[Video]

[gorgeous_sin]

[Leaning against the wall of her office at the Ivory Tower, Lust's lovely face appears on the screen, unsmiling, her expression almost bored save for the hint of intensity to show she is very much invested in the responses people give.]

The recording at the Bay indicated that only people with necklaces are considered 'real.' What about those who seem to be native to this place?

[She brushes an errant lock of black hair over her bare shoulder.]

Do any of them have souls? Has it been verified one way or the other?

[It's important; she doesn't want to waste her time grooming alchemists out of nobodies who won't ever be able to create a Philosopher's Stone.]

Comments

[insanguinated]

[ Sam has been listening to the network but avoiding appearing on it. This, though, it reeks of demons. ]

That's a strange question. Even if there were a way to verify souls across multiple species, what good is the information?

[Oh, he can think of plenty of uses. But playing dumb is a better strategy. ]

[gorgeous_sin]

I can't teach alchemy to someone who doesn't have one. The transmutation circles won't activate.

[She sighs. It's such a bother.]

There's little point to taking a teaching job if there aren't any students. I suppose if they want to keep paying me for nothing, I can't complain.

[insanguinated]

[ There's a subtle shift in his expression. One that, if you know him, suggests he might be interested. ]

Why do you want to teach alchemy? Most philosophers and magic users aren't big on sharing.

[gorgeous_sin]

[She doesn't know him. But she does excel in luring people into becoming alchemists if they have the talent. She's not sure if he has that capability or not, but she can tell he's keeping his cards close to the chest.]

How much do you know about the Philosopher's Stone? It'll be easier to explain if you know what it can do for people like me.

[insanguinated]

[ To share or not to share. That is the question. ]

I know enough. What I don't know is who 'people like me' applies to in this case.

[gorgeous_sin]

Now now, you can't keep getting handouts without being willing to give anything in return. The Law of Equivalent Exchange is the basis of alchemy, after all. If you want more information, you have to be willing to give a little something yourself.

I'll settle for a name, but if that won't do, you can at least tell me why you're interested.

[insanguinated]

[ Sam scowls. ]

Names are power. I'm not giving you that. But I can tell you why I'm interested. Talk of souls and verifying them, that makes me think demons. And demons taking an interest in souls, that's a problem for me.

[video]

[watcheddog]

Of course they have souls. Don't be ridiculous.

[video]

[gorgeous_sin]

You sound confident for a man who's only been here a day.

[Which means he either has a way of detecting souls in others, or he's an idiot. But which one~]

How do you know?

[video]

[watcheddog]

[Definitely an idiot.]

Basic humanity.

[video]

[gorgeous_sin]

Don't assume everything in this world is human. Our abductors certainly lack that quality.

[video]

[watcheddog]

How do you know?

[video]

[gorgeous_sin]

Humans don't possess the level of power to do what they've done. I should think that would be obvious.

[Private Video]

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi managed to get the video working and even switched it to private. It was probably better this way.

"Oh hello there Miss!" She tilted her hat up a little with her thumb, her glowing eyes causing a slight lens flare when she glanced directly up at the camera. "My name is Koishi Komeiji. It's nice to meet you."

She didn't give Lust time to echo the introduction before speaking again. "No. None of the people in the cities or archways have souls. Well, not in the same way, if at all. I mean, they don't even have proper emotions. Only the people with amulets for sure have souls." A pause. "Usually. Technically some of us don't have them either. I'm a youkai. So by body and my soul are both and neither."

[Private Video]

[gorgeous_sin]

Mm. That's a little disappointing.

[At least it sure seems she won't have much luck creating a new Philosopher's Stone. There are plenty of 'real' people here, but not nearly enough to suit her needs.]

What do you mean 'not in the same way'?

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi just blinked. "Um. Well they're technically alive. So they probably have something serving in place of their soul but I dunno. I don't deal with souls while they're still inside people. Though I've dealt with plenty of rogue spirits in the great underground."

A sphere bobbed up into view. It appeared to be a closed eye. "So why are you asking, Miss? You kinda look human but lots of non-humans do. So I dunno."

Both from what Lust could see and by Koishi's own admission she wasn't human either. So there was that.

[gorgeous_sin]

A soul is required to activate transmutation circles successfully. I can't teach alchemy to someone who doesn't have a soul to begin with, so there's no point advertising my services.

I don't want to waste my time.

[koishi_komeiji]

"Ohh. I see. Yeah, that would be a problem. Power that specific can create some difficult limitations." Koishi looked thoughtful. "But there are plenty of other people around who for sure have souls. I'm sure you can teach them to use that sort of power."

Koishi looked thoughtful. "Do you need someone to do something for you? Can you use alchemy yourself or do you not have a soul either? Because if not that must be really inconvenient. To need someone like that, I mean."

[Video]

[hot_handed]

Murder them and find out.

[Video]

[gorgeous_sin]

Don't be foolish. Killing someone doesn't allow you to see or detect their souls, especially if they don't have one to begin with should the assumptions be true.

[This little post is helping her figure out who the idiots in this world are, so that's slightly useful.]

Re: [Video]

[hot_handed]

Who gives a shit?

[Video]

[gorgeous_sin]

[She sighs.]

Did you respond just because you're bored? Don't waste my time.

Re: [Video]

[hot_handed]

I wanted to see what you'd do.

[Video]

[gorgeous_sin]

Were you hoping I would preach to you about the evils of murder? Or cackle maniacally and begin slaughtering the townsfolk so you could swoop in heroically and save the day?

[video]

[draconixaviarix]

[NOW SHE WAS TALKING HER LANGUAGE; SOULS!!!

But that was a question she wondered]

...I believe everyone and everything has a soul in one form or another. If something lives, they are apart of the world, and if they are apart of the world, they have a soul~

[Hana purred with the utmost confidence]