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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. ]
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?
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.
[ 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?
[ 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.
"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?
Not since the battle, no. We've been a bit preoccupied with the construction, so we haven't had much time to dedicate toward searching recently. The only thing we'd found was about the competition and the lot of you coming here.
The clean-up after a battle is always a pain. [ mumbling... ] Okay. I'll see what I can find somehow. Now that we're not stuck to the hotel and behind the caution tape.
[ he seems to consider something else then, leaning back a little as shame the cocoa puff adjusts on his shoulder. ]
I've never been reckless a day in my life. [ he says, like a liar. but he still looks put out by that. ]
The team power is...fine for now. And if I can't change my ability then I'll figure out something else. What I had before here was fine. Nothing needed to change.
[ they don't seem convinced, but it's still rather funny. ]
Believe me, if I could give you your original abilities, I would. Having what you're used to would be far more effective here than learning something new as you go.
It's not even that I don't want to learn something new. I mean I don't, I've been working with what I have for years, but I understand having to try and make something else work. It's just that one...sort of feels like a curse. That's all.
[ thank you phoenix, i, ty, am going to force him to get over it but also. ]
Thank you. [ ...the crux of the matter though is: ] But I understand not using it won't really help us either, will it? If I don't have my own powers, and if I don't have my sword, and I can't use these new powers I'm trying to figure out what else I can do to make sure we're successful. If that makes sense.
Well, that would depend on what happens here. There's no guarantee that any of you would have to fight - at least not much. I understand that you're trying to work with what you have, and that's all that I can ask of you.
The information we need is out there somewhere. I believe that you have the drive to find it, powers or no powers.
Sure. I don't like taking no for an answer. [ that is putting it so lightly. ] So as long as there is an answer out there, I don't plan on quitting just because I'm at a disadvantage.
[ ...hm. ]
Did you choose those three powers yourself? The ones from Amazo...om.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
...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.
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
What good would lying to you do me when we have a competition to win?
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
Unfortunate coincidence, isn't it? But you're right, I do. All of us do. The arrangement can be mutually beneficial.
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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.
no subject
Have you had luck finding those sort of things so far before we got here?
no subject
Not since the battle, no. We've been a bit preoccupied with the construction, so we haven't had much time to dedicate toward searching recently. The only thing we'd found was about the competition and the lot of you coming here.
no subject
The clean-up after a battle is always a pain. [ mumbling... ] Okay. I'll see what I can find somehow. Now that we're not stuck to the hotel and behind the caution tape.
[ he seems to consider something else then, leaning back a little as shame the cocoa puff adjusts on his shoulder. ]
...is it still a no-go on changing my ability?
no subject
[ for some reason, they seem amused by the possibility of that. ]
'Fraid not. You can change your team power, if you like, but not your own.
no subject
The team power is...fine for now. And if I can't change my ability then I'll figure out something else. What I had before here was fine. Nothing needed to change.
no subject
[ they don't seem convinced, but it's still rather funny. ]
Believe me, if I could give you your original abilities, I would. Having what you're used to would be far more effective here than learning something new as you go.
no subject
[ don't!! ]
It's not even that I don't want to learn something new. I mean I don't, I've been working with what I have for years, but I understand having to try and make something else work. It's just that one...sort of feels like a curse. That's all.
no subject
Why would it be a curse?
no subject
If not a curse, it's definitely a joke that isn't exactly funny.
no subject
I don't understand. But I'm not going to force you to use it, if it bothers you that much.
no subject
Thank you. [ ...the crux of the matter though is: ] But I understand not using it won't really help us either, will it? If I don't have my own powers, and if I don't have my sword, and I can't use these new powers I'm trying to figure out what else I can do to make sure we're successful. If that makes sense.
no subject
The information we need is out there somewhere. I believe that you have the drive to find it, powers or no powers.
no subject
[ ...hm. ]
Did you choose those three powers yourself? The ones from Amazo...om.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)