Zagreus (
eternallyabsconding) wrote in
victory_road2020-12-13 02:33 pm
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1st [Video Network Post]
[The feed starts with the image of a handsome fellow with an amiable expression and a strange case of red-green heterochromia humming in thought as he picks around the buttons and plays with the options. He's not totally inept with the Gear, but he's obviously still learning. He doesn't seem the tiniest bit upset about it though. After awhile, he begins to talk in an offhanded manner, almost as if he's just making comments to himself.]
I have some experience with magic mirrors, and while the one I have at home is very useful, I have to say, I prefer this model. Being able to contact someone from any distance, and exchange words both ways? Bloody brilliant.
Mortals really have come up with some incredible adaptations to their environment since Prometheus first smuggled fire into their world. And now I understand why they've put in so much effort: What an endless string of inconveniences being mortal is! The constant eating and drinking, wasting so many hours a day sleeping, having to have clothes for so many different occasions and types of weather, how much care you have to take to not get injured or sick, other processes I find completely unspeakable... They really need all of these inventions, or else they'd not have the time to do anything except perpetuate their own existence!
But I'll try not to complain too much. It's still been an adventure. I get to enjoy something new every day, which is far more than I can say for home. And the local fauna is fascinating. Speaking of-- Here, pup!
[A Houndour bulls its way under Zag's arm and into view of the camera, and he gives it an affectionate hug.]
Look at this thing! I love the bone accessories. A creature after my own tastes. A bit small, and only one head, but it would be unfair to ask every dog to live up to Cerberus' standards. We're getting along famously. Still not sure of a name, but we'll get there.
One final note: Aside from the day-to-day struggles of preventing oneself from expiring, what does one do around here? Is there some kind of cultural expectation when it comes to finding a vocation? I do know I need to get some kind of job, but I'm foggy on the particulars. Oh, and my thanks in advance for any advice.
I have some experience with magic mirrors, and while the one I have at home is very useful, I have to say, I prefer this model. Being able to contact someone from any distance, and exchange words both ways? Bloody brilliant.
Mortals really have come up with some incredible adaptations to their environment since Prometheus first smuggled fire into their world. And now I understand why they've put in so much effort: What an endless string of inconveniences being mortal is! The constant eating and drinking, wasting so many hours a day sleeping, having to have clothes for so many different occasions and types of weather, how much care you have to take to not get injured or sick, other processes I find completely unspeakable... They really need all of these inventions, or else they'd not have the time to do anything except perpetuate their own existence!
But I'll try not to complain too much. It's still been an adventure. I get to enjoy something new every day, which is far more than I can say for home. And the local fauna is fascinating. Speaking of-- Here, pup!
[A Houndour bulls its way under Zag's arm and into view of the camera, and he gives it an affectionate hug.]
Look at this thing! I love the bone accessories. A creature after my own tastes. A bit small, and only one head, but it would be unfair to ask every dog to live up to Cerberus' standards. We're getting along famously. Still not sure of a name, but we'll get there.
One final note: Aside from the day-to-day struggles of preventing oneself from expiring, what does one do around here? Is there some kind of cultural expectation when it comes to finding a vocation? I do know I need to get some kind of job, but I'm foggy on the particulars. Oh, and my thanks in advance for any advice.
[video]
[This strong opinion may or may not stem from the bigger dog with extra bones currently trying to move Ash's head aside to say hi. Both Houndoom and trainer wear matching grins.]
Welcome to the wonderful world of Pokémon! The 'cultural expectation' is generally to travel the land, challenge trainers and catch more Pokémon to strengthen your team, earn badges to prove your talent, and so on. But no one will stop you if you decide to settle down in a city and work as a cashier, or to spend the rest of your life camping in the forest. The locals only care if you commit crimes or mistreat your Pokémon.
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[Look at that! Unnamed pup yips at his evolved cousin through the Gear. Someday I'll be as cool as you are!]
That is excellent news, my good man, as I am not generally inclined to commit crimes or abuse animals. While I'm still adjusting right now, a life of adventure on the road might suit me!
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[Dark Hound yips back happily. Excellent! Eat well, train a lot and play a lot, for that day will come soon!]
If it's adventures you want, you'll find plenty. There's two whole regions we can freely explore, with all the biomes and cities that implies. Plus, there's the occasional angry or mind-controlled Legendary, widespread attack by criminal groups, or freak weather effect such as the famous Sharpedonado.
[A beat, as Ash reviews that last sentence in his mind.]
...Actually, you should hope you'll never have to deal with one of those. They get messy.
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What exactly do you mean by "Legendary"? [The terminology piques his interest. Legends are important things where he's from.]
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video
[ Look at the way her eyes sparkle. ]
I think even if it has only one head, it's adorable enough to make up for that.
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Have you thought of a name for this one?
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video;
Thanatos isn't sure if he should feel relieved or not. Either way, he's absolutely responding to Zagreus, how could he not? Even if he's a little stressed at this turn of events, he's doubtlessly glad to see him.]
...Zag, must you always be so long-winded? You aren't wrong, though. Being mortal is hardly worth the effort, it's honestly baffling that mortals would cling to their lives as they do, when it's so inconvenient. Much simpler to be dead and a shade.
[But that's not why he's contacting him, now is it? He shakes his head, as if to shake off the topic.]
Anyway—how long have you been here?
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[The pause before Zagreus' outburst wasn't terribly long, but still noticeable.]
I didn't recognize you for a moment there! Does the sun really do that to everyone's skin? Not quite the same color as my mother Persephone, but definitely more... pink.
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This isn't the sun's fault. Not entirely, anyway. More, the blood that doubtlessly runs through my veins have robbed me of my pallor. Replacing the ichor that ordinarily is there.
[He clicks his tongue with the slightest touch of annoyance.]
Tsch... I guess we both bleed red now. Isn't that great? Anyway, are you going to answer my question, or am I going to have to start guessing?
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video;
[A small pause. He is brimming with curiosity.]
... if you are not mortal in your own world, do you mind if I ask what you are?
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Hmm... [Zagreus considers. He has asked a few mortals about Olympus, and if anyone recognized the names of the highest gods, and none did. Would it be a bad idea to admit what he used to be? It's not as though it changed anything about how he was being forced to live now.] I suppose you could say was a certain type of immortal, that doesn't need to eat or sleep, or perform any other mortal function-- but I could still die, through bodily harm. A temporary inconvenience, however, as I always come back to life shortly after.
I'm assuming none of those things are true now, and it's not something I'm about to test either.
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[He's had Krieg's word for it, but still, he isn't about to take his chances. He might believe in needing to be ready to sacrifice oneself for certain causes, but that doesn't mean he is suicidal.
And he wants to ask so much more about this man's life back in his own world, his being immortal and what that meant, but he is new, isn't he? He must have plenty of questions. They really ought to focus on that first.]
But yes, you do earn money for beating each gym. The more difficult the gym you challenge, the higher the reward. If nothing else, it helps cover at least part of the cost of travelling.
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video
After changing back to his usual chiton and finding somewhere both suitably private and not at all incriminating to where he's at, he turns on the feed. While he's notably missing his wings, he does have a Pidgey preening its wings on his head.]
Heya Coz! Glad to see you make it outta there. [As he already has, multiple times.] Think you missed your destination by a long shot though. You doing alright?
Re: video
Okay, this doesn't make any sense. I've asked several locals around here and none of them can name a single Olympian! Thanatos I can understand, he's Chthonic in origin and not particularly well liked, but you? There's something seriously wrong here if they don't know your name.
[Zag is still assuming he's not so far from his world that the gods are no longer connected to it.]
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[It's nice being able to both see and hear Zagreus for once consistently instead of the brief times he can when he's being offered nectar. Not that he disliked their one sided conversations they usually had.]
It's strange isn't it? Very strange, but simple! You're not in Greece anymore, Coz. Nor anywhere I'm familiar with, and I have been to many, many places in my time. You'll find no native who is familiar with us, not that I've found at least, but there are some otherworlders who are.
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and then hermes had to stay for christmas heist instead of violet lol
womp womp
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[Video]
He's already curious enough about other people he meets as it is. Someone who isn't even normally mortal? That goes double. And doubling Claude's curiosity probably elevates it to some kind of lethal degree.]
Hey! Nice to meet you, newly-minted fellow mortal whoever-you-are! You kinda forgot to introduce yourself. [He winks.] I have to say, as someone who's very definitely always been mortal...the idea of someone who hasn't been is pretty amazing to me. Would it be too forward of me to ask what exactly you used to be, if not mortal? And what it was like?
Oh - I'm Claude, by the way.
[Video]
It's Zagreus, mate. And I'd rather not give any details at the moment, but I can tell you that yes, I was a type of immortal, and that existence didn't include all the laborious upkeep of a normal human body. I could die, but only through bodily harm, and it was only a temporary matter. I have a tendency to revive very quickly.
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That familiarity, though! It's incredibly strange, and all the more exciting for that. Isn't it baffling that Claude would feel as though he and someone who hasn't even been mortal before arriving here would have things in common, even just in terms of personality? And yet, somehow, it feels as though they do.]
Zagreus...I like that name. Definitely more impressive than Claude, at any rate. [He winks.] And while I'd naturally love the details, I can understand not sharing them publicly...or at all, with someone you've just met. But even the generalities are pretty interesting to me!
Obviously mortals can only die the one time...hearing about someone dying violently multiple times kind of makes me wonder who gets the better end of the deal there. I mean, even if I knew I'd come back afterwards, I don't know that I'd feel any better about being brutally killed... [He rests his chin on his hand.] That said, it seems strange to call it death at all, if the process doesn't really bear much similarity at all to what mortals experience.
[Zagreus has a very curious man on his hands, that's already clear. Fortunately, Claude's already well beyond questioning the veracity of other's otherworldly accounts here; he arrived in this place during a weekend where he'd seen people with wings and horns and scythes and beaks and who knows what else. The vastness of possibilities in the worlds beyond his own is something he's fully prepared to take not just on faith, but on personal observation.]
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video.
[[ blah blah blah the other stuff and questions means nothing to johnny, at least not in this moment. but he knows those names (kinda) and he knows the implications of them. his response feed shows him looking quite a bit shocked, and then a little miffed. almost as if he's trying to smell out bullshit, but he just can't quite commit to calling it out. ]]
What? Are you saying you knew them, that they're real?
video.
[Zag has never seen you around, buddy. He wasn't sure of how infamous Cerberus was among mortals, surely not on first name basis with your average Joe! Rimshot.]
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[[ now johnny looks a little... confused. did he piss this guy off? he's not entirely sure. tread careful, little joestar... ]]
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video
[Zuke was chatting up on video log, saying hi to people. He had an apron on and he was looking like he was making a big batch of curry in a pot. There was a cutting board with a root vegetable on it.]
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Oops
[He says this as a Grookey came on the cutting board to steal a carrot and drum a bit for the camera. Like on cue.]
Hahaha, I get it...But that’s for dinner, Terbangan.
lol no big!
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1/2 still on video with this face
2/2
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