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

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[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.

[voice]

[mnementomori]

Yes...I did. They were mostly... reconnaissance, or defeating certain kinds of monsters. My purpose was...well, it was even more than that, but that was part of it.

It is? Then I'm glad I'll be able to see it now.

[voice]

[existwithoutme]

[Kuja thinks this over for a moment.] To be created for a purpose... it can be very cruel. Monstrous, even. So, you have some skill in combat? Is it magical or physical?

Art is one of the things that separates thinking beings from senseless beasts. I should show the museum to you myself. Doubtlessly you won't understand it on your own.

[voice]

[mnementomori]

Ah...both. I know magic, and I can use my Keyblade. And even if the reason I was made was bad--I'm glad I'm here. I'm glad I got to meet all my friends.

[her voice warms a little.]

Thanks, Kuja. Where should I go?

[video] i am the slowest; how did i miss this

[existwithoutme]

Why were you made? [Her tone sharpens; this sounds familiar.]

It's not too far from your residence. [She doesn't say "our" residence.] You can follow the cats there. I've informed them of the location.

[video] no worries!

[mnementomori]

[she falls silent for a moment, clutching her hands to her chest. But here...it shouldn't matter anymore, right?]

I..The person who made me wanted Sora's power, but they knew she'd never help them. My friend...Roxas...was supposed to replace her, but they weren't sure if it would work. [she bites her lip.] I was the...backup, I guess.

[video]

[existwithoutme]

[Kuja is just going to ignore, for the moment, how agitated this talk of backups and replacements is beginning to make her. How dare he replace her, as if she were disposable.

She focuses on something else instead.]

Sora's power? And what kind of power does Sora have?

[video] ignore the face icon, it was the only one that seemed appropriate

[mnementomori]

[she summons her Keyblade, holding it with both hands, close to herself.]

...this. The Keyblade. It's...the only thing that can defeat certain kinds of monsters where I'm from.