Video; un: newton

[groupiedrifter]

[Oh, hey! It's Newton Geiszler, and he looks... really well-off, actually? The man's glowing with energy, not a lack of sleep in either eye. Too blessed to be stressed, huh? That's gotta be it. He adjusts his tie and preens even while the video runs.]

Well helloooo there, everyone! Its Dr. Newton Geiszler, resident genius here in Sedorum, bringing you some additional information before we head into what is undoubtedly a big awful war that none of us can circumvent! Now, I know that's old news and we're sick of the memo, but let me just throw in a few addendums at the recommendation of our fellow orbers.

... Ugh, 'orbers'. I hate that name. I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but anyway.

[They wave a hand dismissively.]

I'm currently working in the weapons department of the Sedorum army, so anyone who needs updated armor or additions to their weapons cache, be sure to hit me up, okay? We're pretty low on time and funds, so don't drag your feet on it, or you're SOL. There's nothing I can't do until I say I can't.

Also important on today's list: Long Cloaks.

What are Long Cloaks? Good question! They're a bit of a scary folktale among the people here. Or at least they're one among the engineers and weapon manufacturers that I've been chummy with. Basic gist: a hooded, cloaked figure with long scary nails floats around places like battlefields. Takes people who're beyond sinful or die a violent death and takes them straight to purgatory.

Now, I don't know if you recall, but purgatory? Sounds terrible, wouldn't recommend. Apparently it's like falling forever in the dark, so that's... great. But these Long Cloaks, they seem to only exist on Giva, which is where I'm pretty sure a bunch of us are going to end up, considering our luck in falling into bad predicaments for these orbs.

They said seeing one of the Long Cloaks is like getting hit with the worst omen possible, and that they've got their eye on you, so do yourselves a favor and avoid anything long and cloak-like, huh?

...

Or, y'know. You could always test the theory and shoot soggy spit wads at them through a straw.

Your funeral.

Comments

text | un: andy

[oiorpata]

[ hm. falling forever in the dark. she does not want to think about what that makes her think of. she does not want to think about why she is here, of quynh drowning in the dark forever, but here she is and so - ]

Are we sure they're only in Giva? Why would people be afraid of them here?

text

[groupiedrifter]

Honestly, it's just that they implied they were in Giva. I can't even tell you for sure if they're only there or if they're hanging around here anywhere. But if they do exist outside of these afterlives, then it'd make sense people're scared of them.

After all, they're practically demons or grim reapers that take people to eternal damnation.

[oiorpata]

They'd fit right in with the rest of the vibes of this place and world set up. Could be a lingering fear too.

Guess we'll see soon enough for ourselves.

[groupiedrifter]

Guess so.

You going to be bright and early on the battlefield, Miss Immortality?

[Hi, guess who spoke with your pal.

Oh, well. Newton spoke with your pal.

But the precursors have always been well-behaved, casual observers.]

[oiorpata]

[ joe told her everything because he is joe, and andy is unfazed. time to run with the sea creature excuse. ]

The jellyfish only got me about a decade ago. Black sea, 2007.

But yeah, I'll probably head out there.

[groupiedrifter]

Uhuh. 2007. Sure.
Did the immortality thing make you bad at reading calendars, or???

I'll be somewhere out there, too. Try not to stab me on accident? Or purpose.

[oiorpata]

Fine, maybe it was 1907.

I make no promises. You should get yourself a shield.

video; un: Sabriel.Abhorsen

[bindsthedead]

I prefer 'crew of the Ximilia' but 'orbers' is shorter. And... Are there any helmets available?

[But down to business.]

It is odd, that people seem so sure of what purgatory is, even though no one returns from it.

[And that despite people being reborn from them without their memories, that Taeum and Sedorum match so closely what people on Giva believe.]

video;

[groupiedrifter]

'Orbers', though. We sound like Earth candy.

[That is absolutely taken from Newton Geiszler himself. He's not fallen short of opinions about nicknames, they've noticed.]

I can get you a helmet, though, absolutely. Feel free to visit the weapons department any time; I'll give you some special perks. [Sabriel's not someone they want around in general, buuuut... can't deny she's useful.] Are you thinking purgatory's not at all what they're labeling it?

[bindsthedead]

Perhaps it's just me imposing my own views, but- an afterlife you can buy your way into doesn't sound like a natural thing. And we know the Highest One has an orb-has had it for a while. How can we really know that the current state of things isn't due to some bargain struck with the orb?

[It's not something she has any proof of, just a thought she can't seem to shake.]

Besides- people fear death and the unknown, and that can cause them to make it sound worse than it really is.

[groupiedrifter]

Oh, I'm almost positive the current state of things is the orb. They have a lot of tells, those orbs. A lot of metaphorical fingerprints they leave around everywhere. Like back on Badrock, where we took one look at those puppeted civilians and knew we were in the right place.

But I don't know... maybe there's a good reason to fear death here.

Maybe it's as bad as it really is on good ol' planet Giva.

[spacedisaster]

I don't think you mentioned disliking the word others before, especially since you used it plenty.

[ He's not surprised that newton is doing weaponry, since he did it too for the last mission, but the usual lack of fanfare while talking about them makes Peter worry about the stress of the mission getting to Newt. And by a good reason, if those are the news he's come to tell them. ]

Oh shit, so we need to face the reaper now? Go figure.

[groupiedrifter]

Do I look like someone who'd stop using a word just because I don't like it?

If I did, I would stop saying moist and flaccid.

[The precursors loathe to even use Newton's own thoughts to reply.

Are humans that tripped up by words? What is even wrong with the word 'moist'?

Ridiculous.]

But yeah, grim reaper. Blue Öyster Cult time. You gonna be on Giva to see for yourself?

[spacedisaster]

I...okay, you have a point. Those are terrible words, especially the moist one.

[ There are a lot of things wrong with the word Moist, precursors. It has an ugly sound, and it makes whatever you’re talking about sound gross. ]

Maybe we will need to carry salt or crucifixes with us. Some of us are trying to infiltrate Taeum to see if we can rescue those who were thrown in jail, and I want to help with that. But no matter how that goes, I'll most likely end in Giva, yes.

[groupiedrifter]

Thrown in — aaah, yeah. They're still all stuck, huh?

I know you guys'll get them out, no problem; this crew's never backed down from a challenge. Besides, once the war kicks off in full, how're they gonna have enough manpower sitting around to stop you?

[spacedisaster]

Yes still, and time is of the essence. We don't know the planned day for their executions that's why we need to hurry.

Thank Newt, I hope. It wouldn't be the first time I'm involved in a prison break. That's a good point. I'd like it more if the war didn't have to happen at all but it seems inevitable.

You stay safe, okay?

[groupiedrifter]

I'm betting the other prison breaks included you as a prisoner.

[They can see as much, anyway. Peter Quill is a common thug.]

And don't you worry about me: I'm unkillable.

... But in the unlikely case I'm not, I'll be sure to stand out of the splash zone.

[spacedisaster]

Mmmmmmaybe. Wow, what is this totally on-point call out??? I was thrown in jail without even a trial or anything, so it really wasn't a fair deal. Besides, it was my fault back then.

[ Sure, he was causing a disturbance in the middle of a crowded city, but that was because Gamora, Rocket, and Groot were trying to kill, rob, and kidnap him all at once. ]

You do that, best strategy. Your mind is your best weapon, Newt. We've gotta keep that pretty head of yours still attached to your neck.

un: song | voice;

[spoilers]

[ There's something...odd about Newt she can't quite put name to, something off. Honestly, he's one of the few people she talks to with semi-regularity, so the feeling settles under her skin like an itch she can't reach. ]

Funny. That's what I always imagined death would actually be like.

[ Well, more or less. She had wondered, once upon a time, if it would be the blink out of existence she'd hoped (and had all too briefly gotten) or the much more terrifying prospect of an empty black void. ]

Has anyone considered that perhaps it is, that perhaps all of this...Taeum, Sedorum, is just another construct of the orb?

voice;

[groupiedrifter]

[River, please, there's nothing off at all.

They're doing just fine.]

Aren't you a ray of sunshine. What, no cuddly clouds or angels with harps?

[That's what a big bulk of humanity yearns for, anyway. Seemingly.]

You think the orb might've made a really horrible place where people are trapped in eternal darkness? You mean like... as a way to balance the fact that people get the chance to live forever?

voice;

[spoilers]

[ That earns a half-laugh that borders on a snort. ]

Not really my style, Sweetie.

I think the orb might have created the illusion of living forever.

voice;

[groupiedrifter]

You think so? That none of this is real?

The orbs do have a history of making illusions.

voice;

[spoilers]

They do.

It doesn't seem like such a stretch, does it?

Oh, I don't doubt the belief already existed, but as a reality? Why this coexisting belief in a third version of what happens after they die? Why is death still a possibility in this version?

voice;

[groupiedrifter]

Weeell... if I had to guess, it's because there's always going to be a loophole for more chaos. After all, if the orb completely satisfied some of these requests, it'd never have enough to feed on to sate it's hunger, right?

But illusion. Could be it.

... We'll have to see how real it is when people croak on the battlefield, I guess.

voice;

[spoilers]

[ There's that niggling sense of something wrong again, but she sets it aside to worry about later, the same as she does most things.

She hmm's faintly. ]

I guess we will.

There's always that theory, I suppose, that this is part of the world and it's the Long Cloaks the orb has created.

[ She's just having a very hard time buying into the idea of an afterlife. Still. Unless it's something like her own. ]