Deliver Us

the Voice "I have never needed to be liked by them. My only goal is to make a world in which you can shine as brightly as you are. Do they fault Rae when there are hurricanes? When earthquakes devastate the lands? When there is famine and disease?" The Voice shakes her head. "They are petty and scared; jealous because I will always come for you. Will always be here for you. Can the same be said for those your friends worship?" With a look towards Rexanna, the Voice nods with a tight expression. "Good." She said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Return back to me as soon as you can. And until then—" At this she directed her gaze to Sam, not because he was the only one who could see her, but because it was he who needed to hear it the most. "—know that this is not all there is for you. Your lives will be full of power and strength, brightness beyond measure." You had to break a few eggs to make an omelette, so the saying went. 01110111 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01110111 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100010 01100101 00101100 00100000 01110111 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100010 01100101 00101110

SAMUEL i am the ocean, crawling madly at your moon. and with one wanton whoop — I have never needed to be liked by them said The Voice, and Sam nearly screamed. Didn't she get it? She didn't need to because she was a Goddess, infinitely more powerful than any mortal opinion. But himself and Rexanna, the other Ascended? They were vulnerable and that vulnerability only grew as public distaste for them did. He was not scared of Remi, not truly, but he had seen the look in the Alchemist's eyes as he had shouted outside his door. They were the scapegoats, and now that the town had been proven right in their suspicions? They were pariahs. Still he kept his mouth shut, knowing he was lucky The Voice had not punished him more severely for his Longnight escapade. At least she had a good point regarding the other Gods, he thought, one that he could take to Jigano. "...I...I don't know. I like to think they'd try." Rexanna casually informed them of a death, but that was not the interesting part. Frowning, Sam asked: "How do you know she is the one that attacked me? I never identified the culprit." Though if it was true, his fears would be calmed somewhat. He caught The Voice's gaze as she said her parting words and took in a shaking breath, wanting more than anything to believe all she said. Most of him did. But a part that was paranoid, skeptical and confused held him back from fully jumping into her promises and ideas. "How? Can you tell us what the plan is, at least a little bit, from this point?" — i melt into a sycophantic soup, & all that's left to do, is giggle, fawn, and swoon.

and i watch in wonder, hung high and dry, where no one can see

if there's no one to blame, blame it on me

She remains silent while the Voice explains to Samuel – having nothing to add other than understanding. She had felt the same, that the Voice would always be there for them, it is also why she’s told Sam fairly recently that regardless of what happens they’d always end up finding their way back to her. Was that really such a bad thing?

Her information of Roana is acknowledged with a good, before Rexanna’s head shifts toward Samuel with his question. “I’m not sure who confirmed it, but she was arrested and didn’t deny the charges from what I’ve heard.” Her own shoulders rise and fall in a shrug, arms folding across her chest now. Still, she remains quiet once more as Samuel directs his question to the departing deity.

storm in the sky, fire in the street

if there's nothing but pain, put it on me

REXANNA

the Voice "Soon all will be made clear. I promise. Just wait a little longer." She said with a sweet smile for Sam, and a glowing nod for Rexanna. Once her children were whole again, once the portal had been entered, then they could move forward. Then they could really begin to shine. Until then, she'd need their patience and trust a little longer. "Soon." She said again with a knowing nod, before vanishing in a shower of sparks. 01110111 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01110111 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100010 01100101 00101100 00100000 01110111 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100010 01100101 00101110