rebellions | EXPIATION=IC INBOX

[ Nah.

Honestly, even if he wasn't completely hopeless with the devilish technology that the smartphone that's been forced on him was, he'd still ignore this summon. As far as he's concerned, Jerry had his chance to pester him about the whole terrorism thing... last month. Now? It's old news, and as much as he wanted to kick the crap out of the guy at the time, now he feels like he can't be bothered. If he wants him, he'll have to put in the work.

If Jerry decides to look for him, he'll probably be able to find Ragna just loafing around in the meadow outside the city, soaking in the spring sun like a big, lazy cat. ]

[of course, Jerry appears where Ragna is... hands behind his back.]

You know I have ways of making you come with me.

[ Ragna scowls as he hears the footsteps, but otherwise doesn't move from his spot on the ground ─ he's rather comfortable and not looking to move anytime soon, thank you very much. Instead, he greets Jerry with a cold glare. If anyone's gonna threaten anyone here, it should be him. ]

That so? ... Then where were you last month?

[ He basically stood him up, didn't write, didn't call, and NOW he shows up uninvited? Talk about rude. ]

[. . . he doesn't look bothered.]

The better question is... where were you?

[ Ugh, this is exactly the type of person that gets under Ragna's skin the most ─ one that never really answers any questions or reveals what they know, just talk in some vague, bullshit riddles that never amount to anything. ]

Why don't you tell me? Since you're obviously aware of everything that's going on here.

[ The man finally raises to his feet, though he's aware he can't intimidate Jerry with his posture like he probably could with some other people. But he feels he might need to punch the guy in the face if he keeps spewing all that cryptic crap. ]

Well, Onlooker? What happened to this town last month?

[try punching him in the face, Ragna. just try it.]

Your attempt at terrorism threatened the safety of everyone who lives in it. You don't just interrupt an update.

[he sounds firm at least, completely cool under Ragna's rising irritation.]

[ Ragna clicks his tongue, his scowl deepening as he glares daggers at the other man. That barely qualifies as an answer, and doesn't tell him anything. Rather, it only underlines how little he understands about this world. ]

Update this, update that. Maybe if you want people to take that into consideration, you should explain this shit first!

[ Not that having an explanation would change much in that particular case; he had beef with the Council for what they'd done to Jinx, on top of, well, everything else, so telling him now's a bad time to blow things up probably wouldn't have changed much.

His patience (if he's ever had any to begin with) running thin, Ragna draws his sword, pointing its end right at Jerry's face. ]

I'm only gonna ask this once. What is the System running this place?!

[Jerry just looks blankly at Ragna. he's not scared in the least bit.]

What do you mean by "System"?

You seriously think you can play dumb now?!

[ If it was anyone else, Ragna wouldn't doubt their ignorance; out of millions of people in his world, maybe a dozen or two of them really knew and understood how the universe worked. But not Jerry. He's practically sure he's an Onlooker (or something similar to one, anyway), so there's no way he wouldn't know what he's talking about here. ]

The AI, the program, whatever you wanna call it... the System that's Observing this world! Who else would be capable of a Phenomenon Intervention on that scale?!

[there's a strange sort of expression that crosses Jerry's face. almost like... surprise?

his expression turns blank again after a few moments of that, though.]

My superior isn't ready to reveal themselves yet. But... they will be making contact soon enough.

[is that... a faint sound of a child giggling in the distance? but even if Ragna looks, he won't find anything.]

[ That makes two of them, because it's honestly not the kind of response Ragna expected to get. Sure, it's not exactly a straightforward answer, but between Jerry's reaction and admission of the existence of said "superior", it's more than he's learned about this world than in the past few months.

And then there's the laughter. Ragna's eyes widen in shock as his head snaps around to locate the source of the mysterious voice, only to find none. Of course he wouldn't ─ Jerry has just said as much, that they wouldn't show themselves just yet.

His expression shifts from surprise to an oddly wistful one just as soon, and he lowers his sword slightly as his eyes drift to his right arm. When he speaks again, his voice is uncharacteristically quiet and somewhat weary, like he's had a really rough day. ]

... You're gonna repeat all this again...?

[ It's not clear if that question is directed at Jerry, the nebulous entity, himself or even the world as a whole. He'd seen how this kind of thing goes ─ the Chosen, the ever-changing environment based on a lie, the overseer that can simply negate and undo an unfavorable turn of events... well, the biggest difference is that the last time they were promised the fulfillment of their desires, not some sort of absolution from past sins, but the rest is similar enough.

It's a kind of game where every participant loses.

Ragna's face hardens into an expression of not just anger, but determination too, and he spins back to face Jerry, his sword back to pointing at his face. ]

People's lives... people's feelings ain't something you can just play around with! Whether it's a person, a machine, or even a God... I won't accept that!

[Jerry watches passively as Ragna has his own breakdown. it's not much change from anything else that he expresses on a regular basis.

again, he doesn't flinch when the sword gets pointed at his face.]

It's not a game, you're correct. Rehabilitation should be taken seriously.

[a small exhale leaves his nose.]

Will I have to fight you, or will you come with me willingly?

You really gotta ask...?

[ Ragna sneers at the question, his earlier pensive mood completely gone. He's already gotten more than he'd expected from this encounter, but one important thing remains on his mind. ]

I still owe you... for messing around with her.

[ Since the City Hall has been magically restored, his earlier destruction of it barely counts as a revenge for Jerry's and the Council's treatment of Jinx. Even if this world is build in a way that he can't kill the guy for some goddamn reason, it's only fair that roughs him up a little, no?

Without further ado, Ragna launches forward, swinging his sword at Jerry. ]

[there's just. a sigh of the longest of suffering. will he really need to use gas on another Chosen so he can take them?

but he'll humor Ragna... at least for a moment.

when the sword swings, he doesn't move -- but instead raises his hand. there's a short screech of metal as the impact hits his hand, but he doesn't flinch.]

I haven't messed around with anyone.

[he starts slipping his hand into his pocket...]

Tch.

[ It's annoying, but not a surprising development ─ Jinx had told him before that Jerry seems to be made of steel or something. Fortunately, Ragna has experience with opponents like this, thanks to all the fights against the Red Devil he'd gotten into. Time to try a slightly different approach.

His movement doesn't escape his attention, and raises his free arm slightly; immediately, the gesture is followed by a shadowy beast lurching at Jerry, ready to close its maws around the arm he's reaching into his pocket with. That it can sap some of his soul while at it is an additional bonus.

... Well. Assuming the guy has any in the first place. ]

Let's see if this jogs your memory!

[Jerry ducks -- really Ragna... haven't you hurt him enough last month?

but then it seems as if he takes out a dart gun, and he shoots it at Ragna's neck. it's got a tranquilizer in there, ready to finish this as soon as he can.]

EXPIATION=IC INBOX

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