End.

[azumods]

RESTORATION. There's a distinct feeling that comes along with the knowledge that the world is about to die; you've experienced it once already, and you can feel it again now - another of those sensations that permeates your body clear through, shaking you to your core, and Arceus... Arceus doesn't hesitate. There's another burst of light, almost blinding as it shoots upward and splits into a myriad streaks of light coursing down toward the earth; it's almost beautiful in its impending destructiveness, though perhaps it isn't something that can be fully appreciated with the knowledge of what it's about to cause. All those people, all those Pokémon, reset to what they once were - to say nothing of yourselves. And then, suddenly and sharply, the world stops. Not the world. The universe. It isn't the first time you've felt time and space simply stop - but instead of the stagnation of the reset or the Distortion World, there's something very deliberate-seeming about this; it doesn't feel like stagnation so much as it does protection, keeping the world in stasis until something can be done. Exactly what that something is...well, it's difficult to say. But one thing is certain: even if they can't be seen or properly felt, Dialga and Palkia are certainly here, and it seems that for the time being at least, they're with you. Arceus shrieks out another of those primal roars, the sound harsh and agitated; the remnants of the incomplete Judgement remain bright and hovering above you, above everything. A reminder, perhaps, of everything that's at stake; after all, no one can defy the Creator forever. The frozen timespace doesn't seem to have affected you, nor Cyrus or his Commanders; you're all still capable of acting for yourselves while Judgement is stalled out. Exactly what that entails has yet to be seen. Best of luck to you.

Comments

[azumods]

The Creator's will and intentions aren't for you to understand.

[...Why this is the hill he's decided to die on is anyone's guess, but here we are anyway.]

The gods don't exist for us - they've never existed for us. If you've met as many as you claim, you would understand that by now.

And it's hardly kindness that's being met with death.

[eudaimonikos]

I don't care about your Creator's will. This world doesn't exist for the gods! Just because you made something doesn't mean you can destroy it any time you want. What, do parents get to go around lobotomizing their children just because they feel like it?

And what were you calling it earlier? Worthless sympathy? Okay, so you're killing people for showing sympathy to others. I wonder if there's some kind of word for that...? [is it

is it kindness]

[azumods]

[You know, the comment regarding parents gets a flinch out of him, but he's going to focus on the latter part of that as opposed to the former.]

That isn't the reason why.

[eudaimonikos]

[That flinch is...noted, certainly. But the thoughts it triggers in Michael are sharp and dark and instinctual: echoes of Eleanor doesn't know how to have friends, don't ever let her forget that and be another father figure Tahani can never quite satisfy, she'll torture herself forever for scraps.

He doesn't want to be cruel. He presses a hand over Jane's claw and takes a breath.]

So what's the reason? Or is that also not for us to understand?

[azumods]

Why does it interest you? I assume it's because you want to know what you're going to die for, but humor me for now.

[eudaimonikos]

You're going to kill my friends! You're gonna kill all my Pokemon. You know what, fuck it -

[He's just gonna release the rest of them too! Not like the balls are actually protective in the end! Fuck it! Lena clings to Michael's pant leg, Ky coils up nearby, Cat Janet and Quaver hover, and Gaston...fucking emerges in a puff of glitter and rhinestones and strikes a pose, because that's what he does. He's hot pink Heracross Mettaton. This event is obviously all about him now.]

Hey guys, that's your creator god, do whatever - [a n y w a y] - I care a lot more about all that than you killing me. Besides which, showing interest in others is part of being a good person or something.

[azumods]

[...jesus shit, michael.]

But that's hardly the sole reason you do it, is it. Because it makes you more of a good person if you care... You would hardly be reacting like this if that's the case.

[Mm.]

What about them do you believe to be worth saving?

[eudaimonikos]

...well, maybe not. I was always interested in people - humans.

[Even before he cared about humans, Michael had always been interested in how they thought. What made them tick. What it was like. Even when he was too low-ranking to dream of designing his own neighborhood at all, much less one bent to that angle. The interest just feels different now.

Speaking of interests taken:]

Are you kidding, they're great. I mean - well, you've met Emmeryn, you know her whole thing she does. And Jake, Jake has always been so patient with me, even when I haven't always deserved it. Always willing to talk me through stuff that a human would've just gotten. Ignis always puts everyone else before himself, and so does Camilla, both to a degree that's gotta be unhealthy at times. But that's fine, they're working on it. There's worse flaws to have for sure. Aya is so ridiculously optimistic. She's what, ten? And her world hasn't prepared her for any of this, but none of the awful bullshit that happens here has ever kept her down for that long. Sena's kinda got something similar going on, his passion is inexhaustible.

[are you just going to let him keep doing this]

[discutio]

[Oh, that's...]

[Wow. He's actually legitimately touched by that. Good job, Michael.]

[azumods]

[.....................

yes actually]

[eudaimonikos]

[fuck me dal alright

There's no apparent pause in Michael's speech, because he can think on his feet if nothing else and that was more an OOC check for worddump anyway]

Bucky has gone through so much for so much longer than traditional human suffering can even last, and he's still the kinda guy who just wants to settle down with his friend and raise goats in peace. Atsushi - we found Atsushi just hanging out alone in Floraroma, did you know that? He didn't really have to come on our nightmare quest to get killed by God twice. But he did, because he wanted to help the people he'd seen there, even though they were too out of it to really be his friends.

[Who else - Zelda, he points at Zelda.] Saturn could tell you about her passion for learning, but he probably doesn't know about all the bullshit she's gone through for her kingdom. And will keep going through forever, because she thinks it's her duty. Honestly, I don't get it, and I'd rather see her free - but I'm not going to do that to her without permission, because I respect her. Same thing for Rey, who I've argued with a lot, because she keeps on seeing the good in everyone well after I've decided not to bother trying.

Kiryu has a very clear sense of justice. He defends those who can't defend themselves. Morag does that too, even if we fight a lot because she's very upright and I'm generally - [He wobbles a hand a little. He just called God an enormous dong directly to its face so you probably get a bit of How He Is?] Kayneth and I didn't get along right away either, but he's actually hilarious.

Speaking of hilarious, Chelsea's a cop! It's weird because I'm pretty sure she's fourteen or something. Not saying she isn't capable, though, she's very persistent and she's not easily fazed by things like - I don't know, corpses? She'll just keep right on going. Not her fault she doesn't even know about David Bowie.

Ari's already saved his world from some dumb asshole who thought he could control everything there. And he took in a ghost. Not as good a Haunter as Jane, but I mean who is? Yuri's got a ghost too, and I've promised to take care of him if he ends up as one after he dies, so he's kinda paying it forward, helping the cause.

Eustace is a ridiculously good Pokemon trainer-parent-thing. He wrote a whole play just for his little Mimikyu to star in, and it was adorable. There was blood and death in it. Keith just came back to us recently from whatever horror realm people go to when we vanish, but boy, you really can't stop him from joining the good fight. Him and...

[Well. Noctis isn't here.]

And Ventus, too! It's great to have Ven back. Another one of those optimists. He actually helped me name Jane, back when we first met. And he was very complimentary about the folk story I told him where the devil is actually helpful, it was very nice of him. I always did like that story. It's nice when humans don't just...write us off.

No one here's ever done that to me. They had every reason to, I've never lied to them about where I come from. I never really thought that I'd have a chance to make friends outside the ones I already had. But here we all are.

[I THINK THAT IS EVERYBODY CURRENTLY PRESENT?]

[hyruglyphics]

[ I MEAN IT IS HER DUTY ITS NOT ALL SUFFERING GOD ]

[azumods]

[.............................

that was surprisingly pure, coming from a demon who called god an enormous dong to its face.]

...That's...impressive, to have all of that without prior preparation.

[or at least he assumes you don't just lie awake compiling a list of reasons you love everybody, because who the hell does that.]

[greydients]

[aw michael

she'll argue with you whenever you want okay]

[thunderwolf]

[Ah shit, now everybody knows......... Eustace is uncomfortable, but still appreciative.

Rose looks like she wants to give Michael a high-five, though.]

[semistableman]

[You're too kind, Michael.]

[bloodspent]

[...You know, he'll let you finish before saying anything, but.]

We've really got to teach you how to discern ages sometime.

[divinedescendant]

["her whole thing she does" is the testimonial of the century. but also how is satan the cutest person here? is that allowed?]

You know, Michael will always pull a face or reply with something flippant if you ever dare to say as much, but...well, you have heard him. He is so tremendously sweet, always finding and holding onto the good and the worthwhile things; it does not surprise me at all, to hear him so quickly list off all these dear moments and lovely things. No one will come quicker at the chance to be of help. It is in the small things; if there is a point of confusion, he is quickest to clarify. He has his own way of checking in on everyone, but makes it understood that he is always there if he is needed. It is in the grander things, just as well. Every danger we have come up against and he stands at the forefront, time and time again, speaking out. No matter the threat, he is always so quick to move to protect—there is a courage and love to that past comprehension.

[She smiles at him, soft.]

How lucky we are to have him with us.

[fuck you you don't get to be so cute and NOT get doxxed yourself for it]

[enjoymyatelier]

...

You’re also actually hilarious, Michael, so here’s to you.

[discutio]

I've known worse daemons. Michael's a good friend, if perhaps a bit infuriating at times. But honestly, I'd argue that sort of thing is what makes friendship worthwhile--sometimes you just want to throttle them, but at the end of the day you're better off having them to annoy the daylights out of you.

[radiantflame]

[Oh shit is that the tiniest sliver of a smile over here

maybe]

[anythingforyou]

[...what the fuck, that's actually sweet, Michael.

And also fair, but mostly sweet.]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[...aww, michael. that's nicer than he expected out of you.]

[perfectselfie]

That is ridiculously sweet of you.

But um. I'm definitely not ten, I was seventeen last December.

[eudaimonikos]

I thought that's how old Sena was.