we'll take the world back from the heart-attacked

[sageprincess]

Who: Zelda and anyone who has been investigating the cult or is interested in learning about their activities.
When: December 21
Where: The Temple of Metis
What: Zelda holds a council to discuss the cult and get everyone on the same page regarding them and other related incidents.
Warnings: Cults generally aren't pleasant things. Please mark any threads with relevant warnings.

[The message goes out two days prior.

it has come to my attention that several among our number have been pursuing their own investigations regarding the organization responsible for the forest incident and their activities. as such, i would like to propose a gathering to share and discuss our findings as well as subsequent courses of action and, if necessary, potential defensive measures to ward against future strikes against us. to this end, the temple of metis will be open to all willing to participate in this sharing of information in two days time, with formal discussion beginning after noon. as the bbs is not the most secure vector for distributing information, i would ask all recipients of this message to please pass it along to any interested parties that i myself might not be aware of. thank you for your time, zelda, princess of hyrule p.s.; chikusa, i will have a new hat for you if you extend our deal to this meeting.

In summary, come to Metis Temple in two days for an asskicking if you wanna talk shit about cultists. Tell your friends.]

[The day comes and the dumb puzzle door that usually bars outsider entry into the temple's underground complex has mercifully been left open. Luminescent crystals light the way as visitors descend a stone spiral staircase that eventually opens up to the temple's main living area. A large dining table is the central focus and many chairs surround it, including some that were clearly brought from other spaces to accommodate a large group. Some couches off to the side have also been turned away from the fireplace that banishes winter's chill in order to provide further seating for those in attendance. A beanie sits unclaimed on one of the chairs. For refreshment, a kettle of tea is available in the kitchen, as well as a plate of festive sugar cookies. Store-bought, unfortunately for those who are picky about those kinds of things, because any attempts made by the temple's current residents to cook are met with utter and complete disaster.

Speaking of festive, the entirety of the temple's interior is currently covered in glitter, tinsel, and mistletoe. Dear Amaterasu, there is so much mistletoe, and you likely aren't leaving here without finding glitter still stuck to your person hours later. Zelda would really prefer if you would not point any of this out. Minako is just very... enthusiastic about the season, that's all. Be thankful she couldn't get a tree down here.

At a certain point in time, Zelda will formally call the meeting to begin, but until then everyone is free to mix and mingle at their leisure. Just... please don't ruin her house, okay.]

_{(ooc; so this is a free-for-all meeting to discuss various aspects of the metaplot! anyone and everyone is invited; you can just say your character learned about it from word of mouth if they don't know zelda that well or at all. and if you've got any other questions, you can reach me via pm or at jamizoid!)}

Comments

[kokuyoyo]

[So it's now that Hakkai finally steps in. Chikusa meets Hakkai's stone cold gaze without flinching, the connection from his end utterly unwavering. He's not in the wrong, and he doesn't regret anything he's done or said today.]

[Why should he? Perhaps he doesn't like Gojyo and that colors some things for him. Chikusa wouldn't deny that. They've yet to ever actually get along for any sort of extended period of time. Even the calmest moment between them that Chikusa can think of resulted in Gojyo starting an argument where there hadn't been one, in attacking Chikusa's own relationships and only leaving because some weird switch had been flipped in his head, separate of anything he could have said to him.]

[But he has no doubt that the lack of trust for the man has been well earned. Hopefully he doesn't have to go too indepth with Hakkai to explain why; it should be obvious.]

[That's for outside. For now, Chikusa just wordlessly turns back to his seat, taking his things to stuff back inside the bag he'd brought with him. Heaving it over his shoulder, he pauses only once, for a brief moment, by Ginia.]

....You weren't wrong.

[This is important information, and it needed to be shared among the rest of them who can be reliable. After all... Nearly everyone present in this meeting had someone taken by the forest, by this stray god. Including him.]

[He would have figured Gojyo would remember this, but that, too, was apparently too much to ask.]

[Still, that's all he wanted to say. Falling back into silence, Chikusa follows after Hakkai, eyes dull and dark.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia glances up at Chikusa and offers a nod, accepting his support. It makes her feel better, a little, but she can't shake the feeling she's also made some enemies. She broke a promise with Votelli, that much is true. If something happens to Votelli as a result of the meeting, it's hard not to feel like it's her fault too.

But people needed to know. Hiding information helps no one, even if they don't fall on the same side, at least they're all on the same page. That much Ginia still feels some resolve in.

Maybe she should have let Archer handle the presentation and support him. Exemplar, the one talking anyway, the much more confident one. But she volunteered to present and Votelli had been her information anyway. The choice would have always fallen on her shoulders.

She has the backing of her temple. She has backing from Chikusa. If everyone else is neutral or against it, so it goes. Everyone is free to make their own choices, for better or worse.]

[futhark]

[ Caster makes a mental note of all those people present. So they're Hakkai's shinki. He knew about Chikusa, but the redhead and the shortie were a surprise. Arguments happen, conflict happens, but it also can get resolved and forgotten, next meeting on a neutral again.

But it would be stupid to assume that this is for certain how it goes. And he does plan to protect his temple should they need it. ]

Princess, I request a permission for making a break in the presentation.

[ While he keeps his voice low, he doesn't go to her to make it a hush-hush suggestion either. If anyone else wants to. Some drink, some food, and some alleviating the tension will do everyone good.

His shinki clearly need a time-out, that's the real reason, obviously. He'd like to talk with them and if that's possible with Zelda as well. But he'll see how it goes. ]

[sageprincess]

[Thank the Powers That Be for Hakkai, honestly. Zelda exhales as that half of the argument takes their leave, her tension slowly ebbing away as she takes her seat once more.

She inclines her head at Caster's request, and nods.]

Granted. We will reconvene after a twenty minute recess.

[Hopefully that's enough time for everyone to cool off.]

[reloves]

[ With how little information Minako still has about this place, there wasn't much she could to contribute - nor was she really in any position to take a side in the argument that happened. The only side she can take is no fights if her goddess doesn't want them, and she most definitely subconsciously scooted closer to the princess when things started to escalate with an instinctive need to protect.

Now it seems like things have de-escalated for now, and with how tense Zelda seemed, Minako knows it's better to try and take everyone's minds off that argument just now as soon as possible. And if there's anything she's good at, it's providing levity.

Which means she's the first to jump up from her seat after Zelda's announcement, smiling like there was never any tension in the room to begin with. ]

Alright, alright! Feel free to help yourself to some of the cookies in these twenty minutes, they're super good! And if anyone wants some more tea, just let me know and I'll be on it!

[ She flashes a smile at Zelda, making a quick V-sign with her fingers as if to say she can leave this much up to Minako. ]

[futhark]

[ Twenty minutes, should be enough. Caster nods acknowledging the permission. He resists the urge to touch the nape of his neck and check if maybe he just imagined things. He had to, surely.

As he walks he snatches few cookies in one go - for himself and for his shinki - he throws a wink at Minako. ]

You have my thanks. We'll be back in a moment, so I'm going to take you on that tea offer, Sparkle.

[ Then he heads in opposite direction Hakkai group went. He doesn't look back to check if Archer and Ginia are following him, he's confident that yes they are. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia follows Caster, a prickly ball of emotions at his shoulder. Get some space for everyone, settle down, regroup and come back to discuss more things. She can behave, she can play nice with everyone. When they're on their own, Ginia stares at the floor, lightly rubbing her left shoulder. She's changed slings so she can wear it under her coat and draw less attention, but it still aches.]

I messed up. If anything happens, I'll take the blame for it.

[futhark]

Sorry, I didn't realize there was a promise.

[ Again, he never promised the kid anything. Not to mention, their allegiance to the Heaven's might trump over that anyway. While Celts didn't actually have that much problem with a bit of trickery and deceit as long as it served greater honor or oaths. Caster's stories about how he fought Nad Crantail or even how he and Fergus found a loophole in their ruler's orders by trading geis. But personal promise is an important thing, breaking it is a big deal, so he gets why Ginia reacted like she did ]

If you want me to handle the subject of the girl from now on, just say so.

[ He gestures to take his hood down, but stops himself in last moment. Just.... in case ]

[boneofsword]

[Archer does follow. He notices how hesitant Caster is with his hood and has a suspicion why he does. If Ginia feels that guilty of breaking a promise things can get problematic.]

Perhaps you should visit her. [he suggests, for now refraining from escalating the situation. If Ginia knows she stung Caster she may feel guilty for doing so and the results may be worse.]

I think it's that guy who messed up. A healthy dose of paranoia is fine, but he's seriously overdoing it.

[unlucky7]

I was going to visit her sooner.

[Who would have thought getting stabbed by a spider-lady-ayakashi loans itself poorly toward social visit deep in the forest? Ginia rubs the back of her neck, her mood smoothing out, but still uncertain.]

Caster, will you go back with me? If she knows you too, maybe it'll be easier apologizing to her.

[futhark]

Sure, I'm game for that. She liked Archer's riceballs, maybe we can convince him for a full bento experience.

[ He nudges Archer's side with his elbow, riiight under the ribs. Albeit the playfulness is a little forced here, to keep the morale up ]

We come in peace and bring gifts as an offering. [ Ha ha ha, that was supposed to be a joke. But he's serious suddenly. ] What else could we get out of her though?

[boneofsword]

[Elbow in the ribs is a daily ocurrence and can be ignored.]

Making her notice all the different opportunities is worth trying. From what Ginia said she has no idea about how things really are, and could use a friendly soul or two.

[Even if Votelli is a goddess she's been brainwashed for long enough.]

I will make a bento box for her, and you can take the dogs along.

[unlucky7]

Maybe only Regal. She's the calmest.

[Pal is a good, friendly boy, but that energy may be too much for Votelli. There's still no denying her abilities are quite powerful and could be a good liar. As much as Ginia wants to believe the best in Votelli, best to have one guard dog along.]

We're done here then?

(Branch off here for the people heading outside?)

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai's expression stays grim as he climbs the long spiral staircase, although his chilly demeanor is somewhat damaged by the string of tinsel that sticks in his hair as he ducks under the fringe of it edging the door into Zelda's temple atrium.

He stops there, not going outside just yet. For one thing, it'll be easier to get in the way of anyone trying to storm for the door if they're still inside. For another, he'd rather make it more difficult for their conversation to be overheard, if anyone else is lingering nearby.]

All right. Gojyo, Goku, you've met this girl? What did she say to you about why she had to stay a secret?

[rockthemonkey]

[Hakkai's in a scary mood. Goku's not scared of Hakkai in the sense that he thinks he's a threat; rather in the pure, simple sense that Hakkai is just very scary. There's no explaining it. There shouldn't be any need to explain it with an expression like that. It doesn't matter what Gojyo says, Goku will keep using him as a (half-)human shield. If Gojyo wants to pretend to be brave that's his business.

He does lean around Gojyo to to blink at Hakkai at the question though.] Didn't we tell you?

[Goku was sure he'd told Hakkai what happened. Hiding stuff from Hakkai doesn't sound like something Goku would do. He'd have to be really absent-minded and distracted to forget to tell Hakkai something like that.]

Uh, she said that "sensei" guy told her if Heaven found her they'd kill her or somethin'. She didn't mind talkin' to us, but she didn't want them knowin' about her. [He thinks back, trying to remember as much of the conversation as he can.] ... I don't think she wanted him knowin' she was talking to us either.

[erogappa]

[ He feels light as he follows, his feet barely touching the ground. Light and barely present -- a dead man walking, he thinks, and barely contains his laughter when the thought registers.

He folds his arms as Goku speaks, nodding a little at Heaven would kill her. They would, too. They will. ]

She's a scared kid. [ Powerful, sure, maybe even a god like everyone's saying, but first and foremost just a frightened little girl. ] And she's got good reason to be scared. There's some asshole basically keeping her prisoner, and he's the real problem, not her.

[kokuyoyo]

[Chikusa says nothing in response to the conversation which begins, away from the rest of the individuals who'd made up the meeting. He knows himself; anything he would say would probably make things worse. Things like how he doesn't care if she's scared, or if anyone would kill her.]

[He might not be good with people, but even he can recognize that if Gojyo got stupid just about people talking about her, he'd definitely react unfavorably to that.]

[Instead, Chikusa just adjusts his position to stand near to Hakkai, hands still in his pockets where he can keep his fingers curled around the tiny metal box holding Mukurou. His eyes stay mostly on Gojyo, trying to gauge if he'll have another outburst. Without having any idea what is going through Gojyo's head, watching his actions is the best Chikusa can do.]

[reformedsinner]

No, you didn't tell me. [Although... things have been difficult. Hakkai can't entirely blame Goku. He's been blighted half to death, he lost his shinki in a deeply painful way, and he's barely recovering from that. Gojyo, on the other hand?

Gojyo should definitely have told him. Listening to the description, though -- she's a scared kid, there's some asshole basically keeping her prisoner -- Hakkai finds himself unsurprised that he did not. It's exactly the sort of situation calculated to coax Gojyo into making very bad decisions. He supposes he should consider himself lucky that Gojyo hasn't actually run off on his own to find and kill this "asshole" yet.]

All right. If she's really the god that they're looking for, I don't doubt it's true that she'd be executed if they caught her, and likely without asking too many questions about other responsible parties first.

That doesn't necessarily mean anyone down there is going to turn her in.

[He glances between Gojyo and Goku, and adds, more quietly:]

And it doesn't mean that she might not be working against us, either. Children often trust what their caretakers tell them.

[erogappa]

[ Chikusa can loom threateningly all he likes. Gojyo's written him off -- until he throws a punch, the kid doesn't exist to him ]

No one is going to turn her in? Are you sure?

[ Folding his arms, Gojyo straightens up even taller and fixes Hakkai with a steady (and, for him, oddly blank) gaze. He almost feels like he's not in his body anymore, just floating free a few inches behind himself. It's a little scary. ]

Necessarily? [ He snorts. ] So they might decide not to rat her out to the heavens? Or to run their mouth where they could be overheard?

[ He should have expected Hakkai to come in as the peacemaker, and he knew Hakkai wouldn't trust his word. But Hakkai's suspicion of Votelli still grates. She's just a kid! The rules are different when it's a kid... or they should be. ]

Hell, for all we know her fuckin' Sensei is in there right now, hearing all about how she's been talkin' to us.

[ He leans in, his concern now apparent in every line of his face. ]

The longer we stand around talking about it, the more danger she's in.

[rockthemonkey]

I really don't think any of those guys wanna hurt her, Gojyo. [Goku doesn't know any of them very well, but that's the feeling he got. Sometimes his instincts are wrong, but he continues to trust them anyway.] An' I think everyone there knows everyone else, so it's not like some guy could just sneak in, right?

[They're talking now; having a conversation, not being lectured at. Hakkai seems a little less likely to do something terrifying like look at Goku in a certain way, raise his voice or refuse to cook them dinner tonight, so Goku straightens up a bit. ]

Anyway, it's not like Votelli can't look after herself too. Didn't she kick Hakkai's ass already? [No offence, Hakkai.] She's probably really strong.

[A kid is a kid, but there are plenty of strong kids in the world. They still shouldn't have to fight on their own or be in danger, Goku's worried about her too, but still. Anyone looking for her might end up tied up in a tree.]

[reformedsinner]

Everyone down there is a newcomer. I don't know them all well, but I recognize them all -- do you think she's been under the control of that 'Sensei' for less than a year? Ginia claimed she'd said he had been around for at least a decade.

Also, you're clearly not the only two she talked to. Is Ginia telling others about her existence more dangerous than her personally meeting [he waves a hand impatiently] -- who knows how many people in that forest?

What I'm saying, Gojyo, is that I don't think she's in more danger now than she was an hour ago. The Heavens know about that forest, but she's evaded them so far, hasn't she?

[He gives Goku a slight, wry nod, letting himself thaw slightly.]

And it's true, if she was the one controlling everything that happened in the forest, I think she can defend herself.

[kokuyoyo]

If anything... rushing about and doing something without thinking... is what's more likely to put either her in danger, or anyone else.

[Chikusa's been quiet for most of this conversation, listening carefully to everything that's going on, since it's not been about his and Gojyo's argument directly. Still, he feels like it's a good time to mention this, and he looks up at Hakkai meaningfully from his usual slouch.]

We still don't know the full effects of what that ritual was doing or has already done to you and the others... For all we know, it could be the equivalent of someone having a shinki's name. You and Shun are Gods of Fortune now... which means you're the biggest and brightest targets out of all the newcomers.

The whole reason people are gathered here... is to figure out a plan, so that no one gets hurt, and so we get answers.

[erogappa]

[ Hakkai doesn't believe him.

Chikusa is saying some shit, but Gojyo just tunes him out, staring instead at Hakkai with a look of absolute betrayal.

A scared, lonely kid talking to the people who had invaded her home, and he's supposed to just shrug that off and say sure, fine, since she talked to us it's okay that we break our promise and tell the world about her? Everyone in the room has introduced themselves as new -- he's just supposed to take their word for that? Hakkai's taking so much here on faith, assuming that everyone here is well-meaning, assuming that the heavens aren't listening in, assuming so much... and if he's wrong, then Votelli's dead.

He's going to have to lie, Gojyo realizes, gaze darting between Hakkai's face and Goku's. He's going to have to agree with them, and make it sound good, and then find a way to sneak up the mountain. He's going to have to do something he knows is wrong, and that's going to cause them all to get stung.

He's going to have to be clever. ]

Maybe you're right. [ He speaks slowly, mind a whir. If he's worried enough for her, really visibly worried, will they believe that the stings are from that? He has to try. ] You didn't see her though, Hakkai. She was really scared. If anything bad happened to her... [ He shakes his head, voice trailing off. ]

[rockthemonkey]

[Goku's still not happy about everyone breaking their word to Votelli, though he'll concede that's it's not as big of a deal to talk about her to each other as it is to talk to the Heavens about her. He's not opposed to running off and talking to her right now. She's probably due a visit and the important thing- more important than trying to "protect" her, in Goku's opinion- is not making her feel alone.]

She seemed scared but... pretty tough too. [Goku looks up at Gojyo cautiously as well. He can't read his mind, of course, but he knows what Gojyo's like. ] ... We could all go talk to her together and make sure she's okay though.

[Anything would be better than doing things on their own. That's how trouble happens.]

[reformedsinner]

I'd think I'd feel it if there were any remaining drain on my energy. [Hakkai's tone is slightly dry; it is possible, after all, that there's some subtle effect. He doesn't have much practical understanding of divine magic, nor does he know what could be done to a god of this world with the right spells. He does, though, know that things can be done.

After a moment, he sighs. Gojyo is giving him a look as though Hakkai were holding a knife to this child's throat himself; it's clear he's in no mood to listen to reason of any kind.]

But I don't think it's a bad idea to meet her. I'd like to talk to her myself -- and if you're worried about keeping her safe from anyone who might betray her, Gojyo, perhaps we could talk her into going somewhere safer.

[The Heavens do know about the forest, after all. And it's not the only forest in Japan.]