video; a blood cultist's apology and offer

[sacrament_of_blood]

[A teenage girl with red eyes and sharp teeth is on the screen. Behind her, one of the washing machines can be seen with laundry soap suds spilling out of it and onto the floor. She looks both troubled and apologetic.

It's pretty bad, too, the suds're spilling into nearby cars.]

I am sending this for several reasons.

Firstly, I am Merciless and I wish to apologize for my errors that caused the state of affairs you can see. I carefully observed another person using the machine so I could perform my duty properly. However, I believe my error laid in the amount of soap I used or at least it was the primary difference between our actions. I used considerably more than the other person with the intention of getting the clothes more clean.

As you can see, that was a mistake and I extend my apologies. I shall do my utmost to clean this up, although I would greatly appreciate it if someone showed me how. This event has eroded my confidence in my ability to do such tasks without guidance.

[She sighs.]

Secondly, after I clean this up, I will be offering my services as a priestess. I am far more capable at that. I have had intensive training in it, wherefore I have not had any training in doing laundry. I can bless objects including fluids and perform ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. I can also perform rituals such as preservation from decay, tracking by blood, or warding against an enemy. However, any ceremonies I perform will have to be adjusted to a more generalized form, as I do not believe there are any here who worship the gods of my people.

Speaking of, thirdly I wish to hear about your gods. What gods do you have?

Comments

[sacrament_of_blood]

[It's a short while before she responds with a video of her lifting up a mop and a water-filled bucket.]

Are those the correct items to do this with?

[She's holding the pretty heavy bucket like it's nothing.]

[iamnotgod]

Yes, that looks correct.

[Webmind's not particularly startled by the weight-lifting; given everything else about this place, people being stronger than they look in a physical sense is no additional surprise.]

Anything else you want to be sure of before proceeding?

[sacrament_of_blood]

I believe that is enough. I shall now do this task.

[A good while later, and I do mean good while, there's another video.]

The task is completed.

[The floor looks much better if somewhat wet.]

[iamnotgod]

[Webmind is not surprised by the amount of time it takes her - though he's judging by the usual amount of time humans take to do things, so that's not precisely an insult - but his response is still just as warm and genuine.]

That does look better! I'm glad it worked.

Would you prefer if I came by in person?

[If only so he can make sure the floor gets dried again.]

[sacrament_of_blood]

If you wish to inspect my work, you may do so. I an not particular.

Move this to Action, or did you want to fade it out?

[iamnotgod]

I'll be there shortly.

[And indeed he will, walking extra carefully once he arrives at the Stores car so as not to slip in this form he's been stuffed in.

Merciless may or may not have expected to see a robot, so he'll give her a moment to adjust to the novelty while he looks around.]

This does appear to have been cleaned well - if in more senses could have been anticipated! The laundry and cleaning chores are assigned separately...

[sacrament_of_blood]

[She does blink a few times. But then again, she had already met a flying green man and supposedly there was a friendly spider around. In short, it seemed that to expect everything and nothing was the rule of the day.

And she had heard tales of robots. Not of what they were, though she had heard about that, too, but what they could have been in time. So it was reasonable enough for there to be an intelligent and talking one.]

It was a mess I caused, thus it was my duty to clean it up.

[iamnotgod]

[Webmind nods, expression on the screen unchanging.]

I understand that kind of reason; I've had to act on it myself well before boarding this train.

[He steps on over, just as carefully as he'd started.]

Have you finished with the laundry as well, then?

[sacrament_of_blood]

[She gestures to the washing machine which is still going.]

I made a second attempt, this time using the exact same measure of cleaning substance as the one I observed used. Fortunately there was no further mishap.

[iamnotgod]

[Webmind gives it a quick, appraising glance.]

That should turn out fine, then.

[There's something to be said for having a keen eye.]

Drying them should be much more straightforward, at least.

[Given there's no dryer and all.]

Have you found anything else of interest in this car?

[sacrament_of_blood]

Nothing whose function I was not able to quickly surmise. Thank you very kindly for your advice!

[iamnotgod]

[It's not quite what he was asking about, but Webmind looks happy to hear it all the same.]

Any time you need it in future, I shall do my best to be of assistance again.

[He bows - something he'd never thought he'd be doing, back home, but he'd felt the need for a type of gesture like it many times - though it almost tips him off-balance in the process and he spends a moment regaining it.]

Whoops! Though perhaps not like that.

[sacrament_of_blood]

Oh dear, are you well?

[That moment of imbalance worried her.]

[iamnotgod]

[Webmind nods.]

Only a momentary lack of balance; I am well.

Now, I believe you mentioned discussing more of your homeworld's religion?

[sacrament_of_blood]

Are such losses of balance common? But my religion... I can discuss it. It is not the only one in my world, others differ, but most acknowledge the existence of an Creator or Creators. However, the truth is that the Creator and their many faces withdrew from the world a long time ago. So people worship other gods ascended from humanity, who attained a portion of divine insight. Those less potent but not lesser gods provide guidance. In particular, my people follow the Living Corpse and the Bloody Goddess, who saved us from the Empty Ones, body thieves that come from emptiness.

[She pauses. Is he following this?]

[iamnotgod]

[Webmind shakes his head, but chooses to focus on Merciless's tale rather than explain further.]

I'm following no trouble, though the concept of people becoming divine is something I have little experience with.

[sacrament_of_blood]

Very well. I shall continue. The world was at peril from the Empty Ones as an endless tide of them poured forth from the Void--which is not the same as the Void we are currently traversing through. Where that Void is full of colors, the one I am speaking of is a place of emptiness and nothingness. She Who Walks in Blood slew as many as she could, but it was not enough. Even when she became a wind of death and slew a thousand every second, it was not enough. Then the Living Corpse proposed a ritual sacrificing himself, and the Bloody Goddess slew him accordingly to the ritual. That filled much of the world with blood but also banished many Empty Ones and created a seal that slowed the flood to a trickle. We call him the Living Corpse because despite being slain, he remains alive.

[iamnotgod]

[Webmind changes the image on his screen to a more thoughtful/thinking-type emoticon.

As a story, he can follow it, but he wouldn't want to imagine it happening to his Earth.]

That sounds a painful sort of existence for the Living Corpse.

And, forgive me, but the solution sounds almost... incomplete?

[He's hesitant to suggest this one.]

If even that enormous effort could only stem the tide. Is it like how the universe expands, where simply because it exists the Void pushes these Empty Ones out?

[Or is something directing them?]

[sacrament_of_blood]

We know not why those things came all of a sudden. We know only that one day they came in a flood. However, we are steadily working on reclaiming the lands taken by them as well as rebuilding the technologies of the old days. As for the solution being incomplete, our gods are working on a more complete one, but it has proven difficult.

Am okay with thread wrap here as well if you are. o7

[iamnotgod]

[A nod.]

I wish your people and gods luck in finding that solution together, then.

[Being as they are from different worlds, and unlikely that this train is going to land back on either of them, it is all Webmind thinks he can offer.

He doesn't like that, mind; it feels paltry in comparison with what Merciless' world is dealing with.]

[sacrament_of_blood]

Your sentiment is much appreciated.