eachdraidh | Second Bloom ❀ (Video) [Open to both]

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Flora folds her arms and rocks back and forth a little on her swing, pondering that with a tilted head. Meanwhile a fairy sticks a flower in her hair.]

Hmm, so they're immortal in a very true sense. You can defeat and kill them, but their existences are permanent? Sort of like how there will always be good or evil in the world?

Yeah. And evil can lie asleep for a really long time, but it'll wake up again eventually.

[ And it needs to be fought all over again. ]

You can say that, again. I'd settle for it taking power naps, myself.

[They should all be so lucky, though.]

Hmm, are Gods tied to their aspect, or are their aspects tied to them? Like, say if war ceased to exist forever, would that god disappear for good? Or would they remain, but perhaps be less powerful?

There's this thing called fading. Basically if everybody stops believing in you, you fade away until there's nothing left.

O-oh. [Flora blinks and raises a hand to her mouth.

Ahahaha, yeah, this suddenly hit even closer to home for her. Her voice softens.]

Does that happen often?

No, not often, at least from what little I've heard.

[ So hopefully that comforts her a little? ]

Well, that's something. [She does look relieved but then perks up a bit.] I mean, I'm sorry that these deities seem to give people a lot of trouble, I just have something against fading like that, sometimes.

[She taps her chin, though.]

Though, that's surprising, but that may be because I'm used to something that's similar, but still different. What sort of belief do they thrive on? Or does it not matter at all?

I think it's just believing in general. At camp we burn food offerings for the gods, but it takes more than just that. It's just belief in general.

Do people fade away in your world?

I see. I've never heard of offerings like that, but then, I'm still learning about all this, I suppose. [She smiles sheepishly.] Uh, they don't get the offerings burnt, right? I'm guessing the fire acts as a medium?

Well, it's not so much they fade into nothing and more that their powers are incredibly tied to how much people believe in them. The less they do, the weaker they get. They'll continue to exist, but it can leave them feeling very bitter and angry. [And trying to go on revenge crusades, take over the world and possibly wipe out humanity, but eh, details.] But this was more just on the Earth I know, which had some different and unfortunate circumstances compared to the rest of the dimension.

Yeah, as a medium. A friend of mine got sick and threw up in the fire once. I really didn't want to know what the gods thought of that.

[ Oh, Leo. She looks amused just recalling it. ]

That's definitely a way to motivate the gods to stay active and in the front of people's minds. I'm sure the gods where I'm from would be just as bitter if they started getting as weak as that.

Oh, no! [Okay, wow.

Flora's face does strange twists, like it doesn't know whether to be amused or horrified?? (piper seems to be amused tho so maybe everything is okay???) but she definitely looks concerned.] I hope they were okay! I wouldn't want to know either, goodness.

Yeah...I mean, it's a bit more complicated. The people I know were imprisoned for centuries which is a really big part of why they were bitter. Regular belief helps, but the best, most powerful sort of belief they can have is the belief in their goodness and that they mean well.

[ Piper absorbs that, then looks curiously at the screen. ]

Are you one of them? One of the gods where you're from?

[She raises her hands and waves them a little.] Oh, not at all! I'm just a normal girl, I promise.

[With powers, but that doesn't preclude being normal where she's from okay.

But she can see how Piper came to that conclusion and so offers a bit more explanation.]

My powers do work like that, though. The more people believe in magic, the stronger I am.

Wow, that must be tough.

[ She's never really sat down to think about it, but if people suddenly stopped believing in Aphrodite, would that mean the powers her children inherited would disappear too? ]

Do a lot of people still believe in magic?

It's not so bad, actually. I have other sources besides that, and it was a little difficult at times, but there's something very...well, empowering [haha] to know that people believe in you and what you stand for. It's the best positive feedback loop.

[Her smile is wide and proud. ]

Oh yes, it's not a problem back home. Everyone can do magic there even if they choose not to learn how. It was more of an issue on Earth, but we helped bring magic back there!

That does sound really cool. If you feel it in how strong your magic is, you get to feel all the people who believe and support you, and that kind of love is really nice.

[ Spreading love: it's what Aphrodite's children should all do. ]

I'm from Earth too, but one of those different ones. Alternate ones, I guess.

Second Bloom ❀ (Video) [Open to both]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video]

[video] omg leo nooooo man i must catch up

[video] you doooo!

[video] augh i want a boxset is it october yet B(

[video] SOON

[video] shit that is actually a really good question someone ask rick

[video]