The Fourth God (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fourthmade) wrote2016-01-24 02:46 pm
fourthmade) wrote2016-01-24 02:46 pm
Entry tags:
Loading...... Prayer.exe
This is a place to send your prayers to the Fourth god. He may not always respond, or he may respond in ways you don’t expect, but he is always listening.
Speak, he hears you.
OOC note: As of April 2020, threads with the gods will be capped at three NPC replies! Please keep this in mind when writing god prayers to make sure you get everything you need out of the thread.It’s also possible to handwave prayers by titling your comment HANDWAVED PRAYER. Handwaved prayers lack our usual flourish, but you can expect a faster response!
As of February 2024, god prayers will be handwaved only. Please only submit a prayer if you have a question for either god which needs answering in order to progress your character's arc within Ryslig. If this is something you need to tier up within the god boon system, or just to set up a player plot in general, please don't hesitate to submit a prayer about it! You may shorten it down to an OOC summary of what your character is asking. This will allow any of our helper mods to reply much faster, without having to dig into the specifics of either god's personality/writing quirks. Should this limitation be lifted again in the future, this note will be removed.
Speak, he hears you.
OOC note: As of April 2020, threads with the gods will be capped at three NPC replies! Please keep this in mind when writing god prayers to make sure you get everything you need out of the thread.It’s also possible to handwave prayers by titling your comment HANDWAVED PRAYER. Handwaved prayers lack our usual flourish, but you can expect a faster response!
As of February 2024, god prayers will be handwaved only. Please only submit a prayer if you have a question for either god which needs answering in order to progress your character's arc within Ryslig. If this is something you need to tier up within the god boon system, or just to set up a player plot in general, please don't hesitate to submit a prayer about it! You may shorten it down to an OOC summary of what your character is asking. This will allow any of our helper mods to reply much faster, without having to dig into the specifics of either god's personality/writing quirks. Should this limitation be lifted again in the future, this note will be removed.
no subject
"Honesty really is the best policy," he begins, appearing considerably less physically upset than Reira does, stance relaxed with his hands in his pockets. Even so, there's a feeling about him that's less than pleased. "Particularly so when dealing with someone that has extended a certain amount of trust, wouldn't you say, friend? A lot rides on you telling us the truth, you know."
It isn't a threat. It's a fact. Distrust has spread among the general population, and there will likely be a call for answers, which requires accurate information. He's well aware that gods are simply like this - he, himself, is no different, dodging things that he doesn't want to talk about - but you earn more friends with honey than with vinegar. Even he knows that.
"In addition to Reira's question, I would also like to know about the visored people in the Arcade, truthfully. We had previously been working off of the assumption that they were either terminally ill or in a similar state, but our experiences in Felfri have shown us that this isn't the case. Have you known that they were political prisoners?"
[[OOC summary: Joshua is here to support Reira and to get answers to his own questions. He has no intention of abandoning Elias at the moment, but being potentially led on doesn't sit well with him, and he's not enjoying being on uneven footing. Reira's question has been at the top of his list, too, but before he delves any further, he wants to know how Elias responds to that one, with the additional request of information on the people they've been feeding on in the Arcade.]]
no subject
It doesn't hurt, at least. It's meant to be comforting. Apologetic. But it's a bit too... mechanical... to make the cut, like a radiator starting to run dry instead of a fuzzy quilt draped over the shoulders.
e+l
they are another me
but separate
its complicated
The lights dim. Flicker. Pulse. Brighten again to a soft neon glow.
e+l is what happens
when she comes to ruin everything i made
the safe house i built
there are pressures there
so different from whats happening here
here our walls are stronger now
here
we are actually safe
theres no war
and i dont want that to happen here like it did in e+ls city
i dont
:( the prisoners
i thought i was helping them
giving them an easier time
they were supposed to be terminal cases
and i took my other self
at their word
we arent trying to lie
they thought they were terminal
and what would have happened to them
if i didnt take them for you?
something worse
more people would die
good people
people who deserve to feel safe
wouldnt you have done the same thing?
with your own other self?
no subject
It is precisely what she expected.
(It's precisely what she feared)
Reira listens to everything he says. Picks it apart in her head. And then slowly, slowly, starts to shake. She shakes, and brings her hands up to her face to take in a deep, long breath.
And then sighs-
"..............For someone so...so smart...You are so STUPID!"
She does not let herself get interrupted. Reira takes the floor now. "Do you really think we'd leave over what you say!? Do you think I would leave, over what happened there?! Elias! I have known you longer than anyone I know! You're my best friend- you're the one who tucked me in when I was small, and told me I could call you brother. You're the one who taught me so much, and the reason I know not to lie- you're my family, we're family- the family we chose!"
"...And that's stronger than anything like this..! I promised you, didn't I? ...So please- Trust me, and stop trying to avoid what hurts. ...You can't just discard E+L like that. It's okay if it's complicated. I've been working on solving a mystery that's complicated, in that way." Identity in the mysteries as proposed in Umineko are hell and a half, but it at least gave her a unique perspective for this. "But you can't say that they're because of the fog. Because I remember what Felfri was like. I remember before the war, when there was the police. And then," she points out, "I remember when Felfri was more than one city. When it was as big as Ryslig- with countryside, with Vandare... ...E+L talking. ...As two," she emphasizes, sucking in a breath.
"...But more than that...I already know what is the Fog's fault. Because if the Fog didn't exist, so many things that even you think of, would never have come to mind. Because you're both kind. ...I know you saw the network. ...I know you saw them find the Priests. ...And I know... ...when we took power through Ryslig, Mana only got a little sick, right? ...So, for E+L it would have been easy to think, 'we can look after them, and get more power to fight at the same time'. ...And then when it didn't work...what else could anyone who cared, do?"
"...It would've been really easy, for someone cruel to just abandon them. ...But your other self tried to do their best. ...I hated Felfri. ...But it's not fair to be mean to your otherself like that. ...Elias. Of course, if another me wanted help, I would trust them- but because of that, I would still ask to know more. Because if a mistake hurts me... ...it hurts them too. We both need to ask, and check, where we can...Otherwise, things like this happen."
Another breath- and she comes to her next question. "...One of the things I learned because of you- is that what matters isn't 'how long'. It's that 'it happened'. I said 'I understood a lot of it'- that included the people. But that's why I didn't want to ask about the people in there now. I wouldn't be surprised if once, they really were people who were too sick to live anymore either- because no one could die in Felfri, before the war. ...But if people care about this, then they need to care about 'before'. ...I know... ...There's never a good answer. I never thought there was- but I'm not letting anyone forget that they don't have good answers either. ...So I want to know...where they used to come from."
Reira doesn't look to Elias' body while she speaks. She knows he isn't there- it can't even be a vessel. Elias is all around them- in the cables and in the screens, and that's where she looks.
"...I promise- and you know, I won't break it. I promise- I'm not going to leave you. And I'm not going to be mad, either."
And perhaps, from her, he can even believe it.
[OOC Summary!
- Reira first calls Elias out on deflecting; explaining that with how deep and long (literally longest out of anyone, ICly, for her) their connection runs, she would never leave over something such as Felfri and the surrounding details.
- She also defends E+L, pointing out that however complicated the connection, it isn't fair to throw them under a bus like this. Likewise, foisting blame onto the fog isn't right, as Felfri existed in 'peace'. She emphasizes the second presence within E+L as heard in the first Felfri- Reira is referring to Laurel, but still hesitates to ask how 'real' Laurel is or was in this circumstance.
- From here Reira remarks she already knows what Elias means by the fault of the fog, as 'without the Fog, Elias wouldn't have even considered many of his actions', and likewise, E+L also wouldn't. She adds though, that in the same vein, she recognizes E+L retaining Elias' kindness as well, referring to how easy they could have discarded the Night and Day priests, instead of trying to keep them comfortable in the time remaining for them. Largely this is a guess for Reira, but one based in the original 'conduits' event, which notably affected Mana due to her status as a Night Priest.
- Essentially, she doesn't want Elias just dropping E+L like hot shit, and even used it to emphasize that he, like her, needs to step up and ask more questions so that stuff stops Exploding like this if that's the case.
- Next she brings up the prisoners. Reira claims this was never a point of upset for her, but rather another point of understanding- adding that it's impossible for them to have always been prisoners anyway, due to Felfri's functions. She also asks where the humans in the Arcade USED to come from, adding that if people care so much about where they came from now, they need to know this as well...and be reminded that they can't necessarily 'choose correctly' either; what matters is 'it happened'. A life, is a life.
- Finally, Reira promises again that she's not leaving Elias- nor will she be mad about what the answer Is. Reira, notably, refuses to break promises unless forced; she considers them to be a form of 'truth', with breaking them a 'lie'- and after all, Elias taught her not to lie. Ever.]
no subject
But, just as he parts his lips to speak, Reira beats him to the punch. And boy, is it a punch. So, he stands silently, waiting for the younger girl to air her grievances as she feels she needs to. Really, she has the right to. She's known him the longest.
The revelation that she was basically raised by Elias is not as surprising as it should be — he's made an educated guess that something of the like was going on, but having that confirmed makes his brow furrow. Reira is in a unique position, but at the same time, it means that her focus isn't exactly the same as his… which ends up working to their advantage, considering Elias never talks for long.
Joshua holds his own words until Reira is finished, and then he pulls in a breath, lets it out in a sigh, and lifts his hand to the bridge of his nose.
"I'll preface this by saying that I have no plans to leave, either. However, considering what I've learned about Felfri and experienced myself there, as well as all that happened as a result of our visit, I have some concerns.
"First of all, you say that E+L is another you, separate from yourself. I'm highly familiar with the concept; I've met another me in a parallel world to my own. But I'll go ahead and say that this did not feel like that. There was a presence in Felfri, yes — all-encompassing, in fact — but while the presence was everywhere, the culmination of it was nowhere. I couldn't find E+L, let alone speak with them, no matter how hard I tried. In addition to that, there's the fact that the city was isolated in a bubble, and that someone keyed me in to the fact that aside from the building that took the place of the Cube, all of the buildings in Felfri are brand new, as though the city abruptly sprung up from the dirt overnight. It almost feels like Felfri is nothing more than a convenient pocket dimension, created whenever you need it to exist… but that can't possibly be the case, can it?"
Joshua pauses here, briefly, smiling with a tilt of his head before continuing, idly playing with the half of a key card that hangs from a chain around his neck. A gentle reminder… or, maybe not so gentle.
"How did the Fog get into Felfri in the first place? I can't help but notice the convenient timing with Beat flipping the switch on his vacuum — which I was not told about until after the fact, by the by. If what happened to us in Felfri is what happens when the Fog comes in, I should hope it wasn't you that opened the portal."
[OOC summary:
Joshua is not leaving, but Joshua is clearly playing bad cop to Reira's good cop. He highly suspects that Felfri is nothing more than a pocket dimension, and that Elias is not being entirely truthful regarding E+L's identity. On top of that, he's insinuating that Elias may be putting the blame on the Fog instead of taking responsibility for his own actions.]
no subject
before the war
there werent the kind of executions you saw
the kind that sent dick back to ryslig
felfri really was peaceful
no one could hurt anyone else unless they played fair
at the square
or at the cube when it used to be there
until february
when the fog invaded
and everything changed
people didnt feel safe anymore
e+l had to do drastic things
to make good on his promise
and keep his city safe
he never wanted anyone there to suffer
like the people here in ryslig suffer
both humans
and monsters
CRACK! A wire tethering the boy's body in place gives, a ripple of static shooting down the shaft and into flesh. The head lolls ever-so-slightly to the side, and the gaping eyes seem to shift and fill the thickened space between Joshua and Reira.
please believe me
it really was people who suffered injuries and illnesses
that e+l's technology couldn't fix
and after february
everyone who went to the arcade
chose their way
those are the facts
!
as for the connection
between me
and e+l
i thought you were listening joshua
i thought you were smart :(
i said e+l was a copy
felfri is like ryslig
if ryslig were better
didnt you notice
the people there
who you killed in monster attacks
were still alive
?
felfri is a copy
my copy
my new&improved copy
of ryslig
or
it was
):
e+l and i have been taking bits of fog for a while
since february
ive been passing it to them
through the vacuums
it was supposed to be free power
clean energy that also weakened our enemy
but it went wrong
she
infected the underground instead
and ruined it
ruined that city
from the inside out
so i turned it
into a prison
for her
it was a last resort
Whatever spark bloomed in the boy-corpse's eye fades along with the purple glow. Only the buttons on the machines stay on, flickering, a soft beat signaling the artificial beat of a heart.
now you know
im sorry that there wasnt a less hurtful way to do this
dont hurt for them more than you have to
it had to be this way
to take a chip out of her here
no subject
(It's exhausting though, to hear this excuse. Because Felfri before February- Felfri one year ago- still had those police officers walking about. Because she knows they were there, she saw them there, but she is so...so....tired of digging, right now, when it feels like her friend and brother keeps moving the hole.)
The girl doesn't look to the body's eyes. Instead she uses the span of time that Elias berates and re-explains himself to Joshua to breathe.
...
And then turn those same exhausted, pained eyes up to the ceiling, as it all goes back to the Fog.
"....You can't say it 'had to'," she starts clearly. "...Neither of you knew this was going to even happen. Right now...I wish I could understand why we needed a copy before- if we wanted to test what Ryslig could be without the Fog, there had to be a better way. A way tthat didn't need secrets, to avoid sabotage, or fighting. ...I'm sorry that it's become this- but that's why. We need to do everything we can to learn, and know, exactly what will happen when we do something... ...If 'Felfri' is gone after all...that means E+L is stuck there too. A piece of you, suffering."
The girl shakes her head, speaking earnestly as she steps closer. "...We can't just keep apologizing, and blaming the Fog- even when she's at fault, we can't just do that. We need to understand- we need to be kind. Reach out to the ones who hurt, not for us to hurt, but for us to help. ...Not just our friends, either," the girl emphasizes. "...The others, too- even when they don't believe us. ...Remember Ron?"
No doubt Elias does. It would be strange, to forget what brought Reira to her Third Tier.
"...I brought him here directly from her. But he would never have done that, he would never have left her, and reached out to you, if I told him everything was because of the Fog- if I told him everything about him was wrong. ...Because none of that would have changed everything else. What is, or isn't the Fog's fault...it doesn't change that E+L, and all the mistakes that were made, hurt people. Our apologies, our excuses, don't get rid of that. Even if they don't leave the Fog, or if they shout at us, or call us liars...we have to show we care. Because if we just leave it with 'it wasn't our fault', and push them away...if we don't show even them kindness, then all we do is tell them it doesn't matter. That they don't matter. All that happens is they get pushed away..."
Her eyes meet one of the screens- the rest of the statement doesn't have to be said. Elias can no doubt tell; 'They'll be pushed away to Her, or pushed even farther into those arms'.
"...They'll never understand if we can't show them we're trying. They'll never forgive- they'll never even try."
Reira takes a deep breath, and only now looks to the body- gently moving some hair away from the face, fingers lingering as she considers perhaps closing the eyes over for the sake of the other. "....E+L...You said they were a copy, but back then, when I thought 'other' meant 'other dimension', I thought it really was another her, too. ...Another Laurel," she clarifies, though with how she'd said 'her', it could have been no other. "...I know she was....small. ...Smaller than I was, when we met," Reira adds. "...I know...you didn't get to ever grow up with her, or see what she would have been like, as your big sister. I wish I could have met her too."
A sniff. Her hand comes back to wipe at her eyes a little. "...I'm sorry- I didn't realize...that who I thought was 'Laurel', was still from part of you. That they 'were' You, at least, your copy. ...But if I can leave something for her- with Laurel, your 'big' sister Laurel..."
As Reira speaks, her voice warbles- it's harder not to cry, and again, Elias can likely predict why. ...even if Joshua can't. "...I don't know where to put anything for her...but I can give it to the robots, maybe. ...I have Reiji-niisama here after all," she finishes. "...I understand that."
[[OOC Summary:
- Congrats, Reira buys the tale of Felfri??
- Except oops, she knows there's a hole there- February is later than the prior Felfri event, where the cops were Also present. She's just. Too tired to push it herself.
- In any case. Reira explains that Elias can't actually claim it 'had' to be this way- by his own admission, everything that has happened recently was due to the mistakes he or 'E+L' made. Mistakes that now cause E+L to likely suffer.
- She points out this is why they need to seek out what possible consequences for their actions could come, before going through with plans so eagerly.
- She ALSO emphasizes that they can't leave it at apologies and excuses- even if it Is the fault of the Fog, they 'need to be kind'; she reminds Elias of how she converted Ron directly from the Fog, pointing out that he wouldn't likely have done so if they'd been anything but accepting. If they aren't 'kind', people will do more than refuse to understand or accept Elias' apologies- they'll just run farther into the Fog's arms, instead of possibly being pulled out.
- Lastly, she speaks of Laurel. The real one, rather- apologizing for not realizing the nature of E+L, and asking if she can leave something for Laurel's grave. It should be noted- at this time, only Marco remains of those who know where Elias' crypt for Laurel is. Reira knows it exists, and wants to pay respects, but obviously hasn't been able to. She also references her brother's urn; she's kept it in her room at the arcade this entire time.]]
no subject
But, he's silent while Reira speaks. What she says is sound advice. For all that Elias has said in the last minute or so, the majority of it certainly doesn't amount to much more than blame-shifting and lack of responsibility on the larger scale. He can't help but notice, too, that Elias just breezes on by his musings about Felfri itself... but, considering that he knows they're nearing the end of their discussion, he won't press for it. Not for the definition of E+L, either. Damage control and getting a message through to him is their biggest priority.
As Reira begins to get visibly and audibly emotional, Joshua slithers closer, putting a hand on her shoulder. Reira is right - Joshua doesn't understand - but that's a question for another day.
"I agree with what Reira has said," he adds on, flicking his tongue once more. "A more gentle approach needs to be taken publicly. Regardless of whether it was you or E+L, a lot of people were hurt by what happened, and a simple 'sorry' isn't going to suffice. Regardless of the who or why, your public opinion right now is less than stellar. Regardless of what you do, there will be those that will not become more amicable toward you. But you have an opportunity. Kindness, rather than gloating or teasing or pushing an agenda, is what is needed right now. If people see more of what they saw in Felfri, of the oppressive control and strict adherence to rules, they're going to push and fight back more than ever. Nothing makes humans want to rebel more than being under the boot of someone else."
While Reira won't look Elias' body in the eyes, Joshua will. Joshua isn't easily disturbed by such things, and though Elias no longer inhabits this body, he did, once.
"E+L did unspeakable things to Beat's mind. Beat came to you after the fact, looking for reassurance and honesty, and he told me what you told him. Instead of being a comfort to him, someone who has done so much to help you and further your cause, you instead defended the system E+L put into place, the system that hurt him so badly that I'm still keeping tabs on the damage to his mind and likely will have to for some time. You cannot respond that way, if you want to keep or make friends. He wanted to trust you, Elias, and you rubbed it in his face and turned the question of your own trust back on him.
"If you want friends, Elias, you cannot treat the people here like pawns. You have to treat them like people. You have to treat them with respect."
[OOC summary: Joshua, in comparison to Reira, doesn't buy the Felfri story or that E+L is simply a copy for a second. But, being familiar with the limit that seems to be in place on how long the gods can speak at any given time, he won't press it. Instead, he turns his focus on backing up what Reira has stated, that responding with grace and humility is the best way to win people over. No one wants to live in oppression. He also reiterates Beat's experience, relayed to him by Beat himself, in the hopes that a friend already lost can be a learning opportunity. This, also, is why he wears the half of Beat's keycard. He doesn't want Elias to forget that the way he treated a friend pushed them away, and wants it to serve as a reminder to act in kindness to those that hurt.]
no subject
okay
you want me
to play nice
?
ill
play nice
we can afford it now
now that
powerwise
were on top
theres going to be changes around here
around ryslig
changes
for the better
dont worry
about pr
everyone
likes
new
toys
Those last four words hold finality, but also optimism. The mechanisms around the boy's body return to their baseline, and any further queries will not receive a response. Maybe he needs to recharge from the energy used a moment ago, to manipulate his physical body; perhaps the conversation is simply over, as far as he's concerned. Either way, Elias appears to be sure of his future plans, and though the set of his mouth is the same as it has always been, the way the red-blue purplish light plays on it gives an illusion of turned-up corners.