1st - Voice

[swarm_embrace]

[Kerrigan is standing in front of Hope's altar, at first she was just going to rant at the 'god' at his altar, but since he apparently uses this as well.]

Are you listening, Hope? You'd better be, because I'm not going to repeat myself.

This is a foolish request you've made. Hope isn't something you can just make happen in people, it's not inherently in any object or word. A loaded gun might give hope to someone backed into a corner, but it's an object of fear for the person on their knees with one pointed at their head.

Some people have hope, and with even a tiny, insignificant thread of hope can move heaven and earth to make things happen. Hope, real hope, is something you find in yourself, or in other people, and you'll lose it if you don't do everything in your power to hold onto it, to make it real.

[There's a long pause while Kerrigan thinks about saying something else, but in the end she settles for addressing everyone else.]

As for the rest of you listening to this, there must be better things to do with your time than to play their little game.

Comments

[lingeringhope]

Yes? That's the whole point, to learn what brings all of you hope. Honestly, I'm fairly certain at this point that none of you even listen to a word I say.

[swarm_embrace]

Asking for trinkets and little messages won't help with that.

[lingeringhope]

It will. I understand that you don't know how my powers work, but concentrating things in a physical form is helpful.

[vdova]

You're refusing to listen to us, too.

[lingeringhope]

I hear everything you're saying, and most of it is rude and lacks understanding, no matter how clear I attempt to be.

[vdova]

Everything you're saying is patronizing and lacks basic social skills, so I'd say we're even.

[lingeringhope]

I've no time for petty games of oneupmanship. When you are capable of understanding basic things, such as me not being the reason you are here, we can speak again.

[vdova]

You say you're the reason we have shelter, food, and everything else, so you've taken basic responsibility for us, but you don't want to take responsibility for us. I'm not really sure how much more I need to understand.

[lingeringhope]

Is there something else you're expecting me to take responsibility for? I'm the reason you're all still alive. I would think that would be enough. I have no desire to own you.

[vdova]

Taking responsibility for why we don't want to help you. We don't have to be grateful to you. I already told you once you don't get accolades for basic decency. I don't need to be grateful to you for keeping me alive when I've been doing just fine on my own on that front for thirty plus years.

[lingeringhope]

And why is it that you don't want to help me? Because I didn't ask nicely enough when I asked you to cooperate in giving me power so that I can eventually find a way to get you all home?

[vdova]

[ Natasha sighs. ] Because I don't trust people who claim to be gods.

[ Well, no, she trusts one person who claims to be a god, but he's also not a patronizing jerk. ] Because you said you'd find us a way to get home, and then turned around and told us you couldn't do that, not with any amount of power. Because you said giving us 'treats' was a 'waste', like we were some kind of pet. Because if you had any compassion for us what so ever, you wouldn't have left us to run from monsters in tunnels with no discernible way out. I can go on.

[lingeringhope]

I said that if I had power, I could try to find a way. I don't believe I've ever said anything else. The rest of that sounds like your own personal issues with those more powerful than you, which have little to do with me.

[A sigh.] But I do feel moved to defend myself on one point - every time monsters have appeared, I've pushed them out to the caves as quickly as I could so that fewer of you would be in danger. I can't do it instantly. If you would like to do better, you're welcome to try.

[vdova]

You're not really giving me any reason to want to help you. Here's a pro tip: if you want people to help you, listen to them when they bring concerns to you and don't just brush them off as the whining of peasants.

[ And she hangs up. ]

[lingeringfear]

Everyone is so angry about a simple request.

[Idly, as he watches her on the screen.]

But I'm afraid you've got it wrong. Hope- and Fear, for that matter- isn't the legendary weapon that you're making it out to be. It's energy. That's all.

[swarm_embrace]

It's an emotion, and emotions drive people. That's more dangerous than a weapon.

[lingeringfear]

Most people aren't capable of much, no matter how they're feeling.

[Pointed. Fear shrugs.]

Emotions are far better served to power us.

[camouflage]

Nice speech. [said in the flattest tone ever. is he legitimately complimenting you or making fun of you? either way] Gotta agree that it's a waste of time. What're you gonna do instead?

voice

[swarm_embrace]

I had some good inspiration.

I've already mapped the perimeter, now I'm filling it in.

voice

[camouflage]

How big of an area are we talking here?

voice

[swarm_embrace]

The cavern is roughly ten kilometers across, give or take.

voice ;

[tearless]

Pretty words, though I would agree with the sentiment. However, as we are trapped here we are a part of their game whether we want to be or not.

voice

[swarm_embrace]

We're only part of their game if we play by their rules.