004 ✿ audio

[secondreturned]

So it's a tie.

[Delight sighs, not sounding quite her usual, delightful self. There's a scuffle, like someone pushing back a chair, and then Sorrow's voice echoes into the speaker, further off, like he's standing on the other side of the room.

'Then I decide. You all know my thoughts on the matter.']

No, [Delight counters, her voice wavering slightly. Arguing with Sorrow is always a little intimidating.] We all decide together. Tranquility doesn't want to go, and everyone else here is keeping something in place- everyone except for me.

[There's a brief silence. When Delight speaks again, her voice is hardened, resolute.]

I'm volunteering to go. They picked me. Send me alone or-

['You aren't going alone,' comes Rage's voice, protective and sure- from closer to the mic than Sorrow's had been. It's silent on Sorrow's end, something is decided without words, and Delight speaks a moment later.]

-alright, then it's settled.

[There's a slight pause, before Delight speaks directly into the mic again, her voice changing suddenly to be the cheerful and pleasant goddess that all some of you know and love.]

Did you hear that, guys? Looks like I'll be one of the ones going out! I want you all to be super happy for me the next few days, alright? I can do this for you- for all of us. And Rage is coming with me, and we're really tough! We'll be safe.

I won't let you down!

Comments

[sweariff]

[Yes, but he's a quick learner! And her explanation is only marginally more confusing, so wah-hey.]

What do you mean "machines"? You mean like— [Oh, what do the mundies call them—] —Like, robots?

[He'll give credit where it's due: he really did not expect that.]

Can we back up a little? I feel like you're glossing over a few important things, like the how, what and why. How have these things posed a threat to you for so long with all of your combined powers, what pissed them off so bad, and why aren't all of you going at this together if they're that dangerous?

Do I get to know that much?

[secondreturned]

Oh, yeah! Like robots, but- you know, way more intricate.

[~*~*~*~the more you know~*~*~*~]

That's- I mean, yes, I'll tell you, but it's kind of a very complicated and long answer.

[She takes a deep breath.]

These creatures are an alien race that have known of my species for a very long time. We used to coexist as allies, but there's a- well, part of being close to our species means that you feel things, even if you're engineered to feel nothing. I guess that scared them and they attacked. They knew how to hurt us- we operate in settlements, with each 'set' of gods presiding over a large city of hosts. They attacked systematically, killing our hosts en masse before attacking the weakened gods.

It happened super fast. [She deflates, sadly.] We're the only settlement left, and we only survived because Fear opened the door to get you guys after all of our hosts and most of us were killed.

We can't send more than a few of us because someone has to protect and provide for you! It'd be really scary, I think, if all of us were gone.