[video]

[dreamspinning]

[as ever, only half of ushahin's face is visible on the screen. there is a raven perched on his shoulder, preening his hair, though he's paying the bird no mind at all]

It seems this place has seen fit to remind us of late of our struggles, our fears, and our losses. Some, I'm sure, bear more than others. But in the place of my birth, what separates Men from the other races is that they have been blessed with wit and desire in equal measure. Perhaps you are not Arahila's Children, not properly, but most of you are rather close enough.

So tell me, if you will, what it is towards which you strive.

Comments

[dreamspinning]

Likely so.

I am not a Man.

[a tad sharp, that, but when he speaks again his voice is smooth once more]

There is much for me to do in Urulat, but little I have asked for. The thing I strove for, I failed in, because all things will be as they must. I knew it not, but there was simply no possibility for my success.

[key_illusion]

Maybe not, but animals still protect the things they care for and their family. I don't think that it's only a human thing.

Did you care about what happened when you failed?

[dreamspinning]

I have no family, little ghost. I am Ushahin-who-walks-between-dusk-and-dawn, child of three races, son of none. The kin of my blood have thrown me away, my Mother's kin have rejected me, the kin of my choosing are dead.

[there's bitterness there, but he's not wallowing, just stating a fact]

Of course I cared. Still, I care. My Lord's work has fallen to me, and I will succeed or die of it.

[key_illusion]

I know, but the you cared and tried to protect the family you chose.

[???'s not thinking too much on the bitterness. He gets Ushahin's position in that regard, and most would be bitter.]

Then you still strive for success, right?

[dreamspinning]

Of course. All the Shapers' Children are capable of loyalty. My exception was to being called a Man. You see that boy who speaks of his revolution with such blithe passion and so little care for who may be listening? That is what Men are to me, mostly,although they are certainly capable of more.

I still will strive, yes. Some small events have not distracted me from my purpose. But many seem to have forgotten theirs.

[key_illusion]

[??? actually has to switch over to filtered audio express his complete disdain:]

Wow, that's a pretty bad--...actually, I don't even know what to call it, but not all humans are that stupid. I only know a small group of people like that, but they're not the good guys. Neither is he, but they're much worse and more tactical to boot. Not a lot of humans here are like that though. Some actually want to keep all the worlds from being destroyed, you know.

[dreamspinning]

[he laughs, and it's kind of delighted]

Not his ideas, little ghost. His manner. All that passion and righteousness and so very little forethought. Humans are not at all unclever, but they tangle in their passions. He cares more for the wrongs he perceives committed against him than a multitude of universes. That does not seem to be an entirely uncommon sentiment.

[key_illusion]

I guess. I'm probably the wrong person to be talking about how humans work. [Well, that's not really true.] I get how humans work on an individual scale, but he's a horrible example to talk about...Only because I seriously hate that guy because of how idiotic he is. I don't plan on letting him get away with trying to destroy this place because he's so obsessed with his powers and the fact that he's lost them. That's a pretty pathetic identity. I don't even get why he's likeable! Ugh...

[??? just dislikes Pyro even more since he's heard that Euri fancies him.]

[dreamspinning]

He is an example for the...steadfast nature of his beliefs. On an individual basis, most are more moderate. But men have done me and mine few favors in my lifetime, and I have watched their generations pass. It is not a slight, my comment to their passion. It will carry them farther than any others will go. Would that these directed theirs properly.

On the contrary, little ghost, you are a good conversation partner indeed.

[key_illusion]

...I can't see how I could be since different races in the worlds I know of aren't as distinct in their traits as yours.

[There's talking animals, faeries, mermaids, and an over-enthusiatic skeleton, etc, Ushahin. He's not really sure how generalized race traits work.]

I feel like it's hard to peg one species with what they may be strong in when you've traveled to many worlds. [Not to say he has.]

[dreamspinning]

Because you observe, of course.
Each of the races of Urulat were created by a different hand. They are each quite distinct in their abilities and values, although some things are rather universal.

The Men of this place are quite like Arahila's Children, for better and worse.

[key_illusion]

Maybe those are the kind of people the gods want.

[dreamspinning]

That would not surprise me. Who better to renew their world than the impassioned and clever?

[key_illusion]

Hah, yeah...Even if they're the ones who don't want to be here the most.

[He sighs, clearly remembering a certain someone. It all sounds like him, really.]

Do you miss Lea?

[dreamspinning]

...

I do, yes.

[key_illusion]

...I do too. [Along with Roxas.]

[dreamspinning]

He chafed beneath the weight of this place, and yet...

[ushahin would have him back, and gladly]

[key_illusion]

Yeah, he really didn't like it. [He's not sure if he'd wish him back. Probably not. Only briefly, maybe. Just to say sorry and how much he messed up.]

He has other important things to get to. He promised his best friend that they'd meet again, after all.

[dreamspinning]

He did not. I am simply not an entirely unselfish creature.

Then I'm sure they shall.

[key_illusion]

Right... [There's a weary note in his voice only because he won't be able to see Lea again even if he was returned home. It's a horrible situation.]

What do you do when you can't apologize to a person who's gone?

[dreamspinning]

There are always things that will go unsaid, little ghost, no matter how much we may wish it otherwise.

[he pauses for a moment, takes a long, slow blink]

If it is absolution you seek, he would have forgiven you anything. I cannot tell you what he knew or did not know, but in the end, he would have forgiven it.

[key_illusion]

But I'm not--! [...Roxas. But at the same time, he is. At least, Roxas makes up who he is, but it still comes down to his identity problems.]

I just....still don't get why he tried to keep doing that. Trying to be friends with me. He had Roxas, and I didn't need to be in the picture-- it would be better for him if I wasn't in the picture! So I don't get it...

[dreamspinning]

He did not consider you two the same. You are and yet are not this person who is so important to him. Of course he did not want you to suffer and be alone. What is 'better' is a matter of opinion, little ghost, and hardly significant in the face of what exists.

[key_illusion]

He still shouldn't have bothered. [Even if it started to work out at the very end.] It's not like he can change something like that.

[Suffering and being alone. It's all programmed into him, and he can't stop it.] In the end, he became hurt too.

[dreamspinning]

Lea never seemed to care much for the concept of inevitability.

Perhaps, but he is your own personal hurt, earned freely and not simply bestowed by circumstance. A hurt earned in living.