mk. 13 (text)

[paraclete]

Who: Kaworu, you!
Broadcast: fleetwide text
Action: N/A initially
When: 6/28, midday

Well,

How long can you hold your breath?

I always forget. Or, I never quite remember. Yeah, definitely the latter.

Comments

[paraclete]

I actually was born on Earth.

I'm an Angel, though. It's fine. When I don't breathe, it doesn't trouble my brain.

[allfight]

An angel?

[ He knows, logically, that things are screwy here and anyone could probably be anything.

But what the fuck. ]

[paraclete]

Yeah. It isn't religious. I've heard about those too. But I'm not a religious figure.

[allfight]

So you have wings and a halo?

[paraclete]

I have neither. I look pretty much like a human boy. Less like high art, though, if that's where you see such creatures.

[allfight]

So if that's not what an angel is what are they actually supposed to be? What are you, other than annoying and brainless?

[paraclete]

Mostly, a pilot and a friend.

[allfight]

That's not an answer.

[paraclete]

I am designated to pilot. I do so for the benefit of mankind, they say. It's presumably the best way to kill Angels, which is the important thing when it does come to mankind's benefit. And, I have a friend, and I am a friend, and I take care of that. That's my answer for you.

Though it's been some time, since all that.

[allfight]

Doesn't answer the question I asked. You're an angel that kills angels? What the hell is an angel then?

[paraclete]

You asked what I am. I told you. Angels are creatures. They're mostly large and mostly colorful. They'd like for there to be no more human beings. They descend.

Past tense, but if you're looking for the essence of an Angel, it's that. Creatures, like all creatures are, and hoping for humankind to blink away.

[allfight]

And you're some kind of pilot and you shoot them down.

[paraclete]

If you're going for the essence. And, again, past tense. It's been a while.

[allfight]

Yeah, yeah. What you are and what you've done doesn't stop just because you got fucking kidnapped.

[paraclete]

Truly. What I've done never stops. What I am is pretty persistent. If ceasing were simple, I wouldn't be much.

Not that I'm having a bad time, now.

[allfight]

How the hell are you not having a bad time. Oh, wait, you're content with just fucking breathing.

[paraclete]

Do you wish that you weren't?

[allfight]

Of course I wish I wasn't trapped on this shithole.

[paraclete]

Do you wish you weren't breathing? That's what I'm asking.

[allfight]

HELL NO

[paraclete]

Then, are you content with the fact that you are breathing?

[allfight]

There's a difference between contentment and the bare fucking minimum of living.

[paraclete]

Well, what do you think should feel more pleasant to me? What's a joy that isn't stupid? I'd like to know that, too.

[allfight]

[ Well, this is a conundrum.

Part of him really wants to say this is a pointless conversation and walk away, maybe spitting a few more insults at this poor scrub's clearly lacking mental state.

The other doesn't. ]

Having a goal and putting everything you have to meeting it. That's not stupid. Don't be content with doing nothing, that makes you useless.

[paraclete]

Oh, but I do that.

If every aspect of every thing--the air, the lungs, the air in the lungs, the air in the blood, the blood in the body, the heart in the body, and all in the heart--if it all facilitates the realization of the goal, how can I not take joy in it?

Why would I not thank a breath for bringing me one breath closer to the utmost?