Anyway, this cake is great/So delicious and moist [Semi-Open]

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

The old cherry trees in the courtyard had decided to bloom with impeccable timing, transforming the entrance of the Susono Inn into an explosion of color. Pink petals collected between the stones of the courtyard's walkway, on the overhang of the foyer... oh, and if you got anywhere in a fifty foot radius of the place, you probably got a few on you, too.



The weather was cool and the air slightly crisp beneath the shade of the old trees. There were some wines and sake available for the older guests, and juice for the younger ones (both rescued from the Inn's storehouse). And of course, there was cake.

Mmm, cake.

[Subthreads are A-OK, feel free to threadjack. If you want a super-pathetically detailed map of the Inn for some reason, check here. The invitation post is here. Again, if you've threaded with Allenby/Zouichi a couple of times/are on good terms with them, consider yourself invited! Just ask if unsure]

Comments

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

He held up a gloved hand. "It's all right. I can conjecture from there."

Another pause. "You know, you're not much like the psychics I'm familiar with."

[futureisclear.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" Ildraniath furrowed her brow, "What are the psychics you're familiar with like?"

This would be interesting to learn.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi hesitated for a moment. "Well, they're usually trying to kill me, for one thing. Espers round out some of the highest-ranking positions in the DRF. The head of the main branch, Nyaldee, was largely responsible for the incident that spread the N5S infection throughout the human population. And the head of the branch organization, Narein, was the one who ordered the destruction of Toha Heavy Industries.

"But neither of them can see the future. And I doubt either of them care for a larger cause outside of their own personal interests."

[futureisclear.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure that's a trait inherent to all psykers," Ildraniath replied, sounding amused, "Unless you happen to irradiate some sort of field that causes psykers to want to destroy you."

The idea was an amusing one, although she had run into her share of 'nulls' before. "Pity. Those with great power should have the burden of responsibility."

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

"Maybe I should have that looked into. I'm sure Medical would be thrilled to get their hands on a new and exciting lead into the field of making psychic people really angry at you. Think of all the applications."

"Anyway, Narein mostly specialized in telekinesis. Nyaldee, on the other hand... she could understand the nature of anything she touched -- including reading the minds of sentient beings, of course. And create constituent manifestations of people or creatures out of thin air." Zouichi shook his head. "And she used it to pursue immortality, at the cost of every other human life on Earth. Maybe if someone had put a bullet in her head a little sooner, things would have gone a little differently."

[futureisclear.livejournal.com]

"Maybe if someone had foreseen it..." She shrugged and let the matter drop - it wasn't her world and she wasn't going to bother thinking about consequences she'd never end up dealing with.

"They sound... interesting. If a bit more specialized then Eldar tend to be. Did she really she could find immortality for herself? All living beings die in time."

Which wasn't entirely surprising, considering they were apparently human, but she didn't voice that thought aloud. Yet.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

He smiled a little. "Maybe. Or maybe not. In any case, she was an incredibly powerful psychic, heavily guarded at all times."

"There actually are immortal human beings, in my world. I know of two. It was their existence, in addition to the discovery of the N5S virus, that encouraged the DRF to research ways to obtain immortality for themselves by artificial means. In fact, before the outbreak, they'd already made quite a few strides in the field of life extension."

He paused. "According to the record at Toha Heavy Industries, Nyaldee was already approximately 300 years old. I'm sure she truly believed she could find a way to live forever -- why else put a plan that insane into action?"

[futureisclear.livejournal.com]

"The Eldar mind can be kept alive almost indefinitely - the Eldar body? No. We have not attempted that, although we already live very long lives in comparison with most other races."

It was interesting to think about, really.

"Does the prospect of immortality do strange things to the human mind?"

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? How long? And how are Eldar minds kept alive without their bodies -- the soulstones again?"

Zouichi was silent for a moment. "I think you could say the prospect of power does strange things to the human mind. But yes, immortality has been something the humans of my world have been striving for for a very long time.

"Alchemists sought the legendary Philosopher's Stone, scientists of the 20th century researched telomeres and undifferentiated cells... and that's not even getting into all the religions that promised an eternal afterlife for being on your best behavior and paying the right tribute to the gods while alive. It's part of the literature, the arts, the sciences... pretty much everything, really."

[futureisclear.livejournal.com]

"In the infinity circuit? A very, very long time. Eldar souls... generally are not supposed to die, unless under certain circumstances. In theory, they would be reborn or simply merge with the Warp. That, of course, is now impossible." She set her lips into a thin line and shook her head.

"Immortality... To live forever seems as if it would become very dull, eventually. And even then, you cannot outlive the very universe itself."

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

"The Infinity Circuit?" He wasn't sure what that was.

"I suppose it would get dull, after a time. I don't think most humans live long enough to get tired of it, though." He paused. "Maybe I'll get a chance to find out what that's like. Presuming nothing kills me first, that is. I think I'm supposed to live for a couple thousand years, at least."