lingeringfear | NPC Inbox: Fear

NPC Inbox: Fear

[Fear's inbox message is simply a crackling of static, with vague thumps here and there. It goes on for about thirty seconds before cutting short, like the sound was snapped off.]

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Yes. [ It's an answer to all three questions. She knows it's selfish of her, but isn't she allowed to be a little selfish? Her family never had a chance to be happy. ] And I would do everything to keep them safe. I wouldn't allow them to be taken from me again. But I know I won't get that chance.

Are you afraid of losing them again, is that why you don't want them back?

I don't know if I'd call it fear.

[But, frankly, it is.]

Perhaps death was more kind than this scraped-together existence. What they suffered was excruciating. We owe them peace.

[ It is an uncomfortable feeling to even begin to understand Fear because understanding chips away at things like hatred, and contempt, but it is easy enough to swallow at this point. A little understanding does not erase what's been done, and she's big on returning favors. ]

I don't know if you could call it anything else, but I'll let you pretend you're above it. [ Isn't she gracious? She likes to pretend she calls the shots, but she knows better. ] They don't seem to mind being back. Who really wants peace when you can live? If you're dead, you can't get revenge. [ Which is actually a curious subject. ] Why is it that none of you seem focused on revenge?

[Fear isn't sure how to respond to that one, and so the text comes a little later than usual.]

Revenge isn't possible right now. Survival is.

That sounds a lot like what I'm doing. [ Surviving. ] What is it you're surviving, Fear?

What else? That which killed our previous hosts, the other gods, and likely the rest of our species.

I don't intend to die like them. I never have.

[ It all clicks into place very suddenly, and she can't believe how she didn't see all of this before. Fear's afraid, genuinely afraid. She's not sure of what exactly: the creature or being that murdered his people, or family, or if it's just the pain it will bring with it. Darkly, it pleases her, satisfies her, and terrifies her.

There are so many more questions she wants to ask, but she treads carefully, not wanting this to end too soon. ]

Why is it doing this? [ She understands why, now, he's had so many issues with Hope. Hope isn't just wasting his power bringing the other gods back, but he's also effectively lowering the amount of power Fear gets from the people. They have to vie for it now. ] Why would it kill your species? What is it?

[ Normally, the enemy of your enemy is your friend. Whatever it is that killed the gods, Sharon's starting to get this feeling it won't want to make an alliance with her. ]

It is something you've never seen.

[He's reserved in his answer because this has been a very exposing conversation already. Fear doesn't know what conclusions Sharon may have drawn from this, but whatever they are, it can't be good.]

I'm sure that you won't believe me, but we are an inherently peaceful species. What came for us was something that we could not have prepared for.

We are waiting. Hope is bolstering our numbers, I am gathering power. That is enough for you to know.

[ She doesn't like his answer. It's clear he doesn't want to give away too much. Whatever is coming, whatever it may be, it won't end well for them. ] What will happen when it comes? What will it do to you? What about us?

You've brought us into this shit, Fear. You don't have any reason to trust me, and I don't have any reason to trust you, but I somehow have this really shitty feeling that the only way I'll survive any of this is to put my fucking faith in you.

It's an unfortunate feeling, isn't it? Having to put your faith in a being you don't trust.

[Two sides, same coin, etc etc. He doesn't answer the other questions- this has been enough for now.]

Thank you for your time in my temple, Sharon.

[ God damn it. She frowns at the phone. ]

Can we do it again sometime?

Maybe.

I'm sure I've given you some things to think on. Enjoy your afternoon, Sharon.

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