[text] @ Soldier; Belated Spirit Data-Dump [open, backdated slightly to 12/26]

[worthallthis]

[Christmas is over, gifts are delivered, and the Soldier finally has the time, completed set of intel, and mental space to do this. They've been working on editing it into something readable off and on for a couple weeks now.]

Posting at Cao Pi's request. Notes on the spirits from the town hall (thank you Misty) and after. For everyone to know. Collected from personal experience and from contact with one of the spirits that live outside the village who knows Morse Code. Words in quotes are direct quotes from contact. Conjecture labeled.


First point. Spirits know they made a mistake in attacking us. Said "we wrong, learn new". Spirits have different idea of danger. Spirits do not consider dying danger because we are all already dead. Conjecture: might not feel pain the same way we do either. Painful wounds did not hinder them during the attacks the way they would hinder one of us. So they did not understand that dying hurts us.

Second point. Green-eyed spirits are bosses of other spirits. Green-eyed spirits are "different" from the other spirits, called "good and bad" and "nasty". Green-eyed spirits give other spirits jobs. Attacking the ones who didn't eat was a job, called "good but hard". Some of them did not want to do it so they hid, said "scared too".

Sub-point. Talking to green-eyed spirits in person may not be viable. Daylight and I tried. They did not respond to spoken words or Morse Code except to grab us and try to separate us. Conjecture: talking to other spirits is a better option. They may be able to communicate with green-eyed spirits for us if need be. Maybe also wait for spirits to get back on network since that seemed to work for them during the attacks.

Third point. Spirits are dead like us. Nothing is actually alive here even if it looks alive. The world is dead, not just without light. Spirit said "All dead in dead world".

Fourth point. If the light comes back and we stop the World Eaters, the spirits will cease to be. Said "with light comes we die". Said "dead stay dead", "only live or only die, not both". Said not to be sad if they die. Was not upset at prospect of us stopping World Eaters, only curious. Said "What is death to a dead thing?" Conjecture: they may be former residents of Beacon with the purpose of stopping the World Eaters. Cannot move on until purpose complete and world freed?

Sub-point, also conjecture. This may also be true of us. Did not ask about that at the time. But if all dead things will cease to be if the world comes alive, and we are also dead things, then it could apply to us too.

Fifth point. Spirits want us to lead them. Said "Lead. Follow we." "All you choose" where and to what. Could not get a clearer answer on what that means. If people can talk to other spirits, they might have alternate ways of explaining that to help make clearer. Conjecture: this is important to our purpose here? Spirit was very firm in this.

That's what I have. Don't know if I can answer questions on details. But I will try.

Comments

[mewtiny]

At the edge of the bonfire.

[That's basically where it lives. It's too cold anywhere else and it doesn't feel comfortable in a house.

That could change as it gets even colder, but right now, it's toughing it out.]

=> action

[worthallthis]

[For now, the Soldier is just assuming that's a place to meet. Also, not super close to where they hit send on the message (safely in their room in Crowley and Aziraphale's house), which means Mewtwo does in fact have some range on its telepathy.

They show up a couple minutes later, without any further messaging on the network.]

[mewtiny]

[Mewtwo has found a stump to sit on and is waiting- well, perhaps not waiting as such. It's sitting, and seems to have been doing so for awhile, staring unblinking into the fire and shivering a bit when the wind picks up and cuts through its thin layer of hair.

It barely acknowledges him at first, so occupied with its staring, and then:]

You do not intend to waste time, do you?

[worthallthis]

[The Soldier gives Mewtwo a sidelong look. Well, no, they usually don't. Not when:]

You said as soon as possible.

[Because that seems to mean not to waste time. However, having had a few seconds of silence waiting to be acknowledged, the Soldier did in fact catch some shivers. Why is it shivering.]

You didn't have to wait out here. I could have met you inside where it's warmer.

[mewtiny]

[Mewtwo finally looks up. Its expression is always difficult to read, but somehow the puzzled look comes through.]

This is where I stay. I have no need of human dwellings. I'm perfectly comfortable out here.

[Strange. It has learned how to lie, hasn't it? Well, it feels more comfortable out here than it would inside a place it has no control over. No dwelling would ever belong wholly to it, not like New Island castle or the caves it dug out under Mt. Quena.]

But sitting here, doing nothing is not ideal. [It stands, slowly.] I wish to progress and find answers.

[worthallthis]

[That's... not great. Even weird furry psychic creatures would get cold in the snow. The bonfire isn't that warm.]

Maybe you should at least stay in the library. Or the gym. Out of the wind. It's only going to get colder.

[Does Mewtwo eat? Maybe they should start bringing it hot meals. And like... a blanket, or something. They'll deal with the actual plan to go hunt down Owl Friend in a minute. Dealing with actual, physical needs first, here.]

[mewtiny]

[There is a long, extended silence between soldier and genetic abomination. Mewtwo's gears are turning in its head. It was shown compassion in the moments before it died, but it's still not accustomed to the concept.]

I am not used to being shown compassion.

[The tone is... a bit uncomfortable, showcasing that it has no idea what to even say to that. Is agreeing a sign of camaraderie or is it giving in?]

Most of the humans who have come into my life have cared nothing for my well-being. And those who did I met too late to truly understand their motivations.

[worthallthis]

I wasn't, either. Still not. Doesn't mean you can't accept it, though.

[The Soldier kind of soaks up any positive attention sent their way, even if it's still weird. Slightly less weird coming from certain people, at least, who make a habit of it.]

I can show you places to stay, if you don't want to share at the Invincible or one of the houses. Get you blankets. I'd bring you to Crowley and Aziraphale's house, but it's already kind of crowded. And it's not mine, anyway, it's theirs.

[mewtiny]

[Again, the cold wind bites into its body, and cuts off any protest it might have had hoped to make about the subject.]

Show me. Perhaps we can speak to the spirits another day.

[Because now that it sees an option, it doesn't really want to be out in the cold any more than necessary.]

[worthallthis]

The Invincible is where most people stay, but I think most of the rooms are full now. So you'd have to share. If you don't want to share, there's the library, or the gymnasium. Or the armory, but that's a long way away from everyone. Especially if it snows.

[The museum is taken, and they doubt Bruce and his friends will thank the Soldier for inviting someone else to join them. They think briefly, then turn towards the general store.]

Blankets first, so I know for sure you get them. Then I'll show you places, and you can pick.

[mewtiny]

[Mewtwo is already deciding it wants to stay in the fucking armory simply because of its distance from everything else, but rather than say that, it tries to be pragmatic about it as it stands and begins to hover slightly, rather than trudge on tippy toes through the snow.]

I have heard that the armory needs to be protected.

[worthallthis]

[Mewtwo gets a mildly skeptical look. Where did it get that idea?]

The armory has camouflage. It's fine. I check on it on my patrol once a day, anyway. If you want to see it, though, we can go there first. The gym and library are over in the village.

[At least the general store is right there so it's a quick moment to step inside and start collecting some folded blankets. And a couple pillows, too, since nowhere they're going has actual beds, and in most places the floor is hard.]

[mewtiny]

[Okay, sure, fine, but consider it is far away.]

It seems safer for me. I have no need of weapons so I have no reason to abuse the advantage it might give, and it's far enough away to be comfortable.

[Mewtwo can project this right into Bucky's head as he goes into the general store, leaving it to just stand outside, looking miserable in the cold... and just in general. Accepting help is more difficult than you'd think.

[worthallthis]

[Coming back out a moment later, the Soldier considers Mewtwo, then sets down their load, unfolds one blanket, and drapes it around Mewtwo's shoulders.]

Hold that around you. It will help with the cold.

[Then, collecting the rest up again, they start out past the light of the bonfire, towards the trail to the armory.]

Can you contact people from that far away? If you need help.

[mewtiny]

[And thus did the 6'7 mutant cat hold a blanket around itself and start hovering alongside Bucky. It's more adorable than it has any right to be.]

I doubt I would need help, but if the situation became dire, rest assured I could get away from it.

[worthallthis]

I would have said that too, until the thing with the hallucinations. The green-eyes. They make you think you're seeing things. Whatever scares you most.

[Even murder machines get frightened. (Especially murder machines. Seriously.)]

And they're stronger and faster than regular spirits. Harder to kill, and the others protect him. Just try to be careful.

[mewtiny]

I will.

[No need to mince words about it. It'll survive. Somehow it always does. It has endured too much to not somehow manage it.]

I will not be killed a second time.

[worthallthis]

Good. It's not very good for you.

[Though their own death since the one that brought them here wasn't too bad. Grenade explosions to the face are at least quick. They consider other questions they ought to ask: the creature's name, how they've been, if they need other help. They settle for,]

Do you need to eat? Have you been eating?

[Sorry, Mewtwo, your similiarly-minded soldier friend is a mother-hen.]

[mewtiny]

[Mewtwo's expression tends to lean on the side of neutral but it almost looks deeply puzzled by the question before it chuckles psychically, the sound echoing in the soldier's mind.]

I am capable of feeding myself. I am only used to much warmer climates more hospitable to Pokemon and less thick with humans.

[worthallthis]

Okay. Just had to ask. I don't actually know what a Pokemon is. What all you need and can do.

[They sound a little sheepish about that.]