asgardeventide | (no subject)

[The video feed starts focused in close on a pale blue eye, darting from side to side as its owner attempts to discover if the feed is on. Once that’s apparently ascertained, the picture zooms back to show a face half cloaked in shadow, long pale hair covering what shadows do not. It is a man, perhaps in his mid-twenties, still fine-boned and almost delicate looking, and he is sitting in a dim room, lit only by a single candle.]

Well.

[The voice is higher than one might expect, smooth and cultured. He smiles, and it is at once amused and sharp.]

In light of what we have so recently been told, I have questions for you, my fellow Children of the Child-Worlds. I asked them of Loki, and he made me no answer, so I will ask them of you.

[His expression changes, amusement given way to curiosity, his visible eye seemingly staring straight into the viewer, unblinking. Some might find it a bit unnerving. His voice, though, is calm.]

Why do so many consider the gods liars? Have things they promised come to pass?

And if we fail, what more will be lost than what would be lost if we did nothing?

[after a few seconds, the feed cuts.]

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We are all certain that there are many things the gods are not telling us. And whatever they have told us, we rarely have anything but their words. Words can be very deceitful.

[ And he knows the power of them very well. ]

And what would you have them tell you, to gain your trust?

I cannot quite say. Perhaps all they need to do is act more as our equal, or at least our ally. The former is probably very unlikely.

How have they acted as your enemies?

I have heard that they have killed to prove a point.

[ Which is, really, an absolutely brilliant way to prove a point. He's used it himself. But it's a method you use when you don't care whether or not you're considered an enemy, in belief that it will prove you won't hesitate to use whatever means necessary, should the need arise.

It's terror. ]

I have heard that as well, that they returned the magic of some to prove its deadliness. But I do wonder. Were people told, before they were shown? Were they warned, or lulled and trapped?

[it is a brilliant way to prove a point, which is why ushahin is so curious as to what that point was. most seem to be taking it as 'the gods are cruel', but...perhaps he has spent too much time in the company of a shaper to think things are so simple. so he wonders.]

People did not want to believe the gods when they said that getting their powers back would kill them. I am unsure whether or not they said they would show it or not, but I do not think there was any false sense of security involved.

[ Oh, Ushahin isn't the only one who wonders. Uther wonders about every single thing, nowadays. He's not quite used to that. He's used to being confident, sure of things, and his choices. Asgard has run that down to the ground. ]

[he ponders this a moment]

And how else could that point have been proven?

Probably not any other way. You can argue whether they truly have to prove it or not.

Can you?

[he makes a sweeping gesture with his hand, indicating the network more than the actual space around him. it is dark in his room, but in the low light it's still obvious his fingers are twisted, his hand nearly useless]

I see only demands for truth, for proof.

Certainly. There is, however, nothing that says they have to provide it. As it stands now, we can do them no harm. To our knowledge.

[ And why should they give a damn if they have that much power?

He's definitely not defending them, but he knows what it's like to have the power to overrule as you wish. ]

[he shakes his head a little, making the wrong side of his face visible for a moment--a blur of sunken cheekbone and staring black eye]

You can do them all the harm there is, by not listening or believing or helping. For the purposes of renewing Asgard itself, any feeling will do. But as to the matter of this war...

[he shrugs]

If they were so powerful as to be able to triumph alone, we would not be here. They would offer neither proof nor choices.

Aside from fighting, the only option we have is to sit and wait for defeat or victory. None of us like the situation, but we are prisoners and only truly have that much power over this.

The choice is not a difficult one for me.

[he's beginning to understand this perspective problem, how the thought of 'prisoner' seems to overrule everything in the minds of most travelers, including the end of their own world.]

I am not sure we are saying different things, only drawing different conclusions from them.

What choice will you make, then?

Most certainly.

I do not intend to go down without a fight.

And the quest into the sea? Would you rescue the Lost or slay the Mad?

[ There's a long pause, because it's not a choice he can choose easily. He's been thinking he might just not do anything at all, although he's still weighing his options. Honestly, if people want to rescue Freyr he won't protest against it, but...

Slowly, he says: ]

Freyr saved us.

So I have been told.

[he's not sure if that's uther's answer, or him weighing his options aloud, so he simply waits to see if there's more.]

But there is a threat we're not certain will be diminished if we rescue him. I cannot say it sounds like a wise choice to risk it.

But the same journey must be undertaken to learn how to slay the Mad Goddess. Or would you not risk pursuing her, either?

That depends entirely on the circumstances.

Have we other circumstances than these?

It is uncertain how dangerous Freya is.

True. We only know what the gods say of it. But I wonder if they would have offered the option if they didn't fear her.

There is more to the situation than only her.

[Video]

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