(Rose)
I've grown accustomed to her presence. We talk a lot along our way. We reflect upon different things even. She taught me about herself and her past, even though it's rather empty.
B - There isn't much to say about a plant whom waited an unknown amount of time to focus its growth and centuries to be blossoming. I may have been brought to existence like a bacteria or a virus, but before I reached this place and this kind of self-awareness, I wouldn't even say I was truly alive. Certainly not more than a wandering cell is, or very little more.
R - And you learnt languages through the analysis of a corpse's brain?
B - I learnt what I could from the various leftovers I could find yes. Which included basic knowledge for you, some languages and other cultural intelligence like songs yes. It all was pieces of a puzzle to me at first, or bricks, which I used rather randomly at first, to build my persona. Maybe the emotional understandings were misused in the beginning.
R- In regard of making a copy of a functional human mind, I guess you did a rather good and rapid job. Though it wasn't without prejudice at first, but who can claim to create life from death without encountering any difficulties?
I'm reminded of the modern Prometheus. Though she's both the human scientist and the monster somehow.
R - I remember thinking yesterday, that between you, I, and the late crow, it turned quite confusing finding out who was human and whom wasn't at some point. All of us for different reasons struggled to find balance between humanity and monstrosity. We all became monsters in our own right and blind research for something human, a way or another.
B - I've thought of becoming closer to you, but not truly wished to become fully human however.
R - Well, that was jus' my feeling about us. Things change so fast.
B - But I appreciate the feeling you had thinking of me almost as a human being in my own right.
R - You are today more human than I even was during the first nights of terror. I'm glad it's over.
B - Well, I'll try not to feel too much apologetic about that time I'm responsible for, but I'm glad you were ready to become monster in order to survive. I'm glad you're alive.
R - I am too since I met you. I like the honest personality you became. And you've developed rather sweet feelings too. You're not a demon anymore. Maybe because deep in your heart those feelings prevailed over beastly instincts?
B - We may never know.
That makes me laugh.
B - My feelings might have grown separated from physical needs unlike yours. As did intelligence probably. So as you could see, I've ruled my body completely under my will. I was probably spared from the usual instincts and fears of living tissues.
R - Body and soul are in truly complex relations for humans, whereas your soul fully dominates your body? That's interesting. That's why you became what suited you best. Flowers are not your true essential nature but what you chose to become.
B - Precisely. And I can still grow and change; as you can see me moving a little, but most of my control I've put under your own. That way I won't grow if your body can't sustain it. I've become a part of you mostly.
R - Could you possess my whole body?
B - Given time, surely. But why would I do that? It was already extremely hard to keep it alive when it couldn't sustain itself. Your body certainly does a better job now at keeping itself alive and functional as I would ever do. The body I made for myself were simplistic, unsuited for long life or travel. I don't have enough intelligence to sustain and manage a truly efficient body like animals have. So, maybe I can take over your body, maybe on little things, but I have nothing to gain in doing so and everything we have, to lose. I'm good where I am...
R - That flowery part of you, you created it from the small rose I had with me. You control that part still.
B - That flower is relatively less complex, plus I control only what I need. It was the most suitable basis for me to fix into, and attach onto your body at the time. I admit I like it, it's more comfortable and resilient than what I previously was.
R - You were such a titanic tree!
B - It was the best I could do to survive, it wasn't as efficient as you are still, no matter the appearance of strength it had. It was like a giant mushroom, along a forest of my experiments.
R - You're quite meek regarding bodily control, but you could control my movement like you move the flowers.
B - I could. Touching nerves isn't as complex as total control of course. But I'm an inexperienced puppeteer, and I wouldn't want to interfere with your own will inside what is your body. The flower stems could move under your own will but you probably lack the awareness of it yet. I limit myself to that web of flowers because you don't use direct control over it.
R - That's interesting... I think it would be interesting to learn using each other's body then.
B - Why is that?
R - Because we're a team now, sharing the same tool, but always avoiding using what the other might. We could improve that, don't you think?
B - I did not expect you to invite me further in the being of you. And I'm afraid you wouldn't feel safe if someone else could also control your body.
R - Of course I would not feel safe. Losing control against one's will is prison or torture. Or disease. But... You're not someone else anymore. You're still right, I wouldn't like you to take complete control over me against my will. It would be an awful torture. But for instance, would I be in dire danger and somehow unable to move or react, you could save me. You could save us.
B - I guess I can understand your point. It could be useful at times if I could control your body when you could not. Though from where I stand, you're doing a perfect job already.
R - You still have an incredible potential and power, no matter how little you've become. I prefer seeing it trained and put to good use than cast aside and therefore unreliable. Every body needs physical exercise to be kept in good shape. Mine wasn't, and I just barely avoided death more times than I want to count. I don't want us to repeat that kind of mistakes.
B - So you want us to learn and train ourselves with each other's potential?
R - Exactly. My body, and as far as it goes, your power.
She's a kind of demon after all.
B - I guess you could heal better and grow stronger if you had a better control over your biological mechanisms... But...
R - What is it?
B - You did not realise where the monsters came from?
Ah. She's right, I forgot. The deads and the livings, free from society, free from the rules of law, and more importantly, free from the laws of biology and human biological systems, they turned into ominous beasts reshaping themselves in pure instincts...
The monsters were mostly humans, freed from the oppressive limitations and rules their bodies once had over them.
R - I did forget for a moment, that your power turns us into monsters.
B - Not necessarily, but becoming free to choose how your entire body, and brain, should work, you're bound to make some mistakes at some point. You remained human because you didn't receive the opportunity to cast aside that set of rules regulating your body an autonomous system. And for you, I want to be very cautious regarding how I give that power to you. I don't want to lose you.
R - I'm sorry, I did not think about the relation between the humans and animals becoming monsters and the power you can have to improve my body. I wouldn't want to end up like them either...
It's kind of a sad point. Bad memories return to us. In our day and age, there is something in the air that can allow all and everyone to change, to transform as they wish to, willingly or not. And normal death isn't exactly the end it used to be.
B - We could learn. Carefully, slowly. So many molecules run and move through your body. We could try learning about them slowly. It's what I did when I fused with you, while trying to save you. I wasn't certain I would succeed because your body is so complex. That's why rather than to risk repairing a few things wrong. I preferred to install replacement with my new body here and there.
R - Honestly, I didn't think very far about what I would do with your power if I had control of it. Quite like you with my body truly. I would most likely do something wrong rather than anything useful... That's a little sad, but rather funny also.
B - Why is that?
R - Because we're stuck together but scared to touch at each other's tools. We should try learning about each other's nature I still believe. However you are right, we'll have to be very careful.
B - I'm becoming quite your reasonable side, am I?
R - Ey! I'm rather thoughtful I think.
I'm smiling, looking at the road and clear sky ahead.
R - I guess, I was eager to know more about you. I don't desire power more than you do. What I want is for us to grow safe, strong enough for this world we're in. Learning about each other, I want to improve our chances at least, if not happiness even...
B - Rose, that's so sweet. Of course I want to be happy with you. You're cautious about reality. I'll be the one cautious about my power and the side of reality you can't see, okay? And we'll learn. With you, we can improve as we go.
R - We have all the time left in the world.
B - Eh eh, you're right. Though you know, I'm already happy since I'm with you. And I love you.
R - Oh you...
Shameless I tell you...
~