[superhell pcs] mephisto

[voidshift]

Comments

[voidshift]

In "hell". I think- that was why Lin tried to kill her.

[teufelshund]

What do you mean?

[voidshift]

It's still a little-

[he shakes his head, like he's trying to clear it.]

I think we had to kill him because he was possessed. We found Bucky with someone D.va knew, they'd gotten to him too-- Bucky tried to shoot him. She wouldn't let him. I think she was real.

[teufelshund]

Hm.

I still wonder about how Blue Hawaiian ended up on that other one with you. Who really has control over any of what happens here.

[voidshift]

Last I asked, he had no idea either. Sounds like those two had it out with their boss over the situation.

So, at the least-- not them. Don't think they'd put themselves through it just to dodge suspicion.

[teufelshund]

So I heard.

Have you spoken to Satan yourself?

[ truly taking everything in him not to keep putting audible airquotes around the name. ]

[voidshift]

Haven't bothered, honestly. I'm guessing you have? Or did you just hear from Date?

[teufelshund]

I did this week, finally, though not about that.

Didn't really get off on the right foot. The part where he left me on read at the end was the closest he ever seemed to the Satan I know.

[voidshift]

You? Getting off on the wrong foot with someone? I wouldn't have guessed.

[he has to.]

What did you say before he stopped answering?

[teufelshund]

[ yeah, shocker. ]

Asked a bunch of questions, mostly.

Supposedly all of us who are still alive — or, well, only dead once-over — were deposited in some sort of dimension broken off from the original time axis while all the double-dead are still in the original one. It shouldn't theoretically be impossible to make contact in a more meaningful way than those ridiculous radio messages.

He confirmed it's not impossible for them to attend the party, but also said they wouldn't have any chance at winning, because they made up the rules before they knew there were going to be murders or something. I asked why he couldn't just rework the contract if he was the one in charge of everything, and if there was some other entity insisting he keep things a certain way, and he didn't like either of those questions.

He's also not the original Satan of this world. He's some sort of replacement, though I couldn't get an answer as to how long he'd been in the position. Might explain the change in the whole hell approach that the "demons" have mentioned before.

[voidshift]

What-- but it would make more sense for it to be the other way around, wouldn't it? For them to be in some split-off one and us to be in the original? Unless that's just... some sort of holding pattern we're in for 'party' reasons.

Suppose being a replacement Satan would explain some things, though, yes. We already know our demons weren't really that demonic, I have to wonder if their boss is just using a name as well.

[teufelshund]

Yes, I thought the same. Sounded like he was trying to quarantine us for being so murder-happy, but it seems like a backwards way of doing things.

[ speaking as someone who has broken off MANY spacetime pockets. ]

It may have been the real name of the original, but it's more of a job title for this one, it seems.

[voidshift]

But if things were set up before they knew there would be murders, why would we have needed to be quarantined? Unless he was saying this split with us happened after people started double dying, or whatever happens... which also doesn't make sense, considering they say they aren't alone over there. So. We were all separate to begin with, or so I'd assume.

[teufelshund]

Because "the general public" shouldn't have to deal with us murdering and breaking things, was the official statement.

[ eyeroll. ]

I'm not entirely sure if he was saying the split happened afterward or that the split itself was the division between the one we're in and the one that all the rest of hell is in. He did say that they're in the real one because they're already guaranteed to be stuck here forever and we're not. ...Which still seems ridiculous to me since the system they've ended up with is essentially built to reward those who get away with murder when that's the opposite of what they claim to want.

[ sighs and shakes his head. ]

Anyway, he's not going to win any awards for his masterful articulation of ideas, I can tell you that.

[voidshift]

That's more or less what I've heard from others who spoke to him.

[faint amusement, there.]

But- not sure the system really rewards or encourages getting away with murder that much, does it? Especially at this point. All it really ever did was remove competition, but that hasn't even been why most of them happened.

[teufelshund]

Maybe it doesn't necessarily encourage it, but removing competition while keeping you in the game is certainly a reward, regardless of whether it's what's actually being sought after.

[voidshift]

Suppose I have higher standards for rewards at that risk level than just-- a lack of consequences.

[teufelshund]

With each competitor removed, you — and any friends or lovers who remain — have a better chance of getting out, if we assume this whole premise isn't garbage.

[ which is a very large assumption he's personally never made, but. ]

Whether that matters to you or not, it's not just a lack of consequences.

[voidshift]

If we assume the premise has any meaning, then getting there on its own is a step anyway, not a win condition. I'm not putting too much value on it-- it'd be a necessary step, sure, but it's not all there is.

[he shrugs slightly, though, settling in to pet his cat as she curls up on him.]

...speaking of rewards, though, I've meant to ask. Did you end up with anything useful when you had that adventure of yours?

[teufelshund]

Well, wars are won through many individual battles.

[ he smiles at that question. ]

I did! One of those handheld gaming devices I showed you during the sports festival.

How about you?

[voidshift]

-well, useful is a very relative word, but I did get something from mine, yes.

[i forgot to finish this but he does fish out a book from somewhere in his bunk]

[teufelshund]

I think you could say "useful" is relative in my case as well, but it's well-suited to me, at least.

[ watches curiously! what is this mystery book ]

[voidshift]

[a copy of dr. doolittle, it looks like.]

Not very helpful unless I need to question Suran'dor over something, but.

[teufelshund]

[ ...well, he can guess what that does before rynlan even says anything. ]

That raises an interesting question, actually! Do pets fall asleep at the same time as the rest of us on Thursday nights, or are they immune?

[ turns to look at her... ]

Who's to say she couldn't be a valuable trial witness if she was in the right place at the right time?

[ flashbacks to the time a character i played had to question a crab ]

[voidshift]

Think the dog was asleep, before, so it might not be very helpful for that sort of thing. I thought about it too.

[but it seems like they just pass out... sleepy cerb and sleepy yoru...]

Been considering how else it might be worthwhile to use, but-- nothing so far.