The East PacificBoard

The vessel Aozora’s visitors had taken was clearly designed to intimidate. It was coated with black, a colour designed to inspire that unsettling feeling of ominous dread. Those streaks reminded reminded her of gashes, the entire warship seeming to her like a bleeding shadow. Perceptive as she was, Aozora also noticed those minuscule faults. The marks which had not been fully repaired, their impact cosmetic at most, but still visible to those seeking them out. The points where the colours were mildly different, no doubts result of repairs. These ships carried the marks of war, the damage of battle, and though it was concealed quite well, she could tell that these were ships which had fought in battle often.

When the ship first docked, Tenkyokuren forces prepared themselves for battle, just in case it became a necessity. There was little they could do, however. With all their arcane equipment still being recalibrated for this new world, their conventional arms alone would do little but aggravate whoever he sent these vessels. One small battle? That could prove a victory. But the war would be lost. And Aozora was done with losing. I lost my comrades, my Densetsu, my Heaven...I’ve lost enough. No point in wasting this chance as well. ^{Come now, your losses are opportunities. What once held you back no longer stands in your way. Cast aside your compassion. Ah, look. Our guest of honour emerges.} It was obvious that the man in black and silver was the one to pay attention to, the leader of this vessel if not this expedition. Of course, it was just as obvious that Aozora was at very least in command of the diplomatic mission, and since she had spoken before, they would likely recognise her voice. [i]No point in deception. But how to handle this…^{Stop doubting yourself. Surely you can handle something as simple as talking to your lessers, right? Just be what you are. A tyrant. A goddess. An Overlady.}

The man had eyes the colour of blood. Oh? How strange. Those remind me far too much of a tenshi...two guards, same as me. Good, we’re even. And...what is this...aura? Is he...he can’t be. Does this world contain its own forms of arcanity? The prospect was dreadful and delightful at once. Delightful, for it meant that with enough effort, her recalibration could prove a success. Dreadful, because it meant that her opponents could have access to supernatural power. Her own guards stared the man’s marines in the eye. Aozora gazed at him, trying to find signs of emotion, weakness, pride, anything she could use. Then, he bowed, and deeply at that. He was clearly capable of conducting diplomacy. As he bowed before her, the all-too-familiar metallic tint of blood filled the air, and not just from her scythe. Fascinating…^{On that, we can agree.}

When the man spoke, he did so with a quiet voice. “I am captain Toruko, of the house of Ishtar.” Their society has houses of nobility? Good to know. And that name sounds..Japanese? “It is a pleasure to come to your lands, and to represent the Charitian empire.” So, that’s who he represents. Are they a major power? It’s possible. They got here fast, so they’re probably close, their vessels are of impressive size for a diplomatic envoy, and they seem to have a lot of experience. Those are signs of a power worth noting…and to think, right now, I may be nothing more than a side note. ^{So what if we are? That can change soon enough, should we desire it.} “I hope that the future between our countries be warm and prosperous.” He seems friendly. It could be a deception. How to I handle- no, shut up, no, no need to speak. I know what to do…

Aozora waited a few seconds before speaking. She bashed the handle of her scythe into the ground in a dramatic gesture, then gazed into his eyes. They were the colour of blood. Blood...how often had she been coated in it, splattered by it, soaked in it? At times, it felt as though her life was one long bloodbath, with only the occasion respite. When at last she spoke, it was with a voice of conviction, though she could not keep away an undertone of sorrow. “You have come here quickly, Captain Toruko.” She allowed herself a gentle smile. “But it is not as though I can talk about such things. This is, after all, your world.” ^{Or so you will believe. In the end, all belongs to me, willingly or not, knowingly or not.} “I sense it, you know. That power of yours. There’s no need to hide such things from me. Ah, but I get ahead of myself, don’t I? I shouldn’t talk about myself until you know who I am.”

Aozora placed her left hand against her hood, and pulled it down. The gentle breeze pushed against her feline features- an irritation- and caused her violet hair to sway. Her other hand held firm her weapon of choice, that bloodstained scythe, the armament of the death itself. “I am Aozora Chiyumi, Supreme Overlady of All Reality, She Beyond Divinity. Welcome to my domain, my second paradise, what remains of what was once Heaven. Welcome to Tenkyoku.” Her smile widened. Inside, however, she was becoming frantic. That voice in the edge of her mind was becoming stronger and stronger as she fell into this persona. “Now then, about your hopes. You claim you seek for our future to be prosperous and peaceful. And yet, to these shores, you dispatch not a diplomatic craft, but a fleet of warships? This world must be filled with violence to justify such measures. Am I correct? I hope so. The only other possibility would be a most unfortunate one for all of us.”

For a moment, those words hung in the air, until she allowed her smile to lessen, her gaze to soften ever so slightly. “Ah, forgive me. I’m getting sidetracked. I have a question for you.” I have to be careful...but if there’s one thing you’re good at...it’s making an impression. ^{Thank you, though I’d prefer to think of myself as your superior in every conceivable way.} Shut up. I’m trying to focus. “It’s a bit personal, so I don’t mind if you don’t answer me straight away. You’ve said what your nation desires, and so...I must ask...what is it that you desire? Not just between our causes. There’s really no need to keep up appearances. I value honesty over formality, after all, and while I appreciate your most respectful behaviour, I find truth more interesting than the routines we build to mitigate it, suppress it. I don’t mind if your deepest desire is nothing more than to find compassion or love. I don’t mind if it’s to go on a holiday. I don’t mind if it’s to kill me right here, right now. I can see it in you. That strength. That pride. You bow well before me, so I’m sure you’ve done it a thousand times before. I’m sure you’ve seen horrors, conflicts, monsters which haunt your nightmares. And I’m sure that there’s also something in there which can overcome each and every one of those shadows in the dark, something which will bring you ultimate happiness.”

Aozora’s smile widened again. She could feel her sanity slipping, but took hold of it. She was in control. That was the whole point of this. It wasn’t exactly an ordinary diplomatic greeting, but what good would that serve her? This provided a far more interesting opportunity. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you mine first. That’s fair, right? My deepest, most sincere desire is to be able to forgive myself for what I’ve done.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. It was what she craved. To be able to move on, even when everything seemed to remind her of the past is enough to hurt her, but never enough to offer comfort. She wanted to atone, to redeem herself in her own eyes, to forgive herself. “Whatever nightmares haunt you...I’ve lived through. It’s my fault, too. But well, that’s why I’m here. To try again. To correct all my errors and make myself the best me I can be. So, tell me. What is it that you want, above all else?”

^{I’m surprised you decided to do something so risky for your first contact here. Rather dangerous, isn’t it? Acting in this way? Don’t you think it’ll paint a target on your head?} Perhaps it will. But it’s the best way to handle it. I need to seem enigmatic but so not impossible to reason with, powerful but not a threat to them, a commanding presence but not overly formal or dangerous to the point where it makes negotiations impossible. Besides, it’ll make him have to think quite hard. I doubt they train people to handle this sort of thing. Do you worry I’ll get us both killed? ^{Not at all. It’s nice when you at least pretend to be a person worthy of your name. Even if it is an act, and half of it makes me want to roll my eyes at the supposed compassion and despair beneath it all.} Shut up. I guess I have to hope that this turns out to be worthwhile, and not a huge mistake…