network from @monday; forward-dated to Tuesday

[vogelfrei]

In case anybody still has not noticed, Braphine's "surprise" is an interference with our minds that makes us feel closer to one another than we rightfully should be.

Which also seems to answer the ever-lingering question of why she chose a number of people who are not particularly social for her purposes - she has no intentions of letting us 'serve' her naturally. Rather she's as demanding as the gods of old are reported to be, and will gladly use us as her unwilling playthings.

Not that this comes as a great surprise, after the manner of our summoning.

[ And then, added by mental interference and deleted within a minute: ]

Get out of my head. You enjoy the challenge of trying to conquer? Well, I won't give you the satisfaction. Nobody here is

((ooc: feel free to use this post as a network mingle, also!))

Comments

@hoshi

[idealies]

She might think she's helping but exposing people's secrets can just as easily hurt the connection between people
But what do I know?

[vogelfrei]

I agree. There are plenty of things that people keep hidden precisely for the purpose of preserving a bond as-is.

[ McGillis, that's called 'keeping people at arms' length... McGillis... ]

[idealies]

[ Ai sees nothing wrong with that. They're two emotionally well-adjusted people. ]

Yeah. The truth can disappoint people
You can't take it back once it's said you know?
Love isn't something you can force anyway

[vogelfrei]

The only benefit to breaking something through exposing the truth is that it rids you of all illusions and what-ifs.

There is something tantalizing about a bond built on false pretenses, still. It's distracting.

[idealies]

I think illusions can be a kindness
How can we help anyone when we're not our best selves?
Especially when a part of me thinks 'Ahh I don't care about all that. I just want to go home'

[vogelfrei]

Someone cynical might ask why you even bother with helping out when you don't have a real interest in it.

[idealies]

If people heard the truth they'll only feel demotivated
But if a lie can inspire them I think it's worthwhile
However much it makes me feel like a hypocrite

[vogelfrei]

You're somebody who prioritizes the good of all above yourself, then.

On the grand scale, that does make you a kind person - regardless of your hidden feelings on individual situations.

[idealies]

[ Oh. It sounds like a good thing when he puts it like that. ]

I've never thought about it like that before
I'd be relieved if it were true

[emptyself]

Is that something that worries you, Hoshino?

[idealies]

Well yeah since we're being honest
Sometimes lies are for other people's sake

[emptyself]

I see.

I don’t think I really get it, but if it worries you, then that’s what matters the most. We should at least tell Mina what’s going on and say that there’s people that don’t want this to be happening.

he's a dear

[idealies]

I wonder if Mina-san can do anything about it...
Is it okay if we postpone dance practice?

it’s his empty head that can fit so much niceness

[emptyself]

Well, no I don’t mind.

But don’t try to shut yourself away, okay? Three meals, plenty of water, and sunshine are still important.

[idealies]

Your so strange
I wouldn't forget that!
Probably

[emptyself]

You're not the first person to call me weird, you know.

But if you need help, let me know. I really don't mind.

[idealies]

Ahh
There I go saying too much again

[ It's a thought she would have rather kept to herself. Luckily Soujuurou doesn't seem offended. ]

[emptyself]

Don’t worry about it. I know that I’m somehow different from others, so it would take worse to actually hurt me.





Oh, even I’m saying too much, it seems. Please don’t actually take that as an invitation to try and hurt me.

[idealies]

I wouldn't dream of it!

[ Thank goodness that's the truth. ]

But that's why being too honest frightens me
The truth can hurt so we tell white lies...and sometimes big lies

[emptyself]

You're just trying to survive without hurting yourself or being hurt by others right? Modern society sure is scary like that.

But sometimes, things that hurt or are bitter are ultimately good for us. I keep telling Aozaki and Alice that they can't keep eating sweets for dinner, vegetables are necessary for a balanced diet, even if you don't like them.

Maybe a bit of both is fine, though.

[idealies]

Yeah
That's a good way of putting it

[ Not wanting to hurt or be hurt...
His example brings a smile to her face despite everything. ]

Hehe
You're an honest guy aren't you?

[emptyself]

No, you're mistaken. Even I have my secrets.

But I guess in comparison to what others might have, mine might not be that important. They're just things that I'd rather keep to myself.

[idealies]

[ Hmm... ]

Maybe it's only human nature to have a few things we keep to ourselves
People who have no secrets...do they exist?

[emptyself]

I don't know. It's probably rare.

But I know someone like that. Someone that's so bold and unashamed about herself, that I don't think she would ever want to lie or keep a secret.

@shizukisoujuurou

[emptyself]

Really? I didn’t even notice.

But that’s rude of the goddess. Maybe we should let Mina know what’s going on.

[vogelfrei]

Has she given you the impression that she'd care very much and/or have the power to do anything about it?

[emptyself]

She seems to care. And we won’t know how much influence she has unless we ask. At the very least, you can let her know that you didn’t like this. I recently read about workers’ rights, you know.

[vogelfrei]

[ Soujuurou, he was trying very hard to be morose and upset here. You can't just hit him with that last line out of nowhere.

It's good that this is a text conversation so the face McGillis makes reading it remains between him and Braphine. ]

Enforcing workers' rights depends on negotiated contracts. The fact that we have no contract to begin with should tell you all you need to know about our inevitable exploitation.

[emptyself]

Even then, we still have human rights. We can use that to leverage a negotiation.

[vogelfrei]

You're very naive if you believe the appeal to human right in itself is going to sway the hearts of the powerful.

The true leverage we have is not in our dignity as people but in our literal labor, which we can withhold.

Or at least that would be the case with an ordinary employer - but if the Goddess has not exhausted her power to bring us here, she could feasibly discard us and bring a new group even if we did go on strike. That's the risk involved with testing the waters on that route.

[emptyself]

Maybe, but I'm not looking to appeal to her. It happens often, right? You're stuck with a bad boss that won't give you a day off when you're really sick. Sometimes there's nothing that you can do other than to hang on and keep struggling until you find a new job.

But if we're all united in being upset about this, then isn't that like building a bond of its own? Mina said that we had to make bonds, she didn't say how and of what kind.

So doesn't disliking a bad boss count as a bond?

@manslayer

[goei]

I guess none of you are heroic spirits, but speaking as one I can say that most of the times you get summoned, the mage doesn't give a fuck about what you think, they just wanna boss you around.

And mages are always parading around like they think they're gods so it figures one callin' herself a goddess would be just as bad.

[vogelfrei]

I can't say I know what a heroic spirit is, but I am curious to learn.

I understand that you get summoned and presumably grant power to whomever summons you - are you like demons one contracts with?

[goei]

Ehh not really. Anyone who left a mark on history can become a heroic spirit when they die.

The mage that summons us doesn't get any powers out of it, they just get to command us ta fight for'em

[vogelfrei]

That's intriguing. I feel a certain jealousy towards the mages of your world.

[ LET HIM LITERALLY SUMMON HIS HISTORY CRUSH. ]

What was your contribution to your world's past? If it's not too personal.

[ He's certain you'll love to brag though. ]

[goei]

[HELP WHO IS HIS HISTORY CRUSH]

You shouldn't. I think they all got some sorta mental disease that makes them all kinds of nuts.

I was one of the Four Manslayers of the Bakumatsu!! The scourge of those pro-shogunate bastards. We gave them our divine judgement with our blades.
[So murder.]

@harlequin

[cirquedesang]

In my experience people who fancy themselves as "higher powers" delight in exerting this kind of control over others...

So I can't say this is a surprise, no.

[vogelfrei]

All power is a way to exert control one way or another - no matter if the cause is supernatural or merely a personal strength.

In itself, power is neutral - but there are distasteful ways of exerting it and this ranks very high on the list for me.