[A long-suffering sigh.] You sound like one of my brothers.
[Granted, said brother might have been throwing furniture ages ago long before deductive reasoning. But it's still nostalgic.
The redhead shrugs.]
I don't know how I could, other than asking. The one on the speakers said this was the way they were asking for help, and that they're trying to reverse things. They're just not having any luck.
Either I can trust that they're telling as much of the truth that they can, or I can assume they're lying and get angry about it. Getting angry makes me too hungry, and that doesn't solve anyone's problems. So it's better to stay calm.
My apologies for inadvertently forcing you to recall your brother.
[Okay, he's not actually being serious about that.]
Their way of "asking for help" is what I take issue with. They're hardly asking- none of this is voluntary.
That said, I don't fault you for wishing to stay calm. It's the rational thing to do. But you know, you can doubt and keep your wits about you at the same time. And there is still plenty that you can do if someone isn't willing to talk.
[but wow weird satan knockoff sure is a little condescending. He's had worse, and he doesn't bother to correct the human.]
It's not that I don't have doubts. I just don't see why I should act on them right now.
What would you investigate around here that doesn't involve a talk? Everyone was in public at the meeting, so none of us can be the administrators. And we've been warned that wrecking this place is going to cause problems.
Now, now, who said anything about causing structural damage? [Yet. Beelzebub absolutely cut him to the chase.] I intend to poke around as much as I feasibly can. Old habits die hard, I'm afraid.
[Returning to something else Beelzebub said that caught his interest...]
Interesting. Though evidence points against it at this time, you at least considered the angle that one of us could be involved somehow. Not everyone would, you know.
[All this smart talk is making his head hurt, but he nods anyway as though it might make the pain of Investigative Journalism go away for a moment.]
We're the only ones here. Everything we heard came through a machine. And lots of creatures will go through a lot of trouble for the sake of a prank sometimes. [he's got brothers. he Knows.] So I thought about it a little.
It didn't make sense, though, so I stopped thinking about it.
A prank... [He can't help but laugh.] What an utterly detestable prank this would be. There had better be much more to it than that, otherwise I will be severely annoyed.
[At least he's getting an amusing conversation out of this?]
A wise decision for now. It's much better to gather as much evidence as you can before drawing a conclusion. It's a shame, though- I have this sinking suspicion that you would not be interested in assisting me with that.
[All he has to say to that is a laugh, apparently.]
I suppose introductions are long overdue, aren't they? My apologies. My name is Temenos, and I do not simply make a habit out of asking questions. I am an inquisitor by profession.
That's right, on both counts. I serve the Order of the Sacred Flame. If...that means anything to you. I have long come to understand that we all hail from many different places.
[He hasn't quite gotten over Skywarp's existence. Machines are still in their infancy where he's from, so a Transformer is on another level of "what the fuck."]
Solistia is the name of my home. As for the Sacred Flame, it is more accurate to call it the essence of our gods, for it is what they became when they entered a state of deep slumber in the process of protecting the realm. It's a rather long story.
[A different realm with different gods... It's still wild to think about, but not unwelcome.
As for Beelzebub's question:]
I am sent out to investigate heretics and other forces that would mobilize against the Church. Bad actors within the Church itself are not free from scrutiny either.
[If Temenos were any regular believer, he would take great offense to that. However...]
You ask the right questions, good sir! While most would say the gods can merely observe from their slumber and not act, I am of the belief that they simply choose not to. Their negligence is truly astounding sometimes.
[With a shrug,]
Someone has to do it. I was appointed, therefore I bear the burden.
Mm... I guess they must be hard to understand if they don't bother to communicate.
[Feels a little familiar, putting it that way.
...
Anyway. He's down one drink, so the empty bottle is chucked and a second one is produced, cracked open, and halfway chugged before he bothers to continue.]
Appointed by who?
[If the gods aren't doing shit, and the Church has its own share of corruption, then who decided This Yahoo gets to go play detective on everybody's behalf?]
Edited (WE'RE NOT AT THE BUFFET im mixing up my pcs rip) 2023-05-17 22:13 (UTC)
[Does he wish the gods would actually do something? Yes. But he has to make do with what he has.
Also I'm just going to note how funny the image of Temenos standing there in silence while Beelzebub chugs his water is. Anyway-]
I was appointed by the Order's Pontiff. [AKA the Pope.] He had the utmost faith in my ability to root out dissent and help keep the peace. I believe he had a good idea of what struggles the Order was going to face down the road.
[Temenos nods. His smile doesn't quite meet his eyes.]
He did. He had become aware of a force that was not only amassing against the Church, but against the entire realm. The Moonshade Order is what they call themselves.
They had him killed, along with anyone else who posed a threat to them and their goals. Suffice to say that I have become one of their chief targets at this point.
someday i'll complete OT1 without forgetting the whole game between breaks
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[Granted, said brother might have been throwing furniture ages ago long before deductive reasoning. But it's still nostalgic.
The redhead shrugs.]
I don't know how I could, other than asking. The one on the speakers said this was the way they were asking for help, and that they're trying to reverse things. They're just not having any luck.
Either I can trust that they're telling as much of the truth that they can, or I can assume they're lying and get angry about it. Getting angry makes me too hungry, and that doesn't solve anyone's problems. So it's better to stay calm.
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[Okay, he's not actually being serious about that.]
Their way of "asking for help" is what I take issue with. They're hardly asking- none of this is voluntary.
That said, I don't fault you for wishing to stay calm. It's the rational thing to do. But you know, you can doubt and keep your wits about you at the same time. And there is still plenty that you can do if someone isn't willing to talk.
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[but wow weird satan knockoff sure is a little condescending. He's had worse, and he doesn't bother to correct the human.]
It's not that I don't have doubts. I just don't see why I should act on them right now.
What would you investigate around here that doesn't involve a talk? Everyone was in public at the meeting, so none of us can be the administrators. And we've been warned that wrecking this place is going to cause problems.
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[Returning to something else Beelzebub said that caught his interest...]
Interesting. Though evidence points against it at this time, you at least considered the angle that one of us could be involved somehow. Not everyone would, you know.
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We're the only ones here. Everything we heard came through a machine. And lots of creatures will go through a lot of trouble for the sake of a prank sometimes. [he's got brothers. he Knows.] So I thought about it a little.
It didn't make sense, though, so I stopped thinking about it.
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[At least he's getting an amusing conversation out of this?]
A wise decision for now. It's much better to gather as much evidence as you can before drawing a conclusion. It's a shame, though- I have this sinking suspicion that you would not be interested in assisting me with that.
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You said you preferred to investigate alone. And you haven't asked me for anything.
So you're probably right. I wasn't planning on it.
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[Now he's just getting pedantic about phrasing.]
But now you have me curious. What if I were to ask you?
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I'd probably ask why. I've never met you before. And I don't get anything out of saying yes.
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[All he has to say to that is a laugh, apparently.]
I suppose introductions are long overdue, aren't they? My apologies. My name is Temenos, and I do not simply make a habit out of asking questions. I am an inquisitor by profession.
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[He has no idea what inquisitor means.]
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No. It means I am tasked to make inquiries, primarily into the act of heresy against the Church.
Perhaps a similar descriptor such as "detective" may ring a bell?
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[Why must everything be funny to you, little man. Oh well. He'll at least nod his understanding.]
Yeah, that makes more sense. So you solve problems or mysteries, or something like that.
...
You work for a church?
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That's right, on both counts. I serve the Order of the Sacred Flame. If...that means anything to you. I have long come to understand that we all hail from many different places.
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[It just means one less awkward conversation for later, perhaps.]
Where are you from, then? Is the Sacred Flame your name for a god?
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[He hasn't quite gotten over Skywarp's existence. Machines are still in their infancy where he's from, so a Transformer is on another level of "what the fuck."]
Solistia is the name of my home. As for the Sacred Flame, it is more accurate to call it the essence of our gods, for it is what they became when they entered a state of deep slumber in the process of protecting the realm. It's a rather long story.
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[Other than the sinners, eyyyyyy.]
Why would your gods need a detective, though?
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As for Beelzebub's question:]
I am sent out to investigate heretics and other forces that would mobilize against the Church. Bad actors within the Church itself are not free from scrutiny either.
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Can your gods not protect the church on its own? Why does a human like you have to get involved?
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You ask the right questions, good sir! While most would say the gods can merely observe from their slumber and not act, I am of the belief that they simply choose not to. Their negligence is truly astounding sometimes.
[With a shrug,]
Someone has to do it. I was appointed, therefore I bear the burden.
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[Feels a little familiar, putting it that way.
...
Anyway. He's down one drink, so the empty bottle is chucked and a second one is produced, cracked open, and halfway chugged before he bothers to continue.]
Appointed by who?
[If the gods aren't doing shit, and the Church has its own share of corruption, then who decided This Yahoo gets to go play detective on everybody's behalf?]
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[Does he wish the gods would actually do something? Yes. But he has to make do with what he has.
Also I'm just going to note how funny the image of Temenos standing there in silence while Beelzebub chugs his water is. Anyway-]
I was appointed by the Order's Pontiff. [AKA the Pope.] He had the utmost faith in my ability to root out dissent and help keep the peace. I believe he had a good idea of what struggles the Order was going to face down the road.
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And you think he has the best intentions on behalf of your gods right now?
spoilers for Temenos' story in OT2
He did. He had become aware of a force that was not only amassing against the Church, but against the entire realm. The Moonshade Order is what they call themselves.
They had him killed, along with anyone else who posed a threat to them and their goals. Suffice to say that I have become one of their chief targets at this point.
someday i'll complete OT1 without forgetting the whole game between breaks
Mm. Is it because of your investigations, or just that you're appointed by someone that strong?
[It could be something else. But he's not intelligent enough for that much thinking.]
IT IS VERY EASY TO DO
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