help. she doesn't know how to respond at first, face reddening as she stares at the sketch of herself, before she rests a burning cheek in her hand and turns away. trying her best to settle her (surely just) surprised heart and. um. uh, ]
... You're something else. [ good? bad? a sigh. ] Okay. My day is yours then, where are we starting? With a little brainstorming maybe? Or food?
[ at the comment, he looks away absently, almost as if trying to hide the amusement that's subtly made way on his features. ] Normally, people just think I'm difficult. [ maybe thomas thought similarly, but rafayel seems to admit this with a shrug. ]
But, I knew I could count on you, Miss Librarian.
[ did he.... ]
Since the fate of my next work is in your hands... I think feeding your brain comes first. [ he actually already ordered food, and it looks like it's arriving just in time. it's just a simple bagel and coffee. ]
[ did he... the simple meal arrives so on cue that malkuth has a hard time suppressing the smile on her face, though her fingers drum against the table before she sighs and reaches for the packets of sugar to add to the coffee. ]
I learned that I can't tell when someone's deceiving me over text, so thanks for that. I don't really feel angry at you though.
[ maybe because he's turning it into something close to the truth...? whatever. ]
You can just ask to hang out normally though, you know. I wouldn't have turned you down.
[ he mouths if she takes cream too, before he slides a small porcelain pitcher of milk over. ]
Yeah, we might have to work on that.
[ lol. ]
But, it wasn't exactly a lie either. I just happened to find it at the right time. [ "it" in this case being content to fill the not-so-lost pages of his notebook. ] What, did you think this was just a hang out?
[ it's mostly teasing, no real ill will or judgment to his voice. ]
[ yes, she does... a pleasant pour of it to make the coffee resemble a color closer to her hair. delightful. and delightful tasting after a small sip, relaxing once it's obvious there's no goose to chase... no pages to try and catch in the wind... a lost experience.
debating wishing this was a lost experience at the tease though, clearing her throat softly. ]
No, not really... I'm not the kind of girl who gets asked out in the first place, you know? [ she's plain and boring!!! who wants ordinary!!! ] So I'm happy to help with your next work! It's always nicer to see sights with someone than to see them alone, at least in my opinion.
[ she's got some ideas on where he might find inspiration... or where she would anyway, if he gets anything out of it all the better. ]
[ there's a pause at her words, before he shakes his head. ]
You're probably just not seeing yourself clearly. [ rafayel says this as a quick correction. ] I have a good eye for students, helpers, and even bodyguards. [ he says with a slight smile at the word "bodyguard." ]
So you should at least believe in that. [ ... and it's not often that rafayel met someone with such a clear exuberance for life itself. people often got caught up with other things in life— wealth, greed, status— especially in the circles he often crossed, and so it's something he's quick to note.
even if it's clear she didn't think it was so special. ]
Besides, I get the feeling we'll find something good.
[ honestly. what's with all these dudes. "courtship isn't in the future" she told rinne. it still isn't she has more important things to tend to but
his words do still make her smile, even if... yes, she doesn't totally believe them -- she can tell it's not a lie, which makes it worse somehow -- yet. she supposes... ]
There's no one who'd have a keener eye than a true blue artist, so I guess I'll at least believe you when you say it. And to thank you, I've already got an idea of our itinerary!
[ with a proud bite into the bagel now. mmm. simple really is best, future malkuth is gonna miss softer foods like this. ]
[ ... ] You sure your tongue isn't all mixed up after putting so much sugar and cream into your coffee? [ not accepting or declining those words. still, he thinks it's a bit funny, if just because his aunt would probably have some choice words to say about this.
instead, he focuses on the coffee and bagel, which he takes a sip and bite of respectively. ]
See? I really did ask the right the person. Soooo, do I get to know destination number one, or should I try and guess?
[ she knows what she knows! so his first query only earns him a cheeky smile, while the second she shakes her head at. ]
I'll tell you the first one, but the two after [ two. ] will be surprises. They're all... places I relate to, so it's a little bit of a selfish venture.
[ relate to is a pretty strong sentiment in some cases, but. he did leave it in her hands, she's going to show him what interests her just like their first drawing together. ]
From here, we'll head towards The Respite in East Sophia. I've heard its of poor construction -- worse than the rest of the hotels in the area -- so I wanted to check it out. [ and she would've alone too actually. ] Any regret in leaving me to be your guide?
I said this before, but I think a little selfishness when it comes to art is normal. [ he says with a slight quirk of his lips. ] I also only paint what I want to. [ she resonates with what she resonates with. rafayel doesn't think there's any particular pattern people were meant to follow, either. he believes it's in the little details that people naturally run with that create something truly unique, anyway. ]
Not at all. Sounds like it'll be interesting. [ a quirk of his lips. ] "Mo" means homeland where I'm from. [ he doesn't say this is lemurian, rather he thinks it's better not to specify. ] So this is the closest I'm getting to yours, right?
[ "mo"... she'll remember that-- no, she'll do one better and take out a small notebook to write it down. along with her two other places, both of which she hides with a hand. going to take sketching as different than painting so she does Not have any reason to linger on him making her search part of that. bad enough to linger on him saying it was one of the pages he'd been missing... ]
For one of them, at least! Someplace... similar enough to where I grew up, down to the attitude of its people. A lot of Karteria is alike to The City in different ways -- it just shows that every world's got similar problems, so we're never really alone in anything we feel.
[ another sip of her coffee, closing the notebook as she leans forward in her seat. ]
Anyway, they say first impressions are everything! So what kind of place do you imagine it might've been, Rafayel?
[ he didn't expect her to latch onto a single word he teaches her. rather, he figured it was a term that often went in one ear and out the other, but he supposed from what little he knew of her, she was little miss diligent, wasn't she? the idea is amusing to him, and his expression likely makes no secret of that fact.
maybe they're both trying hard not to linger on specific thoughts. ]
So you mean to say this place capture the essence of what [ humans ] people are really like? [ he combats the cynicism of his words with an almost too lighthearted tone. it's a practiced voice, almost as if he were suddenly very much in control of his words and even expressions. but, it seems to dissipate by the time he takes another steady sip of coffee.
as he swallows, he peeks over at her from over the cup. ] Oh, you like these kinda of games, huh.
For some reason, I imagine it as a place that's more city-like. That there are lots of people, and the regions of the city being well defined. [ for some reason, he pictures a place like the n109 zone, or places like the nest. ] Maybe a little cold...? [ if she says it mimics the attitude of the people, at least. ] Maybe a bit like the deep sea where survival of the fittest is the most important thing.
[ he sets his cup down and cants his head to side, as if asking how wrong he is? ]
[ ... it kind of reminds her of chesed's lackadaisical tone, but she pins the question in mind to circle back on. she has thoughts about that too. ]
Bingo. Whether you live in the Backstreets, where every minute you could die, or in the Nests, where opulence belies the blood needed to keep it running, only the most adaptable, rich, or loosely moraled person can survive. And thrive beyond it.
[ but it's... kind of a subdued tone, turning to look out the window. the people of the waterfront move past, not quite destitute but lingering at the edge of it in their conditions; just a footfall away. malkuth's gaze remains a little distant, smile dropping as she continues. ]
Those born in the Nests are offered a good education, safety in the streets they walk, and even a guaranteed job coming out of school if they play their cards right -- mostly in their own Wings, which have dominion over the Districts. On the other hand, those born in the Backstreets walk on eggshells, low in literacy and high in anger. They can only find safety in one of two ways, but the baseline is giving up what little freedom they have as people. [ a beat, and she sighs in a slightly exaggerated manner. ] At least Karteria educates all their citizens! For better or worse, it's got that going for it -- bar in the ground, huh?
You really just had to let me be right... [ maybe he was hoping there was something else to it. not for the sake of her regaling him some tale left on an invisible high note, but for her own. maybe. but, he doesn't seem to make this known. his thoughts hidden away behind just layers of fleeting curiosity. ]
So this is what your sketch was looking to change. [ his eyes follow hers briefly. it isn't that he doesn't know what she speaks of. if anything, it's what she doesn't say, too, that lets his own imagination take over. he presumes just like what he knows of people— they're greedy, selfish, callous, cruel... only exacerbated by "circumstances" beyond them. he looks back to the table. ]
Think the harder thing to transform, might be people's hearts though.
[ he wonders if given the same opportunities, could other people also change in turn? it isn't like the people born of the "nest" she speaks of are probably any better either, he thinks. rafayel has long casted aside any faith in that sort of thing. ]
[ and he would be right there too, about the unspoken. malkuth giggles softly, resting on her hand as she sips her drink. ]
You're telling me. But... it's possible. I've seen it happen with my own two eyes -- and improving the way people live is a good first step, since a lot of the time it's circumstances bringing out the worst in them.
[ it'd just be... nice, she thinks. if everyone could see just how much they had in common with their neighbor. if they strove to help with hands rather than trample with feet. if everyone could be free to dream, to wonder, to... ]
It's a long, hard road. And there's not many people willing to commit to it. After all, it's way easier just to brush things off as "that's the way they are, they won't change" than to put in the effort and try, considering the rate of failure.
[ maybe like all those tales from past, it could very well be a spell that's suddenly dissolved with all the right conditions. that the people who had been so quick to betray you had actually been under a spell the entire time— one in which they forgot who they truly were. but, the thought gives a twinge to a more difficult thought for a moment, and he can't help but release a small chuckle. ]
Not giving up is probably better than the opposite. I doubt it'd be a very exciting life to simply just do what everyone expects of you. Considering that you're not even affected by fear itself, I would say you're pretty strong. Maybe it's everyone else who should be scared about how fired up you are.
[ he takes another drink of his coffee, looking towards the bottom of the cup. to be honest, he can't entirely escape the apathy he feels. after all, the time he spent being unaffected and unbothered by the world around him was definitely much longer than the time he's spent actually caring. maybe it's only increased since he's been here for over a month this time, but at moments like this it's a good reminder to see that everyone struggles in their own way. he's just been trying not to perceive it. ]
All it takes is one person to incite a revolution.
[ as long as they're charismatic, anyway... malkuth finishes off her coffee, leaning back with the rest of her bagel as she grins a bit at him. ]
Think I could do it, Rafayel? You could be my first follower.
[ ... she doesn't really think she could -- she's no carmen -- but she could stand beside someone as they did it, looking at the world from a birds' eye view, directing anything where it was needed. when it comes to control, there's no one better at it than malkuth. ]
But, I think you could still do it. Maybe. That all depends on you, doesn't it?
[ he says this smugly as he reaches for his own piece of bagel. tearing off the edges before popping it in his mouth. ] I can't be your follower, but I can listen to you like this from time to time.
[ maybe. yeah, boost of confidence there, and she tears off a piece of hers to throw at his stupid face. ]
I knew a woman who could've managed it, and she might've even swayed your heart. But I'm not her.
[ so they're putting that revolutionary idea in the ground, even if... really... she probably could, no matter what she thinks herself. anyway. malkuth's standing as she takes the rest of her bagel, waving it at him. ]
Take breakfast with you and let's get moving. We've got three stops, twenty-four hours in a day, and I'm positive you don't want to spend every minute of them with me.
[ he does stifle the urge to laugh when she ends up throwing a piece of bread his way. instead, he looks at it unaffected. picking it up from where it landed on his plate. ] Don't waste food, and don't interrupt me. [ was he even still talking? probably not, but he continues on, regardless. ]
Fish aren't caught by obvious bait. [ he doesn't think he would be swayed.
that said, he is already getting up and grabbing the leftover bagel. ] What I mean to say is, there are paintings in which only each artist can produce. You'll be surprised just by how people can tell someone's works just from the colors they utilize, or the kind of strokes, or other techniques they do. Being discouraged might be natural, yeah, but you'll find your way, without her or me. [ whoever this person is...
rafayel figures malkuth may have looked up to them, but malkuth was malkuth. also, he has no idea where they're going, but he's already trying to walk in front of her. ]
[ and he's already getting an assist in the form of her grabbing the back of his shirt, tugging him the right way. she'll chew over his words, but for now... ]
Fish famously go after obvious bait, Rafayel. Worm on a hook isn't exactly sneaky.
[ they're just food motivated. she understands. and... carmen really was something special; her idealism led her to a dead end, but it doesn't erase all the hope and fun they had before then in the group's combined efforts to better the world.
... mm. it was fun, back then. onto east sophia. ]
[ he feels the tug on the back of his shirt and course corrects appropriately. his feet shuffling for a moment until they're (probably) on path now. ]
That's a myth, Miss Librarian. I wouldn't judge so easily, otherwise you won't get anything on the other end of your line. [ there's a certain air of mystery to the words he casts out. then again, he could just be being vague again.
actually, she might not be wrong, but in this case, he feels like he needed to make a point. ]
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[ ...
but she will sit after a moment, curious to his game. ]
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[ he shows her... the drawing of her searching for the cafe. ]
As for the others, it might require a little more work for me to retrace my steps.
1/2
huh?????????? ]
2/2
help. she doesn't know how to respond at first, face reddening as she stares at the sketch of herself, before she rests a burning cheek in her hand and turns away. trying her best to settle her (surely just) surprised heart and. um. uh, ]
... You're something else. [ good? bad? a sigh. ] Okay. My day is yours then, where are we starting? With a little brainstorming maybe? Or food?
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But, I knew I could count on you, Miss Librarian.
[ did he.... ]
Since the fate of my next work is in your hands... I think feeding your brain comes first. [ he actually already ordered food, and it looks like it's arriving just in time. it's just a simple bagel and coffee. ]
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I learned that I can't tell when someone's deceiving me over text, so thanks for that. I don't really feel angry at you though.
[ maybe because he's turning it into something close to the truth...? whatever. ]
You can just ask to hang out normally though, you know. I wouldn't have turned you down.
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Yeah, we might have to work on that.
[ lol. ]
But, it wasn't exactly a lie either. I just happened to find it at the right time. [ "it" in this case being content to fill the not-so-lost pages of his notebook. ] What, did you think this was just a hang out?
[ it's mostly teasing, no real ill will or judgment to his voice. ]
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debating wishing this was a lost experience at the tease though, clearing her throat softly. ]
No, not really... I'm not the kind of girl who gets asked out in the first place, you know? [ she's plain and boring!!! who wants ordinary!!! ] So I'm happy to help with your next work! It's always nicer to see sights with someone than to see them alone, at least in my opinion.
[ she's got some ideas on where he might find inspiration... or where she would anyway, if he gets anything out of it all the better. ]
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You're probably just not seeing yourself clearly. [ rafayel says this as a quick correction. ] I have a good eye for students, helpers, and even bodyguards. [ he says with a slight smile at the word "bodyguard." ]
So you should at least believe in that. [ ... and it's not often that rafayel met someone with such a clear exuberance for life itself. people often got caught up with other things in life— wealth, greed, status— especially in the circles he often crossed, and so it's something he's quick to note.
even if it's clear she didn't think it was so special. ]
Besides, I get the feeling we'll find something good.
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[ honestly. what's with all these dudes. "courtship isn't in the future" she told rinne. it still isn't she has more important things to tend to but
his words do still make her smile, even if... yes, she doesn't totally believe them -- she can tell it's not a lie, which makes it worse somehow -- yet. she supposes... ]
There's no one who'd have a keener eye than a true blue artist, so I guess I'll at least believe you when you say it. And to thank you, I've already got an idea of our itinerary!
[ with a proud bite into the bagel now. mmm. simple really is best, future malkuth is gonna miss softer foods like this. ]
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instead, he focuses on the coffee and bagel, which he takes a sip and bite of respectively. ]
See? I really did ask the right the person. Soooo, do I get to know destination number one, or should I try and guess?
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I'll tell you the first one, but the two after [ two. ] will be surprises. They're all... places I relate to, so it's a little bit of a selfish venture.
[ relate to is a pretty strong sentiment in some cases, but. he did leave it in her hands, she's going to show him what interests her just like their first drawing together. ]
From here, we'll head towards The Respite in East Sophia. I've heard its of poor construction -- worse than the rest of the hotels in the area -- so I wanted to check it out. [ and she would've alone too actually. ] Any regret in leaving me to be your guide?
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Not at all. Sounds like it'll be interesting. [ a quirk of his lips. ] "Mo" means homeland where I'm from. [ he doesn't say this is lemurian, rather he thinks it's better not to specify. ] So this is the closest I'm getting to yours, right?
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For one of them, at least! Someplace... similar enough to where I grew up, down to the attitude of its people. A lot of Karteria is alike to The City in different ways -- it just shows that every world's got similar problems, so we're never really alone in anything we feel.
[ another sip of her coffee, closing the notebook as she leans forward in her seat. ]
Anyway, they say first impressions are everything! So what kind of place do you imagine it might've been, Rafayel?
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maybe they're both trying hard not to linger on specific thoughts. ]
So you mean to say this place capture the essence of what [ humans ] people are really like? [ he combats the cynicism of his words with an almost too lighthearted tone. it's a practiced voice, almost as if he were suddenly very much in control of his words and even expressions. but, it seems to dissipate by the time he takes another steady sip of coffee.
as he swallows, he peeks over at her from over the cup. ] Oh, you like these kinda of games, huh.
For some reason, I imagine it as a place that's more city-like. That there are lots of people, and the regions of the city being well defined. [ for some reason, he pictures a place like the n109 zone, or places like the nest. ] Maybe a little cold...? [ if she says it mimics the attitude of the people, at least. ] Maybe a bit like the deep sea where survival of the fittest is the most important thing.
[ he sets his cup down and cants his head to side, as if asking how wrong he is? ]
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Bingo. Whether you live in the Backstreets, where every minute you could die, or in the Nests, where opulence belies the blood needed to keep it running, only the most adaptable, rich, or loosely moraled person can survive. And thrive beyond it.
[ but it's... kind of a subdued tone, turning to look out the window. the people of the waterfront move past, not quite destitute but lingering at the edge of it in their conditions; just a footfall away. malkuth's gaze remains a little distant, smile dropping as she continues. ]
Those born in the Nests are offered a good education, safety in the streets they walk, and even a guaranteed job coming out of school if they play their cards right -- mostly in their own Wings, which have dominion over the Districts. On the other hand, those born in the Backstreets walk on eggshells, low in literacy and high in anger. They can only find safety in one of two ways, but the baseline is giving up what little freedom they have as people. [ a beat, and she sighs in a slightly exaggerated manner. ] At least Karteria educates all their citizens! For better or worse, it's got that going for it -- bar in the ground, huh?
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So this is what your sketch was looking to change. [ his eyes follow hers briefly. it isn't that he doesn't know what she speaks of. if anything, it's what she doesn't say, too, that lets his own imagination take over. he presumes just like what he knows of people— they're greedy, selfish, callous, cruel... only exacerbated by "circumstances" beyond them. he looks back to the table. ]
Think the harder thing to transform, might be people's hearts though.
[ he wonders if given the same opportunities, could other people also change in turn? it isn't like the people born of the "nest" she speaks of are probably any better either, he thinks. rafayel has long casted aside any faith in that sort of thing. ]
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You're telling me. But... it's possible. I've seen it happen with my own two eyes -- and improving the way people live is a good first step, since a lot of the time it's circumstances bringing out the worst in them.
[ it'd just be... nice, she thinks. if everyone could see just how much they had in common with their neighbor. if they strove to help with hands rather than trample with feet. if everyone could be free to dream, to wonder, to... ]
It's a long, hard road. And there's not many people willing to commit to it. After all, it's way easier just to brush things off as "that's the way they are, they won't change" than to put in the effort and try, considering the rate of failure.
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[ maybe like all those tales from past, it could very well be a spell that's suddenly dissolved with all the right conditions. that the people who had been so quick to betray you had actually been under a spell the entire time— one in which they forgot who they truly were. but, the thought gives a twinge to a more difficult thought for a moment, and he can't help but release a small chuckle. ]
Not giving up is probably better than the opposite. I doubt it'd be a very exciting life to simply just do what everyone expects of you. Considering that you're not even affected by fear itself, I would say you're pretty strong. Maybe it's everyone else who should be scared about how fired up you are.
[ he takes another drink of his coffee, looking towards the bottom of the cup. to be honest, he can't entirely escape the apathy he feels. after all, the time he spent being unaffected and unbothered by the world around him was definitely much longer than the time he's spent actually caring. maybe it's only increased since he's been here for over a month this time, but at moments like this it's a good reminder to see that everyone struggles in their own way. he's just been trying not to perceive it. ]
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[ as long as they're charismatic, anyway... malkuth finishes off her coffee, leaning back with the rest of her bagel as she grins a bit at him. ]
Think I could do it, Rafayel? You could be my first follower.
[ ... she doesn't really think she could -- she's no carmen -- but she could stand beside someone as they did it, looking at the world from a birds' eye view, directing anything where it was needed. when it comes to control, there's no one better at it than malkuth. ]
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[ he says as he leans his chin on his palm. ]
But, I think you could still do it. Maybe. That all depends on you, doesn't it?
[ he says this smugly as he reaches for his own piece of bagel. tearing off the edges before popping it in his mouth. ] I can't be your follower, but I can listen to you like this from time to time.
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I knew a woman who could've managed it, and she might've even swayed your heart. But I'm not her.
[ so they're putting that revolutionary idea in the ground, even if... really... she probably could, no matter what she thinks herself. anyway. malkuth's standing as she takes the rest of her bagel, waving it at him. ]
Take breakfast with you and let's get moving. We've got three stops, twenty-four hours in a day, and I'm positive you don't want to spend every minute of them with me.
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Fish aren't caught by obvious bait. [ he doesn't think he would be swayed.
that said, he is already getting up and grabbing the leftover bagel. ] What I mean to say is, there are paintings in which only each artist can produce. You'll be surprised just by how people can tell someone's works just from the colors they utilize, or the kind of strokes, or other techniques they do. Being discouraged might be natural, yeah, but you'll find your way, without her or me. [ whoever this person is...
rafayel figures malkuth may have looked up to them, but malkuth was malkuth. also, he has no idea where they're going, but he's already trying to walk in front of her. ]
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Fish famously go after obvious bait, Rafayel. Worm on a hook isn't exactly sneaky.
[ they're just food motivated. she understands. and... carmen really was something special; her idealism led her to a dead end, but it doesn't erase all the hope and fun they had before then in the group's combined efforts to better the world.
... mm. it was fun, back then. onto east sophia. ]
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That's a myth, Miss Librarian. I wouldn't judge so easily, otherwise you won't get anything on the other end of your line. [ there's a certain air of mystery to the words he casts out. then again, he could just be being vague again.
actually, she might not be wrong, but in this case, he feels like he needed to make a point. ]
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