powersthatbe | Conversation Space III.

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!conversation space

Conversation Space III.

A poured concrete floor and cinder block walls are lit by a single bare light bulb hanging overhead. Shackles dangle from brackets on every side, and the chair in the center of the room is clearly an electric chair. A tall glass sits on top of a stool made of what looks like pure gold - but the liquid inside it is almost definitely blood.

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"The light," she says, "and the stool."

Jess nods. Okay, those are some of the better choices in this really regrettable room.

"Great. And... is this the point where you explain why I'm here, or is that too much to hope for?"

"You are here as one of my Chosen," Justice informs her. "I shall grant you my favor and later skills. In return, I ask you to serve as my agent in these Jaunts ahead and more particularly, in my matches."

This she understands. Story of her life. She still can't imagine why anyone would choose her instead of, say, Steve or Carol, but she's here now, and someone needs her to do a job.

...usually that someone isn't a baffling and terrifyingly powerful extradimensional entity, but she can work with this.

"Your matches? Am I supposed to be fighting someone?"

"Not necessarily," she says. "However, Phase Three is played as a tournament."

"And what happens if we win? Or if we lose?"

"If we win, I shall achieve the World and the power it contains, which should be enough to benefit my Chosen within reason. I will be reflected throughout reality. If we lose, I shall be removed from play, though my chosen will remain in the game until the tournament is over."

Okay, that first part sounded a little too much like the megalomaniacs Jess usually finds herself punching in the face... but she'll try not to take that personally right now.

"By reality, you mean... all of our worlds? Or just the places we visit, or... Give me a scale here. And some idea of what you reflected through reality actually means."

"Think upwards," she says. She hesitates for a moment, then says, "A reality in which I was reflected in would be one in which the core concepts of my archetype are given more weight. Quite simply, a more just universe. The current iteration was once Fortuna's. Fortune's. It is one in which, among other things, random chance and luck have been given much weight."

Jess draws a short breath. "Oh. Okay."

She thinks for a moment, and then asks, "You've played this game before, then? I know that time is a little abstract in this context, but how long ago was Fortuna's win? We make a change, and how long does it last before it's someone else's turn?"

There is a long silence.

"You would have to ask SAGE," she says finally. "Or Mortimer. Perhaps in concert. Their conception of linear time and cyclical events respectively far exceeds my own."

She smiles wryly. "Got it. There's a reason I toss some questions to my super scientist teammates, too. Is there any actual chance I could get an audience with your colleagues to get those questions answered?"

She's expecting that answer's going to be a no, but it's worth a shot.

"It would be possible for me to ask them to come here to talk with you," she says after another long silence. "At least, in the case of Mortimer. SAGE does not converse in his current base form. I cannot guarantee that they would come at my call."

"I'd like that, if you don't mind. If they don't feel like talking, I'll live, but a little more understanding about the situation wouldn't hurt."

"I shall ask them now."

Not a second after she has finished speaking, someone clears their throat. Sitting in the electric chair is a gaunt-looking man, dressed in a nice black suit. His blue eyes are focused not on the blindfolded woman, but on Jess. "You called?"

"That was quick," she comments, eyebrows raised. "I take it you're Mortimer?"

"Time is a different concept to most of us than it is to Travelers," he answers calmly, before standing and extending his hand. "I am indeed. A pleasure to meet you, Jessica."

"Same to you... I hope, at least."

She's actually not sure how she feels about the Arcana yet... and respect for authority - or, at least, power - has never been her strongest suit.

Jess turns to face him directly, turning slightly away from Astraea to do it, and folds her arms over her chest.

"I'm trying to understand this... cycle. You've played this tournament before, from what I understand?"

... okay, don't take his hand, then. Death frowns but pulls his hand away, mimicking her posture by crossing his arms over his chest, somewhat uncomfortably.

"Yes, we have." There is a slight pause, before he turns his gaze to the other Arcanum. "Might I ask for context here, Astraea?"

"Jessica said: 'You've played this game before, then? I know that time is a little abstract in this context, but how long ago was Fortuna's win? We make a change, and how long does it last before it's someone else's turn?'"

Astræa's voice suddenly echoes Jess' cadences exactly, although it's back to its normal measured tones in a moment.

"To which I replied: 'You would have to ask SAGE. Or Mortimer. Perhaps in concert. Their conception of linear time and cyclical events respectively far exceeds my own.'"

Jess glances over at Astraea as her tone changes, visibly unsettled, but she turns her attention back toward Mortimer in a moment.

"Yes. That."

He sighs. "A summary would have been fine, thank you, Astraea." But he does not seem too overly upset about it.

Mortimer turns back to Jessica. "I can tell you from my perspective that Fortuna's win was at the beginning of this cycle. You would need to speak to SAGE about the particulars, although... in his current state, that might be difficult. The winning Arcanum's changes are made at the beginning of the cycle, and last until the end of the cycle, usually, unless the next winning Arcanum enjoys said changes. Some of us have rather similar idioms, or at least, idioms that fit together well."

There is a pause, and then Mortimer asks, to no one in particular, "Where is SAGE, anyway?"

Jess has other questions, but for a moment she just stops, giving him a slightly bemused look because he even had to ask.

"You don't just... know that about each other?" She can't say why that surprises her, but it does, somehow.

"There are ways of determining each other's relative location, but also ways to hide oneself regardless," Justice explains. "Hiding is very much in SAGE's idiom."

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