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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
By now, Sarah and Svetlana are setting up the warning tape.
"It's a metaphor. I was in trouble, she helped me out. Anything more than that is
a bit personal."
Translation: Sarah would rather not talk about how Svetlana saved her from being executed becuase she questioned the legality of the summary execution given out to people she was just starting to care about.
"If it helps illuminate the nature of our relationship, I am for all intents and purposes the child's legal guardian."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"It kinda raises more questions than it answers, but in a good way, I suppose." Isamu, for his own part, was putting up stakes where they could wrap the warning tape about.
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"Hollows, at least Menos that have regained their individuality and capacity for conscious thought, are capable of experiancing emotions other than hunger and anger. Arrancar even moreso. I felt a pique of sentimentality for my child and rescued her. Our relationship progressed from there."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"Oh, I didn't mean to offend. It is just... I don't think I've seen an Arrancar help a human ever before. I mean, I know it's bound to happen at some point, but this is my first time seeing it."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"If it helps, I'm a fullbringer," Sarah said as they continued to work, "So I'm practically part hollow."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"You have Hollow Reiatsu, that's not really the same thing. Regular Pluses with spiritual powers don't have Shinigami Reiatsu, but they can still become Shinigami, or develop powers of their own."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
Spiritual power is defined by the nature of the soul. Only a pure, dead soul can become a Death God, only a human can become a medium."
"I am a living human with powers that are otherwise exclusive to hollows, ergo I must be partially hollowfied. If I'm partially hollowfied then I must be part hollow."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"Actually, you're sort of jumping to conclusions there.
One, your powers aren't exclusive to Hollows, I think. In fact, I haven't run into any Hollows who do what a Fullbringer does... poltergeists and telekinesis maybe, but no interaction with the souls of objects.
Second, by definition a Hollow - at least the non-Arrancar kind - has an incredible urge to feed on other spiritual entities, which clearly isn't the case with you. You might be closer to a demi-Hollow than an actual Hollow, but a demi-Hollow is no more and no less than a Plus at the end of their rope and about to turn. You don't suffer from spiritual erosion either, so...
Let me put this another way. The Quincies, the ones that attacked this place. They manipulate spirit particles, right?" A rhethorical question, but it seems Isamu wants to see where he can get with this.
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"My powers are derived from the desires of my heart, same as a Hollow's. Also, I can do this," Sarah says as she forms a Cero in her hands. She dismisses it without firing. "And as far as I know only Hollows and things that are part hollow can do that."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"And a Zanpakutou is a materialization of one's spiritual power, but Arrancar have those too.
Shinigami can make Garganta through Kidou. If firing Ceros became necessary as part of our toolset we'd probably find a way to do that as well.
But back to my original point. As I was saying, Quincies can manipulate spiritual particles. Anything and everything in the spirit world is made up of those, ourselves included. So that would mean that, in theory, a Quincy could just change the shape of our bodies, or twist our bones or warp us in some crazy fashion by manipulating the spirit particles in our bodies.
But they can't do that. No matter how strong they are, that's a kind of power that they don't have access to. Why do you think that is?"
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"Becuase they can't mess with souls and even if they could, messing with souls that are part of someone's body is hard. And I'd pressume that they can't just manipulate any little thing anyway they want becuase their control of spirit particles is less precise than a Fullbringer's control of souls."
"Not to cast aspersions upon you, but claiming that hollows that have gained the properties of Shinigami having the weapon of a Shinigami as an example of having the powers of something not making you part of that seems like a flawed comparison."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
Concurrently with this discussion, somewhere in the city of Las Noches, Demetrio silently hopes that one day his comrade Torahiko Tachibana will return and rescue him. Demetrio, who is an Arrancar turned Quincy. Demetrio, who had his mask fragment torn off and his brain reprogrammed by use of Quincy Sklaverei.
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"But that is exactly my point. There are numerous examples in the spirit world of things that have the properties of other things and that do not happen to BE those things.
Calling a Fullbringer, say, a living Hollow because she happens to have Hollow Reiatsu is like calling an orange a planet because both are round."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"That's great, bu i didn't claim to be a living allow, I claimed to be practically part hollow."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"Same basic difference, actually." Isamu said, plunging another sign into the ground. "The distinction in Plus Reiatsu and Hollow Reiatsu is mostly academic. Prolonged mortal exposure to both has the effect to increase spiritual sensitivity and the likelihood to develop spiritual powers. Your powers may be the result of a spiritual mutation, but that does not mean you are changing into what originally gave you those powers."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
At this point, Sarah stops talking and continues working on hanging signs.
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"I think your guardian is more than qualified to speak about that, but... existence as a Hollow is generally something pretty bleak. It's... not something I'd wish on anybody, much less myself. So it kinda feels weird that you'd feel so strongly about it..."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"I didn't say I wanted to be a Hollow. I said I was already part hollow--I absorbed hallow essence triggering a mutation in my soul that, among other things, granted me powers of a near identical nature to a Hollow's. Just physically being in Hueco Mundo makes me a little bit stronger with every breath, the same way that breathing in the dense, hollowfied spiritons that make up the air here can sate a lesser hollow's hunger for a time My own energy replenishes more quickly in Hueco Mundo that it does on earth, and if you haven't noticed, my energy feels more like a hollow's than anything else."
That's actually something interesting: Part of becoming an Arrancar is to tear down the barrier between a Shinigami and a Hollow. As a result, an Arrancar's reiatsu doesn't feel like a hollow's until they enter their Ressurection. Nor does it have the properties of Hollow Reitsu in their sealed state(Which is, among other things, why a Quincy can safely use Skalvery to absorb an Arrancar or an Arrancar's construct when they are normally deathly allergic to Hollow Reiatsu.)
Meaning that, at least in their respective sealed states, Sarah honestly feels more like a hollow than Svetlana does. Maybe even more so than some other Fullbringers.
It's noticeable that the core of her power is fundamentally human, but... Honestly, the only thing distinct about her energy signature is that it feels like "Generic Hollow" wrapped around a faint core of "generic human."
"It's not that I feel strongly about it, it's that it's how Fullbringers were explained to me and it's really the only thing that makes sense when I think about it."
"For what it's worth," Svetlana adds, "and not that I'm wishing such a fate to befall you, but I think you'd make a wonderful Arrancar if it ever came to that."
"Th-thank you, Ma'am."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"Well, for what it's worth I think you're still missing something fundamental to being even part Hollow."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuroimaken
[The meeting... and into something else]
Masamune finds himself having difficulty diving into the sword's inner world. Aside from the obvious resistance to someone who is not his rightful owner, Kokuden-ou seems fit to have the blacksmith traverse thunderstorms the likes of which could smite a castle with less effort. Thankfully, as a much smaller target, navigating such hazards is hardly above the Royal Guardsman. He eventually arrives at an immense, gothic castle set atop an equally immense plateau well above most clouds, though he sees only an overcast sky beyond with the occasional peals of lightning crossing the sky. The castle's massive doors swing open with some effort on his part, and after walking forward for a little while, he reaches what appears to be an extravagant, if mistreated throne room - upon which a black-clad knight sits. His armor has clearly seen better days, notched and scuffed everywhere, but still standing from its superior craftsmanship. Its full-face helmet bears something of an
insectoid motif, and for a little while Masamune might be confused by its bright red, shining eyes.
"And to think, after several hundred years, you're the first one here."
========
"I have more ability to speak with you and yours than most. You are all, in a way, my children. What parent cannot speak to his children?"
He walked about the room slowly, taking in both the environment, and the spirit before him.
"I shall not demand your name. That is for the Commander-General to discover. I am curious of your relationship to him, though. He has unlocked far more power than one would associate with a Shikai, or even some Bankai. Yet I think perhaps you have not given him everything. Has he offended you in some way?"
================================
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuroimaken
[Las Noches]
Setsurou's expression changes into one of genuine surprise for perhaps the first time in three hundred years. "I suppose that's another notch in favor of my current company, then. Is it too weird that I kind of wish I was born an Arrancar right now?" He says in semi-jest.
Turiel barely manages not to belly-laugh.
"It is rather odd, Psychopomp. Whether it's too odd for you, who can say but you? But you're welcome, nonetheless."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuroimaken
"Well, for what it's worth I think you're still missing something fundamental to being even part Hollow."
Sarah has gone back to not talking.
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
[Into the depths of the mind]
The black-clad knight's frame moves in a way that denotes amusement, even though the sound of a chuckle does not escape him. "No, 'Father', Koutarou Ishinomori has not acted in a way that at all displeases me. If nothing else, I admire him for living his life so close to his ideals in spite of how much pain it brings him.
He has reached a position and a situation in which some, lesser men would have resorted to becoming a tyrant. He certainly has the charisma for it, ill-used as it might be. And that turn of events would have bored me. Instead, he is devoting every fiber of his being to ending the crisis currently upon him.
Unfortunately, said crisis has demanded of him too quick a growth. He has tapped into a power greater than his control of it, and fear still keeps him restrained. To a point, it is a healthy restraint, as he is certainly capable of drawing more power than he can handle... has he spoken to you of the first time he did so?"
_______________
[Las Noches]
"That reminds me. I have yet to thank you properly for the hospitality you've shown my fiancee in recent times. I suspect one such as yourself would not be averse to receiving a gift, but I find myself wondering what sort of gift I could bestow you with."
________________
[The Construction Site]
Isamu hates awkward silences. He feels like he could get more out of Svetlana but he has no idea which subject to broach with her. His eyes turn to hers in a silent plea.
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"You will have to forgive my child's moodiness. She gets certain ideas and tends to form her thoughts around those ideas. You're challenging something which she's considered to be the truth for a long time, so..."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"The world changes around us all the time, and what used to be truth at one point could cease to be, or cease to be viewed as such in another. Eventually, she might need to learn some flexibility."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
"I suppose, though considering the relative stagnation of dead souls compared to living mortals such as herself, I doubt that there will be much she has to worry about in the short term."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuroimaken
[Into the depths of the mind]
The black-clad knight's frame moves in a way that denotes amusement, even though the sound of a chuckle does not escape him. "No, 'Father', Koutarou Ishinomori has not acted in a way that at all displeases me. If nothing else, I admire him for living his life so close to his ideals in spite of how much pain it brings him.
He has reached a position and a situation in which some, lesser men would have resorted to becoming a tyrant. He certainly has the charisma for it, ill-used as it might be. And that turn of events would have bored me. Instead, he is devoting every fiber of his being to ending the crisis currently upon him.
Unfortunately, said crisis has demanded of him too quick a growth. He has tapped into a power greater than his control of it, and fear still keeps him restrained. To a point, it is a healthy restraint, as he is certainly capable of drawing more power than he can handle... has he spoken to you of the first time he did so?"
_______________
"Yes, he has mentioned a recent development that gave him an ability to...purify. I am not as frightened as some, but it is somewhat concerning."
Masamune turns then from looking at a badly-notched sword on the wall to regard the sword-spirit before him, his gaze calm.
"Fear of the destruction one's unrestrained power might wreak upon the land is valid. Were I incautious, I could suck half of Soul Society dry to the bone in minutes, in my fully-released state. And my sword's power is, ultimately, creation. Your powers seem to be Offense and Defense, though forgive me if that's an over-generalization. Frankly, I feel both worried and hopeful that the leader of the Gotei has you as his Blade. The sheer power and versatility at his fingertips makes him an outstanding protector...but his independence worries one such as me, who looks to the Balance, the Cycle, and the System."
He fell silent, considering the being in front of him for a moment.
"Have you simply rejected his attempts to speak with you, or is he just being thick-skulled and going about it the wrong way? I'm genuinely curious."
=============================================
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuroimaken
[Las Noches]
"That reminds me. I have yet to thank you properly for the hospitality you've shown my fiancee in recent times. I suspect one such as yourself would not be averse to receiving a gift, but I find myself wondering what sort of gift I could bestow you with."
Turiel blinks, taken aback for a few moments.
"My greatest wish would be to see Oscar the Hundred-Handed, general of the Ghost King, shattered and dead beneath my feet while I sup upon his essence. Failing that....hm. I have tasted most metals. But never one of the rare elements I've heard the Mortals make in their labs, the short-lived ones that glow with their own energy."
...He's talking about transuranium elements.
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
[Within the soulscape]
"When all is said and done, I am a Zanpakutou. My purpose is no more and no less than to purify Hollow souls. The form young Ishinomori has brought forth does no more and no less - a blade at its most pure. As a portion of his own soul, I share his heart as well - and a blade that cuts overmuch is disastrous in its own right.
Therefore, I cut and sear away at that which needs to be cut and no more. Naturally, were his heart to shift, so too would my edge. For that reason alone, Central had good reason to fear me. If ever they came to warp Koutarou's heart with their decrees and dogmas, they could well see themselves under my judgement, and there would not be a shield in the world that could stop me.
Disturbing, is it not? That which is pure , the essence of which clashes against this world... it can become a tremendous force."
The following question seems to at once amuse the knight, but also cause him some embarrassment.
"Neither, and perhaps both. Koutarou is much too eager to follow the wisdom of someone else - and as a part of him, I know that better than anyone. That he would have asked you to have this conversation is perhaps proof enough. I could not have him become enamoured with the eloquence of what is essentially himself.
Masamune. Fear not Koutarou's independent streak. He has just enough discernment to know when he's in over his head, and if nothing else, fear of failure has him contained enough. Instead, groom him to learn from his mistakes rather than lament them ceaselessly. Sharpen him, as you would a blade, into a tool of purpose for Seireitei. He would appreciate the guidance, and as far as ambitions go, to be in service of his fellows is what he aspires to.
Zheng Li Lin meant well, but Lily's loss was that much more tragic to him for it."
________________
[Las Noches]
Truth be told, Setsurou has no idea that they go by that name, but he has a vague idea of what Turiel means.
"It might take some time and research, but I'm nothing if not resourceful. I'll see whether I can drag Oscar or a sample of these exquisite metals first."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuroimaken
[Within the soulscape]
"When all is said and done, I am a Zanpakutou. My purpose is no more and no less than to purify Hollow souls. The form young Ishinomori has brought forth does no more and no less - a blade at its most pure. As a portion of his own soul, I share his heart as well - and a blade that cuts overmuch is disastrous in its own right.
Therefore, I cut and sear away at that which needs to be cut and no more. Naturally, were his heart to shift, so too would my edge. For that reason alone, Central had good reason to fear me. If ever they came to warp Koutarou's heart with their decrees and dogmas, they could well see themselves under my judgement, and there would not be a shield in the world that could stop me.
Disturbing, is it not? That which is pure , the essence of which clashes against this world... it can become a tremendous force."
The following question seems to at once amuse the knight, but also cause him some embarrassment.
"Neither, and perhaps both. Koutarou is much too eager to follow the wisdom of someone else - and as a part of him, I know that better than anyone. That he would have asked you to have this conversation is perhaps proof enough. I could not have him become enamoured with the eloquence of what is essentially himself.
Masamune. Fear not Koutarou's independent streak. He has just enough discernment to know when he's in over his head, and if nothing else, fear of failure has him contained enough. Instead, groom him to learn from his mistakes rather than lament them ceaselessly. Sharpen him, as you would a blade, into a tool of purpose for Seireitei. He would appreciate the guidance, and as far as ambitions go, to be in service of his fellows is what he aspires to.
Zheng Li Lin meant well, but Lily's loss was that much more tragic to him for it."
________________
"This visit was my idea, not the Commander's; I could faintly hear the song of your metal, but needed to commune with you to understand more. And the tales of what you two have done and become, well...an old man like me enjoys new stories. And to now better understand the dynamic you share despite not openly speaking with him...truly remarkable."
Masamune seems genuinely intrigued and impressed.
"The Empress and I are hoping our time here does help him, yes. But I cannot be a long-term mentor. My position does not allow it. Too much hangs in the balance, and I have no successor."
His face sours at the mention of the last Commander-General.
"I find myself having a difficulty overcoming a negative bias toward the actions of Zheng Li Lin. For one to simply...abandon...one of my 'children' so...it pains me. I can believe that their intentions may have been good but execution was found wanting."
==================================================
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuroimaken
[Las Noches]
Truth be told, Setsurou has no idea that they go by that name, but he has a vague idea of what Turiel means.
"It might take some time and research, but I'm nothing if not resourceful. I'll see whether I can drag Oscar or a sample of these exquisite metals first."
"Oscar is a threat to us both, so it seemed like a 'win' all around. The metals is merely curiosity and hunger."
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Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
[Within the soulscape]
"There are plans to stablish a more direct line of communication with Seireitei, yes? That should be all you need. Koutarou needs to learn confidence in his own decisions, not just the ones he takes when his comrades are in danger. A little critique here and there should be all he needs. Other than that, I'm sure you'll find him thirsting for knowledge, with no idea of what to learn first. He is not... simple. But he has yet to learn proper studying methods. Even his combat form is all over the place because he tries to do everything according to the situation, forgetting to hone the basics on occasion. It makes him flexible, but at the same time it gives him a bit of an inferiority complex in regards to those he sees as having spent greater time in their studies, because he senses he could not learn the same things.
He also feels your disciple, Shen Yi, wasted a perfect opportunity he would have given life and limb for exactly because of that. Stifled or not, the boy's talent went to his head. That the best he could do with his mind was command a rabble of brigands should speak for itself.
I have a theory about that... strange though it might sound, perhaps Zheng Li Lin was not as callous in abandonment as you might think."
______________________
[Las Noches]
"Confrontation with the Court is bound to become inevitable by the day. I happened to clash with Oscar once. To be honest, he struck me as someone more powerful than he was actually dangerous, but that was probably his intent."
-
Re: [BiTPR2] Renewed Revolution: Spirit World V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuroimaken
[Within the soulscape]
"There are plans to establish a more direct line of communication with Seireitei, yes? That should be all you need. Koutarou needs to learn confidence in his own decisions, not just the ones he takes when his comrades are in danger. A little critique here and there should be all he needs. Other than that, I'm sure you'll find him thirsting for knowledge, with no idea of what to learn first. He is not... simple. But he has yet to learn proper studying methods. Even his combat form is all over the place because he tries to do everything according to the situation, forgetting to hone the basics on occasion. It makes him flexible, but at the same time it gives him a bit of an inferiority complex in regards to those he sees as having spent greater time in their studies, because he senses he could not learn the same things.
He also feels your disciple, Shen Yi, wasted a perfect opportunity he would have given life and limb for exactly because of that. Stifled or not, the boy's talent went to his head. That the best he could do with his mind was command a rabble of brigands should speak for itself.
I have a theory about that... strange though it might sound, perhaps Zheng Li Lin was not as callous in abandonment as you might think."
______________________
"Shen Yi's pride stood in his way, coupled, eventually, with his unhealthy connection to an unhealthy collective. He knew none of the true secrets, not when he left and thus not now, and his Ouken was decaying as soon as he left. He has no Key, not now."
He gave a slight smile and nod at the discussion of lines of communication.
"You are correct. I think the lesson he truly needs is that of how to learn, and how to learn from his mistakes. I could take a Shinigami's lifetime to teach him 'how to lead' and it would still be inadequate. But if he knows how to learn, well.
As for his fighting style, I do think I can give him some insight. Seitou's form is as fluid as water. It may better suit the unique flexibility you provide to him."
His brows furrow, but he is not angry. Merely...curious.
"What is your speculation?"
=============================================
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kuroimaken
[Las Noches]
"Confrontation with the Court is bound to become inevitable by the day. I happened to clash with Oscar once. To be honest, he struck me as someone more powerful than he was actually dangerous, but that was probably his intent."
"To be candid, Oscar was the one who broke me, oh-so-long-ago. He of the Court of the Ghost King did battle with I, the Behemoth, and on that day the Hecatoncheires won. The Court of Dragons was laid low, Bahamut himself slain and consumed by the Ghost King. I, and perhaps a few others minor powers, survived. In time, only I was left, with Jehoel's near-admission making him the next-closest acquaintance from those ancient, heady days when your kind either lacked the powers you have now, or had them only in their infancy.
So while I have found new connections, a new home, a new place in the world, I also know how to carry a grudge. Hence, my desire to see him laid low."