w/ luna this would be a catchall except hes dying soon so

[moralhyperopia]

[ itachi kinda fucked off after the trial because literally no one stopped him, but here he is now, in some dark corner of the kitchen, making himself tea with one fucking arm if someone wants to continue their interrogation ]

Comments

[moralhyperopia]

[ he notices-- of course he does, that was his job-- and looks at her more directly ]

You seem to have strong feelings about it.

[ that's the only comment he'll have for her case, because it's not any of his business, really. he's met a lot of so-called immortals with strong feelings on death. ]

Death is an inescapable part of life, yes. Even more so in the life of a shinobi. In the grand scheme of things, retribution is for the sake of those living.

[artificialhighness]

[She looks steadily back, eyes dark but still.]

It was why I was created.

[That's all she says about that, because it's not precisely a secret, but the chains of it are -- the links and the inevitable conclusions, dating back years and years. They're not so different at the end of the day, minus where they end. Maybe.

There's a brief pause.]

... A shinobi. [she's turning the word over, pulling it from her memory] An assassin for hire, if I recall. But this task was for yourself only -- if it wasn't retribution, then was it salvation?

[moralhyperopia]

Death?

[ he notices how she looks, how she reacts, but... he can't begin to understand what she means quite yet. robots are hard. ]

Something like that. [ he won't correct her on ninjas, because. no that's basically what they are, even if they do other things. he's made his peace with that. ] Salvation... No. I've never sought that out for myself.

[ for himself. ]

[artificialhighness]

[She merely nods, expression unchanging.

Robots are hard, but perhaps this one more than most -- what happens when you mix a robot with bullshit immortal logic with an entirely different universe? Who knows. There is a tiny softening of her expression, though, on the talk of salvation.

A brief quickening of interest.]

Then whose salvation is it you seek?

[moralhyperopia]

[ ... ]

I believe I've made at least one unfortunately obvious.

[ "at least". hm. ]

[artificialhighness]

[There’s a quirk to her mouth, now.]

As I recall, you did say that not everything you do is about your brother.

[From the looks of it, though? Probably most things.]

[moralhyperopia]

So I did.

[ unfortunately for sasuke, because maybe if it was, he'd have been a better brother and not tortured him! ha ha. ]

I suppose in that sense, I seek salvation for our world.

[ SMALL DREAMS ]

[artificialhighness]

[Two peas in a very disastrous pod, these brothers. Of course, Luna's not judging; people do all kinds of things in the name of love and salvation. That's just life, especially when you're an ageless robot.

She smiles, slow and gentle.]

I do like dedication. If your world were mine, I could offer you and yours some form of salvation. That is the purpose that was given to me.

[Dream big, little ninja.]

[moralhyperopia]

I don't believe you could. [ it's not said any particular way, simply matter of fact. ] The salvation I seek... is a lot more complicated than what a single being can offer.

[artificialhighness]

There are many different kinds of salvation.

The one you seek for your brother.

The one your brother seeks for you.

The one that all of us seek for the world around us, big or small. It may certainly seem complicated, but the more time you have, the more chances you have to reach what you seek. And if you are here, playing this game, then you believe you yourself can offer it.

[In a manner of speaking, of course.]

[moralhyperopia]

[ "the one your brother seeks for you", huh... ]

I believe I can aid it. But I don't believe it's sustainable if only one person works for it.

[artificialhighness]

[Can she help making a casual observation? :)]

It is rather hard for one person to keep saving the world, isn't it? Particularly if the person is mortal.

[Like, super mortal.]

It's so easy for death to erase things. Lessons. Hopes. A life's work.

That's where we differ.

[moralhyperopia]

That is where we differ, yes. Unlike many of my peers, I've never believed in seeking immortality as an answer to mortal problems.

[ it's said a bit curtly, like the subject is a particularly bad one for him. ha ha! i wonder why. ]

[artificialhighness]

[She picks up on it easily; it's not like the subject nor the many and infinite reactions to it are new to her. But she's also never let it stop her. Mortality is, ironically, something that follows her much more closely than you'd expect.

Here, of course, it walks beside her. Rusted, shambling, but dogged as she remembers.]

Humans have always sought immortality as much as they've feared it. But there really is very little to fear. True immortality is the natural extension to living a full life, and reaching one's full potential.

[Says..... the robot.]

[moralhyperopia]

Humans were made to be mortal. Immortality, and those who seek it... [ the many, many horrible people who seek it. ] I've never met anyone at peace who wished to live forever. Death is an extension of life. It's what gives it meaning. A person can only truly understand who they are in the face of it.

[ this is morbid. ]

[artificialhighness]

I see. There are those who share your opinion, of course -- but I think they are quite misguided. If humans are capable of creating eternal beings, then there is no reason why they shouldn't also attain eternity.

[There's a certain, strange steel in her voice. Perhaps oddly, this is another instance where she may have strong feelings about things.

Though which part of the debate it is aimed at is terribly vague.]

There is never any true need for life to burn itself out.

[Was it ever not morbid, all things considered.]