appeale | ( KENOS ) COMMUNION.

[ Howl isn't one for religion Definitely not organized religion. But the more involved he gets in the Emporio District and the merchants and capitalists who control it, the more they seem to push him towards attending a service every once in a while. Something about the mission, about Meridian, about the importance of Bearers to show devotion to the cause... It's all still a bunch of nonsense to Howl, despite all that's happened since he arrived, so when he does finally give in, it's begrudging.

Unsurprisingly, it's just as silly as he feared. Howl keeps himself entertained by imagining what the other people around him might be thinking about his outfit, his hair, the promotions and advertisements he's done recently for the most popular brands in Skysong. He stares at the woman sitting in front of him, her curly beehive hairdo twisted up and around so oddly that it resembles a bird's nest. He gazes at the beautiful man delivering the sermon and speaking to the audience, using a little bit of subtle persuasive magic to keep him from focusing any of his attention on the golden-haired wizard. And, finally, his attention settles on the beautiful young woman, standing off to the side like a proper little trophy, as she watches her "husband."

She's an odd one. But, maybe, odd in a way Howl can understand. At the close of the proceedings, Howl stands and swiftly walks over to her, his long coat and trailing sleeves swaying slightly with his smooth steps. He looks remarkably handsome and beautiful today, his marble-like green eyes glittering as he flashes his best smile at her. ]

Miss Rudbeckia, wasn't it? [ They had only spoken over Communion before, but Howl knows this is her. Not just from her relationship with Set, but... the vibe she's giving off. ] If I may reintroduce myself and make your formal acquaintance, [ holding out his hand, ] I am the Wizard Howl. Please, allow me to speak with you a moment?

[ the performance that Rudbeckia used to put on in front of others is now reserved only for these meaningless crowds of NPCs; she no longer plays a role for the sake of her own pathetic survival, only for the advantage of the man she loves. so when it's a Shard-Bearer who approaches her, there's no need to keep up appearances. where she once would have greeted Howl with warmth or anxious fluttering – whatever might please him – here her only reaction is a slow blink and a nonchalant: ]

Sure, if you want. [ despite their shared Meridian alignment, she seems to regard Howl with the same wary disdain one would expect her to show a Zenite. and yet, she doesn't hesitate to place her hand in his. ] Is it to complain about my husband? Or have I committed some offence?

[ she can't really think of any other reason someone would want to speak with her. ]

No.

[ He warmly wraps his fingers around her hand and gestures towards one of the side exits with his other, giving her a knowing smile as he does. ]

I confess, I'm simply interested in enjoying a conversation with someone who's obviously as eager to get out of here as I am.

[ It is, perhaps, a little presumptuous of him to assume he's accurately pegged Rudbeckia as a certain sort of person, or possessing a certain feeling about where they are right now... but her mercurial countenance, and how quickly she seems to shift between obedient priestess-wife and bored dilettante, is a pretty strong hint. It's not like she seems to be hiding it from him, either. ]

[ that remark gives her pause. is she eager to get out of here, more than she is anywhere else in Kenos? playing this sort of character is so natural that she hardly thinks of it as anything more than a menial chore, so that can't be the reason. she's glad to be around Set, too. but there is some tension in her chest that unravels, bit by bit, as Howl takes her by the hand and escorts her out of the service. he's right; it's a different feeling to the rest of her malaise. ]

Oh... Yes, I suppose I don't particularly like churches.

[ and more than that— ]

Or Meridian.

[ it's a low mutter, meant only for Howl's ears. she doesn't want to deal with anyone getting on her case about disloyalty. ]

[ That comment earns a curious glance from Howl, but he does not say anything immediately, as they are still surrounded by Meridian devotees. Once he's whisked her out of the exit and they hear the door close behind them, he lets go of her hand and puts an extra half-step of distance between them — like he's following her lead and dropping his own veneer of respectability, for the sake of a more genuine conversation. ]

Rather brave of you to say something like that while still in the presence of the believers, as quiet as you were. [ But he isn't scolding her. He almost sounds impressed. ] People accuse Yima's followers of being a cult, but we're really not so different, are we.

[ when they exit, Rudbeckia makes no move to separate herself from Howl, but allows him to place distance as he pleases; she's so accustomed to being manhandled and letting others into her personal space that it doesn't matter to her either way. her upper class demeanour remains, though, more ingrained habit than deliberate. ]

Of course they aren't. Honestly, there's so little difference between the two that it's almost funny. [ they, she says, not we. Meridian will never be able to accept her as part of it, so she'll reject it too. ] ... It's not bravery, though. I told you, didn't I? I'm a coward.

[ even if she can no longer feel that overpowering fear, without any need to survive driving her onwards – Ruby doesn't think that makes her any less of a coward. this is cowardice too, isn't it? she's given up on everything because she can't overcome it, because she isn't brave enough to try. and that's fine. she told him that, too: she's never felt the need to be a courageous person.

she sighs, daintily linking her hands together behind her back as she walks. she'll follow wherever Howl leads, it seems. ]

It just doesn't matter. They can hate me. But as long as I'm a Shard-Bearer, I doubt they'll do anything too terrible to me. They'd be risking Set's wrath, too.

[ Howl leads them along the sidewalk outside the Church, trees and flowers lining the path on both sides. If not for the topic of conversation, it would be a calm, pleasant stroll with a beautiful young lady. But he glances towards her with a hint of concern in his pale, glassy green eyes. ]

True. [ he'll concede that point readily enough. ] The locals are even more feverish than before the Repose. They won't try anything with you... but they aren't the ones I'd be worried about.

[ glancing towards her, ] Does Set know about your lack of commitment?

[ in answer to that question, Ruby's laughter is sudden and bright — not sarcastic or coloured by the bitterness that seems to be present in everything else she says. she's surprised, genuinely amused by the absurdity, to her, of hearing that after everything Set has done for her. ]

Set has known for a long time. He's the one who told me it didn't matter! [ she walks alongside Howl with carefree ease, the broad white wings that Meridian Discord has caused her to grow from her shoulders and waist spread wide. ] So long as I'm his, I don't need to lift a finger for Meridian – and since I'm not really part of the fight, he doesn't tolerate people trying to hurt me.

[ there's a warmth that is only present in her voice when she's speaking of Set. without that, maybe Ruby would sound as though she's bragging about her so-called husband's devotion to her; instead, her words are delivered in praise of his kindness, his mercy. Set loves her, she knows that. but she can't believe the things he does are because he loves her. it's that he's someone with an incredible depth of good in his heart, and she's just a parasite taking advantage of that. ]

I truly do hope that Meridian wins, because that's what he wants. But ultimately, it has nothing to do with me.

[ it sounds callous. maybe it is, though what she really means is that she's a powerless, pathetic person who wouldn't be able to affect change even if she did want to. ]

I'll survive either way.

[ Howl huffs a noise that's too detached to be a laugh and too apathetic to be a scoff. ]

...Well, that's all you need to be happy, who am I to question it?

[ He's totally questioning it, though. Is the bad so low that surviving is all it takes? How bleak. Surely a person deserves to ask for more than that from life.

But Howl hates arguing and is not here to argue. His congenial smile returns as he glances over her regal wings. ]

I apologize, in that case. It seems I had unfairly assumed the worst of Set, based on all that nonsense during his sermon.

[ she waves off his polite response, flippant: ] Oh, there's no need for apologies. Set will be the first one to tell you he's an evil god.

[ it's a title that she's seen many scold him over, whether it's in rebuke of his existence or from well-meaning souls who think Set is demeaning himself. but Ruby understands it. she's an evil witch, after all; what would be the point in trying to pretend otherwise? walking in the light only ever gets her cast back into the darkness, so why not just stay there? ]

But that's precisely why he'll protect me without question while the "good" people are busy judging whether or not I deserve to live, you know?

come on, wake up.	you have to be careful.
don't make mistakes.	you know how quickly kindness can turn into violence.

( KENOS ) COMMUNION.

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