souls have been lost and the panic grows

[phototraces]

[That... that was hell, actually. Wendy didn't like that at all. After the trial she... has to head to the kitchen and hopefully not find clay shit everywhere. She needs to do something to keep things under control. To keep things going.

She's not a great cook but she knows the basics. Meat. Bread. Cheese. Something warm for the belly to drink. She's nervous when she works but she's relentless. There's no asking for help from her as she makes a spread for everyone. Then... she's moving all of it not to the eatery but the bonfire.

Making makeshift tables around it and placing trays of food and drink. Even setting up a chair for Alex a good distance away from the fire but close enough that he can be part of things if he wants to.

Wendy, with her careful writing, writes up some notes and hands them out to everyone if she can find them or if not under their door.

Food at the bonfire and the area around it. Attendance not mandatory but it's probably better for all of us if we stick together. Bring more food and drink if you want.

Wendy

...She can't control other people but she can try to suggest.]

Comments

[necromants]

Oho, the ultimate machine verses the Ultimate Lifeform! Now that does sound like a battle for the ages! Are you both waiting on that battle until the world is safe?

[eeeonetwothree]

NO! SHADOW KEEPS PUTTING IT OFF! SAYING “I’LL GET YOU NEXT TIME, OMEGA!” IF HE DOES IT SEVERAL MORE TIMES I WILL START TO SUSPECT HE IS TRYING TO AVOID FIGHTING ME!

[necromants]

Hmm... Maybe he's worried he'll lose?

[this feels cursed to write.]

[eeeonetwothree]

HM. NO, I HAVE NEVER KNOWN SHADOW TO BE A COWARD.

…

WAIT! HE IS LIKELY SHARPENING HIS SKILLS! HE WANTS TO FIGHT ME AT HIS PEAK! OF COURSE! THAT IS JUST LIKE SHADOW TO BE! HIS EFFORTS WILL BE USELESS BUT APPRECIATED NONETHELESS.

[necromants]

Extra training before your fight will undoubtedly make your victory all the sweeter!

[eeeonetwothree]

I SHALL HAVE TO DO THE SAME. PROVIDED WE ALL SURVIVE THIS ORDEAL, THAT IS.

[necromants]

Of course. I have no doubts you'll be just fine, though!

[seriously who would try to kill omega, that just sounds silly!]

[eeeonetwothree]

YOU NEVER KNOW. AND BESIDES, AS THE GOD OF PROTECTION, IT IS MY DUTY TO SACRIFICE MY LIFE FOR THE GOOD OF THE GROUP’S.

[necromants]

Hmm... Is that your duty?

[He's probably not the one to argue this, though.]

I certainly can't stop you from doing something of the sort, but it'd be better if you weren't put in a position like that to begin with!

[Though that's far too optimistic a thought for our current situation, he thinks.]

[eeeonetwothree]

MY DUTY IS MINE TO INTERPET. AND I CHOOSE TO INTERPRET ATHENA’S PLAN FOR ME THIS WAY.

BUT YES, I TOO WOULD PREFER IT DOES NOT COME TO THAT.

[necromants]

Well, at least we're in agreement on that!

[He won't argue further; surely someone else would have a much better chance at getting through to Omega that sacrifice isn't always the best means of protection.]

[eeeonetwothree]

…DO NOT WORRY ZVEI. I WOULD ONLY DO THIS IF IT WERE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. I AM NOT A FOOL.

BUT A PROTECTOR MUST BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE IF HE MUST. SHADOW TAUGHT ME THAT.

[necromants]

[...Well, maybe there's truth to that. It's not like he'd know.]

I've met some people willing to sacrifice themselves for their friends and allies before, and it always is a little worrying...

[He laughs though, shaking his head.]

Shadow seems like a very good friend of yours!

[eeeonetwothree]

FRIEND?

[ He’s always described Shadow and Rouge as allies…never friends. But…now, hearing it…yes. Something about it feels right. ]

YES. SHADOW IS MY FRIEND. PERHAPS THE ONE TO WHOM I AM CLOSEST.

[necromants]

[Teehee, how cute...]

He was the one Typhon threatened, correct? No wonder you weren't worried about him.

[eeeonetwothree]

YES. BUT MORE THAN THAT, OBJECTIVELY, SHADOW HAS FELLED BEINGS OF POWER COMPARABLE TO TYPHON BEFORE. I AM CONFIDENT HE WOULD FIND A WAY TO SURVIVE.

[necromants]

[A nod!]

You scanned Typhon early on, didn't you? I imagine you must have scanned enemies of similar power levels before? My, how terrifying!

[He does not sound scared at all, tbh. He just looks Interested.]

[eeeonetwothree]

NEVER ONE SO SINGULARLY POWERFUL WITHOUT A CHAOS EMERALD, I AM AFRAID. SAVE PERHAPS BLACK DOOM.

[necromants]

Black Doom? Who - or what? - is that?

[eeeonetwothree]

BLACK DOOM IS AN ALIEN WHOSE DNA WAS USED TO HELP CREATE SHADOW. HE IS THE LEADER OF A RACE KNOWN AS THE BLACK ARMS. TWICE NOW HE HAS TRIED TO MANIPULATE SHADOW INTO BEING HIS PAWN, AND TWICE NOW SHADOW HAS DEFEATED HIM.