IC Inbox III

[ukan]

This is Lark, leave a message.

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[ukan]

"It's a good point. Have you spoken to any of our new murderers?"

[riseunparalleled]

"Ah, what do you mean by new?" Have murdered recently? Are new to murder?

[ukan]

"People who have killed since we've come back to the ship. And, hypothetically, people who might not normally kill but feel it's the only way to get justice or keep themselves safe."

[riseunparalleled]

"I've spoken with Envy, though not about that. I've also spoken with young Daniel. I didn't think speaking with Trevor would be useful, and I don't know Norton. Have there been others since we've gotten back to the ship?"

[ukan]

"Carol and Shen Wei's fight happened close enough to being back on board that is count that, too."

[riseunparalleled]

He nods. "I haven't spoken with Shen Wei. I don't think any of them are new to killing."

[ukan]

"Unfortunately, killing is a common way people here solve their problems."

[riseunparalleled]

"Perhaps not so surprisingly, as we were specifically selected. Though with slightly varying ideas about what their problems are and why it's a solution. I'm least familiar with Norton, so I wouldn't venture to guess, but the rest... perhaps both more and less similar to each other than they might like."

[ukan]

"There are a lot of similar people here. A lot of people used to being the strongest or the smartest or the most needed." A small frown. "It makes doing anything as a group that much harder."

[riseunparalleled]

Xie Lian stares into space a moment. "You've never been to the Heavenly Court." And that makes Lark lucky. He returns to the present. "I just don't think there are that many different reasons to murder someone. Not deep down."

[ukan]

"Most things boil down to the basics? Food, safety, sex?" It's one philosophy. It has a strong following for a reason.

[riseunparalleled]

"Perhaps." That's not really his philosophy. "I was thinking about power and society."

[ukan]

That piques his interest. "What do you see about it in the murders here?"

[riseunparalleled]

"A belief that the individual has the right to punish someone else, and the belief that there's no greater authority who will do it. In varying amounts and combinations."

[ukan]

"Where you're from, is there a greater authority? Reliably?"

[riseunparalleled]

"Sometimes there is, sometimes there isn't. But the perception of a situation often matters more than the reality."

[ukan]

"If that isn't true I don't know what is." He cocks his head. "How are you perceived, would you say?"

[riseunparalleled]

"Where?"

[ukan]

"Well with that question I have to ask for both here and at home." Because he wants to know how they differ.

[riseunparalleled]

Xie Lian knows deeply how perception can influence reality, and there are very different groups doing the perceiving. "At home, I'm not a popular god. Among mortals or other gods. With the gods... people make links between misfortune and bad luck and the idea that it might rub off on them to get close." He doesn't hold their dislike against them, it's just a fact.

"Here... I don't know." He laughs a little. "It's a lot more straightforward when you can listen to prayers or curses. I try my best to do my duty as I see it, to protect. People interpret that through their own lens, and have their own opinions on what's right."

[ukan]

"You have bad luck? I didn't expect that."

[riseunparalleled]

"No? What's your perception?" A little teasing.

[ukan]

"You struck me as someone who rose above bad luck. It comes knocking, you adjust and keep going. Perhaps too smoothly for someone else to notice."

[riseunparalleled]

He laughs. "Ah, that's very kind of you. I wouldn't say my luck is so bad, now." And he does know how to keep going. "But gods... memories can last a long time."

[ukan]

"Humans are wired to remember the bad more easily than the good. Is it the same for gods?"