audience: shess

[cyclists]

Comments

[cyclists]

There's a ton of questions that were asked, Shess. [They don't take their eyes off the phone.] But I may have answers. What questions do you have now?

[nonbelligerent]

Mine was regarding the nature of dying here and how it might impact our worlds. You said that we should be returned to our original state regardless, but you weren't certain either and asked for more time.

[cyclists]

Oh. [There's a nod.] Right. That.

[God.] While I can't confirm everything because the time still isn't right, I can at least say that the corrupted people who have died are safer now and you should all be able to return to your original state so long as the pathway for the core is set.

[So, if you pick a way for the core to stabilize that allows for the worlds to be stable.]

You understand how the heart of this universe is connected to your worlds, don't you?

[nonbelligerent]

I'd prefer to hear an explanation from you, if you would.

[cyclists]

Mm. [This time they sit up, scooting back a little and sitting with their legs folded under them. A piece of paper appears and in their hand comes a black crayon. They start to draw.]

Okay, so this black dot represents the core as we know it now. It's the center, and it's where we are now. When the heart of the universe is born, it starts to take shape and structure what will happen to the universe and all of the worlds that are connected.

[They start to draw other dots, lines connecting to each other in some cases and ignoring others, but all are connected back to that center dot.] These are all the worlds. Even if your worlds don't know other worlds exist, they're all part of the same universe. As the heart's reborn and starts to become darkness or light, it begins to affect the other worlds out there. The new core takes over for the old core almost seamlessly so the worlds remain in balance. It could be why your worlds are frozen right now, because you're here and the core's still growing and deciding what to become.

But this is why it's so important for you guys to handle the corruption and decide what to do with it next. The center determines how the worlds will continue to grow and if they'll fall to darkness or remain in the light.

[nonbelligerent]

[honestly this is kind of trippy coming from a canon that already deals with the births and deaths of universes so jan is just choosing not to think very hard on how this meshes with that]

Interesting that "darkness" and "light" are apparently so important here. Where I'm from, they're merely two elements, and neither is necessarily more sinister than the other.

Any reason the core has taken after what I understand to be an Earth aesthetic?

[cyclists]

[That's valid. Sol just continues to draw, mapping out little pathways and the like.]

They're somewhat important where I'm from, but I get that it's not the case for every world out there. I think it's important in a lot of places even if we don't really know about it. [But that's a good question]

It may have been the easiest thing for the universe to understand. A lot of the people here are from worlds that have an Earth-like aesthetic. What would you have thought instead?

[nonbelligerent]

I can't say. I've seen many different types, after all.

But it does seem many people are from this Earth.

[cyclists]

The universe might have wanted a certain kind of person here, so it took the shape of something familiar. It's hard to say. I've seen a lot of different worlds, too, but nothing this simple. It was a little confusing for us, too.

[nonbelligerent]

Have you? What did you do before becoming Sol, so to speak?

[cyclists]

[Uh.]

...nothing that important...[Hm.] But let's just say I kinda get exactly why I was asked to stick around, even if I don't understand some of the universe's other choices.

[nonbelligerent]

Many of its choices seem inexplicable at the moment, yes.

[cyclists]

It's been frustrating. [To say the least.] Lune and I have other things to be doing but we can't help in the most effective way because the universe changed us. It's sort of how it changed you guys, too.

[nonbelligerent]

[he smiles wryly.]

Yes, that part has been frustrating.

Are you capable of making deals with it, the way we're able to request things in return for tasks?

[cyclists]

Sort of. That's kind of how we got into this situation though so I try to be careful with those deals. [...] Did Lune give you a task?

[nonbelligerent]

Yes. If I learn the identity of someone from each elemental branch, he may be able to temporarily return one of my original abilities.

[cyclists]

Mm...not exactly the easiest task, but doable. [That makes sense.] What ability are you hoping to earn back?

[nonbelligerent]

With any luck, I'll finish it soon.

My regeneration.

[for if someone ever tries to murder him.]

[cyclists]

...clever. [They sound impressed.] We don't really have something like that where I'm from.

[nonbelligerent]

It's typical for my kind. I have to be careful to remember that I no longer have it here.

[cyclists]

That also sounds pretty annoying. [Stupid universe.] My healing magic's gone, too.

...you used to be able to control a lot of stuff, right? What exactly are you? [Sol, don't just ask people what they are.]

[nonbelligerent]

[it's fine, it's not the first time he's had to answer that here...]

Sura. It seems that we're specific to my world, as no one's heard of the name here.

[cyclists]

You're right. Never heard of them, but that doesn't mean much. [...] Are they all as tall as you are?

[Sol is grateful to be sitting because Shess is over a foot taller than they are and that's tiring to look up all the time.]

[nonbelligerent]

[he laughs a little, silent.]

No, like humans, we come in all sizes.

[cyclists]

And like humans you all come with different abilities?