audience: ashlyn

[mygod]

Comments

[killies]

"Generally" isn't promising, but... [ well. she gets it. ]

What's with the new island?

[mygod]

We're being suspected of treason and have to modify our behavior accordingly, which is annoying. But we are breathing.

[ so there's that ]

The island is a surprise to us as well.

[killies]

Makes sense. You guys said you'd tried talking them down from human sacrifice, right? So they'd kind of know to suspect you when things start going wrong...

If things are going wrong for them. I don't really get what they're trying to do. Or—how they're trying to do it.

[ anyway. ]

Another side effect?

[mygod]

Admittedly, the information gathering stage is where we are, too. Things have been more disorganized lately—more than when we first joined. We haven't deciphered the cause, but we do know that we hate where it's going.

[ exhausting. ]

Side effect... or just the way that magic is fluctuating in this space. War knows more about the mystical aspects than I do.

[killies]

Like a school project that starts falling apart the further into it you get?

[ huh... ]

The tattoos from before all disappeared. Do you think the island will too?

[mygod]

I didn't go to school, but the analogy is about working with other people? In which case, yes. Maybe something like that, though more frustrating because it's a fucking cult.

[ but maybe it's better if they don't have their shit together actually? ]

Yeah, I wouldn't count on its permanence. The sky changed. Did you notice?

[killies]

So it's like they got to choose the subject and project and still can't get it together.

[ sure. but yes that's probably a good thing in the long run. ]

You mean how the sun isn't moving on the island? [ it's still monday so she hasn't seen the new stars and moon... but i'm not sure she would notice them on her own anyway. ]

[mygod]

[ now to just say it out loud: ] That might be for the best. At the very least, we three are at least clever enough to find our workarounds.

[ or another npc can die this friday who knows ]

Something like that... but check the stars tonight. Something shifted.

[killies]

Workarounds like what happened Sunday?

[ she appreciates that it's better than nothing but. oof. ]

So what does it mean that it's shifted?

[mygod]

What are you referring to on Sunday?

[ so much happened to their cowboy ]

Hmm... Unclear, since it just began. But I think it has to do with the new location, and the space around you all.

[killies]

I just thought "chosen for the pyre" would mean something else. Why did Karlach have to fight? And why were there zombies?

[ so much happened!!! ]

Then it'll probably keep changing.

[mygod]

The ritual is powerful, but picky. In exchange for making the monster even possible to kill, the one that gets voted for needs to have that ritualistic duel with another one of you. The opponent, weapons, and scenery are all determined by the ritual.

It's not like we've stopped looking for a better way—but can't deny the existing one is pretty terrible.

[ but they'll nod in agreement with her assumption. yea probably ]

[killies]

[ ... ]

Without what you guys are doing, things would be worse. Right?

[mygod]

Yes. If we didn't have the ritual on Sunday to weaken the monster, they'd just continuously go on killing sprees. Maybe not immediate, but they'd be losing their mind in their own bodies.

I cannot think of a worse form of torture.

[killies]

... Me either.

[ it's a little reassuring to have someone reaffirm that things could (somehow) be worse, and aren't. even if they're still bad. ]

So it's like a mercy, right? To kill them when they've lost themselves.

[mygod]

I would say so.

Keeping someone alive is not always the same thing as saving them.

[ especially in cases of insane monster possession ]

[killies]

What if you knew that someone was going to lose themself, but hadn't yet? I don't mean like how Boothill kind of snapped out of it for a bit, but like if you knew what was going to happen to him in advance.

What would you do then?

[mygod]

I'd ask them what they want. I do not see any reason to prematurely give up on someone, but they also ought to know that chances are very high that they will kill people even with every effort made to stop them.

But it can be the last offering made to their dignity, if they would like to choose the way their life ends.

[killies]

What if it was the other way around?

If someone told you that you were going to lose yourself, would you believe them? What would you ask them to do?

[mygod]

[ famine's words come rather quickly, as if the decision for them is natural ]

I would weigh the words depending on who is telling me. Should I believe them, I would give them a deadline—if I have not found a way to save myself by this time, kill me before I can harm another.

Being trapped in my own violent mind and so strong that I cannot be freed is the antithesis of the person I am.

[killies]

[ ... hmm. that's a logical and reasonable answer. much to think about. ]

But you guys are safe from what the cult is doing to us, right? Since you're part of the cult.

[mygod]

[ nods ]

We were not summoned here the way you were. We all came of our own volition, in different circumstances.

So we do not have monsters inside of us the way that you all do.

[killies]

Good.

[ kind of. ]

Oh. Can you tell how many people have found their partners? Or is that something you're not sure of?

[mygod]

[ shakes head ]

While we know, it is not something that you need to be made aware of.

[killies]

I was just curious anyway. [ so that's fine. ]

You probably can't give me a spread of what powers are out there, either?