WHO: Cairngorm + various WHERE: Around! WHEN: Memory sharing event! WHAT: Closed prompts for characters to get a glimpse into ~the land of the lustrous~ WARNINGS: crystal body horror, dismemberment
It's not a guess. There's actually a gem like her. [ They correct him, but it's done without any condescending. ] They, too, live in isolation because of their poison... but they choose to live like that.
[ No, Cardia's circumstances are different than they'd imagined. They guess they kind of assumed she took it upon herself to isolate herself from others the same way Cinnabar had, out of a desire to not harm other living things. It's different here, where she isn't doing it of her own volition. The kind of isolation he describes is maybe closer to the one they're familiar with, not that they have any particular desire to see themself in this strange girl.
Things make a little more sense now. ]
...You really think it's possible? To cure it.
[ They're not deliberately intending to sound rude here, but they do seem a bit skeptical, if only because they're thinking of her condition in the way gems think of their respective poisonous member of society. An immortal, unchanging crystal person isn't inclined to think biology can change too much sans replacing entire parts of yourself, after all. ]
[ the more he learns about her, the less likely "curing" her seems. The Horologium doesn't just make poison - it produces energy that keeps Cardia alive, with that poison as a byproduct. Stopping the poison without also stopping her "heart" will be a delicate task, if not outright impossible, and at the moment, he has no idea how one would even go about doing that.
But he remains undeterred. ]
If there's a way, I'll find it. If there isn't, then I'll be the one to discover it. I promised her that I'd grant her wish, and I don't go back on promises.
[ despite everything, he sounds confident, if not resolute, as if he refuses to acknowledge even the possibility of defeat. He simply doesn't lose. He's not about to start now. ]
One of your people has the same problem, though... That's interesting. In my world, she's one of a kind.
[ They will remain mildly skeptical about that, but Lupin is nothing if not persistent. They're sure he'll continue to try it no matter what if he puts his mind to it. They can't say they particularly relate to that conviction, especially in this case. ]
Cinnabar is one of a kind in our world too. [ They mention their name, in case he's familiar with the crystal. ] But the two of them are very different, even despite that, probably. Their problems might be the same, but Cinnabar was born with that condition, which is why it's likely irreversible...
[ They shrug. They were always too busy dealing with their situation with Ghost to care too much about Cinnabar's issues. The only reason they speak of it now is because its relevant, and even then, their tone is one of nonchalance, like it is something that cannot be helped. ]
Couldn't she also find practical uses for it? Like for fighting.
Well, sure... She's been able to use it for things like that on heists before. We've taught her a bit of self-defense. But...
[ this... may be harder to explain to Cairngorm than it would be to a normal person. He thinks most humans would understand immediately why it would be painful to live life never being able to touch another person; the gems, on the other hand, don't touch each other much at all. ]
She wants to be able to touch people. She doesn't like being isolated from the world. Even if it has its uses, for her, the cons outweigh the pros by a landslide. [ a pause. ] People aren't meant to be alone.
[ He's right; they don't see why it'd be so hard to just wear gloves all the time. Isn't that essentially the same? She does remind them more of gems here, that brand of caution is more similar to the way gems interact with the world around them than humans. Then again, he'd said she wasn't really human in the same way to begin with... ]'
Sounds complicated.
[ They don't know if they can understand this even if they try. It definitely sucks not being able to interact with the world and being apart from everyone, sure, but they'd also just bit the bullet and dealt with it, had never been actively seeking a way out of it. Cairngorm can't exactly say they empathize with trying to go against the hand you're dealt. ]
Maybe there's an answer to her condition is here, in this weird place... there are resources here not known to your own realm, after all. If I were you, I'd make use of them before I'm able to leave.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ No, Cardia's circumstances are different than they'd imagined. They guess they kind of assumed she took it upon herself to isolate herself from others the same way Cinnabar had, out of a desire to not harm other living things. It's different here, where she isn't doing it of her own volition. The kind of isolation he describes is maybe closer to the one they're familiar with, not that they have any particular desire to see themself in this strange girl.
Things make a little more sense now. ]
...You really think it's possible? To cure it.
[ They're not deliberately intending to sound rude here, but they do seem a bit skeptical, if only because they're thinking of her condition in the way gems think of their respective poisonous member of society. An immortal, unchanging crystal person isn't inclined to think biology can change too much sans replacing entire parts of yourself, after all. ]
no subject
But he remains undeterred. ]
If there's a way, I'll find it. If there isn't, then I'll be the one to discover it. I promised her that I'd grant her wish, and I don't go back on promises.
[ despite everything, he sounds confident, if not resolute, as if he refuses to acknowledge even the possibility of defeat. He simply doesn't lose. He's not about to start now. ]
One of your people has the same problem, though... That's interesting. In my world, she's one of a kind.
no subject
Cinnabar is one of a kind in our world too. [ They mention their name, in case he's familiar with the crystal. ] But the two of them are very different, even despite that, probably. Their problems might be the same, but Cinnabar was born with that condition, which is why it's likely irreversible...
[ They shrug. They were always too busy dealing with their situation with Ghost to care too much about Cinnabar's issues. The only reason they speak of it now is because its relevant, and even then, their tone is one of nonchalance, like it is something that cannot be helped. ]
Couldn't she also find practical uses for it? Like for fighting.
[ Instead of replacing it entirely. ]
no subject
[ this... may be harder to explain to Cairngorm than it would be to a normal person. He thinks most humans would understand immediately why it would be painful to live life never being able to touch another person; the gems, on the other hand, don't touch each other much at all. ]
She wants to be able to touch people. She doesn't like being isolated from the world. Even if it has its uses, for her, the cons outweigh the pros by a landslide. [ a pause. ] People aren't meant to be alone.
no subject
Sounds complicated.
[ They don't know if they can understand this even if they try. It definitely sucks not being able to interact with the world and being apart from everyone, sure, but they'd also just bit the bullet and dealt with it, had never been actively seeking a way out of it. Cairngorm can't exactly say they empathize with trying to go against the hand you're dealt. ]
Maybe there's an answer to her condition is here, in this weird place... there are resources here not known to your own realm, after all. If I were you, I'd make use of them before I'm able to leave.