audience: shess

[cyclists]

Comments

[nonbelligerent]

Then, may I confirm again precisely what I'd receive for completing this task?

[cyclists]

The ability to change your element, if you so wish.

And... well, I'm afraid there isn't a way to grant you your own powers again indefinitely. However I believe it is possible to free your regeneration ability at least temporarily in case you need it.

[ . . . ]

I will hope that you don't.

[nonbelligerent]

Likewise. That's acceptable, though. If I think of a reward I'd prefer more than changing my alignment, would I be able to alter the conditions partway through?

[cyclists]

[a thoughtful hum]

We may be able to discuss it.

[nonbelligerent]

Just checking to see if it's on the table, if it comes down to that.

[...]

So, do you have any idea why Hisoka suggested going to the shrine with someone and praying in order to change one's alignment?

[honestly he just kind of figures hisoka fed him bullshit which is why he also lied right back.]

[cyclists]

[there is another laugh]

To pretend that I can hope to predict that man's movements would be a lie and a disservice to you.

[nonbelligerent]

But I assume it was incorrect, then? Unless praying at the shrine with someone really does achieve something.

[cyclists]

Would you care to try? I have not paid a visit yet today.

[nonbelligerent]

[...

sorry, shess has to make a bit of a face. it's not because of lune, though.]

[cyclists]

Hmm. I suppose that is a no.

[it's cool they're not offended but what offends lune anyway]

Are you not a fan of prayer?

[nonbelligerent]

If you think it might achieve something, I'm willing to try.

[cyclists]

[a gentle laugh]

I will not bring you with me unless it is of your own volition.

My company is only entirely by your request.

[nonbelligerent]

It's fine. This isn't my world, so it shouldn't be an issue.

[cyclists]

[alrighty, then lune will move to rise. they still move slowly, despite how quickly they managed the execution....

but off they go]

How do shrines operate in your world?

[nonbelligerent]

[old man

but following!]

It would be better to ask that of someone else. Specifically, someone whose race hasn't been the enemy of the gods since the dawn of the universe.

[this is why, he didn't want to go and pray,]

[cyclists]

[lune is indeed an old man, thank you. they will wait until they are able to walk side by side with shess because it is easier to maintain a conversation this way]

An enemy of the gods...

[well this sounds exciting]

Did someone do something to displease them?

[nonbelligerent]

I'd say it's more of a clash in ideologies. Perhaps it's the inevitable result when you place two powerful races in the same universe.

[cyclists]

[oh interesting]

Do you believe that they're beings naturally predisposed to conflict?

[nonbelligerent]

I don't know if I'd say that, exactly. For the gods, their duty as they see it is to maintain the order of the universe. In their eyes, we suras go against that, while in the suras' eyes, we are merely living our lives.

[though he doesn't agree with all of his kind's lifestyle choices...]

In the interest of balance, the gods wouldn't actually eradicate the whole of us. And the gods resurrect after death, so it's not as if the suras could ever defeat them for good either. My clan is neutral, but it may very well be a neverending conflict.

[cyclists]

[that sounds pretty predisposed to conflict to lune but.]

What do you think?

I am sure that you've seen it go on for quite some time, after all.

If you had a choice in the matter, would you allow it to continue into perpetuity?

[nonbelligerent]

[well, there have been the (very, very) rare pacifistic sura and god, not to mention neutral subsets like his own, so.]

As long as the universe continues to remain standing and my clan is safe, I have nothing to gain from either their conflict or peace between them.

... Well, another issue is that while I may be neutral, I'm not unbiased. I may not like the way my fellow suras do things, but I hold no love for a race that kills my own either.

[cyclists]

And none could expect you to.

Then we shall simply have to offer our prayers to different spirits than those gods who would wish for harm upon you.

I would withhold my prayers to them as well, so perhaps that is merely my own bias at play.

[nonbelligerent]

Who exactly are we praying to, then? Or simply the nebulous concept of a higher being?

[cyclists]

[there is a soft laugh at that]

You know, I believe that that's a very human question.

Isn't it interesting? How they do not have the same concrete knowledge of gods as you and I do, but they will still hope their prayers will be answered, or heard by someone at all.

[nonbelligerent]

[hm.]

Things are a bit different where I'm from, as humans know very well the gods are real.

I imagine things changed after the races were separated into different realms, as humans could no longer count on oracles. However, I didn't return to the human realm until shortly before a few gods were summoned to the planet, so I can't speak to how their brief god-less life was like.