InsaneJournal

The Age of Man.

WHO Aristotle “Ari” Patrowski, Jocelyn “Mickey” Samuels, & Simon Renaud
WHERE Nectar
WHEN April 19th, Afternoon
RATING PG
SUMMARY Mini-log: The conspirators meet for the first time.
STATUS Complete


Simon has never been to Nectar before, but the directions by Google Maps are easy enough. With the girl in hand, it was a quick ride from their campus downtown to the coffee shop. Scooters are such convenient contraptions. The people who laugh at them are FOOLS! In any case, here they are, standing outside the shop!

He’s eager to see if Ari has made any progress with his research, and in the case that Ari and Mickey have not yet met in person, it seems about time that they do. Of course, the person who might know least about this situation is poor Mickey, which means it might be a bit of a surprise for her, but surprises can be good... right? By now, he thinks that it’s not such a bit jump in logic to assume she’d be interested in this. She’s given enough clues that she has a bone to pick with the gods, after all.

So he puts away the helmets in the compartment under the seat and heads to the door, holding it open for Mickey to go in, casting about for Ari.

Mickey’s directions to Nectar had been downright terrible (her sense of direction was more than poor) so thankful to Google Maps, she steps inside the cafe, wary as ever. Her eyes dart around, wondering why Simon had picked Nectar of all places, then to whether Ari would be working, and then her thoughts turn to whether Ari and Simon got on well. Gus and Simon had a fairly antagonistic relationship, and while they seemed to be okay on the network she wasn’t quite sure how long it Simon to forgive murder, and for everybody else to forgive Simon’s attempts at murder. This could be incredibly awkward otherwise.

As she shuffles towards the counter, head down, she glances at Simon, still wondering why he’d requested her presence here. The dancer isn’t quite sure what to say, so taking turns in looking at Simon and the variety of coffees, she keeps looking forwards and backwards attempting to make words come out of her mouth. “Are we waiting for anybody else?” She mumbles, quietly. Finally.

Ari has been half looking for Simon since he had said he’d be stopping by. He hasn’t seen the Frenchman since their last meeting at Hip’s, when Simon had divulged his theories about what the gods were up to and suggested an alliance. They haven’t spoken about the topic since, but it has never been far out of Ari’s thoughts. He’s still not sure where he stands. He knows that he doesn’t want to tolerate the meddling of the gods anymore. But taking such action could seriously blow up in their faces and bring a lot of harm to those he wants to protect. And at the very worse, it could lead him into becoming something just like them: manipulative and unconcerned about the sacrifices that will be made for their cause.

So under his calm demeanor, Ari does feel slightly apprehensive about furthering the conversation with Simon. The younger man parts opinion with him on some very key matters, and it remains to be seen if those can be overcome. He is also curious about this friend Simon is bringing along; is it someone also privy to these seeds of rebellion? Or will this just be a friendly meet-up?

He looks up from behind the espresso machine when he hears the door open, and mild surprise registers on his face when he sees Simon’s companion. He had gotten the impression that they were friendly from their interactions on the network, but it still seems strange to see them together here. But he shakes the feeling away and reveals himself by the register. “Hey guys,” he greets them, smiling easily. “How goes it this arvo?”

“Our third is right here,” he replies, nodding to Ari. Simon leads the way to the register, smiling a little. There are some other things they need to discuss today. Things like how far either of them are willing to take this, because failure... Failure is likely to have Promethean consequences. Maybe for them, that’s too big of a risk. He doesn’t know their divine parents, after all, though he thinks Gus has referred to Ari as a cousin before, so he must be Greek. Probably not the sort of Greek that’s going to wind up in Tartarus or returning to Chaos. Probably the sort that can expect to live a normal life and wind up in the Elysian Fields. And Mickey... he has some suspicions, but he still hasn’t been able to place her in any particular pantheon as of yet. Still, she probably has things to consider before she agrees to this.

“It’s going well,” he replies, shrugging a little. “Do you know Mickey?” he asks, turning to the girl. He expects they do know each other, though, to some degree. At least, over the GN. “Do you have a moment to spare? I think today’s chat won’t take too long, but there are some things I thought we might discuss.” He glances around. “At perhaps the most discreet location available...”

The surprise on Ari’s face makes Mickey want to shrink into the nearest dark corner and become invisible (quite literally), but not only would it unnerve customers, it also probably wouldn’t give the impression that she was quite pleased to see him. “We know each other.” She smiles, head tilting a little as she does so, wondering what Ari had to do with this. Then of course, the guilt sets in and the small smile that crosses her face is suddenly far more nervous. This was going to be a business meeting of the defying the gods variety. It wasn’t a coincidence that the two people she spoke to about her problems with them were here. She was beginning to realise that.

The idea of being involved in the conversation and the moment she realised she was going to have to speak openly about her feelings and opinions made her shrink immediately down into her clothes and her eyes were stuck to the floor yet again. She simply nodded at Simon’s statement.

Ari rests his forearms on the countertop, leaning his weight on them slightly. So Mickey is in on this? He wonders just what Simon has said to her to bring her in. As she shrinks under his gaze, he gives her a smile, trying to put her at ease. It doesn’t look like she expected to have him in the conversation either, as it seems pretty clear that’s where the Frenchman is leading. “Sure, I know Mickey,” he replies, looking back at Simon. He jerks his head to the left, indicating a small nook lined with pillow-topped benches. “That table’s the coziest, I reckon. Have a seat and I’ll join you in a second.” He straightens again, then pauses. “Anything to drink? Are you on coffee again, Simon, or just tea?” His eyes move to Mickey, his expression softening slightly. “How about you, Mickey?”

A girl enters from that back room, drawing Ari’s attention. He reaches to brush her arm. “Hey Carly, I’m going to take my break, okay? I’ll just be over there if you need me.” He gestures at Simon and Mickey. “I’ll just be catching up with my mates.” The girl gives the two a brief glance, but it’s clear she has little interest in them. “Sure,” she answers, busying herself with grinding some beans.

“I’m glad that you know each other. It makes this a little simpler,” Simon remarks, looking between the two before answering Ari. “Yes, I’m happily returned to the land of coffee drinkers. Whatever you recommend is fine by me,” Simon replies, smiling just a little before nodding for Mickey to lead the way to the table. He goes over to take a seat at whichever chair she doesn’t choose, taking a look around. He actually hasn’t managed to make it to Nectar previous to now, despite having talked about it a number of times. It’s a cute place.

He puts his forearms on the table, clasping his hands, and generally looks like is here just to play tea party. Mickey looks a little terrified. Ari looks curious. Maybe uncertain. Maybe flirty? Then again, he thought Ari was flirting with him the first time they met. This seems to just be his way of being nice to people, but he does seem to think Mickey deserves an extra helping. Well, none of his business.

He waits for Ari to come over before he speaks. “First, do you either of you have any questions for me?”

Mickey is quiet as she walks, but seeing as that is a relatively defining characteristic for her the majority of the time, she presumes it won’t bother anybody all that much. She takes just a moment to glance back at Ari, very wary for a second even after the smile, before looking defeated and becoming much more subdued. Well, she couldn’t back away from her views now. As she scoots over onto a chair as quickly as possible, she feels grateful that Simon appears to be leading the discussion. She just didn’t feel comfortable with it. In truth, she didn’t feel it was even appropriate for her to be there, considering that they might not even think she had something to complain about. It wasn’t like her mother had ever actively tried to kill her or cause her any trouble. Not actively, anyway. She stared down at the table, waiting until she would be forced to contribute.

At the prompt, Mickey bites down on the inside of her mouth hard, willing herself to speak. “I have one.” She speaks barely above a whisper, still not looking up from the table. She’d managed to sit on her hands to prevent herself from fiddling with them, and instead started to note imperfections in the table so as to keep her voice stable. Now was a time for questions and thankfully, she was comfortable enough around her companions to speak her mind. “What exactly are we doing here today?” There was clearly some sort of action being prompted. They’d never met up like this before, particularly the three of them, and her lips purse into the smallest of frowns. “I mean. We’re not here just to complain now. Are we?”

”No, we aren’t just here to complain,” Simon replies simply, turning to her and blinking languidly. “We’re here to talk about what we know and what we can do. No, rather, first, we will talk about what you are willing to do, because there are stakes, ma puce. This is not an undertaking for the faint of heart, and I will not lie to you about the what ifs, but we will come to that in a moment.” He turns to Ari. “And you? Do you have any questions or qualms or demands before we begin, mon loup?”

Ari prepares the drinks himself: a cup of their house blend for himself and Mickey, and an espresso macchiato for Simon. He pours a small jug of milk and scoops up some sugar packets, carefully holding the two coffees by their handles in one hand and balancing the espresso and milk in the other. Nodding his thanks to Carly, he slides around the counter and heads to the table. He places the drinks down, then sits on one of the benches before pushing each to its proper recipient. He then settles back against the wall, taking a languid sip from his own mug and watching Simon as he begins the proceedings. Mickey whispers something, making Ari lean in to hear her. She looks absolutely petrified, and Ari reaches over to give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before falling back again. It seems that she might know less than Ari himself does. It at least appears that this little pow wow has come as something of a shock.

Simon turns the question on him, and Ari meets the younger man’s gaze calmly. “I reckon you’ve got a good idea of what I will and will not stand for,” he replies, his voice measured. “Let’s hear what you’ve got to say, and we’ll go from there, aye?”

Simon clears his throat softly, lowering his voice. "First and foremost, we must agree that we shall never speak their names, nor will we speak of these proceedings with others. There is only one other besides yourselves who is aware of the things that I have spoken of with the two of you, but from here on, we will not involve anyone without first discussing it with each other. What I am proposing is a strict vow of secrecy. That said, if you want to get up and walk away from this discussion, you are free to do so.

“You are free to quit this now, if you so desire. But only at this time. Because if you continue into this contract with me, we are all responsible for each other's lives - no, each other’s souls. Here is what we are up against: beings who have the power to not just torture us and kill us once, but to resurrect us and do it again and again for the rest of eternity. One wrong step, and the best we can hope for is a quick and singular end. Do you understand?

“If you are afraid, I won't blame you. If you want to step away now, I won't blame you. I only ask that you keep this a secret to your grave and don't get in the way, because what we are going to do will usher in a new era for mankind - an era of true liberty and personal freedom that has long been denied us - and for that, I, at least, will play these odds, staggering as they may seem."

As Ari squeezes her shoulder, Mickey can’t help but reach up to grab his hand for a second before shrinking back into herself. The phrase faint-of-heart makes the dancer wince and she can’t help but wonder if maybe Simon has involved the wrong person in his scheme.

She thinks for a few seconds, the idea of the secrecy playing on her mind. The concept of her actions having so much power behind them was even more terrifying than before and she continues staring downwards, thinking.

“I don’t have anything to lose.” She mutters, seemingly gaining clarity over the subject. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the others could hear her and she finally looks up, hugging her arms around her stomach. “I... I’m in. I guess. There’s nothing else left to do.”

Ari listens stoically, his fingers wrapped around his mug. While he hasn’t been brutalized by the gods as Simon has, his place in their manipulations has certainly angered him. It irks him more that his friends have faired worse than him. He does have pause, though. Those same friends that have been victim to the gods’ machinations are still tied rather closely to him. Brady has a debt of gratitude to Osiris; Gus and Luz have no argument with their fathers. Even the benign gods, however, are guilty of indifference and abandonment, leaving their children to be used by deities with far less concern for their welfare. Immortal or not, shouldn’t parents have a responsibility to their children, to care for and protect them? The demigod community looks out for each other more than any god ever has.

Besides, their initial goal would be to counteract the gods who intentionally abuse them and employ them as pawns. The gods that attend to their own business could, perhaps, be left alone in exchange for leaving alone. After all, should they be able to prove that they have a power that can be wielded against the deities, a balance can be struck. Mutual respect, for the sake of those who might actually seek to be parents to their children. Regardless of his own beliefs, Ari will have to be involved in order to keep the ones he loves protected. Simon is brilliant, but zealous; he needs a counterbalance. And as Mickey throws in her lot with a shaky voice, Ari knows that she will need someone she can rely on as well.

“Alright,” he replies. “Agreed.” He leans forward to rest his elbows on the table, waiting for Simon to continue.

Mickey seems nervous, but in her own Mickey way, certain. Ari seems stoic and unflappable as usual. Neither of them are getting up, and he thinks he’s made it very clear what the worst of the worst here is, so it seems they can move on. He picks up his coffee, takes a drink, and organizes his thoughts for a moment before speaking again. He seems more relaxed now, at least... The intensity of the previous speech slipping away from his eyes and features.

“You may want to get comfortable. Here is what we know... We know that gods can be imprisoned within nodes. From what I have read, it is generally others of their ilk who have trapped them in the past, but there are at least two rogues who have been freed in the past few years, and one of them supposedly was released by another demi such as ourselves, which means that there is a potential that we could also imprison them.

“But this is a faulty system, because there’s no telling if and when they’d be freed again. Really, if you have been keeping up with the Oracle, you’ll grasp the uncertainty of this. Canonici is only the most recent sacrifice to their goal of releasing the old ones and waging war on their more powerful brethren. It is simple a grasp for power, though not one that I believe they could possibly win, even with the ancestors freed,” Simon says, shaking his head.

“Rather, it will cause the rest of us to be pitted against each other. There will only be more pain for us. So we must consider how to stop them before this can happen, as well as how to keep them future intrigues.” Once the gods are up in arms, even if they are distracted with each other, it will be much harder for lesser powers such as themselves to take them on. “There is something that could destroy them entirely - Chaos. It is they who keep this thing at bay, but all of us are perpetually on the verge of it. It can be controlled once released - it has been in the past - but whether it can be now... by us...” He frowns a little, pressing his lips together. “It is an option, though. It’s the more dangerous of the two I’ve outlined, but the most certain.”

He takes another sip of his drink before continuing. “There are six old ones free at present, so we have a little time, but not much. Their powers will probably increase with each one that is freed, as well, making them more difficult to contend with, but their pride and arrogance will grow, too, which we can use. I believe in human ingenuity. I believe we have it in us to use our minds and other resources to great effect... I’ve done things myself that even they could not manage with all their powers.

“But let me illustrate to you what resources I bring to the table at present: a demon, a little demonic magic, and a room where they cannot fully hear or view us. Besides this, I have my relationship to my parent, who does not appreciate my dalliances with “Jack,” but who does not yet see through the thick veil of hubris to recognize the threat in me. I have the power to convince her that I am still her doting, over eager son...” His face darkens a little at that, but he shakes his head, brushing it aside. “And I have one other... ability that could come in hand. Its uses should not be entirely overlooked, but I would prefer we keep it... a last resort. I think now is not the time to fully expound on these resources, at any rate, only to list them. Do you have questions? Thoughts? Gifts we might be able to employ?”

Mickey sits up in her seat a little more, sipping at her coffee as she listens but still not daring to drag her eyes up from the table again. Her earlier words had shocked her, seeming to come out without any input from herself. It seems as if she has no control over her thoughts becoming vocalised and she is careful not to make any sudden movements for fear that it could happen again. “Who... who are the old ones? Who are we talking about by them?” There is a hint of fear in her voice, but she tilts her head to one side, looking up and blinking.

At the idea of Simon being the doting son, Mickey can’t help but slightly quirk an eyebrow. She wishes she was more surprised at the idea of him practicing demonic magic and she immediately feels guilty at judging a friend like that, looking away and busying herself with telling anything that could be of use. The ghosts tended to cause more harm than good, but it brought her mind back to the object she kept wrapped up under her bed. “I have... well, a couple of things.” She takes a sip from her cup, clearing her throat. “I have an orb. I’m still not sure what it does. It looks a little like... your brother’s, actually.” She looks uncertainly at Simon before stammering out more. “I’m sure it doesn’t do the same things, but it’s there. I just don’t use it.” Another tactical decision in not saying why, admittedly, but it worries her and is not something that needs to be brought up now. “I can summon an extra hand to help us... And I’m quite difficult to see. When I need to be unnoticed.” She blinks, satisfied that she can be of use in some ways at least.

It was going to come up at some point or another, and now seemed a good time, so Mickey takes a deep breath in through gritted teeth. ”This is something I’d prefer to keep strictly between us.” She can’t help but let her eyes dart around, worried about even speaking about it. ”I have no relationship with my mother. I’m... not even sure who she is. She doesn’t visit.” “So I have nobody to be held accountable to. That’s one strength. I suppose.” Her voice seems to get quieter as she speaks, but there is definitely a little hurt and anger behind her words this time, and a sense of resolution. The envy of her friends having parents that contact them, even if they themselves don’t want it, was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, and she took a second to drink her coffee, becoming silent again. The air around them seems colder now, and Mickey almost glaring into her drink is certainly no coincidence.

Ari hasn’t been completely idle since he last spoke with Simon. He has done some research on the Titans of his own pantheon and discreetly checked around for information concerning the demigod who released some of the previously trapped deities. He has also put special effort into learning specifically about Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the cold star who spoke to him in Mordor. He has an idea about these ‘old ones,’ but he’s sure Simon knows much more. So he stays quiet when Mickey asks about them. He sits forward slightly when the Frenchman begins speaking about Chaos, however. Goosebumps raise on his arm, and whether it is from the idea or the chill emanating from Mickey, he isn’t sure. This is a new direction on Simon’s part, one that makes Ari extremely wary. The very statement that “Chaos can be controlled” is contradictory and ludicrous; even the gods themselves were, as far as his knowledge goes, only able to contain it. Not control it. If Chaos were controlled, it would no longer be Chaos. It would be highly illogical and highly irresponsible to presume that were they to unleash such a force, they would be able to direct it in any way or even return it to whence it came.

Ari says as much, then adds, “I’m here because I’m not only seeking freedom, but also seeking to protect the people I care about. I’m not looking to simply destroy the gods for revenge or even justice. I want a world that will be better for the ones I love.” He places his mug on the table, his expression serious. “Chaos is a dangerous thing to meddle with, and it could create as much horror as it does away with. I suggest that we look into it and be prepared, but that such a course should be used only as a last, last resort.”

“As for what I bring...” Here Ari pauses, his brows knitting. He is deeply entrenched in the habit of humbling himself, to the point that listing his talents, even objectively, creates a guilty gnawing in his stomach. Taking a breath, he pushes on. “I’m a trained warrior. I am more effective with a weapon, especially spears and staves, but I can certainly hold my own unarmed. I’m handy with shields too. I have heightened defenses; I can take and recover from a hit more quickly than others. It isn’t healing, simply resilience. I’m capable of producing force fields that repel both physical and magical attacks; currently I seem to be limited to using them twice in a day. I’m of an extremely logical mind that can work out puzzles and connections more easily than the average person.” He glances at the table, feeling slightly warm.

“You should also know,” he continues, looking back up, “that I’m cursed, and monsters are drawn to me. Mickey’s seen it. I have a helm that provides some cloaking, but only for the weakest types. While I’ve never noticed them to have any sort of allegiance, it could still be used against us in some way.” He leans back again and looks to Simon.

“When I refer to the old ones, I mean the Titans.” It’s pretty much as simple as that. He’s done a good bit of research on them, but the research itself only pads the ideas he’s been tossing around with Jack and others. Simon considers this orb idea for a long moment. “The orb was how my brother freed the one,” he says after a moment. “They used the power of those undead souls...” Which they have no ability to do, and it would be a distraction and a little too unsavory (and triggery) for Simon to suggest making that sort of use at present. Still, he tucks that tidbit away for later - just in case. “Well, it was obviously powerful, so it could very well be of use if your orb is similar.” He gives Mickey a little nod and smile, though, because she does have some useful things to bring to the table, and she seems to need a little hand holding.

He turns to Ari and his remark. “Sorry, I meant contain,” he replies. “English isn’t my first language, you know. But Jack - my demon - did tell me that Chaos can be contained if unleashed, though as I said, it’s a very risky thing, and if there is an easier way - something in between simply trapping them in nodes and hoping no one lets them out again and using Chaos to get rid of them - then that’s obviously the best way. I don’t want to destroy the world anymore than you do, so don’t think that I have gone about simply looking into how to utilize it without thinking about how to put it away again afterward. I actually have an idea of how to, but to do so would require Jack’s assistance...” He clears his throat. “Well, that is to say that things swung that way, which I am not saying they would. I am merely suggesting.

“Unless we can find a weapon that could hurt or destroy them, I think that we’re better off using strategy rather than relying on force. It’s better that we never face them in such a way, I think. Not to undermine your prowess, of course. I’m simply pointing out that they are what they are, and we are what we are, and the odds aren’t in your favor. However, if we could find such a weapon, then we could certainly put your abilities to use. It might be worth doing research to see if such a thing has ever existed. Powers of logic? Well, logic is always good, and the force fields could be very useful...” He considers that for a moment. “But like I said, now may not be the best time to delve into these resources, but simply put them on the table to think over. Next time, we can consider more of how we might make use... When we’ve had time to think.”

He licks his lower lip and looks away from them. “Well, since we’re being honest... my ‘secret’ ability is that I see the truth in moonlight.” His face twitches a little. “Rather, I see... truth, but truth painted in a certain way...” Going a little red, he pressings his two pointer fingers to the edge of the table, staring at them. He sighs. “Whatever or whoever you show me in the light of the moon, I will see the truth about that thing or person.” He pushes his fingers up against the wood, the skin under his nails going white. “Except that they do appear to me in such a way that it can be as imprecise as a vision and... It can be upsetting. Well, anyway, that’s my ‘secret’ ability.”

He looks up, but not at either of them. “There is... another thing. A final, unpleasant potential that we may have to face even if we succeed.”

Mickey makes a mental note to research the titans a little more, and the titans of the pantheon she assumed she belonged to. At the mention of the orb she feels physically sick and the colour drains from her face as she realises the similarities between the two orbs. She still can’t fathom why her mother sent her that and had wondered, just a little, if her mother was possibly not on the same side as the good gods. Coupled with Ebisu helping her and his words to her, well it seemed a little unwise not to think her mother might be a force that she didn’t want to trifle with. But she had made her decision now, and Mickey resolved to stick with it.

Listening closely to Simon, her eyes widen at his other power. This was something that she knew, although it had never been given a name before. She forces words out, hiding behind her mug. “I remember... I remember that you did it once. I saw it.” She blinks, uncertain, hair falling into her eyes as she glances at the two men. “You told me something once, when the undead... happened.” She stops abruptly, realising exactly what Simon could potentially do. He could tell her who her mother was. The idea of it makes the rest of her words catch in her throat and refuse to reveal themselves and she takes a sip from her mug to conceal it before hugging her arms around herself, a little too tightly for it to be comfortable.

Then, of course, the conversation got worse. There was danger and Mickey winces at the thought of it, managing to speak. “I knew this was coming.” She looks up, brushing her hair out of her face anxiously with an errant dash before her arms ended in the position they were in before. “Go on?” She coaxes, eyes still very wide although she bites down hard on the inside of her mouth to keep her calm. “We accepted this when we walked in... right?” She glanced at Ari, hoping for more support.

Ari raises an eyebrow as Simon dissects and summarily judges his skills before pushing them to the side. Just because his strengths lie in physical combat doesn’t mean that would be his suggested course of action; in fact, it is probably the last thing Ari would choose to do, save releasing Chaos on the world. Simon is obviously the ringleader of this little group of rebels, and Ari does think the Frenchman has the strength and skills to lead the way. However, the man has some glaring weaknesses as well. Narcissism, for one. Bouts of insanity, for another, truthful though they may be. No, Ari still does not fully trust Simon. Not for lack of good intentions, but lack of control. Sometimes the younger man’s age is painfully apparent; he can be boastful and impetuous, and Ari thinks that if the scales tipped against them and he was feeling desperate, Simon would not hesitate to take the entire world down with him. All the more reason for Ari to stay in the thick of things, to balance the hot-headed European. If Ari’s role is to be nothing more than the voice of reason, the conscience, the anchor, he will feel successful.

He catches Mickey’s glance and shifts slightly closer to her. They’ve talked a bit about the gods, enough not to be shocked by her association with Simon and subsequent presence here. Still, Ari wonders what is really motivating Mickey. Is it the abandonment of her mother? A strong moral compass? A well-hidden rebellious spirit? He isn’t quite sure. He’ll have to keep her close, so that whatever her reasoning may be, she knows she has the support to see it through. Ari looks back at Simon, nodding his agreement with Mickey. “Best to just lay it all out on the table, aye,” he says. “I’m sure we’ve all given thought to worse case scenarios. We need to have as much knowledge about what may await us as we can.”

Simon turns a funny shade of white when Mickey reveals that she was the mysterious person he had up until now never been able to really recall that night in the cemetery. He doesn’t look at her, but stares at the table, and he’s very grateful when she just lets it drop. Okay, well, she knows what he means, then. But they are not here to talk about his mental health, so he isn’t going to remark on it unless pressed, and since no one is pressing... Rather they’re more interested in the part that they should be interested in. The part where this could blow up in their faces in an entirely different way.

“We could end up gods. As I said, Jack told me that they are required in some form - or at least, one is - because they represent the natural order that controls Chaos. There must always be at least one god in existence therefore, or the world will be... well, annihilated by the void. He surmised that what that must mean, therefore, is that to destroy one is to become one. In other words, there isn’t much to go by here, but he’s a clever devil, and I think he knows what he’s talking about. My other friend who I once spoke to on these matters suggested the same possibility, and he, too, is not a counsel I’d neglect...” He bites his lip. “So, given that... it’s likely that if we are instrumental in this... we may gain their powers and responsibilities.”

He stops fidgeting with the table and looks up, swallowing. “When at first I learned I had a god for a parent, I’ll admit, I was excited. When Nico suggested that were I to obediently join with him, he would give me rule of Europe, it was tempting. But all I really want... is to be left alone and sane. Or at least...” To lose that sanity in peace. To enjoy what time might remain between then and now unmolested. “I value my humanity. But... as this is... important... The most important thing, even... Then I would accept that burden and the sacrifice that must go with it, because... you must know, we cannot repeat what has been done to us.” He bites his lip. The weight of this potential is painful, and he has thought about it considerably since Daisuke first mentioned it and then Jack repeated it.

“Exile will be the only venue left. We must agree that were this to be the end result, we would end the perpetual state of meddling, despite what it will mean for us. It would be very bitter. I understand that an eternity of distance from all that you knew and loved would be painful, but... If it is not something that you can bear, please say so now. I don’t expect either of you to want to make this sacrifice, and there are plenty of ways that you can help that might hopefully keep you far away enough from this potential. We can try, at least.”

As Simon speaks, Mickey gets paler and paler at the ideas he is talking about. The idea of being a god is terrifying, and while she has questions she isn’t quite sure she truly wants to ask them. It seems utterly horrifying to know that maybe she would become exactly what her mother was, a shadow of a figure nobody knew and nobody would speak of. Then again. to get attention from her mother was partly what this was about. She thinks for a second before finally coming to a decision.

”If we could be better.” She speaks quietly, hands clasped around her mug. “If we could leave the world alone... I could accept that.” Mickey looks up at the others, determined at least in one respect. “Let’s accept now that people may come after our loved ones anyway... If we do this.” She blinks, sadly, as her voice gets quieter and quieter. “I’d rather those who oppose it thought I’d disappeared. It would keep them safer if they thought I wasn’t around to take responsibility.”

She bites down hard on her lip for a second as she thinks, looking down to stare at the table again. There were further repercussions that had to be considered, more painful ones.The mood was becoming more sombre by the second. It takes her a while to spit out the words.“You both know... they’ll think we’re villains. They’ll-” -her friends were now known as ‘they’, knowing that distancing herself could only make it easier, although she didn’t dare speak their names “-...They won’t understand it. I’m prepared to accept that. Are you?”

”Most people already think I’m a monster,” Simon replies with a shrug, “because of Nico and her and Halloween.” Maybe not Sunny and Jackson, but perhaps Daisuke feels it somewhere deep down. The way he acted when he was wrathful, and under Cupid’s curse... Well, Simon hasn’t entirely forgotten all that. But he also didn’t freak out when Simon mentioned it before, so maybe he also understands the merit and truth behind this desire. Simon looks to Ari, though, because he and Mickey are really the ones who seem to have something to lose in that arena...

Ari’s face is stony, dispassionate even, as Simon drops the ultimate bomb. To become a god... It is the last thing Ari would want. Or is it? Would it be worse than continuing this subjugating cycle of being beholden to deities who regard him and his friends as nothing more than game pieces, as easily thrown aside as captured pawns on a chessboard? Perhaps to be in that position would provide the ultimate defense against the meddling and manipulation of the gods upon humans. At least, until that time, perhaps centuries or millennia from now, when he would no doubt finally forget the humanity he once possessed and potentially turn into the monster he was now fighting against. Simon is most likely right; they will have to exile themselves for eternity. It isn’t a happy thought, but sacrifices will have to be made in this fight, and Ari would rather it be him than those he loves.

He glances at Mickey when she throws in her final thought, then at Simon. It’s true; what they are doing will be gravely misunderstood. It will even be actively reviled by those who are on good terms with their godly parent. For Ari that means all his closest friends. Brady, Gus, and Luz are all, if not close with their divine fathers, support them. It’s likely that they’ll be against this endeavor. It’s likely they’ll consider Ari’s intentions a betrayal. He frowns slightly, thinking of Brady, how Osiris is the only family he still has. But it is even more important now, now that he knows that Simon would be willing to release Chaos if it came to it, that he stay in this scheme. There’s no guarantee of protecting his friends otherwise.

Finally, his face shifts into a passive mask. “Sacrifices will have to be made,” he answers simply. “If it’s for the right reasons, then I’m prepared to make them.” From the corner of his eye, Ari sees Carly waving at him with an irritated expression. He nods and makes a move to stand. “Sorry, but I have to get back to work. We’ll talk again, no doubt.” He collects their mugs, gives Mickey a small smile and Simon a nod, and heads back towards the counter. “Take your time,” he calls over his shoulder.