The Start to A Better World [Private/Laplace, Cyrus]

"I am quite honored to welcome one of your position to the City of Lights, Councillor. Your praise is quite highly appreciated; my people strive to create a better future for themselves."

In truth, Cyrus was not especially confident in these Iramasha. Not as a race, of course, for Cyrus was not one to deny others any respect based merely on their birth. No, his misgivings were wholly with this Iramasha Union. One would need to be rather well-studied on geopolitics to even know the organization still existed, and hadn't simply fallen apart in the last few years. Well, given the state of the Vandenreich only two years prior, perhapos he ought not be so critical.

"Well, I do not wish to distract you with idle pleasantries, though if you desire tea or a luncheon, that can certainly be arranged."

Cyrus was no fool. First Lux Orior, and now the Iramasha Union. Even if perhaps he had never intended it, the Vandenreich had become an exceptional powerhouse in Earth's affairs; it followed that those other organizations which had once done the same would seek to ally, in one capacity or another. Not that Cyrus held any malice toward them, of course. He understood quite well the difficulties of working around incompetent personnel.

Ah, and there it was. He expectations thoroughly met, the Iramasha speaking on his aims for the future. He did not particularly mind the fact that the Iramasha would seek him out, but of course such a thing could feasibly change.

"The continued weakening of the borders between the realms is the greatest threat which faces not only the Earth, but all of the adjacent worlds to it. Those who do not call the Earth their home already ought stay within their place. Of course, this is not feasible to simply shut the boundaries forever, for the cycles demand some manner of travel between them. But this world, where one might go from the Soul Society, through Earth, and into Demon World all in but a few moments is a danger to all three."

Watching Laplace with the almost distant gaze of the divine, Cyrus wondered where the Iramasha stood on Cyrus' professed neutrality. He found it often misunderstood that he was simply a champion of the Earth, no matter the circumstance. This was not the case.

"All realms must retain their sanctity, for such a thing is not only a matter of security, but of moral good. Rest assured, any who seek to interlope will be met with appropriate retribution."

This was all, generally speaking, what Cyrus had broadly anticipated from the Iramasha. Even if he were not one of their kind, he knew of their existence, and of the likely stances that one in Laplace's position would take. Did he mind? Not terribly, no.

"The Iramasha Realm is indeed but another facet of the Earth. Its boundaries are by and large the Earth's boundaries, and there are many places where one might cross between the two through wholly mundane means. Those who hold the Iramasha as alien are simply shortsighed."

Cyrus naturally understood the weight of Laplace's words, and of the situation he described. It was that which drove him to steal godhood in the first place.

"Yes, this world is certainly diseased. The links forced upon it to other realms are killing it, and must be closed. You are correct, however, that there are still those few things which cannot be simply removed. The soul cycle, and the role of those shinigami who purify unclean souls. This system cannot simply be dismantled without annihilation every bit as dire as that which we already face. It forces a precarious balance onto us."

"Yes, I am quite keenly aware of Vastime's stance on the Iramasha. It is a rather peculiar stance, would you not say, for an empire which carries the best interests of Earth supposedly at heart. Even more strange to see a demon of such high import at the side of its king. But I am not here to cast judgements upon the dead. I agree with your stance."

Cyrus certainly saw eye to eye with the Iramasha before him on those topics which carried the most import. In fact, their consistent agreeance made him feel the faintest degree of suspicion, if only on account of how consistent it seemed. And, of course, he had an intrinsic distrust for the Iramasha Council on account of their seeming disappearance.

"They are not, this is true, but they are certainly the group with the most consistent means to handle the grave matter of Hollowkind. We Quincy are certainly aware of the Gotei's failings, and put no more faith in them than is merited. Until such time as there is access to a manner of purifying Hollows in any mass scale, however, their role must still be acknowledged in that alone."

He could not particularly help but suspect a bit of a barb in Laplace's final point, but Cyrus was not the sort to be angered over discourse.

"I would agree, yes. Nearly all of the groups who represent such interests have proven thoroughly lacking."

Laplace may have spoken about the two as if they were quite similar and well-acquainted, but Cyrus did not feel terribly much camaraderie toward the Iramasha emissary. Their Realm may ostensibly have been of the Earth, but Cyrus knew that it had still proven every bit as fickle as the others. If it were feasible to shut it away as the others, he would do so without hesitation.

"You ask much for a preliminary meeting, Councillor. I will bring your position to my circle of advisors. It would, of course, be imprudent of me to make a unilateral decision of such import without their wisdom brought to consideration. However, the Vandenreich does acknowledge the aims and the authority of the Iramasha Council over the Earth. You may rest assured in this."

Cyrus, personally, had no faith in the man before him, nor his organization. He had no qualms with the Iramasha, of course. Disdain for others by merit of race or creed was not his way. But the Iramasha Union had proven lacking for a long while now, and to ally with them, when their full aims were assuredly as obscured as his own, would be foolhardy.

"I do, of course, look forward to seeing the results of the Iramasha Union's efforts, and I will inform my Sternritter that they need not intervene in your affairs. I believe this to be a suitable agreement without denying the value of my trusted leadership, do you not agree?"