new year, new you

[cancrymods]

It's been some time since the Executors made their way down to the Gula layer and while things have been quiet, that doesn't necessarily mean they haven't been busy. The snow that had been falling steadily for the past week or so has finally eased, even if a thick blanket of the stuff seems to remain in all the Layers you've travelled to. The ever present threat of an Authority has been mitigated somewhat by Gerda being... well, Gerda and though her intentions and the full scope of her motivations are still a mystery, she at least seems to be willing to assist the Executors so long as they do the same for her in turn.

All the errands they've been running have done a lot to help the Undercity – the kitchen is stocked, and the communal areas feel fuller and livelier. Music often rings out from the stage and all in all, things seem fuller and warmer here.

And yet, that quiet hunger continues to nip at you every moment you spend in Gula. Even if it weren't for the Gluttony Layer's effects, though, there would be answers aplenty to be hungering after – the mysterious butterfly accompanying Ariel, the question of Rei's lack of memories... and of course, the mystery girl who seems determined to see you all returned to mindless Specters once again.

Do you still believe you have what it takes to travel to the bottom of Purgatory and restore things to their natural order?

There's only one way to find out for sure.

[ ... And we're back! After our holiday break, the Gula chapter of Can Cry's metaplot is now continuing! Happy New Year, Executors - let's see what you make of it! ]

Comments

[swordofajerk]

People die all the time for stupid reasons or no reason at all, weak or strong, and thinking otherwise is just deluding yourself so you feel better.

[Lion is...well, not entirely sane, but undeniably strong. Chiron and Phoenix, too. Sword himself. There's no way Wolfsbane can think they're all weak.]

If you want to think this is some kind of fate, then whatever makes you happy. But personally, the goddess doesn't care enough about us to plan that kind of shit. Whatever this is has nothing to do with her or any other god.

[emberserker]

[Wolfsbane's having a moment, but she breaks out of the muttering to glare.]

What, do you think it's a coincidence all this happened? It clearly wasn't something you set out to do. No one dies because they want to fix something they don't even know is broken.

[swordofajerk]

No one dies because they want to, period. Our deaths weren't intentional. Us waking up here wasn't intentional. The only thing that was was accepting Rei's offer.

[emberserker]

There's no way any of that can be true. How could you prove it?

[swordofajerk]

How could you prove what you're saying is true? Other than "because it has to be".

[emberserker]

There's no point to it otherwise! To anything! To you!

[swordofajerk]

For once, you're right. Death is pointless. We're not special. Trying to claim we have some grand destiny to fix the Cogs is a waste of time we could be spending actually fixing the Cogs.

[Ugh, he's done.]

This entire argument has been a waste of time, but because you take my disregard for you so personally, now we're here. If you need there to be some reason for you to be here other than your own damn choices, fine. But stop dragging the rest of us down with you.

[To the others:]

Come get me when the girls are to go.

[And he leaves the room. He's done.]

[phantasmagorial]

Because gods have no part to play in what happens here.

[ Like she usually is during blow ups like this, Rei's been quiet... but this, for some reason, makes her speak up. ]

You were fated to come here in just the same way everyone else is when they die - it doesn't matter how or when. But that's all that fate has to do with it.

Everything dies. And not even a god could stand up to the Cogs of Renewal.

[schardynfreude]

...!

That... [It's uncomfortable, the way it rings. Out of Rei's mouth.] That's what that girl said, too...

[phantasmagorial]

[ Rei blinks, puzzled and wrong footed all at once. ]

What is?

[schardynfreude]

[Nothing is safe and nothing is exempt – not even--]

--not even a god could stand up to that. To the Cogs. [Right down to Rei's phrasing.]

[discutio]

…

[THIS IS FINE]

[mementomoritz]

[Mumbling to herself in a tone of quiet consideration:] ...has that actually been tested...? Maybe if I could just get a small to medium sized god...

[daughterofthemark]

Are there different sizes of gods?

[mementomoritz]

Well, starting with a big one seemed a little unsafe! [OH, THAT'S THE UNSAFE PART, TO YOU?]

[phantasmagorial]

[ Oh, now she's looking very alarmed. ]

I... wasn't even thinking when I said it... [ Which doesn't really help. ] Are you sure it's exactly what she said?

[schardynfreude]

She was speaking of the Cogs when she said it. "Nothing is safe and nothing is exempt - not even a God could stand up to that." Her words.

[Trust that while his memories got scrambled, he has a very clear memory of that fight.]

Setting aside the idea of meeting a dead god here is very alarming for a number of reasons, [eyo who wants to meet giant woman shiva!!!] the...phrasing just seemed particular. And being so sure of such a thing...

[alcahest]

... Since Rei's memories are missing, I wonder if... they both heard it from the same place, once.

[ if Rei knew her, or they had an acquaintance in common. ]

[daughterofthemark]

It would make sense. We've learned much of what we know from the same place, after all.

[phantasmagorial]

Her sword... damaged Chiron's memories, didn't it? So... maybe I also...

[daughterofthemark]

Yes, she may have attacked you as well.

[Veil punctuates this by stepping over next to Rei as if to protect her from another attack that's coming in the next ten seconds.]