Expiation Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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expiationlogs2025-05-13 12:07 pm
expiationmods) wrote in expiationlogs2025-05-13 12:07 pm
< They've... >
[Have they?
Don Quixote said something about a family of twelve that one time. But was she just counting herself in that or...?]
< We've been through a lot. That kind of thing gets complicated after awhile. >
[Have they?
Don Quixote said something about a family of twelve that one time. But was she just counting herself in that or...?]
< We've been through a lot. That kind of thing gets complicated after awhile. >
[Even though he's struggling to focus, he can guess at what Emet-Selch means by that information. It's something he's certainly been eager to find out... so even if he may need the rest, he decides to push through.]
Ask what you like and I'll answer what I can. I have notes I can copy for you later.
Ask what you like and I'll answer what I can. I have notes I can copy for you later.
< Emet-Selch! That was it. And yeah. I thought those questions were more about the people of Rumpitur given how they were spreading all those rumors about a month ago, but it looks like it was this? >
[It doesn't make much sense to them though.]
[It doesn't make much sense to them though.]
[Complicated. ... he supposes he can't judge that. As busy as they all are, who knows what opportunities they may have had or not had to express that kind of sentiment, if it's there. Would Dante feel as strongly about their duty if there wasn't some genuine sentiment among their team?
Regardless.]
Then let me be explicit about it.
[His hand curls a little tighter around theirs, and he raises his eyes again. There's a tired but serious look on his face.]
You mean a great deal to me. And I hate the thought of not being able to help you when you needed it simply because I wasn't aware.
Regardless.]
Then let me be explicit about it.
[His hand curls a little tighter around theirs, and he raises his eyes again. There's a tired but serious look on his face.]
You mean a great deal to me. And I hate the thought of not being able to help you when you needed it simply because I wasn't aware.
[ Being merely fourth probably sounds unimpressive to most. That's fine with her. In a similar vein, Gilgamesh's name is unfamiliar to her, and so falls short of the impression it probably ought to make on her.
She joins him in stepping forward, her black hand reaching for the door. She'll hold it open for him, as if they were heading into any old building. ]
You have a distaste for snakes?
[ Normal, if so. But she'd still like to hear from him why that is. ]
She joins him in stepping forward, her black hand reaching for the door. She'll hold it open for him, as if they were heading into any old building. ]
You have a distaste for snakes?
[ Normal, if so. But she'd still like to hear from him why that is. ]
Part of it is sentencing. Effects are forced onto us even if we're following instructions.
[Because that's fair!]
With one of the hallucinations... I don't know. I'd have to ask him specifics. Mine were after we were all forced to share dreams.
[Because that's fair!]
With one of the hallucinations... I don't know. I'd have to ask him specifics. Mine were after we were all forced to share dreams.
'Twas going to be my next question — if the lot of you had been sentenced. I cannot also help but wonder if the AI has "Jerry" to serve as its messenger, then why bother speaking to you in such a manner.
[ For every answer he gets, it seems a dozen more questions get unearthed. ]
[ For every answer he gets, it seems a dozen more questions get unearthed. ]
[Ferran...?
Oh, right, that's the young man that Altius had taken in. The one he cares a lot about-- the one that was shot right before the businessman came to this world. And. That's probably not great, right? Okay, don't panic Summers, it's clear that he's just hallucinating-- mistaking him for Ferran because of his state. This is a result of the snakes, right...?
Because all the dead snakes around them is one solid clue. How did the man take all of these guys out? He doesn't see any visible injuries on them. Which. How do you kill something without leaving any trace of a wound? More thoughts for later...
He's still keeping a hand against Altius's neck, the other reaching up to press against his clammy forehead.]
Come on, don't die now, okay?
Oh, right, that's the young man that Altius had taken in. The one he cares a lot about-- the one that was shot right before the businessman came to this world. And. That's probably not great, right? Okay, don't panic Summers, it's clear that he's just hallucinating-- mistaking him for Ferran because of his state. This is a result of the snakes, right...?
Because all the dead snakes around them is one solid clue. How did the man take all of these guys out? He doesn't see any visible injuries on them. Which. How do you kill something without leaving any trace of a wound? More thoughts for later...
He's still keeping a hand against Altius's neck, the other reaching up to press against his clammy forehead.]
Come on, don't die now, okay?
< Probably. Maybe? It definitely sounds like the AI. But there were some suspicious questions in there too. "What's the best kind of crime" doesn't sound like the sort of thing that a program trying to make us all reform is going to ask to me. Especially considering what kinds of things can be considered a crime around here. >
[Altius's eyelids flutter in a flinch as he takes in a short breath of surprise. Scott will easily be able to tell he has a high fever, even if the other indications didn't make that obvious.
What is the young man saying? Something about dying, perhaps. There's worry there, maybe panic; he can imagine it well enough even though his senses are failing him. His eyes threaten to shut again as he mutters,]
Leave me.
What is the young man saying? Something about dying, perhaps. There's worry there, maybe panic; he can imagine it well enough even though his senses are failing him. His eyes threaten to shut again as he mutters,]
Leave me.
[He doesn't have the focus to even be able to hypothesize. Jerry has certainly seemed more... available, in some ways. All of it seems like nonsense at this point.]
I don't know if it knows, either. It's all so convoluted...
I don't know if it knows, either. It's all so convoluted...
A shadow flickers through the treetops from the direction of the gang's home tucked in the woods, equal parts curious as he is there to prevent their home from setting ablaze. One of the many perks of being a fire demon is that he does not have to worry about his own safety in the flames. Instead, he is only mildly interested in the welfare of others, but mostly in the welfare of the house his teammates and family live in and the tree he likes best inside of it.
He drops down from a tree almost soundlessly, leaving his cape in the house so as not to singe it if he needs to get involved, arms crossed over his chest.
Hiei isn't exactly the type to fuss about this kind of thing, of course, watching those already at work with keen red eyes, though he is mostly... amused.
"Who decided to try and light the entire forest on fire?"
< .... >
[For the second time since they came to after losing their memory, Dante feels as if their clock hands have rusted to a stop. The feeling, similar in intensity, similar in overwhelming enormity, hangs on their shoulders and drags at their limbs in a heavy weight.
This time, though, it's... different. It clings, but doesn't choke or drown. It sinks deep, but doesn't seek to bury them alive.]
< ...I won't put myself in danger unless I have to. >
[For the second time since they came to after losing their memory, Dante feels as if their clock hands have rusted to a stop. The feeling, similar in intensity, similar in overwhelming enormity, hangs on their shoulders and drags at their limbs in a heavy weight.
This time, though, it's... different. It clings, but doesn't choke or drown. It sinks deep, but doesn't seek to bury them alive.]
< ...I won't put myself in danger unless I have to. >
[Altius watches them for a long moment, expression softening. While it would be a lie to say he isn't comforted by the thought of them avoiding harm, especially for his sake... it would be unfair, wouldn't it? To try and wrap them in a bubble, to keep them from taking any risk because of nothing more than his feelings.
He decides to clarify, at least.]
I don't mean to ask you never to try anything, [he says, letting a breath out of his nose.] I just want to know you'll have what you need to be alright at the end of the day. But... thank you. For listening.
He decides to clarify, at least.]
I don't mean to ask you never to try anything, [he says, letting a breath out of his nose.] I just want to know you'll have what you need to be alright at the end of the day. But... thank you. For listening.
I would posit that we may be working with more than one entity, then. If nothing else, what the snakes want runs counter to what the AI supposedly wants, so they must be the work of someone, or something, else.
Now, I cannot fathom what that might be. There is simply not enough information.
[ He gives Altius another once over. The man is fading fast and probably needs his rest, so best they begin to wrap up. ]
That aside, I spoke to Ellie and Ragna.
Now, I cannot fathom what that might be. There is simply not enough information.
[ He gives Altius another once over. The man is fading fast and probably needs his rest, so best they begin to wrap up. ]
That aside, I spoke to Ellie and Ragna.
A. Snakedown
[Here he is, the blue boy bearing the magical glass. Thanks to that, he's been doubtful of the snakes and hasn't let them dissuade him into any wrongdoing. In fact, he's trying to keep others from falling for them. If he sees someone else talking to one of the snakes, Kurt will try to discreetly confront the person afterwards.]
Hey... I wouldn't listen to those guys if I were you. Something's up with them.
[He holds up the glass to offer some proof.]
[Alternately, if he spots someone already in the process of carrying out a crime or about to do something, he'll confront them in an attempt to deter them!]
B. The Secret Garden
i.
[Kurt spends some time searching before he finds the Garden. And another bonus of the glass, is he gets to enter this garden without issue! For the most part.
If someone came with him, he starts examining the garden as soon as they enter, frowning as he takes it in.]
Man, this 'garden' isn't exactly worth bragging about... I guess snakes don't really have green thumbs. [Or any thumbs for that matter! In any case, this garden does seem fairly unimpressive considering the big deal that seemed to be made about getting into this place.]
It all just feels so out of place!
ii.
[Or he may be on his own at the moment - and he's spotted someone in trouble. Whether from the hallucinations, or just lost in the garden, Kurt moves to help the other person.]
Hang in there! I'm here to help! [Although he blinks, trying to banish bits of a hallucination he can see. Visions of mobs armed with torches and pitchforks... He shakes his head and tries to focus on the person who needs help!]
C. Wildcard
[Feel free to come up with an alternate prompt or hit me up for plotting!]
[Here he is, the blue boy bearing the magical glass. Thanks to that, he's been doubtful of the snakes and hasn't let them dissuade him into any wrongdoing. In fact, he's trying to keep others from falling for them. If he sees someone else talking to one of the snakes, Kurt will try to discreetly confront the person afterwards.]
Hey... I wouldn't listen to those guys if I were you. Something's up with them.
[He holds up the glass to offer some proof.]
[Alternately, if he spots someone already in the process of carrying out a crime or about to do something, he'll confront them in an attempt to deter them!]
B. The Secret Garden
i.
[Kurt spends some time searching before he finds the Garden. And another bonus of the glass, is he gets to enter this garden without issue! For the most part.
If someone came with him, he starts examining the garden as soon as they enter, frowning as he takes it in.]
Man, this 'garden' isn't exactly worth bragging about... I guess snakes don't really have green thumbs. [Or any thumbs for that matter! In any case, this garden does seem fairly unimpressive considering the big deal that seemed to be made about getting into this place.]
It all just feels so out of place!
ii.
[Or he may be on his own at the moment - and he's spotted someone in trouble. Whether from the hallucinations, or just lost in the garden, Kurt moves to help the other person.]
Hang in there! I'm here to help! [Although he blinks, trying to banish bits of a hallucination he can see. Visions of mobs armed with torches and pitchforks... He shakes his head and tries to focus on the person who needs help!]
C. Wildcard
[Feel free to come up with an alternate prompt or hit me up for plotting!]
< Not that I can tell. I know that there was something about the simulation not being maintained for awhile, so that's probably a sign that whatever created it isn't involved. >
< I know. You're just worried. >
[And it's not as if they could ever promise him they'd never end up hurt. Some things are worth the risk, they believe that much, no matter what limitations they may or may not have.
They let their hand linger in his for a moment longer, allow themselves to wonder what it might feel like if the barrier of the gloves they wear wasn't there. Just for a moment, and then their hand returns to their side.]
< If it makes you feel any better, I do have something I can use out there if I need to. >
[And it's not as if they could ever promise him they'd never end up hurt. Some things are worth the risk, they believe that much, no matter what limitations they may or may not have.
They let their hand linger in his for a moment longer, allow themselves to wonder what it might feel like if the barrier of the gloves they wear wasn't there. Just for a moment, and then their hand returns to their side.]
< If it makes you feel any better, I do have something I can use out there if I need to. >
[ He considers not letting go for a split second, as Dante's hand slides out of his. But the moment passes and he sits back so he can look up at them more easily. ]
What's that? Does it have to do with your souvenir?
What's that? Does it have to do with your souvenir?
[A thoughtful furrow comes to his brow. He had considered that their apparent purpose was at odds with the AI's objective, but he'd chalked that up to it being a potential test, more than anything. Could they be a separate force entirely...?
But his thoughts along those lines are interrupted by a much more important piece of information, and he turns his eyes back to Emet-Selch, gaze as sharp as it can be in his current state.]
Did you discover anything?
But his thoughts along those lines are interrupted by a much more important piece of information, and he turns his eyes back to Emet-Selch, gaze as sharp as it can be in his current state.]
Did you discover anything?
Hell no. This has 'trap' written all over it.
[Shaw, despite being a crimefighter, is not at all opposed to committing certain crimes in certain circumstances - but as someone who has developed a rather rigid, extremely black-and-white moral code, this ain't it, fam.
To the snake, she adds:]
Find me someone who actually deserves it, and then we'll talk.
[Maybe. The snake bit is a little on the nose, as far as temptation metaphors go.]
[Shaw, despite being a crimefighter, is not at all opposed to committing certain crimes in certain circumstances - but as someone who has developed a rather rigid, extremely black-and-white moral code, this ain't it, fam.
To the snake, she adds:]
Find me someone who actually deserves it, and then we'll talk.
[Maybe. The snake bit is a little on the nose, as far as temptation metaphors go.]
[ If the snakes are a test put before them by the AI, then they’re an exceptionally poor one. Still, it’s not outside the realm of possibility, if his “two entities” theory doesn’t pan out.
On to other matters for the moment. ]
Their souls showed signs of degradation, with no visible means of reparation. Whatever you lose when you die stays lost. Needless to say, dying is not advised.
On to other matters for the moment. ]
Their souls showed signs of degradation, with no visible means of reparation. Whatever you lose when you die stays lost. Needless to say, dying is not advised.
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