In a way, yes. We all have our obligations, but- it's complicated. I was created first, and so I was educated to be the peacekeeper and decision maker.
[He isn't sure how much detail to go into here, but there's no harm in it, even if it's a lot to explain. Sorrow is quiet for a moment, before murmuring an affirmation.]
We're only one, hmm... 'cohort'? I don't know the term you'd use. There used to be many groups of us, one per segment of population.
[Sorrow pauses, before making a halfhearted gesture to the crumbling city around him.]
There's so much Faith wants to know, so much of what he's just said that she wants to follow up on. She could stay here forever talking to him, even though it's his temple and therefore a little sad -- but what he said is so sad. There's a twinge in her chest like when she feels like she might cry. They were many, and now they are few. This city was their kingdom, and now it's in ruins. They were a unit, and they were killed off.
And now they're coming back one by one, at the expense of the emotions of the people here.]
Team. [Faith's voice is soft as she thinks back to her own team, to the ones she didn't know very well but gave their lives for the cause, and those close to her heart who died because-- because of her. Because she wasn't enough.] I'd call that a team.
[A family.]
I'm sorry. It must've been stunning in its heyday.
[Faith squints and tries to picture it (and tries to fight back tears -- that slight influence of the temple is really working on her heart-on-your-sleeve emotions. It's not faked, either. She'd come here looking to find out about the Door, and now she cares about the gods.
Oops.]
Growin' up, they told me I was a legend. Meant to save the world. I did, sort of. With help. But I lost teammates in the fight. And it's 'cos of them we won at all.
[Which is to say, she understands responsibility, the burden of leadership, of caring for the people working for and with you and your dream.
She may even understand doing whatever it takes to get them back if she could.]
[It's difficult to tell what, exactly he's confirming- if the terminology seems right to him, if the city was stunning, or if he simply understands the concept of losing allies for a greater gain.
He's getting power from this conversation, but there's no pleasure to it. Sorrow is largely an honest creature and he doesn't generally try to manipulate others to get what he needs. There's suffering in everyone- he doesn't have to pick at the wounds.]
That is my hope, [he murmurs, and instead of his voice coming out of her small phone, it comes from behind her, near the altar. Sorrow is standing, straight-backed behind it, where there was nothing there before, and he watches Faith with a quiet expression.]
That we can survive, despite- because of- our sacrifices.
[As soon as it registers that Sorrow is in the room with her, Faith turns to face him. There's no attempt to hide the emotion on her face. If anything, there's more of the same twinge inside when she sees him, because he looks no different from her, just like she looks no different from humans or even superhumans. Sure, that's not his real form, but it's what he's chosen now, and it hammers the point home that he's a person. He has feelings. He grieves and hopes and wants like anyone else does.
What's a title like 'god' or 'legend' mean anyway, except to separate people, to put some above others. What's it matter, when in the end they can live or die like anyone else. Kingdoms and civilizations come and go, but people are still people.
That's why she did what she did back home. That's why she'd do it again if she had to.]
I hope so too, for your sake. If I could-- If I could bring back some o' the people that died, I think-- I'd at least try. [She can't lie to him about that, not when he's taken the time to show himself, when he's shared something so painful.
Faith takes it that he means their kingdom was stunning in the past, so she follows up from there.] Now that Tranquility's back, you think you'll get it looking like before?
[She's genuinely curious. Clearly they're not like the original inhabitants of the city, but maybe the aesthetic will be nice to live amid anyway.]
It depends on his priorities. I believe there are more important tasks for him.
[Logical as ever, though it might be unfortunate to continue to have to endure the city in the crumbled state that it's in. The sight of it is a reminder of the destruction that happened here, but more rational decisions need to be made, and Sorrow is the one to make them.
On the topic of sacrifice and resurrection though, he's quiet, returning to an introspective state and not necessarily looking at Faith as he thinks. In truth, it's difficult to decide on what to say, and while he's generally forthright with information, this conversation has taken a bit of a personal turn.
Sorrow hesitates, before meeting her eyes.]
I was the last to die. The city was razed before my passing, but many of the others did not live to see it. They look at it now with new eyes and are saddened by it.
[He shakes his head once, curt and dismissive.]
But the state of the city doesn't matter. Its purpose is to sustain life, not to be aesthetically pleasing.
[Sort of like how there are things Faith wants to do back home, but the priorities are repairing Manchester and making sure the talks and such between humans and superhumans don't end up spawning another Rosenberg to start that whole mess all over again.
The longer this conversation goes on, the more Faith feels like they're not so different after all. Being the last to die means he watched it all happen, watched his friends fall and his city burn (if it burned; however it was it went down, he saw it).
It's so much like back home, right now. Almost too much.]
Does it make you sad, then? Makes me sad, now you've said all you have. [She is unintentionally providing him energy, but she really doesn't mind. Faith's got power to spare, and worse comes to worst, Hope will bring her back, right?]
S'ppose you're right. It's good enough to live in, an' Tranquility's sky is a good breather from what it's been. For what it's worth, Sorrow? I don't hate you. The things you an' the others do to us -- the'yre not always good, but it's hardly your fault that's how you get your power.
[Nature back home isn't kind anyway. Humans kill to eat, right? It's not humans' fault they need protein and iron, or that bone broth strengthens you up when you're sick, or that eggs and milk and cheese taste so good even though they could serve their source animals' purposes if not for humans.
Nothing's permanent anyway. That's just how life is. One big, enormous place where everything supports something, everyone supports someone.]
[He isn't quite sure how to answer her question at first, and his brows furrow slightly in response, before he shakes his head once. It's not that he isn't sad- sorrow is a part of him- but rather, that he's never had the luxury of letting it consume him. Sorrow may not have an abundance of hope, but he is intent on moving forward, forever, running if he can, walking if he can't, and crawling if he's struck down.]
It makes me want to fix it. [Which is really, the long and short of it. If Sorrow had given into despair, then this whole thing would have been over a long time ago. It's sad- he's devastated, but there's no time for that, and there won't be time for a good while yet, so he moves on.
There's a pause, before he meets her eyes again, firm and uncompromising.]
Everything I do is for their survival. I would ask that you remember that.
[She's right about one thing- it's not exactly their fault, how they get their power. It's simply what they are, and what they need to do to survive. The more of the humans who realize that, the better.]
[Ah Sorrow. That's just what Faith would say.] We're not so different, then.
[Not the same, but not so different. Her sadness over the atrocities committed by a monster led her to fight. There was no time for her to feel sorry for herself, to wallow in what she'd done in ignorance. Her team had needed her, and she'd needed them. She'd had to choose action, for everyone's sake, and she'd chosen it with conviction.]
Course I'll remember. [In the face of his stern gaze, she smiles. He does it for the others, not for him. That's beautiful.]
I should get going. Thanks for the chat. Erm-- don't suppose you'd like a hug?
[Because she suddenly really wants to give him one.]
[He doesn't know what she's been through, but through her sorrow, he can catch glimpses of it. That's enough for him to know that there are at least some similarities.
At the offer, however, Sorrow stiffens. His expression pinches in a little and he shakes his head once, surprised and clearly disapproving.]
[She almost laughs at how he reacts -- it's cute, and she's willing to bet he's never been asked before -- but she reins in the impulse. He's been good enough to talk to her. She won't ruin that for a quick laugh.]
Thought so, s'why I asked first. [She gives him a small smile, and nods.] Thanks for comin' to talk to me in person. Won't forget this.
[Then she waves, her smile a bit wider, and heads off. She means it -- she won't forget all he told her, and she won't blame him or the others for what they have to do to survive.]
[Sorrow offers her a curt nod as she leaves. If Faith chooses to try and look back toward him, she'd find that he'd disappeared, just as quickly as he'd shown himself earlier.]
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[He isn't sure how much detail to go into here, but there's no harm in it, even if it's a lot to explain. Sorrow is quiet for a moment, before murmuring an affirmation.]
We're only one, hmm... 'cohort'? I don't know the term you'd use. There used to be many groups of us, one per segment of population.
[Sorrow pauses, before making a halfhearted gesture to the crumbling city around him.]
This was our kingdom.
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Where to start.
There's so much Faith wants to know, so much of what he's just said that she wants to follow up on. She could stay here forever talking to him, even though it's his temple and therefore a little sad -- but what he said is so sad. There's a twinge in her chest like when she feels like she might cry. They were many, and now they are few. This city was their kingdom, and now it's in ruins. They were a unit, and they were killed off.
And now they're coming back one by one, at the expense of the emotions of the people here.]
Team. [Faith's voice is soft as she thinks back to her own team, to the ones she didn't know very well but gave their lives for the cause, and those close to her heart who died because-- because of her. Because she wasn't enough.] I'd call that a team.
[A family.]
I'm sorry. It must've been stunning in its heyday.
[Faith squints and tries to picture it (and tries to fight back tears -- that slight influence of the temple is really working on her heart-on-your-sleeve emotions. It's not faked, either. She'd come here looking to find out about the Door, and now she cares about the gods.
Oops.]
Growin' up, they told me I was a legend. Meant to save the world. I did, sort of. With help. But I lost teammates in the fight. And it's 'cos of them we won at all.
[Which is to say, she understands responsibility, the burden of leadership, of caring for the people working for and with you and your dream.
She may even understand doing whatever it takes to get them back if she could.]
action
[It's difficult to tell what, exactly he's confirming- if the terminology seems right to him, if the city was stunning, or if he simply understands the concept of losing allies for a greater gain.
He's getting power from this conversation, but there's no pleasure to it. Sorrow is largely an honest creature and he doesn't generally try to manipulate others to get what he needs. There's suffering in everyone- he doesn't have to pick at the wounds.]
That is my hope, [he murmurs, and instead of his voice coming out of her small phone, it comes from behind her, near the altar. Sorrow is standing, straight-backed behind it, where there was nothing there before, and he watches Faith with a quiet expression.]
That we can survive, despite- because of- our sacrifices.
no subject
What's a title like 'god' or 'legend' mean anyway, except to separate people, to put some above others. What's it matter, when in the end they can live or die like anyone else. Kingdoms and civilizations come and go, but people are still people.
That's why she did what she did back home. That's why she'd do it again if she had to.]
I hope so too, for your sake. If I could-- If I could bring back some o' the people that died, I think-- I'd at least try. [She can't lie to him about that, not when he's taken the time to show himself, when he's shared something so painful.
Faith takes it that he means their kingdom was stunning in the past, so she follows up from there.] Now that Tranquility's back, you think you'll get it looking like before?
[She's genuinely curious. Clearly they're not like the original inhabitants of the city, but maybe the aesthetic will be nice to live amid anyway.]
no subject
[Logical as ever, though it might be unfortunate to continue to have to endure the city in the crumbled state that it's in. The sight of it is a reminder of the destruction that happened here, but more rational decisions need to be made, and Sorrow is the one to make them.
On the topic of sacrifice and resurrection though, he's quiet, returning to an introspective state and not necessarily looking at Faith as he thinks. In truth, it's difficult to decide on what to say, and while he's generally forthright with information, this conversation has taken a bit of a personal turn.
Sorrow hesitates, before meeting her eyes.]
I was the last to die. The city was razed before my passing, but many of the others did not live to see it. They look at it now with new eyes and are saddened by it.
[He shakes his head once, curt and dismissive.]
But the state of the city doesn't matter. Its purpose is to sustain life, not to be aesthetically pleasing.
no subject
[Sort of like how there are things Faith wants to do back home, but the priorities are repairing Manchester and making sure the talks and such between humans and superhumans don't end up spawning another Rosenberg to start that whole mess all over again.
The longer this conversation goes on, the more Faith feels like they're not so different after all. Being the last to die means he watched it all happen, watched his friends fall and his city burn (if it burned; however it was it went down, he saw it).
It's so much like back home, right now. Almost too much.]
Does it make you sad, then? Makes me sad, now you've said all you have. [She is unintentionally providing him energy, but she really doesn't mind. Faith's got power to spare, and worse comes to worst, Hope will bring her back, right?]
S'ppose you're right. It's good enough to live in, an' Tranquility's sky is a good breather from what it's been. For what it's worth, Sorrow? I don't hate you. The things you an' the others do to us -- the'yre not always good, but it's hardly your fault that's how you get your power.
[Nature back home isn't kind anyway. Humans kill to eat, right? It's not humans' fault they need protein and iron, or that bone broth strengthens you up when you're sick, or that eggs and milk and cheese taste so good even though they could serve their source animals' purposes if not for humans.
Nothing's permanent anyway. That's just how life is. One big, enormous place where everything supports something, everyone supports someone.]
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It makes me want to fix it. [Which is really, the long and short of it. If Sorrow had given into despair, then this whole thing would have been over a long time ago. It's sad- he's devastated, but there's no time for that, and there won't be time for a good while yet, so he moves on.
There's a pause, before he meets her eyes again, firm and uncompromising.]
Everything I do is for their survival. I would ask that you remember that.
[She's right about one thing- it's not exactly their fault, how they get their power. It's simply what they are, and what they need to do to survive. The more of the humans who realize that, the better.]
no subject
[Not the same, but not so different. Her sadness over the atrocities committed by a monster led her to fight. There was no time for her to feel sorry for herself, to wallow in what she'd done in ignorance. Her team had needed her, and she'd needed them. She'd had to choose action, for everyone's sake, and she'd chosen it with conviction.]
Course I'll remember. [In the face of his stern gaze, she smiles. He does it for the others, not for him. That's beautiful.]
I should get going. Thanks for the chat. Erm-- don't suppose you'd like a hug?
[Because she suddenly really wants to give him one.]
no subject
[He doesn't know what she's been through, but through her sorrow, he can catch glimpses of it. That's enough for him to know that there are at least some similarities.
At the offer, however, Sorrow stiffens. His expression pinches in a little and he shakes his head once, surprised and clearly disapproving.]
I would not. Your offer is noted.
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Thought so, s'why I asked first. [She gives him a small smile, and nods.] Thanks for comin' to talk to me in person. Won't forget this.
[Then she waves, her smile a bit wider, and heads off. She means it -- she won't forget all he told her, and she won't blame him or the others for what they have to do to survive.]
no subject
[Sorrow offers her a curt nod as she leaves. If Faith chooses to try and look back toward him, she'd find that he'd disappeared, just as quickly as he'd shown himself earlier.]