❧ ninth stanza [action]: mother of monsters

[histrionic]

[Having regained her own body, Kuja feels--not content, but herself again. For good or ill. Part of her loathes herself, but she is an egotist at heart. A self-hating narcissist.

That, however, is not as important as what she's been busy doing. While kidnapped by the pirates, Kuja had found an egg on board their ship. A familiar egg. The egg of a Silver Dragon, from her world. Since her discovery, she has been largely keeping to herself and keeping the egg warm, and her constant companion Tropius has taken over the duties whenever she is otherwise occupied.

Now, Kuja is out and about. She feels a sense of excitement. She can sense the egg will be hatching soon. Her egg. Her dragon.

She floats from place to place, accompanied by Tropius and the egg: she sits for a while outside her miniature replica Iifa Treehouse near the lake, then makes an appearance in the Orchard and at her own personal library. She's usually not so prone to make "public appearances", but she's in a good mood, for once. Sometimes the egg rests in her lap; sometimes it's cradled with care by Tropius, and sometimes it floats beside her, levitated by her magic. Wherever it is, it sparkles with blue light, warmed by Kuja's magic. She sings softly to the egg at times, and at times she reads it poetry, or excerpts from her favorite plays.

Kuja keeps an ear out for stirring inside, or the cracking of the shell. For once, preoccupied, she's not as likely to notice someone else's approach.]

Comments

[histrionic]

[Kuja hadn't expected company, although of course she's pleased others are using her library, as they should. She turns toward Lambda at the sound of her voice. It's a familiar sound. She studies her, curiously, taking in the armor.

Armor for a weapon...]

A play. I Want to Be Your Canary is its name.

[She's seated comfortably near her egg, with Tropius lying down nearby, also listening to the reading.]

[cobbledtogether]

[She recognizes that name. Chihiro mentioned it. Tucking that bit of data away for later, she gazes at Tropius for a moment, and then the egg. The former is similar enough to Hoppip to go uncommented on, but the latter...]

Analyzing... Analyzing... Analysis inconclusive. Subject belongs to an unknown species.

[histrionic]

What a talent for analysis you have.

[Kuja smirks.

In any case, that's correct. You wouldn't be familiar with it.

[Lambda's way of speaking is familiar enough to Kuja that she's well aware now that this is that young woman again. The "experiment".]

It's a species from my world, not this one. A Silver Dragon. It should be hatching soon.

[cobbledtogether]

"A dragon"...

[Her brow furrows a little at that information, not that it's visible with her visor in the way. If it isn't something that can be found here, then...]

...Where did you obtain it?

[histrionic]

On the pirate ship.

[She doesn't like to admit to having been abducted, so she glosses over it.]

I stayed there for a short while, and while exploring the ship, I discovered this egg in their hold. They must have traveled to other worlds.

[cobbledtogether]

[...That's interesting. Then—]

That ship is capable of traveling through dimensional barriers?

[Maybe everyone should have tried to commandeer it for themselves.]

[histrionic]

Apparently so. The pirate captain seemed to suggest as much, or else she has the ability to move her ship through the barriers.

I did speak to her for a brief time.

[cobbledtogether]

...Then the ship could have been used to return individuals to their original locations.

[histrionic]

I suppose it could have, but she didn't seem willing to use it in that fashion. She wanted something in return for any service rendered.

Yet she might be allied with. She did not seem adverse. I believe she's sorted out her differences with the Queen, but that state might not be permanent.

[cobbledtogether]

Has an attempt to bargain been made?

[histrionic]

Not to my knowledge, but if she opposed the Queen in the past, she might do so again.

I've considered the matter, but I've been otherwise occupied. [With her egg.]

[cobbledtogether]

[Another thing she files away for later. Perhaps she'll bring it up to someone else along the way. For now, though...]

"Occupied"?

[Like Lambda is going to make the connection.]

[histrionic]

Yes, eggs need looking after. They don't take care of themselves. And then the Queen saw fit to remove us from our bodies.

[cobbledtogether]

...Understood.

[She glances to the egg for a moment, but all she can really think of when she sees it is that time she and Kris were stuck with an...eggbaby. She doubts caring for this one is the same as that, so she askes:]

What sort of care does it require?

[histrionic]

The egg usually remains with its mother. Dragons are warm, and they give off magical energy. The egg feeds of the warmth and magic, needing both to grow strong. The young dragon can survive without them, perhaps, but with both, it will flourish.

[cobbledtogether]

Heat and magical energy are necessary for healthy development. Understood. [...] Is auditory stimulation also required?

[histrionic]

Correct.

Auditory--

No, it isn't required. But I thought it would make a nice addition. It's probably the young dragon can hear through the shell, even if it doesn't understand.

[cobbledtogether]

Understood. [Then, vaguely timidly:] I Want to Be Your Canary is...about love?

[histrionic]

Love... Yes, you could say it's about love. As well as betrayal, vengeance, sorrow, loss, and poetry.

[cobbledtogether]

I am attempting to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the concept of love. Will...it help?

[histrionic]

Yes, it would help enormously, if that is your goal. I can give you a copy.

[Kuja won't miss the chance to share her favorite play! Yet she's curious.]

Why are you interested in such an--understanding?

[cobbledtogether]

...! Thank you.

[She says so genuinely, if a little clumsily.]

The commonly accepted reason for our abduction is the Queen's desire for us to develop romantic and emotional bonds. If...I don't have the capacity to formulate these bonds, I don't understand why I have been brought here.

[So, understanding whatever she can helps.]

[histrionic]

It is no trouble in the least. There are multiple copies in my library.

I can explain why you were brought here, quite easily. The Queen is mad, and she makes many mistakes. I myself can't form such bonds, and I assume it is an error on her part.

[cobbledtogether]

[She tilts her head.]

You cannot?

[histrionic]

No. Like yourself, I am a construct. I wasn't created with such feelings.

[Kuja can relate.]

Although I have some emotions, romantic attachments are not numbered among them.