audio; username: hb

[hellshaped]

[Hellboy is largely uncomfortable putting his face out there for public consumption, so he defaults to audio. His tone is businesslike but friendly, and there's no indication whatsoever that he's anything but human.]

So we've been here about a month now. Nalawi, I mean. Now that things have settled down and we aren't dealing with typhoons and other things [he's talking about parties], we should probably convene and talk about this case.

Has anyone found anything that could point to where their goddess has gone? Things are getting pretty hairy here; I've seen some pretty strange stuff that I think can get out of control if we don't find out a way to help them soon.

Any clues or ideas would be helpful, so don't be afraid to share what you've found. Even if you don't think it means anything, maybe it'll help someone else solve a puzzle.

Even if we can't find a way to bring their powers back, this place is headed for some really bad stuff if we aren't careful. So let's figure it out.

Comments

[hellshaped]

[No judgment here, Rin...]

It's not like I'm going anywhere. Go ahead.

[defenceless]

[but she's invading someone's privacy!]

A-All right. It says,

[and, accompanied by a rustle of paper:]

"I think I've gotten a lot better with my glasswork lately, don't you? I've haven't lost my Gift yet, so you must be smiling down on us, even if Nalanni isn't. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth relying on her at all, but no one wants to hear stuff like that lately.

Good thing I can still talk to you about anything. Thanks for looking out for me, sis. Miss you more than you could know."

If I had to guess, it's a sibling writing a letter to his or her long departed sister.

[hellshaped]

[It's for the better good, Rin...!!

Hellboy makes a low, thoughtful noise.] That's what it sounds like. And his or her faith disappearing, too. It seems like they're thinking of Nalanni as powerful as departed spirits, now. Not exactly godlike.

[defenceless]

... Eh, I wouldn't necessarily agree. The loss of faith is clearly evident, but we know little about what Nalanni is actually capable of, if she does in fact exist. Nalanni's godhood may be an irremovable feature of this world, you realize.

[hellshaped]

I don't know. I've met gods who aren't exactly omnipotent. [Gods who he has punched into submission, he means.]

"Irremovable feature" -- how do you figure?

[defenceless]

[ooh, hellboy, ooh]

It means exactly what it sounds like. Nalanni is a goddess, and that is undeniable and unchangeable; that could be a possibility.

[hellshaped]

Right. But what good is a goddess if no one believes in her?

[defenceless]

Apparently these goddesses don't need worship to retain their power.

[hellshaped]

Or to lose it, for that matter.

[defenceless]

Let's go back to the beginning. Do we really know if Nalanni has lost her power? Perhaps she's just dormant, or absorbing it back into herself, and she's elsewhere for some reason.

I think it's valuable to consider all options. Nalanni might even be someone we don't want back.

[hellshaped]

It doesn't seem like she was somebody all that bad. But I guess you're right -- you can't always go on gut impressions.

[defenceless]

Exactly. Let's say she's a malevolent goddess powered by death. What then?

[hellshaped]

Well. Speaking from experience, you need to kill that sort of thing. But I don't think we should jump to that conclusion either.

[defenceless]

But we should be prepared for it.