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[blackfire]

// うちは

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XIMILIA

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[blackfire]

（ for now, he is keeping the conversation with degar to himself. he may tell shikamaru — and he has no doubts that blue's insights would be invaluable, but he is cautious before he is conciliatory. ）

Did you get a psychic impression from the Commander?

[firstroar]

[he makes a soft, negative sound.]

He's guarded...mindfully guarded. [like some company here.] Were I to...be one on one with him, perhaps...

[blackfire]

（ as the youths say, get fucked. ）

It is possible an opportunity will present itself later. Although — （ a sidelong glance. ） you should act cautiously. The scope of his power must be impressive to hold the position he does.

[firstroar]

His display in front of the orbs is proof of that, isn't it?

[his eyes finally flick over to him.]

The integration of technology...and whatever magic might be in play...it's something new to me.

[blackfire]

It is possible that was arranged for our benefit rather than it being a true demonstration of his skill.

（ he needs more proof — there was obviously significant time to prepare that wing for their arrival. given the illusion in the sunlight room, a trifling thing such as that would be simple. ）

But if it is such an intersection, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[firstroar]

It behooves the commander...and this system...to be able to solidify everyone's convictions. According to the machine, we remain here only by our own wills, and so the moment our resolve wavers enough...to make us no longer believe in this... We vanish.

[Blue frowns softly.]

And time ticks on. Others come in...to fill in those gaps...

[blackfire]

Have you seen much of that?

（ he's aware that people have vanished, but is not especially troubled in one respect or another so far — this may not be a war, but he is still anticipating casualties. ）

[firstroar]

Syrlyra...

[Blue closes his eyes, bringing the peculiar man's face to mind. he was neither human nor Mu - a rare encounter, even now, given how little mobility he has for interaction.]

He came with us to that castle...and never returned. And...nothing more was said of him. Only the cold speculation of a machine.

[blackfire]

（ he had heard the name — perhaps in passing — but had no face to associate it with. however, given the nature of the sharingan it was easy to recall the faces that accompanied them to the castle and did not return. he cannot guess which of them was syrlyra, but — ）

Were you close enough you would have recognized this shift in resolve?

[firstroar]

No. Our meeting was...too late. We only met in passing, in a dream... [his mouth pulls.] Barely a day before that mission, in fact.

[blackfire]

（ will you fucking stop intruding on people's dreams, blue? will you stop?? ain't you tired???

yet, it doesn't surprise him to learn that blue would be... sorrowful about such a loss. he's a kind man, and he wears his sense of empathy on his sleeve. ）

Perhaps he decided he no longer wished to change his regret. Or that the cost was not worth it.

[firstroar]

[bro this is not an active choice he was IN HIS OWN DREAM AND THIS SALAD-MAN WALKED IN YOU MUCIST...MUSIST...]

Perhaps. But he is not the only one...whose resolve is not so ironclad around regret.

[and nO he's not talking abt other people HE'S TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF AND HE'S STILL HERE. SUBJECTING HIMSELF TO U]

[blackfire]

（ it's bc he's pretty, admit it. ）

No. I imagine not.

（ he is, but once he has set his mind to something he has always, always followed through. no matter the cost, no matter the course. he does not lack for will. ）

But it is a remarkable offer. It is easy to see why people from all walks of life have been drawn here.

[firstroar]

[Blue doesn't respond right away, considering it. considering the company they're keeping here. from Sabriel's doggedness to unravel the mysteries of the orbs to Jim's suspicion of the effect all of this will have...]

There may be a more subconscious aspect to all of this. But speculating on it...may be fruitless.

[blackfire]

Such thinking is never fruitless.

（ even if you are ultimately wrong, exercising the mind can open new avenues of thought. it is imperative, therefore, to think things through and to continue doing so even when all hope seems lost. ）

But let us speak on other things.

[firstroar]

[Blue's eyes open at last and look back to Itachi, expression thoughtful.]

What's on your mind, then? [because he's not looking, like a polite person.]

[blackfire]

（ easier to say what isn't on his mind — itachi has always been a man of deep interiority, who prefers to think rather than speak, to be alone rather than with company. the close quarters of the ximilia make that difficult. he does not feel exactly like a prisoner aboard the ship, yet it resembles a prison regardless — but the weight of that imprisonment is easily borne out alongside resolve.

reality is only ever what you perceive it to be, after all. and he knows more than most how those perceptions can be altered.

but, ah... the question. he hadn't intended that they immediately dive into a targeted discussion on another matter — merely that they let the other lay for now.

he'd rather hoped that blue would provide a topic. ​ ）

Hm.

（ for a handspan of heartbeats that seems like it may be his only answer, that soft, neutral noise. then: ）

What was your favourite of these 'Christmas' traditions?

（ it's an entirely frivolous question. it can't possibly serve a deeper purpose than curiosity — and thus, is rather unusual for him. ）

[firstroar]

[Blue's eyebrows raise a bit because...it just doesn't seem to be anything of note or interest to the person Itachi exudes or intends to be. far be it from Blue to question it.

so he gives it some genuine thought.]

I've managed to experience...a handful of new things. [snowmen, the scenery, a kiss...gosh, Blue's out here having a Hallmark Christmas without the drab lighting!] But what was familiar...was what I think I like the most. The feelings when...everyone sat and ate together...

Perhaps that isn't surprising...coming from an empath. But it's still nice.

[blackfire]

（ it does have an effect, doesn't it? he can only imagine it would be considerably moreso, for a psionic. even itachi is not... unaffected by the goodwill and camaraderie of those assembled, even if he is not strictly one to partake of it. ）

No.

（ it isn't surprising at all. ）

It was thoughtful of people to work so diligently to bring everyone together. Even if not all of us are inclined to celebrate this occasion.

[firstroar]

[Blue gives a gentle nod.]

It's meaningful...that everyone here is willing to grow so close...despite such different worlds, upbringings...goals.

[blackfire]

（ he leans against the window, enjoying the cool touch of the glass. the medication bones has given him has resulted in an abatement of the perpetual fever he runs, and as a result his tolerance of temperature changes has increased considerably. ）

It's human nature to seek out bonds. I suppose the same is likely true for the Mu as well?

[firstroar]

[his mouth pulls on one side.]

Mu are born from mankind; it's only natural.

[blackfire]

As you have said.

（ don't you sass him. ）

I meant more due to the nature of psionic abilities.

[firstroar]

[let him have one, ok??]

Mm, I think...those senses only build on what's already there. What's inherent in both humans and Mu.

[blackfire]

（ his attention tracks to blue's reflection in the glass. ）

What happened in Ganymede?

（ this may seem unrelated, but it isn't exactly — he has understood and put away most things that blue has divulged about the mu, except this. what blue said about ganymede has stayed with him. ）