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[fifthreturned]

Hey there. Thanks for telling Hope to bring me back - hopefully you all can get some use out of these vehicles I made. I think they're pretty neat.

How are you all liking the place? I forgot how messed up the city got before I died. It looks like Hope fixed some of it up, at least. I'm too low on power to do any real improvements, but this temporary facelift should last for a little longer. Enjoy the vacation while you can, uh - 'humans', right? That's what most of you are called?

Enjoy the vacation, humans, and the vehicles. I'm Tranquility, I made this city, and it's sure nice to be back.

Comments

[zen_en_vert]

I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more about how things used to be here. Faiths- these temples.

[He says, and hesitates, but offers by way of explanation-]

I've been in Hadriel since Hope first started this group up, and I've fought with or avoided every resurrection I could. [But he's here with him, out on a limb, and starting to look deeply self-conscious about it.]

[fifthreturned]

Depends on what you ask. I'd like to help if I can, but I don't know anything, and some stuff I'd rather not talk about.

[Tranquility doesn't appear to be judging Bruce in any way.]

Anything specific you want to know?

[zen_en_vert]

How did faith work? If I wanted this to be- say, my church. What would that have looked like in the old world?

[fifthreturned]

We chose to call ourselves gods to all of you because that seemed the closest equivalent, all things considered, but we're not actually gods in that sense. I mean, there was never really a religion around us, you know?

[He shrugs.]

This wasn't really a church, just a place where they could find me if necessary. A place to come if they wanted a closer connection.

[zen_en_vert]

But there's some component of you that responds to our offerings, our feelings, our- I don't know, beliefs?

[fifthreturned]

Your feelings give us power. We usually request the offerings in exchange for something that you want - they aren't freely given. We may be considered gods in some ways, but I don't think we're your gods.

[zen_en_vert]

I should maybe explain what's going on with me. Unless you've got any kind of, I don't know, file, or omniscience, or even just prescience. If this isn't the kind of thing that's in your job description, you don't have to. I really don't want to impose, and I know I'm asking a lot of your time.

[fifthreturned]

I could ask the others, or I could pry into your head, but it's probably easier if you just tell me. I'll help you if I can, as long as it's not going to take too much power.

[zen_en_vert]

I have a problem where if I let slip of my tranquility- where if I become angry, I become dangerous, consumed with rage. I grow in size, I turn green, I lose control and smash everything, injure bystanders, or even friends-

It's been a long decade, and I've learned to keep a good hold on myself, but I think about steadiness, and peace, and- well, tranquility, a lot.

[fifthreturned]

That must be a pretty big problem for you.

[But Rage and Fear are probably fans.]

But it sounds like I'll be getting a lot of power from you.

[zen_en_vert]

Yeah, yes- I'll say my devotional to you, I suppose.

So I thought I would introduce myself. Because I need to not hate you. I'm uncomfortable with this arrangement, with everything here, all of the time, and I think it'll kill me if this isn't a choice I make.

Does this make sense?

[He's got to be proactive, in this effort to make peace with the way the city runs.]

[fifthreturned]

Hey, I'd rather you didn't hate me too. That doesn't really get anyone anywhere.

I can't say I entirely understand, but do what you've gotta do to make things right with yourself. We're all just trying to do the best we can with what we've got here.

[zen_en_vert]

Okay. What can I do? To make an offering?

[fifthreturned]

Are you looking for something in exchange?

[zen_en_vert]

No, I'm not. Not right now.

[fifthreturned]

You don't need to do anything if you don't want anything, but I appreciate any help you want to give. Everyone here's so tense and angry all the time. Anything you can do to help that?

[zen_en_vert]

What kinds of things do you have the power to trade for?

[He wonders, because he wouldn't know where to start.]

I'm afraid general soothing isn't something I'm good at.

[fifthreturned]

Same kinds of things the other gods do. Something you need, something you want. It looks like people have a lot of requests.

[He quirks an eyebrow.]

Are you the one who wants to be soothed, then?

[zen_en_vert]

Hm.

[He hesitates.]

Talk me through it first. What do I give you?

[fifthreturned]

Well, that's a tricky one. Normally I'd ask for tranquil feelings in exchange for something you want, but if it's the tranquility you want... hmm. I guess I could ask you to spread it. Teach people meditation techniques, maybe.

[zen_en_vert]

"And if I asked you to save the influence for until the next time something bad hits us? When Rage starts thrashing around. If I taught classes, now, and then had a protective influence then- even if I had to come here for it?"

He is calm, most of the rest of the time- otherwise they'd all know about it.

[fifthreturned]

"Hard to say, really. It would depend on what I was protecting you from, but it should be possible, yes. Is it Rage specifically you're looking to avoid the influence of?"

He seems amenable to the idea, at least.