ic inbox

[lingeringhope]

[Hope's voice is clear and clipped.]

If you would like to leave a message, you may do so here. I can't promise to respond. I have many demands on my time, and this sort of thing is far down the list. Still, if you would like to, you may.

Comments

[Video]

[thechoiceisyours]

Hey, Hope.

[Chris has a few reasons for messaging his favorite god, some of them better than others.]

I uh, wanted to talk to you about a few things, if you've got time and whatever. I dunno how stuff's going for you all right now.

[With the still-recent city moving disaster, and Rage and Delight and the whole scouting mission thing.]

[Video]

[lingeringhope]

All things considered, things are going... not terribly.

[A glowing endorsement of life in general.]

What is it you wish to talk about?

[Action]

[thechoiceisyours]

[He's never tried the whole 'talk directly to the gods thing' but he's deciding to give it a shot now, since it might be a little more secure than a usual phone call which is kind of important at the moment.]

Uh, Hope? I'm at your Temple in case you need to like, look at my phone to see it, but there's a super creepy post on the network from like, the Borg.

[He pauses a moment, realizing that probably makes no sense, and then clarifies--]

The Borg is this species from a tv show that's made up of machines, so what I'm saying is I think the machine guys you're all fighting with made a post on the network.

[Action]

[lingeringhope]

[Hope appears more or less out of nowhere - not blinking into existence, exactly, but appearing when Chris is looking the other way for a moment, as if he'd always been there and Chris is only now noticing him.

He looks alarmed.]

No one should be able to access the network without our permission.

[He does in fact reach out to take Chris' phone and look at the post itself.]

When did this appear?

[sonofacesius]

[Will wanders into Hope's temple. He'd wanted to talk to all the Gods, this was their home territory, and it was only polite to introduce yourself, even if they probably already knew you were here.While they seemed vaguely like the Gods he was familiar with, there were differences, as there were bound to be. Will just wasn't sure what all those differences were.

Hope honestly seemed the most like his father's domain, either Hope or Tranquility, so he thought he'd start there.]

Hey, Hope, I don't know how this works here, so I'm just going to talk and assume you're listening. If you feel like responding, great. If not, well, I know you're a busy god. I don't know if you know who I am, if you can keep track of everyone so I'll just introduce myself. I'm Will Solace, my dad's a god from back home,or used to be one, that's more of a long story. The point is, I want to help. I'm not sure what you need, if you need anything, but I understand you're the one bringing people back to life here and creating the food. That's probably taking a lot of work. So, if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.

Also, I have some food and drink of my own that came with me.Medical supplies for my kind, if I get injured. I have a bit of it, but I'm not sure how long it will last. Can you make more, or should I do my best to ration?

[Will spun around, looking at the temple.]

I'd like to leave an offering or something, but, I don't really know what you guys like.It seems weird to leave an offering when you've created most of the stuff here.

[Will's really hoping he's not going to get turned into a blueberry bush or that Hope isn't going to demand he fetch him his godly dry cleaning, which happens to be right in the middle of the monster infested tunnels.]

I guess that's it. Thanks for listening.

[lingeringhope]

Offerings are unnecessary. What we need from you are your emotions.

[It's as if Hope has been there the whole time, and Will only now noticed him - he's a god, after all. Appearing out of nowhere is fairly standard.]

If you wish to help, simply inspire hope in as many as you can. That will give me more power that I can then use to help those who need it. As for your supplies, you can find plenty of food here in the shops, though likely nothing identical to what you have. It's possible I could make more, but it would not be without price.

voice;

[braveoff]

[ Drake is in Hope's temple, standing awkwardly before the altar. Does he have to pray? On a whim he checks his phone again, looking down the list of names to see if Hope is there, and... it is.

Go figure. Gods have voicemail after all. ]

Uh. Hey, there, Hope. I really need to talk to you about... food. My girlfriend and I have some special dietary requirements. It's kinda urgent, I'm in your temple right now if that's easier.

Thanks.

voice;

[lingeringhope]

You don't have to be in my temple, but the thought is appreciated.

[Hope responds relatively quickly, all things considered.]

What sort of food do you need?

text

[skycall]

I do hope I am not interrupting you, good Hope. I'm afraid I have some curiosity in regards to the Null.

Will you be like them and sacrifice us for your sake and safety?

text

[lingeringhope]

I have no intention of sacrificing anyone.

video

[notimpervious]

[In light of Sharon's most recent network post as of the 27th, Brennan has decided to do some research on the subject of death and resurrection in Hadriel. To that end, the best first step is to speak with the person in charge of resurrecting the deceased.

So she has set up her phone on her desk and made ready with a glass of water for herself, plus pencil and paper to take notes with. After debating with herself for a few seconds on whether or not she should address Hope with a title (he's just "Hope" on the phones but surely he and his brethren have some sort of hierarchy?), she just... goes for it, relaxed but professional, like talking to a subject matter expert.]

Hope? My name is Temperance Brennan. I would like to ask you some questions regarding your responsibilitiws, namely, with resurrecting the dead.

[It goes against everything she knows to be true back home, but evidently the same rules do not apply here.]

I am able to schedule another time to talk if that would be preferable.

video

[lingeringhope]

This is fine.

What questions do you have? I can't promise to answer them.

Audio

[knifecollecting]

Figured you needed to know. The Null are offering to send us home if you're killed.

Watch your back.

Audio

[lingeringhope]

I wish I could say I am surprised.

Thank you for informing me.

video.

[dedikated]

( Hey bro guess who. )

Been at war with these Null things a while, aye?

( Kate will you please learn to say hi how are you for once in your life. )

Guessing that means you've killed some of them.

( At least, that's where her logic goes. Even if they haven't dealt with all of them, a portion have probably died. )

How?

( And how can they outfit themselves against this? )

video.

[lingeringhope]

As I don't kill, I'm not the best to ask.

[He is actually the very worst.]

If Rage were here, I would tell you to ask her. As it is, Sorrow, Love, or Fear will be better at answering your questions.

audio;

[pellameno]

Hope? I'm sure you've been warned about the Null's latest action already, but people are taking the deal: Kill you to go home. Don't show yourself within the city.

audio;

[lingeringhope]

I have been warned, yes. And I'm not surprised.

Thank you for the additional warning.

text

[64th]

Some weird computer wants us to kill you!

[ so... helpful? ]

I'm going to play along and see what they'll tell me.

To further clarify I don't want to kill you and I'm not going to try.
I could, but I won't.

text

[lingeringhope]

Thank you for not trying to kill me, I suppose. Be careful. The Null are not to be trusted.

[Action]

[elegant_and_proud]

[Well, if the Null have compromised the network twice, that means it's unwise to contact Hope through those means. So instead she goes to his temple. She moves too fast to be seen, and with stealth one wouldn't have credited her with being capable of. She doesn't speak until she's in a corner where she can see who might enter without them automatically seeing her.]

No doubt someone has told you by now, but the Null have put a price on your head. I realize a steep price would be involved in such a request if it were possible, but hypothetically speaking, could you change a person's body so that it would permanently regnerate from damage and not get sick?

[Action]

[lingeringhope]

[He appears rather suddenly.]

I have been informed, yes.

The price would be very high, since that would require a large amount of power - especially since it would need to be sustained over time. I'm not sure I would be willing to. Why do you want that?

[Action]

[mismanagement]

[Of all the places Maketh imagined herself being this morning, Hope's temple was not among them. And yet here she stands, rifle at her back and uniform perfectly straight. She stands at attention, waiting.]

We ought to talk. I don't intend to kill you today. I doubt I could, with this weapon.

[She might try in the future. But not today.]

[Action]

[lingeringhope]

That's not particularly reassuring.

[But he's there anyway, appearing as if somehow he's always been there.]

[Audio]

[yearrounder]

[All things considered, this is not as awkward as it could be. It's not like she's never talked to a god before.]

Hey. [Nice start.]

Uh, I don't know if you've talked to Will or Fear lately, but we've all had kind of a chat about you. None of us really trust the guard and we all agree that it's a very bad idea for you to end up dead. I just wanted to make sure you knew that Will and Nico and I are going to be watching your temple in shifts but since we can be hard to see I didn't want you to maybe sense one of us there and be afraid or paranoid or something. I know you don't have any reason to trust us either, but we aren't trying to hurt you.

[Audio]

[lingeringhope]

I don't tend to chat with Fear that often. He's obnoxious.

[And Hope's petty.]

But - thank you for informing me. You are, of course, welcome within my temple. I don't anticipate any trouble, despite what the Null want. I cannot allow myself to fear what they might do. Even so, I appreciate your efforts.

video - 8/13

[notimpervious]

[Here is Brennan again, because now she finally has the time to ask about what Hope discussed with Nate a while ago.]

Hello, Hope. I was wondering about the bones in the lake. [A brief pause, out of respect. She is blunt, and her social skills are severely lacking, but death and all that surrounds it -- it's important to her, and she knows the same is true of many, many others.] The way you spoke of them-- it sounded as if they were murdered.

[She's Trying.]

video - 8/13

[lingeringhope]

They were. They were killed by the Null.

action;

[hasitsthorns]

[ While usually she'd talk to Sorrow first, Rose actually... doesn't want to face him because of this event. It's not that she's angry or upset with him; she understands, honestly, that they do what they must to survive. Better than most people, she likes to think.

It's actually because she cares about him and her reflection showed that - in a way - and it's. Complicated. And she doesn't want to think about it right now when her head's a mess and heart's heavy enough as it is. ]

Hey, Hope. Been a while, dude. [ She's lounging in his temple, hood of her jacket drawn up like she's trying to hide from the world. ] Got time to talk?

I think I have a favor to ask of you, but it might be... a bit much, so. Hang out a while, let's chat this out.

action;

[lingeringhope]

[He appears, as he does when people wish to talk to him, not there and then suddenly there.]

It will be much easier if you simply ask for what you want.

action but...not quite? - august 22

[notimpervious]

[As promised, Brennan has the bones brought back to Hope's temple. They are arranged the way they were found at the bottom of the lake, disturbed as little as possible. It was quite an adventure, and the closest thing to her actual job that she's done in months. That is what she attributes the uplifting feeling to, not to the effect that Hope's temple has on whoever sets foot in it.

Assuming the "gods" have some sort of surveillance system in place, Brennan does not leave a message or say anything before she leaves. The task is complete. That is what matters.

That, and the fact that she can sleep better knowing she did the right thing.]

[lingeringhope]

[A few days after this, Brennan will wake to find a purple orb resting on her nightstand. With it is only a brief note, that simply says Thank you.]

Action - about an hour after Hope's post

[elegant_and_proud]

[She shows up at Hope's temple, slipping in swiftly and discreetly. She makes sure no one else is there before speaking. Hope is probably aware of her being there already.]

Apologies for not using the network to offer my suggestions, but I think it unwise to do so when the Null have compromised it twice. Especially when I want them to think that I'm willing to cooperate with them.

['Subtle' is not a trait most of the gods are very good at, so she tries to take a direct and fairly businesslike approach with them.]

That being said, a few of the suggestions made were reasonable.

Action

[lingeringhope]

[Hope appears, as he usually does. He can't be aware of everything happening in the city all the time, but he can at least keep an eye on his temple.]

Yes, I thought people were very helpful, both intentionally and unintentionally. Did you see anything that stood out to you?

[He's more interested in her opinion than he is some others - she's proven herself to be intelligent and level-headed.]

voice. after the paintball / party.

[dedikated]

Hey.

( God, it's been so long since she had to make this request. But here goes. )

Last time I were here, you made me some lavender tea. Any chance I could get some more of that?

( As much as you can ever keep track of time here, she's pretty sure it's nearly October back home. )

voice.

[lingeringhope]

Yes. It would be the same thing as before? Did we work out a deal, then?

[He has a lot to keep track of.]

[Video]

[imhisaunt]

Oh, hello, um, is this the right place to talk to Hope?

[He's more than a bit nervous. All of this 'talking to gods' stuff is very new and more than overwhelming]

I wanted to ask you about something but I'm not sure how

[Video]

[lingeringhope]

You may simply go ahead and ask. I am listening.

Video;

[restinglichface]

Okay, here’s the deal. Still hate your guts, but the Null can fucking sit on it. Give me back my body and I’ll crush them for you myself.

Video;

[lingeringhope]

I don't believe you attempting to take on the Null alone would end in anything but your death. However, we can work out a deal for your body, if you wish.

video;

[weedbgon]

Heyyyy, kiddo. Well, "kiddo".

[ Air quotes and all. ]

So, uh, what do I do about gettin' hooked up with some clerical magics while I'm here? I mean, seems like Pan has his own thing going on lately. But I'm racking up stuff I could use a few spell slots on handling! It, it's startin' to get pretty inconvenient for me.

[ His tone takes on a little laughter. It's his default. Even when his buddies wind up on the 'kill these people for us thanks' shitlist. ]

I can also offer you guys my special on hivemind negotiations, 'cause it seems like you could use it right now!

video;

[lingeringhope]

What sort of magic did you have before? Perhaps there is a way for us to get it back.

[Action]

[elegant_and_proud]

[As she did before, Ikaruga is very careful when she goes to visit Hope. Even with the Null somehow managing to be even worse at public relations than the gods and turning people against them, some might still go along with this plan. She's also concerned about the possibility that the Null actually did deliver the weapon.]

Hope. The Null made contact again. I also have a theory concerning how they are getting their information.

[Action]

[lingeringhope]

[He appears, of course.]

They were never going to be silent forever, unfortunately. I have seen what they want this time. What is your theory?

[Action]

[thechoiceisyours]

[Chris wanders in late on the night of the Null's post, carrying a coffee and tailed by Wolfie.]

Hey uh, Hope? I'm guessing you know about the latest Null announcement and whatever, but I uh... Needed to talk to you about the latest crazy scheme for dealing with it, since we'd need your help. Or like, I would specifically, and also sort of Cashmere.

[Action]

[lingeringhope]

[Hope is there, because he's always there when someone calls.]

I did hear of it, yes. What is it that you're considering?

video;

[demonsional]

Um excuse me hello? Is this Mister Lord Hope? Hello!

[He's said hello twice. Oh no.]

I am sorry you are probably a very busy God but I just wanted to say...I wanted to say, um, that I had a good dream a little bit ago and, um, I'd been thinking that maybe it had something to do with you because...it was really good! Things felt like the way I have always hoped for them to be, which is why I thought...that's your name!

[Hayden's not very good at words but, look, he's trying.]

And so I just want to say, no matter what, I want to help you now. I don't care if things are so scary! I am at your service!

video;

[lingeringhope]

Thank you for saying that. The dream was likely from me, if it made you feel hope - and if it did, then I am glad.

My goals is to keep all of you from whatever danger I can. While I may need your help, I will try to make sure it's not something that will be frightening.

audio;

[hotspurred]

[Much like a nobleman petitioning a king, Henry speaks formally, his tone serious and even, though it retains a touch of his charactistic sharpness.]

Hope. I ask permission to post a guard at your temple until this current threat has passed. Should someone achieve the Null’s weapon, your temple remains the foremost place to attempt to coax you to manifest. A false petition, innocent lives sacrificed at your altar, desecration of the temple itself... let us deter such ploys.

audio;

[lingeringhope]

Of course you have permission. However, please ask them to be careful. I don't want anyone to be injured, or worse, because of this.