This is not a topic for open discussion, as secrecy is what has maintained safety for centuries.
[She drums her fingers a little bit, pausing around the thought. There have been no whispers sice she arrived here; here dreams have been troubled, but not the dark and unescapable abyss that suffocates her. It's an odd place, being able to think clearly about it. Things are too tenuous for much more than this, and if she goes further there will have to be more trust still between them.]
The initial battle for control of Rinascita's "soul" concluded a long time ago, though many do not know its true nature. Levithan works to destroy civilization from within, corrupting its people and transforming them into mindless puppets of its gospel.
[ The puppet’s head tilts, waiting as Cantarella deliberates. If there’s an air of mild surprise when she speaks, well. They can’t help it. ]
Mindless puppets of gospel…
[ Said to themselves, but. ]
My mind immediately thinks of a similar concept on my star. Tempering. The inability to think of aught else but the primal you worship, caused by close contact with the primal in question.
[Likewise, she cannot quite help the surprise that shows in her response. Cantarella doesn't even have the advantages of sitting behind a puppet.]
Some so affected can keep the erosion at bay for a time with the right tools, but if it's allowed to propagate suppreptitiously...everyone will be swept up beneath the wave. What recourse do those affected by this Tempering have?
[Why does it feel like an unfortunate rhyme, one where she already knows how the next line will go?]
You know what I will say next, or you at least have an idea, I’m certain.
[ Cantarella is smart enough to know what being taken over by fanaticism that cannot be dampened means. ]
They used to be killed in the name of mercy, hardly a real kindness to them. [ They don’t sound happy about that part. ] My comrades, however, developed a cure.
[Sage's voice may be altered by whatever spell they're using, but she hears her own for just a second. A question you already know the answer to. Why bother asking? Perhaps they are a little too similar in some ways. She can see their differences, too, at least, as her jaw tightens and her frills fan a bit.]
Hardly a kindness, but we'll have to disagree on the notion of mercy. In the Fisalia family, at least, we handle matters of our own. [There's no pride in her voice, but also no loathing.] I'd rather the last hand that lowers me into the waters be one that I know.
... And I'd even more rather ensure that it comes to an end. Your comrades' success will echo in on our own. [It's a little bit of a rail shift to get back to their situation at hand, but it may at least be obvious that things are not dissimilar.]
We will have to disagree. Our situations are rather different, after all. What is mercy when tempering occurs as a result of peoples feeling threatened by their own subjugators?
But I digress.
[ Cantarella's frills fan out, but Sage's tail flicks as calmly as ever. It seems like they genuinely don't mind this discussion, in spite of its potentially sharp edges. They're similar, but this? Their views and their reactions shine a light on their differences. ]
I'm certain that selfsame resolve of yours will see you through to a solution, though I would gladly offer my own insight as well.
It is quite different... My goal is that, within my lifetime, we too will be free.
[Her frills settle quickly, an indicator that the display was not necessarily anger but something much more raw, an exposed nerve. She's stared into that bottomless pit for too long, and she doesn't even need the encroaching dread or the seizing in her lungs to feel it also crushing in on her.]
I'd have to swear you to silence. [Lighter, now, but truthful.] Once you've gone far enough, you do not get to leave.
[It's such a fast answer that Cantarella's almost taken aback by it, her head tilting to the side in wonder. She can't imagine Sage hasn't at least considered the consequences.]
Aren't you concerned our current predicaments occupy enough of our focus? You're doing a great deal for strangers already.
There will yet be time after our current predicaments have resolved.
[ And Sage sounds very confident that they will, in fact, be resolved. But maybe that's not a surprise to Cantarella—they do, after all, seem the type who doesn't back down. ]
I do as I like, and I chase after what interests me. My interests oft happen to coincide with extending a hand to others, and what I can learn elsewhere could benefit my studies at home.
[Such an independent assertion keeps the smile on her face.]
I'm a bit surprised you're not in any rush to leave.
[Even despite the fact they must also want to return as soon as possible to disseminate any solution they've found... Coming here intentionally might have something to do with that lack of urgency.]
Then I'll continue to plumb the depths of your knowledge on curses...and if you've any insight on saving the divine or assimilation of consciousness, well, I'm all ears. A mirror will only ever reflect what looks into it.
[Sage must not believe their paths will permanently diverge at the end of this road, though it's difficult to tell whether they know something about the nature of separate "worlds" that Cantarella herself does not, or if they're speaking out of pride and confidence.]
There's really no stopping you. [It's faintly amused praise.] I'm in the middle of something important at the moment, so I can say the same. What a shame our paths didn't cross when we both had more time for leisure.
[ Maybe Sage is an optimist in their own way, in tandem with knowledge they have not disclosed. ]
'Tis a shame indeed, though we at least have some pockets of time now, as it were. Not every moment of our time must be dedicated to solving the mysteries of this realm. Though I am loathe to admit it, breaks are necessary.
Vigilance is an essential even in my day-to-day life. [what are breaks] A peaceful, quiet moment is an exquisite delicacy...so I shall let such moments melt away slowly on my tongue while I have them.
[It sounds more like a state of constant alarm or vigilance than a state of constant work, perhaps.]
There's no work getting done with a tired mind, anyway.
[Cantarella can't help but chuckle. They've definitely spoken long enough now that the tea has steeped a suitable amount, so she makes moves to fully prepare it.]
Sage isn't often a sweet herb, but it has a certain warmth to it. [Hehe.] You've no need to worry about me. I'll manage.
[Woman who will do anything to keep anyone else from seeing her slipping guarantees she'll never slip.
Cantarella clinks her full teacup against its still-empty neighbor in a notably ridiculous toast, her smile revealing just how well aware she is of that.]
Well, should I let you have the chance to savor your cup?
It's a unique system for hosting tea parties, without a doubt. One of the more unique ones I've experienced.
[Cantarella rises to her feet, hand gently drifting along the surface of the table.]
Thank you for your insights. Just like a polite jellyfish, I'll see myself out, until such a time as the current brings me back here. [She is not really one for drifting, though, as Sage may have deduced.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[She drums her fingers a little bit, pausing around the thought. There have been no whispers sice she arrived here; here dreams have been troubled, but not the dark and unescapable abyss that suffocates her. It's an odd place, being able to think clearly about it. Things are too tenuous for much more than this, and if she goes further there will have to be more trust still between them.]
The initial battle for control of Rinascita's "soul" concluded a long time ago, though many do not know its true nature. Levithan works to destroy civilization from within, corrupting its people and transforming them into mindless puppets of its gospel.
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Mindless puppets of gospel…
[ Said to themselves, but. ]
My mind immediately thinks of a similar concept on my star. Tempering. The inability to think of aught else but the primal you worship, caused by close contact with the primal in question.
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Some so affected can keep the erosion at bay for a time with the right tools, but if it's allowed to propagate suppreptitiously...everyone will be swept up beneath the wave. What recourse do those affected by this Tempering have?
[Why does it feel like an unfortunate rhyme, one where she already knows how the next line will go?]
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[ Cantarella is smart enough to know what being taken over by fanaticism that cannot be dampened means. ]
They used to be killed in the name of mercy, hardly a real kindness to them. [ They don’t sound happy about that part. ] My comrades, however, developed a cure.
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Hardly a kindness, but we'll have to disagree on the notion of mercy. In the Fisalia family, at least, we handle matters of our own. [There's no pride in her voice, but also no loathing.] I'd rather the last hand that lowers me into the waters be one that I know.
... And I'd even more rather ensure that it comes to an end. Your comrades' success will echo in on our own. [It's a little bit of a rail shift to get back to their situation at hand, but it may at least be obvious that things are not dissimilar.]
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But I digress.
[ Cantarella's frills fan out, but Sage's tail flicks as calmly as ever. It seems like they genuinely don't mind this discussion, in spite of its potentially sharp edges. They're similar, but this? Their views and their reactions shine a light on their differences. ]
I'm certain that selfsame resolve of yours will see you through to a solution, though I would gladly offer my own insight as well.
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[Her frills settle quickly, an indicator that the display was not necessarily anger but something much more raw, an exposed nerve. She's stared into that bottomless pit for too long, and she doesn't even need the encroaching dread or the seizing in her lungs to feel it also crushing in on her.]
I'd have to swear you to silence. [Lighter, now, but truthful.] Once you've gone far enough, you do not get to leave.
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Easy enough. Discretion is no difficult task for me, and you've captured my curiosity.
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Aren't you concerned our current predicaments occupy enough of our focus? You're doing a great deal for strangers already.
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[ And Sage sounds very confident that they will, in fact, be resolved. But maybe that's not a surprise to Cantarella—they do, after all, seem the type who doesn't back down. ]
I do as I like, and I chase after what interests me. My interests oft happen to coincide with extending a hand to others, and what I can learn elsewhere could benefit my studies at home.
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I'm a bit surprised you're not in any rush to leave.
[Even despite the fact they must also want to return as soon as possible to disseminate any solution they've found... Coming here intentionally might have something to do with that lack of urgency.]
Then I'll continue to plumb the depths of your knowledge on curses...and if you've any insight on saving the divine or assimilation of consciousness, well, I'm all ears. A mirror will only ever reflect what looks into it.
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I am in a rush, yet I have confidence that when I return that I will manage to resolve what I am able.
[ Not without help, but they know they can gather it. ]
Afterwards, I'm sure to have time to spare. In any case, I'm certain you have plenty of knowledge to spare in turn.
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There's really no stopping you. [It's faintly amused praise.] I'm in the middle of something important at the moment, so I can say the same. What a shame our paths didn't cross when we both had more time for leisure.
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'Tis a shame indeed, though we at least have some pockets of time now, as it were. Not every moment of our time must be dedicated to solving the mysteries of this realm. Though I am loathe to admit it, breaks are necessary.
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[It sounds more like a state of constant alarm or vigilance than a state of constant work, perhaps.]
There's no work getting done with a tired mind, anyway.
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[ Something they've bothered a certain someone about many, many times in the past... ]
So do take your ease when you have the opportunity. I understand that may be a difficult task in a place such as this, but an attempt matters.
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Sage isn't often a sweet herb, but it has a certain warmth to it. [Hehe.] You've no need to worry about me. I'll manage.
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I will choose to take your word for it, then.
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[Woman who will do anything to keep anyone else from seeing her slipping guarantees she'll never slip.
Cantarella clinks her full teacup against its still-empty neighbor in a notably ridiculous toast, her smile revealing just how well aware she is of that.]
Well, should I let you have the chance to savor your cup?
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If you do not mind. I find that I could use a warm cup to relax. However, I do ask that you return soon.
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[Cantarella rises to her feet, hand gently drifting along the surface of the table.]
Thank you for your insights. Just like a polite jellyfish, I'll see myself out, until such a time as the current brings me back here. [She is not really one for drifting, though, as Sage may have deduced.]
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And she knows those words mean that Cantarella will be back sooner rather than later, at least. ]
Until the currents shift my way again, may the shadows keep you.