Arrival

[letsplayamod]

The moment is a bit different for everyone. Perhaps you were just minding your own business somewhere, others may have been in more... dire circumstances. Regardless, you were approached by a figure you can't quite picture, and they offered you an accord; in exchange for aiding them in the healing of a world lost to chaos, you would be granted something almost unheard of. Godhood.

And each of you said yes, more or less.

A blurry hand, shifting and rippling, reaches out to you. You feel a glow of warmth, unlike anything you've known before. As soon as you think you can describe it, you wake up.

The room you're in is plainly furnished, but it's about the size of a small flat. Plenty of room to stretch your legs. Don't get too comfortable, however. On the bedside table each room has is a letter; handwritten, it's wrapped around a bronze key. The lettering could only be described as the platonic ideal of 'neat and precise'.

If you are reading this, than our deal has been made. You've awoken in a place that will surely feel strange, so I want you to take some time to acclimate. Meet with the others. Breathe. I shall be along shortly.

-A

Whatever that means becomes more apparent as you step out of your housing and behold the world around you. The building you were in, and every piece of architecture you happen across, is blatantly pre-modern. Yet, something about it is otherworldly. Stone and iron and glass as far as the eye can see.

But above you was where the real questions were. It wouldn't be right to say the sun was shining on you now, nor would it be right to say it's the dead of night. Instead, the sky is a hazy mixture of both, wrapped in suffocating storm clouds that are threatening rain. Everywhere you look, into the horizon, it's the same.

Welcome home. Take your time and explore. Nobody ever said godhood was easy.

Comments

[cannotunravel]

Do you remember how that A person looks like...?

[She turns her head. Huh. Interesting looks, you have! Misane is pretty sure A isn't like him, but she might be wrong]

[latinumsbetter]

Not a clue. [mildly] But I don't find that too shocking, all things considered.

[cannotunravel]

Why's that?

[She sure would like to hear other people's opinions!]

[latinumsbetter]

The only other gods I've met didn't actually have a form that a linear being could conceptualize, so they took the form of people I knew. [casually]

[cannotunravel]

I'm sure they didn't take the form of someone I know...I can think of who they'd imitate, but nobody could ever do his brand of self-deprecation.

[So hey, there's that, at least. Although she can't say she's sure this A person is a god or can give godhood!]

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark huffs at that, something close to a laugh]

Can a god be self-depreciating?

[cannotunravel]

I don't see why not. Being a god doesn't mean having to be arrogant, right?

[If that's something vital for godhood then she already is in trouble, because she can't be arrogant, hah. She'll be remiss!]

[latinumsbetter]

Maybe not completely arrogant, but I feel like you gotta have at least a decent opinion of yourself. Otherwise how could you trust yourself to weild all that power?

[cannotunravel]

Alright. Do you trust yourself to wield the godhood we were promised?

[Kind of a pointed question, but it's also a fair one!]

[latinumsbetter]

Of course I do. Why would I sign the contract if I didn't think I could do it? [obviously, it would be silly to NOT have that kind of confidence!]

[cannotunravel]

I can respect that. Someone who knows themselves this well is admirable.

[Well, she's certainly going to give the benefit of doubt and suppose he knows what he's doing! Instead of thinking it might be overconfidence. Despite her profession and her general stoic demeanor, Misane likes people enough to want them to think good of themselves]

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark studies her for a moment.]

So, what? Are you saying you don't trust yourself with all this?

[cannotunravel]

I'm not going to take the godhood with me after we're done here. I'm not interested in being all-powerful at home.

[Plain as that, really. She sees no reason to be a goddess]

[latinumsbetter]

No? [he blinks at that, clearly surprised] Then why agree to this?

[cannotunravel]

I was asked to help.

[Even though Misane can't remember the details of the deal, she's pretty sure it wouldn't take much to convince her. She's not one to stand around if someone needs help, after all. No reward needed]

[latinumsbetter]

...that's it.

[cannotunravel]

If somebody is in need of help it's only fair to do what one can to aid them. I most likely saw no reason to refuse.

[A guy passed by her and comforted her once, and she ended up going back in time eight years to help that man in the past because she knew he'd need it. If this A person warranted it, Misane would really really really go out of her way to help them -- and it wouldn't take much to warrant it]

[latinumsbetter]

Ah. You're one of those, huh. [dryly] You're not Starfleet, are you?

[cannotunravel]

Those...?

[Misane doesn't seem too sure what 'those' are, yup. The mention of Starfleet gets a slight tilt of her head, too]

I doubt it. I'm not sure what a Starfleet is.

[latinumsbetter]

[he huffs, but there's something rueful in it]

You'd fit right in with them. They always want to stick their nose in things and help, whether they should or not, and for no gain of their own.

[cannotunravel]

[Her perceptive skills as a detective apprentice catch a bit of Quark's tone -- enough for her to wonder if something's up]

They sound like altruists. Do they mess up sometimes, when trying to help?

[Is that why you seem a little rueful about them, Quark?]

[latinumsbetter]

They sure do. Or they get too stubborn about the whole helping thing. They put themselves and other people in danger, taking risks on the gamble that they'll be able to save more people than not, even if they get caught in the crossfire sometimes. No self preservation in Starfleet! [His tone is starting to war a bit between frustration and anger]

[cannotunravel]

[Her expression softens into understanding]

Some people are so selfless they cross a line into something unhealthy.

[She can immediately think of one single person who is like that]

If it makes you feel better, I don't think I go that far.

[...but she's closer to that line than she should be]

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark blinks at that--understanding was clearly not what he expected. He shifts a bit, that frustration and anger that was winding him up cooling as he clearly wrestles with whatever he wants to say in response. After a moment, he'll mutter, grumpily:]

...it does, actually.

[cannotunravel]

By the way, if you ever see I'm going in the wrong direction with this, warn me about it. That's the sort of thing why people is around each other.

[Because sometimes a person who can tell you you're doing things the wrong way can change everything for the better]