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What is it that keeps you living? Why? What makes it worth it to you?

[That’s, uh. That’s it. That’s the message. There’s no follow-up explanation or anything.

She’s just curious and doesn’t seem to see how alarming a question like that out of the blue might be]

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[ouch, tidus] That's possible. [She'd like to think she's just realistic, but pessimistic probably isn't actually that far off the mark. Sure she gets comments all the time on how sad she looks but that's just, like, her face?? Let her live.]

I see. So this place is really different from where you came from?

In many ways. But it has been the similarities that struck me the most. For a while I began to think it was a bit eerie, though some of it was probably my seeing patterns where there truly were none. But the nation I came from was a city-state like this, built in tiers ranging from the highest and most prestigious to subterranean levels where some manner of underclass must remain. And it too depended on the harnessing of life energy to sustain its operations, though the chroma we use here is generated in quite a different way. (And we had only one moon there, and as far as I know it really did not do anything to us aside from making tides)

I see, that's really interesting. This place is really different from where I came from, though we only had one moon too.

Which do you like better?

If the people who are dear to me in my own world were all here with me, I would like it best without question. But since they are not, I don't truly know. What about you?

I think it's much the same for me. I don't really mind one way or another, but I have people special to me I'd rather be with in either world.

I have a... fiance, of sorts, too. It'd be much better for her to be here than where she is. I think she'd like it here.

I hope she will arrive so that you two can be together, then! What is she like?

It'd be better for her.

She's gentle, and kind. She loves easily and loves with all her heart. We has a lot of similarities between us, traumas and things we share, so she knows me better than probably anyone. She's been through... A lot. I think she'd be happy here. It's very different from the rural mountain she grew up on.

I don't know her that well personally, though. We haven't been able to talk face-to-face. Mostly I just know her from others' memories of her, and her diaries and letters. It'd be nice to have a real conversation.

It seems like things might have been somewhat complicated... but nonetheless, she sounds wonderful, and I am sure you will get along marvelously! She probably wants to meet you just as badly. As a matter of fact, she sounds a bit like my dear Marga Although the two of us were fortunate enough to meet in person. And also, we will not be getting married, at least not to each other

Do you want to be married?

[To this Marga person or anyone else.]

That is an interesting question. I had never considered it Do you?

I'm not sure. [but yuri didn't you just mention a fiancee of sorts??]

It's a bit different, in my case. everyone dies alone, right? For me, where I'm from, this sort of marriage would mean I wouldn't. That's really appealing.

But I don't know. It's part of why I asked this sort of opening question to begin with. I'm still figuring it all out.

? Please explain, if you do not mind Does this marriage somehow ensure that you will remain together in death? How is that possible? [ all he can think of is that as soon as one of them kicks it, the other one instantly gets merked. but that doesn't sound very nice!! ]

There are two kinds of marriages. A traditional one, where two living people marry each other.

And a yuukon-- a 'ghost marriage.' There's a lot of different kinds of ghost marriages. For some, it's a way for two people who couldn't marry in life for some reason (different social classes, families wouldn't let them, etc.) to become joined at least in the afterlife.

But where I'm from there were these priestesses who exist in a state where they're between living and dying. Their willpower alone keeps them from dying completely while they purify the mountain and keep something called the 'black water' from spilling over from the underworld to infect everything. In order to keep them from being too lonely and to help relieve their suffering and for them continue on a while longer, sometimes a man would come to marry them.

They'd choose a priestess from their portraits, and for that time only, the maiden's spirit would return to the world of the living. If the match was successful, the man's soul would remain in the casket with her, and they would return to the darkness together.

[ hoo boy
that's gonna be a yikes from him ]

And if the match was unsuccessful?

The men who came to the mountain for a bride were coming to die anyhow. [Just...to clarify that before she continues] But if the match wasn't successful, instead of being with the priestess, they die alone and are put in their own boxes to be buried on the mountain, to try and strengthen the seals that way.

So you are going to the mountain for a bride, too... What made you want to do it? Or was it not entirely your own decision?

It's a long story. The short version is that Ouse-san chose me, rather than the other way around. I just live on the mountain, I hadn't really planned on going there to die or to seek out a bride.

But she's trapped on the mountain. I can help her by doing this marriage with her. It would save her and heal her and likely save the mountain itself too and all the souls trapped on it. Maybe the seals would hold permanently afterwards and no one would have to go through this again.

But I would still have to die for it.

I see... So that's why you asked what you did. But can there truly be no other way to save everyone?

I don't know. I hope so, but I'm still working on finding out a way. I'm not really giving up or anything. Just... Weighing my options, I guess?

Thank you for talking with me.

I was happy to! I am only sorry I cannot be of more help. I am Titus Alexius. I hope we may talk more in the future.

Yuri Kozukata. I hope we can talk more too.

And don't worry, you were a big help, even if you might not think so. Thank you.

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