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[I don't know how many of these you have, but they are now in the crying room. Why wouldn't they be? It's fine. Who doesn't have moments of Cheeseburger Sasuke?
Essek glances around and then glances at Jonas.]
Bizarre.
Essek glances around and then glances at Jonas.]
Bizarre.
[Jonas needed a crying room.... Akira did too. Often. He'd get locked up in here, probably by Scaramouche.]
A few of ours, too. Is this for the murder which will inevitably happen?
A few of ours, too. Is this for the murder which will inevitably happen?
[Mad Jonas... He's such a Ty boy teen. Essek regards Jonas momentarily in a studious sort of way. I TYPED TY INSTEAD OF JONAS IN THAT LAST SENTENCE AND STARTED LAUGHING SO BAD.]
...I had plans to keep my cards as close to my chest as possible. That is... simply who I am, who I have been for a long time. However, recently, I have been trying to... be better.
[MORE DOMESTICATED...]
You are young, to me especially, but... I can sense you are not an idiot of youth. At least, in certain regard. So let's have a more open discussion. I think you'll understand.
I was at home again before this, assisting a group in a coming battle. Before that, I had joined a cult, and I was one of the... handlers, you could say. There were four of us. We oversaw the people coming in.
...I had plans to keep my cards as close to my chest as possible. That is... simply who I am, who I have been for a long time. However, recently, I have been trying to... be better.
[MORE DOMESTICATED...]
You are young, to me especially, but... I can sense you are not an idiot of youth. At least, in certain regard. So let's have a more open discussion. I think you'll understand.
I was at home again before this, assisting a group in a coming battle. Before that, I had joined a cult, and I was one of the... handlers, you could say. There were four of us. We oversaw the people coming in.
[ ESSEK PEERING AT ME THROUGH THE FOURTH WALL.
but jonas lets himself be studied, sort of sizing him up as he folds his arms over his chest loosely. it's less a defensive stance and more just for lack of anything to do with his arms, a teenage boy with long limbs and not quite sure how to juggle his body anymore. but he listens. he always does, that's who jonas is. he listens to everything essek says and there's a little bit of understanding that comes with it. for as friendly as he is with other people (as best as he can be), he's someone who doesn't always reveal much of himself for a long while either. sometimes never.
he can understand where the man's coming from. ]
That's a first. Usually an idiot is the first thing people call me. [ it's a light joke, but it's one born from years of hearing the same thing. he brushes it off though. ] But I think I do understand, as someone who was kinda gonna keep my own cards close.
[ a pause though. ]
... you're from the same place as Kate? She mentioned there was a cult that brought people together to offer as sacrifices to their god. [ and that had been, uh, concerning but it's fine. i think a lot about how jonas's mom was part of a cult and he probably never knew. ] Three or four overseers, aides, handlers, whatever seems to be the norm. So what made you join them?
[ he doesn't sound judgmental about it, but he's a little curious. he'd also like to know that much before he explains himself, though it's possible essek may see slight twitchies from jonas's back over his shoulder. ]
but jonas lets himself be studied, sort of sizing him up as he folds his arms over his chest loosely. it's less a defensive stance and more just for lack of anything to do with his arms, a teenage boy with long limbs and not quite sure how to juggle his body anymore. but he listens. he always does, that's who jonas is. he listens to everything essek says and there's a little bit of understanding that comes with it. for as friendly as he is with other people (as best as he can be), he's someone who doesn't always reveal much of himself for a long while either. sometimes never.
he can understand where the man's coming from. ]
That's a first. Usually an idiot is the first thing people call me. [ it's a light joke, but it's one born from years of hearing the same thing. he brushes it off though. ] But I think I do understand, as someone who was kinda gonna keep my own cards close.
[ a pause though. ]
... you're from the same place as Kate? She mentioned there was a cult that brought people together to offer as sacrifices to their god. [ and that had been, uh, concerning but it's fine. i think a lot about how jonas's mom was part of a cult and he probably never knew. ] Three or four overseers, aides, handlers, whatever seems to be the norm. So what made you join them?
[ he doesn't sound judgmental about it, but he's a little curious. he'd also like to know that much before he explains himself, though it's possible essek may see slight twitchies from jonas's back over his shoulder. ]
[Thinks about Kate's time.... Always missed. Always escaping... He liked Kate, though.]
Yes. I was one of the four overseers for them.
[He frowns and glances away.]
There was a way to obtain a wish, if a god was summoned. I wanted that for myself. But once we were in, we found out the method was to sacrifice a large number of people to make this happen.
We disagreed.
Yes. I was one of the four overseers for them.
[He frowns and glances away.]
There was a way to obtain a wish, if a god was summoned. I wanted that for myself. But once we were in, we found out the method was to sacrifice a large number of people to make this happen.
We disagreed.
[ there's a brief little scowl, though not at essek himself. ]
Isn't that always how it happens? You find something you want, but you don't get to see the fine print until you're already locked in. [ like a cult saying you can only have your wish if you sacrifice so many people. like an axolotl saying you can see a friend again if you become a god. ] ... good on you guys for disagreeing though. But I'm going to guess you were still stuck for the entire time things were happening.
How did it end for you?
Isn't that always how it happens? You find something you want, but you don't get to see the fine print until you're already locked in. [ like a cult saying you can only have your wish if you sacrifice so many people. like an axolotl saying you can see a friend again if you become a god. ] ... good on you guys for disagreeing though. But I'm going to guess you were still stuck for the entire time things were happening.
How did it end for you?
Mm. Indeed.
[He looks back at Jonas. He doesn't seem broken up about this, but does have the decency to seemed... changed, for the better. Politely regretful.]
In order to save the group pulled in and keep another group from being pulled in if something happened to the first, we had to remain and pretend to play our parts.
[He motions idly with a hand.]
We... accidentally created a pocket dimension at the start while testing ways to help the group. One of us died in the process. We didn't know at first, but the many who perished during the weeks went there with him.
The group was able to collect what was needed to summon the god and tokens for benefits. They summoned a lesser god and defeated it, then used the tokens to help everyone. The four of us received small wishes since the god wasn't as powerful.
[He looks back at Jonas. He doesn't seem broken up about this, but does have the decency to seemed... changed, for the better. Politely regretful.]
In order to save the group pulled in and keep another group from being pulled in if something happened to the first, we had to remain and pretend to play our parts.
[He motions idly with a hand.]
We... accidentally created a pocket dimension at the start while testing ways to help the group. One of us died in the process. We didn't know at first, but the many who perished during the weeks went there with him.
The group was able to collect what was needed to summon the god and tokens for benefits. They summoned a lesser god and defeated it, then used the tokens to help everyone. The four of us received small wishes since the god wasn't as powerful.
[ this does not sound good. ]
Going through the motions so the cult wasn't alerted. Kinda like hiding in plain sight. But uh, how did you accidentally make a pocket dimension? [ ... actually this is the least of his questions. ] Never mind, I guess that makes some sense. Our healing center was a whole other pocket somewhere we didn't even know about for weeks, too. All of our souls made their way there but we were unaware for a while.
Is the cult still going? Do you have to worry about another attempt with new people? [ ... ] I'm glad to hear you got your wish, but that just means that's at stake in this whole thing too, isn't it.
Going through the motions so the cult wasn't alerted. Kinda like hiding in plain sight. But uh, how did you accidentally make a pocket dimension? [ ... actually this is the least of his questions. ] Never mind, I guess that makes some sense. Our healing center was a whole other pocket somewhere we didn't even know about for weeks, too. All of our souls made their way there but we were unaware for a while.
Is the cult still going? Do you have to worry about another attempt with new people? [ ... ] I'm glad to hear you got your wish, but that just means that's at stake in this whole thing too, isn't it.
Two of us are atrocious at drawing magical sigils.
[It's fine..........probably.]
They considered it, an encompassing one. [To sort of... reassure Jonas's brain.] But there hadn't been enough tokens to divvy up, so it only became the worlds of those there.
[He frowns and is quiet for a long moment.]
It is not my wish that is at stake exactly.
[It's fine..........probably.]
They considered it, an encompassing one. [To sort of... reassure Jonas's brain.] But there hadn't been enough tokens to divvy up, so it only became the worlds of those there.
[He frowns and is quiet for a long moment.]
It is not my wish that is at stake exactly.
Edited (wait i forgot the first part help me SHUT UP) 2025-06-02 04:18 (UTC)
[ help. he looks faintly impressed in a bad way like "wow." ]
Yeah, I guess that'd do it. [ but he is vaguely fussed, and then reassured because that's still, like, bad. but. ] ... at least it's people who are part of the cult and know what to expect. Not an ideal situation, but that's as good as it'll get it sounds like.
[ but... oh no. ]
... did you use yours for someone else?
Yeah, I guess that'd do it. [ but he is vaguely fussed, and then reassured because that's still, like, bad. but. ] ... at least it's people who are part of the cult and know what to expect. Not an ideal situation, but that's as good as it'll get it sounds like.
[ but... oh no. ]
... did you use yours for someone else?
[Sometimes, the two SCIENTISTS draw a bad PENTAGRAM behind your BACK, and then a machine blows one of your coworkers up when you turn around again.
IT'S FINE PROBABLY... It's fine probably.]
...The power of our wishes were lessened because the god summoned was weaker. I had no use for a small wish when any results could be accomplished myself. So three of us put ours together for the fourth.
IT'S FINE PROBABLY... It's fine probably.]
...The power of our wishes were lessened because the god summoned was weaker. I had no use for a small wish when any results could be accomplished myself. So three of us put ours together for the fourth.
[ this lore is still the funniest thing in my life. but his expression shifts to something a little more uneasy. ]
Well... shit. [ that's bad. that's really bad. ] And now you have an even bigger reason to go along with all of this, but it's weird because you're on the other side of it instead of being an overseer. Right?
Well... shit. [ that's bad. that's really bad. ] And now you have an even bigger reason to go along with all of this, but it's weird because you're on the other side of it instead of being an overseer. Right?
Mm.
[This is agreement. Both of his brows rise, and he looks pointedly at Jonas.]
And you as well?
[This is agreement. Both of his brows rise, and he looks pointedly at Jonas.]
And you as well?
[ oh. oh right, he has to share now. that's... mm. well. that's fair, he supposes. ]
I wouldn't call myself an overseer the same way you were, if that's what you mean. But maybe more like the overseer...? [ ... ] Ours was never meant to have murder happen. It was supposed to be a project for people who died in order to work on themselves and prove they earned a second chance at living. All of the murder came afterwards, but we eventually stopped the source. They... didn't get wishes or anything like that though. I couldn't make that work.
I wouldn't call myself an overseer the same way you were, if that's what you mean. But maybe more like the overseer...? [ ... ] Ours was never meant to have murder happen. It was supposed to be a project for people who died in order to work on themselves and prove they earned a second chance at living. All of the murder came afterwards, but we eventually stopped the source. They... didn't get wishes or anything like that though. I couldn't make that work.
[I will get lore out of your character THIS TIME, or so help me.]
You were the cult leader then.
[Like. Essentially, not literally, of course.]
It's strange. Ours was never meant to be any sort of "game" as some of these others sound. They were intended to be sacrifices and nothing more. They didn't know any of the outcomes they worked for until we put the pieces together near the end.
Yours knew? But you never meant to have killing involved.
You were the cult leader then.
[Like. Essentially, not literally, of course.]
It's strange. Ours was never meant to be any sort of "game" as some of these others sound. They were intended to be sacrifices and nothing more. They didn't know any of the outcomes they worked for until we put the pieces together near the end.
Yours knew? But you never meant to have killing involved.
It wasn't a cult. But yes. They all showed up in my domain, and it was my project they were a part of. I had employees I hired to help me run everything for eight weeks and everything. Mine were called Guardian Angels.
[ he would like to clarify he was not a cult at least. ]
We were upfront with why they were there from the beginning. It was meant to be almost peaceful for those eight weeks so they could focus on themselves and working on self-reflection and improvement. The murder only started when something was released into our pocket of Heaven and started possessing people.
[ he would like to clarify he was not a cult at least. ]
We were upfront with why they were there from the beginning. It was meant to be almost peaceful for those eight weeks so they could focus on themselves and working on self-reflection and improvement. The murder only started when something was released into our pocket of Heaven and started possessing people.
I know. Your roles were just similar.
[Sometimes you're God, sometimes you're a cult head.]
The monster pairs were a little of a surprise for us. We didn't know, at first, we would have to worry the sacrifices would turn on each other. Without a cure, we had to balance helping them and participating in the cult to keep eyes away from us.
[Sometimes you're God, sometimes you're a cult head.]
The monster pairs were a little of a surprise for us. We didn't know, at first, we would have to worry the sacrifices would turn on each other. Without a cure, we had to balance helping them and participating in the cult to keep eyes away from us.
[JONAS. Boy, your divine depression. We've gotta work on it. Frumpkin has come with him, as expected. The cat wanders over to rub against the back of Jonas's legs. Heal.]
There are too many of them. [Saying this to God who had hired a team of people, so funny.] Even though the other set will be moving on soon.
They seem... alright for now. [It's giving The Mighty Nein come to see the Bright Queen, and he has to watch them be stupid.] My judgments of others are typically always very high, only to be disappointed. I'm trying to do better.
There are too many of them. [Saying this to God who had hired a team of people, so funny.] Even though the other set will be moving on soon.
They seem... alright for now. [It's giving The Mighty Nein come to see the Bright Queen, and he has to watch them be stupid.] My judgments of others are typically always very high, only to be disappointed. I'm trying to do better.
Monster pairs? [ this is the first time anyone has said anything about monsters, hilarious. ] How did that even happen? Something else the cult caused? I can see how they might think it takes care of the problem if the sacrifices take each other out but... sounds rough.
[ simba is sitting in front of him looking out into the void, too, but jonas turns when he feels a cat behind his legs. hello frumpkin, of course he will reach down to pet. ]
It kinda makes sense. I had three I hired on our side of things, but there were three others in the healing center that the old God had hired. None of us knew right away though. It's kinda nice that they're here before we split up so we know who might be waiting for us later.
[ this is so funny though? this time he turns to look at essek and though he is clearly amused, he does seem thoughtful. ]
And I try to keep an open mind most of the time, so we'll meet in the middle. But yeah they don't seem bad. Any of them? They all seem to agree this sucks at least so I'll take it. I'd rather everybody be on the same page there.
It kinda makes sense. I had three I hired on our side of things, but there were three others in the healing center that the old God had hired. None of us knew right away though. It's kinda nice that they're here before we split up so we know who might be waiting for us later.
[ this is so funny though? this time he turns to look at essek and though he is clearly amused, he does seem thoughtful. ]
And I try to keep an open mind most of the time, so we'll meet in the middle. But yeah they don't seem bad. Any of them? They all seem to agree this sucks at least so I'll take it. I'd rather everybody be on the same page there.
[SIMBA. Essek is peering at Simba. Hello, Simba. Frumpkin pauses by Jonas's legs and also peers at Simba.]
There were many cult members, but only four of us who banded together to stop what was happening. Three, after one of us had died, but that one tended to those who joined them after being killed.
[Don't LAUGH.]
Do you trust them?
There were many cult members, but only four of us who banded together to stop what was happening. Three, after one of us had died, but that one tended to those who joined them after being killed.
[Don't LAUGH.]
Do you trust them?
[ cat to cat to cat communication while jonas, a dumb dog, stands here. simba at least reaches out to paw at frumpkin's head. hello. ]
Right, when that pocket blew up or whatever. At least they had somebody. Pretty sure the three at the healing center weren't anticipating so many people coming through. I think they even ended up with someone there before the others arrived and got settled.
[ that's a question though. ]
They've had a few weeks to know about this, but that isn't a lot of time when you think about it. And it seems like all of them have done this before, too. I don't know if I would say I trust them completely, but I currently trust that they do have the best intentions in mind to help us. I don't need more people to fight.
Right, when that pocket blew up or whatever. At least they had somebody. Pretty sure the three at the healing center weren't anticipating so many people coming through. I think they even ended up with someone there before the others arrived and got settled.
[ that's a question though. ]
They've had a few weeks to know about this, but that isn't a lot of time when you think about it. And it seems like all of them have done this before, too. I don't know if I would say I trust them completely, but I currently trust that they do have the best intentions in mind to help us. I don't need more people to fight.
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