onepassingnight | [Gate of Heaven]

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[Gate of Heaven] – [Act 2]

[ The luxury cruise liner, the San Ariel, is truly a breathtaking sight, as it parts the sea about its bow, the only source of waves on the still surface. From the railing lining its massive deck, the world is water in every direction, pure, glittering blue to each horizon. Warm Spring air and the scent of saltwater fill the atmosphere, the sky above caught in the perpetual twilight of sunset.

And all throughout the ship, a sort of celebration seems to be going on -- every person is in high spirits, though they hardly resemble the type one might think to find populating such an extravagant ship as this. Almost all of the partygoers are... Well. Pirates, by all appearances. Their sense of style is tragically cliché, striped shirts and hook hands and peg legs and all. If approached, however, they're also quite friendly, willing to point even their "hostages" in the right direction.

Or toward the captain, more likely, because he does so love to meet new people.

Though, at the moment... He seems to be a bit seasick, hanging halfway over the rail at the bow, while one particularly surly young man stands at attention nearby, holding his hat for him. Some kind of miserable, incoherent groan drifts up from the other side of the railing, and then--

Was that a hiccup? ] Haahh... Have I ever told you about the time I fell in love with a mermaid?

[ He sounds positively dreamy as he asks, though the ridiculous question doesn't seem to be intended for the unflappably stoic man next to him, who doesn't reply. Maybe it's more like alcohol sickness, that he has, liable even to mistake members of his own crew for new faces, from this angle. ] It's a really beautiful story!

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[She'll be relieved if there's a reason, really.]

Don't you have something more important to do than that?

[ But it's a party! What could he possibly have forgotten...? ]

Eh? What's that?

[Last time she was at a random party was totally to investigate a lead on the ginzuishou.]

You really just think about having a good time, don't you?

[ She definitely needs to loosen up. Abel will teach her the ways of fun or die trying. ]

Of course! Why should I worry? Everything's looking up! I'm finally catching a break!

[Her idea of fun is ridiculing her enemies as she crushes them, or causing mischief to rub her evil in their face. She's kind of enjoying her current project: starting a war.]

Oho? Want to share this good news?

[ Okay, well. That's just awful. And he would deeply disapprove, if he ever knew (which, hopefully, he won't). ]

We're nearly home! It's all smooth sailing, from here, and then we'll all be in Rome, again. [ He sighs, leaning on the railing again - though in considerably more reasonable fashion, this time. ] I think that's worth celebrating, don't you?

[It'd be a mistake to call all her motives evil. It'd also be a mistake to call her good. The war, for example, is to stop the enemy while they're still weak enough to defeat - the enemy who'd destroy Earth otherwise.

It's also still an underhanded trick to start a war.]

Rome suits you. You're always on your way there.

It seems like that, sometimes, doesn't it? But that's the trouble with taking a job like mine. [ He flaps a hand at the scenery, a superficial weariness in his smile. ] We're always traveling somewhere.

[She relents enough to speak of her past.]

Growing up, I wanted to travel and see more of the world some day. I was finally able to do that.

Ah, that's nice. Everyone should have the chance, if they're that type.

Me? I've gotten sort of tired of running around, all the time. But I suppose it must be very different to travel only for work, or just because you like to.

It sounds like a normal dream, doesn't it? [The normal dreams she was supposed to be able to have again once everything was done.] Even for someone like me, there are normal dreams.

Of course, of course. That's something most people tend to forget, isn't it? Everyone has normal dreams, even if they're just very little ones. [ Even he had, maybe, once upon a time. ] It's part of being human.

In that case [She turns away from the water to look at Abel.] What are yours?

Mine? Oh oh, nothing really extravagant! If I ever get out of this job alive, I think I'd just like to settle down somewhere peaceful and live out my remaining days in relative obscurity.

[ A briefly contemplative expression crosses his face, as if he's evaluating what he's just said. ] Yes. I believe that sounds nice.

[Funny, in a way, how much extraordinary people long for normalcy. And yet, there's also that part of her that wants to achieve, not hold back, be better than the ones around her.]

Where will you live, if that can happen?

Oh, the countryside! Definitely the country. I guess it doesn't really matter exactly where-- I'll be happy, anyway. But I've had enough of enduring the excitement of the city, all the time. Though I'll still visit!

[Her shoulders rise and fall with a breath that seems to relax some of the tension in her body.]

I want to keep living in the city. But I still want to keep traveling, too.

I see, I see. Is there something in the city that keeps you there, though, or is it just about personal preference?

It's my mother. My mother, and my comrades.

Ah. Those are very good reasons to stay. I never would have guessed it was something like that.

Someone like me doesn't have those thoughts, is that it?

Huh? O-Oh, of course not! It's simply that, well, from someone so young, it's usually something like wanting to become famous or to pursue some other exciting lifestyle.

Now that I think about it, I guess you don't seem like that type at all, but... You know, it's just very responsible of you.

I can pursue those dreams in Tokyo. [And in fact, she does; she has every intention of rising through her career to the very top.]

But they aren't your first priority? [ And he seems a lot less tipsy than he was, before, considering her with a look that's almost half serious. ]

Don't mistake me. I have every intention of being the best at what I do.

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