adolphe catchall

[florescences]

i've only known him for an hour but why does he have to be unlocked...

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[chrysanths]

[ He could ignore the conversations without context, but he can't ignore what they say. It's difficult. It answers some questions, but it also raises many. He thinks back on Elysia wanting to be remembered—it's a common answer, but the context here really solidifies the weight of it. ]

Is it really different if Herrschers also look and act like humans? There's not many differences regarding that, is there?

[ He has no idea what a Herrscher is, but he's getting an idea that it sure is an Important thing and that Elysia was one of them. He continues to cook and doesn't look over at her. ]

[florescences]

[ she doesn't know if it's better or worse that he's not looking at her. She's putting her chocolate molds away to cool and starts cleaning some of the counter. ]

In terms of looks... no. All known Herrschers back then were all humans first before they weren't. They didn't all act like humans, after.

It was a surprise when they did.

The problem is once they lost their humanity, they wiped out most of the human population.

[chrysanths]

What's "humanity"?

[ Adolphe fully believes that humans can just wipe themselves out and still struggles to see the difference. ]

Compassion and all those nice things? Humans already have enough ego to attribute everything nice to themselves, but they still do horrible things against each other.

[florescences]

[ human ego...

if it weren't such a serious conversation, she might laugh a little. instead, she shakes her head with a smile. ]

It's all of it. The contradiction of how good and kind people can be along with all the horrible malice. It's when you have both, instead of all of one or the other.

[chrysanths]

They sure like to skew it one way for sure.

[ All "human" things were good sounding, at least from what Adolphe remembers. ]

And... you like that, right? That they can be both.

[florescences]

[ is it like? is it love? it is love. she does love humanity, but is it because they can be both? ]

I know you think humans don't change, but I think it's because they do have both that they can.

Not all that is beautiful is good.

[chrysanths]

Humans are beautiful to you? Elysia.

[ He can't fathom thinking such a thing, ever.

He still keeps making the food like he isn't having this conversation though. ]

[florescences]

[ that's fine. he doesn't have to pay attention to her to have this conversation. she's in a waiting period for her chocolates, so she's fine with watching him cook. ]

Of course they are. Of course you are.

[chrysanths]

[ That actually gets him to stop for a moment to look at her. ]

Is this why you had the interest from the beginning?

[ Oh, he really doesn't like that. ]

[florescences]

Hm? I'm curious for individual reasons. It's not like I lump everyone into the same group.

[chrysanths]

Yeah, but--

[ No, wait. He stops to think about this. ]

... I was around Yves a lot, so I'm a little familiar of the concept of someone "loving everyone", but also having favoritism. There was a reason behind Yves's. I just don't know yours.

[florescences]

[ she smiles. ]

Do you remember... all those weeks ago... once, I told you it would mean a lot to me if you would try to understand me?

[chrysanths]

I know I'm doing a terrible job of that.

[ He still doesn't know.......................... ]

[florescences]

[ ..... ]

You are doing both better and worse than you think.

[chrysanths]

[ He just sighs, crossing his arms after putting the kitchen tools down for a bit. ]

Can you just tell me to it straight?

[ .... ]

[florescences]

That'd be boring, wouldn't it?

[ sorry she's difficult like that. ]

There's be no anticipation.

[chrysanths]

[ This tag is funny with the church ending

Adolphe just looks tired and goes back to cooking. Girl... ]

I'm not anticipating.

[florescences]

[ she pouts. ]

Do you not like me at all?

[chrysanths]

If I didn't, I wouldn't be here to cook with you. I would have ignored you.

[ Yeah!! ]

[florescences]

[ she sighs. ]

I know that much. [ she goes to check on her chocolates. ] Thanks for spending time with me. I know you don't share your time with many.

[chrysanths]

[ ...

Adolphe looks over at the dumplings. They're sitting on a plate, cooling over a period of time. They're sturdy enough to not collapse in on their shapes too. ]

Elysia.

[ He looks at her again. ]

What if, one day, you ended up erasing a good amount of the human population too?

[florescences]

[ that gets her to still for the briefest of seconds. what a surprising question. no one's ever asked it of her before, not like that, not to her face. it's always been her asking the people in front of her what they'd do if she were the danger.

maybe it's adolphe's cynicism that makes him understand her in ways so many others don't. she turns away from the desserts to face him with a smile. ]

Oh, don't worry. I made myself into a charming villain for the world to see.

[ or whatever very little left of the human population there was at the time. ]

[chrysanths]

That doesn't answer my question. How would you feel about it? You love humanity. To erase the very thing that you love, that's...

[ He's not scared despite asking of things that Elysia could probably wreck in a snap of her fingers. ]

... Wouldn't it drive you insane?

[florescences]

Of course it would. How wouldn't ruining what and who I love hurt me? I'm not unbreakable.

[ easily, simply. she's a very straightforward person when she isn't too busy being evasive.

it's hard to say that she's sane even now. could someone who's experienced all she has and love everyone as she does be sane?

somehow, these aren't the questions she minds answering. ]

But I don't have to worry about that. I put myself in a position where that can't happen.

[chrysanths]

[ Adolphe closes his eyes for a moment. This is why he said she's not perfect. The years must have done something--was his guess, but... ]

... Are you no longer a Herrscher?