a herd of cats

[schardynfreude]

Chiron had threatened/promised Rei, after all. He lets it sit for a while, mostly because frantically motions to Acedia and all that entails, but at some point, he invites everyone to dinner at a terribly fancy little inn. The text is...perhaps ominous.

I believe it's time we all talked about the garula in the room.
(and then, when he realizes not everyone has those animals in their worlds:)
The bird in the room? The bird and her twin in the room.
(chiron buddy that doesn't clear anything up)

He seems terribly pleasant to an obnoxious degree at the meal, probably still oscillating wildly betwixt what seem to be disparate personalities, but it's Fine, Don't Worry About It, because he's here to talk about Birdie. And Rei.

The girls do not have to be present. But they are most certainly invited.

He dings his glass like he's about to make a toast, because that's the kind of shithead we're being today. "I think it's time for a little family meeting, hm? To get to the bottom of the stories of our young girls and their tumultuous histories. So that we are, of course, all on the same page, moving forward." He is, of course, talking about Rei and Birdie, whose name is not Birdie, but we'll get to that, probably, and also anyway the nickname has stuck and she has to Deal With It.

Comments

[phantasmagorial]

Perhaps understandably given the vibes of this whole thing, but Rei's been pretty quiet during the proceedings thus far with her head ducked and picking half-heartedly at her food – it's not even a potato dish, which is how you know she's feeling really out of sorts.

At Chiron's words, however, her head shoots up and she looks at him with an expression that's hard to read – but her puzzled concern is clear as day.

"Purgatory... as a whole? What does that mean?"

[schardynfreude]

"Well." He gives a little flick of his hand as though it were obvious. "Birdie is the Authority of all of Purgatory, is she not? If we could but share that power, reshape this entire dreadful pseudo-afterworld to our own will, why...perhaps it not need be set up this way at all."

[emberserker]

"Ah, yes. What you mentioned earlier." Wolfsbane raises her eyebrows. "How you don't like the entire system of moving through your sins, even if it were in working order. Have you come up with a solution, then?"

Not that she likes it either, but... she's been trying not to think of it.

[swordofajerk]

"Like what we've done on a few layers. Have multiple Authorities, so the power is spread and these problems fixed." Sword gets it, and he thinks he likes this idea. "Has anyone with Authority tried to reshape the layer? Is it possible?"

[schardynfreude]

"It sounds as though it ought to be possible. The theory is sound." Chiron flicks an impatient hand. "I've suggested it be a last resort, although I have to wonder if it should be saved for that long. If we truly want to fix the Cogs, if they can be fixed at all."

[emberserker]

"We know we aren't getting a happy ending. We've known the whole time, after all."

Wolfsbane doesn't sound content with this, obviously. She frowns down at her food.

"But tell me, have you come up with an alternative to the current system, if you still want to break it down?"

[schardynfreude]

"I would never dream to make the choice as though I didn't welcome all input. But. Since you asked. I was thinking about it, and...why have a system at all? Why even have all of this? Why have Purgatory?"

[phantasmagorial]

As the line of discussion goes on, Rei looks increasingly bewildered – and increasingly concerned, even if she can't put a finger on exactly what has her so worried.

"W–well, it... it's so people can move on from their sins and go on to their new lives without any lingering regrets." She tries to inject a little certainty into her words, but it falls flat. "It's so we can all start again without any lingering burdens or attachments weighing us down."

[schardynfreude]

"Attachments weigh us down, now?" Chiron frowns at the thought. "Some of us might actually like our attachments, you know. Or did you want to see us all off and be alone entirely, with nothing but you and your other half?"

[phantasmagorial]

Rei shrinks back in her seat a little. Intentionally or otherwise, it's clear he's struck a nerve.

"... I, um..." The way she stumbles over her words makes it even more clear that she hasn't thought that far ahead – or maybe, that she's been making an intentional effort not to. "... th–that's something we can work out once the Cogs are functioning again... isn't it?"

[daughterofthemark]

Veil, who has definitely been here all along, reaches to take Rei's hand. It's a a gesture meant to be comforting, of course. Ideally, then, Rei will understand the spirit in which her following question is intended.

"Is it? When the Cogs begin functioning again, will we be afforded an opportunity to discuss our next steps?"