queenofheartsrp | first stanza [video]

[The Vine opens on a curious scene. Something has transpired in the new arrival area. A broad swath of garden has been destroyed. The scarred area is not huge, but it is not insignificant. It's not immediately clear what the cause was, but smoke is rising from the ground, and three large bears have gathered to deal with the problem.

Standing watching the animals is a woman wearing the familiar white shift of a newcomer. Her back is to the mirror. Her long hair is silver with a lavender tinge, a tall feather rising from the midst of it. Beneath the hem of her shift, a tail can be seen, twitching in agitation as she watches the animals and the blasted earth. She hadn't meant for anything of the kind to happen. Suddenly, the world had changed. All her strength had come rushing back in a single moment. When had her control grown so tenuous?

She speaks. She might be addressing the bears or talking to herself.]

Absurd. I shouldn't be here. What is this place? Death should not be a garden. It should be an absence of sight, sound, self. A perfect void. [Others' souls might live on, but that is what her death should be, what she wanted. No, not what she'd wanted, but what she'd asked for.]

[She takes a step toward the bears. One turns to look at her. Perhaps she is addressing them after all. Though they don't speak, it's possible she has some way of communicating with them. Her tone is imperious, yet strained.] Such stubborn brutes. You can't blame me for that. When you throw a spark on dry grass, certainly it will blaze. Fire burns. That is its nature.

[She turns at last, showing her face to the Vine, searching her surroundings for something she does not appear to find.] Zidane! [She pauses. She must be able to see the mirror, but she doesn't take it in. It's clear from her expression that she is not entirely present, perhaps disoriented.] He couldn't have done this. Then did he go...? Good. [Yet she looks almost disappointed.]

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It is through strength that one can win and preserve one's freedom. In some ways, strength is all. In nature, the strong survive and the weak die. [That is what she has said in the past, but it does not seem like a philosophy she should cling to, so she adds, belatedly:] Though the strong should show mercy for the weak.

Being a Genome hardly matters anymore, that is true. There will be no more of us. [There are some few of them left, but she destroyed most of them, and those that are left will not be what they were meant to be. Living or dead, she freed them, with her strength. No one can use them, now. Alfimi herself reminds Kuja of one of the soulless Genomes, in some ways.]

No purpose or identity--and why do you not have such things? Were you made only to kill? [This, Kuja can understand.]

I too was fooled by such a being. [Hatred flashes in her eyes for a moment.] I will not allow that to happen again.

Hmmm. Perhaps you are right. The strength that the humans possessed, that destructive power... when it was brought to bear in a concentrated effort... that is what saved them.

There should be no more Einst as well. If I find more... I will have to stop them. [All the Einst should be dead, but if she's alive, perhaps there is a small possibility...]

I am... a copy. I failed my purpose... It was more than just killing... or so I thought. But in the end... there was only death. The death of everything. If the humans hadn't stopped us... I only understood... near the end.

[Alfimi nods, looking serious.] Neither will I. I'll find my own path.

When humans join forces, they can increase their strength. It is ever the way with social animals. That is why their instinct draws them together.

Oh, there are Genomes remaining. There will be no more made, that is all. Those that there are likely all there will be. [She wonders how many of them Zidane saved, and what became of them. She feels a sudden rush of strange feeling, and her hands tremble slightly.] They are under my protection. [What an odd thing to say. How can she protect anything now?] They are my brothers and sisters.

[She considers Alfimi's words. what a coincidence that she should meet such a person here.] The death of everything. I know it well. I passed so close to its dark body, nearly touched the frigid surface of its hide. Though I am no copy, but am unique in all creation, I too had a purpose once, and that was death.

Now I think it is better to have no purpose. To have instead, a self. I hope you will find your path.

I see. I want to get to know many humans and non-humans, too.

Your... brothers and sisters? [Alfimi looks down. She has little love left for her Einst brethren, though she does miss Persönlichkeit.]

No matter the reason or benefit... I will not work towards death any longer. I'll fight against it if it comes to that.

That sounds good. Maybe I will concentrate on finding a self instead of worrying about my purpose. Thank you.

[To get to know many humans--the idea does not appeal to her. She is not gregarious by nature, and she is not yet sure how much she wants to interact with others.] As I said, most humans are eager for social contact, so you should not find it difficult to become acquainted with them. If you display some interest in them, they will be flattered.

Yes, my siblings. They were made for a purpose, but I set them free. [Twisting the truth just a little makes her a savior.] My brother was with me, when I came here. [She frowns. That silly fool.

Yet a moment later, her expression softens.] I too have no more desire to cause death.

There is no need to thank me, child. I speak my mind.

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