day 64 - midmorning

[flashover]

So uhhhhh…! I guess we’re camping! I’ve been camping before a few times, so if anyone needs help setting up a tent or building a fire, you can always ask me!

Umm… what else…. [there’s a shuffling of papers. In has a bunch of stuff he wanted to go over, so he made notes!] Oh! As for food and supplies, I took what I could from the cookhouse and brought it with me. I set up a tent that’s just for food and cookware and stuff. You can borrow pans and pots and utensils or whatever, but be sure to bring them back! We have some little charcoal grills and some grill pans for over the fires, but no ovens or toasters or anything. Nosh will be around to keep an eye on the food — she’s a little intimidating, but she won’t hurt anyone!

… Ah, and unless someone in the carnival has some ice magic, we’re gonna be eating a lot of canned food, dried stuff, and wild berries. Maybe those horned rabbits? Kuro said he saw some in the woods. If someone can make us some ice, great! Otherwise… we’re gonna have a big barbecue tonight to use these hotdogs I brought!

Last thing! I brought all the Hellbats with me so they wouldn’t be in the Ringmaster’s way! I thought it might be nice to let people uh… “borrow” them. They do what I tell them to, and they are great for starting fires or, like, being little heaters. So if you want one or two for your campsite, ask me that too! There’s more than enough of them for everyone. [he whispers conspiratorially into the walkie] I think they’re breeding, actually… It seems like every week there’s one or two more… And even I’M not that bad at math.

Comments

[haides]

May I borrow one? (How can he say no to a Hellbat?)

[flashover]

Of course! You can come pick whichever one you want!

Oh... You don't sound familiar. My name's Rin!

[haides]

What do they eat? (He wants to care for them right.) I am Hades.

(No, really. He is.)

[flashover]

Anything that burns. They like food scraps and dry wood best! They told me they used to only have dead vampires and soul bits to eat, and they like apple cores a lot more.

[if Rin had any idea who 'Hades' was... sorry, he's not the brightest bulb in the box, and Greek mythology is something he definitely tuned out of] Ok! Hades. Nice to meet you! Did you just arrive in the Carnival?

[haides]

Tis a pity; I would offer them bits of souls if I had them. (But he is fresh out at the moment.) Refuse seems the best place to start. I shall gather what they gravitate towards.

(Hey it's a nice change? Maybe?) I have been here a week.

[flashover]

Ahaha... d-don't feed any souls. If you come across any soul bits, just uh... let them go, huh? But yeah! They're how I get rid of most of my garbage at the cookhouse. Turns out they're a lot more useful than I ever thought.

A week! How are you liking things?

[haides]

I'm not in the habit of releasing them. (On instinct he would draw them towards him.) All life has a use; it only takes some time to discover.

(He seems remarkably calm.)

She did not lie. I will stay for some time yet.

[flashover]

Well... just be nice to soul bits, ok? You never know, they might be someone's mom. Or like, pieces of someone's mom. But I'm glad they found their place, here. I was worried about them!

[he makes an affirmative noise] Ah, I don't know if she CAN lie... Maybe twist the truth? But Ringmaster-san is pretty reliable!

[haides]

T'would never occur to me to be rough with them. Who knows the value of life better than its opposing force?

(He rumbles his approval, the sound deep like the shifting of tectonic plates.)

There would be no amusement in strictly telling the truth.

[flashover]

[HMMMMMM.] So... wait. Who... did you say you were, again?

[haides]

Hades. (Does it ring a bell? Hm? Hm?) Brother of Zeus and Poseidon.

[flashover]

Uhhhhhhh.... Uh.... Hm... I think... isn't that some sort of god or something?

[THE GEARS TURN.... SORT OF]

[haides]

Yes. We are the first gods. (The first three - with Hades being the eldest.)

[flashover]

Ahhhhaaughh!! I knew it!!

.... I don't remember what you're the god of, though.

[haides]

Death. The Earth. All that lies beneath or beyond the sky's focus belongs to me unless it resides in the sea. Then again, there is no sea without a bottom.

[flashover]

Ohh... I see. ... I guess that makes the "soul" comments make more sense, then.

[haides]

A soul without a body belongs with me. (He likes them, truthfully. His realm is not so bad if someone wants peace.)

[flashover]

Cause they'd be, like, dead then, right?

[haides]

In the mortal sense. Souls never die.