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[denyamenti]

I'm starting to think these World Turtles have a fascination with using people's souls as cosmic currency in some way or another.

[ Someone's grouchier than usual today. And apparently uncaring about the hypocrisy of him presenting this particular argument. ]

That's the only reason I can think of for why they're continually attaching ours to some kind of tangible reminder: first lanterns, then jewels, now being marked like a gods-damned heifer at market.

At least no one should be able to swallow these tattoos, unlike the gems-- and before anyone asks, yes, that's a thing someone tried once.

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[corundrum]

No, it sounds like it would ruin your insides, since you're all so soft. [It's not meant to be an insult, but they can't see rock against the fleshy interior of any kind of animal going particularly well.]

I heard a few hundred years had passed in this place since you were all here. But I hadn't heard anything about these "world turtles" yet. Are they the ones bringing us here?

[denyamenti]

[ Just the way they say it tells Bakura that the term is intended more literally than metaphorically. ]

As opposed to those who aren't 'soft'?

Over 500, evidently. There doesn't seem to be that much in common to Keeliai, aside from a few familiar races.

[ Bakura has his reasons for not enjoying speaking about the Turtles, but he'll answer the question with only a bare amount of curtness for now. ]

The continents of this world are set on the backs of enormous turtles. They nearly came close to extinction, and only the one elder -- Tu Vishan -- and ten younger remain. The information I got from the Dreaming Bridge was that the latter make up the archipelago this city rests on.

I don't know if they're the ones doing it; likely not. At least not intentionally.

[corundrum]

[Padparadscha considers it somewhat a waste to hide the nature of their form when it comes out so easily anyway, so they offer a lopsided little smile and tap one fist against their chest. It produces a resonant sort of thud, like crystal colliding with crystal.]

That's right.

[His estimate of the time is the same as the last one they got, which Padparadscha notes - it's more likely to be reliable in that case.] Ah, what an unusual way to hold a world up. But it's a shame there's no easy answer to who's bringing people back and forth, huh?

[denyamenti]

[ ... well that's new. He's seen living robots, but at least those were understandable, if something like Kaiba's wet dream. ]

Is that normal where you're from?

I doubt anyone would want to make themselves quite that much of a target. This place often attracts sorts that don't take well to patience and moderation.

[corundrum]

Very. All of my people are born of gems. [Not that there's a lot of Padparadscha's people, but...there were enough. It's strange to think there's so many more in this city, when there's probably at least as many people as there were Gems in this single building.]

Ah, that's true enough. It's certainly a side-track to get dragged here, and there were plenty of people yelling about it on these devices after we arrived, huh? Sounds like a recipe for trouble.

[denyamenti]

... that part was entertaining, though.

[ He's got no shame in being amused by other people's misfortune. ]

[corundrum]

Well, it was a little funny to watch some of them, you're right. [Padparadscha laughs low in their throat, a deep, resonant sound.] But it seems like most of them have calmed down in the blink of an eye, so I wonder what the point of making all that noise was in the first place.

[denyamenti]

This may come as a shock to you, but most people do not actually think before they open their mouths.

[corundrum]

I suppose humans don't have a lot of time to do it, do they? I can understand a little bit why they'd want to say as much as they can.

[Even if it's unproductive. Maybe they just want to leave some kind of mark in their short time here.]

[denyamenti]

Some of us have more time than others.

[corundrum]

Oh? That's a strange thing to say and then not say more.

[It sounds like the kind of thing one might say if they were talking about themselves, but Padparadscha will see if they can get him to continue before they start guessing.]