sort of...medicine, maybe?" he questioned.

Her eyes lit up. "That's it! Oh, that's brilliant, that's exactly what it is..." She fiddled in her pocket frantically, finally taking something out and popping it into her mouth, closing her eyes and waiting for the emotions and tremors to subside.

...Much better.

Curious, he walked over to her and held out a hand. "May I see what exactly that is?" he asked.

[Charlia]

Her eyes lit up. "That's it! Oh, that's brilliant, that's exactly what it is..." She fiddled in her pocket frantically, finally taking something out and popping it into her mouth, closing her eyes and waiting for the emotions and tremors to subside.

...Much better.

Curious, he walked over to her and held out a hand. "May I see what exactly that is?" he asked.

She stared at him calmly, and allowed him to see.

So curious and concerned. How... strangely gratifying.

[Luminesa]

Curious, he walked over to her and held out a hand. "May I see what exactly that is?" he asked.

She stared at him calmly, and allowed him to see.

So curious and concerned. How... strangely gratifying.

He looked at the tiny bottle and read the name. "...Lithate?...Hm...So this is what keeps you calm, Miss Seren?" he inquired.

[Charlia]

She stared at him calmly, and allowed him to see.

So curious and concerned. How... strangely gratifying.

He looked at the tiny bottle and read the name. "...Lithate?...Hm...So this is what keeps you calm, Miss Seren?" he inquired.

"A combination of things," she said calmly, "but that does play a part. Is your curiosity satisfied now?"

She quirked an eyebrow at the white-haired man. "Or is there anything else you want to ask me?"

[Luminesa]

He looked at the tiny bottle and read the name. "...Lithate?...Hm...So this is what keeps you calm, Miss Seren?" he inquired.

"A combination of things," she said calmly, "but that does play a part. Is your curiosity satisfied now?"

She quirked an eyebrow at the white-haired man. "Or is there anything else you want to ask me?"

"Well, what else keeps you calm?" he asked, rather unsettled by how quickly she calmed down. Whatever she is taking, it's certainly strong...

[Charlia]

"A combination of things," she said calmly, "but that does play a part. Is your curiosity satisfied now?"

She quirked an eyebrow at the white-haired man. "Or is there anything else you want to ask me?"

"Well, what else keeps you calm?" he asked, rather unsettled by how quickly she calmed down. Whatever she is taking, it's certainly strong...

"Mental control," she said coolly. "It's quite useful, really. I do wish the lithium didn't wear off quite so quickly, though, it's quite inconvenient when it wears off in the middle of a case."

Like that one time with the cabbie. That was quite inconvenient.

[Luminesa]

"Well, what else keeps you calm?" he asked, rather unsettled by how quickly she calmed down. Whatever she is taking, it's certainly strong...

"Mental control," she said coolly. "It's quite useful, really. I do wish the lithium didn't wear off quite so quickly, though, it's quite inconvenient when it wears off in the middle of a case."

Like that one time with the cabbie. That was quite inconvenient.

"'Mental control'? What exactly do you mean by that? Do you force yourself to be calm, as well?" he inquired, slightly concerned.

[Charlia]

"Mental control," she said coolly. "It's quite useful, really. I do wish the lithium didn't wear off quite so quickly, though, it's quite inconvenient when it wears off in the middle of a case."

Like that one time with the cabbie. That was quite inconvenient.

"'Mental control'? What exactly do you mean by that? Do you force yourself to be calm, as well?" he inquired, slightly concerned.

"It's hardly forced," she said scornfully. "I simply lock my emotions up in the back of my mind palace--it's a mental technique, I've spent years perfecting it--and that's that. No more emotional outbursts or episodes of uncontrollable feelings. Simple as that."

[Luminesa]

"'Mental control'? What exactly do you mean by that? Do you force yourself to be calm, as well?" he inquired, slightly concerned.

"It's hardly forced," she said scornfully. "I simply lock my emotions up in the back of my mind palace--it's a mental technique, I've spent years perfecting it--and that's that. No more emotional outbursts or episodes of uncontrollable feelings. Simple as that."

"...I suppose that is similar to what I used to do...but doing that for a long time is also very unhealthy, you should know," he told her.

[Charlia]

"It's hardly forced," she said scornfully. "I simply lock my emotions up in the back of my mind palace--it's a mental technique, I've spent years perfecting it--and that's that. No more emotional outbursts or episodes of uncontrollable feelings. Simple as that."

"...I suppose that is similar to what I used to do...but doing that for a long time is also very unhealthy, you should know," he told her.

"No more so than killing children," she said, smiling thinly and glancing at Melody.

She had read the fact before she had been shot.

Melody Seren, unsurprisingly, was a murderer.