handwritten-text (forward-dated to 20th-ish)

[brushy]

Hello, rambunctious children, with your magical self-writing rocks and magic-yous. I smell so many different yous, by the way! All these shapeshifter-sorts, angel-sorts and demon-sorts. Oh, demons, I’d be delighted to meet you, but if you are like the odds of dear Michael, then carry on. I will not bite. You all are welcome to call me what your heart tells you to, but Ammy, as much as Ammako, have always been the ones to soften my spots.

I'm very aware of the sun's disappearance, and these cursed lands have not allowed it to rise as of late, but, if you are to ask for it, in your thoughts and in your hearts, it shall come to you. Your plantlife shall flourish, your waters cleansed, and perhaps the air you breathe will taste less like a boiling pot of rot down your throat. In the meantime, it shall find a way. It always does. Fear not!

And if you have little interest in these things, then tell me, I am most curious: what is faith, to the lot of you? I am in the mood for the Good Chats as I carry on with my duties, yes.

Oh, and one more thing! If anyone manages to come across a bundle of bones that look and smell of the holy sort by the by, may I have them? They are my favorite snack.

[ as a note, people are welcome to find ōkami items! ]

Comments

[brushy]

A shame the fellow didn’t leave the afterlife for after, as the name says. I hope you took good care of him, Michael.

A child demon, though? Do tell me more, I am listening.

[eudaimonikos]

Well, I told him to live a little. No idea what he did with it. I would've heard if he'd died, so he must still be kicking.

[And really, he shouldn't have interfered with the living as much as he did. Strictly the afterlife from now on, he guesses - this place being the exception.]

He's probably not technically a child. From what I understand, some humans forcibly bound him to a human kid - screwed them both up pretty bad. I'm friends with the both of them, I try to help them where I can. Demon possession seems common in a lot of other worlds, but it's not possible for my kind, I don't...understand it, really. [He plainly doesn't like admitting that, but it's the truth.] I've never been able to help with stuff like that. Just...if you see them, the last time someone tried to tear them apart, it ended badly for everyone. And it isn't Paimon's fault.

[brushy]

[ she listens, and for a moment longer, her response is delayed. for once, she's thinking. ]

I would never harm a child of mine. A malicious demon walking about independently is one thing. Possession, that is another beast.

In Nippon, for a demon to possess the body of a human, the host must first be killed by the same. I slay it on a spiritual plane, thus destroying the fiend within and putting the body to rest. May you confirm that this is not the case? The boy is alive?

[eudaimonikos]

Sure, he's doing fine. Last time I saw him was probably the best I've known him to be. It's...well, it's hard. The demon thing, and everything else. He's from one of those Earths where magic's not so much a thing.

[Michael's impression, anyway, is that his first experience with This Kind Of Bullshit was Paimon, and that it sort of came out of nowhere for him. Not the best preparation for Deerington or Trench.]

Maybe he’s getting used to it all.

[brushy]

[ . . . ]

It pains me to know humankind has grown so vicious and cold.

[eudaimonikos]

They've...well, I think they've always had the potential for that kind of thing. And for great goodness, too, don't get me wrong. It's just easier to do both on a wider scale these days.

[brushy]

In my time, the source of these wrongdoings have always been demonic. Peace was achieved for ages to come when I was summoned to fend off the darkness. It brings me to thought: Was I asleep for so long, in these distant futures? Was I put to rest by loss of faith?

[eudaimonikos]

...well, it could just be a different world. Probably is - I've never heard of you. My kind have never really gone to Earth for anything, but I think we'd know if there were an immortal like you running around anyway.

[If nothing else, he surely would now. Little goes on in immortal spheres that Michael doesn't hear about, these days.]

Things probably would have been better if there were.

[brushy]

Indeed. Thank you for the maybe-pick-me-up, Michael. That poor boy, what is his name? I am honestly reluctant to speak for the demon just yet, but I will take your word for it, as mentioned. I will not bite or make myself a beast in front of him so easily. At least, I will give you my word that I shall try my very best.

[eudaimonikos]

Peter. Peter Graham. I can't promise you who'll be driving, if you find him, but it's easy to tell.

[For Michael, visually, and probably for Ammy too. Even for others, though, their behaviors and speech patterns are different enough that he can't imagine they're easy to mix up.]

...thanks. I just worry about them - both of them. It feels like I should be able to do more. I could have, if this were my world.

[brushy]

A handsome demon once said: things would have been better if you could.

Either way, remember that perhaps we cannot stop everything, but we can help the way we are with some things. I once lost a priestess to a demon's possession. Rao, her name was, slain by a nasty fox. It was a terrible blow to me, to be unable to save her. But I did what she would have wanted for her land. It was the least I could do. And I was a little selfish, too. I slew that fiend right back, nine times over.

This Peter Graham is still alive, despite sharing his space with an unwanted visitor, but the feeling is mutual, yes? I'd say we still have ways to do more.

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah.

[Michael still sounds a little downcast at first, but he rallies quickly; he's usually fairly good at that.]

Yeah, you're right. I really do think they're doing much better than they used to. Things got dark for everyone, in the last days of Deerington - that was the town before this one.

[brushy]

Yes, I have heard of such a place. The details were very fine, but I remember the story of a gifted girl used by the wrong hand. Is that it?

[eudaimonikos]

...yeah, that's it. Julia.

[..........]

Wasn't her fault. Just...people.

[brushy]

Again, the people.

I thought I taught them differently, but I suppose they all have the will to choose for themselves. Even if it is very, very stupid a choice.

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah, sure. Their choices wouldn't really mean anything if they couldn't make them on their own.

[brushy]

It may be what hurts, but spiritual evolution is a long journey.

As always, it was fantastic to speak with you, Michael. Thank you, for telling me of Peter Graham.

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah, sure. Anytime.