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Who: Everyone!!!
Broadcast: No
Action: The Iskaulit
When: For the rest of the month

[Now that we've all had time to settle back into our ships, let's see what's going on over on the Iskaulit! For the new folks, there are already a few establishments and projects going on, but there's plenty of room for everyone, either to join in or to build their own thing. So mingle away!]

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... I can relate a little. It was my favorite story when I was young. Catch.

[Her communicator appears out of thin air in her hands, and she lightly tosses it to him, underhanded. (Of course, even if he doesn't quite manage to grab it, it'll continue to just hover in front of him, because magic is awesome like that.) It's already open, showing a certain book.]

[Stefan catches it with way too little effort - at this point, he's seen enough of Nightingale's powers to vaguely understand how it works. (He thinks.) He reads through the story fairly quickly, catching his breath at certain points. Her world wasn't monotheistic, but with a story like this? He can guess how she would react to an all-knowing Creator.

Stefan can't help puzzling over some terms - save points? those actually existed? - but when he returns it to her, his expression is far more sympathetic.]

You have good taste in stories. [He pulls out his own communicator now, trying to pull up the story in question so he can re-read it.] So if Pasha's dead... did other gods take his place? Or was that kind of it?

... Other gods. Gods arise to answer the prayers and needs of the people, so whenever things get bad in some ways, a new one shows up. I can't tell you all of them, what with the amnesia and all, but...

[Did she ever mention the amnesia to him? Probably not, but now she has.]

I know the last god- The Bringer of War, Tyrfing- was killed about five hundred years ago, ending the Tyrfing Era and the Hundred Year War at once, and starting the Godless Era. And each era is named for its god, and his was the ninth era. So... There were at least seven more gods. Each of them followed the same pattern as Pasha.

Huh. So there's way more stories where that one came from.

[He remembers the amnesia, vaguely. They DID argue over Echoes.]

As far as I know, Earth's only ever had the one. Different cultures worshipped different Gods over the years, but most of us are monotheistic now. It's... if I had to describe it, it's like God created the world and then left us alone to run it.

[Like a big giant game of Sims, though Stefan's not sure he should frame it in that sense.]

Hey, uh - Nightingale? Thanks for sharing this with me. I knew of the power of prayer, but your world ah - it takes that power more literally than Earth ever did.

If you think mine is bad about that, you should talk to Magpie.

[She seems amused at that, at least, before sobering up.]

It's no problem. Just... I wanted you to understand why I react that way when it comes to gods. Mine aren't even the worst of it- My teammate, Bluebird, had even worse gods in her world. Then the last place... People given godlike power went and started killing us all. Repeatedly.

A lot of us don't have any positive impressions of anything claiming to be a god.

I can't say I blame you. A couple of years ago, back when my amnesia was in full swing, I wouldn't have believed you either.

[Now? After dealing with aliens, and now Atroma, he's not sure what to think, but his belief hasn't wavered one inch.]

On the other end of the spectrum? Faith's powerful. I can't just dismiss that, or people's belief in their gods - because when you're drifting along in giant hunks of metal, sometimes that belief keeps you going. [This isn't the voice of experience talking, because then that would be admitting that he felt like giving up.]

So... even if some Gods abuse their power and decide to kill their followers, I can't bring myself to hate Allah(swt). Not now, and honestly, probably not ever.

[... She may be the biggest KY asshole you will ever meet, but even she can tell this is not the time to ask what exactly "swt" is.]

That's fine. I wasn't trying to convince you, unless it shows up and starts smiting me or my friends. Just... I wanted you to understand. You know?

[Translated from tsundere asshole, she wants to get along, but she also really doesn't want her hate of gods to get in the way of that.]

[She would've heard swt as 'Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala' - untranslated but still important praise]

Yeah. Like I said, I can't blame you... and it's not exactly my place to judge.

["That's reserved for God," he wants to say. Instead, he refrains from it as he offers her a small smile] If you remember more, though, I'd like to hear about it sometime.

Who knows? Maybe you'll be the next hero knocking down an unfair God.

... I'd like that, but I don't think I'll be remembering any more while I'm here. Without my mirror, or any games.

[The second part gets a fond laugh, though.]

Well, I think every kid dreams of that. But if anyone was going to do that, it would be my parents. I'm nowhere near strong enough.

Really? I've remembered more in the six months I've been here than the whole year I had back home. Er, in New Jersey.

["Home" is a relative term when Stefan doesn't know where he really belongs anymore.]

You say that now, but - you've got time. ["You're young."] I'm sure you'll get there.

... Lark said the same thing. But I haven't remembered anything. Lark had someone from her world here, but... I doubt I'll ever see anyone from mine.

[She goes quiet at that for a moment, before responding.]

Maybe. But my parents are probably always going to be stronger. I think they were probably among the strongest people in my world. They led a party that killed a Greater Behemoth attacking the city.

That could've been it. I've got - ["my ex-girlfriend, my soul mate"] a really good friend from home. She must be jogging my memory, like Lark's person did.

[He doesn't want to pry, especially since it sounds like she's resigned herself to being less strong, but...]

Greater Behemoth? I think you'll have to elaborate for me.

That's my best guess. Unless Yura shows up here, or something, I'm pretty much shit out of luck.

[She goes quiet for a minute, struggling with how to describe it.]

Imagine... A cross between a boar and a lion, but about ten stories tall, and a few blocks long. Strong enough to break the strongest wards around the capital city of the continent. Surrounded by its children, of course.

[It's not quite right, but it's the best quick and dirty explanation she can give.]

[That... was not what Stefan was imagining. He leans back, almost tripping over his own two feet--]

Shit. Your parents took that out? That's-- they must've been pretty powerful.

No matter what they'd tell you, they had help.

... But, yeah. My father is a Steelwall- Think heavy armor, tower shields, can take an absurd amount of damage- and my mother's an archmage. One of the youngest to ever make archmage, I... think.

[She sounds uncertain on that last part.]

Can't remember for certain, huh? [He lets out a small sigh] I know that feeling.

I used to think my parents were gonna be better doctors than me. Now, I'm... I don't know. I can't technically follow in their footsteps anymore.

You can't?

[She seems genuinely surprised.]

Kind of need a MD before I can practice. [Apologetic smile] I barely graduated college, as it was.

What about equivalent experience? I dropped out of college, so I can't really say much there, but...

Doesn't work that way on Earth. [sigh]

It works well enough for the Fleet, since I've got a lab support augment, but... as soon as I get back home, I'm not sure what I'll do.

Try learning healing magic while you're here. They can't say no to that.

Can't. [He gestures to his teeth. If they're talking about magic, he guesses that his secret can stay safe with her.] Guys like me aren't exactly able to perform magic.

... Wait, really? Why not? You're not merfolk, are you?

Nnno. That's actually a first.

I mean more... I'm sorta-kinda.... [deep breath] I'm a vampire, Nightingale. An amnesiac vampire who may or may not be able to control himself around human blood in a hospital, and I'm not sure I want to find out.

...

Oh.

[She takes a moment to process this, before shrugging.]

That's fair. Are you at risk of losing control if you're still keeping fed, though?

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