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[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

[lingeringhope]

Let us jump ahead. You blame me for you arriving here and demand something from me, I tell you I didn't bring you here and cannot give it, you find another reason for rudeness because you need someone to blame and I am the only one who you can be certain won't kill you for it, I say something in return that you choose to misinterpret or be angry about, and the cycle continues until one of us grows irritated.

It's always the same thing from your species. Now that we've gone over all that, is there something you need that I can actually provide?

[wipedclean]

It doesn't matter what they were made to do, that is what they are doing.

[lingeringhope]

Then you ought to take care that he doesn't keep that many fireflies.

[circumitus]

[Rey is very loathe to do this. Not only does she hate asking for favors, but approaching one of their supposedly "kidnappers" for one doesn't sit right with her. But Nick's physical state when she had poked around at his inner workings was worrisome, and that of course takes precedence over her own comfort. Doesn't mean her teeth don't grit as she starts texting up this message.]

would it be possible to manufacture any spare synthetic parts?
need some tools as well.
the screwdrivers you gave were useful by the way. just need more than those.

[lingeringhope]

What kind of parts? I'm not familiar with that sort of technology.

Is it really necessary?

[circumitus]

can give you some schematics on what's needed at the moment.

yes, it's necessary. not all of us are human and need different sorts of upkeep in order to survive. that includes salvaging certain mechanical parts to replace old ones. if not, their body could be rendered nonfunctional after a period of time.

doing this for a friend.

[lingeringhope]

None of us are particularly skilled at technology, but if you give me schematics describing exactly what you need, I suppose I could recreate it. However, you'll also need to tell me what each part is for.

And of course, it wouldn't be free.

[circumitus]

figured that would be the case. will send you some files that should help.

[Shooting a series of attachments labeled picturesofmylunch1.png and so forth Hope's way.

[...Look, she's just trying to be discreet, okay? The images will consist of everything one needs to know, from what the parts look like, what materials they're made of, all that rot.]

what do you need in return?

[cowardley]

O-Oh. Okay. Uhm. What were they? Did their species have a name? A language? Did they worship you?

[lingeringhope]

They did, but it's nothing that would be pronounceable by your species - neither the name or the language. They honored us, and in return we honored them as well as we were able.

[lingeringhope]

[These aren't actually pictures of Rey's lunch?? Hope is confused??

Oh. This is a deception. Got it.]

I would be inclined to simply give you what you ask for, since you have been a help to me, but this is more... difficult. In return, you may either inspire hope in two people or kill the last three ahools in the caves. It is your choice.

[circumitus]

[Now you're catching on, Hope.]

never been one to inspire hope into people, so... three very dead ahools it is.

[lingeringhope]

Excellent. Let me know when you are finished.

[cowardley]

How did they honor you? I know many peoples on Earth used sacrifice as a way to honor their gods, along with the building of great temples. Was it along those lines? Or did they offer their emotions like we're often asked to do in return for things?

FAST FORWARD TO ONE WEEK LATER(?)

[circumitus]

done.

[It would have been sooner, if trying to find three specific monsters in a cave infested full of them wasn't so difficult. It also would have been much later, if she hadn't enlisted the assistance of one conveniently combat effective ice alien.]

[lingeringhope]

They gave us their emotions, freely and with gratitude. There was no need for sacrifice.

ZZZZOOOOM

[lingeringhope]

Well done. You will find your synthetic parts on your doorstep tomorrow.

[And she will indeed, each one carefully crafted according to her schematics.]

[circumitus]

will keep an eye out for them.
thank you.

[She'll just be exercising as much discretion as possible here. Don't want her friend to realize that she's made an arrangement with one of the gods on his behalf, wups.]

[dedikated]

[ yeah that's pretty accurate. People don't like being randomly dragged away from their lives, generally. There is a loooong silence on Kate's end before she sucks on her teeth and tries to ignore the urge to get even more angry. She kind of needs the help. ]

The clinic is understaffed and - generally - underqualified for anything serious. We've been trying to find other volunteers but- [ hey, free will and all of that. But she'll leave that thread to lie for the moment. ]

We need something. Like... [ God, what? The only thing that comes to mind is a theoretical piece of machinery Dagny tried to invent a few years ago: a rejuvination machine that would let them heal people without a healer around. But the attempts at making it were a disaster - Kate passed out trying to enchant it and when they tried to channel a healer's power into it, it sucked out so much power that the guy quit his apprenticeship. ]

Never mind. It's pointless. [ What was she thinking, trying this? ]

[lingeringhope]

I don't have the ability to bring anyone here, just as I don't have the ability to send anyone home. I bring you all back to life when you die, but beyond that I don't see what assistance I can provide.

However, if you can think of something concrete, feel free to ask for it.

[cowardley]

Why is that? [ There must be a mythology here, and Ashley wants to know it all. Badly. ] Did all of you create them?

[lingeringhope]

We didn't create them, but we took care of them. It was a mutually beneficial relationship - they gave us power with their emotions, and in return we provided for them.

[cowardley]

[ it's cautious and hesitant. she wonders if the answer doesn't matter. civilizations die out all the time, but to die out with gods watching over you? ] ...What happened to them?

[lingeringhope]

They are dead. I don't particularly want to talk about it. [He does, though, seem genuinely sad for a moment.]

[cowardley]

Oh, I'm... I'm sorry, I understand. [ a pause, and then: ] Do you think that the same thing will happen to us? I don't... You don't have to give any details, I just... [ the last thing she wants to do is push at him, but she's a worries over everything. ] Should we be worried?