Chrollo Catch All | February [Open]

[crossreversed]

Who: Chrollo, & others
What: Various February happenings
When: All month
Where: Around Trench
Warnings: None in main post; Will be added to comments as needed



Wait For Me; backdated to the end of January

A month since Chrollo washed up from the sea, it was time for more Sleepers to come ashore. He had no interest in helping any wayward soul who happened to need a hand, so he lingered further back and let those with an interest in such things greet new arrivals.

The only people Chrollo cared to see were his own. If one of the Troupe washed ashore, he didn't want to miss their arrival. There was also a chance that a squid could take on a less than friendly face. Being unable to permanently kill them was a hindrance, but knowing sooner rather than later would still be better.

Wrapped up to wait out the cold, Chrollo watched, and waited. The sudden feeling of stiffness was a surprise, there was no obvious source of it. Soon, he couldn't move at all. There was no apparent source of danger, as the twelve legged spider omen on his shoulder remained small but visibly agitated. It looked like he'd be waiting longer than expected.

You Take My Breath Away

After the past month, Chrollo was becoming accustomed to the sudden onset of effects with no obvious source. Suddenly being unable to breathe was still surprising enough that Chrollo reached up to his throat to reassure himself there was nothing around his neck. Even though he hadn't anticipated holding his breath, he still had at least a few minutes before the situation was going to become desperate.

A nearby commotion made it obvious he wasn't the only one struggling, and as soon as he caught sight of someone else visibly struggling to breathe he was hit with a sudden need to reach that person.

As far as coercive abilities went, Chrollo didn't have much experience with being on the receiving end of them. But he didn't have many options, and the only risk was to himself. Without giving it more thought than that, Chrollo made his way over and reached out.

Speed Dating

Chrollo Lucilfer, emotionally unavailable and married to his work. He enjoys reading, acquiring antiques (especially books), spending time with his friends, and exploring the darkness in other people's souls.

Chrollo has never done regular dating, much less the 'fast' variety where you're given only a few moments to get to know someone. As far as ordeals go, he's had a much milder time with this month than the previous one even with his odd run of bad luck.

He knows the motions to go through well enough, he's met people and 'hit it off' to get close to them when a situation required it and he's stolen more than one priceless artifact or ability that way.

Comments

[crossreversed]

"It's a very reciprocal and symmetric system. For anything that can be done, the right counter can undo it or prevent it. It's a predictable question, but not a very interesting one." Chrollo says. Not interesting in any way he hasn't already discussed at least. His decision not to answer it brings an uncomfortable electrical buzz that starts to move towards painful.

"These sessions are supposed to be a back and forth, but you've been asking all the questions. You introduced yourself and hour omen- daemon, that is. What kind of cultural role do daemons have where you're from?" An introduction with titles Chrollo could understand, but the daemon is different. She didn't quite seem to have the same treatment most Sleepers he met gave their omens. Chrollo wouldn't introduce his omen properly to strangers, only to those closest to him. As outgoing as the spider is, and invulnerable to damage, she's just too personal.

[anbaric]

"Fair enough. And I don't deny that I'll take the lead if someone gives me the chance." Asriel doesn't mind that Chrollo evaded the question, very likely to do the same himself when it suits him. He takes it to mean it's a more interesting answer anyway if it has to be worked for.

"I suppose that would depend on the culture itself. But to all, daemons are a part of what makes us human. Most people are extremely uncomfortable with the idea of meeting another person who has no daemon. It's like meeting someone who is somehow missing half of what you know a person needs to be a person. Not physically, but their very soul itself. I suppose you could say there is an unavoidable layer of honesty inherent in everything we do because you can't hide that part of you."

[crossreversed]

It's a more solid manifestation of one's aura from what Chrollo understands. One could learn to hide the ripples and change in flow that gave away emotions and intentions, but not everyone knew nen existed, and among those who did many couldn't see it.

"There's no proof that souls exist where I'm from. It's a matter of belief, though I did know someone who claimed his ability could trap the souls of the dead," Chrollo mused. He'd never quite understood how that ability worked, but even at its strongest it was weak. "I wonder what darkness I'd find inside her, then. But daemons are very different from what I'm used to looking at. What do you look for in other people's daemons to see what kind of person they are, what unavoidable honesty do you see in them?"

[anbaric]

"The form matters, for one thing. It isn't something we are capable of choosing voluntarily, and so a daemon's form speaks volumes about the nature of a person. Someone who is meant to be a dog can never be a lion no matter how much they may wish it."

There is a lot more nuance to it than Asriel suggests with that explanation, but he's hit the key points.

"We are connected, but we are always two halves of one whole. Our bond is strong, so it is not uncommon for a little of one to exist in the other. Strong emotions may be difficult to mask. Or, we may not always agree."

"Sometimes humans do not like to hear the truth," Stelmaria says, happy to add in her two cents and prove a point. Asriel does not seem to mind.

[crossreversed]

"What does it mean to be a dog or a lion anyway. Are those things are are universally defined or does it heavily depend on the culture's view of a dog or a lion?" Chrollo is curious. Nen type can be changed, but rarely, and usually it aligns very well with what a person wants, but not always. But trying to place a person's nen type by their personality or judge them as a person based on their nen type and not their ability is about as accurate as judging them by blood type or the time of their birth.

"Humans are such strange creatures. Most would embrace a comforting lie over an uncomfortable truth, and humanity's capacity for self-deception is staggering," Chrollo says in agreement as he looks at Stelmaria.

[anbaric]

"An individual's true nature will always supersede the rest. It's the Dust that ultimately knows, but humans understand deeper meaning through symbols. That knowledge has always been there; we have simply come to discover it over time."

Asriel understands the concepts and even learned to manipulate Dust, but had had to employ someone to read the alethiometer. He has no patience for the work involved himself, but the layers of meaning in each symbol on the device have always fascinated him. It all seems so basic until you realise any question possible could be posed using only thirty-six symbols.

"You see a lot of dogs around because a lot of people are loyal and friendly and somewhat obedient. People think they want to be lions because many people associate them with strength and royalty, but in truth, a lion is much more than that. The symbolic associations that are a part of the collective consciousness of humanity and culture are both factors that play into the final outcome. How much weight those lend to what form a daemon takes depends on how much an individual's culture and how the world views them matters to them."

Asriel is now engaging in self-deception by ignoring that part like he didn't feel called out by it.

[crossreversed]

Chrollo spends a moment trying to picture what daemons the troupe might possess if they were from a world where such things happens, but it's difficult. They all changed so much when they decided to form the troupe as it is now, and have changed more since then.

"I see, and if my spider were a daemon rather than an omen what would that tell you about me?"

The rules for omens are possibly similar, but also different. If he'd gained an omen when he was a child Chrollo knows its form would be very different from the twelve-legged spider he has as an adult.

[anbaric]

Asriel considered the question, knowing he had already formed an opinion about the spider when he'd seen it the first time.

"It would tell me I should be vigilant because spiders tend to be tricky."

He admits this readily and honestly because it's not like he feels like he should have to lie about it; plenty of Asriel's enemies had spider daemons. It's a bias he's aware of.

"I would also assume you think things through very carefully and prefer a patient approach. A different sort of hunter from the type who actively pursues. The extra legs are curious, but mostly because spiders only have eight legs in my world."

There's no point in reading uniqueness into something that might only be a peculiarity of someone else's world compared to his.