(no subject)

[dancingmd]

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!]

Comments

[stefanged]

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.

[experiencepoints]

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.

[stefanged]

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.

[experiencepoints]

[... 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.]

hover for translation

[stefanged]

[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.

[experiencepoints]

... 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.

[stefanged]

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.

[experiencepoints]

... 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.

[stefanged]

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.

[experiencepoints]

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.]

[stefanged]

[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.

[experiencepoints]

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.]

[stefanged]

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.

[experiencepoints]

You can't?

[She seems genuinely surprised.]

[stefanged]

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

[experiencepoints]

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

[stefanged]

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.

[experiencepoints]

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

[stefanged]

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.

[experiencepoints]

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

[stefanged]

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.

[experiencepoints]

...

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?

[stefanged]

Not really. I drink animal blood, so as long as I hunt every time we're planet-side, I'm okay.

[He's not really convinced, though.]

I'm also taking blood pills every day, but uh - Nightingale? I haven't told everyone, especially since I'm also a lab tech. So... could you....

["Could you not tell everyone?"]

[experiencepoints]

I won't say a word, don't worry.

I didn't know animal blood worked, though...

[stefanged]

Not as well as human blood, but it's enough. [Especially when Stefan's too afraid to feed from people.] Honestly, most vampires back home grab blood from blood drives or blood banks.

There's not a lot of snatching and eating anymore, unless you do it for fun.