voice. | seelie locked

[bealright]

I shouldn’t be talking about this. Not with the void, and the mountain collapsing, and all the angry people outside, and all the fighting. [ She sighs softly. No matter how many festivals and feasts there are, the violence and chaos never seems to stop. ]

The last time my Papa went on a trip, he was gone for a whole week. It felt like forever and ever. [ She bites her lip to keep herself from crying. ] Now I’ve been here for a year, and…. and--

I keep on thinking about how Papa would always make breakfast in the morning. And I think about my brother calling me Monster, and me stomping on his foot! And how Kero-chan used to eat all the cake in the house! Or all the times I could always call Tomoyo, and she’d always be there with me.

[ To think that the last time Sakura saw them was so long ago... it hurts, more than anything has hurt her before. ]

We were brought here to protect our court, and I know I should help! I want to help! [ She is, in her own way. Even if she wasn't there to help with the collapse. ] But... I don’t understand. Why are we fighting? Unseelie. Seelie. People without shards. We could help each other get home!

Why do we keep on fighting, when we could help each other?

[She hesitates, worrying that her words may be making people upset. That's the last thing Sakura wants.

There's a long pause before she speaks again. ]

What happens at home while we're here?

Comments

voice;

[detoxifying]

[ Truthfully, it does upset Cullen to hear the girl so distressed. She was still young, and really had no business being in this war.

And the truth was always harsh. ]

We fight... because the two courts have a difference in opinion as to how the world should proceed.

[ As for her other question, he really doesn't know.

(And Maker, he hopes Tarz does not say something horribly... blunt to the poor girl) ]

voice;

[bealright]

But people are getting hurt, Ser Cullen! Just because we don't agree doesn't mean we have to fight.

[ She balls her fist up, chasing away her tears with a flash of passion. ]

Back home, I was fighting a magician once... and it turned out to be a mistake! We didn't understand each other. And the only way we stopped was by talking to each other.

[ It seems so much easier to use words than to use violence. Words can hurt, sure, but violence spills blood and ends lives.

And in regards to her other questions, Sakura just wants an answer. Any answer. ]

voice;

[detoxifying]

In this case, Sakura, we do. [ How does he explain it, without being too harsh? It was never something he was particularly amazing at, but all the same... ] The Seelie Court would see the cycles of worlds continue, would allow this world and all others to end so that life might begin anew. The Unseelie would see the cycle end, but in doing so, preserve the existence of this world and all others, though no life would ever begin again.

[ A sigh. ]

They say this war has been going on for thousands upon thousands of years, and both sides want fundamentally different things. The Seelie fight to protect what will be, while the Unseelie protect what is.

[ Even if Cullen is personally hoping and searching for another way, he dares not say it. ]

More than likely, the time for speaking to one another has long since past.

voice;

[bealright]

I don't want any world's to end -- but I don't want life to end either!

[And that's the conundrum she faces. ]

Aren't they tired after fighting for so long? Wouldn't they want to find another way? [ pause.] Or maybe... maybe I'm just clueless.

[ She's been struggling to even understand the reason for this war, and even though Cullen's illustrated it as clearly and straightforward as Sakura's ever heard it, she still finds it difficult to comprehend. To fight or not fight? Is that all there is? ]

I'll never hurt anyone, no matter what! I only protect people.

audio;

[judicatus]

[ That children continue to be drafted into the ranks of either court — children who know too little of war, too little of loss and grief to be remotely prepared for what this world would ask of them — seems to Gabranth a greater crime than any other.

But he knew of such things when he was a child himself, and while he wasn't quite so young when he saw his homeland sundered, he was young enough that he can't speak of anything less than truth. ]

No war has ever been won, much less put to an end with kind words and peaceful sentiments alone. Such is the way of the world — of this world, surely, and all those beyond it.

audio;

[bealright]

Why does anyone have to win? [ Perhaps what's worse is that Sakura isn't new to the idea of fighting. She's "fought" against magical spirits, in which the cause was more mischief than malice or antipathy. They were battles where all destruction was eventually undone, where no one ever got truly hurt, and where friends were always made in the end. Therefore, Sakura thinks she understands. ] I mean, we don't have to be friends, but... fighting hurts us all! By helping each other, we'll all find a way to be happy. We have to try!

[ She shakes her head emphatically. ]

Not my world!

audio;

[judicatus]

[ Not my world — Gabranth doesn't believe that claim for even a second. Rather than challenge her naivete, though, he sees better use in amending her beliefs. ]

Know that the Unseelie would sooner cut you down than heed such simple platitudes, and with your death, so too will your world know its end. Would you truly chance such a fate for the sake of courting happiness?

audio;

[bealright]

My world will know its end? [ That got her attention. ] What do you mean?

voice;

[babbylon]

[Oh, dear. Another one of those types. The self-sacrificing heroines with bright eyes and even brighter ideals—so bright, in fact, they were blinded by them. She sounds young, but Gilgamesh cannot take pity on her, refuses to.

Even children must learn the way of the world. And such a world, be it this one or any other, was a very cruel place to live in, indeed.]

Your cries fall on deaf ears. This war will wage on, until eternity, no matter how hopefully your heart might sing.

[But he'll do her one kindness, however small, and answer her question.]

Your world is contained within your breast. Within your shard. It is what marks us as valuable to those who rule here.

voice;

[bealright]

[ In a way, that's exactly what Sakura needs. Someone to be brutally honest with her, so that her well-intentioned naivete won't get her hurt, or even killed.

She takes a moment to respond, and when she does, her voice is soft, heedful. ]

Are you from this world, sir?

[ Gilgamesh may not be able to see her, but Sakura's pressed a hand to her chest, against where she imagines that precious shard must be. ]

Hoe? Like a snowglobe?

voice → video;

[babbylon]

[The first question goes unanswered. The second... it takes him a moment or so, but eventuallythe locket feed clicks over to video to show Sakura Gilgamesh's shard glowing from within his chest. Just over his heart, with a hand spread as if he's holding a candle.

In reality, it's much more than that. It's an entire world.]

Your hopes, your dreams, and all your ambitions, left behind in the world away from this one—that's where they're stored. You have not abandoned them, and so it has not abandoned you, at least until the time comes it's thrown away.

[By choice or by force. He leaves that part out, too.]

video;

[bealright]

You mean, like memories? [ Sakura wears her confusion like a badge, eyes wide, fingers still tracing the spot where her shard lies beneath. ] Hopes, dreams, ambitions— isn't all that stuff in our minds?

[ She has a feeling it's not so simple. Tipping her head to the side, Sakura waits for Gilgamesh's answer, already feeling that he's likely to correct her. ]

voice;

[cinnamoned]

There is never a wrong time to try to call for peace. To end conflict. But perhaps not everyone here might prefer to go home. For various reasons.

[There's a sigh as she runs a hand through her short pixie haircut, pursing her lips as she considers how to explain. Sakura is so young, it's no wonder all of this is overwhelming for her. Despite what she may have experienced back home and whatever magic she might have.]

Not that I am one of them, I myself have friends and family back home as well, but that might not be enough to motivate absolutely everyone here, depending on their circumstances back home. Even if working together would be the ideal in helping everyone achieve their goals. Get us home, or at least those that wish to.

voice;

[bealright]

Have the Seelie tried to talk to the Unselie? To the people who don't have Shards?

[ Sakura's trying her best to understand it all. Between trying to understand how anyone could-- could kill someone, to why anyone would want to fight for eternity, it's all a tangle of problems and circumstances that leave Sakura feeling a bit... stupid. ]

But there must be others who don't want to fight, who'd want to find a way home! [ A beat, and hten a little quieter. ] Right?

voice;

[cinnamoned]

I imagine initially they did. Though whether either side would be willing to talk after....everything now, I'm not sure. No reason not to hope, of course. But I certainly wouldn't want to promise or guarantee that would work if we or the monarchs did eventually try arrange negotiations somehow.

[Snow is full or hope and optimism, but that is at least slightly more tempered with realism, or some attempt at it given her experiences. Her age in comparison, as gently as she tries to put this to the other girl.]

I am sure there are others too. But how to find them, especially in the Unseelie right now with things only getting more tense. I'm afraid that would be rather difficult. It's probably easier to try start by us, the Seelie first.

voice;

[bealright]

I don't want anyone's world to end, but I don't want lives to end either! I don't want to fight... but I'm supposed to fight! [ In other words, she's not suited for this world at all. ] What am I supposed to do, Ms. Margaret?

[ However, this influx of new information and understanding, namely in regard to what's contained inside the shards is making her rethink everything. ]

Will we get in trouble if we want to go home?

Video;

[red_branch]

You're well-spoken for a brat.

[She sounded pretty young, anyway. Lancer gave her a shrug, just as he was in the middle of tying up a horse. He was near the Greenwood.]

Kid, the reality of the situation is harsh. Brothers and sister fight one another all the time. Sometimes you can choose your side and sometimes you can't. What's worse is--war is just a constant. There won't ever be a world without it.

However--

[He lifted his hand, gesturing to his mouth to an unseen party. He wanted them all to listen.]

Just because the world is harsh and unfair doesn't mean you have to settle for it. If you want to help, there are people who'll appreciate it. If you want to live doing what you believe in, then don't let a soul tell you otherwise.

I don't know if people'll help you, but you've got my support. Anytime you want help doin' what you feel's right, you can ask me for it.

video;

[bealright]

I'm not a brat! [ She declares with a small pout, as if that helps. ]] And that's not right -- brothers and sisters don't hurt each other.

[ Stepping on her brother's foot doesn't count at all.]

I believe in protecting people and their happiness. And that's what I'll do! [ Sakura's as resolute as she sounds. ] Maybe I can't go home, yet. But while I'm here, I won't fight. No matter what.

[ A beat.]

I'm not Seelie. Or Unseelie. I'm just Sakura.

video;

[red_branch]

[All Lancer could do in response was beam. He agreed and agreed, but he understood what the reality of the situation was. It was always just a little sad that he couldn't just prove Sakura right.]

One day, I hope you'll be proven right. Unfortunately, I'm a big part of your problems. Warriors like me...

[He gave a weak shrug, smiling.]

Well, war isn't my favorite thing. My people had alternatives to it to avoid bloodshed, but our methods still weren't all that wholesome, but--you can say I approve of what you're saying, anyway.

video;

[bealright]

[ To be kind and supportive of her is already more than enough, for it takes very little to improve Sakura's spirits. Even warm words can spark her spirits. ]

Warriors save people too! There's knights, and samurai, police officers, firemen -- all people who risk their lives every day to save people!

[ She smiles back, brightly. ]

Thank you, sir.

video

[psalmed]

[What can she really say to this? But the girl is so young. In need of comfort.]

Because people are the pawns of Kings as surely as Kings are the pawns of God. Sometimes someone in higher authority makes your path for you and you must hope it is for the best.

audio;

[bealright]

What's a pawn? [ She's a bit embarrassed to ask. ]And what if that path makes you do bad things?

audio;

[psalmed]

In chess it is a piece you move to protect the King.

[Easiest way to explain it, if not the most accurate.]

It would depend on where your loyalties lie and what you are willing to pay for your free will.

voice;

[notyetlegend]

[Oh dear. She remembers feeling this when she first came to the Drabwurld. Even back then her focus had been not on her court but other people, considering everything she knew about fae. Merida closes her eyes; the kid doesn't sound that much younger than she'd been either.]

Not everybody shares th' sentiment, lass. [Understatement of the year.] Even over in Unseelie court there are those who would rather fight than start talkin' over tea an' cake.

[She's seen the Void up close now. She wonders what this girl would think of it too.]

We're not just protectin' our court. We're protectin' th' natives, th' fae, those back home...everyone. [Her voice takes on a gentler tone.] It's hard, I know, but I'm sure you're very brave, lass. You should be brave for those you love back home, th' ones you protect in your chest.

voice;

[bealright]

But what if the cake is super tasty? [ She offers an enthusiastic smile. ] I can bake a really good cake -- my father taught me how!

[ Is Sakura being facetious? That's for Merida to discern, though she certainly sounds genuine. ]

I faced the Jabberwhelp, and freed a unicorn from the ice, and broke the harp in my dream! And I want to do more! [ Sakura sounds confident, as she lists her accomplishments, though certainly not proud. And yet, being useful in Drabwurld not enough. Not when worries and anxieties of home have been populating her mind for the last year. ] But... I can't stop thinking about my friends and family. They were in trouble back home, and now that I'm here, I can't help them!