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[ahappylie]

[It's such a nice day out that Okita has decided to take the House 50 pets for a walk. Around mid-morning after he finishes his training, Okita can be found wandering around the village with the yellow chocobo Tammy in tow. And on her back? A disgruntled Saizou, wishing he could be down from the heathen bird. Tammy doesn't seem to care since

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[action]

[screwthegods]

[At some point, once Okita's away from his house, Homura makes sure to cross his path. It'll be the first time they've spoken after yet another awkward experiment, although from Homura's perspective, this one has been less jarring. Seeing Okita as a son is quite different than being in love with him, so perhaps this time it will be easier to reconnect with him. It helps that Okita seems to be in a particularly good move, likely due to the arrival of a certain New Feather.]

Okita. How are you doing this afternoon? [He grins a bit at the bird, remembering Tammy quite well.] I hope you have a firm hold on her today.

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[screwthegods]

So I've gathered. Well, if it makes you feel better, I find our talks to be fun.

[So far as Homura's definition of the word goes, at least.]

Anything beyond what the Malnosso manipulate the populace into doing for the sake of their studies, or whatever reasons they have. The parallels between this place and my own world are both too many and too thick for me to consider this freedom--the bars are quite real, even if they can't be seen.

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[ahappylie]

You have a funny sort of fun.

And if you want to look at it that way, yes. But what is it to be truly free?

[He looks up at Tammy.]

She was free before this. Left out in the wild. And she chose to find a master and a home with us. Now she's penned in most of the time and must wait to get her meals.

[Tammy warks and nudges the side of Okita's head affectionately.]

But she prefers this, I think. For whatever reason, some people look for their gilded cages and choose to live in them rather than return.

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[screwthegods]

Funny, but not in the sense that you would prefer?

[Homura in turn watches Okita, and how Tammy responds to him. Of course Okita's point is valid, but not as a counter to Homura's position.]

You said it yourself--that people choose. Which of us has chosen this world, or to be subjected to the whims of the Malnosso? If a servant takes that role of his own volition, then so be it--I've never rejected my own followers, after all.

But a person has the right to decide his path for himself, and the responsibility to do what he must to walk upon that path, even without hope of success.

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[ahappylie]

I wouldn't say that.

[And it goes for both things. He might not have chosen this world, but he has adopted it as best he can. It wasn't his choice to come here, but it is his choice to stay as long as he still has friends here. Going home, he knows what waits for them all and until he finds a way to change it, he can't leave.]

The last experiment is still sitting poorly with you, I take it?

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[screwthegods]

[Unfortunately, in Homura's view that is all simply making the best of the situation--finding a sort of freedom within the cage.]

They all do. It reminds me far too much of the world I was in, except worse for the greater effectiveness of the Malnosso.

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[ahappylie]

[From the times they've talked and the times Okita has only listened in, he knows that unlike him, Homura pretty much hated his world. Or something to that effect. Whatever it is, this isn't the life he wanted, but neither was that.

Which means... It's the Malnosso that are the problem. The loss of control... If there was a way to get Homura free of their grip... Okita pauses in his walk and leans down, picking up a good sized rock. He turns it over in his hands, then drops it into his sleeve.]

Between a rock and a hard place then, is it? Unless you try to overthrow the Malnosso.