Avaritia Arrival Log

[cancrymods]

AVARITIA

It's Vegas, baby! Oh wait, I already made that joke on the location page... With Esme's iron-fisted reign brought to an end and the Executors given time to take a very well-earned break, it finally comes down to descend to the next layer of Purgatory. Thankfully, with this being the group as a whole's second descent, things are a little less nerve-wracking this time around... maybe. Hopefully. ... Probably. Welcome to Avaritia. Feel free to use this arrival log to chronicle your initial misadventures in the Greed Layer of Purgatory. As noted in the location page, several locations will require further investigation if you'd like to get some information on them, so get investigating! Drop a comment down to the Investigation Request subheader if you'd like to explore. Get out there and have fun!

Comments

[cancrymods]

She looks a little surprised to be suddenly approached by someone but she quickly gives him a polite smile and pushes her glasses up her nose a bit when they slip down.

"It's exciting, for sure." she says with a little nod. "It's exactly the sort of thing you expect to see at the theater."

Seems like, for whatever reason, she's pretty confident this is all just part of the show too.

[twibeast]

Oh? Is it all part of the show then? Security seemed rather frazzled so I wasn’t quite sure.

[cancrymods]

She gets that look on her face again, like he's blundered into being the butt of a joke without being aware of it and it would be very impolite to laugh at him. But she does just keep on smiling.

"It's just a little bit dramatic." she says eventually. "And a few people were sent invitations by this masked person, saying something like this would be happening. If you ask me, it sounds like a PR stunt."

[twibeast]

[ Well that expression is interesting. Beast continues on, looking back up at the spot where their little masked friend was and tilting his head. ]

Ah, I see. It does make sense like that... may have been a bit too effective though; I fear my companion may have been spooked off.

[ He then looks back down at the woman. ]

Have you also been abandoned by a skittish companion, my lady?

[cancrymods]

"Oh no, I came here alone. I was just curious to see what all the fuss was about so I wanted to see it for myself. It's been a little underwhelming so far, but I'm sure they have something more interesting planned for the actual show if they've gone to all this trouble."

She's very good at saying things that are a little rude without sounding rude, huh?

[twibeast]

[ VERY good.

That’s interesting though. Did he identify the wrong person from Lion’s descriptions...? ]

Is this your first time here as well then?

[cancrymods]

For what it's worth, she's definitely the younger woman from Lion's description, which she more or less confirms with another shake of her head.

"No, I'm... it's a bit presumptuous sounding, but I'd call myself a regular. I visit as often as I can – I've never gotten bored during a show here, so I can never bring myself to miss too many of them."

[twibeast]

Ah, I see. It’s actually my first time so this is all quite a surprise.

[ He pauses for a moment, thinking back to their first interactions with Esme, trying to think of what tipped her off to what they were, what he could use now to maybe do the same. It could be a bit risky but... ]

They certainly didn’t have anything like this in Invidia.

1/2

[cancrymods]

She blinks at him, owlishly surprised behind her glasses. Whatever she was expecting him to say, it apparently wasn't that.

[cancrymods]

Then she smiles.

"Ah, I understand now. Welcome to Avaritia, Executor."

[twibeast]

[ Bingo.

He smiles back wryly, before moving an arm over his chest and doing a half bow. He’s still got his manners after all... though a closer look will reveal his wings have gone tense and risen slightly like a beast’s hackles. ]

A pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Authority. Or would you prefer I call you something else?

ok im switching to action tags bc it makes my brain hurt less

[cancrymods]

Greta is fine. I don't think we have to be formal with each other at this point.

[ Curiously, considering how... well, everything went with Esme last time you all confronted an Authority, there doesn't seem to be any hostility at play here.

For now. ]

Am I right to assume the companion you spoke of is a fellow Executor of yours?

[twibeast]

[ Oh he should. Probably give a name as well. Except it would likely not be too smart to just give his current name to a possible enemy (no matter how fine she seems now) and he’s not even thinking of keeping his current name much longer anyway. So he thinks quickly—

And finds himself thinking of Patroclus.

“—the man I loved beyond all other comrades, loved as my own life...” ]

...Achilles.

[ ...Wait actually he... likes how that one sounds? Huh. ]

And they are entirely unrelated. [ not.... exactly a lie?? ] It is just me tonight, so I hope the disadvantage I am putting myself in right now makes it clear I mean no harm.

...Of course, not that I could do much of anything anyway.

[cancrymods]

Oh, certainly. I don't mean any offense to your abilities as an Executor, Achilles, but... well, if you've managed to make your way down here from the upper layers, you already have some idea as to what disadvantages you've placed yourself under.

[ She's not being hostile but she definitely has some 'has never been punched in the face and you can tell' energy going on. ]

But you must have approached me for some reason.

[twibeast]

What, it can’t just be because you’re a lovely young lady?

[ He laughs a little but it’s clearly half hearted. Man, did he know someone like this when he was alive? It’s a little familiar. ]

All jokes aside though, I was honestly just trying to get a handle on this whole “masked guest” situation. I simply began to get a hunch while talking to you and decided to take the risk and see how you’d react.

[ Again, it’s not a lie but there’s no way he’s telling her he had a literal list of potential suspects. ]

Let me ask you: do you know what it is we’re really aiming to do? Invidia’s Authority said a “little birdie” told her and considering you already know what I am I would imagine you’ve also received similar information?

[cancrymods]

If it's anything, I would imagine you're aiming to repair the Cogs on the lowest level. That would allow us all to pass on and leave Purgatory behind.

Am I correct?

[twibeast]

Yes, that’s right. In order to let reincarnation happen again.

So all we actually need is to be able to pass through Avaritia and onto the next layer. That’s it. You wouldn’t have to give up your authority - you just need to let us pass.

[cancrymods]

[ Greta nods to herself. ]

I see. That's a very reasonable request.

[ She smiles at him. ]

I refuse.

[twibeast]

[ He sighs. Well no one can say he didn’t try. ]

Of course it wouldn’t be that easy...

May I at least ask why?

[ He has a feeling it’ll be much the same as Esme but he wants to hear regardless, since he struggled to fully understand Esme’s stance (even when the others did). ]

[cancrymods]

Because your plan is to unclog the stoppage preventing us from passing on – or so you say. And I'm afraid I have every intention of remaining here.

[ She smiles at him and spread her hands gesturing to the theater – and everything outside of it as well. ]

Why would I want to leave such a wonderful place?

[twibeast]

[ So much the same as Esme then.

He regards her carefully for a moment, before crossing his arms and tilting his head, eyes on the rest of the crowd. The rest of this “wonderful place”. ]

Is it so wonderful, though? I wonder about that...

[ He looks back at her. ]

You know that staying here too long eventually turns you into a monster, don’t you? And I mean that literally, not figuratively.

[ Is the one telling these authorities this conveniently leaving that information out or do they all just not care? He could either at this point.

Later on he might wonder why “monster” came so easily out of his mouth instead of “revenant” and why all this makes him so uneasy. ]

[cancrymods]

So you say. [ I probably don't need to tell you that her tone at this point is verging on condescending, but just in case... ] The ones who lose themselves to Purgatory might turn, but I know very well who I am. I don't intend to lose anything ever again, so your concerns are appreciated, if unnecessary.

[twibeast]

[ Oh honey. Two can play that condescending game.

He smiles again, but this time it’s full of barely hidden contempt. ]

Oh, do not be mistaken. You’re not the one I’m concerned for. You clearly have none for your fellow specter after all, so I won’t waste mine on a selfish child.

[ Normally he would never say anything like that to someone so much younger than him but his demeanour has completely shifted. The affable and fatherly gentleman he presents himself as most of the time has given way to the kind of... thing he used to be. The ancient being he saw in his memories, the monster who had to learn to be human, the false deity who functioned much like a guard dog protecting his herd and smiting any threats. He talks as that person now, the beast he was, not as the Beast he became.

Again: you wanna do the condescending game? Let’s go kid, he remembers being old as clay now. ]

You’ll have to forgive me though for failing to understand why you would even want any of... this. [ He mimics her actions earlier, gesturing around the theatre. ] As an old man with a few thousand years under his belt, staying stagnant in a place like this forever sounds like an absolute hell, so to speak.

[ At least with it being just him right now he can speak more frankly about this sort of stuff. ]

[cancrymods]

[ Greta doesn't respond right away but behind her glasses, her eyebrows raise and the lenses flash in the light just for a second, rendering them opaque. She's still smiling, somehow even smugger now than she was before. ]

I'm afraid if you don't see the appeal, then I would never be able to explain it to you. But this place holds a great deal of importance to me and I don't intend to lose it, Executor.

Perhaps another few thousand years here will change your mind?

[twibeast]

[ Beast’s own smile drops into a glare. He knows she’s goading him and trying to get under his skin, but the ease of which she throws out the number like it’s nothing bothers him. The idea of that much time in purgatory really doesn’t phase her. It’s kind of disturbing to him.

Mortals are so fucking weird, man. ]

You really do mean to stay forever then.

[ A great deal of importance, huh... he wonders what kind of story there is here, if it’s anything like what Esme’s turned out to be. But he gets the feeling this is as much as he’s going to find out for now. He doesn’t know when the others are going to come back and he would rather not expose them as well.

...That and he can feel his own temper getting the better of him the longer he talks to her. ]

Well, I highly doubt my mind would ever change and I certainly don’t intend to find out. So then I suppose we really will have to butt heads, won’t we? A shame, honestly. I know the majority of us would rather talk things out than fight when it comes down to it.

[ He thinks back to how Mona felt after the first confrontation with Esme... and feels like he should probably apologize to her later when he tells everyone about this. ]