Conversation Space III.

[powersthatbe]

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.

Comments

[adastraea]

"Powerful beings," she says. "I think mortals have called them 'eldritch horrors.' More powerful, in truth, than we Arcana. Ask your fellows about a place called Harrogate. They will tell you."

[mytearsaremine]

"So. They're like me," Jolie says after a pause. "Only I guess worse, cuz I'm not all that powerful or anything. But people here have called me eldritch, too."

[adastraea]

"You are very little like them," Justice says, firmly. "I would not have Chosen you if there were more than surface similarities. Ask your fellows about Harrogate. Ask the woman Sabetha, in particular."

[mytearsaremine]

"Yeah, um, that's the one who called me eldritch and kind of tried to blast me or banish me or something, so I'm not sure she'd be super happy talking about it with me," Jolie points out. "But I can ask, I guess. At least I know she doesn't like those things any more than you do."

[adastraea]

"Ah," says Justice. "Hm. Your time on the peninsula has... tainted your physicality. But still. You are not like they. Your mind, it thinks still upon mortal pathways, yes? You have no desire to supplicate yourself to that which itself desires the annihilation of all?"

A pause. "If the man Leonardo da Vinci were still in ambit, I would ask you to ask him. But he is trapped in the prison of his own mind."

[mytearsaremine]

"Ew, no. I don't let anybody tell me what to do," Jolie says, wrinkling her nose. "I'm not going to supplicate myself to anybody, especially not soul-sucking monsters who want to destroy things."

She pauses, then adds, "Um. By the way. Is it you and the other Trumps who fixed that? So I can eat real food and not, you know, people's souls?"

[adastraea]

"Yes," Justice says simply. "We Arcana--" And there's just the slightest hint of emphasis on that word. "--did as soon as we noticed you being pulled in, for though you were not our only Traveler with special dietary needs, the others could satisfy them with liminal manipulation and the charity of their fellows. Mortals may replenish blood; they cannot replenish souls."

[mytearsaremine]

"Arcana, right, sorry." She can take a hint. "Thanks for that, though. I mean. I kind of hated it, like a lot. Does that mean it's gone forever? Or only until... all this over over with?" One tentacle unfurls to wave at the room, meaning the whole Traveling thing in general.

[adastraea]

"At least as long as you are connected to Liminal Space," Justice says firmly. "I will ask the others to make it permanent should they and not I achieve the World. It is likely that most will."

[mytearsaremine]

That's more than Jolie had expected, really, and after a moment, she surges over to throw her arms around her Arcana's waist in a hug. "Thank you. I don't... I didn't really think I could live with myself if I had to keep eating people like that." And now she might not have to.

[adastraea]

Justice grows stiff--but after a long, awkward moment a hand reaches out from her voluminous robes to pat Jolie's hair.

"It was monstrous and unjust what was done to you," she says. "I pledge I shall repair it should I gain the World."

[mytearsaremine]

At least Jolie doesn't hold on and make it weird. She just felt the need to express gratitude in a physical manner, that's all. So after the pat, she lets go, and grins up at the bandaged face. "And I'll do what I can to help. A more just world would be a good thing, anyway."

[adastraea]

Justice smiles back at her. It's only a small smile, but it's definitely a smile. "We shall suit each other very well."

[mytearsaremine]

"That's better than not suiting very well, I bet. Is there anything else I should know? I'm not really even sure what else I should ask you, but you'd know what I ought to know, right?" Jolie asks.

[adastraea]

Justice nods. "I shall be giving you a gift," she says. "One I share with my most zealous sibling. It will aid you in my pursuit."

[mytearsaremine]

A gift? Jolie looks around, like it might be something she can see and collect. "What does it do?"

[adastraea]

"It will aid the righteous and cause the unjust to feel guilt."

[mytearsaremine]

"Well, that sounds good." If only she'd had that as a kid. "Okay. Okay, I guess I'm good." She squares her shoulders. "If what I have to do is do what's right, think smart, and look out for other people, I think I'll be okay."

[adastraea]

She smiles. "Go then, Jolie Ann Harmony, and do what is right in my name."

And Jolie will find herself back in liminal space.