Kinda sorta not an AU for imperial_saga

[thousand_curses]

[1]

[Whether through divination spells, being a person who has a Destiny Crystal and is therefore of interest, or even braving the depths of the Netherworld, you have attracted the attention of a goddess - hopefully the one you were trying to speak to. With the Queen of the Netherworld in a relatively straightforward mood today, the wavy suggestion of a feminine face with red eyes greets you from behind a curtain of fog.]

Hm. And just who are you, and why do you come before the Queen of the Netherworld? Speak your piece quickly.

[2]

[You have died. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.]

[You have, rather, woken in a clammy, chilly fog, lying on what feels like solid slate. It's almost impossible to see anything. Or hear anything. Or feel anything but cold and oppressive dimness. However, a voice speaks to you from the fog, distant yet very close.]

Come in. And rest. Lose yourself to oblivion...

...

...oh, you aren't gone yet? Was there something you sought at the end of your journey? Tell me, mortal...what do you seek?

[3]

[Hey look a stablehand.]

Hi! Welcome to town. Can I take care of your horse for you? If you're staying the night, the inn's right behind me, and if you're not, so's the bar so you can get a bite to eat. This is kind of a one-horse town. Well, two now, haha!

Comments

2

[thecoldsteel]

[Lying down? Not any more. Jin is on his feet.]

How about you tell me who you are before I tell you anything?

[thousand_curses]

This is the Netherworld, 'Hero' of Ikaruga. I presume you're aware of its Queen?

[thecoldsteel]

Well. I have no idea how someone so prestigious can afford the time to greet each soul she meets personally. Shouldn't you have more important matters to take care of?

[thousand_curses]

Most souls who arrive here slip into oblivion almost instantly. They don't even hear my voice, really...they simply fade...

...you, however. You want something. May I ask again what you seek?

[thecoldsteel]

I'm surprised that a supposed goddess would ask. Aren't you supposed to be omniscient?

1/2

[thousand_curses]

You're confusing me with that pretentious Crystal King. I never made any such claim.

2/2

[thousand_curses]

In fact, I wish to know more about humankind. That's the only reason I ask.

[thecoldsteel]

...You want to know what I seek? Fine. It can be summed up in one word.

Order.

[thousand_curses]

Order? Such an abstract idea to keep you standing in this place. To make you consider fighting your way out, even now, when there are no enemies before you. That's a deep devotion to a mere ideal.

[thecoldsteel]

For any ordinary person, it's an unobtainable abstraction. But for one who is the embodiment of this world's order, it is more. Far more. For me, establishing order in this sad world of ours is a very real possibility.

[thousand_curses]

I see.

You have quite the destiny, don't you...?

[thecoldsteel]

That's right, and I can't fulfill it from here. I'm leaving.

[thousand_curses]

Far be it for me to interrupt the workings of Fate. If you can find your way out, by all means, feel free to go.

1

[themasterstools]

[Well... this was not part of his plans at all. Pluto-thrice curse these crystals and their sense of humor. He gathers up his dignity]

I apologize, Fair Queen - it seems that mischief conspired to create this connection.

[thousand_curses]

Hm. Odd coincidence, that. Might I ask your name?

[themasterstools]

I am Eleuseus, Magistrate of Rome.

[He bows his head, if Izanami has any sense for 'truth', she may notice his name doesn't ring true]

[thousand_curses]

I see.

It's rare for a mortal to contact me at all, let alone by mistake. To whom were you intending to speak?

[themasterstools]

I was intending to speak with Nero, Ma'am.

[He keeps his voice and expression even - one must always take care to no offend a goddess, though this accidental communication could lead to something useful if he's careful...]

[thousand_curses]

And your thoughts on getting a god's attention instead?

[themasterstools]

Trepidation, I know well that I am in no position to do anything but take the brunt of the blows if I were to be foolish enough to offend one.

Though I admit there is a part of me that is curious.

[thousand_curses]

There usually is.

1

[chaos_that_crawls]

... I didn't think you could forget me so easily, Izanami.

[And the man steps forward closer towards the queen behind the fog.]

Then again, I am wearing a new face, aren't I?

[thousand_curses]

You are fond of that, Crawling Chaos.

[The smirk is almost affectionate.]

Not that I can blame you. Masks are just so useful.

[chaos_that_crawls]

Which is something you've started to experience first-hand, haven't you? I didn't think you were humble enough to choose a stablehand as your human form.

[thousand_curses]

He's one of them. Besides, humans ignore everything around them. They ignore the lower classes even more than everything else.

[chaos_that_crawls]

Indeed. But I prefer my tried and true strategy to assume the form of those who possess power or some influence. Like this professor of the occult, for example.

Even then, there are times where I don't even have to assume a mask at all.

[thousand_curses]

So what brings your attention back to this dreary place?

Dagaria or the Netherworld, take your pick, one's just louder.

[chaos_that_crawls]

It's difficult for me not to notice what you've been up to. You're toying with the mortals more frequently these days... using my own tactics no less.

[thousand_curses]

I hope you're not going to claim I'm simply mimicking you. I am running an experiment you might, though, and finding results you'd probably tell me I would find.

[chaos_that_crawls]

Mimicry is the highest form of flattery, annoying as it can be, but far be it from me to stop you in the middle of your experiment. Nor do I really want to in all honesty. I just wanted to know what brought this on.

[thousand_curses]

Things are coming to a head in the material plane. I want to know which way things are going, and whether I should step in.

For humanity's good, of course.

[nomen_est_numen]

"...Oblivion...?" Shen croaks. He shakes his head and pushes himself up off of the floor. "No," he pants. "...refuse...."

He gets his breath back as the voice continues and looks about for its source. At the question as to what he seeks, he coughs and then hauls himself upright, wrapping the tattered remnants of his dignity around himself. "Vengeance," he replies. "I seek vengeance."

[thousand_curses]

[Behind her illusions, a part of Izanami's mind thinks 'never heard that one before' before she responds to the bird-person's stirring up of her quiet, peaceful afterlife. What echoes out of the fog is different, though.]

Vengeance upon whom? Does that really matter now that your life is at an end?

[nomen_est_numen]

Curse you and your logic. Shen blinks, attempting to stuff this new idea into his long-established thought pattern, but something poked at his thoughts.

"If my life is at an end, as you say, how is it I am talking to you?"

[thousand_curses]

I am the Queen of the Netherworld. I hold absolute power over this domain...but that's not why we are able to speak. Rather, it's because you're possessed of unusual will. Hence my curiosity.