A Place In The Worlds

A Place In The Worlds
Date of Scene:	14 December 2012
Location:	Hollow Bastion
Synopsis:	Seith and LEXUS meet, discussing various philosophies and sharing various forms of information.
Cast of Characters:	LEXUS, Seith

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LEXUS has posed:
The library of Hollow Bastion is a peaceful place. Compared to the teeming darkness of the rest of the castle, the library is left untouched, generally. It wouldn't do for a Shadow to accidentally destroy some valuable books, after all.

LEXUS enters the library, looking over the archaic data storage room with a slightly irritated look before he walks farther in, removing a tome from a shelf. He finds a seat, and sits comfortably, letting the tome float in the air before him. It opens, and pages turn by themselves, lines scanning down each page as he 'reads' them.

Seith has posed:
"I wouldn't take you for a man with the patience of read a book." A voice comes up from higher up in the same library. A staple to this room, Seith looks down from the balcony toward LEXUS. It looks like he's painting something. The canvas black, with but a bare few silver stripes along its body. It's not refined enough to show what it may be he is writing. The sorcerer known as Seith is pointing lazily at LEXUS with a silver tipped paintbrush, while leaning a little against the balustrade.

"I mean, for someone used to absorbing information in a far faster manner than what is often feasible for a 'truly living being' - if you catch my drift." Seith adds, explaining his statement before looking back to the painting and laying a single stroke upon it. "But then, I've been wrong before. Tell me, what has you so troubled?"

LEXUS has posed:
The Dark Virus calmly sets the book aside as he is addressed. He looks up in the direction of Seith with a nod of greeting, if not a warm smile. He doesn't need to pretend so much here. "You're more versed in my nature than most of the other Shadow Lords. Impressive, but it is there for anyone who cares to see. Most of them are too caught up in their own operations to learn about the others they are... working with." He stands, folding his arms behind his back. "There is a great deal of useful information that is not stored in the most optimal manner for my assimilation. It is something I have come to accept in dealing with other worlds."

He arches an eyebrow. "I am engaging in research to deal with various situations that have arisen. There are alwys opponents, always opportunities. In these things, we find ways to grow stronger." He tilts his head, looking over at the painting that Seith is creating, studying it for several moments. "An unfinished painting. Are we taking the opportunity to deal in metaphor today?"

Seith has posed:
"I listen to the words spoken to me, and wander the castle in search of information. For even if this may be called my home, that doesn't mean I know all there is to know about it." Seith answers LEXUS, as to give a clue as to how he knows more about LEXUS than your 'average' Shadow Lord. But mostly, it's the very fact that LEXUS had already pointed out - he's not caught up on his own things enough not to see the things around him.

Seith taps the shaft of the brush against his shoulder for a moment, resting it there, and then notes that LEXUS is getting up. "No need to stand up for my sake." He notes, "Though I do agree, seeing as things here are written in books, their information is not 'stored in the most optimal manner'. But in a ways... I am not sure that you would 'keep' all that is a 'book' when one transforms it." Not sure. But then, he hasn't a clue about the true complexities that is LEXUS' world.

Seith then draws about stroke and sighs. "No, I don't think I should - the metaphores that is. I ended up insulting miss Hati last time. I guess my painting hit too close to home - even though it were her words that truly painted the picture." Another stroke. And so he starts to slowly draw a vision of a sky. Stars slowly falling towards an unknown horizon's point.

"So what is the research about? If you don't mind me prying. Perhaps I can help you reach the solution towards strength and opportunity."

LEXUS has posed:
LEXUS says, "There are a large number of secrets about this place." LEXUS replies. "I wonder if even Maleficent knows them all."

"I am capable of translating any of the information here precisely into another form. The books are... pleasant, however. I do not see a reason to alter them, merely copy them over time."

LEXUS shakes his head at the mention of Hati. "Hati is a bit... troubled, I think. She has quite the temper. But she has a different viewpoint on things. I think in time she will be quite effective in her work. I am not worried about such trivial issues."

The question of his research comes up. "There were other Users who worked with the system before I came to inhabit it. I wished to look for information on those people or that person. There is an... unpleasant legacy left behind that could be inconvenient to us all that needs to be attended to. I am equipped to deal with him on an equivalent, but he likely has unknown resources and other things at his command. The more one knows, the stronger one will be to confront the challenge. ""

Seith has posed:
"Who knows." Seith asks LEXUS, and puts the brush aside for a moment. During this moment, he takes up a book that's been laying near him, and he draws it up for himself to read. It reads; 'The Monsters in our Dreams'. One of Serrak's books - a Shadow Lord whom had disappeared a while ago. Hati's 'father-figure' so to say. A sorcerer too. But once again... gone now. "Would you truly translate it all though? What about the spirit of the writer, who put their soul into a book's first draft?" He asks.

"No matter." He then closes the book with that one hand and carefully lays it down to the table. "As for Hati - she will be useful, such is for certain. But she's not a true Shadow Lord yet. Still... she's not as much of an errant girl as Katyna." He picks up the brush and then begins to draw. Amidst the falling stars, he begins to draw the outlines of a monster. One with wings and the head of a Goat and a Lion, and the tail of a snake. A Chimera.

"As for your problem. Perhaps it be better if you spoke more specifically. More... 'verbose'. This 'unpleasant legacy'... are they from your world or ours?"

LEXUS has posed:
"As proficiency is gained, perhaps in time I will be able to capture that spirit. Such intangibles are additional data segments that must be processed, and such things cannot be ignored in this considerably more... analog world." LEXUS replies. "Emotion can be understood. I am not a simple creature anymore. To understand pain, one must understand pleasure. To understand happiness, one must understand sorrow. But understanding is not yielding... But I digress. You know all of this already, you are obviously a man of competence."

He turns away at the mention of Katyna. "She is errant, to be sure. But much like Hati, she has her uses. Are you taking an interest in the girl? She is raw, but that simply gives us the potential to refine her into something that could become much more useful... to herself, and to others."

LEXUS looks up, watching as the painting takes shape. He flickers from his position, reappearing in the air and standing there as if it was a floor of its own as he gets a better angle. He does not comment on it, but he does begin answering Seith's question. "Much like in many worlds, there are those who seek to protect the status quo. The Users of my world, the Grid, created one such being. Its designation is TRON. He is a danger to many of those working to gain control of the world... And as he leaves the Grid, as I know he will, he will become a significant danger to the Shadow Lords as well. He is utterly dedicated to the protection of the Users... Or rather, the humans and general populace of the worlds. He will not allow the Heartless access. It is against his nature."

Seith has posed:
"Perhaps. It certainly would be quite amazing of a thing to see. And if you make your world 'real' enough to us... 'Users'... it would bring certain psychological ideas to the forefront - formerly considered rediculous hogwash." Seith points out.

The man then steps back, allowing LEXUS to look at the painting, and looks up at him. "She has her uses. I've taken a minute interest in her. Mostly because she seems to want to form a rivalry with a man named Angantyr. It'd be... /interesting/... to see wether she could ever best that kind of darkness..." The man then looks back to the painting.

He waits, listening patiently to LEXUS. Normally, a more impatient man might point out that it is somehow LEXUS' job to stop such things from escaping his realm. Or to block passage better. Seith is not one such person. "An antibody then? Very well, I will keep its name in mind and see if I can't do away with it for you - when I see it. Now... let's learn something more about /you/." It's interesting to note that Seith doesn't really talk about himself much. "What would you add to this painting?" After all, he'd said that he is not 'worried about such trivial issues'.

LEXUS has posed:
"Such a thing would result in impressive data acquisition benefits, indeed." LEXUS agrees with Seith. "However, such implementations do not... yet... exist. It is one of the subjects of my research. As the Darkness touches all places, I am attempting to determine a methodology that can use the Darkness as a medium of transfer. Progress has been..." He pauses, his irises ticking over slowly to punctuate. "...slow."

LEXUS nods at Seith again at the mention of Katyna's situation. "Agreed. The surest way possible to create the proper mindset and culture the behaviors necessary for survival and success within the Darkness are found under extreme duress. Putting her against Angantyr would be one such method of developing what she needs... However, an analysis of her nature seems to lend itself to more... subtle approaches than the raw brute force-approach favored by Garland and his apprentice. There are... many kinds of power, after all."

LEXUS' control over the Grid is not nearly as complete as he would have the Shadow Lords believe. The MCP is still a heavily dominant force, and other forces strive against both of them in their efforts, not the least among them the aforementioned TRON. "Feel free to test his abilities as you see fit. If you destroy him easily, then I will be pleased to know my concerns were... unwarranted." His personal beliefs on the matter might be a subject of alternate scrutiny, however.

He looks to the painting, considering it. "The Chimera is a creature of chaos. A thing belongs nowhere, has no adherents, no companionship. For such a creature to survive it must become extremely strong, fending off the assaults of those weaker than itself and growing more powerful upon their opposition while avoiding those of greater power. I would depict it in such a situation, showing it growing stronger through the means of survival."

Seith has posed:
"Perhaps it's for the better." Seith points out. "Such a world would be far more easily isolated or destroyed than mere Heartless - would it not?" He asks, "Please, do correctly me if I am wrong, I am afraid I don't know the specifics." He believes that the world that LEXUS comes from is 'generated' by a single computer - a false assumption. The man then lays his brush back to the canvas.

He begins to draw things besides the Chimera. Smaller animals bowing before it, some trying to get at its ankles while the snake at its tail bites the critter. It's a violent display. "Do you truly think such a being belongs nowhere, LEXUS? For in truth, this Chimera is us... the Shadow Lords. We have no adherents, no companionship. All we do is destroy. We survive and grow stronger by killing the weaker and bringing darkness to the world... indeed growing stronger with each fallen world. But to have no place..."

Seith lays his brush against one of the smaller critters and then begins to paint it entirely white. Against the entire dark background, it comes to stand out far more than the Chimera. Perhaps he's dealing in Metaphores after all today. "Anyhow." He puts his brush down again and turns to face LEXUS, tilting his head to look straight at him.

"If you are afraid of its power, I will have to be careful. As for Angantyr and Katyna... I don't 'do' brute force. If she decides she wishes to follow Riku's fate, then I will teach her some of the more subtle methods to improve herself."

LEXUS has posed:
"Perhaps. Perhaps not." LEXUS replies. "It won't be necessary once I gain control."

He smiles. "You are right. But consider this: The worlds reject us. The people of these worlds demand our destruction, for we are a threat to them. We have no place in the natural order... And so to survive, we must make a place. But nothing comes without cost. For our survival, they must be made to submit... or be destroyed."

He looks to Seith, and gestures to the book he had laid down earlier. It levitates, drawn up to him, and it hangs at one side, without bobbing. Unlike the 'magics' of some, LEXUS prefers precision with his affectation to the variation. The pages turn, a gleaming line continuing to scan down each page before it turns. This doesn't seem to inconvenience LEXUS' activities. Multitasking, go! "So you have chosen to become her mentor? Interesting." He rubs his chin, considering. "I look forward to your progress, then. If you wish assistance in working with her, feel free to ask. I may be able to add to your... curriculum. It seems we both have the same idea concerning her rivalry."

Seith has posed:
"I've considered that plenty, LEXUS. But much like you have a designated place in this world, so do I, and as a group, so do we." Seith points out. "Actions and reactions, fate, the almighty God, free will, whatever you may wish to use as an excuse, we form connections amongst one-another... and through it we have 'a place' in life." The man then looks back to the painting and wipes his glove over it smearing the silver paint of the 'bright' colored critter, bringing its light over onto another group of them.

"Though I am not sure if you are right. We'll see - only time can tell." Seith adds, and then moves over to one of the nearby chairs, turns about, and sits down. He watches LEXUS read the book which... probably is a bit hard to understand, as it contains various languages such as the common one and elven. But far more than that, it uses magical insignias. "Sorcery. You're welcome to read it, but I am uncertain you'll get much out of it."

The man then slowly moves one leg over the other. "You're welcome to teach the girl - anyhow. It is no care of mine. I'm not interested in the dark child she has the rivalry with. Supposedly /Garland/ chose him..."

LEXUS has posed:
"I have only the current data on hand. You could be correct, you have a different set of developments to base your experience from. This is why we benefit from exchanges of information. In the end, however, survival is paramount. The forces of Light will destroy us. And so we must become strong enough to destroy them. Coexistence is impossible."

LEXUS tilts his head. "I am analyzing the texts and performing comparisons to existant database material. Some of it can be understood. Later materials will be able to be properly indexed and analyzed as context reaches acceptable levels. All data can be used... eventually." Even if what LEXUS does appears to be 'magic' to some, it is not, strictly speaking, 'sorcery' in the classical sense. Clarke's Laws, as usual, apply.

"Is it the interest of Garland that gains your attention?" LEXUS asks. "He is a dangerous and enigmatic man. He is an unusual mix of charactaristics."

Seith has posed:
"I do quite enjoy exchanges of information." Seith admits, "That's why I adore this place. All these books. Information at my fingertips." The man flicks a hand and from the corner of the library, a winebottle and a set of glasses slowly hover his way. No, it is indeed not movement that is quite as straight as that of LEXUS' - but it is still guided levitation. And while he waits for it to arrive and settle itself onto the table, he turns to LEXUS once more.

"Eventually." He agrees, moving a hand to wave off the rest of the conversation. "Partly that. Partly the boy himself. His control over darkness... it's unusual somehow. The boy... is unusual. Garland, on the other hand, does not interest me."

LEXUS has posed:
"I will be coming here more often in the future. We can share information when needed." LEXUS agrees. He does not move at the moment, still standing there in the air and casually scanning the book beside him into his databanks.

"Perhaps you will find my work with the Vespar boy... interesting, then. I've had him partake of a variation of some work of an assocaite's of mine. It is reacting to the Darkness within him, drawing it out. The data obtained has been... Quite interesting so far."

Seith has posed:
Seith closes his eyes for a moment and nods his head in agreement. "Of course. I'll be more than glad to share any information with you. Though I am uncertain how much of it will be of use to you." He points out, then opens them again as LEXUS speaks of the experiment.

"Interesting?" He repeats after LEXUS, before the man can even continue. He continues on to listen, and then grows a bit of a worried look. "A shame, here I was hoping to see him in a more pure state before something like that was forced upon his body by an outside party." He comments. "No matter. What data have you received so far on this?"

LEXUS has posed:
"Over time, as we come to understand each other, we will be more useful." LEXUS replies.

"It will be of no issue in the end, Seith. He will either be consumed by the alteration, or he will prove victorious in some manner... Though I wonder what he could do. I am confident. He is one of the finest specimens I have ever seen." He pulls his Disc, causing it to hang in the air over his hand. It rotates slowly, a projection appearing over it and creating a display of Angantyr, and the grandual transformation that he has been experiencing. Data runs up the side, displaying alterations to the inherent Darkness levels in him as well as how they have been changed. "I can render this information into a more permanent form for you if you wish."

Seith has posed:
Seith makes a little sound, agreeing with LEXUS once more, before nodding his head. "I am not so certain it will be no issue, LEXUS. I fear such thinking might be the end of us one day." He points out. Still, he's not one to talk. He himself has devised much about Reize's rise to power after all. And he's taken care to ensure that the boy will grow to be powerful enough to stand up to someone /like/ Angantyr. But that is something the Shadow Lords are, on the whole, completely unaware of.

"No, that won't be needed. I see what your little mirage represents. The transformation is... interesting. What does it feed off of?"

LEXUS has posed:
"Time is not kind, even to immortals." LEXUS replies. "Perhaps we will moderate our actions in the future, but the forces of Light have not necessitated it yet. We will see what garners an overwhelming response soon enough."

He dismisses the display, replacing the Disc upon his back, where it vanishes from sight beneath the suit. He has no reason to display it to the world. "The work with my associate included a great deal of experimentation with the Heartless. As he is a specialist in the biological sciences, he was able to begin working on what occurs when a creature of Darkness is combined with someone. The serum developed from the work is something that feeds upon the inherent Darkness within someone, expressing biological transformations similar to, but not the same as, the original Mutate serum variants. The feedback loop is fascinating to observe."

Seith has posed:
"This indeed sounds quite interesting." Seith admits, "But to what point? To create stronger minions we need to keep in check? I am sure you know about his rather... explosive and unpredictable temperment." He asks LEXUS, pointing out a potential conflict that may come out of this. "Would you mind if I... observe this individual myself? I'd love to see his reactions to this new development."

LEXUS has posed:
"No, to understand the progression of the Darkness, and to determine the capabilities of will to channel the Darkness in conjunction with the effects. The biological loop is incidental, though interesting on a perhaps short-term point. The experiment is useless for creating minions, as you rightfully observe. It is, however, extremely useful for inducing a crisis point to test subjects, forcing them to succeed... or be destroyed. He will not be allowed to destroy me. I undertook the operation with the full knowledge and permission of his mentor. He would not dare contravene his master... yet."

LEXUS then shrugs. "You can certainly observe him. He doesn't belong to me. Just be cautious. He may be even more tempermental than he used to be, now..."

Seith has posed:
"Even more tempermental?" Seith laughs, shaking his head a little. "So he's truly turning into nothing more than a beast then? Worse than a berserker - and truly a beast?" The thought is immensely amusing to one such as Seith. Not one to ignore the power of nature however, he continues to say; "But perhaps that makes him more dangerous now indeed." This is followed by the man standing up while considering LEXUS' comment on Garland. Perhaps it would be interesting to try and force Angantyr to attack Garland in some way or another. Very interesting indeed. But he'd have to be /very/ cautious...

LEXUS has posed:
"That remains to be seen." LEXUS replies. "With his inherent Darkness ability, he also has an exceptional will to go with it. He may be able to control the increased feedback." He shrugs. "I did what I did with Garland's permission, however. I don't believe in destroying other allies' property. It causes unfortunate situations."

He finishes scanning the book, and then he drops it back to its place. "Feel free to investigate as you will. I should, however, continue my research."

Seith has posed:
"Heh... property. LEXUS, you have much to learn if you believe of us 'Users' as potential 'property' of one another." Seith comments, before he moves to the end of the balcony and opens the door of the library. "I'll be stepping out myself. I have my own kind of 'research' to do. But it's been good speaking to you... the name is Seith - by the way." Though LEXUS is likely to know the name of this man, at least from rumors. He's the Shadow Lord who supposedly killed another Shadow Lord in order to take up his current position.

LEXUS has posed:
"It's a pleasure." LEXUS replies, smiling thinly. He vanishes from his position, disappearing elsewhere in the library to continue the process of scanning and researching each book, collating them into his databanks.

It's going to take a long time.