dualisnet | UN: presage

[He rose an eyebrow mid-sip of his own tea, a faint look that might very well be amusement crossing his features. She was, after all, a supernatural being speaking with an even more supernatural being and yet professing atheism. Fascinating.

Of course, he wasn't there to proselytize to her. It wasn't his place nor his calling. He was only there to observe.]

I can assure you there are most definitely souls. Wars have been fought over them, after all. We do not possess a soul, that is a uniquely mortal gift. [A pause, and a soft hum escaped him.] Or rather... it was.

[Waving that away as if it weren't the strangest thing in the universe to say he fixed his gaze back on her.]

I would still hear of this machine god.

[she doesn’t deny the existence of supernatural beings, even those powerful enough to be worshiped at various times in human history as gods. she even calls on them in her magickal workings if needed, but only as allies, never as superior beings worthy of worship or holding power over her. yes, she’s something of a paradox, and she’s fine with that.]

Wars have been fought over lies and misinformation, too.

[she shrugs, not particularly interested in debating this topic with someone she’s already acknowledged is more well-informed about it.]

The God-Machine is supposedly something like a supercomputer, though nobody knows for fact, since it hadn’t been especially forthcoming with details. Nobody really knows where it came from or when or why, or even what it wants, though there are plenty of cults devoted to figuring that out, human and monster alike. [she counts out on her fingers:] The Seers of the Throne are mages, mostly concerned with controlling all magic like the greedy, oppressive bastards they are. They don’t actively work with it, but their efforts are rumored to dovetail with the God-Machine’s workings from time to time. The werewolves have the Lodge of the Field, and from what I’ve read, the things they worship have a lot of similarities with some of the aspects of the God-Machine. The Holy Engineers probably have the closest association with it - they’re vampires, and they actually receive broadcasts directly from the God-Machine and have to interpret these so-called prophecies within a certain window of time or else it kills them. Rude, right? Doesn’t sound like any kind of god I’d want to follow, if I did want to follow a god.

[she pauses and finishes of the last of her beer.]

This is all rumor and speculation, of course, you know how secretive cults are. I dug up research once for a project I was working on - didn’t exactly pan out, but it wasn’t a total waste. Digging into mysterious occult bullshit can actually be really fun. I think the cult chapters are supposed to be mostly located in the bigger cities, especially out on the coasts, but I never looked into that part too closely. It wasn’t super relevant.

[jack slides her now-empty glass to the side and leans forwards, hands folded on the table in front of her.]

So what did you mean when you said that possessing a soul was a uniquely mortal gift?

[Interesting, very interesting. Fortunately he isn't one to push. If she does not wish to worship that isn't his place. He walks a fine line himself, and would be quite the hypocrite to try to lecture her on such things.

That didn't mean he wouldn't find it amusing, regardless.]

So they have.

[He won't disagree. He also won't debate unless she really wants to get into it. Souls are something Celestials are typically quite knowledgeable on. He's much more interested in knowing if the machine-god is at all similar to the deity he's been created by. Thankfully, it didn't seem so.]

The similarity with our current situation strikes me as an interesting correlation, with your description and our presumed captor.

[Oh, he likes this one. A mortal that enjoyed researching for the joy of research? It wasn't often Murmur had the pleasure of encountering someone who shared an interest so near and dear to his heart. Even his brothers thought his obsession strange, if useful, what with so many of them being warriors and little else. It was in their nature, but that didn't make Murmur's being so vastly different any less lonely.

Not that he'd admit that.]

I would be interested in hearing more about your project at another time, should you be willing. I do believe I've monopolized enough of yours without offering anything in return, we still have a task ahead.

[Assuming she was still willing to accompany him on it. He finally set aside his now empty tea cup, moving to stand. Of course, that didn't mean he wouldn't answer her question, only that he intended to do so as they made their way toward the tunnels.]

Come, and I will tell you of the anomaly. Or "abomination" as some of my brethren were so eager to label her.

Edited 2020-08-17 03:33 (UTC)

You know ... you’re totally right. [jack’s entire expression lights up at the possibility.] I hadn’t thought about it that way before. The Head’s a little less cryptic and a lot more outright homicidal, but yeah, they’re actually not so different. The God-Machine seems to have some degree of sentience, by all accounts, and I’d be shocked it if wasn’t alien ...

[maybe she’ll end up doing more research when/if she ever gets home again. that’s for future-jack to tackle, though - current-jack has other plans for tonight, showing her new celestial acquaintance a different set of mysterious occult stuff down in the tunnels.]

Right, I almost forgot how this meetup started in the first place. [she stands, and collects both the empty glass and teacup, intending to return them both to the bar on their way out, because that’s just a nice thing to do to make the bartender’s job a little easier.] But yeah, I can tell you about that project sometime.

[it’s actually nice to be around someone else who’s magick-inclined. jack doesn’t often have the opportunity to talk about spellwork.]

Oh, speaking of “abominations,” I gotta ask - what’s the big guy’s official stance on us queers? Are we too abominations, as the right-wing megachurch Bible-thumping dickheads like to screech?

A hypothesis worthy of pursuit.

[He agrees. Of course that necessitates finding a way back home first. That being part of the quest they were currently on, someday she might just be able to approach it again. Just think, another troublesome AI for her to deal with!

Ah, good, she'd had the same thought of returning the glasses. He's glad to see it, he'll let her take care of that. Though he will pause to thank the bartender before they head out. Then it's off to find these tunnels and study strange sigils.]

I'd like that.

[For as much knowledge he already has, Murmur has an insatiable thirst. One with wisdom never ceases to be a student in their art. There's always more to learn.

He grows quiet at her question, considering how best to answer. Technically he wasn't to influence without specific instruction to do so, but he was permitted to offer comfort, not that he's necessarily good at that. In the grand scheme of things it was so minor, he's sometimes astonished by what mortals fixate on.]

All beings in creation are precisely as they are intended to be.

[He begins, but realizes that might not be a satisfactory answer.]

The capacity for love is one mortal-kind's greatest virtues.

[Yes, he thinks that is sufficient.]

[hey, jack may be a literal monster, but she’s also from the midwest. she’s not always nice, per se, but picking up after herself in a bar is just common courtesy. she and the bartender trade friendly farewells, and she heads toward the door, ambling backwards so she can face murmur with a giant grin stretched across her face.]

If I was still on speaking terms with my aunt, she’d owe me twenty bucks now. She’s one of those aforementioned megachurch dickheads, and she did call me an abomination when she found out I’m gay.

[she turns around to push the door open for them and points to the right to indicate their next direction down the deserted street.]

We had a pretty big yell-fest over that. I bet her the twenty that her God didn’t give a shit about whether I kiss girls, she accepted, real sarcastic-like, and I told her to fuck off straight to the Hell she’s so convinced I’m headed toward. [she shrugs, and slips her hands into the pockets of her jeans.] No great loss. We were never close to begin with, and she was always pretty insufferable, one of those real know-it-all, holier-than-thou types. And she only got more insufferable after my parents died. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

[it’s not that she has a particularly vested interest in what a deity she doesn’t worship thinks of her - it’s just nice to be right.]

[Murmur's spent most of his existence as a demon. He's not very good at being 'nice' either, but he does have his manners. Always has. Sometimes they just come off strange and stiff to mortals.]

Mortals do fixate on the strangest things. I seem to recall a time in which the debate was who was and wasn't allowed to wear pants.

[Really. Just. Honestly? Humans needed to learn to chill even more than his people did. At least angels had the excuse of being very old and resistant to change.

He couldn't say it, even if he wanted to, but the faint smirk Murmur wore spoke of knowing exactly what kind of person she was talking about. And just how surprised they were going to be at the end of their days. Yes, he does believe Jack's aunt owes her a twenty.]

Wasn't one of the tenants 'love thy neighbor' or some such?

[He asked casually, as though he didn't know full well what every single one of them was. In every language it had ever been written in. He followed along, letting his awareness broaden to allow him some forewarning should they encounter anything hostile in their adventure.]

I understand it is typical to offer one's condolences in light of this revelation, yet I have the distinct impression none are needed nor desired in this situation.

[Regarding her parents. Jack spoke so casually one wouldn't even have to be a seer to hear the 'good riddance' in her tone. Not for him to judge. Whatever deity she does or does not worship isn't his place to press. He's too much of a traitor to be particular about such things.]

Oh, yes, speaking on the topic of abominations. You will recall the Thresholding I spoke of?

Oh, don’t even get me started on patriarchal society’s obsessive need for control of women’s bodies, including their clothing. I nearly wrote my thesis on that topic.

[she nods, laughing quietly, and turns to lead murmur down an alleyway. when he revisits the topic of her parents, the smile immediately drops from her face.]

Yeah ... we weren’t that close either. They were both really judgey, strict, hypocritical hardline conservative Christians, and, um - right before they died, I finally decided I was tired of hiding who I am, so I came out to them. And they responded by throwing me out of the house and screaming at me that I wasn’t their daughter. [she shrugs.] So I guess they weren’t my parents anymore. No condolences needed.

[jack puts up a good front of not letting anything bother her most of the time, but this particular topic hits an especially painful nerve for her. she wasn’t close with her parents, didn’t share most of their values or beliefs, but being so violently rejected over such a fundamental part of who she is still hurt a lot - maybe more than anything else in her life so far.]

Anyway, that was like, ten years ago. I’ve done fine on my own.

[that devil-may-care demeanor she’s had for most of the night returns as she draws to a halt in front of a manhole cover. there’s nothing out of the ordinary about it, but the brick wall opposite is covered in a faded mural of flowers and vines surrounding an anatomical heart at the center.]

This is it. [she crouches down to start prying up the manhole cover.] Yeah, what else happened with the Thresholding, besides monsters?

When we have more time I may be inclined to get you started, since you are so well-informed. Human history is a fascinating subject, I would be interested to see how similar our differing worlds are.

[It did seem like an uncomfortable topic for her. It was normal to grieve the rejection of one's parents. It was a unique, particularly harsh cruelty to mistreat one's own offspring. And yet so painfully common. This was one of those times Murmur wished he was still a demon, then he could speak more freely on the topic of his own Father.]

Commendations, then, instead. On your resilience. They were unworthy.

[But, he'll touch no more on such a sensitive topic. Not while they have work yet to do. He can tell it hurts her to speak on such matters, and it would be unkind to persist and press such a sore spot.

His attention was drawn to the mural. Beautiful, and clearly holding deep meaning. He filed it away to question her on after he answered a few of his own for a change.]

Typically the Thresholded would become beings that were still mortal, or at least had been mortal. Monsters, for example being among them. Or simply developing strange and unusual powers. [Mutants, though he didn't know if the term would translate well.]

One, however, Thresholded into an angel. The first angel with a soul, born of flesh, and possessing true free-will.

[He's certain she can guess how quickly that turned into chaos. With Heaven and Hell both vying for command of this new, unique soul. Before he could elaborate further his attention was drawn down the alley, eyes narrowing dangerously as he moved away from the mural to plant himself between whatever it was he sensed and Jack.]

I believe something would impede our investigation. How versed are you in combat?

Edited (html fail) 2020-08-24 11:31 (UTC)

[jack knows about mutants! not only has she read a few comic books in her time and seen movies based on said comic books, she has observed them in action, right here in dualis. but that’s not really the important part of what murmur’s telling her. she finishes pushing the manhole cover to the side and stands up again, brushing her hands off on her jeans.]

Angel with a soul ... sounds like a recipe for a paradox. I hear those tend to turn out real messy.

[which, she guesses, is what happened with the central figure of the story she’s being told. but whatever’s suddenly taken murmur’s interest cuts her off from asking more.]

Unless we’re talking World of Warcraft? Not very. I mean, I’ve taken some self-defense classes, but those usually assume your attacker has squishy bits and feels pain.

[which would not be the case if what’s about to roll up on them is iterations.]

[It's not, though they can absolutely revisit the conversation another time. When they're not about to be accosted by angry police brutality robots.]

Extremely.

[He would love to elaborate further, unfortunately they had some uninvited guests rolling up on them at alarming speed. No souls that he could detect, which was well. In fact... so much better than well. Because that meant he had no requirement whatsoever to hold back. Perhaps he now had just the excuse to test out his regained power.]

Is that one of those video games you'd been telling me about?

[Strangely, or perhaps not so much, Murmur sounded completely calm. Utterly unconcerned, even as the Iterations came blazing around a corner down the alley. True, he could have grabbed Jack and simply... flown away. But what would be the fun in that? No, he thinks a warning is in order.]

In that case I suggest you stay back. These do not strike me as possessing either of those qualities.

[Murmur shifted his stance, folding his hands behind his back to wait patiently for the Iterations to approach, curious to see if they would be hostile first, or attempt to demand compliance. He had his own compliance he wished to demand.]

Heed me, empty vessels!

[His voice boomed, not like thunder or trumpets as one might have expected of an angel, but instead like the pounding of storm-tossed waves upon sheer cliffs. A voice that could be felt as much as heard, with a power to back the warning it spoke. Murmur was pleased to find that instead of the roar he'd come to expect he could once again muster the voice of the divine. It has been far too long.

Around them the temperature had dropped sharply. Glittering ice crystals of flash-frozen moisture in the air caught reflections of street lights, forming a shimmering ethereal fog.]

Your interference will not be suffered. Begone! Return to your master.

[Not that he let it show, but Murmur hoped they'd refuse. Just so he'd have a good excuse to smite the hell out of them.]

Yep, exactly. Smashing’s a lot easier when you’re about twice my actual height and made of computer code.

[jack isn’t exactly panicking either; there are a couple of factors on her side, namely that she has made herself invisible to technological surveillance. were she alone, all she would need to do is stay still until the iterations passed, and she could be on her way.

murmur is ... a different story. somehow, his actions to meet the iterations head-on fail to surprise her, though she will admit he is quite impressive. she shivers - not entirely a result of the rapid temperature change - and takes a step backward.]

Well ... OK, I was gonna suggest just heading down into the tunnels, since they can’t follow us, but I guess that’s also an action you can take.

[not the one she would’ve chosen; she favors staying hidden in the shadows. and now the head will know exactly what murmur can do, if it didn’t already.]

I can cast a shield wall, unless you really want to take these metalheads all on at once, by yourself.

[they don’t seem to be stopping.]

[He imagines light and pure divine energy would probably also act as a pretty strong opposition. One he intends to put to the test, if only slightly. Wouldn't want to reveal all his cards in one go, but just enough to send a message.

That message being: He isn't afraid of the Head, and will not tolerate harassment from his constructs.]

Fear not.

[He reassures quietly, though he does nod to indicate she should be prepared just in case he has miscalculated.

Murmur, however, very rarely miscalculates. He certainly doesn't take risks he hasn't thoroughly considered. These? Are nothing more than toys to him. Playthings with which he can stretch long unused magical muscles in a bid to test the strength of his own regeneration. They will not trouble them long.]

So be it.

[He boomed, finally unclasping his hands to raise one arm.]

Conserve your energy, there will be no need for that now.

[He reassured, back to the quieter monotone that was his usual speaking voice. With a simple gesture and flick of his wrist ice spikes formed along the street, charging and encircling the rapidly approaching Iterations. Those aimed to pin and freeze them to the ground to halt their advance.

But he wasn't finished, a muttered word and another gesture whipped up a vicious windstorm, one filled with shards of razor-sharp ice like glass to pelt at an alarming speed down upon the machines. It would shred a being of flesh in mere seconds, something metal... slightly longer. Probably only slightly with the ferocity of that focused blast.

And truth be told it looked like such an exercise took little to no effort from him. This was merely a small taste of the power he could unleash. Practice, and a warning. Murmur wasn't interested in playing games.]

OK, if you say so ...

[it’s not that she doesn’t trust murmur to know what he’s doing - jack’s just been here a while and has seen the kind of shit the head likes to pull. those executions a while back were awful, and she’d prefer that neither she nor murmur meet a similar fate.]

I’ll just chill here for now while you get your Elsa on.

[get it? chill. because ice magic.]

[Murmur would also like very much to avoid any messy executions, at least on the part of himself and his mortal friend. The Iterations, however, were fair game, and their execution thus far was proving to be quite the messy affair.

At least no one would be responsible for the cleanup, nature would take its course and in time the building walls of ice would thaw to release the mangled husks of those destroyed machines. Predictably, in short order, a few more arrived to attempt to reinforce their comrades but they too would fall to Murmur's relentless icy barrage.

Once enough had piled up and it would seem the Head decided that throwing bodies at an ever growing pile wasn't an effective solution they stopped appearing. Satisfied he'd made himself clear Murmur finally allowed the storm to pass, the icy chill fading with the wind. Folding his hands behind his back once more he turned to offer Jack a slight grin.]

Well! Wasn't that exciting? I must admit, it's refreshing to see I haven't lost my touch. Has been some time since I've had that much fun! Tell me, who or what is an Elsa?

[Looked like he was ready to hop down in the tunnels. Hopefully that little stunt would buy them more time.]

[he's clearly having a good time, and jack can't blame him at all. if she had that kind of firepower? well, let's be real, she'd probably still stick to the shadows, but it'd be pretty cool to trot all of that out sometimes. as a treat.

she meets him with a widely amused smile, a nod of approval, and a light round of applause.]

An Elsa is a character from an animated children's movie called Frozen. She's a fairy tale queen, and as you can probably guess, she has ice powers, like yourself - which, I must say, are very impressive. Does that come standard with the celestial package, or is it a deluxe option?

[While it is unlikely he'll let loose like this very often, it was a rare and enjoyable treat for himself. It wouldn't do to put Divine Wrath on full display every time he had a little disagreement with a few robots. Just this once, for fun.

He couldn't help but crack a grin at her antics, even going so far as to offer a little bow for her applause.]

Thank you! I am pleased you approve. It would seem media references are fairly important to your kind. Perhaps I have some studying to do.

[Later. It's not like he's strapped for time or anything. He did perk up some at her question.]

Funny you should mention that, but no. The aspect of choice among my brethren typically involves calling lightning and fire down from the heavens. When they're not waving around their flaming swords that is.

[A faintly dismissive gesture as he moves over to inspect the manhole they were to descend into. Tight spaces weren't exactly his ideal, but he wasn't about to complain. Murmur has certainly dealt with worse than cramped spaces.]

Instead I studied to learn something different from my brethren, more suitable for myself.

[An angel desiring to differentiate himself from the flock. Curious behavior for their kind.]

[ok, maybe this guy isn’t as stuffy as he’d seemed at first.]

Uh-huh ... and I’m guessing you mean “flaming swords” in the literal sense, not as a euphemism for something else?

[jack this is not a good time to take a literal deep dive into celestial anatomy!!]

So what you’re saying is, you’re a special snowflake? [she laughs.] Seriously though, that’s really cool. I haven’t gotten very far with summoning elements, just manipulating what already exists. It’s not super relevant to my interests, though, so I haven’t put as much effort into study and practice as I have with other areas.

[she shrugs, and produces her phone from her pocket as she makes her way to the now-open manhole. a few quick taps, and she’s pulled up a flashlight app and shines the light into the tunnel. the machines can’t function down there, but jack’s seen plenty of horror movies, and it would be dumb not to check for unexpected creepy crawlies. there’s nothing visible except concrete and the metal ladder, so they’re good to go. jack glances up at murmur with an excited grin.]

Ready for another adventure?

[Every now and then a tiny glimmer of personality shines through. It startles him as much as anyone else. It's been... so very long since he's understood what feeling anything was like. Much less something pleasant.

But that's depressing. And far be it for him to mope about anything. They have work yet to do after all.]

Oh, no, nothing so vulgar. [He shakes his head, making a face.] Very much in the literal sense ,the euphemism sense is a quick track to Falling after the whole Nephilim business. [That came with a dismissive gesture. As though it were old news and not worth his time discussing.]

[He mused as he moved to follow her, crouching down to also inspect the... rather unpleasant looking tunnel. Well, he's been in worse places what with Hell and all, even so he didn't wasn't enthused. Her comment about him being a snowflake earned a light chuckle. He didn't quite understand the full weight of the term, but he got the gist.]

Ah, yes, I suppose something along those lines. I have long been considered something of an eccentric among my brethren. Even, dare I say, mildly rebellious. [Oh those were the days.] Perhaps I could share some of my knowledge with you another time. Elemental manipulation is a fascinating realm of study.

[Oh there he is being the boring scholar again. Mostly he's stalling, that hole looks so cramped. Satisfied that it didn't look to be immediately dangerous, however, he was content to follow her lead. Her grin is encouraging, he certainly couldn't back out now just due to a little claustrophobia.]

I most certainly am. Lead on.

Edited 2020-09-07 04:35 (UTC)

And nobody wants Nephilim, right?

[she laughs at her own joke and tucks her phone back into her vest so she can have both hands free for climbing down the ladder into the manhole. but when murmur makes the offer to teach her, she pauses, glancing up at him with that same softened expression of slight surprise as earlier.]

Really, you’d teach me? That’d - that’d be really cool. No one’s ever taught me stuff before.

No one wants Nephilim.

[He confirms more somberly. After all, he was there, and it was a terrible time for all involved. The moral of the story is mortals should not bear offspring with Celestials. That ends badly.

He offers a faint smile in return.]

I do not make offers I do not intend to keep. Of course, I would be glad to teach.

[It's been a... very long time since he's had the pleasure. It isn't often he finds like-minded souls.]

I’d really like that.

[she feels almost self-conscious in admitting that - she isn’t used to voicing desires so plainly. for that matter, she’s not used to anyone caring much about what she wants. it isn’t often she finds like-minded souls, either.]

I had to teach myself basically everything I know. And that’s fine, I don’t really mind - it’d just be nice to learn from someone who knows what they’re doing, for a change. Fewer singed eyebrows, I’m betting.

[jack’s had her fill of that particular tribulation. but enough about her; they’d better get moving before any more iterations show up. jack climbs down the ladder and moves out of the way once she reaches the ground, turning on her cell phone flashlight again so murmur can see a little better to follow her.]

C’mon down, the coast is clear!

[He understands. Truth be told, he understands very well. He's spent a very, very long time alone, denying himself the ability to desire much less the want. With the cold, untrustworthy and ruthless persona he'd built it was no wonder no one cared to know him, as it was very intentional, but it was still lonely. Especially given that even before the fall it wasn't much of a change.

Angels weren't always very good at being kind to each other.]

You've done well, all things considered. I shall endeavor to ensure a minimum of singed eyebrows.

[He offered with an amused lilt to his tone, choosing not to touch on the fact that he picked up on her almost self-consciousness. It was a delicate subject, he understood. She needn't know he was annoyingly aware of what lay behind that.

And yes, they should move. The pile of ice and crushed machines would remain for some time, allowing for a barrier and distraction. That still didn't mean Murmur was eager to post-pone their true mission any longer. He's had his fill of play for the evening.

He was quick to hop down after her, largely foregoing the whole ladder business and just sliding down until he hit the bottom. Didn't look liek he even did that to show off, the durability of his mortal vessel was greater than that of most humans and sometimes he just casually forgot that.]

They cannot function down here you said, correct?

[Although he did kind of... waver. Once he was down there the magic of the place descended upon him full force. Nothing he hadn't encountered before, mind you, only surprising given how light on magic the rest of the place had been.]

Yeah, the Iterations brick if they’re dumb enough to try following anyone down here. There’s no signal either, but I can get the camera and flashlight on my phone to work, at least. The compass goes wild, though, so you have to make sure you pay attention to which way you’re going if you want to find your way back to the same place. Luckily, I came prepared.

[from inside one of her vest pockets, jack produces a small box of chalk, removes a stick, and marks an arrow on the wall in the direction she indicates for murmur to follow her.]

C’mon. This way.

[Also good that Murmur had a pretty good memory for mazes, though the chalk definitely simplified things! Good thinking, Jack.]

Are there additional threats we should be concerned about?

[Suddenly the angel that just Elsa'd the hell out of Iterations was being very cagey about threats. What could that be about? He was making a point to memorize what he could of the twisting, turning tunnels all the while. As well as tracking those magical lines likely invisible to Jack's eyes.]

After you.

[Don't worry he has no intention of getting lost, he'll stick with her.]

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