trustfell | Initiative.

Rachel looks a bit conflicted about what should happen from here; Lisbeth is still on the floor, but she's told her what she should do, and so... Well, she's never really been good at saying no, though she does walk up and reach out to pet Lisbeth's hair gingerly for a moment before turning to everyone else.

"We should leave."

And with that, the courtroom changes, all at once; it was one thing, and then quite simply it isn't, and the podium circle has been replaced with a round spread of consoles wrapping around a center spire. The room is no longer concrete and steel, but rather stark white, all done up in glossy tile that looks like it'd crack if you hit it hard enough with something – that said, it's not recommended to try, given that it's just as indestructible as everything else in the building.

Rachel approaches the consoles, reaching out to touch them, fingers tapping gently against several of the unmarked buttons; it's probably not precisely necessary for her to do so, given the state of things, but she seems to like doing it, so do it she shall. There are a pair of slots that look like keycards are required; she glances at them for a second before manipulating more buttons, causing a small panel to open up in front of her – it looks like an authorization mechanism of some sort, the kind that you press your hand against to get it to recognize you.

"It's going to be a bit jarring when you wake up; sorry about that, but you've been asleep for a really long time. I'd suggest giving it a moment."

She pauses, though, once that's out there, glancing back at everyone.

"I'll be on the other side with you, but not like this. We can still talk, though, if you like."

And with that she just turns and presses her hand against the panel without waiting for an answer; the next thing you're aware of is the flash.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I was pleased with you for going after the robot girl, you know.

... There was no point hiding from the truth. It became - well, obvious might be too strong of word. It seemed likely after a certain point.

That's all it really needs to be, sometimes. A matter of simplicity, and what seems the most likely while requiring the fewest outside justifications.

But then again, I'm not a terribly complicated person.

Nor am I. Apparently, I gained a reputation to our overseer for being repetitive because of it. I hope the show wasn't too scary or frustrating on the other side.

Honestly, I found it more fascinating than anything, even if a fair amount of what was discussed was a bit over my head.

At the same time, I still have no idea what I did to end up so targeted.

As near as I can tell, the main thing was that something in your world was similar to the god-eating explosion that killed their world and then "you" killed her after the fact, and she had a grudge on both counts.

[ So... you know. ]

Oh, I understand that much. My question is more why she didn't target Father; it's not as though I was particularly instrumental to all of that.

[...okay, he did kind of save the protagonist from being taken over by an eldritch horror and if he hadn't done that we probably would have been fucked but that's...surely...fine...]

... Who's that? The god-eaty thing?

Ah... Yes, that's one way of putting it.

[...]

And he's of no biological relation, before you ask. It's simply what he asked to be called.

I'd sort of figured it was a religion thing, actually. Priests are sometimes called "father"

I believe it was more because I was generally in the company of people that he considered his children, so to speak.

So that's those inhumans you were working with... they were going to eat God?

[ That's. Sort of insane? Wow. ]

There wasn't any "going to." I remembered the Promised Day some time after I died here - they actually succeeded in what they were trying to do.

At least, to a point. The last thing I remember happening before dying permanently was preventing them from killing someone that was out to stop them, because at that point quite frankly he more than had the right to do so. I don't know what happened beyond that, obviously, but I think things had an acceptable chance of working out.

[ . . . ]

So in the end, you really did turn against them.

[ Wow, that's... She sighs, shaking her head and then laughs it off. Because indeed, at this point, what else is there to do? She snorts and, ]

That being the case, I guess there's not much for you to return to there.

Nothing, to my knowledge. After all, my soul was completely destroyed, and I doubt that Truth would be pleased with me showing up again from nowhere.

[...]

Truth is more or less 'the forces that be' - it makes sure that no one is disrupting the fundamental laws of reality. Souls being created from nothing would certainly be a disruption, and I'm certain it would have a stop put to it immediately.

[ So in essence, the world - God? - whatever - rejects him out of the world. She considers a moment and then... sighs. She thinks about what else she knows about. Tarrlok's a refugee, Cabanela is too... Rideaux as well. Yuri wouldn't wan to accept him, she's sure. Rin...? ... The potential of things in Rin's world might be too dangerous to allow anyone -

... Well.

She's in no position to stop them either way. ]

My Shihaba wouldn't interest you, I'm sure. But the world is vast, mine and many others. I'm sure there's a place for you yet.

[...Ah, that's...]

And does that notion come with a possibility of seeing you again after this?

As long as you don't bring war to Japan... yes. Without a question, I'd like that.

[He just kind of laughs at that, quietly.]

Well. I'm not going to make any broad, sweeping statements just yet, but while I admit I continue to find war more worthwhile than anything else I've done with my life, from what I've heard the people outside of Amestris are decidedly more worth sparing.

We'll see whether they are or not; I still won't know what to do with myself off the battlefield, besides. But I think I can refrain from bringing war to your doorstep, at least.

That's... [ Fine? No, it's not fine, but she smiles all the same, allowing herself two seconds to search for the word before she finally decides, ] acceptable. Japan is a peaceful nation - our wars ended well over fifty years ago, and since then it's not been in a conflict. If that's maintained, and my children and grandchildren are safe...

Like I said, it's a wide world. Hundreds of countries. Millions of people.

I'm sure there is space enough for you on it, if you want.

[look he's got nearly forty years of wanting to kill everyone to sort through

he'll figure himself out eventually]

I'll keep that in mind, then.

[...]

Thank you. For all of that, and for the offer.

Consider it, if you find no better offer.

[ A cough and- ]

... It seems silly to me to bar anyone save perhaps Kirei or Lisbeth, and probably not even them, if they wanted. The spirit of the thing we decided is to face an uncertain future, so I might as well hold onto that ideal, even if I stumbled into it.

Initiative.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject