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[lingeringhope]

Hello.

[A man is standing before a stone wall - the wall of the cave, probably, though there aren't any distinguishing marks to show where, exactly, he might be. He seems calm, and his face is kind. He looks directly into the camera with no artifice.]

I have no doubt you were all surprised to find yourselves here. I apologize for the rather abrupt arrival - as it turns out, we have no control over who or what is brought here.

[And there, that's the slightest sign of frustration, or possibly annoyance. His mouth tightens.]

In any case, I've tried to make things comfortable for you - humans, is that correct? That's what you call yourselves? And the other things are bears, and they were not sentient [he says, as if it might have taken him a bit to realize], so I've made sure to push them out of the main part of the city. I'd rather you all not get eaten.

You can be useful to us, as it turns out, thanks to your capacity for feeling emotion. Not quite so well as the last ones, but it'll do. You can call me Hope, if you'd like, and if you could all try very hard to feel appropriately hopeful at all times, it would be extremely convenient. I need the energy to keep you fed and the power running - and for other things.

[Hope pauses for a moment, considering.]

While you all seem to be sentient, I'm not certain of your capacity for higher thought, so I'm really not sure explaining things will be much use. I'd rather not waste time explaining things you're not capable of comprehending. But for those who might be curious and wish to try to understand - some time ago a number of my companions died. I'd like to bring them back. For that, I need power, and for power, I need the emotions that you can give me. Hope, specifically.

[And he sighs, annoyance crossing his face again.]

Much to my dismay, of all my fellow - what would your kind call us? Gods? - only one has survived. Fear is here as well, and if you could all try not to give him your fear, it would make my life significantly easier. Just - don't be scared of things. Ignore him.

I suppose if you have any questions, you can ask, but you're not guaranteed an answer. In any case, welcome to Hadriel. I hope the food is palatable.

Comments

[lingeringfear]

To be quite honest with you, I think I prefer the bears.

[Fear speaks with a bit of an odd accent, and he's definitely not quite as prim as Hope. He seems a bit taller, for one, and with an appearance that suggests fear, but without the mannerisms to follow through- it ends up with him looking a bit like the kind of guy who only eats organic and does parkour for fun.

He yawns.]

Anyway, yes, most of what, uh, Hope said is true. I'm Fear, and I'd like it if you'd disregard that bit about not being afraid and instead tried to be really scared. Here, I'll even help you out.

[Fear leans menacingly into the camera but something about it just falls a little short of 'scary' and winds up seeming sort of hollow. It's probably in the lack of expression. How do human faces work?]

Go on, tell me what you're afraid of. I can make it happen.

[64th]

Well I'm certainly not afraid of you.

[lingeringhope]

You would.

[Hope is most definitely annoyed now, probably just because here Fear is, making a nuisance of himself.]

There are still bears in the caves. If you'd like to play with them, go right ahead. Keep yourself busy.

[notjustinthemirror]

I give that effort about a 4. It helps if you have ambient sound to really seal the mood.

[Here, he'll show you. He makes his communicator go to static, the screen flickering and sending out a high pitch keening sound before popping and then going back to normal.]

[fuwatokurage]

Hope and Fear?

I do not understand. From what I have learned from my master, those two things are the related. Is that right?

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[drunkdetective]

[ _{nah, he doesn't feel anything. kind of amused, actually. maybe you should have half a plexiglass skull, fear.} ]

Cute.

[unitas]

Fuck you. [ The phrase tumbles out of her, breathless in her fury, not entirely intentional. His words replay in her ears like a dangerous hum, and it only worsens the coiled fear and rage in her chest. Gods, huh?

Fuck the Gods. ]

How do I get out? [ It's really the only thing that matters at this point, her dad's life is still on the line. ]

[lingeringhope]

That's quite rude.

[Hope seems a touch put out, but he doesn't do much more than frown.]

I wasn't the one who brought you here, so I can't get you out. If you manage to find a way, I'll be shocked.

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[whichend]

[ Arya is still not quite sure how to use this network thing, but she knows that Hope will be able to see here face, and hear her voice, so that's good enough for her. The camera is shaky, but one can easily make out a very small, and slightly angry young girl.

She wants an explanation. Hope's previous speech hasn't cut it. ]

So you're asking us to hope, and everything will be fine? What do you take me for? I'm not some child. Hoping doesn't do anything. I don't care if that's your stupid name, it doesn't. Where was hope when the Lannisters burned villages, tortured women and children? [ Her voice becomes louder, shakier. ] Where was hope when -- when they killed my father? I tried to hope, and that did nothing. [ She spits. Hoping did nothing. The only thing you could rely on was cold steel. She learned this. ]

Why should I make your life easier?

[lingeringhope]

I didn't say everything would be fine. I asked you to hope. I'm not making any foolish promises about things being fine.

[Hope looks mildly offended at the thought of it. He peers at Arya, then, rather as if he's studying her - as if it's new and interesting to see a human getting angry.]

Making my life easier will make yours easier. I should think that's enough reason to do anything.

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[closerift]

[ Cecily is still not great with the devices. After all, like a dozen of the others, she's never come across technology like this before and is mildly baffled by it. Still, this is too important not to respond, and she doubts a letter will find them... or, maybe it will, which is also concerning considering they're claiming to be gods. ]

What are these "other things" you intend to use our energy for? [ SOUNDS PRETTY FISHY, BUDDY. The brunette looks highly cynical, peering at Hope with all the discernment of a woman who thrives on moderate to high levels of distrust. ] And "don't be afraid of things" is rotten advice, considering it's all but out of our control.

[ As for the "gods" bit... she'll leave out that she and her companions had destroyed the last would-be god they'd come across, thankyouverymuch. ]

[lingeringhope]

Reviving the other gods, mainly, though it might be necessary for other things as well. You humans do seem to require a lot of tending.

[It's like getting a bunch of new, ungrateful pets that Hope absolutely did not ask for.]

You can't control your fear? I suppose I expected nothing else, but try your best. It's not going to get you anywhere, after all.

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[casperdisaster]

Um.

This isn't going to involve killing us a lot for sacrifices, is it?

[lingeringhope]

I would prefer it if you didn't die, as it's quite inconvenient. Still, if you really must, I can't stop you.

[lingeringfear]

You think you're being sacrificed?

[How strange.]

No, I don't technically need you to die, but- hm. [A thought suddenly strikes him.] Can humans startle to death?

[americanclassic]

I hope you realize that telling people not to be afraid just because it will help you isn't exactly going to do much to put them at ease. Most sane people just find that a little... worrying.

[Said Steve, so clearly it was true.]

If you brought us here, why not send us back? Those of us who want to go might not be feeling very hopeful at the moment.

[lingeringhope]

Won't it? Is that how humans work? What odd little creatures you are.

[He sounds honestly interested for a moment.]

As I said, we have no control over who is brought here, and I have no idea how to send you back, so you might as well try to be useful.

[notjustinthemirror]

I'm pretty hopeful about my chances of destroying the place. So there you go. I'm helping.

[lingeringhope]

Excellent! Keep doing that. The more hope, the better.

[What you're hoping for doesn't seem to make much of a difference to him.]

[fuwatokurage]

Will I be any help if I can hope? I'm not...

...

[lingeringhope]

You're not what? It doesn't matter, as long as you hope.

[twinpeak]

[ ... Oh. Of all the reasons behind their circumstances, he wouldn't have guessed this one if he tried. But in his opinion? It's a vague at best explanation, and Dipper is far too inquisitive for his own good. Glad you're here, dude, because here we go in rapidfire succession: ]

—Wait, that's all you have to say? Where on earth is this– [ What'd he say again? ] –Hadriel place supposed to be? Why is it in some cave? Who used to be here before us? Where'd they all go? If you didn't bring us here, then who did? By the way, what language are all the books in? Also, can't we get a decent burger joint around here, at least? Oh, right, why are some parts of this town totally wrecked, not to mention─────

[ If you don't interrupt him now, he's just gonna keep going and going... ]

[lingeringhope]

[That's too many questions. Hope chooses one at random, ignores the rest, and cuts Dipper off without an ounce of remorse.]

They're in various different languages. There are probably even a few in your language scattered in there somewhere.

[And then it occurs to him - ]

Your species does have writing, doesn't it?

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[drunkdetective]

Bullshit.

[ _{hold on, he's got some questions. just give him a second, Hope.} ]

So this isn't the STEM? Then how the hell did we get here? [ _{a few seconds of silence, while he considers Hope's words.} ] How the fuck are we meant to feel hopeful when the whole goddamn time we've been here we've been chased by bears and starving half to death? Doing a pretty shitty job around here if we're not supposed to be afraid.

My body's not laying in some goddamn bathtub somewhere still, is it? [ _wait-- ] The last ones?

[lingeringhope]

[That's a lot of questions. Hope picks one at random and ignores the rest. Gosh, humans are needy.]

Your body is here. It should have all its necessary organs and bits intact. Did you doublecheck to be sure?

[zen_en_vert]

Okay- leaving absolutely everything else aside right now, because my- uh- colleagues? Have answered...

Hope, is there somewhere we can get access to medical supplies? Or anything we should know about water potability in the city?

[lingeringhope]

What sort of supplies are you looking for? There might be a few things scattered around, I don't really keep track. And the water ought to be fine.

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[echoprince]

[ Oguna actually using this suspicious, weird thing people call "phone" is a big step but his reason for doing so... Not so much. ] I wonder how much hope one can feel when one is being treated as stupid. [ Well, one of Oguna's ways of passing time is by insulting people (since he doesn't know how to otherwise interact with people) so he actually has no place to talk but... Either way. ]

[lingeringhope]

Good question. I'm still learning how you humans work. I guess we'll find out together.

[dragonbite]

[ There was nothing wrong with the bears, according to Vaiz. Not as good as candy, sure, but bears are alright. ]

You can bring people back?

[lingeringhope]

Yes. It's really not that difficult.