WE ARE BAD AND THAT'S GOOD

[queenofkur]

there's no one I'd rather be than me

This hyper super duper secret post is for the villains who dwell deep into the Underworld. They may be trying to end humanity, but that's not bad. That's just their job and they're doing their best with it. They may be cold, cruel or whiny, but deep down they're still the same. Except Tsururu who has no memories left. And Godzilla who's losing his mind. Oh and there's Yuji who has to watch all this and hope someone will come soon.

Sweet, sweet tragedy. On the bright side, Silco's more or less the same as usual, he just got more friends now.

Comments

Fighting over Yuji

[curingidiocy]

[ Placed in the centre of the drab clearing arranged to be their meeting spot is a cage with a familiar young man trapped inside—the topic of today's get-together. If it has to be called that, because Ratio would rather be trying to figure out how to pull in even more Outsiders to corrupt them, or finding ways to corrupt the people of this planet in ways that would make them more useful than simply killing them off.

But perhaps this is an opportunity he can make use of, if the others agreed to lend him their intruder. ]

It seems a little mouse has snuck his way into our space.

[cranekin]

That's...

(Tsurumaru is quiet, studying the boy in the cage. Brows knit together and he frowns for just a moment, seemingly thinking about something.

That's Y̴̻̍u̶̙͝j̵̺͂ḭ̴̋-̶̡̉k̶̢͛ụ̸̄n̵̪̎.̴̢͠

He shakes his head. It isn't important, he thinks, and he smiles lightly,)

I think this is more interesting than a mouse.

now that i have icons teehee

[zauneyete]

Are you surprised?

[ Silco might be the least changed, beyond the change in hair and eye color, but Silco was... Silco. How much changing did one have to do, to convince him to kill every person imaginable? Before here, after all, he'd been trying to eradicate every reality.

This is nothing! ]

Eventually, one of them would find their way here, trying to follow one of us through a portal. [ A little scoff. ]

I assume you have an idea?

[inaahisa]

.........

[ This corrupted goddess looks most unimpressed. What kind of people throw themselves into rifts when they know the consequences can only be bad?! Has she overestimated the outsiders?

Still... Desperate enough to jump in a rift. That means they have no idea where they are and what they're risking here. Good, everything's proceeding as planned. ]

Do not harm him but do not let him slack, either. [This is a very orderly underworld, and everyone here works hard towards the completion of their plan. No reason why prisoners should be an exception. He can make bone necklaces to raise moral or fortify one of the gates.] Above all, keep his implants from reactivating.

i don't have the right icons yet but i couldn't resistttt

[curingidiocy]

[ There is a compulsion in him to obey her words, which he does not resist strongly, even though a part of him screams that something is wrong, deep in his soul. She is his

lonely pitiful kind sweet caring trusted friend



goddess



But. ]

If I may, Lady Ereshkigal. I believe I may put him to better use.

[30storieshigh]

[ Godzilla lifts his head up from his napping position to take stock of the situation. If the snort of smoke from his nostrils is anything to go by, he is not impressed. ]

Bah, the temperament of this one should be well known. Best to kill it rather than play with your catch. Or do you seek one of us to do the deed so as to remain yourself unbloodied?

[coordination]

Someone was bound to make it here, considering how paranoid everybody started getting.

I'm almost expecting more. Dearka came pretty damn close to following me in.

[ He idly rubs at his wrist, recalling. ]

The question now is, what do we do with him?

[ The Outsiders weren't targeted for a reason, so he figures they can't just kill him. And despite how he's been corrupted, he isn't as keen on doing that himself. ]

Bakugo

[blastedass]

💥 Training

[Amid his area of the Underworld, gate guarded well and secure within the spires and buildings of U.A. - The Flying Fortress, Bakugo can be found training on the school's grounds or walking the perimeter like a caged beast stalking his domain. Eyes burning to the dangerous pitfall terrain below or scanning the air and walls in careful watch, he keeps vigilance as ordered. Silence occasionally interrupts with a telltale "kaboom!" of explosions, heralding an assortment of martial combat, target practice, or aerial maneuvering. Even as his usual self, Bakugo's never been one to look for engagement with the group, opting to keep to his lone wolf nature and carry out his task to the best of his ability.

But not everyone likes to keep to themselves. He lands on the ground with a crunch of pavement beneath his boots and straightens up amid a smoking trail. Then turns his head, to glare over his black-clad shoulder towards a visitor.]

Whaddya want? Are we finally moving out? Or are you here to train? I'm getting bored.

💥 Spatting

[Tch, getting summoned to their general meeting spot in the Underworld when a simple ping over their oculars could suffice. Even with the surface world's network inaccessible to them, their own remains interlocked within this shadowy realm. Light appears within the dark ceiling above, a pale blue white burst accompanying burning rumbles of thrusters firing. Green metal emerges from the shadows and a villain bot shines it red lens towards the ground below as it approaches the area.]

Oy, you shitty extras! Send a goddamn message next time! [Calling out into the quiet air heralds his arrival. Bakugo crouches atop his mount, expression as scowling as usual, and the robot lowers to a hover in the wispy space overhead. Looks like almost everyone's here.] You assholes better have a good reason for hauling me all the way out here, or I'll fucking kill you.

💥 Visiting

[Irritation placated for the time being, Bakugo stands beside another of his allies, one hand messing with the locks fastening his grenade-shaped bracers to his forearm. A husking click of metal follows with a snap before the entire thing unlocks and loosens enough for him to slide his hand and arm free of his gear. Most of the time he stays in his own area, but every now and then he'll approach one of the other guardians in their chosen realm. Like now.]

Tch. All this power and she chooses a shitty virus to wipe those stupid extras out while we sit here doing nothing. [Eradicating evil and injustice from the world is a fine goal for a hero, but heroes are supposed to be active and involved in their work! Standing back and letting someone else do it, via hoping their plan goes through, seems too risky. He'd rather go in there and get his hands dirty, ensuring the task if completed instead of leaving it to chance.] Oy, get me a drink. It was a long trip over.

💥 Yuji - [takes place approx after june 1 fights]

[Ever since seeing Yuji held captive beside that guy, something inside him flared up. A burning jade fence erecting in his mind. He wasn't even dragged in here! He came here of his own volition! And yet, for all that irritation, Katsuki couldn't stop a surging rush of protective possessiveness from flaring when it came to the sorcerer. He spent time with Yuji while he was kept caged up, occasionally stepping in if he felt one of the other members was going too far for his liking, and argued hard against Yuji's presence among the first wave of guardians when they were to face an oncoming wave of idiots. Predictions correct, he momentarily abandoned his own station and invaded the other guardian's space, snatching Yuji's cage from its resting place before any of the encroaching Outsiders could reach him. Like hell is he letting the guy get dragged into that group of shitty soon-to-be corpses.

That'd been a day ago. Within U.A.'s force field, Katsuki slams an explosion into the remains of the other guardian's broken cage. They don't need it anymore. He'll be keeping Yuji here with him for the duration of the global purge. He's his teammate after all.]

You got free roam. If you need to leave the fortress, let me know so I can lower the barrier.

[OOC: click on the headers to open the prompts. feel free to wildcard anything you want. pick a fight, argue with him, visit or have a chat, explore U.A.'s grounds if you like. it's a grab bag. pm me or ping me on discord if you wanna chat a plot first.]

the one for me!

[eyescar]

[ Yuji had started out being so concerned by the situation, focused more on protecting his friends, trying to find a way to get them back and end the corruption - but the more Ratio had tested on him, the more that he had been subject to the Rift energy, the harder it had become. It wasn't the same as when Sukuna lost control; he didn't remember a lot of that, but he remembers this feeling. Powerful, losing control, the strangeness of it.

So, there is no fighting when Bakugo comes and takes him away, more relieved than anxious or concerned, and he settles down in the midst of his friend's space. If he was more himself, he would be concerned and try to do something to make the situation better, but the mixture of experimentation and corruption has his mind fuzzy and hazy, so all he can focus on are the more extreme of his emotions, rising to his feet and breathing out.

There's anger there, bubbling under the surface, but more than that is the familiar need to make sure his friend is alright, to make sure that he's safe, stepping forward and reaching out to grab his arm, to lean close and gaze at him, his eyes darker and a little more intense than they've ever been before. ]

I'm not going anywhere. I came here for you.

[blastedass]

[Anyone who knew Katsuki for more than a few hours would understand his way of thinking right now is completely backwards. No concern for the approaching illness designed to wipe out humanity above them. Only irked because he wasn't able to go to the surface and handle those shitty villains and criminals himself. Instead he's stuck down here guarding a gate. Which he intends to do to the utmost of his abilities, of course! But fuck, it's lame and boring! Even if he does get to be back in his beloved school.

Katsuki gives a brief shake of his hand, snapping trails of smoke off his fingers before curling them into a fist. Didn't need that shitty cage anymore. He glances to the side, red eyes narrowed in his mask when a hand suddenly grabs for his arm. Muscles harden under his tight black sleeve, easily visible to the light of U.A.'s glowing barrier. An ashen brow hooks up into his bangs as Yuji leans in to look at him, lips twitching slightly in annoyance under the sorcerer's intense gaze.]

For me? Che, baaaka, you were in a cage for days. [And jerks his thumb over his shoulder.] I came for you.

visiting

[cranekin]

(It's quiet at the first gate which is fitting considering it's just one great graveyard. There doesn't appear to be anyone or anything else of note as far as anyone can see. There are rows and rows of gravestones and one great mausoleum which is where Bakugo will find Tsurumaru. He's quiet. Much calmer than he was before, arms crossed and tucked into the sleeves of his dark kimono as he listens to Bakugo's voice cut through the silence, )

It's easier to fight an army than it is to fight illness.

(It makes sense to him.)

... Are you thirsty?

(Because there sure isn't any food or drink out here.)

visiting; bc encouraging teenagers to drink sounds like a great idea

[zauneyete]

You assume I have something to drink, do you?

[ Considering any meeting previously, Bakugo's probably already picked up that Silco has a flask on him, and while the area around his gate has plenty of water... it isn't exactly potable, the way it reflects water that looks like a sheen of oilslick along the surface.

He tipped his head, toward one of the abandoned buildings, where inside there's... actually a fairly decently stocked bar. ]

The intent is to cull the herd. Why bother wasting our resources tipping them off, or giving them something to fight, when we can pick off the easy targets while they still struggle to identify what is happening, and who caused it.

[ A twitch of his lips. ] Not that I think she's particularly brilliant, but this at least serves a purpose.

training

[inaahisa]

[ Ereshkigal is still unwilling to spare. Unfortunately, corruption doesn't change everything. Why, something in particular didn't change - and that's how easily Ereshkigal and Bakugou get on each other's nerves. ]

We are not moving out. You would lose all of your advantages outside of the Underworld.

[ She bets he's gonna be all "I don't need those advantages" or whatever. Sighs. She should have put him on the first gate. Most importantly: ]

I came to demand you be less loud. [Because gosh is he loud.] You are the second closest gate to the abyss and I cannot rest with all that noise.

visiting

[coordination]

I don't answer to you. Get your own drink.

[ He sits atop his mobile suit, standing like a guardian on one end of a marble, chess-board floor, idly turning around a rook piece between his fingers. ]

And our Goddess has her reasons for doing what she's doing. I'd stop speaking in such an insulting manner about her, if I were you.

[ Damn, someone's a bit simpy. ]

[cranekin]

✿ I fall into a pitch-black pitfall (flavor text)

(When Tsurumaru is pulled into the Rift, he tries to resist. Maybe it's because of his natures as a spirit and all of his experience back home but he catches on to the situation quickly and does his best to keep his wits about him. The corruption is slow at first but as time goes on, his condition worsens. The change is obvious to anyone watching. His pristine white robes start to darken and turn gray, his hair becomes peppered with streaks of black, and his condition starts to deteriorate.

His body feels heavy. His shoulders feel tired and his chest is so heavy, he feels like he can't breathe. He finds himself caught in a mental loop, his mind running in circles again and again and it's exhausting. None of it is new to him. Everything is something he has thought of before. Everything is something he has accepted to some degree. It hurts. Everything hurts. He never asked for this. Miserable, resentful, hateful, loathing.

He never asked to feel these things. (It feels like he's on fire.)
He never asked for a human body. (There's so much suffering.)

"Dwelling within this body is ^anguish, pain and _worry; the sufferiⁿg of h_uman ex_isteⁿce."

Why was he created? When he searches his memory, full of holes and miserable feelings, he remembers an answer.

To fight with ǔ̵̮̬͎͋̔̈́s̷̛̟̀̿̆ together. To fulfill ō̵̡̦͗͠ṷ̵̡͋̎̓ŗ̶͙͋̑̽̒ ̵̰͌͋̄̀͜m̸̖̘̿͌ĩ̸͓̗̪̰̐͝s̴͎͑͂̀s̶͉̈͂̄i̷̢͇̗̺͒o̵̯̥̠͆̀͠n̸̨̺̲̠͗. To f̸̫͛i̴͚̘͛̿g̶͉̫̎h̸͈̉t̶̫̞̎ with us together. To f̷̺͗̓u̶̦̹͌ĺ̵̫̔f̸̬̥̄ĩ̶̦͍ĺ̷̲͒l̷̳̈͝ͅ our mission. To fight with us together t̶o̷g̴e̷t̷h̴e̶r̶ t̴̘̽o̴̖̕g̸̡̒e̷̘͑ṯ̷͘h̷̝̆è̶͖ȓ̷̬ together. To fulfill our mission m̴̮͠i̶̠͠s̶̡̈́ș̷́i̶̝̓o̴̾͜ǹ̸̖ mission.

He'd already accepted this. He accepted this already. Already, he accepted this. He can accept it again. He can do it again and again and again even if it breaks him.

Humanity is a mistake.

And when he accepts this, he feels a little lighter. He feels like he can catch his breath. And when he emerges from his own turmoil, he barely looks like himself but he's still the same. He's still the same. He's still a loyal sword with an intended purpose.)

✿ A sense of emptiness, a surprise

(He holds up his left hand to the cool blue light of one of the caged souls. He studies the way the light catches on the ring on his ring finger and the different charms on his bracelet. E̸͛ͅá̷͕c̵̘͝h̶͍̔ ̵͗͜ĉ̵͇h̶̬̒å̵̟r̷͎͆m̴͍̚ ̵͖̍ȋ̷͙ś̶͚ ̵̻͗a̶̺̓ ̵͇͑m̴̮͝ḙ̷̌m̴͓̐o̸̙͑ṟ̵͒y̵̜̎.̷̢̀ Idly, he rubs the ring with his thumb, as if turning it might do something but when nothing happens, he frowns.

Lowering his hand, he shakes his head. Whatever is on his mind h̴̼̮͘ẽ̸͜ ̶͚̙̒c̷̭̻̀a̵̖̰͐n̴̽̋͜'̶̛͔͐t̶̜̰͑̈ ̴̹̋r̷̟̉͊é̵̤̃m̵͕͋ȅ̴̹̪̾m̴̗͐͐b̴͉̔̂e̷̳͉̾̏r̶͇̍ it's best not to think about it. Seeking a distraction, looking for something else to busy his mind, he asks,)

What's your purpose?

(Why were they brought here? Why are they fighting?)

✿ My footsteps are illuminated by the merciless moon

(Towards the end of the month, if Ereshkigal or any of the other guardians try to refer to him by his name, he won't respond. It seems like he's ignoring them but if you try again, he'll look back and raise a brow,)

... Are you talking to me?

(He's been losing more and more memories since he's been in the underworld and it looks like now, he's finally forgotten his name.)

3

[inaahisa]

[ Upon summoning him, Ereshkigal had been completely unaware of what would happen to Tsuru. She'd thought he would end up like her and... And keep her company? Help her with this? Find a way to stop her?

So seeing he forgot his own name... It hurts. But she won't cry. Nor will she stutter or do any of the things she normally does when she's emotional. She's been pretty good at hiding her emotions during this whole ordeal. ]

... I am. I brought this.

[ Behind her are four Gallû Spirits carrying a far larger than normal cages. You could get a small family inside that cage! They put it down on the ground. This cage has been a project she's been secretly working on since she noticed the symptoms Tsuru suffers from. She hopes it's not too late. ]

I demand you sleep inside this cage when you need rest. The materials and magics should slow down the deterioration of your soul.

2

[zauneyete]

Purpose for what, exactly?

[ He's just hanging around here, probably in whatever communal meeting area they keep getting drug to. Silco's the ill-tempered one among them, with a cigar in hand and a flask always full, he doesn't really seem to be in very good spirits, though that doesn't exactly seem like a change for him. Not that Tsurumaru remembers.

He looks him up and down, a slight cant to his head. ]

Doing all of this? Or something else?

[coordination]

My people.

[ An answer, immediate and simple. ]

Just as it's always been, and remains.

What's with the sudden philosophical questions?

[zauneyete]

❖ I won't go quietly, I'm bringin' my crown (flavor text)

[ He falls through. He's so angry. It vibrates under his skin, like fire. He's been replaced. In the end, it was never he who left, was it? They all did first. Every time. First, Felicia had to go and get herself killed, then there had been Vander, who tossed him aside like yesterday's refuse, leaving him behind to play nice with the topsiders and play at family. Then there had been Set who left him, and now Jinx. Would anyone stay? Nobody ever did.

He was so angry. She accused him of lying, of hiding what he'd so carefully not spoken about — that world before, how angry he was, how he'd slowly descended into madness, because she was gone. She was dying, and he'd had no choice — but it turns out he did. She hadn't been dying, not really. Or rather, he'd found a way to help her live. She'd lived, and he was gone. He doesn't know how. He doesn't know how it happened, but he's gone, and instead...Instead of taking revenge for it, she simply... replaced him. Found a child and kept her around. Just. Like. Him. Every time he thought he was free of that shadow cast on him, it returned, darker, dragging him back down under. Is it the specter of Vander? Or is it the Specter of the Matron's hand on his heart, calling him back? She hadn't tossed him aside. She hadn't betrayed him. He remembered, even now, what it had been, to be chosen. That despite everything, his choices, his mistakes, she had swooped in, and saved him.

They all had forsaken him. How long until those few who hadn't...would? They would. They would. They always would. There was only one thing that hadn't, and it settled in the pit of him, that old madness, that fire. He'd once sold his soul to destroy everything, to kill a god. He'd once thought it was for Jinx, he'd said it to himself over, and over, and over. A promise that had been shared in the dark, whispered to a little gemstone.

He has it in his hand now. Once, it had been just barely warm to the touch, housed a soul that had been so precious to him. So precious he would have burned worlds for it. He would have killed more than one god, if just to hold the person whose soul it housed one more time. Perhaps reality would have been better suited as a fantasy, for all that his daughter had apparently left him. He holds it in hand.

He holds it over the water, filling a cavern with oil-slick liquid that looks just as filled with toxins as his scar was. Maybe he should let it go. Let it sink. He very nearly... pulls his hand back —

Something in him still stops. He can't. That weak man who died in the River Pilt still haunts him to this day, it seems. When it is done, then.

When they are all gone, he can finally let her go too. ]

❖ The price of your greed, your son and your daughter

[ Really, despite everything, is Silco actually all that different? Sure, his hair is white, his eyes are colored differently, but... other than that? Not... really. Of all the people here, one can find him doing what he usually does. Mostly brooding near his own gate, reclusive and sharp, biting to those who stop by. Perhaps he even picks on Ereshkigal from time to time — there is no loyalty to others here, he is loyal to a cause, after all, and while eradicating humanity seems a fine purpose.

But perhaps you hear him piping up, picking on Ereshkigal for her choice in companions (like...what's the trend here? Come on now, this group in particular?) or for the choice in location. He, after all, understands what it means, that it is significant. Or maybe he's swung by one of your gates, and is nitpicking details left and right. 'What is the purpose of this?' or 'Do you think they will be so foolish as to step here?' and at least... that seems to be... helping?

Or maybe he's drinking from his flask as they all meet together, a biting comment just at the tip of his tongue. Ready to strike. He's just a mean old peepaw. ]

❖ wildcard

[ man idek I'm mostly tagging around but feel free to throw me something just pester silco if you so choose ]

[inaahisa]

[ Well here is Silco arguing with her choices once again. Some things never change. But others do! She looks noticeably more confident than she usually is and hasn't stuttered once. That's probably a nice change. Kinda. ]

I agree.

[ She stares at him and immediately follows with: ]

Should I find you a replacement and throw your soul into one of my cages?

[ Unlike those times when she was bluffing, she absolutely is not right now. Yes, that would deal a blow to her plans if she lost her anti-Tezcatlipoca weapon. But she could probably use his soul to forge a weapon that would be far less talkative and argumentative than he is. It's honestly tempting. ]

[eyescar]

[ Yuji doesn't really know enough about Silco to know whether he's different.

Or, rather - he knows enough that there's an edge of oh no about the situation, and Yuji wonders if anything he says or does will have any kind of impact here. It's not like Ratio or Bakugo, where Yuji has a strong, emotional connection to them. With Silco... Yeah, he knows him, and has shared some of his worst memories, but it's not like that.

Is it?

This is confusing.

Either way, he walks by, drinking, and Yuji sticks his hand out his cage to wave. ]

Yo, Silco-san.

[inaahisa]

❁ context: rise of a beast

[ The first abandonment had come the day humans first perceived "death." Unlike all other animals, they developed awareness of death's inevitability. And so they deemed it "evil." They became beings of contradiction: ignoring death while spending their entire lives fighting against it. Living in fear of it even though that fear only makes life more painful.

The second abandonment came when the Age of Gods ended. Humans moved beyond the need of deities to explain reality and guide them. It was bittersweet. Painful, yet necessary. She resented that abandonment just as much as the first, but deep down she understood it and with the help of future humans, she even accepted it. However...

The third abandonment shall come the day humans overcome death. The day they cease being humans and become something else. Something detestable. Rather than overcoming their fear of death and accept the natural cycle of all things... They will leave death behind at the cost of their humanity.

---

Had it been nothing but an alterization, it wouldn't have changed much. Yes, she would have become colder. More distant, less capable of holding a conversation and even more depressed. But that wouldn't have changed the truth of her existence: a goddess who wants to see humans grow and prosper, no matter how much said humans hurt her. But becoming an Evil of Humanity? It changes everything. Bringing about the end of humanity is as natural to her as breathing and eating is to all who live.

She hates it. She hates herself.
Honestly, she should have seen it coming. In many respect, she was the first evil of humanity. Death. Though not a Beast, humans always perceived her as such. That she should become a Beast the day humans leave their humanity behind is only logical. A Beast with no humanity to attack. A Beast with no sin for them to overcome any more. The first and last Beast. This is what she saw in another of her self in the rift, a possible future version of her who became a plague upon the humans no longer gifted with humanity.

An abandoned beast with no purpose.
This is the inevitable fate that awaits her should the humans of her world walk this path. And this is the corruption that took root in her current self. Of course, it only was capable of taking root in her because of what she saw. What she learned in the rift. Humans must die. If they do not... Things will only get worse. But here in her Underworld, she can keep their souls safe. She can protect them from themselves.

But she was too afraid with herself and hid from the world.
And so the first thing she did was go back home. It's strange. For how she'd always dreamed of leaving the Underworld... Never had she expected to feel better upon returning to it. Maybe she could have stayed here forever. Seal herself off and just await till her human body perish. But her instincts as a Beast wouldn't allow it. So she did something selfish, something she would never have dared done before.

She called for help.
Her beloved friends who had helped her so much. Those who had gifted her with the most beautiful year of her long existence. Maybe they could help her here too. Maybe she would find it easier to conduct her task with them by her side. Maybe they would find a way to stop her before this is too late. But to see what became of them because of her selfishness, because of her failure at being a goddess who could fight such corruption, her failure at being a Beast who could fulfill her duties alone...

Tsurumaru, her dearest friend. Unable to even recall his very own name.
Ratio, her Master who would see mankind enlightened, shrouded in a veil of delusion.
Godzilla, who fought his hatred for humanity, betrayed by one who should help him.
Yzak who helped her so much now turned an acolyte in this nightmare.
Bakugou, his dreams of being a hero turned into a fate of villainy.
And dearest Hiyori, whose dedication to heal and help others has been twisted.

....... And Silco is there too she guesses, but he really didn't change.
She did this. Because she was selfish. Because she couldn't bear being alone. Because she failed both as a goddess and a beast. There is no coming back from such loathsome actions. Should she somehow be cleansed from this corruption, she won't be able to live with herself. They must all hate her. And if they don't, they will. Those she summoned, those she couldn't reach.

Everyone.
There is no future for Beasts. If they lose, they are killed. If they win, they end alongside humanity. And if she succeeds, that's because humans couldn't stop her. An humanity that cannot stop a beast is a humanity that doesn't deserve to continue. Those are comforting thoughts, aren't they? Or maybe she's just lying to herself like she always has. It's always been her only to deal with the pain and loneliness. That and focusing on her duties. So that's what she should do, same as always, so she can keep going. Lie to herself and conduct her duties--

Bring an end to humanity. ]

❁ a. tears of a beast

[ Ereshkigal is sitting on her "throne" in the abyss, head buried in her hands. It's a bit sad to call this bunch of stones put together a throne really. This is most certainly not what anyone would expect the seat of a queen to be, let alone a goddess. There are ruined half-columns around, remnants of an era long since gone when she had still been full of hope. She'd started building a temple for herself, the future center of a large city where the souls of the dead would find peace and rest!

It's so laughable how naive she had been. She barely has time to make enough cages for all the souls. How could she ever hope to build a temple for herself, a city for all the souls? She's crying as silently as possible as she's lost in her thoughts, when she hears someone's steps.

Immediately she straightens herself up, rid her features of all emotions and speaks in the coldest, most distant voice she is capable of. ]

What do you want?

❁ b. inspection

[ Ereshkigal appears next to a gate and looks at the guardian who is - hopefully - working. She's never liked slackers and in her current state, it is even worse.

It is very rare for Ereshkigal to leave the lowest floor of the Underworld, where the rift is. It is even rarer for her to speak when she is seen. She speaks on a cold and distant tone, showing next to no emotion. She's not stuttering either. It's like she's been rid completely of all the things that make her her. That or she's hiding them very well for once. ]

How are the preparations proceeding?

closed to Yuji

[inaahisa]

[ Ereshkigal appears next to Yuji's cage sometimes after his capture. Mmpf. Maybe she should have had him killed. To slowly rot in a cage is doing him no good. But she can't bring herself to do it, same way she couldn't bring herself to have the virus target the outsiders. ]

Ratio told me you wish to speak with me. [No emotion, stutter or hesitation in her voice. She's a very different Ereshkigal from the one he met - even though they are technically the same person.] I will not release you if that is your question.

[ She can't give him the mercy of death, but she can kill any hope before it builds up. Hoping for a happy ending when there is no hope of one is just the cruelest of things. The longer you hold onto a false hope, the more painful the fall. ]

[coordination]

[ Even in this twistedness, something that doesn't change in Yzak is the level of his devotion. At his core he's here for what he's always considered himself to be alive for; his people. And his friendship with Ereshkigal only ensured that when he warped into something that wasn't him, that friendship likewise changed into an urge to serve her. He's able to do both that and his own cause like this.

And with that loyalty comes concern. He approaches her throne with a polite bow. ]

I just wanted to see how you were doing, Goddess Ereshkigal.

[30storieshigh]

Titan Fall (Meta text)

Falling into the Rift didn't matter, whatever forces may have been behind it would of course be no matter to him. The only thing that mattered was keeping Kaede from falling in too, once she was safe he could escape easily.

Except he didn't. The energy seeped into him bringing both power and realization. The earth is sick, steadily sicker each day, the deprivation and mindless greed of humanity bringing it all to ruin. His territory and home to those few he cares for brought to its death by a species that has gone far too long without humbling.

The Little Goddess herself is not safe from the delusions of the species that gave her station. Full destruction? An over reach. Distasteful as humanity may be they can still hold a place in the balance of things. Those that prove themselves able to survive shall make for a better future.

Ereshkigal may have to be humbled as well. This is regrettable yet it shall not provide a problem. The energies of the Rift have given him back a fraction of his true strength, charged his inner energy to a white hot flame and restored a portion of his true scale. If she forces his claws she will be reminded who it is that rules the world above.

Until then he shall rest, as he oft has in the past. Rest and dream of a future without garish cities breaking forth from wounds in the earth, a future where nature regains its glory and he can set down the anger boiling at the base of his soul. ]

[ The longer spent in the underworld the more Godzilla slips into a state of extremes. During their meetings he's a near perfect picture of calm, curled up in a mass with his tail coiled around him, the only sign he's paying attention the occasional opening of one eye or huff of smoke from his nostrils in response to something said.

At his gate he can be found at rest too, though here his body glows violently with white and black flame surging through the lines of his scales. Whether this heated energy comes from the magma surrounding the dark mirror of Babylon's old Ishtar Gate or Godzilla is the one providing the energy foe the magma is unclear.

The only thing that's clear is his energy needs burning off. Occasionally he'll rouse from his rest with an angry roar, drawing himself to his now full height of 42ft and setting upon the Gallû Spirits on the path in front of his gate. The rubber monster suit wearing Spirits really have nowhere to go or any means to defend themselves, many end up stomped, others incinerate by blasts of black white flame from his mouth, or simply bitten in half. Granted as Spirits they rework after long enough, but these little outbursts leave a field of fallen costumed specters and thoroughly scorched stone work along the path. ]