Event 1: Gods and Monsters

[letsplayamod]

[Time is a bit difficult to measure in this place. The storms that rage beyond your safe barrier, overtaking the horizon with their shifting lights and shadows, aren't doing it any favors. If you were to ask Athena, she'd say it's been about a week since your arrival. And since then... there's been scant signs of things improving.

Today, you wake up to quiet. No drone of distant winds. Not even birdsong breaches your bedrooms. Like a inhaled breath, the world seems to have paused.

And then, it exhales. The ground under your feet trembles and shakes. Dirt flies. Rocks shower down from the direction of the cliffs.

There, like an open wound stabbed into the earth, was a large crack where there wasn't before, spilling out an oppressive red light. Stranger still, some larger rocks are floating over the opening itself.

...Investigate?]

Comments

[brokenhabit]

[ one of those, all right ]

If you must know, she was my bosom friend. Someone I’ve known my whole life. Our grannies were best friends and both of us were adopted foundlings, so we were always spending time together.

But it’s been some time since I last saw her. And even if I were to leave this place I’m certain I never will again.

She’s made her choices and now she must live with them. That’s all there is to it. She has no weight on whatever I do now.

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark's quiet for a moment.]

...sometimes you gotta just move on with your life.

[because what else are you going to do?]

So you're not planning on going home for another reason.

[brokenhabit]

[ She nods, pulling down more vines and then just… staring at her hands again. ]

…Tell me Mr. Quark, do you know what being a nun entails?

[latinumsbetter]

[he moves to lean on the wall, folding his arms]

Depends on what kinda nun you're talking about and from what religion.

But I'm assuming you mean a very specific kind.

[brokenhabit]

Yes. I mean the kind I was supposed to be.

I won't bore you with all the details, but the long and short of it is we devote our lives to one Almighty God. We take vows of chastity, we live modestly, we assist those who need it in his name... and we spend a lot of time in prayer.

I've spent most of my life in prayer, even before I became a nun. Almost half of my time alive was spent in service to him.

And you know what?

[latinumsbetter]

What?

[brokenhabit]

All those years of service and all that praying...

...and yet when I actually needed his help, when I prayed for his intervention... he didn't do a thing.

[latinumsbetter]

In my experience, gods rarely answer when someone actually needs them.

[brokenhabit]

Mmhm.

But you know? One finally did.

It's just not the one I would have ever thought to ask.

[latinumsbetter]

No? And which one was that?

[brokenhabit]

Miss Athena.

[latinumsbetter]

--ah.

[no, of course. Who else?]

...what did you need help with, when she answered?

[brokenhabit]

[ ... ]

...I'm sorry Mr. Quark. You've been very kind and good to me but...

I... do not wish to talk about it. Not this.

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark blinks once, before he looks wryly amused]

I'm not your counsilor, Leb. I'm not gonna twist your arm to tell me anything.

[he straightens]

I'm gonna head back to the bar. Why don't you stop by after you're done with all that?

[brokenhabit]

[ There's a brief few seconds of surprise at that as she turns to look at him again but doesn't say anything else about it, despite the relief she feels at not being questioned. ]

...You opened the bar even after all of that?

[latinumsbetter]

[the corner of his mouth curls upwards in a small, slightly cheeky smile]

If there's one thing people need after a fight like that, it's a drink. What was I supposed to do, pass up on all that profit?

[brokenhabit]

[ Okay that. Gets her to laugh a little. ]

I see, I see!

Well, maybe I will stop by then.

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark's smile widens as Leb laughs, clearly pleased to have made her do so.] Good! I'll save you a seat. [he gives her a wink, before turning to head back to the bar]