caughtinanetwork | [Video] 04 Feathers

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[Video] 04 Feathers

[Okay. Here's the scene. It's the middle of the day, and everything looks pretty normal in whoever's kitchen part of his/her apartment.

All of a sudden, pick a Katy Perry song. At max volume.

Cue Davesprite entering the scene, carrying in baking supplies for assorted baked goods. It might be brownies. It might be cookies. It might even be a cake. Either way, Davesprite is baking while blasting Katy Perry. Why the hell not?

...Okay, and he might be singing along a little bit. Shut up.]

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[Davesprite has won one (1) dorky smile from the biggest symmetry nerd in paradox space.]

That would be lovely, thank you!

[Yes, good.]

No problem.

How've things been goin' today, by the way?

The way it usually does when unhindered by a curse.

[Boring, for a Meister who is accustomed to a much more exciting daily life.]

I suppose I shouldn't complain when it's peaceful.

[Davesprite can't blame him.]

Ehh, I'll admit that it does get a bit more exciting when a curse starts up. Granted, I shouldn't be complaining when the most exciting thing that happened on the golden ship I'm stuck on was the Ghostbusters II MMORPG.

[What's a--

Nevermind.]

...By the way. For Christmas, Maka gave me a fine set of holsters, but they've been empty for far too long.

I had my reservations about finding myself a pair of matching guns, as there's simply no replacing the Thompson sisters, but I'm worried I'll get rusty. Do you happen to know where I might get a set?

[Davesprite has to think about that one for a moment.]

I know Jake dual-wields pistols, so if there isn't a pair floating around Nostalgia Nook, then I'd ask him. What's this about sisters?

I'd rather not a set that fires live bullets. There's really no telling what that might do to the protective bubble.

Rather, if only I could acquire a pair I could effectively focus my soul wavelength through.

[He visibly droops.] But without Liz and Patty...

[Hm? Oh. Oh Dave. LET HIM TELL YOU ABOUT ~~HOMEST~~ HIS WEAPONS.]

The Thompson sisters are Weapons. Aside from attending the academy with me, they have an alternative form. A set of impeccably matched guns.

[Oh, man, Kid's lost him.]

Dude, I think I was so busy telling you all about the weird shit that goes on in my world that I forgot to ask about yours. Now's a good a time as any, right?

I'd be happy to indulge your curiosity. After all, you've indulged mine.

[EQUALITY.]

But where to begin? Perhaps if you asked me a question, I could start there. After all, these are matters I've lived with my entire life; it's difficult to determine what in it is unusual by your perspective.

[Davesprite considers.]

Weapons first. I've never heard of a person turning into a gun or anything like that.

Simply put, Weapons are genetically predisposed to developing powers that transform all or part of their bodies into a particular weapon.

In the case of the Thompson sisters, they transform entirely into a pair of precisely identical handguns. Due to the fact that they are related, their souls resonate easily, and they are therefore able to wield each other.

Otherwise, they might become impossibly heavy, or burn the wielder. At any rate, attempts to use a Weapon with whom one is incompatible risks harm to both the Meister and Weapon.

[He nods. Converting it in his mind to a metaphor for music helps to understand, surprisingly enough.]

Being incompatible causes dissonance, I'd guess? And that's why it'd cause harm to both people?

Precisely and exactly. A tuning fork produces sound as it resonates with the vibration caused when it's struck, right?

So does a soul, but that resonance is produced by itself. In concert with others, these wavelengths can resonate at certain degrees of compatibility. Dissonance can harm the soul as well as the body, while resonance serves to make them stronger.

Mutual respect, mutually relevant interests, and personality traits that go well together all contribute to effective compatibility, but just because two people are good friends doesn't necessarily mean they will have good soul resonance.

Just like in music. Resonance can bolster the melody, but dissonance can just tank the whole song.

[He nods, that makes sense.]

You say souls have different wavelengths, right? Is it because the frequency of those wavelengths don't necessarily mesh well together despite being good friends?

Very astute. They may share in many of the same likes and dislikes, even respond to things in similar ways, but it may be because they are so alike that the frequency of their soul wavelength produces dissonance.

This is especially true of fiercely independent people who don't take direction well.

[Kid smiles.]

You're a quick study, Dave.

[The sprite shrugs.]

Music is as much a part of my life as breathing. I've got experience with composing and mixing sounds, so it's pretty easy to understand when I put it in those terms. And I'll admit that the sound part of science interests me.

So, what makes a Meister a Meister?

You might have enjoyed Soul Theory at the Academy, then.

[As for his question:]

Genetic predisposition plays a role, but spiritual strength is an important trait to have as a Meister. Many graduates of the Academy, those Weapons who become Death Scythes and the Meisters who can wield them, go on to fill important roles in politics and the defense of humanity around the globe.

There are two types of students at my father's school. The EAT class are generally called upon for more direct confrontations, while the NOT class tends toward supportive roles in conflicts, and rarely see combat. This is generally due to a difference in capabilities, both for Weapons and Meisters.

Powerful Weapons are often sought-after by other Meisters hoping for the popularity and reputation gains from associating with an up and coming Death Scythe.

[Davesprite will take Kid's word for that.]

But you might not get a powerful Weapon if you're incompatible with them. What's a Death Scythe?

If a Weapon is able to consume the souls of precisely ninety-nine corrupted souls and one Witch's soul, the Weapon will gain great power, becoming a full-fledged Death Scythe.

It's the assignment of every student at the academy, but making even a single mistake will result in the forfeiture of all souls collected.

[The grim reaper's shoulders slump, and he presses a palm into his face, sighing.]

In fact, I lost all the souls I had collected for the Thompson sisters once, when I recklessly destroyed the Pyramid of Anubis. Such unspeakable beauty... even recalling that dreadful wreckage is depressing.

Oh, shit, that's pretty harsh.

[Wait.]

So, if you've got two Weapons, does that double the amount of souls required?

Yes.

[So, 2 Witch's souls and 198 corrupted souls. That's a tall order.]

And it must be simultaneous, so I've asked that they split their souls evenly every time we embark on a mission. I'd rather it not seem like one sister is being favored over the other, when together they are an incredible duo.

That makes sense. Plus, all you'd need would be to get the two witch souls at the same time.

So, most Meisters have only one Weapon, right? Outta curiosity, why do you have two?

It may require that we collect one Witch's soul first, and hold off on her ninety-ninth corrupted soul until the other sister has caught up.

[Obviously, he's already obsessed over the logistics.]

Meisters with two Weapons at one time are rare, due to the difficulty of matching soul wavelengths with two other souls at once. It's easy for relatives to match soul wavelengths for obvious reasons, but it runs the risk of excluding others.

It's no problem for a grim reaper, and besides, the Thompson sisters are perfect in their weapon forms. I couldn't be happy with an asymmetrical Weapon, so when my exalted Father attempted to find me a suitable one I refused every offer until I discovered them living in New York City.

So, you can collect a Witch's soul before having your Weapon take it?

[Not that Davesprite can blame him.

He's also just going to accept that Kid is a grim reaper.]

Weapon siblings would've been ideal for you, then. What's the purpose of a grim reaper?

Of course.

Grim reapers, such as myself and my Honorable Father, Lord Death, are the ultimate beings that govern over the lives and deaths of all beings within his domain. It is our duty to oversee the balance of good and evil, and see to it that Madness does not overrun the planet.

[That's more of a recent development.]

If a corrupted being is attempting to bring other souls to harm, it is the duty of a grim reaper to protect and safeguard those souls, and mete out punishment to the offending party.

As such, storing a soul, even a Witch's, poses no problem for a grim reaper. However, these activities may be placed on hold, seeing as there is presently a truce in the works between Shibusen and the Witch's faction.

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