[Not the literal kind of witch hunts, perhaps. But when it comes to what people in the modern era tend to refer to with that term...
He's always curious to learn more about others' worlds, though, because as they go his is on the more mundane side, in terms of lacking magical or supernatural factors. So he can't help a curious tilt of his head to her somewhat vague description of her country's position.]
In what ways? There's a lot of different kinds of worlds represented here, so it seems like it must be something pretty unique.
Isn't there? Just the other day I learned of a man who has lived for at least a hundred years, and apparently that is normal in his world.
[ There's a hint of envy in her voice, something that she catches as she clears her throat and quietly smooths out to wrinkles of her skirt. She looks at her hand and notices the crescents shaped into her skin, recognizing that she had curled her fist just an ounce too tight. ]
Arpéchéle is the exact opposite. If a person was healthy enough they could live to the tender age of twenty-three, but it would only be a matter of hours before they would succumb to the curse of our country. You see... it is an island cursed by Death itself, surrounded by black flowers and currents so unpredictable that it is impossible to actually leave. [ She breathes, her expression remaining calm. ] And to extend our lives we must die before obtaining a new body - but by doing so you are now registered as a Reliver.
[Momo gives a bit of an excitable grin and nod at what she first mentions, because he's met some here who are immortal or close to immortal himself. It's not something he can easily conceive of...but that tension in her body language speaks a lot even before she continues, and his expression settles back to something a bit more sober.
And then, as she describes her world's situation, it shifts even further, into a worry and something like surprise, something he hasn't yet heard of. This is definitely its own unique situation from anything he's heard from others here, and with how she ends it...
...there's a lot of questions that come to mind, but the first one feels obvious.]
So are you a Reliver, then...? That sounds... [Having to die in order to come back, to live, to know a hard limit exists on that life as well and it's younger than even Momo's age? It's a lot to digest, but he's doing his best.] What would drive Death to condemn a whole island to that, with no hope of escape?
[What does it achieve? Death is something he considers as more of a neutral, a fact of life, so hearing about something that seems calculated and sadistic like that is something he can't help but want to ask after. He always wants to try and understand the whys, even if he doesn't agree with them.]
[ Salome does not hunt for pity, when she notices Mimi’s expression shift she snuffs the shame that sparks in the iridescent blue of her pupils. She knows the circumstances of her country were vastly different than most; surrounded by violent currents and born with the fate of their lives predetermined.
What she hated was his question: why had Death cursed their island? What had her country done to deserve such a cruel fate?
When Salome dared to pose that question to the Royal Family, fear swelling in her chest as her frail husband’s health turned for the worse, her entire life fell apart for it. ]
I wish I knew the answer. I’m certain that there are powerful individuals who know why, but they won’t admit to it. I don’t even believe that “Death” is the one to blame for this curse, but that has been the story for as long as I have known it. [ Her attention is drawn away briefly, hearing the sound of children playing gleefully, and suddenly her shoulders grow less tense. ] … This body of mine only has two more years before symptoms of the curse begin to show.
[The coverup by people in power isn't particularly surprising - Momo has encountered similar things in his industry, though with very different stakes - and so a certain weighty understanding settles over his expression. If the only ones who know the truth refuse to admit to it, there's little point asking further after it here.
Turning his head towards the sound, children running about among the stalls, some clinging to their food offerings, his gaze slips towards her again at that admission.]
Have they told you if it progresses while you're here? [It'd be even more of an ask for her than others here, if that time she has left with her children is burned here before she can return to her world.] It's not fair regardless, but if they knew about it when they brought you...
[If it does continue, that's getting into callous territory.]
[ Salome wrings her hands in her lap, shaking her head as she looks down solemnly. The idea of lifting her gaze to see the sincere concern - the one that she can just hear in his voice alone - in his expression makes her heart sink.
She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be admitting to any of this. She needs to hide away again. ]
I'm unsure. I haven't spoken much to our kidnappers since we were brought here, only giving them any sort of attention when they call for us. [ She's stubborn and hates that she was brought her to begin with, but who doesn't feel some ounce of animosity to their captors? ] I may feel differently the longer we're here, but time will only tell.
[ Salome then stands, hands brushing the skirt of her habit. ]
But that's enough of a break for us both, isn't it?
[Momo is very much the type to struggle with accepting concern, so her refusal to look up at him is something he assumes might be similar at first glance. Still, he's not going to take that as a reason to stop expressing it.
Nor does he quite let her brush it off completely with that call back to work, though he does offer a smile that might have just a touch of knowing to it.]
I'd be happy to hear you out more. But I guess it'd be a bad look for the public if they think we're just chatting behind the table, so I see your point.
[He punctuates that note about public image with a bit of a wink. Even if a lot of people are sour towards Patho-Gen, that's not on the other locals.]
Salome knows that her condition is unfamiliar and strange to most, but a piece of her wants to keep just a half of herself restricted; distant. Because what more she has to say will likely shatter the image she's made. ]
Not without you telling me more of yourself. Not just of your job, either, but of your hobbies and favorite foods - I think it would be for the best, considering our living arrangements.
[Momo tends not to talk too much about himself beyond the surface, but hobbies and favourite foods falls under that, and he gives a good-natured laugh, arms folding behind his head in a momentary stretch. There's a few more people coming down the way, so they might have work again soon enough.]
Well, if you want the third degree we might have to go out for drinks sometime, but I can answer those two right here - sports and athletics cover most of my hobbies, and anything with meat in it is a favourite food.
[Is that ridiculously broad? Yes. Is it still true? Also yes. Momo is far from a picky eater.]
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no subject
He's always curious to learn more about others' worlds, though, because as they go his is on the more mundane side, in terms of lacking magical or supernatural factors. So he can't help a curious tilt of his head to her somewhat vague description of her country's position.]
In what ways? There's a lot of different kinds of worlds represented here, so it seems like it must be something pretty unique.
no subject
[ There's a hint of envy in her voice, something that she catches as she clears her throat and quietly smooths out to wrinkles of her skirt. She looks at her hand and notices the crescents shaped into her skin, recognizing that she had curled her fist just an ounce too tight. ]
Arpéchéle is the exact opposite. If a person was healthy enough they could live to the tender age of twenty-three, but it would only be a matter of hours before they would succumb to the curse of our country. You see... it is an island cursed by Death itself, surrounded by black flowers and currents so unpredictable that it is impossible to actually leave. [ She breathes, her expression remaining calm. ] And to extend our lives we must die before obtaining a new body - but by doing so you are now registered as a Reliver.
no subject
And then, as she describes her world's situation, it shifts even further, into a worry and something like surprise, something he hasn't yet heard of. This is definitely its own unique situation from anything he's heard from others here, and with how she ends it...
...there's a lot of questions that come to mind, but the first one feels obvious.]
So are you a Reliver, then...? That sounds... [Having to die in order to come back, to live, to know a hard limit exists on that life as well and it's younger than even Momo's age? It's a lot to digest, but he's doing his best.] What would drive Death to condemn a whole island to that, with no hope of escape?
[What does it achieve? Death is something he considers as more of a neutral, a fact of life, so hearing about something that seems calculated and sadistic like that is something he can't help but want to ask after. He always wants to try and understand the whys, even if he doesn't agree with them.]
no subject
What she hated was his question: why had Death cursed their island? What had her country done to deserve such a cruel fate?
When Salome dared to pose that question to the Royal Family, fear swelling in her chest as her frail husband’s health turned for the worse, her entire life fell apart for it. ]
I wish I knew the answer. I’m certain that there are powerful individuals who know why, but they won’t admit to it. I don’t even believe that “Death” is the one to blame for this curse, but that has been the story for as long as I have known it. [ Her attention is drawn away briefly, hearing the sound of children playing gleefully, and suddenly her shoulders grow less tense. ] … This body of mine only has two more years before symptoms of the curse begin to show.
no subject
Turning his head towards the sound, children running about among the stalls, some clinging to their food offerings, his gaze slips towards her again at that admission.]
Have they told you if it progresses while you're here? [It'd be even more of an ask for her than others here, if that time she has left with her children is burned here before she can return to her world.] It's not fair regardless, but if they knew about it when they brought you...
[If it does continue, that's getting into callous territory.]
no subject
She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be admitting to any of this. She needs to hide away again. ]
I'm unsure. I haven't spoken much to our kidnappers since we were brought here, only giving them any sort of attention when they call for us. [ She's stubborn and hates that she was brought her to begin with, but who doesn't feel some ounce of animosity to their captors? ] I may feel differently the longer we're here, but time will only tell.
[ Salome then stands, hands brushing the skirt of her habit. ]
But that's enough of a break for us both, isn't it?
no subject
Nor does he quite let her brush it off completely with that call back to work, though he does offer a smile that might have just a touch of knowing to it.]
I'd be happy to hear you out more. But I guess it'd be a bad look for the public if they think we're just chatting behind the table, so I see your point.
[He punctuates that note about public image with a bit of a wink. Even if a lot of people are sour towards Patho-Gen, that's not on the other locals.]
no subject
Salome knows that her condition is unfamiliar and strange to most, but a piece of her wants to keep just a half of herself restricted; distant. Because what more she has to say will likely shatter the image she's made. ]
Not without you telling me more of yourself. Not just of your job, either, but of your hobbies and favorite foods - I think it would be for the best, considering our living arrangements.
no subject
Well, if you want the third degree we might have to go out for drinks sometime, but I can answer those two right here - sports and athletics cover most of my hobbies, and anything with meat in it is a favourite food.
[Is that ridiculously broad? Yes. Is it still true? Also yes. Momo is far from a picky eater.]