Loading...... Prayer.exe

[fourthmade]

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.

Comments

[fourthmade]

[About now would be the time when every light and screen flickers on, signifying the Fourth's attention, especially for his Priests. But this time, even as Marco brings himself closer, the room remains dim, static. It isn't until Marco stands right next to the body that a screen finally snaps on, creating something of a spotlight on the two. Still, it somehow just enhances the vastness of the lonely empty room, too.]

[The Fourth's voice comes out quiet, filtered through the powered down electronics.]

i know
i understand
hes really mad, huh

[Silence again, and the room echos with mechanical hums. Finally, a few other screens power on - but they aren't just blank lights. Scenes being to play out on them - memories from Marco, a mix of good and bad. The time when he and Marco destroyed the Obelisk, their introduction to the Elias'z real body and priesthood, being murdered by Kurumi and her crew... They all play out, the last being his execution of the machine used in the Fourth Wall. The Fourth begins to speak again as they loop in the background.]

you've done a lot for me marco
youre the MOST reliable
so im glad youre not leaving

you two
you were the first...

ive gotten so used to you both being around
heh

[A quiet moment, and then,]

hey marco
have you ever thought
i was part of the bad stuff up there?

[peccatore]

[Marco hardly needs to look at the memories on the display. He's gone over them more than enough, particularly the bad ones.

The bad ones...]

N... No. Not exactly. I've been scared, I'll admit that much. I was scared when you opened up everyone's minds, when... when I thought about my God, the God from my world...

[And with fear inevitably came things that seemed so very, very real, but that he can now look at with some clarity. Voices speaking of a higher purpose, voices speaking of the hellfire awaiting him. Fear so high and so pervasive that he's killed over it.

Maybe Elias doesn't understand that. Maybe he's too young or too naive to get it. Why else would he still call him "reliable", after all that has happened?]

Elias...? I'm not sure if you get... I-I used to think you knew, but I used to think you were in my head too and now I know you're not, so-- so...

I'm... out of my mind. Do you understand?

[fourthmade]

yes

but

i dont think youre out of your mind
i think youre settling it

[one by one the monitors begin to flick off, but for the ones that remain, they illuminate the room in a low light, flickering with the Fourth's consideration]

marco

ive seen a lot that goes thru your head
a lot is spinning and swirling
like a digital storm of good and bad
but its the bad youre worried about
worried about it striking like a lightning bolt
too many times

i wanted to help you marco
and now
if helping means staying out
means no more experiments

means


waiting


then i will
ill wait for you
for when everything stops spinning
and youve stopped that storm

and then we can really do some good for this world

[the cables around the fourth hum and buzz, sparking thoughtfully]

if you want to change
then i guess
i need to change too

[peccatore]

[It's not instant, nor is it the most obvious. But as the Fourth God's words sink in... it's as if Marco's face lights up, little by little.

Part of him was afraid to have this conversation - afraid that everyone who's told him Elias doesn't really care would turn out to be right. But if he came here to talk, it's because part of him strongly believed the opposite at the same time, and now, he's relieved. It's fine. It will all be fine with time. Elias understands, after all. He's no tyrant, but just a child - a child that perhaps Marco has been a bad influence on... but now, he can begin to change that.]

Ah... Elias?

[An awkward laugh escapes him. Hopefully Elias won't mind the question.]

What would be the best way to give you a hug?

[fourthmade]

[The electricity running along the many overlapping cables crackles softly. Is it something of an awkward laugh back? It's hard to tell.]

i don't know

it's been a long time since i was hugged...

[A considering hum buzzes through the air.]

maybe if you think it really hard?

the same way i talk with you

so

you show me your best way!

[peccatore]

[To Marco's ears, it sounds close enough to make him wonder. But he doesn't linger on the thought; there are more important things to imagine. Things that any child should have the right to feel.

He closes his eyes and focuses until he is, effectively, channeling one of his own childhood memories, as hard as he can. A father hugging his child, the two of them comforting each other - but now the roles must be reversed. Before Marco knows it, he's hugging himself. His eyes feel awfully watery, all of a sudden.]

I don't want to do anything rash for now. [The choice of text is deliberate. He doesn't want to risk... well... ruining the moment somehow.]

I have to be careful until I know I can tell what's real from what isn't and listen to reason.

But I'm still here for you, okay?
I'm here for you, Elias.

[fourthmade]

thank you

[A warm, staticky feeling will pass over Marco's skin. Elias' version of a hug? Regardless, a number of the screens light up with a large :), a sign he approves of the attempt if nothing else.]

i hope you always are

[There's a pause, like he needs the time to think.]

youre a good friend marco!
it would hurt me to lose you
so i will do my best to be better
and be a good friend to you too