I13DT: A Different Kind of Hero Worship

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 12:41 pm

"What about you? You're worried about frightening people off?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 12:43 pm

"...already have, on occasion. If I'm honest."

"But then, you know that, aye?"

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 12:45 pm

"OK, let's make a deal...a pact, right here, right now.

When it's you and me, at the very least, I'll try not to worry about being weird if you won't. No judging, aye?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 12:46 pm

"That's an interesting wording. Are you alright with making a pact with a goddess?"

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 12:48 pm

"I'd....like to know more," Will admitted. "It's a little...little difficult, living around here, and ignoring everything that's going around."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:00 pm

"Well I'm certain you meant it more in a Jackson Five sense, aye?" She smiles faintly.

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:01 pm

"Well, what other sense could I have meant it in?" Will asked, curious.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:05 pm

"Pacts and oaths are... something I'm familiar with. I remember it, in a sense."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:07 pm

Will nodded. "Could...Would my agreeing to lead the X-Teams have counted as a sort of oath or pact, then, or is it...different than that?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:09 pm

"Are you asking if I think of you as one of my champions? My chosen?"

"It's nothing so dire. Your obligation is to the school and X-Corporation, not to me."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:11 pm

"I didn't realize it was such a...portentous title, to work for you," Will said, scratching his chin. "I don't know much about this at all."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:14 pm

"People who fight seek my favor. In the past, they did so... fairly directly."

"Nowadays, I'm not certain most of them know they're doing it."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:14 pm

"Then how do they...erm, seek your favor...if they don't know about you? I mean, how does that even work?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:48 pm

"People are superstitious. Ever see someone pour out a bottle of liquor on the pavement?"

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:49 pm

"Yeah. I always assumed they were drunk and kinda dumb."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 1:58 pm

"Sometimes, but a lot of people develop their own little good luck rituals. Sports fans especially."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:01 pm

"Are you saying they work?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:29 pm

"They believe they work, and in some cases... well, they manage to get my attention."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:31 pm

That got Will's attention.

"You can...feel people praying to you? Invoking you?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:34 pm

"In the same way I can feel people's emotions, or surface thoughts."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:37 pm

"So, if I was in the room, you'd get my hopes for...what, success in battle? That's what you do?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:42 pm

"Usually it takes a little more than that, but that's a start."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:43 pm

"What do you mean by 'a little more than that'. Is there a dance? Do I have to wear a silly hat? I have a few silly hats, but maybe not up to proper war-goddess specs."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:46 pm

"Sometimes there's an offering, or a particular sense of need."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:49 pm

"An offering...like, burning a stag or something?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:54 pm

"...well I wouldn't say no to one, I suppose."

"Tend to be a bit less extravagant, though."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:55 pm

"And, what does that feel like?" Will said, fascinated.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:58 pm

"Sometimes good, sometimes unacceptable. It all depends on how it's presented. Sometimes I just feel that... they're unworthy."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 2:59 pm

Will nodded. "I...I THINK I get it. It's...you're kind of judging them, right? Whoever gives this gift, be they worthy, shall be blessed by the power of the Morrigan...or something like that?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:04 pm

"And I'm not certain sometimes if I'm doing this subconsciously, but... it often seems to work."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:05 pm

"So, you can...well, bless people and things, then. That's...I mean, I knew you were powerful in the fact that you can turn minds into jelly, but that's..." Will said, impressed.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:07 pm

"If it makes you feel a little better, how hard would it be for me to just use telepathy to... nudge someone, here and there during a fight?"

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:08 pm

"Don't think I'm frightened or anything here. It's just...clearly, this is a level beyond most" mortals "people. It's kind of fascinating to think about."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:11 pm

"I'm trying to think of it as things I could always do being used in new ways."

"I've found, for example, that battle has... a flow to it, not unlike a single mind. Aye, there's a lot of moving parts, but it's finding the pivot points that's key."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:13 pm

"Things you could always do, used in new ways..." Will mused, falling silent for a moment.

"Does this just apply to physical battles? Like, you need to throw X amount of punches for it to count?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:17 pm

"More the give and take of it, of combatants moving, striking, blocking, feinting..."

"There's different tones to it. One on one is intimate, but a full gang fight is like hearing a band. Larger still is like... a symphony."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:18 pm

Will smiled. "I like that. That sounds amazing.

I just wish you could feel that without, like, someone getting hurt."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:20 pm

"I don't... instigate them, really."

"Sometimes I go into the Danger Room just to feel it."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:23 pm

"A safe space to let loose?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue May 27, 2014 3:29 pm

"Not quite like the real thing, but unless I want to tune in to actual wars it's probably for the best. I thought it less... ghoulish."

Who is online