eastbound | audio; un: a tentacute observation

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audio; un: a tentacute observation

I had a meeting with priestess Valeria. It seems she and the followers [hear: cult] of the Chained God could use all the help they can get. She offered me quite the set of benefits if I were announce in the arena that I had converted to the faith of the Chained God. There was a good emphasis on having me implore my loyal fans to support the god and his agents, the army--the Hand. I got the feeling this wasn't her first time making an offer to someone with influence in exchange for what she needs. They must not get much on their own merit.

Not that, I suspect, any of us are surprised to confirm that their faith isn't so sincere or well-off considering...well. Who wants to serve a god of destruction? It never turns out good, not even for the criminally insane that want to watch everything burn.

Too bad for her I'm not actually a gladiator. Or want to help out the cult of a god of destruction and chaos earn money for their endeavors.

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Then, the priestess and citadel leader work in congress.

You were harmed?

If you're revering to Senator Caius, then yes. She did mention he would be supporting me if I agreed. He's very into the whole Chained God religion and supports the them. He has known ties to the Hand, right? He relies on them, and they him.

Harmed? No. She didn't threaten me either. She was too calculating for that.

Caution, that early calculation does not become later retaliation.

Well, it wouldn't be the first time. I'll keep an eye or fourteen out for any danger, I promise.

...fourteen.

A really bad joke? Or poor math. Yes, I know.

[That last part probably wasn't meant to be recorded.]

See your caution is no jest.

It's not.

I am used to trouble, if that helps ease your mind any. As much as I get into it, I always manage to get out of it as well.

A propensity for chaos gives no reassurance.

I- heh. When you put it that way, I suppose not.

See yourself to safety.

Likely, they will seek another in your stead.

I would pretty much guarantee that. They need the patronage of anyone they can get.

Others may not prove as righteous.

...yeah. Probably not.

Gratitude. For your honour.

O-oh, um. Thank you?

[He'd never been thanked for just standing up to his principles before. In fact, usually he was just frowned at doing things "differently" than others.]

...be welcome.

You'd be surprised. For some people, destruction can seem like a better option than their current situation.

[She thinks of the Sparrows' Grace and how she started worshiping the kugel blitz. When God is destruction, the destruction is kind.]

Do we know what their followers are doing?

[Sarcasm. It was sarcasm. He ran into enough cultists to know what the insane considered acceptable. He deigned not to comment. He was not, in fact, surprised.

There was an audible shrug in his tone.]

I didn't go anywhere near the inner sanctuary of the temple, and I haven't been anywhere near the Hand. I've spent a majority of my time in the arena.

I'd have to hazard a guess based on second-hand accounts from the rest of our group in that regard. Nothing good, I'd wager.

You know, just once I'd like for there to be a nice cult.

[She should have known that it would be nothing good, but what is it about cults that gets so destructive. Klaus's cult didn't try to end the world.

Maybe the trick is having a cult leader with no ambition.]

It would be a nice change of pace.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

[At this point he was pretty sure that was a prerequisite for being a cult. That and, to repeat it for emphasis, insanity.]

It would. But somehow I'd almost be more afraid of a friendly cult than an actively destructive one. It'd be scary not knowing what the hell they were actually up to.

I didn't really ask my brother what his cult was founded on, but a lot of the time it felt like pop songs and free love. But it was the sixties.

[As far as she's aware, Destiny's Children never broke bad like the Manson Family did. That's not really Klaus's style.]

Don't think they were plotting the end of the world, though.

[He could ask about her brother, why was he in a cult, what was a pop song. He settled on saying:] I'm from the 20s.

[This is awkward.]

Must be nice. I didn't know there existed cults that weren't plotting the end of the world.

Oh. Sorry.

[It's hard when you don't have context for the sixties.]

It was a lot of free love, hallucinogens and sticking it to the man. I think a lot of the ones that popped up then were just ... people looking for something better, lured in by someone who lets the power go to their head.

[...oh. That sounded, uh, like an interesting time period. That he was not looking forward to enduring at an older age.]

Okay. Well, yeah, a lot of people go towards a collective group to be welcomed, loved, and to fit in. To find something better than what they have. It's easy to take advantage of that, unfortunately.

I'm more familiar with a different sort of cult.

Faith to chaos gods is sincere enough for demons I have known, but who is to say if humans are capable of practicing any faith with an open heart.

Did she have anything else to say?

[As a human, Benedict wasn't really sure what to say to that. His Companion wasn't helpful at the moment either. Moving along...]

I declined her offer so... not much more than that. She did say that Caius would be grateful for the support, and that if I changed my mind to let her know.

You say you would not help them earn money for this cult. Would that position differ at all if their faith were reflected earnestly?

[ She could be teasing. Her tone hasn't shifted at all, so it may be difficult to tell. ]

[He paused to consider it meaningfully whether it was intended as teasing or not.]

...Maybe. If I thought it would grant some boon to us or if I thought it worth trying to play along to get more information. I could have done it for that.

Or if it hadn't involved tricking others. I could have played along if it only affected [hear: harmed] myself.

It is wise to keep a mind of one's own limitations.

[ Especially when it comes to playing fair. ]

Rarely do our actions affect only ourselves, however.

Yeah... I guess you're right.

I don't normally travel with others. And, well, I leave as little a mark on the world as possible.

[As far as the human eye could see. He liked being a detective, working to help people, individuals or small families, but rarely did he like to be caught in the public eye. Too much of a target on his back.]

[ It sounds sad, but perhaps enviable. The world would have been better if Vanessa had left no sign of her existence. ]

Where have you traveled to?

Oh, um. Mostly the eastern side of the United States. Although-

...I was in Europe for the Great War.

[ Despite her coming from an earlier age, she had spent enough time with the Doctor to suspect she knows what war he means. Could they be from the same world, then? Even with different timelines, that is sometimes a comfort. ]

A soldier?

Yeah. A soldier.

[Of a sorts. Of a...unusual sort that fought more monsters than humans.]

[ Best not to pry into the former, then. She can remember another (former) soldier who did his share of travel. ]

Have you seen battle while in Akhuras?

Well, I am playing at gladiator here. [He huffs in dry amusement.] The fights against people are mostly staged but the ones against the creatures are not.

[A pause, and then quietly,]

And there was the attack at the gala...

[ She'd rather forget that night for entirely terrible reasons. ]

I am sorry to say that you will likely see more, no matter how we proceed in this undertaking.

[Benedict sort of nods in acknowledgment/agreement to himself before actually replying.]

Yeah, I won't be surprised. We should probably be prepared for that eventuality sooner rather than later.

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audio; un: a tentacute observation

un: absterge

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@taken for granite

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un: headless ragdoll | audio

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