Dyss was a bit confused at this. Attis and Milos were friends, right? Dyss wanted to be friends with Izumi in the same way. And they weren't "just" friends. They were important friends. Best friends, maybe. Dyss wasn't sure what else there could be between them...

"I don't know, Attis. I want to be as close to Izumi as I can... Whatever that is... If it's more than 'friends,' then yes..."

Dyss wasn't sure what else to give his friend. It was strange enough to think about, and brought up a lot of emotions Dyss didn't really understand... Emotions he had only ever had otherwise occasionally around Milos...

Dyss . . . really wasn't getting this, was he? Attis couldn't fault him for that, sometimes Memories just couldn't understand how human interaction worked. Knowing only one thing and one thing only--it sometimes made it difficult to try and learn to live like a normal person. Some Memories had even lived their entire lives as walking symbols of their own existence. It was kind of sad. Attis really wished that no one would have to do that ever again.

Maybe . . . Attis could help him understand? They still had a ways to go, after all.

"Okay-- well, how about this?" Attis started, asking after a moment's pause, "Are you attracted to Izumi?"

He needed to sort of understand what was going through his friend's head before he could explain things to him a little better. It'd be a little embarrassing if he explained to Dyss all these things about romantics and the like, if Dyss only really genuinely cared to be Izumi's friend, and nothing more!

Dyss wasn't attracted to Izumi in the normal sense: he was attracted to the earth and little else. He wanted to be around Izumi, certainly; as much as was possible... Dyss didn't really understand what Attis meant. If he did, he'd explain as well as he could; it wasn't like there was anything to be ashamed of...

"Um... I don't know. Maybe? I want to be around her all the time... And I worry about her when I'm not. And it feels good whenever I touch her..."

Dyss was sort of helpless, and Attis's questions weren't helping him much. Maybe they were helping Attis, but Dyss certainly wasn't benefitting...

Dyss was pretty good at showing when he was uncomfortable. At least, Attis could tell fairly quickly--but then again, Attis was great at reading and assessing situations, anyways. He could maybe apply some damage control? He didn't want to hurt Dyss or anything. He was one of Attis's best friends, after all! And besides, the whole reason he was bringing this up was to sort of help, anyways. There was no sense in doing the opposite.

But how? What should he have said? Attis thought on it for several moments. Minutes likely passed as he walked in silence again, and the conversation seemed to wither away.

That's it!

"Dyss, do you know how I met Milos?"

Dyss would be almost relieved by the break in conversation, as it felt less like Attis grilling him about Izumi. It was... Well, difficult. He wasn't sure what Attis was implying, except perhaps that he wasn't doing enough, and... Well, it was best not to think about it...

"No, how?"

Dyss was grateful that Attis had moved on to a different, unrelated subject. He had never felt uncomfortable about explaining himself before, but now, thanks to Attis...

"Well, I had heard about him first, before I even met him. As you know, we did our part in bringing those like us to Memoria, but it was someone else who found Milos. It was in the late stages of the Rubicon project. All he told me was that he found him sitting curious as a predator tried to eat him. Apparently, it broke out all of its teeth trying to chew on him. I thought it was a little . . . fantastic, and not really in a good way. That one, though . . . he used to make up stories a lot, so I didn't really believe him.

"There was a project after the Rubicon that I worked on myself. That was when we learned never to sap Qi from Purgatory. It was going wonderful. We had about ten of us at a camp a little ways outside Memoria, making more progress than we ever had, and I went back to Memoria for some more supplies. But when I came back, everyone was dead-- but one. He was dying in my arms as he explained what happened. Three people calling themselves Reapers discovered the camp and its people, and targeted them for elimination, calling them "Ame Voleur," for sapping great amounts of energy from the dead lands.

"I had to deliver the bad news to everyone. I called everyone in Memoria into one hall, and I-- still shaking all over --delivered a speech to them about their fallen friends, and the guaranteed failure if we ever tried to do it again.

"I couldn't stand it. It tore me apart inside just thinking about it. I didn't want to go home or . . . or even really breath anymore. I kind of just wanted to die, and regretted ever going back to Memoria and leaving the others alone. But while I was sitting alone outside of the Hall, just . . . ready to cry, Milos came and sat next to me. He was the only one who didn't have a long face, or hate me for what I had to say. He smiled at me about as bright as the sun is here, and he said Don't worry, Attis! We're still alive-- there's still hope."

No matter how sad the story was until that point, Attis smiled just thinking about it. That was the first time he met Milos, and it was perhaps one of the most memorable introductions he'd ever had with a fellow Memory. No matter what, he couldn't possibly forget it.

Strangely enough, though, the Rubicon project was before Dyss's time. It was ancient history by the time Dyss was amongst the population of Memoria. By what Attis was saying, Milos may very well have been older than Dyss. By how much, however, was anyone's guess.

"So--we talked, and we got to know each other, and eventually got closer without even knowing it. He helped me through more tough times than I can even begin to count. After enough time, we started living together-- and even sharing the same bed. Sometimes, at night, all I really want to do is be close to him, and he's always there, laying next to me, even smiling in his sleep. I don't want him to ever stop smiling like that. It makes me remember the first thing he ever said to me.

"I think he's the only person I've ever successfully had a romantic relationship with. Or, really, the only person I've wanted to try with enough. There was Ozrik before him, but . . . well, Ozrik and I were too good of friends, and he wasn't really, well, like me. I love Milos to death, though--I worry about him more than I do with most people--when he's gone and far away like he is now, I get nervous and anxious. Like-- like I want to protect him."

He trailed off and paused for a moment. That was actually a little more embarrassing to say than he thought! But it was kind of a good embarrassment. Here, he was working on trying to help Dyss out a little bit, while even making himself feel better. Sometimes, just thinking about Milos made him feel a little better about things. Always so cheerful, always so caring-- it was difficult not to appreciate him for just being alive and being himself.

"And I know it's . . . really kind of fruitless, for me to want to protect Milos," Attis declared with a helpless shrug-- helpless against his own feelings, "But I can't help that. I just want to see him happy and healthy, just like he makes me."

It was a long exposition, but it all had a point. Attis simply wanted to wait a moment before he got to it.

Dyss was a bit taken aback; it was the first time Attis had ever said so much about himself, much less in quick succession. His story was... Well, bittersweet. A lot of Memories had died, for no reason, and in the end, Attis had found Milos in return... It was certainly difficult...

"I... See..."

Dyss wasn't sure what to say. That it was beautiful? That it was sad? Maybe Attis didn't want to hear anything. Dyss could understand what he was saying about Milos; it was a lot like what he felt when he was around Izumi... And Milos, for that matter. Not that anything struck him as weird about that last thought.

"I think Izumi feels the same way about you," Attis concluded cheerily.

It was the entire point he had to make--something, perhaps, to help Dyss out. Truthfully, he couldn't go out on a limb and teach him what a romantic and sexual relationship was. He had the potential to learn it himself, though, and if Dyss did, indeed, feel that way about Izumi, then she would probably teach him from first hand experience far better than Attis could with something so simple as a lecture.

And it really all depended on Dyss. If he felt the same way, then Attis was convinced that he could make something beautiful out of the relationship with Izumi. Then, he'd have hope in his life--which was necessary, now. Now that they had what Attis felt was a surefire way to find a cure for themselves. It was just a matter of planning and traveling, and so long as no one died along the way, everything would be fine . . .

Dyss thought for a minute, perhaps agreeing with Attis. Izumi always did seem very protective of him, as well... Maybe she did feel the same way. And if she did... Well, that was a mystery, from there. What else could Dyss do that he hadn't already? What else was there...?

"Maybe, but..."

Dyss was not sure what Attis meant, but he was going to think about it, certainly. Izumi was important to him, much like the others, but in a certain... Almost more elevated way. He didn't ever want to have to choose between friends, but it would be a bit easier concerning Izumi, perhaps...

"I still don't know..."

Attis was unlikely to have any major breakthroughs with Dyss; Dyss always needed time to adjust to and accept new ideas...

"Well, um . . ." Attis trailed off, feeling a little uncomfortable again.

Maybe it was a little foolish, butting his nose into Dyss's business with Izumi. He probably wanted it all to remain private, even! It was an honest mistake, though. Attis didn't feel too terrible about it, but he was still a little embarrassed over it, unlike Dyss, who felt downright uncomfortable just thinking about all that mess.

"Well, just . . . give it some thought, then, I suppose?"

He didn't want to bring it up anymore, for the time being, but he still couldn't help but want to see Dyss about as happy as he possibly could be, and Attis personally felt as if he probably could be a little happier if he had a stronger relationship with Izumi. It would probably help him out a lot in the long run, even.

"Yes..."

Dyss was glad to finally move on from the topic, though he wasn't exactly sure why... Still, it was easier than trying to figure out Izumi at the moment. Time was probably the best thing for it. At least enough time for them to get back...

Dyss wouldn't talk for a while, deep in thought about the situation and alternately concentrating on his sight. Being able to see again was... Great. And being able to manipulate light had already proven itself useful... Still, having sight back made him wonder what it was like for others. He had never seen the world in the same way...

"Attis, what do you see right now?"

Dyss could see many things, but didn't really know what others could see...

"I see . . ."

It was an odd question, and one quite random, at that! They had dove once more into silence, during which Attis felt a slight bit awkward. He wasn't so much uncomfortable anymore as he was perhaps needlessly thoughtful.

But that didn't mean it was a question without value. Attis didn't particularly know what Dyss meant, truly-- what he saw-- what everyone saw, perhaps, was what Attis beheld. Unless there was more to the question. But what more could there be? How deep of a question was Dyss really asking?

Attis turned his head to Dyss, and with a genuine smile, finished his response: "Hope for a better future."

There was a pause as Attis brought one hand to his lips. That was a little dramatic for him to say, and after a moment, he couldn't hold back from laughing at himself.

"But . . . that's probably not the answer you're looking for, is it?" Attis asked with a chuckle--humor not self depreciating, but he could, at the very least, make a harmless joke at his own expense.

"Ah..."

Dyss hadn't meant his question in a metaphorical sense, like Attis seemed to think. Since getting his own eyesight back, he was curious about how other people perceived the world. He had asked a few people, but he was curious about Attis, who seemed to have the same sense he had...

"No. I mean, with your eyes. It seems like sight is so important, but no one seems like I do, I'm just curious..."

Dyss explaining his own sight, as he had once tried to do with Recheov, was very hard, like explaining colors to the colorblind. He just perceived things that other people couldn't in the same situations...

That's what Attis thought. He was simply making harmless humor at his own expense, trying to make things a little less tense. Unfortunately, that was possible. Attis could only hope that wasn't how things were going to always be . . .

"Well . . . with it dark out, it's hard to see anything. The moon's clouded over tonight-- it's hard to see anything other than the path. Just a dirt road between few scattered trees, all around-- not many colors to see, just the dark greens and light browns. The bark blends in with the night, making it hard to see . . ."

To Attis, it was a fairly basic description. This was how things worked, this was how things looked-- but that was all to him. To Milos, it might have all looked different. Things might have been less dark. But then again, maybe Milos's eyesight was better than Attis's. Maybe other people could just see things clearer than he could. But maybe everyone saw things at a different level of clarity, both physically and mentally. That was just the way of the world.

"But . . . Izumi, Milos, Recheov, and Illorex might all see things differently, each of them," Attis concluded: "Everyone sees the world differently. An image you see will be interpreted differently by every person of every walk of life."

Dyss was always surprised at how simply everyone saw the world. Dyss had been blind temporarily, but everyone else was only a tiny step from blind. They couldn't tell how hot something was? What the inside looked like? What the texture was like and how it changed throughout the object? It was terrible, really...

"I can hardly imagine that... I wasn't able to see for a while, but to only see those things you mentioned? I feel so bad for you..."

And yet, Dyss was missing things he didn't even understand, really. Humor, for one thing. He didn't understand humor at all, and had never laughed. Beauty, as well. While he could see amazing things, he could see no particular beauty in anything; a sunset over a majestic vista may as well have been a lonely and drab room...