[ 004 ] [ Voice ]

[greatcherubim]

All the dragons are still around, I see. If you need any help putting out fires, please let me know. I'd be happy to assist.

Today is a time of rebirth and renewal. Please forgive me if I'm a bit philosophical. If you don't celebrate Easter Sunday, then I will doubly ask your forgiveness. But I wonder...

Have you ever wanted to reinvent yourself, or allow yourself to be born all over again? Who would you become, if you could?

Comments

[beyourarmy]

That question's almost pointless with me. I think I'm the result of something like that. But I did wanna be like Kira for a while.

[greatcherubim]

Do you mind if I ask why?

[beyourarmy]

Because he was cool, collected, and made my life easier, more fun. I admired him, for all of that, for just being himself. I wanted to be like that, instead of me, hot-headed and stupid.

[greatcherubim]

You aren't stupid, Messiah. You have passion. Properly channeled and utilized, that is something the world sorely needs.

voice;

[thermonuclear_birdbrain]

I'm just fine the way I am. Also, I like my dragon! It's a lot warmer in here.

Lots of the dragons here look weird, though. They have big wings and is really stumpy. Dragons in Gensokyo are long, like snakes, and have skinny bodies and manes and so on.

If I could be born all over again...no, I really think I'm fine, and I'd be just the way I am now.

voice;

[greatcherubim]

[There's a fondness leaking into Gabriel's voice.] I'm not surprised that you would like it. I'm glad the temperature is more to your liking this way.

I know the kind of dragon you're thinking of, I believe. I've seen them in pictures, and I've seen statues of them, but I have never seen such a beast alive. I don't think they come like that, where I'm from.

Mmm. I'm glad to hear you say that. Self-acceptance is important.

voice;

[thermonuclear_birdbrain]

Oh! Well, I'm...uh, trying to get mine into a more reasonable state. It's a little huge and kind of angry. But when I tell it how to be nice, you can see one up close.

The really big ones in Gensokyo are gods. They're usually not fire-breathing, though -- more watery. But this is a small one.

Hope I can take it home with me to Hell -- I think it would like the fire.

If you like the heat, I'm set up in the Temple now. Luke told me where to go. Turns out that even if I go underground, I can't go back to Hell...I guess I really am stuck here, huh...?

[Her normally excited and strong voice dims to something sad and quiet.]

voice;

[greatcherubim]

[Gabriel hurries to reassure her, speaking quickly but gently.]

Not forever! Everyone I've spoken to says that no one has stayed here for longer than four or five years. That's not much time at all, is it? You will be home soon.

I'm afraid you probably won't get to take your dragon home, however. No matter what size it is.

[indecent_butterfly]

Not all the dragons are fire elemental you know. [Although the one Setsuna picked up from someone else is.]

An interesting question though. What would be your answer?

[greatcherubim]

I can help with those that are. I should be able to assist with the ones that are water elementals, too.

My answer? Well, I wouldn't change anything about myself. I'd decide to be born into a different world. What would be yours?

[indecent_butterfly]

In a way, this One has already done so.

[greatcherubim]

Oh?

voice

[bedsidemanners]

Not really.

voice

[greatcherubim]

I expected nothing else from you, Raphael.

voice

[bedsidemanners]

Well. Maybe I'd wish to be reborn without a refractory period.

voice; [1/2]

[greatcherubim]

[...]

voice

[greatcherubim]

I was asking a serious question, Raphael. I wanted to start a dialogue wit the people here.

video;

[sympathyforme]

Yes, I have.

Me.

video;

[greatcherubim]

There are may different ways that could be taken. But I think you know that. You seem to be allergic to any kind of plainspokenness.

video;

[sympathyforme]

Actually, this was pretty straight-forward, for me.

Yes, I've wanted to. I became me.

video;

[greatcherubim]

So you did.

[confined_to_briah]

I find it refreshing to be myself again. ( She has never really wanted to be anyone else. She did enjoy being Setsuna for such a short while, but she couldn't remain one with him. )

[greatcherubim]

I should hope that you would. I am glad to see you as yourself again, too. You were never meant to be anyone but who you are.

[confined_to_briah]

Are you certain about that? I think, for a time, I was meant to be those humans. Their lives weren't meaningless.

[greatcherubim]

Sara's life was not meaningless, either.

I was still not meant to be her.

I am glad she existed. But the decision to adopt a new life, a new way of being... must be voluntary. We are not meant to be forced to give our identities, not when it is not of our own freewill.