In the background, Tracy and Cadena seem to have wandered off in a different direction, looking around the clearing at an odd collection of artifacts, perhaps souvenirs of Margie and Cadena's explorations in virtual reality. RIU remains attentively close, snuggled around Jason's shoulders. Inari frowns thoughtfully at the collar the WHITE has provided, studying the clear glassy material.
A golden robot that resembles Kimon stands before the statue of Margaret Elizabeth Arcadia, where the plaque proclaims her birthday... but a blank space remains where her death date would have been. Its voice is not Kimon's however, for it sounds like a choir of voices, all genders and ages, speaking one after another. Unlike the BLACK, it is harmonious.
"I sense a loneliness in you, Jason Edwards," Not-Kimon says quietly. "You are drawn to Inari, and yet you feel you must let her go to save Akiko. To make her whole. Yet... She is in love with you. She does not love Akiko so much as she had. These things are obvious to one who studies the threads of Fate."
RIU eyes the sky warily. While it is clear overhead, the minidragon senses rising winds.
Jason rubs over his face and grumbles in an overly-pained way. "So much for being the man of mystery and unknown intentions," he grumbles in his usual way of sound put-upon when confronted with his own ... concerns. "Nothing is ever simple," he admits. "I care about Akiko and what her to be happy and both of them have admitted either directly or indirectly to feeling lonely. Akiko has even said she wishes she were close to Inari again. So who am I to get in the way, or cause complications? Even if ..." There he has to pause and sigh, "Even if I find I'm falling in love with Inari. She's not human. That much is clear, from her scent to her body to her actions. But ... it doesn't seem to matter, she's ... one of the few people I've never felt I had to justify my actions to. She accepts me as I am."
"But at the same time I fear that my own actions, the fact I made Inari in a sense how she is today is why she is in love with me. I'm afraid that her feelings are not of free will," Jason admits as he looks skyward. "And while many people would delight in having that ability ... it is not one I would want. I don't want to force anyone, even indirectly."
Inari continues studying the collar, turning it around and around. There's no clasp for it, no obvious way to open it. It's possessed of an apparent perfect symmetry.
Not-Kimon looks sympathetic. "Human love is difficult to comprehend even for such as we," it confesses. "The love an Avatar feels for its Link is different. It is a need. It is a trust. The master provides strength of spirit. The Avatar provides strength of body, or sometimes, of magic."
RIU perks up as it senses it's being described. It poses all dynamically and impressively! Rawr!
"There are masters ill suited to their Avatars. They do not bond as well. But still the Avatar loves its master, for there is only one master it will ever have," Not-Kimon continues.
"If I had to describe love as I understand it, it is a desire that the other be happy. A willingness to help that person be happy unconditionally. Nothing must be given back," Jason describes, "And that is what I want for her. To find the path that makes her the happiest. It's hard, though, in that I want that to be me. I have to be careful. I don't want to end up like Blake did. Or ... like the copy of me is becoming." He shrugs slightly. "And a master can only have one Avatar, correct?"
The WHITE stares into the distance a second, where the sea rises up to meet the sky. "Such was the rule ordained, that when one who could command an Avatar came of age to do so, they should receive one and only one.. The Avatar's life is the master's. The Avatar will never perish until its master does; so long as its master clings to life, however grievous the wound, the Avatar will retreat to lick its wound and then return anew. One Avatar, one master. But it has never happened before that an Avatar's link is severed. That the Avatar can choose. That the Avatar can love as humans do."
"So, with Inari, you don't know for certain," Jason remarks as he reaches up to scratch RIU's neck. "I would not do anything to risk the bond I have with RIU," he admits. He looks over to Inari for a bit, studying her. "I can't believe I'm asking this, and maybe Inari was joking ... but she suggested that I should consider becoming like her, a kitsune. It's one way I realized I really was falling in love with her; I actually have considered it. Could I become like her ... safely? That is, could I give up my humanity without risk to who I am mentally and my link to RIU?"
The not-Kimon turns to study Jason closely.
And Jason shifts about uncomfortably. He never did like being stared at.
"Yes," the WHITE responds. "You have already accessed system tools of such a type. The true question is, who would you trust to perform the change?"
"Okay, so this has to be one of the weirdest sensations ever, even odder than the time the whipped cream machi ... " Jason asks, then blinks repeatedly. He had expected the answer would be no, frankly. "And my honest answer is, I don't know. I saw what you did to Blake. You claim to be different now, but that has yet to be proven," he says, "Plus I fear it might be ... painful."
Not-Kimon tilts its head. "Is it truly pain you fear?"
It folds its hands, then opens them again, upward, forming a tiny foxfire in which Jason makes out an image. Blake Forester, his kid-self, the other children... And Akiko and Inari, her nonmorphic form, all fighting some sort of giant monster waving its octopus tentacles around. Is that really her? They looked so happy, long ago. Before... Was there some singular event that turned Blake Forester corrupt, or was he plotting disaster even then?
"I fear losing myself, true enough. All it takes is one choice to start down a path that leads ... an alternate version of myself is already doing it," Jason admits, shrugging slightly. "But even with that, being like her is tempting," he admits. "It is something I will have to think heavily on. I can also talk to Inari about it."
The not-Kimon closes its hands, then opens them. The foxfire shows young Akiko flinging herself into the path of some monstrous beam, trying to knock her friends out of the line of fire. Inari throws herself at the fallen Akiko's feet, keening, and then Blake is there, holding a massive glowing crystal. He says something indistinct, for no sounds can be heard from the illusion, and sets it down. It bursts into a blinding light...
And when the light remains, a golden anthropomorphic fox rises, staring disbelievingly at its hands.
"Did he first do it to save her? Or did he cause the situation in the first place?" Jason has to wonder. "I would not seek to join Akiko and Inari again, not in the way Blake had. They need to be separate people. It was costing them both their sanity."
"And if the choice were to let both die?" asks the WHITE quietly.
"He could have undone it once they were healed," Jason points out, though he unfortunately understands the point being made. "He didn't have to leave them like that. as for me ... I, no I wouldn't let them die. I would sooner trade my own life first."
Not-Kimon nods quietly. "The storm clouds gather. This universe will soon be washed into the sea of the Metaverse. If you seek transformation, seek me out again. If you would trust the inheritor of the WHITE's mantle."
Indeed, black storm clouds are forming ominously over the horizon to the east. The air feels chilly. RIU shivers.
"I'll ... keep that in mind," Jason answers noncommittally. Jason rubs his forehead, thinking now. "In this place ... I have my mind, RIU, and little else. while he can do many amazing things ... I fear my own ability to keep my friends safe while in here. I had been working on ways to augment my own natural abilities, but those efforts rest in my lab. So, in a step to see if you are trustworthy once more ... could you provide me the armor I have been working on? I fear I will soon need it to protect my friends. Some monsters can't be beaten through wit alone."
Not-Kimon tilts its head sideways. "How would this demonstrate trustworthiness? Would not it be more logical to fear someone who could reach through space and time to pluck a treasure away?"
"Because I have faith in my ability to shut you down if I had to," Jason claims as he resists the urge to smirk. "As for why it would demonstrate trustworthiness ... one, I asked, you didn't do it on a whim. Two, it would show willingness to help. Three, it would also show you want us to survive as well."
The WHITE smiles a bit, or perhaps it's just how it dipped Not-Kimon's head a bit to take advantage of the natural muzzle curvature. "It is impossible to reach into the world of Earth so quickly. But... The armor's image is strong in your mind. It is linked to you. In this world, symbols are strong." It considers. "Raise your hand, Jason Edwards. Touch my chest. Think of your armor. Call it to you."
"Okay, I shall forevermore remember this as the day I fondled a God. Good thing I didn't put anything there to actually feel," Jason thinks to himself. He wiggles his fingers, then reaches out and places his hand upon Kimon's chest. He isn't sure quite how to call it, so he visualizes how he built it. Exploded wireframe models flow through his mind. Seemingly endless wiring diagrams, tension equations for the synthetic muscles, coils for the modified tesla-coil style charge weaponry, to even the armatures used to hold it come to the fore of his mind. He thinks on how he stepped into the framework for the first time and it came to life to close itself around him. He also tries to not think about how the first time malfunctioned and gave him the world's worst wedgie when it lifted him up by his shorts.
Lines run across the Not-Kimon's body as it separates into components. It becomes briefly a 3d wireframe model, then the lines shift and reposition themselves, aligned like his armor-- except they are over his body. One by one, texture flows across the pieces and remake them into solid pieces snapping into place.
And when the process ends, Jason is wearing -- male, not female! -- golden power armor, complete to the amber helmet in fox-shape that settles over his head, as RIU flutters up and out of the way before it snaps shut.
The WHITE whispers, "Cadena knows the way. This icon is no longer required. May it serve you well, Jason Edwards."
"Okay, this feels ... really strange," Jason admits as he feels the structures become solid around him. And he's extremely grateful it isn't female. That little factor was really strange earlier. And gold? Heh! He never actually painted his any color, but he somehow can't complain too much about the color choice here. Even if it's just armor, there's something good about at least appearing closer to Inari physically. His attention is quick to return to Not-Kimon when she speaks. He says the only thing he can think of at the time, "We will speak again."
Inari puts the collar back into her jumpsuit, still looking indecisive. "Things were easier when all we had to do was fight monsters-- Jason! When'd you get your armor back?"
"WHITE," Jason admits. "We had a talk about a lot of things. I don't know what we're going to encounter in these places, but I need to be able to protect everyone, you included," he says. "Even though I know you don't really need my protection it, just .. well. Argh. I care about you. I probbaly shouldn't even tell you this, but ..."
The golden vixen smiles wickedly and then slinks up, leaning against Jason's front. He shouldn't be able to feel her jumpsuit-clinging form that well through armor. "Well, if you want me to role-play being a damsel in distress..."
"That ... I ... argh. You're distracting me," Jason complains, yet he does nothing to actually push Inari away. In fact, his arms drape around Inari's waist and he's mindful to not put too much pressure on her. "I could become like you," he tells her, voice quiet. "I could give up my humanity and be like you, kitsune. There is a way, it's just ..."
"You could?" Now Inari's eyebrows raise, but she snuggles into Jason's arm, resting her cheekruff on his chest. That's another point in the armor's favor: it gives Jason a few inches of height. "I sense a but."
In the distance, lightning flashes from horizon to heaven. It takes seconds for the actual thundercrack to wash across the garden.
"It probably isn't a good idea to look into while the universe might crumble around us," Jason admits, "And ... well ... I'm afraid to do it. It requires trusting one of the ADs. And it would be a lot to get used to. Extra appendages, a new scent, and, well ... I fear what your entourage and fans would say. Can you imagine the uproar that would happen if another person like you showed up? Hm, actually, that's a motivation to do it, I like causing a little controversy."
RIU gnaws on one of Jason's armor 'ears'. It tickles a bit.
"I'm not seeing a downside," Inari admits.
The golden vixen adds, "Well, except for trusting an AD. You're going to have to build one."
"Maybe we should just model it out first in Gloaming," Jason offers, grinning inside his helmet. "I mean, how many chances do people get to basically build the their 'dream' guy. Physically, that is."
Inari smiles and then licks Jason's nose. "Um. You taste like honey. You'd better be careful or I'll start gnawing you like RIU."
"I may take you up on that offer," Jason says in an apparent moment of actually allowing what he says to match what he feels. "But for now we have a storm to face. I don't know what will happen, so I'll say this now. Thank you for being you. I wouldn't want, or wish, you any other way. Now, lets go find Tracy before she decides to try opening a door by mooning it. At least that's all I hope she tries ... that girl is crazy."