ONE ❢ VIDEO

[firstreturned]

[The woman who appears on-screen does not look particularly angry, or even that getting angry is something she makes a habit of beyond possibly rolling her eyes when a barista writes her name wrong on a Starbucks cup. She's standing against a nondescript stone wall much like Hope was in his first broadcast.

After a moment, a mildly curious expression resolves itself into a perfectly pleasant smile that appears to be entirely sincere in nature.]

While I can't say I enjoyed having to be brought back at all, that was a wonderful welcome you creatures gave me and I wanted to thank you for it. It's like you couldn't even control how much rage you were expelling.

I see many of you have had a look at my armory, I hope you enjoy it. Keep up the good work and I'll keep you as well stocked as you keep me.

Comments

[firstreturned]

He has a history of being an ass.

[recinerate]

How so? What has he done in the past, specifically?

[firstreturned]

It would take longer than your tiny lifespan to explain even part of it. Suffice to say, making a mess and leaving us to clean it up is his MO.

[recinerate]

Perhaps you could simply narrow it down to a few key examples, then. In consideration of tiny lifespans, of course.

[That's a laugh. Beyond has already died twice. He's often wondered what he might see, if he were ever able to see his own lifespan, but even more so now, in this forced afterlife, where he feels like he'll never be allowed to reach his natural end.]

[firstreturned]

... Did Fear send you? Well, you can just tell him that sending one of his cute little humans isn't going to make me forgive him any faster and if he wants to make an apology he can talk to me himself.

[recinerate]

[Oh, that's interesting.]

No one sent me. And I'd hardly call myself one of his humans. He may have brought me here, but I can assure you, it was entirely against my will.

[firstreturned]

Someone brings a stray animal into a home, it's considered their pet. Unless you'd rather be Hope's, he is the one doing all the work to take care of you.

[recinerate]

One thing you'll have to learn about humans is we don't typically take kindly to presumptions of ownership by another.

[firstreturned]

That doesn't seem particularly relevant to me.

[recinerate]

It's only relevant insofar as you'll be dealing with humans while you're here.

[firstreturned]

You expect to be here after me?

[recinerate]

I expect nothing but the worst from you and your kind.

[firstreturned]

That's adorable.

[recinerate]

... What's adorable about expecting the worst from you?

[firstreturned]

Unfortunately any analogy I can come up with would certainly be lost on you. You're like, hm. A tiny thing that thinks itself much bigger than it is? Please, continue.

[recinerate]

[That's fairly insulting, and Beyond bristles at it. Nothing about him has ever been small; even his defeat was larger than life.]

Was Fear responsible for your death?

[firstreturned]

[Rage's smile widens ever so slightly at Beyond's bristling.

What was he gonna do?

Get mad?]

Hmmmmm, that's a little personal, I'm not sure I'm comfortable answering that.

[recinerate]

Well, someone clearly did. You had to be brought back, yes? And you've already indicated that Fear did something to you.

[firstreturned]

Is murder the only trespass your species has?

[Because if so WOW.

She really likes you now. Priorities.]

[recinerate]

Not the only one, no. But some would say it's the most grievous.

[firstreturned]

Well that's disappointing.

[recinerate]

Disappointing because it's not the only one?

[firstreturned]

That would have been interesting.

[recinerate]

... You would have found it interesting if the only trespass humans were capable of committing was murder?

[You gods are strange.]