003 [Video/Action]

[learninghumanity]

[Laura is walking through the now colourful land of Asgard. She looks less like someone who is appreciating the beauty of nature and more like a caged animal pacing.

She raises her communicator to give a panoramic view of a multi-hued area of the streets of Asgard, moving it around to prove her points.]

The gods cannot be relied on to keep their word. They will probably try to hold onto us for insurance.

[Pessimistic? Just a bit. But then, Laura has never been a ray of sunshine. It's not in her nature to see the bright side of life.]

Comments

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

I would like to start working on finding food sources independent of what the gods provide to us. The less control they have over the necessities, the better.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

Food sources, like... natural sources?

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

Yes.

[She counts wild animals amongst those natural sources, though.]

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

I guess that's d-doable... the flora of this city c-could offer us something. A-and there's even a lake.

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

That would be good. I can catch fish easily enough.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

Are you g-going to start stocking up now?

[A pause.]

I just hope taking b-bits from their world w-won't anger the gods. Their curses can hit anyone...

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

I would rather be cursed because I did something to anger them than be cursed at random.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

People get cursed at r-random here...?

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

Many people expressed a desire to have their original powers returned to them. Some of them received them...for just a few minutes, only to die.

[Rather graphically, even by Laura's standards, but that's neither here nor there. Hanako is a gentle enough person that she won't go into details unless asked about them.]

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

[...Oh. That.]

...Y-yeah, I- I witnessed one of the d-deaths in video... [Eugh she doesn't want to remember]

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

The targets seemed to have been selected at random. If the gods are going to punish someone, they can punish me for rebelling against them.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

... Aren't y-you afraid to... die? Even th-though you'll be back...

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

No, I am not. They would have to work hard to put me through worse than I have already lived through.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

[She perks up slightly at that. Worse than being stabbed by a loved one or have your head explode...?

Some macabre curiosity assaults her, but she's quick at kicking it back down.]

... Oh, I'm sorry.

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

There is no need to apologize. You were not responsible for any of it.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

But I didn't want you to be r-reminded of it...

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

They are only memories and you are not the cause of them.

[Somewhat firmly. She doesn't want to be unkind, but it's not a subject that she wants to dwell on, either.]

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

...

Okay... f-fine.

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

How is your growth power coming along?

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

I'm i-improving it a little, it t-takes a long time b-because it always wears me out a-after a bit of training.

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

As long as you keep practicing, you will improve.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

I hope so...

[Audio]

[learninghumanity]

I attended a school for people with powers. I know so.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

... Then I- I'll trust y-your judgement.