One's Vessel, Oneself

"Monsieur Butterfly's new unisex trousers, for a genderless approach to beauty."

So fashion and gender are no longer tied at the hip? Never did like that sinking ship.

Ugh, I've had it! Absolutely had it!

Hm?

It looked so cute on the mannequin, how come it looks like total trash on me? It's not fair!

Come now, dear, that's not true at all! I think you look lovely.

You're just saying that! Ugh, I hate the way I look! Why did I have to be born like this?!

Life would be so much easier if I had been born pretty!

......

There I go again, taking it out on my mom. Urgh, why am I always like this?

Ah, there you are. Glad you didn't get off too far.

Whoa... She's so pretty...

A-And that outfit! That's... a lot of skin.

This old thing? Well, see these li'l spirits? Don't they just make your heart sing?

How you think I made 'em? All that fabric's gotta come from somewhere, hon. Cut a stitch or two, then skin's bound to show through.

O-oh. Cool, I guess.

But, um, what's a beautiful woman like you want with someone like me anyway?

Aww, that's sweet of you to say.

I'm flattered you find my vessel in such a way.

Huh? I mean, yeah. Of course I think you're beautiful. I mean, I HAVE eyes.

And yet, you hate the way you're seen.

Hey! Just because you're pretty, it doesn't mean you get to make fun of me!

Not makin' fun, hon. I'm proposin' we do a little switch between.

You what?

I give you mine, you give me yours.

Let us reverse our fates, and exchange our souls.

Huh? But that's...but that's me... How am I over there?

Our souls have swapped controls.

I didn't even know such magic was possible!

So, how do you find the new you? Better than the one you knew?

Well...it doesn't feel as strange as I thought it would...

So what do ya say? Feel like takin' her around the way?

Let me think about it.

Of course. Take your time. Walk in my shoes, give those heels a climb.

......

This is incredible! Everyone envies and admires me... This is how it feels to be beautiful? I'm normally too afraid to even look up. I always feel like people are talking about me behind my back.

If your soul's a flower then your body's the vase, hon. Don't like the pot you're put in? Get a new one. Cause it's the seed in the soil that makes the petals pretty, sweetie.

Hey there. What brings you to a place like this?

You're kidding! A-Am I getting hit on right now?!

Hmm, you know, you'd be cuter if you smiled more...

Wait, hm, actually?

Actually, you're pretty cute already. Hey, how about this? There's this boy in class I'm dating, but he's kind of stuck-up, so I'm looking to trade up. Whatcha think?

Oh, um, I...

Kagurame? Are you okay? You look all flustered.

Beg your pardon, Aldo. I'm over here.

Kagurame? Is that you? But... What's going on?

This young lady was taken with the way folks see me. So I sprinkled a little fairy dust and made her me and I, she.

You mean you swapped souls?!

I understand all the words you said, but when you put them together like that...

Really now? It's no different from changin' one's clothes or one's hair.

Huh? You really don't see this as anything important?

To me, the soul's all that matters. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I don't think we should let our worth be beholden to anybody.

......!

Try living the rest of your life in that body... Then we'll see how you feel about it! Ugliness is inferiority in our society, and inferiority gets you treated like dirt!

You won't be talking so high and mighty once you've seen how the other side lives!

She ran off...

Yeah, and we need to go after her!

Why?

There are Synth Humans out there, not to mention other dangers. She could get hurt.

Don't worry your pretty little head about that. No matter what happens to that body her soul will stay in tact.

......

That said, it would hurt, and a soul remembers pain. I might not mind a little wear and tear, but... That's the kind of trauma I'd rather her soul not bear.

She went this way... To Route 99, it seems.

Shall we? I'll lead.

That girl will be the death of me! Why would she go out there?

Kagurame, over there!

I heard there were humans invading our territory, but you don't look like one of them hunters to me. Still, we can't run the risk of you leading more humans here, can we? 'Fraid I'm gonna have to kill you.

Don't you dare!

What the?! Paper dolls? What is this?

You're the one controlling them? Well, I guess I'll just have to destroy you then!

Kagurame!

You can't fight in that body. Stay back!

Are you hurt?

Why are you asking me? You're much more badly injured.

I suppose I am... But lucky for me, it doesn't hurt nearly as all the times I've died.

Huh?

Didn't I tell you already? I'm not human, sweetie. This body is just a rental I'm usin' while I'm in the mortal realm. Beat it, cut it, throw it in a ditch, it's the seed that makes the petals, right? My soul will just find a new place to settle.

You don't care...at all?

I wouldn't be so carefree if I was mortal, hon. That body's the only one you got, treatin' it like it's precious is normal.

Doesn't matter what the vase looks like, it's still your vase, ain't it sweetie.

......

But you don't need to hear me say all that, you've got the picture now. And I guarantee your mom would agree.

Lilin!

Mom!

I'm so glad you're safe! I was so worried when I saw you leave the city!

Would'ja look at that... Doesn't matter when or where I am, moms are the warmth that keeps the soul from freezin' in the cold.

And who are you?

Oh, they, um...they rescued me.

Oh, really? Thank you so much for saving my little girl.

You really don't need to thank us. But it's not safe here. We should get back to Elzion.

Well, we'll be on our way...

Lilin.

Remember what I said hon. That body is yours and yours alone.

Are the ones on that pretty little face of yours.

The only eyes your beauty is beholden to...

I'm glad you're both okay.

When you told me you'd swapped bodies with that girl... I kind of thought, "Oh no, not another dangerous weirdo."

You have quite the sharp tongue.

I think that's the normal way to feel... Your magic is really dangerous, for whoever you cast it on, but also for you too.

It only works on folks who let me in or let their guard down. I'm not some body snatcher makin' the rounds.

That doesn't make it better... At least you were doing it for her sake, I guess.

At any rate, you humans seem to only ever realize the value of your vessel after the deed is done. She got her education early, I consider that a blessin'.

After they pass away? You said something like that earlier, too... Who exactly are you?

I was told many lifetimes ago that the type of man that asks a lady her secrets is the wrong type of man.

Many lifetimes? You mean...

Well, I suppose that cat's out of the bag. But yes, I've lived thousands of lifetimes, some good, some bad.

So sit down and listen, and I'll tell you a story about a sweet apparition on a very particular mission...