My heart will be the judge.

My joining of the organization wasn't that long ago, actually. The sights have certainly been interesting, though I've seldom left the landship.

Siesta is probably my best answer to this question, though the history behind that nomadic city is uncomfortable, to say the least. It's a tourist spot, though, so perhaps this answer rings somewhat hollow. It's practically designed to be enjoyed.

I didn't spend too much with the people there. Largely, my time was spent with my colleagues the last time I was there—and before that, solely with mi maestro and his colleagues at the time. The only one from there that I know about as much as the Mayor of Siesta is his daughter, Doctor Doykos, a fellow Liberi, now assistant researcher to Doctor Kal'tsit. There's also Operator Shwarz who seems to shadow her, but I know even less about her, and I don't actually think she's from Siesta. Very strange woman, possibly an alcoholic. I met her briefly when meeting the other instructors aboard the Rhodes Island, but she's a sharpshooter so we had little overlap.

that’s fucked. i like machines to be machines thank you very much, even if they’re machines for magic. miss me with anything more convoluted than that. how many lost civilizations is your planet rocking anyways you keep gesturing pretty cryptically to the past so i’ll take the bait i guess

i mean you can open requests for information with shit like “would you be comfortable telling me about X” and as long as it’s clear that part is genuine you’re usually fine unless you’re somehow asking just THE MOST insensitive shit ever and you don’t do it super often.

well it’s a long story on that one. you see, i wanted to be good with measurements

I imagine you would be very frustrated with many of the things aboard this landship. Not understanding something doesn’t prevent people from using things on here quite often. The sheer amount of security risks I have come to known since boarding is staggering. Also, my apologies if I seem to be repeating myself too often, I didn’t mean to “bait” out a question. Our world is formed above countless civilizations that we know next to nothing about besides some of the tools and weapons they left behind. It’s a fact of life, and mentioning them was relevant to the conversation about my handcannon, that’s all.

You’re right, I can’t deny any of that. I suppose I should... befriend them first, before asking personal questions like that, even if it’s just innocent curiosity. There’s an etiquette about these things, no?

you meant literally

i hope they are not actively antagonistic

that sounds very stressful

i have no practiced skill

no desire to cultivate

i was not born to harm

the reliance i understand

my girlfriend is the same

admirably

she works very hard 

but often to her detriment

remember

no lesser than the importance of them

is the importance of you

Oh, they’re certainly not my enemies. I’ve never fought Captain Gladiia, in all fairness, and I only fought Skadi because of severe miscommunication... and my own prejudices at the time. We are firmly allies, and the last line of defense against a great enemy.

I’m, admittedly, quite jealous of the power of the Abyssal Hunters. My desire to cultivate my skill is quite large.

Hey, I don’t think half the people I met could, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing it anyway if that’s really what you want for your life - goes for anything all the same, really - she was a real saint, except she didn’t go to church much so I don’t think they’d canonize her if she’s not already on the books. My kid brother, Francis, he’s trying to be a priest or something and he tells me that’s how it works, you gotta sign up before they put your name in lights.

Sarcasm? Hey, c'mon, we just met, I can’t bust your chops like that, kid, I’ll hurt your feelings and that won’t be good for either of us, you know what I mean? I’m not trying to make enemies here, I’m a nice fella - or at least folks tell me I am, anyway - so I try to keep my best foot forward. I’m real lucky I got two of ‘em. You dance at all? I love dancing, but I’ve got kind of a goofy step to most of 'em, never learned how to do it properly but I’d rather have a good time than a proper time, I think. Sometimes, anyway. You’re government too, huh? I keep meeting more and more of you folks, makes me worry if I paid my taxes or not, haha!

I don’t have a lick of a clue what LMD is but if somebody uses it for currency I can probably find somebody else that’ll take it, sure, what’s it backed by? We got a gold standard here, big reserves in Iebrium, they tell us, you’d have to sink the fleet twice over to gut that vault, and that’s a pretty big fleet, I tell ya.

Yeah? Lonesome? You got any liminal spaces, curiously portal-like passageways, rogue mages, sanctioned mages, rune-engraved stones (I think they gotta be specific ones though, I’m not one of those magic types so I don’t know for sure), or eerily calm bodies of water on that island? We could make one of those work, I think, I know a guy that might still be awake. You like wine? I got a bottle here and I think the best time to open these things is with a good occasion, and I don’t know about you but I’m feeling occasioned, alright. Hell of a ride, this site, hell of a ride. Liberi, hey? That’s a fancy name, wonder who thought of that. Real fitting, sounds good on you. Bird-parts, though, usually when folks around here have animals parts, they really, really got 'em. Look at me, for example, I look like one of those online furries, you know what I mean, I got fur for days and my couch agrees. If I get any more catlike I’ll be hackin’ up furballs, I tell ya.

Is that so? There’s never been a canonization of a Saint since I’ve been alive. Ever since the Profound Silence, I imagine there never will be another again, at least not until Iberia rebuilds to what it once was, or something better. Only one Saint remains, at least in regards to the Inquisition. Lord Carmen has lived a long time—my mentor was his eighth student. I was almost his student, but I decided to leave the position of Inquisitor to join Rhodes Island.

I’ll take your word that weren’t being sarcastic, Charlie. I assure you, I wouldn’t have my feelings hurt by mere words. I do enjoy dancing, though I have a long way to go before I can consider myself a dancer.

I’m fairly certain that it’s backed by gold, but it’s honestly the Lungmen Dollar become quite the necessary currency to do business throughout the world. A financial crisis has that effect.

Liminal spaces, portal-like passageways... no, I don’t believe the landship has anything like that. While the ship is quite large, it’s fairly cramped, and every room has a use and a number of personnel within it. It’s honestly almost its own town. There are a number of people capable of Arts, including myself, but traveling via Arts sounds quite dangerous. I don’t believe I’ve ever had wine, however. 

Irene? That’s a beautiful name, you know a girl I was sweet on - her mother’s name was Irene. Real noble lady, real sweet, and always so dang sure of herself. Besides my own ma, I reckon she was probably one of best ladies I ever met. Great lady, great name. My friends call me Charlie, and it’s damn fine to meet you.

Inquisition, huh, at Rhodes Island? I just met another gal from that place, Gladiia, you probably saw the post in the time I took to reply - I like that about you, Irene, you’re a quick one, real quick. I don’t suppose you’re from Iebrium? We got an Inquisition here too but most of the time you never see ‘em on account of they’re supposed to be kinda hush-hush like. I’m a cobbler, I deal in footwear, and if you’re in ever need of the best shine this side of the river - and the other side too - at a price you can sleep easy over, this cat’s got you covered for whatever inspection you got coming up, scout’s honor.

Me, though, I’m doing just dandy, hey, today’s been a sun-kissed peach in the grand scheme of things, so I got nothing to piss and moan over, and I hope the same right back atcha. And if you do, well, it’ll get better, always does. I like your hair, that’s really something - really feathery-like. That come natural or do you have the best stylist in town for a 'do like that? Strikes me as real professional work.

Well, I don’t know if I can live up to this woman’s reputation, but at least the name puts me in a positive light without much work from me. I hope it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Charlie.

I did, indeed, see you conversing with the Captain! Thank you for the compliment—though I think that was sarcasm or a joke? Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of this Iebrium. The Iberian Inquisition is fairly public, far from hush-hush, as you say. They represent the Law in Iberia and are its de-facto government, defending it and managing it against all threats, especially those from the sea.

I’ll definitely keep you in mind, Charlie, if I ever need my boots looking their best. Do you accept LMD? That’s the only currency I have access to at the moment.

how so if i may ask

i know nothing of these hunters

ah

my violent skirmishes have been

brief

and few

and i am not proud of them

with somebody from whom i now desire peace

For one, I’m fairly certain Captain Gladiia could spear her hand through my chest at a twenty meter distance before I could even draw my handcannon. The last time I fought Skadi, she deflected every single one of my attacks with a weapon case. I’ve made great progress, but not nearly enough. Moving through shadows would be a little helpful.

i have made my peace with it

the movement is important

the rest

if i even were violently inclined

i am not hard to deter physically

and

ultimately hallucinations will cause no bodily harm

they can be very distressing

but they can be overcome with only the right courage

i think most would take a horrible vision over third degree burns

You certainly make a good argument! Still, I’m envious over that shadowy ability. If I had that, it would certainly reduce the gap between the Abyssal Hunters and I, though only marginally. 

ah

i have no say in the matter

it is not just preference

i am only supposed to be perceived

by one

when there are more and when there are none it is

wrong

viscerally

travel is good. and easy with the right tricks or friends

i wish you luck

i can go anywhere

darkness connects all spaces

i can alter my form to a degree

i can read and manifest fears

I can see the logic there. That’s unfortunate, but I imagine you’re comfortable with the situation. Thank you for the well wishes, by the way.

haha thank you! i try 2 b kind 2 every1, really. the worlds like so shit all the time so like, y would i add 2 that? i can afford 2 b happy so ill try 2 spread that bit'a sunshine 2 others

things r going like supes gr8! im at a beach w some of my friends and im rly enjoying it tbh, i dont get 2 go 2 the beach v often! stargazing was deffo not planned but its a nice surprise and its got me even more excited 4 like, a visit i have planned w my friend higgs like SPECIF 4 stargazing

I’ve been trying to be kinder too. My profession left little room for such things, which is one of the reasons why I did away with it when I realized just how far I was from my ideals. I tend to have others yelling at me nearly every day (it is just one person), so it has been a learning process.