Sigil: The City of Doors

As he was making the bed, and trying to remain upright you would note tell-tail signs that he was listening, even for the most part understanding. But every movement came with great effort. There was a desire to continue speaking, but the flesh was weak and spent.

The kiss would send him off into pleasant dreams.

/scene

(We can pick it up again later on, or on D2. One way or another he'll be more present moving forward.)

When he was still preparing the bedroll, she responded.

"Have you heard of a philosophical zombie? It's not a zombie that does philosophy, but a thought experiment in philosophy. For all purposes, you can only be certain only one person in the universe is conscious - yourself. All the others may be engaging in acts of mimicry that let them pretend having conscious experiences but are in fact zombies without any mental states even though they seem to be just like you. One who thought it up apparently didn't know much about zombies but as a figure of thought it roughly stands. It's hard for you to see what's missing, but missing it is. If it ever stops missing, I'll be able to answer your question."

During his shut-eye, his face would receive a soft kiss.

"I won't forget that."

/scene?

He rests his head on one hand while watching in soft contemplation. His lips curled into a smile, "I cannot help but wonder how you would be whole. What sort of attachments you might form? Would I be so lucky to be counted among them? You are so lovely as you are now, it's hard to see what's missing."

He finds his feet shakily then replaces the cloak with the bedroll.

"I would still help you Akh. I am yours whenever you have need. Don't forget that." He says wrapping himself up. It doesn't take long for him to drift off into a nap.

"When I was more alive I had very little personal experience in matters of romantic love. I can't be any authority on those dilemmas." She said it quickly, as if to forestall her own contemplation of the matter. "What I can hesitantly suppose is that such self-commitment pivots around a sexual opportunity, real or imagined, at least for the living. Me, even though I quite obviously remain sexual, I doubt I can develop such a feedback, at least not without a part of my soul... that is somewhere else." She shrugged, moving to the desk. "Perhaps this is just how you confirm your vitality to yourself. Love and life seem to be quite intertwined."

She took a register from the Mortuary to analyse. "What I can confirm is that sorting out does take time. But if you need me, I am here."

"That depends on how you look at it I guess." Another sigh, this time from frustration. "Well I'm disappointed." He admits. "Were I dead a great number of things would make more sense."

"It would explain the time dilation. It would explain the absurdity of this world." He purses his lips. "It would explain why I don't... love Mysti anymore."

Saying it out loud didn't hurt as bad as it should have.

"I'm not sure if I even understand what that word means. Was it love or infatuation?" He thinks back to Rowan. "I don't even understand how I felt about Rowan. Was it a base desire? Or was there more to it?"

He sits up. "Ugh, feel free to ignore me. I need to sort this all out."

"I don't know if that emotion is within my reach." She smiled. "Your way of living is still something another Prime may call undeath. I am just curious what direction are you going to give your existence. You yourself said that your plans are fluid. I suspect you have just swung toward thinking of being here as a mysterious episode, and away from any sense of finality."

"I'm alive." He said aloud and leaned back unwilling to rise just yet. "That means the others are alive, or are very likely also alive."

He took the freedom as an opportunity to stretch his back and arm muscles out. He regards Akh as she slips away, finding joy in every movement.

"But somehow the answer of one question generates a multitude of others." There's a twinge of irritation as he thinks about the days revelations. "Mysti is here in Sigil, as is Gizby. If we're not dead then why are we here? Why is it that Gizby arrived months ago, yet I apparently went through first?" There's a sigh. "Did the same thing happen to Mysti? I suppose I won't know until I see her..."

His voice drifts off and he seems to chew on something.

"Are you disappointed Akh?"

She took his head in both hands, kissed his forehead, and leaned away to slip to the side.

"Are you going to do anything with the knowledge, Cyprian?" She noticed the breath, a superfluous atavism, which told her what kind of feelings accompanied the revelation.

He honestly hadn't expected this. But it was more than welcome. He pulled her in tight and savored the feeling of both her teeth, and her energy. But this time he made a conscious effort to not bite back.

/Fade out then in again

'Who needs a bedroll anyway?' He thought still holding her. His cloak had acted as the perfect catch and would surely need professional cleaning now.

He was spent emotionally and physically. But for some reason that didn't matter all that much to him. He felt alive again. What's more he knew his own origin story. All of that trauma, all of that pain. It's resolved now. There's really only one thing left to deal with. But those murky waters will require footwork to navigate.

He thinks on the road ahead as he absently traces his chin up the small of her neck towards her clavicle. Turning his cheek he closes his eyes and breathes. "Thank you."

"Then let me at least make any such discovery more bearable."

She discarded her drab Dustmen robe, pulled up her tunic and mounted his lap, resting her lips on his neck for a long kiss.

/Fade to Flesh Feast

[1 Ki Spent on the Ability; Akh would seek Cyprian's forgotten memories, earliest ones or those just before he died if he did.]