video; what's an ulterior motive?

[eternalshield]

[Zeno takes a bite of a juicy golden-yellow apple.]

Gods are so high-maintenance, right? Anyone who got some of the alcohol from Zeno at the firefly picnic, please accept this apology! Zeno was only trying to bear cups and properly embody Hebe, but it didn't work out so well!

[Another, smaller bite. He has to wipe some fruit juice off his face with his sleeve.]

Hebe should be serving nectar, though. Or ambrosia? Some things Zeno reads say nectar is the drink of the gods that makes them immortal, and some say ambrosia is the food, and others say the opposite. Zeno has been looking for ambrosia and nectar for a while now!

Moreso lately. Given some recent events, immortality might be a useful thing to have for shinki as well as gods.

[He quickly takes another, bigger bite of his apple, in order to disguise his distaste for that sentiment. Immortality isn't something to play around with-- just like mortality isn't something to take advantage of.]

Who'd think being dead can't stop you from being killed? [That, that he allows himself to visibly react to. Mostly in a look of disgust and a tone of utter disdain for the murderer.]

The way to obtain immortality is by ingesting something, it seems. Ambrosia and nectar, the elixir of life, amrit, dragon blood, golden apples... so very high-maintenance!

[A bigger, more involved bite of his delicious yellow apple.]

What does everyone think? Is searching for the source of immortality worth it while we try to stop this person? [His voice sounds a little more serious, now.] If the gods who used them exist, surely they must, too-- but is immortality worth the trouble? Is it even the right thing to do?

Comments

Anon text

[rev13_3]

masbybe the secret is to ingestan immortal pserosn has anyonneu tries taht yet?

video, just to be obnoxious

[eternalshield]

Probably it would work like the dragon blood. Drinking the blood of an immortal grants immortality.

[...he wonders. The murderer did use anon before.

Either way, it's a bold-faced lie on his part. He takes another bite of his apple.]

None of the gods here can be true immortals, since they keep getting killed, and nor the shinki, since they're all dead already. You would have to find someone for whom death is simply not a reality.

anon text forever

[rev13_3]

ins that case sinc eryoure offering id liek to place and ordre for delivery

heart brani add eyes for goood mearsrue pinat of blood rice on thert side medium spicy

[dragonflood]

[what the dragon blood is pois]

[...Audio, because phones are hard.]

Things that turn you immortal can also kill you. Depends on how you want to live.

[In other words...] It's not worth it.

[eternalshield]

Things that turn you immortal probably should kill you!

Zeno isn't a gambler, though, so you speak sense.

[dragonflood]

Wouldn't stop them from trying, I don't think...

[A pause. She understood the part about the murders, though she isn't very concerned with it, and...] Why would shinki...? Seems like they'd be more concerned with coming back to life. [(Just an idle assumption of hers.)]

[Video]

[justclaws]

Zeno what on Earth are you doing?

[Do I have to start worrying? Because I started worrying.

[Please tell me I am doing this unnecessarily.]

[Video]

[eternalshield]

Posting... Zeno never posts to the BBS.

[Unless there's a murderer involved, apparently.]

[Video] [1/2]

[justclaws]

But is it really wise to--

[--to be talking about this in public, yes, Kija.

[There are words for how this is making Kija feel. He very pointedly does not use them.]

Do not go anywhere, Zeno!

( video )

[drizzle]

[His questions will leave her thoughtful as she can't help notice the bigger issues happening behind the scenes. She has heard from the network enough to know that someone -- a shinki like her -- has been killed. Which was definitely odd as hell, but if it was possible, then she won't question too much for the time being. Instead, she can't help wonder.]

Why are you interested in making that in the first place if it is so high maintenance? Is it due to your duties as the god you are currently representing?

( video )

[eternalshield]

Yes! Twice over!

Not only is Hebe the cupbearer of the gods, she is the goddess of eternal youth. Serving up immortality is all part of it.

If it's wanted, of course. Zeno wouldn't want to inflict it on anyone who looked forward to dying someday.

Video, private

[fadingsunshine]

[There are so many things in this broadcast that ring bells of alarm for Kaya. Where to begin first? She knew he was bad at communicating, either not expressing himself at all or dumping everything at once. Nothing in between. But really, this is a bit too heavy since it's public and the subjects are somehow scary.]

Z-Zeno, are you sure you should be saying those things like that? The creepy guy is going to get interested in you again!

[Of course that might be the point, but even with that golden shield and his other shinki's help, it was dangerous to call that person's attention. Kaya doesn't want to believe he's doing it on purpose.

Because if it's serious... the rest of it is serious...

Looking for ambrosia and nectar. Looking for immortality for gods and shinki. For herself and Chise and Yona and Kija and all his friends and all strangers who don't deserve to be killed. But she fears it's mostly about herself.

And of course she heard that in the list. Just remembering is making her stomach churn, and she doesn't want to ask so soon about it.]

Video, private

[eternalshield]

[Better he focus on Zeno than someone who can actually be killed. He isn't letting anyone take Kaya's and Chise's second chances from them. He's already failed Omi and Ouka, and the others...]

What~? It's part of my job.

Video

[festal]

( Wait just a second, )

I've never heard of anything of these things b-but... where have you heard of Dragon Blood?

( This guy sure doesn't look like he's from the Nohrian or Hoshidan royal families and she's certain he isn't or else he wouldn't be considering Dragon Blood? )

Video

[eternalshield]

It's just an old legend... one of the dragon gods became human, and then the other four gave their blood to four humans to protect him.

From: Hermes

[changeanddie]

But consider this, fellow Greek. If those things truly existed, then the villainous gods such as the murderer could be turned immortal, too.

I was a god of the Norse before coming here, an Asgardian. The immortality by those means for us is just about stopping old age at any point you desire. Everyone can die, and we often did! Going to the afterlife and everything! Being reborn again if it suits fate.

Honestly, I find it pointless. A long life means a less flexible role, which makes it harder for you to change. And that's bad! Also, again, bad guys that are also immortal.

[eternalshield]

The murderer might be a shinki, let's not forget! But what a point you make!
Though if the murderer wants immortality, he's in the minority here...

[Truly, it's almost like Hermes has read and typed up for him a part of his soul. He'd changed quite a bit over what would have been his natural human lifespan and with Kaya, but for the vast majority of the last two millennia, he'd been static. Unable to do anything but wait for his duty to the king to resume...]

...died often? Zeno knows of people being reincarnated, but... often?

video; private

[slayvega]

[ Oooooooooh boy. Chise was mindful to make sure that her reply would be private before she spoke up to reply. This was a heavy topic of discussion, best not made in public. ]

I think there would be too many risks in trying to find immortality. It's better to leave it alone than for a person to put themself in danger in order to attain it.

[ But more so than that, the teen was worried about Zeno. And she knew Kaya would be too-- she made a mental note to check in with her fellow shinki later, though she had a feeling the other would be talking to him as well. ]

video; private

[eternalshield]

[Aaaah what a wise girl! So cute! he thinks.]

This is the point where the god listens to the wise shinki and gives up a foolish plan, is it?

[In truth, he wouldn't wish immortality on anyone.]

Another person said most things that cause immortality also kill you. Is that what you're getting at?

[Voice]

[trademark_skull]

I had assumed gods were supposed to be immortal to begin with, before coming here. [Though if they are new incarnates, maybe it's still technically true?]

If that's not the case then I don't think anything else is gonna change that.

[Voice]

[eternalshield]

Apparently, immortality wears off? That's why gods need special food and drink to maintain it. Or maybe that's only youth...?

Then we need to catch this murderer, huh?

From: Epona

[lovemguns]

The best would be t' simply catch whoever's behind 'em murders, ain't it? Why's it seemin' so hard to do that?

[ If this was his time, yeah, sure, it's hard to catch people, but with all these modern things and the magic, this are totally different. ]

Playing with immortality an' such ain't soundin' all that good, 'n my opinion. An' dependin', the culprit might end up becomin' immortal's well, or they might end up hurtin' people while makin' use a' it.

Best we can do's proect them we can protect, an' keep our eyes open.

From: Epona

[eternalshield]

Why's it hard to catch any murderer? [/philosophical. He is trying. The problem is, Zeno didn't see them when they threw a knife at the back of his head, and the limited contact they've had since is anonymous. Baiting them is the only option he personally has.]

That sounds about right, honestly!

But people aren't getting protected and eyes aren't that open, since Zeno's heard nothing solid about a solution!

(Text; From: Dali)

[stonebird]

I have partaken of nectar, but ambrosia, amrit, dragon blood and golden apples are unknown to me! Are they sweet of taste? I think I shall prefer lemon tarts regardless.

Does that make me "high maintenance"?

Re: (Text; From: Dali)

[eternalshield]

What a lucky one you are! Zeno has no idea what any of them taste like. Zeno only knows of these from books, and has not been lucky enough to find any, let alone taste it. Though Zeno imagines the dragon blood to be very hot, hot enough to burn the entire body!

[...okay, that one he has tasted. It worked!]

As for that, Zeno is no one to judge! Zeno lives in a temple of gold and sleeps all the time!