Session Start: Mon Mar 10 00:17:27 2008
Session Ident: #lunar-iog2
<Saki> >> Horam is still bustling with energy this late in their war preparations, though there's a decided tension in the air. There's no sign of Saki on the battlements... but a combination of asking some guards and the yelling leads Trune inexorably to the Horam dojo. There's the sounds of a class just finishing up.
* Trune peers, then slowly heads into the dojo. He looks hesitant, and completely out of his element here.
<Saki> >> About twenty heads turn as one as Trune enters, checking out the newcomer - it's surprisingly good discipline and also kind of scary until you realise that most of them are frightened kids just expecting an enemy attack any minute. Saki, at the head of the class and without any of her armour, huffs in amusement. "... it's alright, I'm got this one. Dismissed, guys."
* Saki takes a few paces over towards Trune and nods as the rest of the class disperse away into corners of the room, chattering amongst each other in nervousness. Some file past Trune in singles or couples. "... hey," she nods, looking in her element.
<Trune> Hey, I'm not completely interrupting, am I?
* Saki shakes her head, and frowns over at the remaining students for a moment; then she turns and motions Trune towards some back rooms.
* Trune follows Saki, "I wouldn't be bothering you otherwise, but I need your help...I think you're the only one who probably can."
* Saki closes a sliding door behind them, and they're in what are clearly her 'chambers' - a couple of connecting rooms, filled with bits and pieces of clutter. No surprise: one of them is a kitchen, and as she steps into it she nods to a low table surrounded by cushions. "... no, it's fine; take a seat. Most of the preparations are done,"her voice comes, obscured as she works in the kitchen, "But some of those kids needed a little confidence."
* Trune sits down, massaging his temples, "A big day is coming tomorrow...everyone's on edge. But...I think we'll make it. We have to."
* Saki makes a noise of assent. "In our defence, there isn't much more we could do in preparation. Perhaps lock that damn kid up," she concludes, in a slightly gruff tone.
<Trune> Don't entirely blame him for what he did. I let my defenses down...if I didn't that might not have happened.
* Saki sticks her head out around the corner, with a skeptical look. Then the rest of her body follows with a tray, containing a teapot and a couple of small cups. She doesn't speak as she sets it and herself down, and pours some out for the both of them. Then she finishes with a sulky, "I wasn't just talking about Mikel."
<Trune> ...Oh.
* Saki grits her teeth for but a moment, then it's gone and she hides the rest of the emotion behind the rim of a cup. "... nn... but you didn't come to ask which resistance leaders I'd like to punch right now. ... what's up?"
* Trune looks like he wants to ask which resistance leader she's referring to, but bites his tongue, "Ryllan told me I should look for you...I take it you've noticed I've been...weirder than usual lately?"
* Saki blinks twice in rapid succession, and her mouth moves a couple of times. "... I. Ah. Not at all," she finishes, in a remarkable show of bad diplomacy.
* Trune can't help but quirk a smile, "Heh, I don't know whether to be insulted or take that as a compliment."
* Saki sighs. "... I'm having to learn how to be nice to people while trying to get them to move, move, move. It's harder than I thought when I can't just run off. ... mm, you have at times. And?"
<Trune> How much did you overhear that night at the mansion? About what's going on in my head?
* Saki grins, and it's a little sad. "... mn. To be honest, very little. Too busy worrying about my own things. Sorry."
* Trune idly taps his fingers against his leg, looking nervous now, "I'll make it really short then. I mentioned a thought virus to the group before, though not a lot about it. It's...code or somesuch that I think was implanted in the elementlors...changed their thoughts n'stuff. Leah was the 9th Elementlor, if you hadn't figured it out. She had the virus and it passed on to me."
* Saki blinks again and then ... seems to focus, watching Trune over the rim of her cup as she takes a sip. "--you say 'code'. A spell? --and before that, what element?"
<Trune> It's not a spell. Goddess, I wish it was a spell, then I could find ways to dispel it. No, it's like...information, implanted in someone's head...and as for an element...I'm not really sure if she had one. Or maybe... I guess a better answer is all of them.
* Saki leans back, then shuffles back a little more as if to scrutinize Trune closely. He gets the kind of glare he's only really seen Rachel do. "... mmm. You don't /look/ different... then?"
<Trune> I don't know...I don't think I look different, do I?
<Trune> I think all the change is going on inside...in my head.
* Saki nods as things click, all seriousness. "... mm. And I'm the expert?"
<Trune> Yeah, because I have these...thoughts. I act and do things that aren't like me at all...alien thoughts. Ryllan says you would know the difference between your own thoughts and something else.
* Saki scoots back up to the table and watches her tea as she swirls her cup, thinking to herself for a silent few moments.
* Trune is quiet now, looking pensive. He hasn't touched his tea at all.
* Saki sighs, and it's a little sad once again. Suddenly all movement she leans back, taking a long draught, then moving to refill the cup. "There's a question I need answered before I can give you any advice at all," she notes, not catching Trune's eyes. "And you might not like giving me the right answer. But it'll go no further than this."
<Trune> I want to stop this...I need to control this, no matter what. Ask what you need to.
* Saki does turn to face Trune - and more specifically, to watch his eyes - as she asks the next question, with a glare straight from Rachel. "Are you being made to do things, or can you just not tell the difference between your thoughts and the code's?"
* Trune 's gaze is unflinching as he answers, "Both."
<Trune> Sometimes I can't tell the difference when I talk about things...and sometimes it goes a little beyond that...like that night at the mansion.
<Trune> Or the fact I knew how to stop that Thunder Spirit when I shouldn't have. Things...like that.
* Saki clicks her tongue, and drums her fingers in irritation for a moment. "... mmm, then... bear in mind I can't help you with being coerced. That's never been the case--" she cocks her head in thought,
"... rather thatn I was never coerced so much as 'forced aside a second'. No control."
<Trune> I'm a little scared it may come to that, eventually. I've had...visions, dreams, I dunno, about this thing. Apparently its kind of like an entity, at least, it has sentience. And based on what we saw with Leah...I guess that's what I fear most.
* Saki huffs out, and nods for a brief moment; "... the only advice I can really give on that side of things is that if it is something you may be able to live with, as opposed to fighting it... if you can bargain, work with it against a common foe, it may be more bearable."
<Trune> Well, I think it really hates Zophar. A lot. So that's good, at least.
* Saki snorts in amusement, and takes a long drink. "... as far as the rest goes... your thoughts don't matter; what you think, what you know are secondary to what you do with them outwardly."
<Trune> So...you're saying...?
* Saki shakes her head, apparently at herself, then turns more... serene. "Everyone's thought something that could be termed 'wrong'. Everyone occasionally has an off urge or a black mood. It's your conscience that decides how you act on it; what makes the difference between a killer and someone having a bad day, perhaps."
<Trune> You're saying I should let my conscience be an indicator, then?
* Saki nods, then pauses, then nods. "... more than that... hasn't it been all along? No-one in the group can honestly say their picture of you is built up from what you think. It's from your actions and statements; those things governed by it."
* Trune nods a little, still thinking about what Saki said in his mind, "My actions, huh?"
* Saki watches Trune think in silence, then cuts in; "... is it a cop-out of an answer? ... mm, perhaps. But it's a fact of life. We can all think what we want."
<Trune> As long as my thinking and actions don't hurt anyone here...
* Saki smirks with odd humour. "If you chose to become a nun, that would still be Trune becoming a nun: he's just acting on a desire he's had. That's how anyone outside of your head sees it."
* Trune stares in disbelief for a moment at the mental image of himself in a nun's habit. He shakes his head, trying to get that mental image out, "Uh...maybe, but that's just it. I know this thing has some sort of desire...mission, whatnot. What if it's desire doesn't mesh with everyone else's?"
* Saki frowns in thought, tapping her fingers. "... mm... that... is more a matter of knowledge, I suppose. But, when it comes down to it we've only one pure desire left: take down Zophar, mm?"
<Trune> Right.
* Saki shrugs after taking another sip. "... and you know it hates Zophar. Mn... not to be rude, but... in the short term at least, we're looking at 'at least not a hindrance'."
<Trune> For now, I guess.
* Saki hisses out a breath. "... mmm... ultimately, we'll have to bank on that 'for now'... er. For now. None of us have the knowledge about it to say otherwise."
<Trune> I'm sorry I can't tell you more about it. There's a lot I don't know yet.
* Saki shakes her head. "Mm, it's fine. It's not... quite my field. My situation was just different enough."
<Trune> I know...Ryllan just suggested I talk to you. I had to try.
* Saki nods, and seems satisfied. "... mn, let it be a little help, at least. Don't worry too much about what's going on inside."
<Trune> I'll...try not to. Thanks, Saki.
* Saki tilts her head. It's possibly a sitting bow. "... and the rest," she says in a voice that doesn't match the position.
<Trune> Oh...sorry. Thanks too, Rachel.
* Saki just nods in acknowledgement, pouring herself a little more tea. There's a sense she's waiting for the penny to drop.
<Trune> ...Hey wait, weren't you two...?
* Trune scritches his head now, "...Huh?"
* Saki splits a grin, then peers inside the teapot. "--tch, she drinks like a fish..."
* Trune looks flabbergasted, "You two are really back together?"
* Saki just gives Trune a look. "--no, I'm hiding behind the door throwing my voice."
* Trune 's shoulders hunch a little and a faint blush appears on his cheeks, "Uh...uh...well, I didn't know it got that...ugh man that was a stupid statement on my part, sorry."
* Saki noticably calms; where Rachel would probably be laughing out loud, Saki just smiles and shakes her head. The change is perceptible. "... mm, it's alright. It's been a hectic few days. We needed to be in top form, after all, so we worked things out."
<Trune> You two must really get along well, or you're really brave. Or both.
* Saki nods. "Both. Mm, we're in denial about parts. Apparently."
* Saki rolls her eyes at herself, then continues. "... but necessity and invention and all that."
<Trune> I guess...still. I dunno if I'm bra...er, if I'd be brave enough to do that.
* Saki tilts her head. "... mm... well, remember our position. It was this or risk Lazarus or... die?" "Scatter into dust," replies Rachel in the same breath. "Metaphysically, too. Nasty."
* Trune 's gaze roots down at his still untouched tea, though he makes no motion to drink it, "Ah, when you put it that way..."
* Saki (or Rachel) crosses her arms, snorts an unamused breath, and leans back. "--you're thinking far too much, besides. So the devil's in your head whispering temptations. Welcome to life, kid."
<Trune> I can't help but think about it...I mean, you /saw/ Leah. She tried to kill us!
* Saki smirks - this time the humour is very dry. "So don't."
<Trune> You're okay with something inside me that could kill us? ...Wow, you're the first.
* Saki grins and shows her teeth. "/I'm/ something inside us that could kill us. So's the crystal, so are any of us if it took our fancy."
* Trune blinks. He can't exactly think of a good comeback for that.
* Saki snorts again, and dips her head. "Hehn! It doesn't matter; just point yourself at Zophar, not us. Simple as that."
<Trune> I hope it is that simple. For everyone's sakes.
* Saki adds airily. "If not, we'll just wipe the floor with you. Especially now."
* Trune bites his lip, nodding, "Heh, guess it is that simple."
* Saki sobers, and then Saki is rubbing her forehead. "... please, ignore the lout."
* Trune nods a little, but says nothing.
* Saki tuts under her breath, then shakes her head as she stands, picking up the tray to take it back to the kitchen. "... she's got the gist of it, though. Just... try to do the right thing."
<Trune> That's my plan.
* Saki returns, sitting back down. "Have you managed to contact Webbly about it?"
<Trune> Yeah...and he doesn't really know much. The elementalors themselves are very evasive about it.
* Saki frowns. "... I could go stand near them until they tell us things."
* Trune smiles, "That would be extremely helpful, yes. Or they'd beat me up. I'm not sure which."
* Saki turns and all but falls backwards, laying out with her hands behind her head. "... mm... we'll have to see after we secure Lazarus, I suppose. Hopefully we can make it a priority."
* Trune nods, "Hope so. Though with the way things are progressing, we may not have a lot of time."
* Saki rakes her head. "... mm, before, after... Zophar won't be the end of the world, after all. ... bad joke intended."
<Trune> No, no he won't. You're right.
* Trune stands up, "I should probably leave you to train the troops, as it were. Thanks for your help, Saki. I appreciate it."
* Saki nods, and then looks quite weary. "... mm, but I've pulled more than my share of weight. First, some rest. ... you're welcome."
<Trune> Yeah, rest...think I'd better do some of that, myself. Tomorrow's gonna be a big day.
* Saki gives Trune a skeptical look. "They're all big days recently," she notes, but then at least has the presence of mind to show him out.
<Trune> Heh, no kidding. Later, Saki.
* Saki nods.
* Trune heads outside at Saki's urging, trying to hide the troubled look now plastered on his face.
<Saki> >> End and all that
Session Close: Mon Mar 10 03:15:17 2008