towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

[au3] margulis

(no subject)

Characters: Margulis and OPEN
Setting: Anywhere during the seasons event, Floor 100 currently.
Format: Action preferred this time, mun is still not up to full.
Summary: Margulis has some issues with the weather and then has to deal with the disappearance of a close friend.
Warnings: Maybe mentions of war, racism and oppression eventually.

[Summer]

*Margulis tolerates heat better than cold, but there's a certain point where it's too much even for him. He's actually wearing something without sleeves during these days, showing scars from blades, bullets and lasers on his arms. Even so, the heat is still suffocating. But people might occasionally catch him with fire in the shape of a dragon shooting up and turning back down on him, after which he seems much less bothered for a few moments.*

[Winter]

*Winter finds him more immediately bothered, but having an easier time coping. He'll be spending most of his time on the meadow floor, sitting by the edge of a large fire that seems to be consuming wood at a much slower pace than it should be. But not for no reason, as he's actually using his powers to channel his own energy into it to keep it going.*

[Floor 100]

*With Pellegri disappearing back home, just like Jin had, Margulis is not in the best of moods. He's wandering around Floor 100. Whatever he sees, he obviously has mixed feelings about it, given the scowl on his face despite the fact that the hologram should be showing him somewhere he misses.*

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's been my intent all along. But it's going to be impossible so long as he continues to give his loyalty to that organization and he refuses to accept my warnings. If anything, he seems to consider my desertion on discovering that it wasn't what it seemed to be a personal betrayal.

[Another sigh. The rain had started to lighten up, but..it should last for another few minutes.]

I see..it's terrible to hear that he won't accept your warnings and thinks you to be a betrayer..but..if you got your hands on something concrete, maybe he would accept it then! That is..assuming it hasn't been destroyed.

I suspect he may have come by such concrete evidence himself.

*He closes his eyes and tilts his head down as thoughts of Pellegri's death surface. He doesn't even move when some of his hair slips down in front of his face.*

If so, my real task will be in finding him and being sure that the truth didn't prove too much for him at this late stage.

[...Tohko isn't..really sure whether she should do this, since she didn't have that good of a feel on Margulis yet to know whether a shoulder pat would be comforting or not. She would reserve judgement on that, for the moment.]

..Hopefully, it didn't. I don't think it would prove to be too much for him, since he's the only person skilled enough to fight you..but it'll still be a heavy blow for him. But, in the end, he might be alright.

[At least, she hopes so.]

I have my reasons for suspecting it will be difficult for him to take at this point, but I'll spare you the details.

*Because really, she doesn't need to know about all the horrible things U-TIC has done in the name of the search for Lost Jerusalem. Or about Pellegri's suicide.*

[She probably doesn't need to know all of it, but she would like to know about it.]

..Because he might have done some terrible things for the sake of his organization?

There's no 'might' involved. I'm acutely aware of the methods that organization uses and rarely are they merciful.

[Once again, Tohko sighed and nodded.]

I see. I'm not sure exactly which organization this is, and I'm not going to force you to tell me if you don't want you. But..if he's involved in things like that..he'll have to turn over a new leaf and try to make up for everything that he's done. But..you probably already know that. It's just convincing him to actually do that..and not kill himself or take up a different plan that's the problem.

The organization is a complicated matter, but boils down to them being convinced that their goal is noble enough to justify their heartless actions in pursuit of it. In reality, they're nothing more than pawns, marching according to the hidden desires of an outside will. In one respect, they're right. Their desire to return to Lost Jerusalem, the world that gave life to our entire species, is to be commended and it's one I share to this day. If Uzuki has learned the truth and still holds that dream, then I'll be happy should he choose to follow it along a different path. If his hostility fades, I may even join him, should his ideas seem more reasonable this time.

My worry isn't that he might form a new plan for the same ends, but that he'll lose hope in the image of the future that we shared and that he's immersed himself in the pursuit of. Nothing can destroy a man more than to lose sight of the ideals that have become his driving force, particularly when his vision instead turns exclusively to the path of destruction in his wake. I'm sure you've seen for yourself from the version here that he's a good man despite his shortcomings. I'm not certain how well his conscience could bear such a weight without the support of his convictions.

[..Well, this was interesting information, and the way this man described it was being used by someone like Wilhelm. At least she was pretty sure that this was the immigrant fleet that had first left Earth when it was destroyed. Taking it all in, Tohko sighed and nodded.]

Even strong men like Jin and yourself would falter and collapse when they realized what they had done and lost sight of any goals or ideals to keep them moving and try to repair the damage. I'm not really worried that Jin would make another plan for the same goal. He's many things, but he's not foolish.

However..while it's good that the Immigrant Fleet still hopes to reach Earth and possibly restore it, it's..sad to hear that they've gone to such lengths to try and reach it, and that they're being used as chess pieces. You may not know what I'm talking about..but is Wilhelm the one doing the chessplaying?

..And I have one other question. You said that nothing could destroy a man more than than losing sight of his ideals..so are you alright? You must have gone through the same thing..so are you doing alright?

*He shakes his head.*

As far as I'm aware, Wilhelm's representation in my universe is as an android called CUS-TOS. Our manipulator was a woman, but that's all the information about her I can give. She never allowed even the most powerful and influential among the Fleet to see her directly.

As for me...I'm fine. You're right in assuming that I had my faith and ideals destroyed as well, but I gained two new goals on that day. Preventing Uzuki and Pellegri from fighting and maybe even dying for a purpose of which they weren't even aware...and to stop their organization from doing even more harm, both as my responsibility as one of the few with the strength to stand against them and as atonement for my own misdeeds as their former leader.

[That puzzled Tohko for a moment..but, for better or worse, she knew enough about how Wilhelm's universe worked to make a guess at who the 'woman' was..but 'CUS-TOS' surprised her.]

I see..I'm not sure who CUS-TOS is, but could you tell me what that android looked like? And..I think I know who the woman is that's manipulating everything. If I'm right, she's hating the fact that you're being manipulated just as much as you are.

[Tohko sighed again, but this time..she was actually smiling.]

..That's good to hear. Hopefully you'll be successful in your own universe, if we're ever able to restore them and go home. However, if you ever lose your faith or your ideals in this place, I'll help you out. I'm a simple book girl, but I might be able to help you out.

He was nearly identical to Wilhelm aside from a few minor changes in coloration. But I am interested in your theory as to the true identity of that woman. At this stage, it matters little whether or not she's pleased with her tactics. She's treated us as mere tools, yet the people of the Immigrant Fleet have laid down their lives before her deceit, allowed their very reason for existing to be defined by her lies! However reluctant she may be, it does nothing to change the fact that for her, my people have been willing to sacrifice anything and everything and for that commitment to those false ideals-

*He cuts himself off and looks away, the anger abruptly draining from his voice.*

For that, I've seen someone lose the will to live, convinced that there was nowhere to turn upon the realization of the truth. For that, my closest friends have become my longest standing enemies and made clear their resentment for what they can only perceive as a betrayal. So what does it matter now if she pulls their strings with enjoyment or sadness? It makes no difference as to the outcome of her actions.

*He pauses, letting his emotions cool before he finally addresses Tohko's offer.*

Here, I may be incapable of pursuing my goals from my own universe unless the Uzuki I know manages to show up-not that I would put such a thing past him-but I know my intent. Still, you have my thanks for the offer.

[And there goes any smile Tohko had.]

I know that she's done a lot of horrible things, and I'm not saying that how she feels about everything that she's done is any excuse! No matter how you cut it, there was probably no need to manipulate others, lie to them and give them false beliefs, and tell them to commit countless atrocities! I'm not saying that any of that that was right, and it's terrible that what were once your allies are now enemies that don't trust you.

[Tohko sighed, trying to calm down.]

It was just a simple observation on my part. I didn't say that excused her at all or made what she did right. However..if the android that you know bears a close resemblance to Wilhelm..than the woman you've been manipulated by is probably Mary Magdalene. If you don't know who that is, I'll try to explain it as best I can.

I'm not sure if you're incapable of trying to restore everything without Jin..but you're welcome. Feel free to take me up on it anytime you want.

Mary? You mean the partner of the Messiah? But that's impossible, she lived over six thousand years ago, long before humanity even conceived of a world beyond Lost Jerusalem.

I know..it sounds odd, but that does seem to be the case.

[An alternate universe, where Wilhelm took the hit instead of Mary..and she took up Wilhelm's role, probably in grief..and guilt.]

But..Jesus as you know it was not a miracle worker. In truth, Yeshua, a person holding the power of Anima worked the miracles for him. Mary, Yeshua's counterpart, holder of Animus, helped him. They were trying to form a connection to U-DO in the past, and failed miserably. Is there anything here you don't understand? Anima? Animus? Yeshua?

I'm aware of Anima as the name of the vessels that connect to the Zohar and power our ESes and I remember the name Yeshua from Ormus' holy texts as one translation of the Messiah's name, but my only familiarity with the term Animus is in reference to this tower.

[Tohko sighed and nodded, thinking back. Those conversations with Wilhelm had been awhile ago, but it was vital that she remembered everything that she had burned onto her brain then. She had some questions about what ES and Ormus were, but those could wait.]

Alright then, let's start with Anima. Basically, it is a failsafe for the universe. If the Lower Domain is ever going to collapse and destroy the rest of the universe, Anima will destroy the Lower Domain and the Collective Unconscious, leaving the Upper Domain intact. At least, that's how I understand it.

Next, Yeshua was a name that didn't belong to Jesus in your universe..but a friend of his, the holder of Anima. I imagine that names have gotten mixed up and changed over time, and knowledge has gotten lost.

And finally, Animus, the power held by Mary Magdalene, controls Animus and can prevent it from activating.

And that's the same as the Vessels of Anima?

*But in a way it makes sense that they'd be more than he thought. The Testaments had hinted that there was something special about them beyond the fact that they only responded to certain people.*

If that's Mary's purpose, then what does she want with the Immigrant Fleet?

The Vessels are the split-off power of Anima..so yes. Yeshua still has some power of his own..but not as much as he had when Jesus was still alive.

As for Mary..based upon what you told me, I think her purpose in your universe changed. There's a white-haired man named Wilhelm that you've probably run into. In his universe, Mary sacrificed herself to split up Anima to save the universe. But..in your universe..it seems that Wilhelm did the sacrificing, and, feeling responsible, Mary probably took up Wilhelm's position and started working on the Eternal Recurrence. She's using the fleet to make sure that it happens. CUS-TOS, your android, probably holds Wilhelm's consciousness.

*He turns his head to the side, causing more damp hair to fall into his face.*

Then not only were the ideals of Ormus merely a front to conceal an intent beyond any of our knowledge, but even that was most likely a lie. In that case, it's no wonder Pellegri took it so hard.

[After a few more minutes, the rain eventually let up. Keeping it up was tiring, and even though the heat was horrible, it was better to conserve energy rather than waste it all.]

They probably were..and I'm sorry that you all were misled, and that your friend took it badly. But..if you don't mind, can you tell me what Ormus is? I'm guessing it's a group affiliated with the Immigrant Fleet, but I haven't heard of it before.

[At least, not that she could remember.]

Ormus refers to both the main religion and the theocratic leadership of the Immigrant Fleet. It idolizes the Zohar and those of us within the Fleet who possess a strong connection and affinity for it are held in especially high esteem. It's also the group behind the U-TIC Organization that Uzuki leads. Supposedly it unites the Fleet into a single people, but in reality it simply turns them into unwitting pawns.

[Tohko nodded, burning the information into her brain.]

I see..why is the immigrant fleet so interested in the door to the Upper Domain? Using it is very dangerous, since U-DO is terrified of humans.

The Zohar acts as a conduit for infinite power and has been under our jurisdiction since ancient times. Since even before the mass exodus from Lost Jerusalem, we of the Immigrant Fleet, the People of the Zohar, have been its guardians and caretakers. Even that should be enough reason to consider it an object of great importance. But beyond even that, Ormus seeks to use the Zohar to re-open the path to Lost Jerusalem. Then there's the occasional arrogant fool who sees fit to use it as a weapon, but the last one of those to reach a position of power garnered little real support, at least in the time before I left the organization.

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The pains of being from before the major reveals...

And now he'll have to deal with all of that now..><; Or, at least, what Tohko can give him.

It's okay, he's curious!

Which is something that Tohko doesn't mind. ^^

But he still wants to punch his version of Mary :x

Well, no one can really blame him for that, all things considered..

Watching Pellegri die was especially painful...kind of felt like he failed her.

Margulis...><; And he probably didn't get much better after that..

That's when he came to the Tower. Meeting AU!Pellegri helped a bit, after it hurt more...

But having Jin vanish again probably didn't help much..

There's a reason he carries that sword with him everywhere...

Hopefully he won't lose it in the future..

He would flip...and probably break things.

No one could really blame him for that reaction..