AUDIENCE: ELSA

[retellers]

Comments

[retellers]

... closing your eyes is fine.

[ they look at the thermos. ]

Basically, last week there were a lot of assumptions made on how removals would go. So now because of that, they're most likely going to be stuck as a public affair for a while, unless something else happens.

[showyourself]

...Unless something else happens?

[she covers her mouth with a hand, quiet and thoughtful.]

I'd prefer if no one was removed at all. It all feels so wrong, even thinking about it.

[think, think.]

Is it something to do with the nova?

[retellers]

It's mostly that... the Realm doesn't normally deal with people directly. It's usually just a passive being that watches over nova, so it bringing us all here was its very desperate attempt at cleaning up a mess.

But it's not a being like we are--it doesn't have thoughts like we do or its own emotions. All it has to go by is the nova it watches over. Memories and the emotions of others' that are attached to those memories. So, during and after Virid's trial, everyone started speculating what removing him would mean. Most people thought it would be something very bad, like an execution. So, the Realm made it an execution, because if everyone thought it would be one, then that must be the truth.

[ they open the thermos. ]

It's both easy and difficult to influence the Realm. It's easy in the sense that it reads our subconscious thoughts and memories, and makes decisions based on them. It's hard because it's aware when people are actively trying to influence it, so everyone suddenly just thinking very nice thoughts about what they want to happen won't work. It'll know people are trying to change it on purpose.

[showyourself]

[elsa is quiet as he speaks, taking it in. it's the most she's heard of it, and the most she has to consider. but in summary...]

We're shaping what happens—whether we like it or not. It's like... something we can only see out of the corner of our eye. But if we try to look directly at it...

[hmm.]

It's like a plant, in a way. It can feel the changes around it, but it doesn't think about it—it just adjusts, depending on what it deems necessary to survive.

[retellers]

[ they let out a low whistle. ]

You got it. That's basically it, more or less.

[showyourself]

[despite tiger's words, she's frowning, looking down in thouhgt, still piecing it out.]

So, bringing us here... that's part of adjusting—or cleaning up something, like you said. Collecting the nova... is that so it can survive? Is that like... water to a plant? Or air?

[she looks up suddenly, at tiger.] The nova. There was some talk of what draws it. Do we know for sure?

[retellers]

Emotions, usually. So the theory is that people are getting murdered to draw nova from the strong emotions for that.

[ they make a gagging motion. ]

I don't think that's right. Just you guys being here, being yourselves, is enough to draw nova in. And yeah, killing apparently does get nova, but you also get it from doing other, non-murdery shit too. I don't think killing people would get nova any faster than not, so it's not worth it.

[showyourself]

Okay. [she hums again, thoughtfully.] We're the sponge. We soak up the plant's spilled water—the nova—and give it back to the Realm.

[...]

Are we losing nova, somehow? In any way? Do we--do you know what made it scatter in the first place?

[retellers]

Apparently it's some creature that's taking it. Like a monster? We don't know what it looks like, just that it's some kind of life form.

As for losing... you guys are losing memories, but the six of us are shielding you and this place from losing things a lot faster. It's why we traded our memories in the first place--we gave the Realm them so that it could power us up more. So as long as that holds up, we shouldn't lose anything more than what's already happening.

[showyourself]

[she's nodding again.] That makes sense. The monster... it's... it's a parasite. Like mistletoe.

Does the monster have any thoughts? Or is it similarly... uncaring?

If we can find it... remove it... that's our solution.

[none murder necessary!!]

[retellers]

We don't know if it has thoughts, but... I think we should just assume it's possible it does have some, and it knows exactly what it's doing, or that it's just a creature that might be doing this for some other reason.

[ they nod. ]

We have no idea where it is at the moment. But if we find that out...

[showyourself]

Right. But we have to find it, first.

[she's pacing.]

If it's taking the nova, then we... can't we track the nova? We can follow where it goes.

I want to find it. I don't know what I'll be able to do, then, but... [she looks at Tiger.] What do you think? Where do we start?

[retellers]

[ they don't respond right away, and instead just look at her. ]

You're pretty smart.

[showyourself]

Huh?

[she stops, mid-pace, and blinks.]

I... thank you?

[???]

[retellers]

No, you understood a lot more than like... almost everyone else here?

[showyourself]

...Well, if that's the case... Then I can tell everyone about it.

[...]

Is that allowed? There's a lot of rules.

[retellers]

As long as you're not being obvious about which Leader you spoke to, yeah, I think it should be fine.

[showyourself]

Okay. Then, the next time everyone is gathered in one place, I'll tell them. I think... it's important that everyone knows. Not just a few people.

It could mean that we all finally focus on what really matters. [instead? of?? MURDER???]

[retellers]

[ they nod. ]

Yeah. I'm sure there's people who haven't bothered to ask us anything, so that'll work.

[showyourself]

[hmm. moody people, she assumes.]

Thank you, Tiger.

I'm not certain if we should be doing well in the ranks, or not, but... I'm glad I'm on your team.

[retellers]

[ there's a beat. ]

You are?

[showyourself]

Yes. Of course.

Why wouldn't I be?

[retellers]

Have you spoken to the other Leaders...?

[showyourself]

I have. Or, rather, I'm getting around to it.

Are you comparing yourself to them?

[retellers]

It's less that, and more that I know what people are drawn to.