Palace Game 6/3

[fujimaru]

The Dreamer In The Grand Temple
Humanity Foundation Value: ????

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Comments

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

[trying to catch the attention of the weeping woman]

Hello?

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

She does not appear to hear him. If anything, she seems to be just at the edge of calming down from a fit, tearing at her hair, breathing in deep, horrified gulps. At least the worst of it seems to be over...

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

[going to the painting at the far end, then, to inspect it. what happens if he touches it?]

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

As he approaches it, if he looks at it, he can see that the girl does begin to move. It's sort of like the five-second preview that plays over video clips, her lips moving in a soundless prayer.

If he touches it, though, it fades into this image. The title of the painting, blank before, slowly fades in letters to reveal Family Portrait.

There is a sense of deep regret here--a wistfulness that this scene surely can't be real. This is not how the story ended. But even so, for just a moment, this is what you want to believe. You can imagine it.

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

[:(

he lingers before the family portrait for a few long moments before trying to approach the figure from sphinx]

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

Surprise! It's Da Vinci!

She smiles at him when he approaches, giving him a little wave. "So! You've made it here, huh? I guess I shouldn't be too surprised."

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

There didn't seem to be any alternative. I suppose you're not actually yourself? Some sort of mental phantom?

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

"You could call me a memory, if you like," she says brightly. "I'm not real in the way that the one you've spoken to is, but I'm real in that I'm part of what Ritsuka remembers. I can't move around as freely as I once did."

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

You're trapped here? Does it bother you?

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

"Not in particular." Her smile gentles a little. "My situation is a unique one. You'll find it's the same for the other two, as well."

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

Do you know how we can help Ritsuka?

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

"...You'll have to find the right key." She sounds sympathetic, at least. "No one in this gallery can leave it, but I know he wouldn't have hidden it here in the first place. Knowing him, it'll be a ring of some sort. If you can find it, you'll find her."

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

A ring.

Can you tell me anything about—him?

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

"Him? Ah." Her expression goes more solemn now. "There are seven concepts that we could call 'Evils of Humanity,' though they aren't inherently evil, exactly. Think of them more as... obstacles that humanity needs to overcome, if they mean to advance as a species. They're sins that are born from and of humans, and will always exist alongside humans.

"His would be the sin of 'Pity.' If you've spoken to him, I'm sure you've noticed."

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

Does he have a name?

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

"Goetia. The Beast of Pity, and the King of Men." Her lips twist in a smile that is more annoyed than anything else. "He might call himself the King of Mages, but that title wasn't really his to own."

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

I doubt that title could be almost anyone's to own.

Thank you. Is there anything else I should do in this gallery before I try and find that ring?

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

"Oh, you'd be surprised." She glances down the hall a little, at the man who is standing a few paintings down, who appears to be doing his best to not eavesdrop. "But this gallery is just memories. They're the things that can't grow or change--only what's happened."

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

I feel intrusive being here, then. Do you think Ritsuka would want me out?

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

"I think she'd be more embarrassed than upset to find you here," Da Vinci says dryly. "The three of us aside, these are the memories of her exploits. So you won't find any clues here, but you'll at least get some interesting viewing, if that's what you want."

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

. . . No. That wouldn't be right. She'll tell me anything she wants me to know; I shouldn't be here much longer.

[he nods at da vinci—thank you—and approaches the eavesdropping man.]

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

He's a pleasant-looking young man, though he looks vaguely embarrassed to have been caught out, straightening up as Des approaches.

"Ah--yes? Can I help you?"

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

I just want to know if you have any advice. If you might know where the ring could be.

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[fujimaru]

The man pauses, giving him a long, careful look.

"...Well. It's his ring, and he hid it, but it's in Ritsuka's heart. Where would a teenaged girl hide something? Think about that."

Re: THE GALLERY OF MEMORIES

[eudaimoniac]

Because I'm so privy to what teenage girls think.

All right. That helps a little; thank you.