2022-02-09: To End Sin

• Log: To End Sin
• Cast: Citan Uzuki, Lulu
• Where: Guadosalam
• Date: February 09, 2022
• Summary: Citan, in Guadosalam after Seymour's fall, meets with Lulu; he asks after her group's goals and offers to lend her a hand.

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<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    In time, perhaps, Guadosalam might be forgiven.

    That is the thought that Citan, standing near the edge of one the balcony-like overhangs within the sprawling city of the Guado, has been considering. Even now, are there not Spirans who have come to their aid...? But it is still a strange thing, to consider an entire people condemned for the actions of a few.

    Neither is it a new thing. It has been constant across history, even across worlds -- indeed, the history of his own Filgaia is rife with it.

    But perhaps the pattern will be altered this time around. Guadosalam was not left to its 'fate'. Indeed, below where he stands, it is not merely the Guado now going about their business, but the Guado and those who had come to lend them aid. Change is coming, Gon had said. There will be resistance, but it cannot be denied.

    He unfolds his arms, at last turning away from the sight below.

    "I wonder where Fei and the others have gotten off to?" he remarks aloud, glancing the once towards the well-rooted ceiling, "Well, at least I do not think they could get into too much trouble here... hmm. He has been quiet, all considering. Perhaps this may do him some good."

    He exhales a long sigh and shakes his head. "But perhaps I am overthinking things. Well! It will not do me well to lurk about in some dark corner or another either!"

    With that, he moves towards the better-lit doorway connecting this space to one of Guadosalam's footpaths.

<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.

In time. It will take time.

...But time, after all this, they have. And Lulu is able to walk the streets of Guadosalam again, as she has many times. She has not returned to the Farplane; there is no point. She knows the one she seeks will not be there. But there are other things to answer now, and to consider...

One of them being the man who helped them down there. "Doctor Uzuki," Lulu greets him as she sees him from not far away, walking over to the doorway at which he stands. Maybe he's overthinking things, but Lulu does that a lot too. It's fine.

"...Seems I caught you in a free moment. Unless you'd like to get back to thinking. I have some brooding of my own to do."

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    Doctor Uzuki, it would seem, is someone who at times prefers to work out what he's thinking with words. There is a benefit to such, sometimes -- putting things into words can at times reveal flaws and problems that would remain hidden if kept in the space behind the eyes.

    But, there is a downside to such things as well.

    Such as when one thinks they're alone and they are not. He looks, fleetingly, taken aback by her presence. Lifting a hand, he fidgets with his glasses. "Ah, Miss Lulu! Now, this is a surprise. I hope that you do not think too poorly of me. I was merely thinking out loud," he says, shaking his head.

    "However, you are correct. I am otherwise unoccupied at this moment! Was there something of which you wished to ask me? We did not precisely have the moment to speak the, ah, last time we met."

    Which was largely because they were fighting off a regenerating Seymour at the time, and once that was over and dealt with, there had been a great many other concerns taking precidence at the table.

    So to speak.

    "Actually, if you would not mind, there is something I would care to ask you myself."

<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.

"It's not a problem," Lulu answers simply as to his thinking aloud. And that is that for that; she doesn't even rib him for being taken aback at her presence!

"So we didn't." A beat, "I'm still deciding what I want to ask, now that you're here. But I'd be willing to answer your question first, I think."

She's rather more laconic than he is as a rule, and fidgets less--but she's seen the sorts of things he can do, and does not in fact think him particularly ditzy as he might've worried at the time.

"So what are you thinking?"

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    He doesn't remark on it further, perhaps content to let this be (at least for now) water under the bridge.

    "Ah, I see! Well, in that case... I had been wondering what your plans might be now. Ah, but do not misunderstand me!" he says, holding up a hand as if to ward off precisely that. "I mean that question for all of you within the young Summoner's orbit. Is Miss Yuna's aim to defeat Sin? If I am to understand the turn of events at Zanarkand, then she will no longer be intending to utilize the 'traditional method'. I am curious as to the means, I suppose you might say," he says, readjusting his glasses.

    "I am a scholar at heart," Citan clarifies, a hint of a fond smile on his lips, "and as my wife would phrase it, 'far too nosy for my own good'! But I cannot help it. It is in my nature."

<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.

What their plans are? Lulu listens to the question. She does lift an eyebrow, but he wards off the thought... and makes the question for all of them. "The 'traditional method' is out, yes," Lulu confirms. And then she considers for a moment. There is no particular reason not to answer him, and, well...

"I don't object to a scholarly approach. The truth, though..."

Lulu shakes her head. "We're still looking for those means. Seeking out ancient powers, lost Aeons, new magics... I'd even be willing to consider machina again, if we could avoid what happened at Operation Mi'ihen just happening again."

"But indeed. We will defeat Sin. ...And we will not sacrifice Yuna to do it, nor rely on false hopes."

"...I do believe that, somewhere here in Spira or beyond, there is such a means. But I'm under no illusions that it will be easy, or that it will come without cost."

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    She explains, in so many words.

    Folding his arms across his chest, Citan glances towards the floor. "I see... so there is no specific plan as much as there is the will. However, I do not think that is hopeless by any means."

    He turns his gaze away from her, towards the halls.

    "I am an 'otherworlder' by Spiran terms, so I cannot say I understand the scope of history rightly. With that in mind, from what I have learned, the length of the Calm has been growing shorter. Therefore," he continues, touching a finger to the rim of his glasses, "we can surmise that we would eventually reach a point where even the Final Aeon would not suffice to hold Sin at bay. ...This is not to sow despair, I should clarify, but rather to say, I feel that your search for a different solution is a wise one."

    He glances back at her. "...I am not in agreement with Seymour. There is still hope."

    Still, he is not yet done talking.

    "As I had said, I am a bit of a scholar. It can be best to start from first principles. Thus, I ask you, who may have clearer insight than I, 'what is Sin'? 'What is its nature'? By understanding one's enemy, one receives insight on how that enemy may be defeated."

<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.

"Oh?"

Lulu of course also doesn't think it's hopeless. But she is wondering why Citan thinks so, not why she thinks so, and so she continues to listen. And what he says... It is something that makes her think a bit. "Hmmm."

She nods. "Right." Not in agreement with Seymour, then.

But Citan considers first principles, and this approach is... rather different from say, certain of her comrades'. But first.... "That's an interesting theory, about Sin and the Final Aeon, but I confess; the reason we abandoned the tradition includes not only the fact that it is temporary... but the high cost of its effectiveness. While I, for one, would gladly have become the Final Aeon if it would have truly ended Sin..." She shakes her head. "As I believe you know, it would not and could not."

"Not with 'Yu Yevon' behind the scenes. I do not know who this Yu Yevon is, only that Lady Yunalesca mentioned him as the reason Sin would return." She pauses. "...Sin is... built of an Aeon. It is made up of pyreflies. The Guardianists of Gaia call it 'Obsession', and claim it is what is called a 'Clysmian', representing Obsession. The teachings state that it was sent to punish our hubris... But what we know for certain is that it is attracted to machina."

"...and we know it is made up of an Aeon because we know the identity of the last Final Aeon, who became Sin. Sir Jecht--Tidus's father, and a legendary Guardian in Spira."

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    "No, that is... what I had assumed had been the cause," Citan tells her, shaking his head. "Such a sacrifice would be monumental even if it were only one life. But for it to require two...! And, without question, two lives who have come to depend on one another after such a long pilgrimage." He sighs, shoulders sloping for the moment. "I suppose the Summoners of old had thought that even a short period of time free from Sin would have been worth the price. But it is an incomplete solution. Perhaps, if it were instead absolute..."

    He may be thinking along similar lines as she -- if a solution works, it might be worth the cost. But for it to come painfully, and with so little to show but diminishing time...

    "Yu Yevon? Is that not the same 'Yevon' as the church?" he asks her, furrowing his forehead as if he were thinking this same matter over. "Is it coincidence, or is that something meaningful? It would seem to be almost too fitting..."

    But Lulu has more to say.

    "I had heard about this." He nods. "--Indeed, Seymour himself raised a Clysmian on Filgaia's surface. I am no expert in Guardianist teachings, but I have heard that a Clysmian can be thought of as an 'opposite' to a Guardian. A Guardian is birthed from the thoughts and beliefs of people ultimately, and they come to represent various powers and forces. Indeed, some are more abstract. I have heard of a Guardian of swords and a Guardian of castles. Among the greatest Guardians are those of such abstract ideas as love, hope, and courage. ...We have known now a Clysmian of obsession and desperation."

    He glances up towards the knotted gnarled ceiling, as if in thought. "...Have you spoken with the Guardianists, Miss Lulu? Perhaps there may be an answer for you with them."

    But there's more still.

    It's attracted to machina. And...

    "...I had heard rumors to that effect from the others," Citan admits, glancing away. "That the young man's father had become..." He looks at her, directly. "Perhaps no one might 'know' this. But does the mind of one who becomes Sin remain? I wonder... if he might still know his son."

<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.

If it worked, it would be worth it, Lulu would think. She nods, at what those old Summoners must have thought. "...Summoners for a long time have believed that their lives were a worthwhile price."

"I'm not sure," she admits of Yu Yevon. "It could be related; it would be strange for there to be no relation. But what relationship is it...? We don't know."

Seymour... "That is what I have heard, as well. I've spoken some with the Guardianists; they don't have a solution at the moment, but the solution might well include them. I'm trying not to rule anything potentially useful out."

"...We believe that there is some of him left. Tidus has felt it. But he can't help his new nature, either; Sin may want to see its son... but it cannot help but destroy wherever it goes."

"...So far, my main lead has been to investigate more in terms of magic. That's at least what I can do. For Sin itself..." She lifts her hands in another shrug. "What we can do with that knowledge, I don't know yet. We have many pieces, but no cohesive whole."

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    He raises a hand to his chin, as if in thought. "I am reminded..." Citan says at last. "What do you know of the origin of the Yevon church? Surely, there was a founder." He hesitates, as if he were pushed towards some conspiracy unwillingly, and asks his next question quietly: "There were many things that I could not learn as an 'otherworlder' back when we first arrived in Spira, but among them was the identity of founder of the church. It had... struck me as odd, even then."

    It's an avenue that Lulu has pursued as well, she indicates. "I am glad to hear it! I would also recommend speaking to the magicians of Sielje. The art of Crest Magic, while I am only passing familiar with it, has some linkage to Guardianist practice. It may also be of use to you."

    He pauses a moment, arms folded across his chest. "That said, however... you had said that you had been interested in learning more about potential applications of machina? Then I feel that you may wish to travel to Shevat. They may be one of the best places to turn if you are seeking to learn more about machina, or Filgaia's lost past. My wife -- Yui is her name -- has said that there have been some overtures from the Al Bhed there of late. You would scarce be out of place."

    Absently, he rubs at his chin. "...Speaking of machina, are you aware of whether it is more effective against Sin? It might explain its aversion to it. Still, I wonder."

    There may be some of Jecht left within Sin.

    "I see... it is not a solution, but it may be an 'opportunity'. It is difficult to get close to Sin. Perhaps... if we were to use Tidus..." He grimaces, faintly. "Ah, I am not saying that we should 'sacrifice' the young man! Merely that, if we were to have a plan, it may be a way to enact that plan..."

<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.

"...The origins of Yevon's teachings are a bit murky," Lulu admits to Citan's question. "But it's said that Yevon was an ancient Summoner. We know that Yevon is the one who created the Fayth, using willing souls offered freely. But the details of how Yevon was founded are lost to history, beyond the story of Lady Yunalesca, the first Summoner to defeat Sin. ...Sin has done a lot to hinder our ability to keep records."

"Sielje... Yes, that could be useful. Crest Magic also uses the elements, I understand; even if I can't use it, it might have some new techniques I could use for inspiration. Or Guardianist aspects."

Machina... and Shevat. Lulu considers that for a few moments. "Hmm. If the Al Bhed have already started to make inquiries, then they may not be wholly unfamiliar with our concerns..." She nods. "I will discuss Shevat with Yuna. It's as good a lead as any."

And his wife! That's nice.

"Powerful enough machina can be effective against anything--but so far as I know, it is not especially effective against Sin. Operation Mi'ihen showed that powerful machina and ground forces are not enough on their own."

An opportunity... "If you said as much, I would think less of you. ...But I see the opportunity, too. And he'll want to be there, when we face Sin. He deserves that much."

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    "...Aha."

    So it was as he had thought. There had been a connection.

    "Then the founder of the Yevon church was, indeed, 'Yevon'. But is this the same as 'Yu Yevon'? It may be a shared name." After all, there are many ways a name can be handed down. "This Yunalesca, did she say anything more about Yu Yevon? ...Indeed, if she has lived all this, ah, had lived, then the church must have known of her. What of her significance?" It is not something he would have had the opportunity to learn, after all, being an otherworlder and far from the center of that group which had journeyed to Zanarkand.

    And for those who had journeyed all that distance, well, she would simply be Yunalesca.

    "Indeed! I have no talent for it myself, I am afraid. But, that does not mean that the insights of one school cannot be applied to another." The Crest Magic tradition, for instance, though it leans on different interpretations thereof, is remarkably easily aligned to the theory taught in the halls of Jugend.

    "Yes, I feel that may be the ideal approach," he says, touching his hand to his chin. "If you are in need of introductions, I may be able to help smooth things over, in a sense? ...Though," he says, smiling as if chagrined, "I had ought to amend that! It would be in truth Yui who would be best suited to help you, so I suppose I would only be introducing you to her!" He chuckles, as if this were an amusing statement. "But I digress. Among the powers that have mastered 'machina' on Filgaia, Shevat would be your best and only option. Solaris and the Veruni would not help you," to say the least, "and Guild Galad would command a high price for their aid."

    He has the decency, at least, to look somewhat abashed. "...Indeed. It would be a terrible thing to exchange a young life to succeed in your quest. Yet, I feel that his presence alone... if his father is still present within, then as long as he is able, he will not harm his son." Of this, Citan looks strangely confident. "And... you would know better than I how Tidus would feel."

<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.

"That, we don't know. We didn't get a chance to talk much to Yunalesca about it, considering." What with re-killing her and all. And that entire... situation. "She wasn't particularly forthcoming. But she has importance, too; she was the first Summoner to defeat Sin, with her Guardian, her husband Zaon. ...Who must've been the first Final Aeon, himself."

"The teachings were never ascribed to her, though; she's simply been there, at Zanarkand, waiting for Summoners to give them the Final Aeon."

"...Yes, the talents you have don't seem to be Crest Sorcery at all," she reflects thoughtfully. "But I can't put my finger on what they are. You aren't from Lunar, I think. You mentioned being an 'Otherworlder', but even aside from that... your abilities aren't the same as mine."

"Well," she says, "I'd appreciate being introduced to your wife, in that case." She is slightly amused, remembering Paine's reaction to Citan helping her. But she doesn't comment on that. "...Solaris is right out," she agrees grimly. "And Guild Galad... Guild Galad seems to emblemize everything that Yevon was made to caution against. And yet, I don't feel particularly warm towards it, despite knowing what I do now."

"...If it were mine," she says, "I would be willing. But Yuna... she's grown fond of him. She relies on him more, now." She pauses. "...I don't know that Sin would be capable of sparing him," she admits. "But if nothing else..."

"...Sin will always return for its own. That seems to be true of him, too."

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    "No... I suppose not, under the circumstances you describe. A pity, but no one can be blamed for it," Citan says, sighing. "Still, that is... useful to know. Was this entire thing something she initiated? Or..."

    But he is already stepping perilously close to speculation, and without anything to suggest he's even close to being near the truth. "I do not suppose that Yevon retains archives on the matter? ...Not that I would expect it, with what we have seen."

    That would make it about thrice over now that a religion has proved itself false, hiding something foul behind pretenses of propriety. What must be going through his friend's son's head at this juncture, he wonders.

    "Ah, I see I have been discovered! I was not being particularly subtle, though, I suppose," Citan sighs, shaking his head. He smiles slightly, even in spite of what has been brought to light. "It is not something I care to... advertise, but I am able to use what is known on Filgaia as 'Ether'. This is no common ability. It is more akin to the reflexive nature of 'Althena's Gift', I believe, though not as strictly defined, as you may have seen. Most commonly, it is found among the Veruni, and... Solaris."

    Of which he had mentioned, and which had provoked quite the statement from her.

    "That is to say, not everyone with that gift is of the nation of Solaris or Veruni, but in my own case... there is no sense hiding it among you, especially should you seek counsel with Shevat. I was born in Solaris, though I left many years ago. I am uncertain how familiar you are with their... nature?"

    She has some passing familiarity, that much is true.

    He nods. "Very well. Then I shall introduce you to Yui." Perhaps this is why he isn't the one doing the diplomacy and favor-trading himself?
    Depending on what Lulu knows about Shevat and Solaris, that is.

    "This is," he says, fidgeting a moment, "not to speak unkindly of Guild Galad. They make many fine things and have an impressive grasp of machinery and engineering. But, their politics are... a 'convoluted' matter. The current Master, too, has shown himself to be, er... perhaps not of the finest moral character. On the other hand, I feel that Shevat may be sympathetic to your cause."

    But what of Shevat's politics? Of that, he's not saying.

    "Yes... that much can be seen. Young love can be a powerful force." He folds his arms over his chest, as if in thought. "Still... it is a decision he must make, himself. Perhaps the connection between the two of them may be sufficient to help accomplish what has not yet been done." He glances over at Lulu only to shake his head. "Or, perhaps the nature of 'Sin' will be too much. If nothing else..." But he trails off, and shakes his head.

    "Forgive me. This is a rather grim topic to be discussing like this."

<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.

"We have come to understand that the people of Zanarkand had a Summoner tradition themselves, and that Bevelle later co-opted it in pursuit of strengthening Yevon. ...Yevon does, so far as I know, keep some archives--but they keep them secret. ...And I never quite managed to make it as a nun," she says wryly.

"Ether..." Lulu nods. "Yes, that makes sense. I have heard of 'Ether'. But I hadn't been aware of its links to both of those peoples."

"I see," she replies as to his having been born in Solaris. "Only that they seek to control others, and that they have defiled the temple in Macalania. I am not entirely familiar with them otherwise. I've just heard that they operate in the shadows on Gaia. ...I may have to ask you more of them, if we're to push them out of Macalania eventually. Yuna would not see the Temple ensnared indefinitely... and neither would I."

"...Mm. Well, Guild Galad is none of my business, but if they're unlikely to help us we might as well use that energy elsewhere."

Young love... Lulu nods. "It is that. It is... nice, to see them together, to see them support one another." She pauses. "...I don't mind grim."

"Either we will succeed, or we won't. And I, for one, would rather try, and fail, then hold back out of fear of the possibility." She pauses. "...Though I do intend to succeed."

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    "Oh? Now that is quite interesting," Citan remarks, mentally filing away that piece of information for later. "But it appears we are of like minds. If there remains anything within Bevelle's archives, as things now stand I do not believe we would easily gain access. They are quite the stubborn ones, it would seem."

    On Ether, at least, he has some answers for her. "Yes. It is quite rare outside either of those particular groups, though not unheard of. Unfortunately, I know little about the Veruni use of Ether, save that it appears to manifest differently than it does among native Solarians. Perhaps there are those who have delved deeper into the research into Ether who might be able to tell you more," he finishes, as if to imply that number does not include him.

    "Yes... they do not seem to have extensive operations here on Lunar. Indeed, they are focused rather entirely within the Macalania Lake region and, from what I have heard, show no signs of pressing beyond it. That suggests to me that the temple is their target... and that they have not gained what they wish from it." His expression grows by degrees more grim. "Which is all the more reason why they must not have it. I and the rest of the Wolves would glad to impart what we know of Solaris, I am sure. It, ah..." Citan pauses a moment here, touching his glasses almost as if to ground himself.

    "...may go some distance for making amends for our attempts to 'capture' Yuna, previously, even if that was the wish of our client of the time..."

    Not that he -- being somewhat of an outlier within their operations and more of a hanger-on rather than full-time mercernary and doctor -- had participated. But nevertheless.

    He says no more about a burgeoning young relationship, instead pivoting towards Lulu's last remark: "You are a woman after my own heart, Miss Lulu. Yes, to wait for things to change is to see that they never will. I am prone to overthinking and planning, but there comes a time to set such aside and make one's attempt, whatever will come of it."

    He smiles, almost slyly. "Though, I also do not care to lose."

    Yui has always said he has an ego. She's not wrong.

<Pose Tracker> Lulu has posed.

"Quite," Lulu replies. They're stubborn, all right. "Sooner or later we'll need to go back to Bevelle... but there's no sense in making it sooner right now. Not before we have enough answers to sustain us there, and enough power to make sure we leave again."

Hmm... So that's Ether. "I know little about the Veruni," she admits. "I am not unhappy that they haven't been a major problem for us... but my job is to be aware of potential threats." She considers that. "Maybe in Shevat we'll find Ether researchers. Maybe not. We won't know until we go."

"...I agree. They're still trying. And we can't allow them to succeed." Pause. "As for that..." She looks amused. "I think Yuna's forgiven you, considering you were doing it for her family. But I wouldn't mind seeing a little restitution in that capacity, myself."

'You' in the general sense, of course.

"...Good. If you liked to lose, you wouldn't make much of an ally." A beat, "I'm glad we seem to understand one another, if only a little."

<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.

    "I agree. I do not know if Seymour is still on their 'side'... or perhaps, if they are on his. But this is not something that it would be wise to chance, especially without the promise that what you might seek will even be present! No, it would be best to exhaust other resources first."

    The Veruni, like the Guard, have seemingly quit this land. Whether or not they are even still allied, he cannot say -- it is one of those pieces of information that falls well outside his own knowledge. "Of that, you can be certain," Citan instead remarks, of Shevat's research. "Though they are not what they once had been, in that capacity."

    What can he do, when Lulu remarks that a little restitution is warranted, except smile sheepishly and extend his hands, placatingly? "As well you ought, I would think."

    Maybe he didn't cause this one, but...

    "Ha, indeed!" he laughs, shaking his head. "Well, it appears we are of like minds on this matter. I shall go and see what the others might think." He is silent, as if to think it over. "Whatever we might do next... I believe it is past time that I did head 'home' again for a while. Perhaps we might cross paths again in Shevat."