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[ When she says it, that’s enough that he can’t help how his expression softens into a sympathetic smile as he nods. ]

I do. Or, I think so. At least for me, it’s missing someone dearly, but also, this place is terrible. Having anyone you care for here also means they’ll be hurt.

[ The person he thinks of most in this case is Vivian, but he goes for a different example. It’s a little more relatable. ]

A dear friend of mine also… Left? Disappeared? Whatever we want to call it. [ “Kidnapped”, he thinks, but. ] Not a best friend, so I won’t assume it’s the same, but I think I understand how you feel. A little.

[ kidnapped, but she doesn't want to say so either. saying he just swam away is good enough. better, in her opinion, as if it were his choice to chase inspiration elsewhere; worse, in her opinion, as if everything he had here was so easy to abandon. ]

I think I'd beat him up if I saw his stupid face again. [ her always melds into anger, though. ] It's okay if you don't fully, the world I come from... doesn't really let you have time to do things like mourn or anything like that, so I don't really know how to process it well either.

[ so it ends up a little twisted, in a way. stifled and awkward and unspeakable. ]

And I don't want to worry my friends, but I've ended up doing that anyway.

[ The threat is unexpected, so Hugo laughs easily and openly. ]

Ah, now that is scary. Just based on how you valiantly rescued me, I’m sure you pack quite the punch!

[ He’s playfully teasing, but also? No, he’s pretty sure that’s true… Hopefully if he returns, Rafayel is at least prepared for some bruises at the very least, by the sounds of it. As for the rest, his smile softens again as he stops teasing. ]

Mm… Well, I can at least tell you that even from places where we do have a little more time, it’s never straightforward, admittedly. But art—or in this case, art appreciation—is certainly one way. It’s one I tend towards, unsurprisingly.

[ And essentially pleased with his idea for the layout, his attention shifts from the paintings to her instead as he gives an encouraging smile. ]

So, you’re welcome at the gallery any time. To see the artwork, naturally, but it’s also a nice, quiet place to work on your own art if you’d like.

Hugo...

[ it's obvious she's touched, looking at him and then to the layout he'd decided on best to exhibit. just for something else to look at really. yesod and her had spoken about it too, and-- she can't fully deny that her fingers itch to do something, but when she lifts a pencil it feels so, so heavy.

it's a kind offer though. and it does mean a lot to malkuth, playing with a lock of her long hair before she gives in with a sigh, smile thankful. ]

I don't know if I'll be able to anytime soon, [ she can be honest with that, ] but I'm sure I'll be around there in time. Not just to look, but to work on my own things.

[ because rafayel'd tut over her otherwise too, since he'd so graciously taken her on as his student. even if it feels hard right now... it'll get easier as long as she allows herself some outlet. besides, it'd be a waste of his gift if she didn't end up using it. ]

Can I do anything to thank you? I know you might not feel like you've done a lot, but you really have.

[ It’s nice to hear that tone in her voice. And honestly, even before she asks, he thinks that’s plenty for him. As difficult as things can be here, anything he can do to bring someone a little levity or peace is well worth the effort. ]

Then whenever you’re ready, it’ll be open to you. [ That’s gentle and warm, but he’s quick to brighten his voice playfully. ] Of course there’s no pressure, since that’s no fun for art, right? I am very anti-deadline~.

[ He laughs a little as he steps forward again to start to collect the pieces, clearly putting them in a sort of order that has to do with how they’re laid out. It’ll be easier to remember his idea for the wall this way. ]

Would you accept that I’m just glad to have helped?

[ He’s still light, since he assumes not! But also, as he briefly considers what he could ask for, a better question occurs to him. ]

Actually, now that I think about it, I’m not even sure what I would ask for. We’ve talked so much about art and hobbies that I’m not sure about other things… What did you do back home?

[ it seems most artists are, which is probably why this is a hobby for her and not a lifestyle; it's hard to get over the need for one, since she works better with a set goal in mind (including dates), but it clearly doesn't surprise her to hear.

but the question does, and her head tilts as she thinks. hmm... mmm. ]

... I guess I can't say I was just a librarian back home anymore, huh?

[ not when she can fend off attacks the way she does, with an odd ability to boot. malkuth sits on the bed once it's clear, hands folding over her skirt. ]

I was the Patron Librarian for the Floor of History back home, which simply means that I was in charge of collecting, keeping, and structuring a timeline of events using any and all books with historical value. [ a small wave of her hand, resigned. ] A lot of times it was pretty useless to do though, since it'd be war, infighting, the fall of a Wing or Syndicate, punctured with gaps of time that'd probably mean some kind of peace or intended lost history. But we didn't exactly work like the libraries do here, which is where my experience in fighting comes from.

[ Honestly, he’s not sure what he expected Malkuth to do, though that’s at least partially because he’s also learned at this point that it’s hard to predict… Augmented are so varied in their skills that, to him, are quite fantastical that anything is possible. And indeed, that’s exactly what he gets. Or, mostly. ]

Aha, a librarian? That part I at least understand, and that’s very charming!

[ …He has no idea about the rest of it, though. At least answers to this question are never boring, to be sure. ]

Though, you’re right, I wouldn’t know librarians to be fighters. Not even the librarians that work close to the Cretan Hollow… [ That part is mostly idle to himself, and he brings his hand to his chin thoughtfully. ] Was there something that didn’t want you to make that timeline?

The City itself. There's all kinds of secrets and such that're kept under wraps, pretty securely too -- but it's more that it's hard to tell when one era starts and where it ends. There's not even proper documentation on its initial construction... that came into my hands, anyway.

[ they're probably destroyed or kept under lock and key by the head. a city doesn't just pop out of nowhere with the ruins of something else just outside, especially not with the kind of technological advances that've been made with the singularities discovered... ]

It was just busywork in the end. Our main goal was collecting Light, which was released improperly prior to my tenure as one of the Patron Librarians of The Library.

[ It’s still a little beyond him, but just at the name, he wonders… Nothing she mentions rings a bell for things that Dante or Gregor have talked about, but in a general impression? He figures it’s worth asking. ]

Ah, when you say “the City”, that’s its name, right?

[ He thinks so from her tone, but. ]

Is it the same one that Dante and Gregor are from, if you know them?

One and the same! But it's a very, very big city, so we didn't know each other prior to meeting here either. Yesod, my roommate and friend, is from there too -- he was the Patron Librarian of Technological Sciences.

[ so a neat little group. ]

For size comparison, Karteria would be what you'd expect one District to be. That includes the Nest and Backstreets, which are divided by class.

[ His expression brightens a little in recognition, and he laughs as he nods. ]

Of course. I actually have a similar situation myself where someone from New Eridu also got brought here recently, but I’ve similarly never met him before. I only know him because he’s, well, a bit of a celebrity?

[ The question in his tone is because he’s not sure how to explain that succinctly… Most people would probably imagine a singer, an actor, or something like that, but no. Section 6 are closer to superheroes, he guesses? But, anyways: ]

Regardless, I was curious because that makes sense in the sense that I have a hard time imagining what your home is like! Any time I’ve talked to the two of them about it, I’m similarly drawing blanks when I try and picture it in my mind’s eye, you know? The City sounds complicated, to put it lightly.

[ And after a pause of consideration, he adds gently: ]

Difficult, also. Even if I can't picture it well, I can see why it doesn't give you time to do things like mourn.

It's a pretty "fast-paced" place to live for everyone.

[ and it isn't surprising that it's near impossible to imagine; if she hadn't lived there, hadn't seen it from the outside in so many ways, she'd agree. ]

What's New Eridu like? You mentioned before about the places lost when we talked about architecture, but I'm curious how that coincides with your scythe skills.

Very ordinary by comparison, I think.

[ He laughs a little, because it sounds like a joke even to him, considering his scythe… He really hadn’t thought about it that way at all until he’d started to learn more about where others come from, and, well… ]

Day to day, it’s a very urban, modern city. It’s a metropolis of millions, and it has all sorts of people. Like, most of the Augmented wouldn’t get anyone to bat an eye, since people with animal traits are perfectly normal. We just call them Thiren, and they’re born that way, naturally. Technology is also much more advanced than anything here, but—

[ As he explains, he pulls out his Syntrofos and clearly starts to scroll through images. Once he finds the set, he nods to her bed and asks “may I?” to sit next to her and show them, but if that’s a no, he’ll just slightly awkwardly hold it out.

(He could hand it to her, sure, but the completely true reason that he isn’t is because there are nudes on his phone too,,,)

The photos he shows are of his own sketches, but it shows strange scenery. A void eating a skyline. Its scale in the modern city. The vivid, prismatic colors surrounding these bubbles. ]

—It’s out of necessity. Those are Hollows, and they’ve swallowed the rest of the world minus New Eridu. Entering them is practically a death sentence either by creatures that roam them called Ethereals or by staying too long and turning into one yourself. So… You need to be quite skilled in fighting them off if you want to traverse the Hollows.

[ no, of course he can sit next to her, she doesn't mind at all with a pat of her hand. just don't mind her slight lean to look at the non-nude pictures, though she'd admire those too given the chance.

truthfully, it's beautiful in a destructive way. the colors are remarkable. how they highlight, contrast, darken the void beside them and what lies within; as if they were being twisted and blurred the way water does in a cup at eye level. that sort of "mirage". so this is what swallows the world and leaves nothing but bleak monochrome in its wake. what hugo picked up artistry for, to keep the original appearance of these places full of memories alive. ]

Well, that's definitely something The City doesn't have, though I do wonder how The Head would tackle it. So when you were attacking me, you "saw" me as one of the Ethereals?

[ heavy looseness on the "saw" ]

[ Just from her expression, he can see that she also appreciates them in a similar way. The horror of them is probably too abstract, especially when he’s showing them in this kind of light, but that’s fine. It’s their strange beauty and just how present they are in life in New Eridu that he’d wanted to highlight through these drawings. He’d drawn them because he wanted a vision and reminder of home, and there are few places in the city that wouldn’t include a view of a Hollow. ]

Well, if you have any ideas, do let me know~. If we go back [ which he doubts, but, ] then it could almost be worth all of this for a way to drive back the Hollows. Not that it’s my job, mind you, but I could pass it along.

[ He just truly doesn’t have the self-sacrificial streak that’s necessary to work for HANDS… Which. He shakes his head to her question as his expression falls a little. He clearly still feels bad about the whole situation, but that’s hardly surprising. ]

…But no, I didn’t. That’s for the best, I think, even though being piloted by a puppet wasn’t pleasant. It’d be worse if I came “to” and discovered that the monster I thought I was fighting was actually a friend.

[ frankly, she is already thinking of angles to solve the hollow crisis because that's just who she is -- just as she's thinking of ways to heal takasugi from that which ails him, since disease can be eradicated with enough inorganic parts. though, she doesn't know how he'd feel about it. ]

Tell me about it. It's not a great feeling at all, from someone who's got a few experiences under her belt.

[ not just here, put against rinne back in october, but back home too... malkuth stares at the collected pieces on the side, a question in her mouth that she swallows in favor of something else. ]

Do you think we can go back? And if we do, do you think these souls will come with us? I personally don't mind, but I know not everyone feels the same -- especially those that've died because of them.

[ Hugo makes a discontent little noise as he closes his Syntrofos, since obviously, he doesn’t like to hear that!! He’d found the experience bad enough, but as someone who tends to put more care towards others than himself, it bothers him to hear that she understands. It’s not surprising, since he sincerely doubted that was Patho-Gen’s first time trying something like that at this point, but. He also gets the impression that it’s not just here that she’s referring to.

He opens his mouth to ask, but she beats him. His question becomes a little “ah” instead. There’s a temptation to lie (there always is), but Malkuth seems to have a good head on her shoulders… He doesn’t think she’s the sort where a comforting lie would be the kinder thing. Sitting next to each other like this, his answer is almost physical as his posture softens. ]

…Maybe it’s possible. I’ve heard a few things that at least make me think it’s theoretically doable that we could go back, but…

[ He thumbs over his phone idly as he glances down at it instead. He’s still smiling, but it’s more somber. ]

I also think what’s done is done. Even if we pried these Souls out, it doesn’t make sense to me that it would undo what changes we’ve gone through. That’d be difficult for plenty of people, I’m sure.

[ He thinks of Heinrix first. Just from what he’s explained, Hugo is sure that staying here would be the far better choice, and he’s also sure that it’s not the choice Heinrix would make. That dutiful idiot would march right back home to his execution, and he feels like there’s plenty of others that would fall into that category.

People like him, though.

He pauses for a moment, since he doesn’t like to say it, obviously. But he shakes his head. ]

So, you can’t undo death. I’ve personally been under the assumption that Karteria is my home now.

[ ...

dante might not be able to return, then. when they're needed by the people that rely on them. malkuth lowers her head a little in thought, playing with a lock of her hair. death... is, and isn't permanent in the city, but-- it's better for it to be, since the alternative hasn't ended well for anyone. ]

I've been thinking lately about how much I enjoy what I do here. Walking the streets, helping who I can, managing an idol group... Eating fresh bread and sitting by the docks, watching the sea.

[ small, simple things. nothing terribly grand. ]

It might sound odd, but I've never been able to do anything like that before. The sea was too far from each place I stayed, a leisurely walk through my Nest was nothing short of sneer-worthy, idols as a cultural phenomenon don't exist in The City -- and helping others was what I always wanted to do, but the effects weren't tangible the way they are here. It was more like planting a seed and knowing I'd never see the fruits that'd grow from the tree as it rose.

[ but she doesn't seem sad about that fact, it just is what it is. an acceptance that she wouldn't see the end result of something she had a hand in. it was something they all knew back then, and had since understood and accepted again in their new lives. the future doesn't belong to the dead. ]

But I do have to return. There's still things I need to see through, so while I'm glad my soul doesn't require it... I'm also a little jealous. I hate that you don't get the choice, but I don't think I'd be upset if I wasn't allowed it.

[ It’s a depressing answer, and he knows it. It’s why he keeps his eyes down, since even if he feels like telling the truth was the right thing to do, it still really brings down the mood. He really doesn’t like to be so melancholy and serious, so before she answers, he’s thinking about how they could possibly segue to a better topic. Thankfully, it’s not necessary with her response.

He looks up again and listens attentively as she speaks, and it’s first met with a soft, gentle smile as she describes those simple pleasures. Well, maybe not all simple, because he can’t imagine that word could describe managing someone like Takasugi… But it’s all still nice things. ]

It’s not odd at all. I actually understand it fairly well, since there was a time in my life where my circumstances were very restrictive too.

[ He feels the need to say that first, even if he doesn’t elaborate on what he means by “restrictive.” That’s a worse topic than death and returning home, ironically, so he’s not exactly inclined to share details. But much like how he’d decided to open up to Gregor, it’s not the specifics of what came before that matter so much. It’s the feeling of freedom after, because it’s something that very few people that Hugo have met understand. ]

Maybe you and I could switch~?

[ He jokes first, but obviously, it doesn’t work that way… ]

Well, that’s if it’s possible, of course. Who knows? Maybe this is home for all of us now. Honestly, minus Patho-Gen’s interference in things, it’s really not a bad one.

[ of course she's curious and wants to know his own circumstances then, but she won't push. not that the people she's come to know open up all that easily... but it's fine. things come out one way or another, and it isn't as if she's forthcoming about certain parts of her life even to those she knows now.

the joke makes her smile a little, though-- he's right too. that it might be home for all of them now like it or not. too bad for mr "rat" silco. ]

It really isn't! It doesn't have the things my boys are used to, but that just means they can be reinvented. I like this place a lot.

[ it just feels like abandoning her cause all the same, even if she hasn't a say in it. she never does. ]

... I wonder if they'd stay too. I don't think I can ask them, [ takasugi's living beyond his years now anyway, ] but I promised to make those three idols renowned the world over. Just Karteria isn't enough for me. So... I might take you up on that trade if we can. My life for yours, for whatever it counts.

[ “Her boys”… That’s cute, and his thoughts are clear on his face just with how the corners of his eyes lift into more of a smile. He really does need to make it to one of their shows one of these days, since even if idols and idol culture aren’t really his thing, he’s at least a little charmed by proxy. Between Malkuth and Sariel, the dedication is very cute!

He laughs as he shakes his head, complete with waving his hand to accentuate his words, but he’s still clearly joking around. ]

Oof, don’t put it that way! Phrased like that, it makes me sound like a truly spooky Spectral that will steal your soul~.

[ He’s not that kind of Spectral!* So, it’s easy to laugh it off, especially since this is a fun topic.

*to his fellow Augmented ]

At least as long as they’re here, that’s fun ambition, I think! Having something not dreary to do day-to-day is so important, I swear… And I really only know Takasugi, but I can only imagine that it’s never boring trying to see that promise become reality. They don’t work you too hard, do they?

No, no, not at all. I work myself too hard for them.

[ but this is always a topic that brings a genuine, warm smile to her face no matter how terrible she'd felt before, resting back on her hands. ]

They could ask for anything in the world and I'd find a way to give it to them. I even made sure they were the first Augmented to star on the Peacock's stage -- with Patho-Gen's help, since they were in their PR recovery period, [ yes she took advantage of it, ] but still. Everything they've accomplished is by their own merit, and I couldn't be happier helping them shine best.

[ no matter how many commitments it might make her take on. no matter how hard she has to work. no matter who she has to bow her head to, shake hands with, as long as it benefits 3kon in the end.

her voice grows softer, fondness in every note. ]

... They saved me, after all. Time and time again. But I've pushed myself so much that lazy boss of ours is actually stepping up to do some of the boring work he usually lets me handle. [ a huff. ] They're all good men, even if two of them act like fools.

[ Her deep care for them is obvious, and he can’t help but smile warmly too. ]

Then I’ll revise my statement slightly. Don’t overwork yourself too badly for them~.

[ He says it with a playful wink, but from the tone of his voice, it’s very clear that this is something that he completely understands, one workaholic to another. It’s easy to be when you’re working for others, in his experience. He may not have an equivalent here, but he’d poured all of himself into Mockingbird for a reason.

So, as she explains further, he does wonder if that saving is figurative or literal. Perhaps both. There’s more reasons to need that sort of camaraderie than normal here, isn’t there?

Regardless. His overall conclusion is easy, so he says it with gentle, sincere warmth. ]

They’re very lucky to have you. I hope they realize that and dote on you often.

[ He may not know Niki or Rinne, but if Takasugi is ever mean to her, then he better watch out!! ]

[ from one workaholic to another... she really appreciates the understanding. it's so easy to lose oneself in their work, especially if it's fun or something they love, and it's both for her -- the doting comment makes her snort a little though, shaking her head. ]

I don't think I'd know if I was being doted on if someone told me to my face I was. But I think they know they're lucky, even if I didn't really agree... Logistically speaking, anyone can do what I do. The difference is that I love them so much no one else could persist as much as I do.

[ this is something she fully believes, right or wrong. a 3kon managed by anyone else doesn't exist in her mind; it'd look so startlingly different than what they look like now, it just-- wouldn't feel right, to her. but that's because she doesn't know anything else but what she does too. ]

Sorry, I'm prattling on now. I could live here without them if they really felt the need to leave or wanted to, but I'd probably go off into the woods again for a little while.

[ Hugo’s eyebrows raise in surprise about the doting, but there’s also a small twinkle of good-natured mischief in his eyes. Duly noted! If they’re not the types, then Hugo certainly is, and he loves to spoil people he likes. He’ll just have to figure out the best way to do it… But when she apologizes, he soothes the worry with another laugh and a wave of his hand. ]

No, no, not prattling at all. Or, if you are, then I’m enjoying it.

[ He loves talking to people, and truly. One workaholic to another, this has been a good way to get out of his gallery for a while rather than drowning any brooding he might otherwise be inclined towards in work. ]

I’ll just hope for you that it’s not a necessary worry. You clearly love it and them, so it’d be a shame in multiple ways for any parting. [ But rather than focus on that sad subject, he’s quick to follow: ] The woods, though? Is that where your Soul likes to go, I’m guessing?

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