( video, un: koriel - slightly forward-dated )

[passio]

[ on the morning of the 14th, everyone’s feeds get to enjoy what appears to be a somber-looking video of a somber-looking man. his shoulders are hunched, his eyes downcast, and one might wonder why he’s making a video if he’s going to look this sad while doing it. don’t worry about it. ]

It’s…

[ he falters. he should have planned this out a little better. ]

I’m sorry to bring them up again, but what was said about the Oracles of the Sinless has been weighing on my mind. One of those members mentioned wanting to “reset” the world…

[ a new game+, as tarn put it. ]

My world is… I… [ although he can't finish his thoughts, it doesn't sound like he's getting emotional. his voice is quiet, but even-toned. ] It’s been destroyed. Most people are dead, and those that aren’t are… unwell. And when I think about that, the idea of resetting the world doesn’t seem wrong.

[ he seems to realize that he’s dangerously close to spreading cult propaganda, and he looks up at the camera with the first fluctuation of emotion—from a kind of downtrodden pensiveness to concern. ]

But I don’t think it seems right, either. I don’t know. [ he glances away from the camera once again. ] The Sinless must be scared. They don’t want the world to get worse. Our arrival here… it makes beautiful things, but maybe…

…um. I wanted to know what everyone else thinks.

Comments

[passio]

[ dextera nods. there’s a lot about the history of this planet that they don’t know. it’s possible that some time long ago, the sinless had the most logical approach. ]

What if the living were okay with it? A new world…

[sleepinglotus]

It would have to be a very unanimous decision and if the population is large enough the chances of that happening would be very slim.

[passio]

Ah… maybe that’s true.

[ dextera considers how much he wants to reveal, and decides there isn’t any harm in it except the pity it might evoke. ]

There are only about 10 of us left, in my world.

[sleepinglotus]

... ten.

Ten in the whole world.

[You maybe want to explain how that's even possible? He sounds absolutely baffled.]

[passio]

[ dextera, to his credit, does think about what he’s said. ten might be a little strict. ]

Maybe… fifteen.

[ though as he says that, he realizes that there’s a whole world out there, far from him, that he hasn’t experienced. without things like television, however, it’s impossible to say what other countries look like. ]

[sleepinglotus]

But--

... I don't understand. How is it so few?

[passio]

[ dextera shakes his head. ]

The world ended, and the only people who were saved were people who knew what to expect.

[ people who were already falling apart… those who had already distorted enough to live in the new world. even if there were people where dextera couldn’t know about them, they probably aren’t good people. ]

[sleepinglotus]

[Ren is clearly stunned, right into utter silence. He can't really process it, even if that is something that Remnant is at risk of if they can't find a way to deal with Salem. To hear it from someone who actually lived the scenario is just...

He doesn't know what to say.]

[passio]

[ dextera lets him stay in silence until he himself starts to feel awkward, and then he continues with something that he hopes is reassuring. ]

…but I don’t think we’ll lose anyone else.

[sleepinglotus]

No, I suppose not.

[It's said dryly, Ren still sitting pretty firmly in shock. It's likely to stay with him for a while after this conversation is over.]

Remnant... Remnant already got "reset" once. In the sense that all human life was destroyed. The only survivor was someone who was being punished for trying to incite a war against the god brothers. They made her immortal for her crime. Now, though... she's bitter and vengeful and powerful and if we're not careful she's going to cause it to happen all over again.

[passio]

[ it’s something that is… similar enough, perhaps, to how things might have gone if the absolute god had been vengeful instead of infinitely kind. the archangel would have deserved what he got. ]

And how will you stop her?

[ what will they do if they can’t? ]

[sleepinglotus]

That is the important question, isn't it?

[A sigh, tired and strained just thinking about it.]

Right now we're just trying to get to where we need to be next and hopefully figure out things from there. The biggest issue is keeping these powerful relics away from her. We have one, currently, and were going for the next one in line.

[passio]

[ dextera doesn’t know anything about relics or anything like that. his mission is not something that can be shared with others—it’s his own burden. he wouldn’t wish it on others, even if he could. although their task is daunting, he envies that there’s a group to take it on. ]

…one step at a time. That’s the only way, sometimes.

[sleepinglotus]

[Ren wouldn't wish this solo on anyone. He's pretty sure even Ozpin wouldn't want someone to go alone against Salem. It would be suicide.

But... one step at a time. He knows that well.]

Keep moving forward.