paradisalost | || { 106: allegro con brio, feroce } ||

That's fortunate, I'm sure. My darling Annaliese did much the same.

If they're smart and organized, they will. [... laugh.] What do you think, Pharos?

A friend of yours?

[He considers this for a moment, gaze drifting to a nearby window, before it darts back to Joshua - and he smiles.] The people here do not always seem exceptionally good at organization; but that is because they are rarely united. On the occasions that they are... They can be amazing beyond expectation. Despite all that has happened in my time here, I have rarely heard of Castle residents actually dying!

I believe that someone will need to make the suggestion for something to be done; but once they do, the peoplehere will manage it with relative ease.

[a laugh.] My keeper, more like. Terrible job, I wouldn't recommend it.

[a small smile back.] If only unity were more common around here... Granted, it's difficult to join forces with a tumult of strangers, but if only for the sake of getting something done...

Can you not be friends with someone that is your keeper? ...Minato is mine, and he is very precious to me. [A slight pause.] Though... I suppose that job has been put on Uru's shoulders more than his as of late.

[But his smile shifts a little, and Pharos taps his fingers against his journal, which is on the piano beside him; and fortunately closed. No prying ears on this conversation.]

It is not common because the people here do not realize that it is needed! On a daily basis, the people here go their own ways, and do everything on their own. But when they are all in danger; when something terrible happens to threaten them... The people that have been drawn here gather and work together.

If they are told that unity is needed in order to keep everyone here safe, they will indeed unite. And if you give them an enemy, one that will last longer than any single battle... I can only imagine the kind of "teamwork" that would produce.

Edited 2011-07-03 01:08 (UTC)

[... laugh.] A singular kind of power, harmony beyond all harmonies... It's something I'd like to see. However, you would need one infallible enemy for that. One that they paradoxically have hope of defeating.

[... ?] I had heard that Minato had returned... I was under the impression you two were quite close. Who is Uru?

It would be quite the enemy, would it not? Such things rarely exist, and even when they do... living beings are so unpredictable. But if one were to exist in this world, I believe that the residents would stand up to it.

We are close, of course... But I came to the realization that if I were to live without Minato as we spoke of, then simply returning to relying on his company on a frequent basis would be going against that. So I have not been speaking with him as much as I did when he was here before.

...You do not know Uru? [Hrm. It sort of made sense... Joshua hadn't exactly been social as of late.] Uru is a human girl; she lives in the city, and she has been very kind to me. [He glances down at his shirt, and tugs on it a little.] She says things like wearing my usual clothing to go places is not necessarily appropriate, and makes sure that I wear coats when it is cold out. And that blue suits me.

[...] An interesting strategy. I do hope it's been working for you. And I do like the sound of this Uru. She sounds charming.

... If the residents have given up hope of defeating the castle, what then should they fight?

To a certain extent... [His smile fades a little, though.] It helps to some degree, that his years in the Castle before changed him. He is not the same as the Minato I spent my first year here with. But Uru is a very kind girl; she worries for me even though I have told her on several occasions that there is no need for her to.

So far, there have been smaller beings for them to fight - the spiders; the creatures that appeared some months ago when Castle residents were being affected oddly; the "slenderman"; the navy just recently; and more notably, the strange iron men that have been making themselves known.

...as of yet however, none of these beings has been a match for the threat that the Castle itself poses. And that is because they have all been defeated, never to appear again.

An ideal "enemy" for a situation to bring them together would need to be one that will not be defeated quite as easily as that.

[... a nod.] Things must change, I suppose. As I said, he wouldn't want you to linger.

Dear me. I wonder how one could create an enemy everyone could happily band together to defeat, never mind the idea of its invulnerability. We have creeds from all across the spectrum and beliefs that directly contradict each other. It would have to be undefeatable, invincible, and a force that anyone would be able to band against. It's a tough call.

I know that he would not. And it is not as though I spend no time with him any longer. [He just doesn't know what to do when Minato has gone back to treating him like the little boy from his dreams instead of someone important. He liked thinking that he was important to Minato.

But he's silent for a moment, as he leans forward a little and tilts his head. As if the different angle will make something more obvious.]

...You are making that face again. What are you thinking of, Joshua?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. [/vague]

[raises his eyebrows and smiles down at him.] What do you think of power, Pharos?

[Joshua you are the vaguest. He doesn't know how to translate when you get too vague.]

I cannot say that I think very much of it at all. ...But I am aware that I am "more powerful" than a number of beings here.

And I am aware that you are quite "powerful" as well.

[whups whups whups :3c]

Hmm. Out of everyone you've met here, among those who are still here, who do you think is the most powerful?

[He has to consider this for a moment, to make sure that his answer is truly objective and not too entirely biased. As much as he likes Zelman and would like to say that he was the most powerful... frankly, he wasn't.]

Riful was very powerful when I encountered her larger form... But likewise, she was very stupid about the situation, and intent on nearly driving herself into the grave. I have a difficult time considering someone like that powerful.

Allen is powerful as well; and his determination plays a large factor into his strength.

...and of course, there is also you.

[... crouches down until he is eye level with pharos.] What do you think, Pharos? If I took on every denizen in the castle in a united force...

[He's slightly hesitant to answer; and that's mostly because he isn't sure. He can see it when he tries to - the vast potential that makes up "Joshua", just how powerful he is. All that he could do.

But there are people like Allen within this Castle; people who fight for their futures, and for the futures of other. People that Pharos admires beyond words simply because they want to live. And he doesn't know what they would be capable of if someone like Joshua were to actually become a threat.]

...It would likely be difficult. For both you and for them - and you would likely be harmed, as well as them.

But I believe it would be more difficult for them than it would you.

[... grins, and reaches over to ruffle his hair.] It's an emergency maneuver, Pharos. I wouldn't do it unless I had good reason to.

[Normally, hair ruffles would please him more, but at the moment he is slightly distracted.]

For all intents and purposes, this is our jurisdiction now. ...so if you decide to do such a thing at some point, I would like to help if possible.

[... blink.] That won't be necessary.

Of course you would say that it is not necessary. [Slight huff. You are The Most Difficult okay, he expected that.] But it is still something that I would like to do; as I said, if possible.

[:T] You have others to deal with, Pharos. Loyalty or whatever misguided notion you have for this can't stop you from leaving your friends.

You seem to be forgetting that I consider you a friend of mine as well, Joshua. Regardless of the fact that you do not consider me one.

[... sigh.] I don't know what the castle would do if that particular plan should fail. I'm a powerful being, yes, but I'm a small cog in a large machine in my world, granted immense power because the system that chose me knew I would use them correctly. If I fail to return to my own world, my system would rebalance and repair itself given time. I have great power, but I'm also dispensable. [a stare.] You do not have the latter luxury. None of you do.

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