Accountability.

[explosivecombat]

There are all sorts of secrets to this place, really, ways to get from place to place reasonably unnoticed. Some of those ways involve the ability to shift one's appearance, some of them involve shadows and vessels and darkness; for those without those sorts of gifts, though, one has to rely on more conventional means. Panels and doorways, joins and seams that don't join up quite right; portions of the wall that will open up if you manipulate them properly. The Conductor himself tends to rely on the latter; he is, after all, entirely human. He's thin, as though he doesn't eat terribly much, but his clothes are immaculate and sharply-tailored, a suit and long coat all in white and shades of pale grey; his hair is long, trailing at least halfway down his back in a thin, tightly-tied ponytail, and his eyes are cold when he moves to stand at the thirtieth podium – it's not his, it never has been, but it's going to do for now. He doesn't seem anxious at all about being here; there's nothing nervous in his demeanor, and he's keeping his head up, perfectly willing to look everyone in the face. There's a definite arrogance about him, as is probably to be expected, though he'll certainly acknowledge everyone once he's there – when he bows it's enough to be respectful, but not nearly enough to expose the back of his neck. When he speaks, his voice is recognizable but it's quiet, far moreso than one would assume him to be based on the volume of the intercom alone; his tone is even, almost unsettlingly calm given the circumstances, though there's a hardness to it that never quite goes away. "It's a pleasure to speak to all of you in person; I'd say that it's almost a shame that the circumstances have to be what they are, but I'm not going to insult your intelligence like that." He straightens up then; the smile he's offering is understated, but it's not particularly nice. "I understand that we have a fair amount to discuss; shall we begin?" Your host for the evening, everyone; let's start.

Comments

[explosivecombat]

Yes. With enough power behind one, the theory we were operating under is that it would be possible to open the world's Gate - that would be the gateway that leads to God's domain. One of my employers wanted to use that power to effectively become God himself, or at least some sort of godlike entity.

We...succeeded, albeit a bit more thoroughly than we'd planned for.

[sunsong]

How do you mean "more thoroughly"? The hell is more thorough than becoming God?

[explosivecombat]

Well, we didn't exactly imagine that power like that could be extended to other worlds, or that there were other worlds to be affected in the first place.

There were theories to that effect too, of course, but nothing proven.

[sunsong]

Wait, are you sayin' that you like...I dunno, took over as the "god" of our worlds? Not you, but Non-Voldemort, I mean. Did he like...accidentally open lots of world gates or something?

[ SHE'S STILL UNCLEAR ON WTF A GATE IS, BUT actually ]

What even is a gate? Like...obviously a door, but. How do you open a door inside a world. Do you drill down to it?

[explosivecombat]

The Gate is more or less the source of the world's power, as I understand it; everything with a soul has a connection to the Gate. If you can affect the Gate, you can change the world, far more directly than trying to influence the world in a more indirect manner.

Again, this is how things were explained to me when I signed on for this.

...I wouldn't say that anyone has taken over as God of your worlds, however. I don't believe that's possible without direct interference in ways that would probably end everything, where you're from. It might not, but the chances of it being catastrophic are too high to bother attempting.

[sunsong]

O...kay.

[ She kind of thinks she maybe gets it. Possibly. ]

So you said us comin' here was just an accident, and that you asked for us partly for your entertainment. But the rest...did this have anything to do with testin' God's powers...?

[announcemyvictory]

So you turned a country's worth of souls into a rock and decided to play around in other people's worlds because sending your own into ruination wasn't enough. Honestly, I can't believe I ever thought you played fair.

[withabigsmile]

I can't believe you did either.

[Elise buddy she loves you but come on-]

[announcemyvictory]

Blue, this is not the time...

[ninehundredlives]

So, your employer became God by breaking into God's domain. Does that mean the God that was already living there is using him as a vessel now?

[This is all getting weirdly metaphysical and vaguely religious?]

[explosivecombat]

Something like that. If we're going to be frank, it's more like he consumed God and is using the power of entirely more souls than are really feasible to ensure that God stays put.

[for fuck's sake there are some things that you just don't say like it ain't even a thing- ]

...To put it a bit more simply, God is no longer in his heaven, all is not right with the world. We have the power to control God. And then this happened. Is that a bit better? I understand that the original description was probably a bit confusing.

[sunsong]

Whoa, wait, more souls than feasible? Are you fuckers runnin' low on them or what?

[announcemyvictory]

So... it is more like the gods the others were talking about, one to a world, instead of the minor ones we've got in my world who are one or two to a small region?

[oftheland]

...

I would be impressed by the fact that someone ate a god if I was the sort of person who enjoyed messing around with the fabric of reality, to be honest.

[icysemblance]

That's why you needed the vessels?

[explosivecombat]

That depends on what vessels you're referring to.

[blazeit]

I dunno exactly what Weiss is thinking, but I sure still have one thing on my mind.

... What are the four of us capable of replacing?

[icysemblance]

[WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, FRIEND.]

[blazeit]

[ Oh good because he's still all what the fuck over that..... ]

[explosivecombat]

That would be my colleague with the shadows; beings like that can take on new hosts if their current container takes too much damage.

[...well okay then]

[blazeit]

In a shocking twist, I'm super not game to become a shadow fucker and I don't know why you think any of us would be game for that.

... Unless you actually are going to offer us yet another shitty incentive.

[ninehundredlives]

Like if someone were to bash their head in with a warhammer?

[Logan, if you're listening, PROPS]

[icysemblance]

[And this is where she's going to shake with anger, enough to where she has to forcibly tear her eyes away and get herself under control.]

We're not your dolls. We won't ever be.

[Deep breath.]

Sol, Jean, Katsuki and I all have things we want to do, people we want to become. Maybe we're the teenage asshole squadron now, maybe we're just stubborn, but we are not dolls to be played with.

[icysemblance]

The four of us. The ones with the mental and physical abilities. You needed us just in case something went wrong. You wanted a backup plan, and it didn't matter what we wanted, you were going to force us out to become God, then control us.

[explosivecombat]

[...uh]

...You know, I'm not sure if I'm flattered or baffled that you think I have nearly that much power.