fifth stanza: [voice and action]

[existwithoutme]

[Having made her museum and library in collaboration with Reeve, Kuja is suffering from what she considers a terrible side effect. Her beautiful adornments and differences have been stripped from her, and now she resembles a common Genome, plain, fair-haired, and with her tail showing. How humiliating. For the time being, she is only

Comments

[urbanwonderland]

[Though she's long since finished with anything like last minute touches, Reeve has been lingering by the complex, wondering where in all the hells Kuja has gotten to-- ah, there she is. Well, she can be heard, at any rate!

By the time she does make her way to Kuja, she's a little winded. The weight of her-- hopefully temporary new appendages is taking some getting used to. They are handy, though. Both literally and figuratively. Since Reeve now has an extra set of fully functional arms. The perils of construction here in the Gardens.

Reeve had only wanted to stop and give her congratulations in person, but--]

Kuja?
[Reeve has never seen a "common" genome, but she knows difference when she sees it.]
Oh-- you too, I take it?

[existwithoutme]

[Kuja is rather annoyed by her altered appearance, to say the least, her tail puffing up slightly. Her golden tail. She looks like--like Zidane. How terrible.]

Ah, yes. [She takes in Reeve's new arms at once.] We seem to have both been adversely affected. How irritating. I wish there was some way to hasten the end of these effects. The perils of industry! My magic does still function, but I cannot alter my appearance. [Having been turned Trance-red had been better than this.]

[urbanwonderland]

[Reeve smiles, but doesn't laugh at "the perils of industry", which takes some doing. She thinks Kuja might take it amiss. Her "collaborator" (really her supervisor, but she doesn't mind so much, at least Kuja is entertaining) seems out of sorts, to say the least.]

Well, don't let it spoil your achievement. Everything looks brilliant, and the side effects should disappear in a few days! Besides, I think you look very nice.

[existwithoutme]

I do not look "very nice", I look like a common, useless, mindless vessel! [In her annoyance, she perhaps says a little more than she means to. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself.]

It is true, my accomplishment is both unstained and beautiful. Most of the others here are of such limited ambition. They make such small things.

[voice]

[mnementomori]

[she doesn't think she's seen Kuja happy, ever, but at least she seems satisfied.]

I'll come see it. I don't think I've seen "art" before.

[she's not entirely sure what the word means, in fact.]

[voice]

[existwithoutme]

I'm pleased to hear it. I don't doubt it will be of great benefit to you.

[Kuja is dumbstruck for a moment. No art? No wonder Xion is so ignorant. She has no culture. Kuja, of course, is never dumbstruck for long.]

No art? Child, where have they been keeping you? Have you lived your life locked in a prison?

[voice]

[mnementomori]

I...well, it may as well have been one. I only went out on missions.

[voice]

[existwithoutme]

Only missions? Missions of what nature? Did you exist for that purpose alone?

No one should be denied art. It is one of the few things that makes our existence worthwhile.