nine ✤ text

[lingeringhope]

You may have noticed some abnormal behavior regarding the Door. Normally it doesn't bring in anything so large, and we did not expect it to do so this time. Delight and I have been attempting to alter the Door to send you home, as you have so often requested, but as I have said again and again, we have very little knowledge in this area. We will try again.

My appreciation for those who slew the dragons. We did not intend on their arrival, and I would be willing to grant you a favor in return for your efforts - if it's within my power, and not too foolish.

Comments

[torrefied]

Good.

[Mello's opinion on the subject of failure is that it shouldn't be an end point, but a catalyst for further action.]

You might have better luck if you enlisted some additional help. You say you don't know much about the Door, but there are quite a few people here who are very good at solving puzzles.

[lingeringhope]

Perhaps so, but I do not trust many of the people here.

[torrefied]

How would you determine if someone is trustworthy enough to work with?

[Because while Mello is not - repeat, not - trustworthy, he is absolutely interested in learning more about the Door and how it works.]

[lingeringhope]

If they have shown that their interests are aligned with our own, and if they have not cooperated with any of those calling for our deaths, that would be a start.

[torrefied]

Fair enough. Interests such as providing the lot of you with emotion-based power, or something else?

[lingeringhope]

That, yes. And helping sustain the existence and quality of life of those who are here.

[torrefied]

Say, for example, someone who took it upon himself to provide an informational document for new arrivals.

[Not that he's angling for being picked himself or anything.]

[lingeringhope]

Yes, that is certainly a start, and something I will keep in mind if we decide to experiment with the Door again.

[torrefied]

[Good.]

I'm very good with puzzles, too.

[Maybe not as good as Near, but Hope doesn't need to know that.]

[lingeringhope]

Have you spoken to Sorrow?

[torrefied]

Not personally - not yet. I haven't seen the need for it.

[Also, Sorrow's revival left Mello with plenty of feelings that he hasn't forgotten about.]

Are you suggesting I should?

[lingeringhope]

He is the one who knows the most about the Door. However, he isn't particularly interested in sending any of you back.

[torrefied]

That's understandable. It wouldn't be to his advantage to send us back.

[Nor the case for any of the gods here, since they feed off the emotions of those who have been brought here. Still, it's an interesting fact, one that Mello tucks away in his mind for later use.]

[lingeringhope]

He has impressed upon me that that is the case.