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Post by lichlord on Jun 15, 2018 4:18:51 GMT
Rei quickly gets to Holly's side to protect her when Holly is out of breath.
"She's... She's right! No being with levels of power like yours I trust. Your way will be nothing but trouble."
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Post by Raven on Jun 15, 2018 4:23:53 GMT
The stranger shrugs. "I'm just trying to help you get what you want. That's all. You don't have to do anything." He turns to walk away. "Though, isn't doing something better than doing nothing and stressing about it all the time? Xerneas may be Yveltal's opposite, but that doesn't mean it can help you win...food for thought." He waves over his shoulder as he slowly walks away.
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Post by lichlord on Jun 15, 2018 4:37:59 GMT
"If you are offering this you will want something and that makes you no different to them. I don't need more gods looking over my shoulder. I want 'less'. And I already know Xerneas won't be able to do much."
Rei would say more but it sounds like anything she says will be used against her right back, and she would say that she's not going to sit there and 'do nothing' but she doesn't have a plan yet so...
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Post by Raven on Jun 15, 2018 4:43:03 GMT
The stranger turns back to you. "Well of course I would want something. Nothing is ever truly free in this world, Rei. In truth I just want this whole obnoxious business over with. If helping you to bump off or even just rough up a few of the other "gods" helps it end faster, so much the better! Of course, bumping off "gods" comes with its own set of problems, but you needn't concern yourself with that unless you plan on pursuing that course of action." He sighs. "In any case, I can see you're not interested in what I have to offer, so I'll just leave." He starts to do just that again, walking slowly away, as if he expects to be called back at any moment.
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Post by lichlord on Jun 15, 2018 4:55:15 GMT
Rei sighs.
"I'm not doing anything unless I know who you are. Who you 'really' are. 'Greg' is insufficient."
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Post by Raven on Jun 15, 2018 5:09:43 GMT
Rei can practically see the smirk spreading across "Greg's" face, though when he turns around, he wears the same neutral expression as before.
"Are you sure you don't already know? Well, either way, let's just say that I'm... a god of death. Oh yes, there is more than one "god" with the Aspect of Death. However, where Yveltal is Death Incarnate, I am more along the lines of the Grim Reaper. The one who cleans up after Yveltal." He offers you a shrug, as if that alone should be enough to figure him out. Holly looks visibly pale, and clings to Rei like a lifeline.
"Don't trust a word he says, Rei! Never trust him!" She whispers frantically.
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Post by lichlord on Jun 15, 2018 5:27:57 GMT
Rei freezes a bit. She had come across mentions of who she's staring at right now. The Lord of the afterlife. Giratina. No wonder he's interested in 'helping'. But nothing about this is ok.
"All you are is another god who won't do things themselves and is just relying on me... AGAIN... to do things for you. If you want to bend the rules this far, then why stop here? As you said yourself, the other gods won't do anything."
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Post by Raven on Jun 15, 2018 5:57:26 GMT
"Ah, you see, therein lies the problem. I could try to do something, but one: that would not really accomplish much except waste both of our times, and two: as long as the problem is resolved, I "win" either way. Yveltal's Usurper kills everyone? I collect the souls. You (or someone else) stops the Usurper? Problem solved. So really it's more about what outcome you want. You want the power necessary to take on this Usurper and actually stand a chance at winning? I'm right here. You want to sit back and watch the world burn? No skin off my back." He shrugs.
"Oh, and another thing: I don't control any of the various "Lake Trio" Pokemon. Uxie, Azelf, Mesprit. They only listen to the "big guy upstairs" if ya catch my drift; and that guy don't like me much. Never was clear on why, but that's just how it is. I'm sure you humans have so many delightful stories about it. In any case, like i said: there isn't much I, on my own, can do. Thus, I offer a portion of my power to you, as you can accomplish what I alone cannot. All you need are the right tools." He paces back and forth a bit.
"Now, to avoid my rambling on any further, here's the deal: I give you my access to some of my power. In exchange, you accept my Mark upon you until (at the very least) this Usurper business is dealt with. Win or lose. If, for some reason, you decide you like that power, or simply wish to keep it longer, you are welcome to do so... for as long as the Mark remains upon you. I can revoke it at any time I desire to, naturally." He pauses for dramatic effect as a contract appears in mid-air before you, complete with quill pen. "However... if you decide to keep the power after the Usurper is dealt with, or should you die in the process of completing this quest that has been thrust upon you... I keep your soul, and you become my servant on a more permanent basis. Should these terms be agreeable, simply sign your full, given name upon the dotted line. Yes, I know it seems cliche, but it really is the most efficient method for written agreements."
He halts his pacing and waits for your answer. If you agree, sign away. If you do not, simply turn away and leave.
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Post by lichlord on Jun 15, 2018 6:09:47 GMT
Rei listens but slaps the contract away when it comes down.
"I'm not doing something like giving you my soul. And it's clear you don't even care. Leave us alone. Just everyone leave me alone!"
With that, Rei storms off.
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Post by Raven on Jun 15, 2018 6:40:58 GMT
Holly stabs at the dumb paper for good measure before it vanishes into thin air, along with Giratina. She then runs after Rei.
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Post by lichlord on Jun 15, 2018 6:56:26 GMT
Rei retreats back to the room and just curls up in the corner by herself. She wraps her arms around her head, just trying to shut everything out.
This is too much. This is too too much.
She starts rocking back and forth.
I was offered power. I was offered a way out. And I was too scared to take either...
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Post by Raven on Jun 15, 2018 7:07:49 GMT
Holly cuddles up next to Rei and holds her tightly. She doesn't say a word, just tries to calm her down again. On the inside, she's fuming. How dare all of these things keep upsetting Rei?! Damnit, all she wants is to live a nice, quiet life with Rei. That's it. She needs to get stronger still in order to keep these things away from her mate. All they end up doing is making her upset again, and she's tired of seeing Rei like this. She needs to be able to keep them at bay.. but how? Maybe once she learns to read, she can find a book or something that can help.
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Post by lichlord on Jun 15, 2018 7:38:05 GMT
It wasn't really helping. Rei was just a curled up ball of stress at this point. And she hates it. She was supposed to be changing and taking back her life but every time she tries reality just pushes back HARD. It's like she takes one step forward and then is thrown back to the start. Today proved that even going outside for a calm exploration just leads to problems.
She just can't think about herself. That's clear now. Enjoyment of anything is out the window.
She eventually can't keep it up and passes out in the corner in Holly's arms.
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Post by Raven on Jun 15, 2018 17:58:52 GMT
Holly just holds Rei tightly and snuggles closer to her as she falls asleep.
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Post by lichlord on Jun 18, 2018 6:50:53 GMT
Rei, at some point, woke in the middle of the night. She looks up, and finds nobody in her room. It looks... weirdly empty in the room. She stands, now worried, and makes her way to the lobby. Still nothing. And when she gets outside, that's when she sees it. Her pokemon, Holly's pokemon, and Holly herself are pinned to trees around her, drained of blood. Before Rei can do anything, scream, cry in defeat, anything at all... she looks down and finds out 'why' the blood has been drained. Written on the ground below them in their own blood are the words 'You should have taken it'.
And that's when Rei actually wakes up with a start, probably throwing Holly off to the side. She gets up and runs to the wall, panting and freaking out. She holds the sides of her head as if her mind would explode if she didn't.
"Ah! No! I shouldn't have to take the deal just to save everyone! Leave me alone!"
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Post by Raven on Jun 18, 2018 6:54:34 GMT
When Rei wakes up screaming, Holly's very first reaction is "battle mode". When she fully awakens, and realizes Rei just had a bad dream (all on her own, even!) she calls out softly after setting Honedge aside.
"Rei? It was just a dream. A normal (if bad) dream." She slowly approaches Rei, not wanting to startle her.
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Post by lichlord on Jun 18, 2018 7:45:51 GMT
Rei, still in a half-crazed state, swipes at at the air (harmlessly) in front of her to keep Holly.
"No! Get away! I'm going to get everyone killed because I can't make the right decisions! I was given an out, and I couldn't take it! I was given an option for power where the cost could be ignored if I 'just' used it for our problem, and I couldn't take it! I could take the power for myself, but I don't have the spine to do it! Every decision I've made is the wrong one!"
Rei sinks against the wall.
"I'm gonna break any moment... I just know it. If you stay around me, I'm a danger to you!"
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Post by Raven on Jun 18, 2018 8:01:20 GMT
Now irritated (partly from being woken sooner than expected, and partly because Rei's back to blaming herself for everything), Holly just walks up to Rei and grabs her arms, pinning them to her sides.
"Rei. Stop. You are no more a danger to me now than you were the last dozen times you proclaimed you were the bane of everything. I'll figure something out to put a stop to all of this so you don't have to worry any more (even though I know you will anyway)."
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Post by lichlord on Jun 18, 2018 8:13:32 GMT
Rei struggles in Holly's grasp.
"No! It was too real! I don't want to lose anyone because of my decisions! If taking Giratina's offer would have prevented something, I should have done it! But I was too scared and angry! Now it's too late! I should have thought about it for longer..."
Rei tries to force her way out of the hold.
"Nobody's lives should be in my hands! I'm proven to be a failure! I can't do anything! When's the last time I actually accomplished something outside of 'survive'?!"
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Post by Raven on Jun 18, 2018 8:21:05 GMT
"It was a bad deal to begin with, Rei! There was no guarantee Giratina would have kept its word!" She pins Rei to the wall by her shoulders. "Aside from that, when have I ever cared what you have or have not accomplished?! Doesn't my opinion matter anymore? Don't I matter? I don't want to lose you, Rei. I won't lose you. I love you."
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