momquest: a quest for moms

[farfromgrace]

[ It's another day in Tokyo-D, and the relentless cycle of content generation for the masses goes on; how long have you been filming this drama, exactly? And it's not that it's a bad show, per se, but the fact that it's really dedicated to showing the gritty realities of combat and using practical effects for it is... kind of a lot.

Also it can't decide if it wants to be a show about frenemies or about enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies. Cowards.

And besides, it's not home, is it?

It occurs to you on break at the really honestly lackluster buffet table set up for the actors and any surviving extras that... there's really not that much security on this show, all things considered, unless there's something you're not seeing... ]

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[farfromgrace]

[ It doesn't... actually sound like anything a human voice could sound like. Like a whole cathedral chorus shoved into the room, wordless, transcendent, airy. She doesn't stop singing, though; it's Cam who speaks, stowing away their radio weird black rectangle. ]

"Yeah, namedropping the Prince of Vengeance's mommy isn't really going to do you any favors here. This isn't her turf. You'd get more use out of praying. Simon?"

[ The man with the whip tips his head sideways in acknowledgement, with a "Yeah, Boss," and, wincing slightly, strikes out with his other whip to wrap around your other wrist. ]

[worthathousand]

[ Frozen in place, there's not much she can do to dodge the searing light around her wrist, though she strains against the bonds, searching for any point of weakness or faint lapse in concentration. ]

My own god is long-dead.

—And I think we've established pretty clearly that I'm not looking for favors from you three. Except finishing the fight properly, if you count that.

[ She's readying another headbutt for the next one to come in range, since it's just about the only part of her body she can move at all. ]

So... why do you all fight? I've seen how much it takes for your kind to pick yourselves back up from the ground.

[farfromgrace]

[ it seems like they've all become Very Aware of the fact that you are ready and willing to fight dirty, so they're mostly working at range. Cam circles around to the side to pluck the naginata from your unable-to-move hands, and shrugs, giving it a very expert twirl.

...somehow it seems suddenly more polished in their hands, but maybe it's the fact that they are in fact like, 100% white light right now. ]

"'Our kind'? Simon here used to be an Imeeji idol, but if you're getting at what I think you are—I didn't pick myself up off the ground. I decided I wanted to choose my causes, so I did. Why not put my money on building something better?"

[ Simon gives a hard yank to both whips to pull your arms behind your back. The woman is still singing, in a way that's deeply distracting but at least no longer painful. ]

[worthathousand]

[ taking her weapon? how fucking dare. ] So you are still frightened of what I can do.

[ then forced to wince at the feeling of her arms jerked backward ]

Choosing is a worthy thing, but can you really call this something better? These hollow lights, fueled by the tortured hope of the mortals you torment?

[farfromgrace]

"Well, what you can do is annoying. Frightened's a strong word for it."

[ Their black box of communications makes a staticky buzz, and there's some sound from outside the staff area, like there's more people entering the store. ]

"But it's not about what is, it's about what we're making. You seem like the sort to know about sacrifice for a cause, right? A heaven for everyone, no exceptions. It's worth it."

[worthathousand]

Gods are shaped by the worship they are given.

Perhaps you can make another realm of the gods from this, but all the gods who live there will be self-serving ones.

[farfromgrace]

[ Their mouth twists slightly. ]

"The God I was made to serve got to be self-serving all on His own. Don't put that on anyone else.

"Is it really that self-serving to want everything you went through to matter in the end? To feel like if you call out when you need it, that something will answer because there's someone who cares about you?"

[ there's a clamor like some more people arriving just outside the door. ]

"But I think we're close to done here."

[worthathousand]

There is always something.

[ The sound of commotion makes her strain against the glowing bonds again. If she could just... fucking... find a gap in that song; get the chance to actually use her strength— ]

Try giving your faith to a spirit actually worthy of it. Do better than this version of "better"!

[farfromgrace]

[ there's no gap in the song. it echoes through your head, settling heavy into your limbs, in its perfect beauty.

Cam just laughs, though there's not venom in it. ]

"Well, you keep your faith and I'll keep mine, and we'll see who gets there first, but you're still right here, aren't you? If you think your conviction will find you some better heaven, then you best start praying. Belief's what matters, after all."

[ They jerk their head at Simon. ]

"C'mon, let's get her out of here."

/2

[worthathousand]

[ a surprised laugh, though it's sharp ]

What, are you daring me to do it?

[worthathousand]

[ she makes very deliberate eye contact with Cam, and then—

—she sings. Her voice isn't the impossibly clear bell of Persephone, but it is nevertheless his song: ]

「 How small we are beside the river;
here where we scatter
our lives like flower petals—
flowers red as blood

Hear my song beside Your river;
red flowers in my hands.

What is everlasting in our world?
If water should rise
above my head
is it as fertile and deep as my faith? 」

[ Then, she ad-libs an extra refrain: ]

「 Hear my song far from Your river
that I might see Yu-Shan. 」

[farfromgrace]

[ And—as the room fills with light, you realize:

It really was just as simple as that.

And in the moment before Delphi fades around you, you think you can almost see Cam smile.

> PROCEED. ]