communion (ota)

[cyfaredd]

[ Howl's Communion opens in mid-afternoon, entering your brain like a blast of cold air scented with several heavily-applied perfumes. The sensation is so strong that you may actually smell it for real, like an olfactory hallucination, dominated by the scent of hyacinths but tinged with something smoky and earthy, reminiscent of a wood-burning fireplace.

The presence of the person himself is just as loud as the smell. He hasn't opened a connection with everyone so much as he's thrown the door open and allowed his own self-manufactured radiance to command everyone's attention. The mental voice that follows is youthful, confident and flows with a strong Welsh accent. ]

Good afternoon. My name is Howl. Wizard Howl.

I already know what some of you are thinking when you hear that, and no — whoever it was that was once in this world with the same name, I am not him returned. And I don't know anything about that man either, so please, don't hold anything he did against me.

Anyway, now that it's been a few weeks, I've an important matter that I wish to raise with you all. That being: how many of you actually believe what we've been told about how we got here and what we're meant to do with ourselves?

[ The question is punctuated by the impression of Howl leaning back in a plush armchair, crossing his legs and folding his hands together in his lap. ]

If you ask me, we're quite obviously being lied to. None of it adds up, and half of the "proof" is in the form of dreams, which are easily manipulated by someone with the right knowledge, skill and power. I could do it myself if I wanted.

But I already know what I think. I want to know how the rest of you are taking it.

[ He throws up one hand in a shrug. ]

And for the more indoctrinated among you... well, if there's something I'm missing, please! Inform me. I'm all ears.

Comments

[cyfaredd]

[ A coward, she says. For all the negative connotations of the word, Howl doesn't feel any of them. He's a coward too. But he is ashamed of it — becoming a powerful wizard had not, in fact, erased all those things about himself that he hates. Funny, how that works. ]

And if you could fight. [ His focus on her narrows, inspecting that sheen of heat and grit. ] Would you find yourself cured of your cowardice?

[appeale]

That's a little difficult to imagine, but...

[ she tries to imagine it: having the strength or the power that many others do, knowing that she could defend herself or even assert herself without that bedrock fear of death. would that difference alone make her someone like Set, relishing in the thrill of violence? like Hayame, bound by duty and pride? like Iske, a knight in shining armour? ]

... No. Just because I'm capable of it, would it be my responsibility to fight? To sacrifice myself? If I had that kind of ability, it just means I would be free. My life wouldn't be in someone else's hands.

[cyfaredd]

[ At this, the way Howl seems to be regarding her shifts. He had been peering at her before, not literally but in that metaphorical, intangible Communion sense of the word. Now, it feels more like he's smiling, but only slightly — more to himself than to her. ]

Then you're already ahead of the game. I don't know what sort of life you've made for yourself in this world, but if you ever want that power — the power to give yourself freedom — come talk to me.

[ Howl doesn't need to know her name to make that offer. ]