Second Bloom ❀ (Video) [Open to both]

[showmeyourwreath]

[Flora is outside, sitting on what appears to be a swing, but in place of chains are woven vines. As time passes, little flowers bloom along their length. The locket is not on her person, it hovers in front of her, and the view shows her wearing what look like a white overall dress over a pink top and work gloves. Several fairies are flying around her, braiding her hair, or sitting on either shoulder. She waves before gently taking hold of the vine chains.]

Hello everyone, I hope you're well.

[Her voice is more deliberate with the well wishes, and her smile is kind, knowing. A lot's happened--when isn't it--but she does hope everyone has come out of it for the better, somehow. It's no meaningless platitude.

She moves to put her finger to her lip, remembers she's wearing gloves and thinks better of it, and instead cants her head thoughtfully. Her voice is gentle and curious.]

There's something I've been wondering about for a while now, and don't quite seem to understand, just yet. [There is a slight upturn to her lips. She is a patient girl, but she can't say she likes not understanding things. It's what she always seeks to do, if she can.] I've heard of some things from other people that were kind enough to answer me [mostly kind, anyway. Zelos was a little rude.] but with so many people from so many places, I'm curious about the similarities and differences.

[She looks directly at the locket.]

What exactly is a God or Goddess? Or what would you say make one? The same with angels. Is this something that has some sort of set criteria or is it more malleable?

[One might notice that she doesn't ask about demons, but that's because she doesn't realise there's a need; they're the same as monsters to her.

Flora dips her head in thanks and smiles, once again.]

Please, I would very much like to hear what anyone has to say. Thank you.


[Seelie Locked]

I'm headed to the mountains for a mission, soon. I just thought I should mention that. It should be interesting.

Comments

SEELIE LOCKED

[wilder]

[The actual angel is being ever so helpful and ignoring the question about angels. Because eff that noise]

You're going on a mission?

[BUT WHO WILL I ANNOY??]

SEELIE LOCKED

[showmeyourwreath]

[Oh, it's Zelos! Flora always starts at 8.5 with everyone practically 99% of the time, and so he gets a brighter smile and a wave like this won't possibly go south the more they talk to one another.

Her smile becomes a bit of a wry grin.]

Yes, so you may have to get your kicks elsewhere for a time, I think.

[IDK NOT MY PROBLEM /KANYESHRUG]

[video]

[chaoticwhimsy]

On Gran Pulse 'God' is an overblown, self-important narcissist.

[Lumina has opinions about God.]

/touches gently

[showmeyourwreath]

Uh--[Well, she's not what she was expecting, but that is certainly A Thing.

Flora delicately clears her throat behind a fist.]--what makes you say that?

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[marred]

[ luke could easily go into an entire spiel about gods and goddesses. he's had this speech written since the age of nine, with a few minor tweaks. he goes all in with the kids from his world, never once changing their minds — despite the fact that he had changed something, back home, something big and confusing for even him — but his opinion on gods and goddesses stays the same. rather than whip out that ten page essay, he opts for something concise instead. ]

Gods.

[ his mouth twists, the scar over his right eye appears uglier than usual. ]

They're the biggest disappointments you'll ever meet.

[ that's the criteria. and they meet it every damn time. ]

laughs and cries because luke, honey

[showmeyourwreath]

[You can only be disappointed in something or someone, when you have expectations of them to begin with, and so between his choice of words and his expression, Flora is gathering that this may be rather personal.

This whole affair has been rather puzzling to her, but she doesn't look at Luke like he's that--a puzzle to pick and pull apart. She places her hands in her lap and looks at him carefully, her voice softening.

He may have answered her, but she does not want to overstep.]

What's your name?

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[commandertoolbelt]

What is a god or goddess? An immortal pain in the butt with phenomenal cosmic powers and actually a really nice living space, from what I hear. And daddy issues. Lots and lots of daddy issues.

omfg i'm so sorry i missed you

[showmeyourwreath]

I'm getting a lot of that. [She smiles sympathetically.] I'm guessing you're speaking from experience?

[video]

[mesmerism]

They're these people who have great, cosmic powers and basically have control over everything.

[ The next part, she mutters: ]

But most of the time they just fight and make messes that they expect others to clean up.

[video]

[showmeyourwreath]

Would you mind going into detail about what sorts of powers, please?

[Man, Gods sure aren't popular, so far.]

Why can't they clean their own messes?

[There's actually no sarcasm, though her eyes narrow, discerning. She doesn't know much of anything about this, so she's reserving judgement. There could be circumstances she doesn't understand at work, here.]

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[quest]

Gods and goddesses in my world are immortals who pretty much run everything, and most of them have huge sticks up their butts about it. They also expect their kids, or the kids of other gods, to do all their bidding for them.

[ okay, getting off track there. ]

Not all of them are bad. They're immortal people that look after different aspects of the world and impact it in different ways. Some of them suck, others are pretty cool! Depends on if you're on their good side or not.

Uh, never met any angels, though, so that part I can't really answer.

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[showmeyourwreath]

[Flora winces mildly because wow language, but she doesn't say anything about it. Instead she hums, thoughtfully.]

So do you mean to say they're authority figures? Something like royalty, perhaps?

[Her brow creases at the bit about their children, thoughtful and maybe maybe disapproving. She doesn't have all the details yet, and so she's not going to judge, but why their children?

She is burning with questions, but she is an ADULT. She can be patient and stuff.

Oh, but he's giving her something to think about here and she smiles.]

Oh don't worry about what you can't answer. This is actually very good so far, thank you. Would you mind explaining what sorts of aspects and impacts? I might have an idea, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I am sorry for the not-so-great ones, though. It seems to be a bit of a running theme, here.

[Like what is the deal with that, anyway?]

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[gordianknots]

Deities are usually defined by their connection to religious worship in a specific time and place. They tend to have certain personality traits, animals, etc. that are theirs and that they protect. The definition's broad, because the rest is subjective and up to the different societies that worship them to define further.

Angels are usually associated with three specific religions that worship one deity. Depictions of them evolved throughout the centuries, but usually humans-with-wings is the modern standard back home.

Why do you ask?

makes loud noises 8D

[showmeyourwreath]

[Oh, what a fantastic answer, but considering the source, she can't say she's surprised at all. Speaking of, she's very happy to be hearing from him again. This would be like Christmas if she had any idea what that was.]

Good day, my lord! I hope you're doing very well.

Thank you for your answer, though. I very much appreciate it and it does help paint a bit of a clearer picture, though why does anyone worship them?

And what sort of wings do angels have? Does it matter? Because at face-value, I'm not sure how they're different from fairies, for instance.

I have an academic curiosity, you could say. I've heard the term, but I don't really understand what constitutes a deity, so I thought I'd ask. It seemed like a good idea to collect a lot of ideas from different people with the network, and so here we are.

[video]

[floralteas]

I'm looking at a goddess right now.

[ Smooooooooooooooth. He also has a proper answer to that question, but Shiro has his priorities straight. ]

omfg shiro. one day one glorious day i will read adekan

[showmeyourwreath]

P-pardon me? But--

[She doesn't look insulted, but a little dismayed and there is a pout for a moment. All she's been hearing about them so far is that they're usually jerks that use people or ruin everyone's lives, except when they're sometimes cool.

Okay, maybe they're cool where he comes from. She tries for a smile.]

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm guessing that's a good thing? [Please be a good thing.]

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[rues]

[ she's sure that by now flora has gotten all the textbook definitions of gods and goddesses, so she's not even going to bother with that. she's not annabeth, she isn't good at explaining things. so what are gods? well. ]

They're assholes. [ like, actually. they're all assholes. not literally, because that would be weird. but she's not even going to defend her own father in this case. because, yeah, he's the biggest asshole of them all next to zeus. the golden apple doesn't fall far from the tree. ] Word to the wise: don't piss one off.

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[showmeyourwreath]

Ah, it doesn't seem like it would be a very good idea to make one angry from what I'm gathering, no.

[She tilts her head and frowns.]

...which seems unfortunate since they seem to make a lot of people angry.

[How does anyone deal?]

[Video | Seelie-Locked]

[nottame]

[The little red wolf on the video is also outside, in wilder surroundings. Something above his eyes is concernedly shifted, a turn of his ears.]

What's going on at the castle?

[It's soft, and isn't urgent - but surely something, if more people are being sent on missions.]

[Video | Seelie-Locked] omg hi

[showmeyourwreath]

[A talking wolf is a bit of a curiosity, but it's not hardly implausible considering where she comes from.

Her smile disappears and Flora purses her lips a little as she tries to find a way to put this delicately.]

Oh, uh, it's...a bit worse for wear, at the moment, if that's what you mean. [She moves to rub the back of her neck--only to stop when she realises she has gloves again. She's really had enough. Flora snaps her fingers, and the gloves disappear with a gold shimmer. Now she rubs the back of her head.

Much better.]

We were attacked.

video.

[illuminating]

[ Is it cheating to communicate so directly with her if Flora already knows her true form? Hmm. It's not her usual approach, no, but interesting can so often mean dangerous. So, mind made up, she's holding up parchment to her own floating locket with a message scrawled across for her. ]

would you like some company when you go?

[ Unfortunately, she doesn't know how to keep the feed locked, but at least the question isn't too obvious. ]

OMG THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER HI SEA

[showmeyourwreath]

[Oh, but it's that gorgeous darling wolf, looking as resplendent as ever. Flora clasps her hands and smiles brightly.]

Oh my goodness, hello!

[Interesting can often mean dangerous, which is why she hasn't asked anyone else, really.]

I can't say I wouldn't love some, but are you sure? I don't know what I'll be meeting along the way.

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[extramural]

[ Unlike the last time they spoke, this time the Outsider isn't alone. Four black fish with trailing fins and tails circle around him in midair. ]

My answer may be a bit biased.

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[showmeyourwreath]

[So many people she likes are showing up, and she couldn't be more delighted. Flora waves, smiling widely.]

Oh, hello again! I was just talking about you. I see you have new, lovely company, too.

[What curious little things.]

Biased answers are fine. So are unbiased. [Her tone sombres a little. Sounds like a lot of people have had it rough in their dealings with deities.] They seem to have rather...personal impacts on others so I would like to hear of those too, whatever they want to say.

video, private;

[noirant]

The difficulty of universal translation seems to be a sincere loss of nuance. [ It's a gentle smile, just friendly; not the sort that means he wants anything. ] In my world, the gods are...

[ Felix trails off, waving a hand. ]

Then again, perhaps the concept's thorny enough in its own right. There are many gods, and all have their worshippers. I have seen -- evidence -- [ If that's what you can call ghosts. ] -- of the strength that faith can work upon magic; but I've always found it more the perversity of human willpower than any divine presence.

[ A shrug. ]

Others would disagree. Cade-Cholera and Hath-Eskildsen are two gods of my home country, though there are five officially recognized, and countless more apocryphal cult figures and demi-saints. The folklore surrounding their exploits is...immense, and intertwined; I've no real instincts for religion, and we'd be here all night if I tried to tell any of it.

There are those close to me who practice a faith. It seems to bring them solace -- of the sort that I can but envy.

[ Felix taps his fingers on the book before him, then adds. ]

Those here strike of a radically different sort. What brings the matter to your mind?

video, private; breathes on

[showmeyourwreath]

[Oh it's her fellow nerd, what a lovely surprise. She smiles back and waves in greeting, but doesn't interrupt. In fact, she's quite taken with what he has to say.

He says they could be here all night and there's a flicker of disappointment--what if she wants to be--but then realises that, no, that wouldn't be very reasonable.]

Just a bit of curiosity. There is at least one god here, and I know some demigods, but I don't know what that means entirely, so I thought I'd ask! And seeing as how there are so many people from just as many places, I thought there could be a lot to learn from.

[Boy, was she ever right about that.]

You could say I had an itch, but I also want to understand the people I know better, too. So, a few flavours of curiosity, really.

[She smiles, but then pauses as she thinks over what he's said.]

...So you're saying that belief gave these people power, though?

[She's not judging, but her voice grows curiously lighter. Almost like she's trying to be nonchalant.

And trying too hard.]