Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

[notzubats]

Who: Everybody! It's a planet mingle!
Broadcast: If You want!
Action: On the Holding Hands plant!
When: From June 23 until whenever we need a new mingle.

[At long last, the fleet has arrived to a new planet. This means it's time for a mingle guys! Get in! ]

Comments

b

[paraclete]

[This place, this more dangerous part of the volcano, isn't nearly as heavily trafficked as, say, the springs, the forests, the market, the sea... But Leto isn't alone. Kaworu likes the volcano very much, and has spent some time examining all that it has to offer — lava included. Now, though, he examines Leto. Probably that's kind of rude; Kaworu's not fond of being examined himself, although he's used to it. But it's curious to see another person who could withstand this sort of extreme. He nears, footsteps even and soft, very mellow while he asks,] Is it quite warm? [No shock here.]

[precedented]

[ Leto glances at him and is immediately hit by the barrage of timelines, twisted and convoluted. He shakes off his confusion carefully, letting time seep away from his bright eyes. ]

Warm enough for the Worm. Under normal circumstances, my hand would be burned away.

[ He lifts it up, flexing it experimentally. The Worm was pleased by the warmth and Leto can hear its rumble at the back of his mind. ]

[paraclete]

[Kaworu, of course, has no idea that his heavy past has been read by anyone but himself. As far as he's aware, the only other person who knows that the timelines even exist is Asuka Shikinami Langley. Even that's too much. So, he concludes: ] Then these are abnormal circumstances? It seems some creatures like warmth more than others.

[precedented]

[ He laughs, light and silvery. ]

Nothing is abnormal unless proven otherwise. Though lava is new and I wasn't sure if I had a resistance to it.

I am a metamorphic creature and I have ways to turn before I shed my shell.

[paraclete]

[Leto's laughter is taken at face value — Kaworu appreciates mirth, and his own smile warms, softens, like something left in summer sunlight. He crouches; and, dipping his head and draping one arm over his bent knees, he reaches out and prods at the lava with his index finger.] It's bold to touch something when you aren't sure if it might hurt you. But the bold seek change, and change drives life. Well, I'm sure you know something about that.

[precedented]

Change is the only constant. Which I suspect you know already. As for life, it will change whether it is bold or not. Nothing can supersede that.

[paraclete]

[Kaworu's smile mimics the constant nature of change, at least for now. He pokes a little more at the lava, which squishes a bit as it tries to harden in the cooler air, and then sets both arms around his legs, turning his head to rest his cheek against his knees. He's watching Leto, content but admittedly curious.]

What would you say to an individual who resists change?

[precedented]

Change or die.

[ It takes him a few seconds to realize that he's being too blunt. He doesn't recant his statement though. ]

There are two deaths. The physical and the little death, the kind that steals away your very self. You cannot hope to stem change or divert it. You can only choose what changes you wish to allow.

[paraclete]

[There's no distaste cast over Kaworu's face at the statement, no matter its bluntness. He accepts it, mulls it over, and keeps smiling, though the curve of his mouth is slight. Passive, so it seems.]

I don't think you're wrong. Death of the self can allow rebirth, but only if one embraces the very change they fled. I understand, though, that change can cause feelings of helplessness.

Do you like it? Metamorphosis?

[precedented]

[ He tilts his head, a bird-like alien movement. ]

Do you?

[paraclete]

[Kaworu's own head is still tilted, resting, and his smile refuses to budge. His fingers are curled against his legs. He stares for a moment, a still image of friendliness, before finally lifting his head. His chin sets atop his knees and he once more watches the lava flow.]

I would rather change than not.

[He's drastically different now than he was at the start of his life. His first lifetimes contain memories of nothing but stupidity. He was stupid and he ruined everything repeatedly. In the present day, he still tries as hard as he can to be loved, but at least now he presents himself with composure. "Death of the self" is deeply important to Kaworu — if he could, he'd kill those past selves with his own hands. As it is, he just represses them.]

[precedented]

You work with extremes.

[ Leto rubs his worm-skin absently. He hasn't seen such a mess of time in very long. A repetitive cycle trying to lead to absolution. A terrifying end. Leto has ever sought to end the cycle and any kind of prophetic vision. ]

You're willing to change, but you want everything to change.

[paraclete]

[Kaworu guides his face back to look at Leto once more, feeling strange. Nothing Leto's said is wrong, but that's what's so questionable; Kaworu doesn't know how this person would be aware of that. He's cautious, but his poker face is still impeccable when he says,] An absence of change is just an abyss. I prefer livelihood.

[It wasn't always that way. He was smothered by apathy for such a long time.]

[precedented]

[ Leto is familiar with that, to some degree. He is old in nature and his memories reach back to the golden age of humanity, when pyramids were new. ]

Yes. But do you know what that is or are you simply mimicking what you see?

[paraclete]

[This is rapidly becoming an extremely uncomfortable conversation for Kaworu — he doesn't really get the irony, the frequent taste of hypocrisy, since it's not uncommon for him to cause these feelings in other people. Not quite as easy to be confronted with them himself, huh.]

I like to think I am capable of learning.

[precedented]

We all have that capability. Even you. But you want to be swept away by the change. You do not wish to be instrumental in changing yourself.

[ His words carry his characteristic bluntness, but there's no anger or scorn in them. Just a simple firmness to it, like bedrock. ]

Someone isn't going to come and change you, Kaworu.