Do not interfere.
Screams cascade, almost drowned out by the siren song. People flee as fast as their legs can carry.
"Yes!" the musicbox gushes. "This is just it! I'm doing it! Can you hear it, Binah? It's the song!"
Atlesean battleships move across the sky and their dropships approach; a single one opens fire, but the spray of bullets pings off the box. A gleaming line changes course and shears through the dropship; no blood follows the wreck down, as it was manned solely by machines.
Pandemonium broke loose. And yet you tell Binah not to interfere? This does not fit you.
Yang roars in her futile struggle against the song, unable to hear her sister shout to stop. She stays ahead of the notes charging her for a time, only for another set of lines to sneak up from behind. Ruby panicks and slices it off before Yang can be dragged into the air. Still the rose remains hesitant to attack what she knows is Ash.
More than this being out of character, Binah
knows the voice she heard this time sounded different. Familiar, even. Yet it takes a moment longer to comprehend what happened.
Then Love falls from the sky, shrieking in a panic with both hands clasped to her face. Shivers of black flicker across her body as memories not her own assault her. She helplessly stares at Binah, mouthing words that never reach. Then a stray note bashes her head in, prompting shouts from Yang and Ruby. Love's body rises into the air and unravels along the lines, her blood wetting them.
"Yes!" Ash cheers. "Help me, friends! Help me play it, just this once!"
"This isn't you!" Ruby shouts back. "Stop it, please! You're hurting people!"
"Why do I have to care about that? We're all just after our own goals."
"That's not true! We're friends, right? Right?!"
The song stutters. Musical lines shy away from Ruby again, doing no more than make her skirt and cape flutter. She stands defiant against the musicbox, but trouble already brews. Gunships form up into swarms overhead, though they yet hold their ground.
"You would manipulate them into following your own desires," Binah taunts the empty air. "How unlike all your professed virtues, Carmen."
"
I have done no such thing," the sweet voice whispers into her mind in turn. "
All I did was to prevent knowledge not your own from reaching. To stop them from interfering with your judgement. Now come, act according to your nature instead of the whims of others."
Binah huffs at that, smirk firmly in place. She notices Winter arriving on a path of white glyphs, eyes wide. "And yet you deny being a hypocrite," she answers Carmen before stopping Winter. "Do not approach further."
The Specialist weaves between the gleaming lines and crimson notes, untargeted as they are. Ash seems more concerned with the music than the slaughter, only Yang is truly fighting. Winter grabs Binah's collar, though. "What,
in the world, is going on here?!" She screams, which is admittedly an understandable reaction. "Stop this madness and explain yourself,
now!"
The musicbox falls silent just then. Her winder arm spins rapidly for a moment, then the second movement begins. It has grown louder, faster, more vibrant. Binah glances back up to the fleet, then at the woman still holding on to her. "No more blood needs to be shed today. Keep anyone else from interfering."
A heated, accusing, but most of all scared look is given to her. Winter seeks for something in Binah's gaze, but only finds cold certainty. Resolve replaces all doubt and she nods, stepping back. A hand goes to her earpiece while Binah turns around.
Just then, Yang's aura breaks violently. The young woman screams as a pair of lines wraps around her arms, squeezing them with enough force to draw blood. Binah chops them off in passing, then pushes Yang back into her sister's arms.
"Cease playing this song," she tells the musicbox. "It is not what you seek."
If anything, the heart starts beating more furiously in response. "Of course it is!" Ash denies. "It's exactly the song I always wanted to hear!"
"You sought to learn of your parents," Binah counters. Her voice is barely audible over the symphony, yet she knows Ash hears every word. "So why would you reenact that which took your mother's life?"
Just like that, the performance comes to a screeching halt. The musicbox shrieks and belches out a final note, followed by a vomit of lifeblood. "W-What do you mean?" Ash demands into the sudden silence. "How would you know that? Why didn't you tell me if you knew?!"
The winder works itself ever faster, audibly straining in the silence. It lies heavy atop the area, devoid of any sign of life. Ozpin and Qrow appear nearby, almost simultaneously with Courage and Weiss. All of them keep their distance at the sight while Ruby pulls her sister to safety.
"I needed certainty," Binah ultimately tells her protegé. "Before today, I could not tell for certain that you were not a mere coincidence. Being wrong in my assessment would not just be needlessly cruel, but also dangerous."
"You still could have said something! I know! You're lying!"
Just as the first notes flow once again, Binah arches a brow. Saffron lands nearby with Anemone in tow. She waves them back to wait with the rest. "I never told you the final act of the story," she muses. "Now may be the perfect time to make up for that."
"I'm not listening to a liar."
"Have I ever lied to you, Ash?"
The song sputters again as the greatest desire wars with another, lesser one. Yet even now, curiousity is such a dangerous weapon. At the same time however, Binah is not the only player at the board.
"
You don't need to listen to anyone, dear. It's alright to-"
"Shut up, Carmen," Binah says, and Locks the voice of the Distortion. Gleaming bands of light become visible across the entire area, wound the tightest around Binah and the musicbox. "I will deal with you in a moment. For now, I promised a story. And a story, you shall have."
The box remains silent, winder slowly rotating as she awaits the tale.
"When Angela stole the Light, an accord was made. The Sephirot desired for Ayin's plan to come to fruition, for it to shine seven days and set strong roots in the hearts of man. Angela wished to have it all for herself, a humble revenge for a million years in hell. The light shone for three days by then. When it flickered out, four days of darkness followed. The White Nights and Dark Days, this event came to be called. And with it, the City changed. The seed was planted, yet could not fully take root.
"From the light she kept, Angela built herself a Library. All had been supposed to vanish into the light that day, but her interference kept them present. Former employees, the Abnormalities, even the Sephirot. All were retained and sent into slumber as books. The Abnormalities were severely weakened through the process, unable to physically manifest of their own volition anymore. Angela then crafted an invitation, sent to any who received part of the light. They would return it to the library, lured by knowledge, power, or their own aspirations."
Binah pauses there, having set the stage. As unfortunate as it is to give the game away, the intrigued and disbelieving expressions all around are almost worth it. This is more important either way. She replenishes the struggling Lock and carries on.
"Yet before the first guest was even called, a visitor came to the Library. A washed-up Fixer, barely able to make end's meet. Even he did not know how he got inside when the Library was protected from all such invasions. Angela took offense to his presence at first, yet miraculously decided to keep him. This man was Roland, and he became her assistant. He received many of the guests later invited, and cut them down to be turned into books. Without hesitation or mercy he worked, able to laugh off tragedy after tragedy that concluded in these halls.
"After all, that man was empty of expectation. Without anything left to return to, he accepted the work he was forced onto." Here, Binah has to smile. "Yet in time, his frequent conversations with Angela brought forth the most unexpected bond. A fragile friendship, born of two broken beings. Some may even call that beautiful, without regard for the greater tragedy at play."
Someone is arguing in the background, claiming Binah speaks madness. She pays them no mind in favour of the raptly listening musicbox. "I knew hidden within him was poison from the moment I first laid eyes on him. Angela, naive as she still was, never quite realised until the mask fell."
Binah motions around herself. All magical girls are on the ground now. Deathly pale, shaking ever so slightly. They well remember that day and forever will. "The White Nights And Dark Days planted a seed of change in an unchanging City. Yet the incomplete light weakened it, so that many who should find strength instead shed their humanity. They declined, following their final desire with obsessive need. Hence why I have clarity now, child.
"You have distorted, just like so many others. You are not a child of Remnant, not originally. You are a child of the City."
The musicbox shudders, but does not interrupt beyond a single, keening whine. Ozpin's brows are furrowed, though the realisation is written all over his face.
Binah steps before what has become of Ash, carefully cupping the warm heart. It does not resist, though aura would protect it from being crushed. "The song you seek to play was only heard once, yet it shook the City from its ennui. The Pianist was the first great Distortion, depopulating an entire district's Backstreets within hours. Three hundred thousand people, wiped away to join his play." Gasps follow her recounting. "And among them was your mother, Angelica."
The winder's hand clenches into a fist, almost drawing blood. "Why can't I remember her?" Ash asks weakly. "Why is this song all I have?"
"Of course you would not remember, child. You were never born."
A choked noise escapes the heart, almost akin to a sob. Blood drips from her in a faint imitation of tears. Binah's hand remains, spending comfort. "Few things can affect a fetus, but this song most certainly can. How you came to Remnant however, even I can not tell you. I know that this world is home to a Singularity of reincarnation, myself being proof of that. I, too, lost memories in the process of arriving. My original human body has returned after I long lost it." This is speculation, but it lines up a little too well to be a mere coincidence. "The time of Angelica's death and your first memories line up as well."
"...you are not human?"
"I did tell you before that the Sephirot were machines, their minds remade from brain maps of humans. I am no different. Angela may have returned proper human bodies to us, but they were always mere constructs, unable to exist outside of the Library." Binah steps back at last, a sheen of crimson on her fingers. "Only in coming to Remnant did I truly regain what I once lost."
Somehow, the musicbox seems to slump. "So it wasn't her song at all," she murmurs. The winder's pace picks up again, flicking specks of blood everywhere from the wounds its own nails struck. "There is nothing left."
"I was not done yet," Binah reminds the girl, who only barely snaps out of her fugue. "Not to mention you are wrong. Your father yet lives."
Just like that, the winder falls still. Binah smiles.
"In the wake of Angelica's death, he grew bitter. With the light of his life snuffed out, there was no cause left to live for but one: vengeance. And so he scoured the City for clues, interrogated whomever seemed even remotely connected to The Pianist and the Distortion. First it was Syndicates and other undesirables, but soon his attention wandered toward the rest. Laboratories, Fixer offices, none were spared his meticulous attention. None were spared his blade. He carved a bloody tear into the City in his single-minded march. Until a Colour arrived one day, offering him a final hint. And with her ability to travel through dimensions, she opened his path into the Library."
The world seems to hold its breath as Binah pauses. She knows the magical girls have firmed up. Love woke up again, reformed after her death. All of them know the truth as well as she.
"And when, at the end of her journey, Angela became human and thus mortal, Roland turned on her with all the repressed rage living in his broken heart. It was a day none of us will ever forget, for he carved it into our bodies by fire and sword." That day Abnormalities and Librarians joined hands, only to be found wanting. A star cleanly bisected, a god brutalised. Magical Girls torn apart. "The Red Mist danced that day, but even she was nearly swallowed whole."
Binah huffs, fondly recalling these precious minutes. "I, too, died facing him as he continuously refused to die despite the impossible odds. We fought him with the stolen power of every guest that fell in the Library, all the Abnormalities whose assistance we painstakingly earned. Yet in the end, all but a handful of Librarians were slain. His unending wrath was brought to a halt just before he could cut Angela down.
"And though I know not the words spoken between them, I know a miracle happened. For when next I woke, both were alive. More than that, they put the matter behind themselves and decided to move forward, into an uncertain future."
Binah smirks, one hand resting on a band of Carmen's trapped light. "Your father yet lives. I will see him on the day my task is complete and I return from whence I came. That is the reason I could not speculate before today. We all realised the similarities," she muses with a glance to the magical girls. None dares meet anyone's gaze. "You have Roland's eyes, but more importantly his leonine spirit. And yet, had we been wrong, that boundless anger since buried would certainly wake once more. Even I will not dare take such a risk lightly."
The winder drops with a clack that somehow conveys finality.
"...what do I do now?"
"What kind of question is that?!" Love shouts as she surges to her feet. The previous death long forgotten, she beelines toward Ash and shoulders Binah aside. "You come back to us, that's what you do! You're our friend, even if you're a musicbox now! You're going to live! You're going to meet Roland, and if you don't wanna go there then I'll just find a way to bring him here!"
Others speak up next. Ruby follows Love's example and surges along; Anemone reminds Ash that she cares while Courage stands as an inviolable pillar. Even Saffron, who spent the least time with her, has a few kind words.
Slowly, the box's lid falls forward. It clicks shut and the winder rolls up as if it never had bones to begin with.
Into the silence, Binah grasps the tendrils of light more tightly. "Now for you," she declares. Lock is once again renewed upon the light, then she opens it with a Fairy. It glimmers around Binah's fingertips, opening into a gleaming pillar. Within stands Carmen, staring at her with abject confusion and a mite of fear. Her brown hair is tinged in gold so similar to Remnant's light, yet different. It runs across the very epitome of a labcoat, every fibre of her skin a concept made manifest.
Binah's hand closes around her throat anyway, awe rejected in the face of her target. "How utterly petty," she muses while Carmen thrashes in her grasp. "But if I kill you here, what will happen among the Light? Can your voice be silenced just like that?"
"
Of course not," she grouses back, red eyes gleaming. "
I will lead them all into acknowledging their desires and following their own paths. The City is finally shaking off the disease of the mind, and I shall walk with every single one of its people until they all have been freed of their shackles!"
There she pauses, gaze roaming over the humans and Abnormalities watching their display. When it finds back to Binah, she has the gall to give her a kind smile. "
I do not expect you to understand. Without any desires of your own to achieve, how could you?"
"Oh, but I do." Binah smirks back, never relinquishing her hold. She knows well even if she snapped Carmen's neck, that would not kill the apparition. "But I do not need you to show me the possibility, little girl.
Ayin is the one who made me understand that I must not avert my gaze from the world. He brought your dreams to fruition when you cowardly fled the results of your own actions." The other woman's smile breaks while Binah's grows toothy. "How would I ever acknowledge one who simply reaped the fruit of another's labour, yet encourages others to make their own dreams come true? You are, and always will be, a hypocrite. Now begone of Remnant forever, or I shall find a way to kill you even within the light."
"
You can't," Carmen retorts flatly. She flows out of Binah's grasp and reforms in front of her, arms crossed. "
I have nothing to fear from you."
Binah takes but a single step. Though they are of even height, she still seems to loom over Carmen.
"When did I ever say you need to fear me?" she asks, a full cheshire grin on display. "When you yourself gave me all I need?" A motion goes for the musicbox, which has since faded to reveal Ash; she sits in a depression surrounded by cracked cobblestone and spurts of blood. Hugging her knees to her chest, unresponsive for the moment. Carmen's brow furrows and Binah elaborates with glee: "What do you think Roland will do, should he learn what you made of his child? The daughter he never got the chance to meet?"
"
Even if he could do it, his will was since buried. He gave up on his greatest desire."
"And yet the monster he once was still slumbers within his heart. Do you think I can not tickle it back to the forefront? And what is more, the remaining Sephirot may yet worship the ground you once walked on, but Angela does not. She will assist him if he earnestly seeks your death."
Carmen has grown increasingly uncertain. It is difficult to spot, but her skin turned more pale than it already was. Seconds pass in silence, then she takes a single step back. Lock breaks under the light's power and the apparition vanishes.
She flees Remnant with all due haste.
Silence reigns with her parting, echoing loudly through the minds of people. The magical girls slowly approach, as do the hunters. Ruby is among them, too.
Binah's attention rests fully on Ash, though. The young woman's brow has furrowed and her feet slowly slide forward. She stands with careful, almost mechanical motions before looking around. To her friends, then to Binah. A faint dusting of pink colours her cheeks.
"I guess I made a big mess today," she admits sheepishly. Her gaze never leave's Binah, though. "But I can't regret it, not really. And... I think I still want to hear that song. Even if everything you said is true, that melody is still a part of me. I don't think it will ever leave. But...."
Ash trails off and takes a deep breath. Binah's brow arches as her protegé begins to gleam. Several people leap back, even the Abnormalities are spooked. But Binah stays, she already knows what this is.
There is no armour, no weapon. From one moment to the next, an ornate silver flute appears in Ash's hands. It seems almost fluid, ethereally reflecting the sunlight. The younger woman does not even hesitate before raising it to her lips, fingers finding their places of their own accord.
A single brush of air fills the air with song once more, a simple note that ensnares the senses. It is the same song as before, yet tamed. Kinder, more gentle. It does not pierce the heart, but embraces it.
Binah feels herself relax as the melody unfolds. All tension melts away while Ash plays the song of her E.G.O, properly awakened. Gleaming lines of music dance in the wind and carry across all of Vale. Panic and fear are dispersed as an unforgettable melody receives new purpose.
Yang Xiao-Long listens raptly, all her anger quelled. Ruby Rose has turned into petals and dances amidst the many ethereal notes, much like Love is dancing on the ground with Anemone and Saffron. Weiss Schnee stands with her eyes closed, one hand pressed to her heart. A silvery gleam with trails of leafy green flickers around her body; Courage leans against her, a faint smile gracing the taciturn woman's features.
James Ironwood arrived at some point; he tries to act severe, but his foot taps to the rhythm of Ash's song. Winter by his side is more restrained, though she does nothing but listen with closed eyes. Ozpin himself has leaned against a wall, seeming almost boneless as great weights are lifted off his shoulders for but a handful of minutes.
The day seems brighter by the time the song ends. Ash slowly lowers the flute to study it with keen interest, only to receive tacklehugs from Ruby and Love. The three would fall over, were one of them not able to levitate and keeps them afloat. The streets remain empty but for them, though it will not be long until the people will return.
Binah pays the praise and cheer no mind. She rather turns toward the headmasters coming her way, feeling quite unwilling to have another confrontation. She would prefer to sit down and recharge with tea.
Alas, neither Ironwood nor Ozpin seem like they would just let her leave. At the very least neither of them seems particularly angry despite the damages. Binah did not quite see how many bystanders died in the beginning, but her guess is on a few dozen at most. It does serve them right for just standing and gawking.
"This certainly puts a few things into perspective," Ozpin greets her jovially. When Binah only arches a brow, he chuckles. "I understand why you would carefully guard such knowledge, and I am aware you will not part with any more today." He ignores the fact Ironwood frowns, rather motioning to Ash, who currently holds out her flute for Ruby to investigate. "What exactly is this instrument?"
Binah looks at him for a long moment, for once failing to discern his motive. He obtained an entire treasure trove of knowledge today, yet he could have more with a little digging. Then again, insistence on his part may just crush the fragile peace with Ironwood right next to them. She may as well indulge him with knowledge of no real value.
"When Ash became in tune with herself, she manifested E.G.O. A shell of the self, manifested with the instinctive knowledge of its use. Strong emotions carry the City's children past that threshold, upon which they stand at a crossroads. Those who persevere manifest E.G.O, but all the rest become Distortions instead."
"Were you for real back there?" Qrow interjects, thumb pointing toward Ash. "You said three hundred thousand, that's about all of Vale."
"I was. From what I heard, the Pianist was one of the more devastating Distortions."
It is then that the children join them. Yang walks awkwardly, one hand brushing over the edges of her golden mane. More than half was sliced off earlier, yet all traces of anger elude her. Ruby steadies her sister as they follow Ash, the flute nowhere to be seen.
"What other Distortions were there?" Ash asks of Binah. Her curiousity clearly burns. More than that, her skin gained some colour. Her eyes shine with new luster. Binah studies her charge a moment longer, pleased with what she sees. The previous insecurity is gone and Ash's original zen has returned. The greatest difference is the faint smile playing around her lips.
"You shall have this, as a reward for doing what precious few ever could. Though there is little to say of the many forms and shapes a Distortion can take. The Crying Children may have been the most prominent, a group of wax figures that compartmentalised the anguish of a selfish man. I have to applaud L'Heure du Loup, who took the form of a humanoid wolf." The memory of that particular specimen draws a chuckle from Binah. "She was the only being beside myself to ever anticipate facing the Red Mist. Suffice it to say, even her herculean strength failed to overcome Gebura's prowess."
Love gags at that and hugs herself. "Brrr, did you have to remind me of the clown? He was so
weird!"
Saffron laughs softly at her sister's displeasure while Anemone comforts her. This thankfully breaks whatever ice there may have been.
The group is brought away and it is unanimously agreed that the musicbox was 'slain'. No one even considers revealing to the population that it came from a person or returned to being one, much less who that person is. Ash dematerialises her flute, well aware she can call upon it whenever. Her recent history of going it alone finds an end.
Despite that hiccup, the Vytal Festival continues without much trouble. The various tournaments and competitions truly begin. Ironwood has relented somewhat, giving Binah breathing room; be it the power displayed that day or the information he gathered. Ozpin does not seem to distrust her, either.
The only noteworthy event over the next three days is Yang finally learning that the woman who once defeated her is Love's sister. Little comes of it, however; an intense staring contest, followed by an uncharacteristic huff from Yang before she just walks away. Ruby reveals that her sister's anger issues seem to be under control ever since she heard Ash's song. Everyone knows this will not last, but it also drives home the immense power within this flute.
For her own safety, Ash is ordered to remain with either Binah or at least one of the Abnormalities at all times. Sable swiftly volunteers to accompany her and rides on her shoulder.
Be it Salem making a move or Ironwood having ideas above his station again, Binah will not risk for Ash to come to harm. Now that she found her and knows the girl is Roland's, protecting her has become imperative. The terrible fate which will befall her if she fails is barely a consideration, though; no, what Binah wants out of this is to see the look on his face when they meet. Though her protegé has yet to express an opinion on whether she wants to remain on Remnant or come to the Library with Binah.
On Wednesday, almost halfway through the two weeks of Vytal, Binah's elusive customer contacts her again. Only this time he requests a meeting, far away from prying eyes. She receives an address for an empty warehouse at the docks, as well as instructions to let no one follow her.
So it is that in the evening, Courage teleports into the place first to scout it; she returns minutes later, revealing that someone set up a lone computer in the building. No sign of explosives or any other sort of trap. No sign of the person who asked for their presence.
"A cautious one, I see." Binah's smile is well in place as she takes Courage's hand. Ash grasps the other. "Take us there."
They arrive within moments and without fanfare. The place is deserted beyond the aforementioned computer station, set up in the center of the room. Only a single chair is provided, though Courage can easily fetch two more.
Binah investigates the computer itself, but finds it has but a single application installed alongside a singular file of instructions. An address is sent to her Scroll unbidden, corresponding to what that application needs to connect.
As her companions settle to Binah's left and right, she leans back and folds her hands in her lap. No words are spoken, but she knows she is being observed. "An impressive display for a mere conversation. You are quite cautious, perhaps more so than is warranted. Unless you fear me for justified reasons."
A faint "Ha" is the first sound she hears, relayed by a pair of speakers. A dark sound, indicating a male. "I was keeping tabs on you, Binah," he drawls without ever revealing his face. "And contrary to Cinder, I am not blinded by meaningless pride. Neither am I a fool." A huff follows. "The same goes for you. Last week's events are proof enough of that. I have no interest to ever risk becoming your target."
"And yet you allow me to hear your voice," she retorts. "That is enough to recognise you, even without ever seeing your face."
"Voices are easily forgotten, it is faces that we recognise. You will never know If I have a sophisticated voice changer active, or am simply altering my voice."
He has a point with that argument, though Binah can read between the lines just fine. It is a calculated risk. He wants
something from her. Considering the fact he already admitted to knowing Cinder, that confirms his allegiance. He clearly held her in disdain as well, which Binah can understand.
"I need not know your identity," Binah agrees easily. She already begins to know the man himself after all. "The names we identify ourselves with are but smoke in the wind, chosen not by us but by another. We simply adhere to them because it is convenient. You already know what I want. Now, what is it that you desire so much you would offer it to me?"
There is no response for a moment. Courage and Ash both display some signs of confusion, though the man observing them simply acquiesces: "Definitely too smart. Then again, this is a nice change of pace. I do not need to explain every little detail to you. Tell me, how far are you willing to go to learn about Salem?"
Courage twitches and Ash makes a quiet noise of understanding. Binah bids the girls to remain quiet, considerations coursing through her mind. Cinder spoke of Salem as a force of nature, a being which can not be deterred, denied, or defeated. Either this man does not ascribe to the same belief, or he is weighing his odds.
Her brow furrows just then. That he figured out Binah seeks Salem is one matter. But why would he believe she can kill the woman and make it stick? Something does not add up, this man is not such a fool.
"Knowing as much as you do, you should be aware there is nothing that appalls me. Unless you demand I slay any of the interesting characters in this city, you will find me amenable."
While he considers her response, Binah quietly admits that this mysterious voice is swiftly approaching the 'interesting' category as well. She has yet to determine if he has any desires for the future, a path that can be observed, but for now figuring him out is intriguing enough.
"Would these 'interesting characters' include any military men?"
Ah.
This single question is all it takes to make the discovered pieces click together. They do not form a whole picture, but it is enough. "Revenge, then," Binah muses with her most smug smirk. She receives no response and gladly elaborates: "Vengeance upon one who has spurned your genius. Despair over Atlas which disappointed you so immensely. Was being disregarded for another truly so humiliating that you now wish to cast down one of the most stalwart defenders of humanity?"
"Do not speak to me like you understand," he scoffs. "Having put my heart and soul into every project I worked on, I am the one that helped raise Atlas to the height she now stands as. And all I get is to be ignored for making salient points. Not just once or twice, but over years. If they can not appreciate my work, fine. But if they actively fund this nonsense over my own projects and disregard all attempts to convince them otherwise? Then they deserve everything that's coming to them."
Though he is ranting, his voice remains calm beyond that first crack. He carefully gives no details, even though this is already enough to figure out his identity with access to atlesean databases.
"I guess I can kind of understand it," Ash muses softly, eyeing Binah from the side. "Trying harder than anyone and still not being good enough. But I wouldn't want to hurt others over it. Though I kind of did, I guess...."
"This has nothing to do with not being good enough," Binah informs her protegé. She knows well Ash speaks of her pursuit of music, which is adjacent but not quite the same. "This is about classism, a man spurned by those he sacrificed years of his life to; of pedigree superceding merit. Perhaps other matters factor into it as well, but this is meaningless now." She fully addresses the camera again, spelling it out for the first time: "If it is the fall of James Ironwood you want, then you shall get it."
An expectant silence settles over them. The general has been cordial of late, but Binah will gladly use him as a stepping stone to reach her own goals.
Surprisingly, the other side answers with a soft "No". He leaves a pause, likely to gather his thoughts. "No, I don't want him dead. I want him to live more than anyone." There is some fervour to his drawl now, a cold passion that reveals tranquil fury. "I want him to watch his entire life's work crumble around him, want to see the entire world turn against him. I want him to live with this shame for the rest of his miserable life. Help me achieve this, and I happily shake your hand before giving Salem to you."
How intriguing. Binah can not help but smirk once again; this is not quite what she expected. A poison that can lay low empires, distilled by years of anguish. "And achieving this will give you closure, child? Will it satisfy you, even if your own life is the cost of it?"
"Yes."
No hesitation and no regret. Similar, yet different.
Binah muses on how to regard his offer. Ash has nothing to add. Courage, however, does. "I do not quite understand," she begins. "Have you considered to leave this whole matter behind and rebuild elsewhere? Is it that you chose to seek vengeance at any cost over a new start?" She leans forward expectantly, seemingly genuine in her curiousity. Then again, mocking another is not something Courage does either way.
He seems to think similarly, as he actually responds after a time: "I was already lost the day Salem's whispers of vengeance crept into my head. She was right of course, but I guess an Abnormality wouldn't understand that. Not one as principled as you, anyway." He pauses, well aware of the way Courage becomes a little more still. Binah's smirk grows a fraction over his mistake, but she does not correct him as he continues: "My life is over the very moment I stop being a useful tool to her. I imagine I have a decade at most, far less than that if I simply left. Nowhere on Remnant is safe if the queen wants you dead.
"Even if I assume Binah here will actually manage to end a being that can not truly die, I just exchange a certainty for a maybe. So if I already go into the night, I want to do it knowing the man who ruined it all got what he truly deserved."
"But if you could choose freely between vengeance and leaving it all behind?" Ash prods with honest curiousity; she only earns a soft chuckle.
"Life isn't that kind, girl. If I waste my time daydreaming about what can never be, I'll never get anything done."
The fact he deflects so well says more than enough about his answer, though only Binah catches that. Her picture of the man on the other side of the screen becomes ever more clear; a bitter person with his back against the wall, so uncertain of the future that he simply grasps at whatever scraps he can get his hand on. Perhaps this is uncharitable considering his intelligence, but well describes his predicament.
"You are wrong," Courage says softly. Her voice cuts through the silence like a knife and swiftly ends Binah's own tangent. The magical girl pulls off her blindfold, crimson eyes almost pulsating. "I get anger. I get revenge. Striking back at the person who wronged you, who abused your trust." An animalistic growl follows as her skin tone changes, from incredibly pale to a fleshy pink. Courage grows a head taller as her bones crack all over, a mighty scowl marring her features. Yet she shakes her head decisively and presses a hand to her temple, shrinking back to normal size.
"I know it so well, that boundless wrath. But I also know it won't end. There is nothing satisfying about it, to me. That was what I don't understand."
Her clothes tore when her size shifted; they slowly begin to mend now while the magical girl continues rubbing her face. She almost turned into the Servant right there. At the same time, Binah can tell this is not an argument which will sway that man. He is not trapped in a cycle perpetuated by blood, and neither does he care about breaking out.
"Then perhaps the divide between us is that you must follow that wrath when it comes calling," he muses. "I could give it up if I truly wanted, but I simply don't want to." It is a bold-faced lie, perhaps he even knows that himself. By the way he speaks, he has nothing else left; an uncertain future is scary, thus he holds onto this familiar anger.
Binah has learned all she needs. She can deny him just fine if she so wishes. He gave enough clues to find him, even. But at the same time, there is an opportunity here to get at her main goal. All it takes to do so is to ruin the life of James Ironwood. Binah would not normally care about being the tool to another's revenge, but recent events still make her consider it. Depending on what sort of plan he has, it could be a simple and straightforward matter.
Courage seems to sympathise with this man, perhaps because his desire is almost a mirror to Roland's. She does not even raise any objections with the call to nefarious deeds... or perhaps her oddly compliant responses say a little more of her own biased feelings than she dares to admit. Ash will go along with it regardless.
Alas, those two are not the only ones that need to agree. What will you have her do?
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOj_A3aZxGs
-Ash obtained a new trait
In the pursuit of her desires, tempered by failure and obtained through force of will, the shape of Ash's self was made manifest. A simple flute, gleaming silver. Its tune can be anything from haunting to jolly, and the volume surpasses that of any conventional instrument if she so wishes. The effects of her songs vary depending on the desired outcome.
-Ash's trait evolves
An Unforgettable Melody: Though all memories are gone, this song is ingrained in her heart.
The Song That Banishes Evil: An unforgettable melody given new purpose. Its clarion call rouses weary hearts and calms even the greatest wrath.
-Binah obtained a new goal: Keep Ash alive
[] Accept
[] Refuse
[] Lie about accepting, find him, and take the knowledge from him
[] write-in?
