audience: nico di angelo

[becomemod]

Comments

[resumed]

Probably some sort of memento to remind us what we're supposed to be fighting for and everything. I can't say I mind mine, but I would have thought maybe it would be my sword or...something else.

[ he says, as his hood wiggles a little. ]

[becomemod]

A sword person, are you? Good taste. [ they're a proud phoenix! ] You could always see if Amazoom will ship your sword to you, if you want it.

What did you end up with, if you don't mind me asking?

[resumed]

Yeah. I've been training since I was ten. But I was looking at Amazoom and if we only have three tokens I figure I should save them. I don't need my sword yet. [ he will change his mind when murder starts, but he doesn't know that. ] There's a few other things I might like back anyway.

[ he sort of shrugs, but it's more that he is nudging his hood? and it means a wispy, shadow cat-like creature crawls out of the hood and up onto nico's shoulder to stare at phoenix. hewwo. he doesn't mind being asked, apparently. ]

[becomemod]

Then it hasn't been that long for you, has it?

[ judging from the profiles. regardless, they accept this reasoning with a firm nod.

shame popping out seems to surprise them, though not in a bad way. ]

A spirit?

[resumed]

We have to learn fast where I'm from. [ so no. it hasn't been that long. the cocoa puff is busy chirping at phoenix, basically going OwO at them. ]

But sort of. ...they're called cacodemons, but it's not the best name for them. You can call it a Cocoa Puff.

[becomemod]

In many worlds, you learn fast or die.

[ the idea isn't uncommon.

as for shame, phoenix will offer it a wave and a curious look. ]

Cocoa Puff. That's... a cereal, isn't it?

[resumed]

See, you get it. [ yeah! live fast, die young, etc. ]

...technically yes, it's a cereal. But it's still a nicer name than Shame, isn't it?

[becomemod]

Death is part of life, after all.

Better than Shame, yes. What kind of spirit is it, exactly? I've never seen one like it.

[resumed]

[ well. they aren't wrong about that, and the look on nico's face seems to say so. phoenix is valid actually. ]

Well...[ their origins aren't much better, actually. ] Cacodemons are the personification of negative emotions. They're bad feelings given form and life, so...they contain those emotions.

[ the cocoa puff ducks its head a little. ]

[becomemod]

Ah. I think there's something... not quite the same, but similar, where I'm from. So this is what's significant for you?

[resumed]

That would be surprising. [ idly. he once again wonders where phoenix came from. ] They're children of Nyx, but this ones--Shame and its siblings--came from me. So I guess that's why it's significant? It was born from me, and it could have been used to harm other people but once I took control of them again I gave them the freedom to choose what they wanted to do with their lives. They just...decided to come home with us instead.

[becomemod]

Like I said, it's not quite the same. Who is "Nyx"?

[ should that mean something to them? should any of this, actually? they don't really understand it, but they nod anyway. ]

Spirits can have all kinds of origins. [ smiles. ] That's proof they appreciate you, then. Not all spirits get to have the freedom to choose for themselves.

[resumed]

Oh. [ right. other worlds. ] She's the goddess of night. One of the primordial gods born from the void. She's pretty bad news.

But I know. [ ... ] I don't know how much you really know about us. But it's kind of what I'm meant to do. Because of who I am, I have that ability to be able to talk to spirits and help them...or fight them, whatever they feel like doing to me. [ being a demigod is suffering. ] But I guess so. That's...the whole purpose of life. Having the option to make your own choices. If you don't, it's almost like not really living.

[becomemod]

Then maybe it's for the best I hadn't heard of her until now.

Nothing except what's on the profiles and what you explain to us. That is a strong ability, though. [ their tone turns thoughtful. ] Some would say that certain spirits were never alive in the first place, and even if they were, many spirits never get to choose for themselves. From where I'm standing, that perspective makes you rather unique.

[resumed]

I would agree with that. [ let's never meet evil goddesses. it's fine, they pushed her into a river. anyway. ]

...where I'm from, not all spirits are good. There are many who're tied to the realm of the living because of old agendas and grudges and tasks they have to complete. But there are plenty of good as well. It's not always something I do, but when I come across them I try to help them fulfill their unfinished business or I dispel them myself. It makes sense to let them choose so long as they haven't already lost themselves.

[ a hand comes up, idly rubbing at the left side of his face where three very faint scar lines sit. ]

Then again I've argued with just as many spirits because they didn't want to do what I asked from them. [ a faint smile. ] I guess that's another display of choice, too. It's not just ghosts. There are all sorts of spirits that we deal with, even at camp.

[becomemod]

Not all spirits can or should be defined by good or evil. [ a beat. ] But it sounds like there are similarities and differences with everything. I can respect the kind of work you do.

[ they laugh. ]

Giving a spirit enough of a form and consciousness to make their own decisions... Sounds like it can be dangerous, hm? [ so why do they sound so amused? ] What sorts of spirits? I'd like to know what else you're familiar with.

[resumed]

Some just are. [ like some are just themselves, he can understand that. but he tilts his head at that. ]

I don't know if I'd call it dangerous. I'd say it's more dangerous not to acknowledge them at all. [ ...hum. ] It's all a little complicated to explain. And it all depends on what you believe in anyway. Some people don't think they're real.

[becomemod]

Some just are.

Where I'm from, the ability to acknowledge spirits at all is pretty special, so I don't blame anyone for not believing, if they don't have that skill. [ they wave a hand through the air. ] I know that there are all sorts of spirits, even those I've never heard of or seen for myself.

[ they lean down a bit with an almost conspiratorial smile. ]

And you wouldn't lie about them, would you, Nico?

[resumed]

Between you and me, I don't think they'd let me not acknowledge them by now. [ a joke. but he looks up at phoenix a little curiously. and a little challenging, really. ]

What good would lying to you do me when we have a competition to win?

[becomemod]

If they aren't used to attention, of course they'd want it.

[ they laugh and pull back to full height. ]

Well, I wouldn't blame you for not trusting me right off the bat. Appearing somewhere you don't know without your permission, being told to follow their lead... naturally, it wouldn't sit well.

So you tell me.

[resumed]

Makes as much sense as anything else.

[ he's humming to himself a bit, giving phoenix's mask a scrutinizing look. ]

To be honest with you this isn't the first time I've been sent somewhere without knowing where I'm going, nor is it the first time I've been asked to follow the guidance from someone I don't know. So it kind of feels similar, but still different. But as far as I can tell you need us as much as we need you. Right?

[becomemod]

[ their eyes may be covered, but nico will get the feeling that they easily meet his gaze. ]

Unfortunate coincidence, isn't it? But you're right, I do. All of us do. The arrangement can be mutually beneficial.

[resumed]

[ he can appreciate that, thank you phoenix. ]

Then...if you have suggestions on where to start, I'll listen and consider them. It's the least I can do in this case.

[ the cocoa puff chirps and also stares at phoenix with its dumb glowing eyes. ]

[becomemod]

[ they cross their arms over their chest to think. ]

If you find anything odd, that's a start. [ they seem to realize a second later that "odd" might be just about anything in a world that's totally new to nico. ] Things that don't belong. White objects in odd places, papers with strange writing, villains saying things outside of the normal villain fare. Those are the sorts of things we're looking for.

[resumed]

"White objects" kinda seems a little vague when you have a team and a leader called White Tiger. The rest is doable though. I would think villains saying weird-villain things is a little more obvious, and any papers I find I'll bring back to you.

Have you had luck finding those sort of things so far before we got here?