EVENT: ORIGIN'S ORIGINS (Aftermingle)

[fairwind]

Who: everyone
When: Day 32, morning
Where: the clearing

[As the final session of exploring the town ends, it's getting close to dawn.

There's a break of about an hour, while the explorers return, licking their wounds. Then, a flash of dark, violet sparkles, and a petite young man with many many wings appears, standing atop the train.

Some of you have heard his voice before, speaking of justice in Trials. You might've heard about him, and how there's "something wrong with him", too. This is The Angel, and his wings are dyed a deep black, with feathers falling out in a sickly way. He doesn't look too pleased, but he also doesn't look like he's about to attack.]

So, you searched. What did you find out? I want to know if you really think this universe is worth saving.

If it's not... Then there's no point to your existence, is there?

[Well. He's not attacking yet, anyway. He is taking a moment to gesture at your deertaur companion though -- a wisp of black wind is pulled out of his mouth.]

I'll give you one chance.

[At least your dead companions are safe? They're waking up now in their rooms, none the worse for wear. But they remember dying, and they have a deep sense that they've seen a kind of void no person should ever look into.]

Comments

[bad_crowmance]

[ Crow wakes up.

And it really is as simple as that. He's in his room, he wakes up. He wakes up, as though he'd just gone down for a nap and the hours had just slept by in a hazy dream. Or a nightmare, perhaps, staring into a fathomless chasm, staring into the depths with which no one comes back--

Or they usually don't, anyway. "Life" and "death" seem to have different rules on this train.

But Crow woke up, and he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before he gets up and walks out of his room, whistling tunelessly as he heads back out towards the outside of the train. Casual as you please, as if he really had just gone down for a nap. ]

[desirestruth]

[She's.

Well. She's not happy about any of this. But the black goo still lingers in her senses, and she's more lucid now.

Furious! but lucid...]

...So that's what Malice tastes like, is it?

[rottedwood]

[well, he can make sounds now]

Thyme!

[he yells, barreling at the angel, arms outstretched.]

[desirestruth]

[Nope, sorry buddy. Naeva looks like she's been through hell, even after an hour to clean herself up some, she's just.

Wordlessly marching over and giving him a hug.

Let the friendship happen, Crow.]

[bowtiedbones]

[she's had time to clean her self up and get some healing, even if she probably had to be coaxed into it. not wearing the same clothes she went to the community center.

but more importantly

BRACE YOURSELF FOR IMPACT IN 3 2 1 LAUNCH]

Crow!

[bad_crowmance]

[ He doesn't hug her back, at least in part because he's too busy stiffening in surprise. ]

Naeva? What the hell?

[desirestruth]

Don't question it. Just...let me do this, alright?

[She is managing not to cry on him, at least. She'd be mortified if she did.]

[bowtiedbones]

[comes out of the train, looks up at him, and PLANTS HER HANDS ON HER HIPS]

Of course I think it's worth saving.

[bad_crowmance]

Eliza!

[ He was not braced at all and nearly stumbles in surprise. Nearly. ]

Whoa, you okay?

[fairwind]

That's correct. It's simply the darkness of mankin's own nature.

[fairwind]

[he seems a bit startled she thinks so!]

Why?

[bad_crowmance]

Sure, just.... get it out of your system?

[ He sounds bewildered. He is bewildered, he really hadn't expected this big of a reaction out of her. Oh well, you're getting some backpats, mainly because she's hugging his arms and he can't reach for headpats like this. ]

[fairwind]

[Are you going to CLIMB THIS TRAIN to grab him? Cause he's not coming down.]

Are you satisfied? You could've died.

[bowtiedbones]

Am I okay? Are you okay!

[desirestruth]

...So what?

[Shrugging. She actually thinks what he's asking is a dumb question!] If that's all it is, if that's all it ever was, then I made this choice a century ago.

Of course they're still worth saving. That's what you wanted us to answer, wasn't it?

[bad_crowmance]

Of course I am! Back in one piece and everything.

[fairwind]

...

[Is that the answer he wanted? He doesn't know. But he does seem surprised to get it.]

Did you understand what happened here?

[desirestruth]

We'd be here a while.

[She manages to keep her breathing calm and to not squeeze him too hard, but yeah she is going to be hugging for a bit.]

[rottedwood]

[he's going to REAR UP and plant his hooves against the side like it'll make him tall enough to reach (it will not)]

Then you shouldn't have put them somewhere so dangerous! You said you didn't want to hurt them!

[bad_crowmance]

Maybe just get some of it out of your system, then?

[desirestruth]

...Well, I may have been a little indisposed. But there was a war, was there not? A town that made a bid for it's own independence, driven by greed and fear...

...Even if I've missed some of the exact details, I've seen this sort of thing happen before. Over and over. Nothing will change by just trying to destroy the problem...I've seen that, too.

So...I'll choose to save them. I'll even choose to save you.

[desirestruth]

I should actually cry on you, if you're gonna be a smartass about it.

[But he got a laugh out of her!]

[desirestruth]

...[Standing to a side here to watch this.

She...kind of wants popcorn?]

[fairwind]

I said I wouldn't hurt them too much. They're all alive now, aren't they?

[rottedwood]

People died, Thyme! How the hell are you supposed to prove anything to me when people fucking died!?