[network] @curiouschloride | I was soaring ever higher | day 348 [open] [cw religion-driven murder]

[motherserpent]

cw: religious extremism; suicide and murder linked to religious cause; sexual harassment

[Tess looks much the same as she did when she was last seen alive. Red lines in the shape of fractals cover her body, her eyes completely red as well. There's a large feathered serpent coiled around her shoulders and an unimpressed look on her face. Anyone familiar with the columbarium might recognize the rows of plaques behind her.]

Alright, so I've had enough of playing mortal -- walking around on foot, making people breakfast, dying. I'm done, moving on, next plan. For those of you who actually fell for that whole line cook thing -- I'm Tess, Goddess of the Search, Mother Serpent, Child of Ragnarok, and Lifeblood of the Wayward -- and life blood's what we're here to talk about right now. See, my essences have been all kinds of unbalanced since I got dragged into this Hel-hole -- too much human, not enough divine. And we all know humans are basically useless, am I right?

But that's where you come in, because believe it or not, you little bastards do have the occasional use. Whoever brings me back into my power I will remember -- they will have my blessing and my protection and I will take them with me when I destroy this place.

It's nothing hard, nothing complicated, nothing one or another of you hasn't done before. There are ten or twelve liters of blood in the human body. Spill it in my name. Because hey -- even if it doesn't work, at least we'll have learned something, right?

[When she smiles, it's the same easy smile as always, the same face that makes dumb puns and offers of breakfast. Whatever has changed, Tess is still Tess...but sees nothing wrong with anything she's just said.]

Comments

@hotstud_xxx; text

[rubikscomplex]

okay
the whole "i'll take you with me" thing is cool and all
but will you screw me if i bring back your power?
o slithery one

still video

[motherserpent]

Yup.

[No hesitation. If anything, there's a hint of a shrug, like she's not sure why that was even a question to be asked.]

I mean, I probably won't bear your child, but I might as well have some fun.

@featherydouche; text;

[mrcreamsicles]

oh hell no
how many times we gotta run around with this cult violence deal before it gets old
how come you get a feathery snake thing
mother serpent my absent ass
you know full well nobodys got any worthwhile powers left around here
besides i already got my own god kicking around if you want to get technical and hes not into demanding blood sacrifices
is this the lines fucking with you or were you a secret crazy all along

[motherserpent]

Look, kid. I don't really care what god you worshipped before me; I just want to get juiced up so I can get back to doing something more interesting. If any kind of sacrifice is going to work, it's going to be blood sacrifice. Why do you think this place's false Prophet had so many people killed in her name? The classics are the classics for a reason.

@totheark; text

[0thingsonmymind]

god dess of
s e a r c h
?

[motherserpent]

That is indeed one of the five names I just provided, yes.

[video]

[cahooted]

[Flynn just... stares at the message for several minutes before replying because honestly, the way she uses the word mortal sets him off big time and there is too much initial response (twenty fake years of initial response) to reply right away.]

What, not even an incantation? Just plain out murder? What kind of ritual is that?

[Maaaaybe still too much initial response going around there.

He switches into Nahuatl.]

I do not understand. What is the meaning of this?

[Is this a joke? It's a joke, right?]

permavideo

[motherserpent]

I wouldn't object to an incantation. If you wanted to sing Wayward Son while painting the blood of an infidel in the shape of my Mark I certainly wouldn't object.

[Oh, he's doing that cute thing again.]

I have told you the meaning plainly. I would have you among my chosen, Flynn.

@starspangledhero; voice

[fifty]

There's lots of us who were immortals or angels or superheroes or whatever, y'know, if murder helped anyone out I think someone'd know by now.

[motherserpent]

Okay, but have you actually tried it? Honest question, it'd be good to have a control group.

@w.graham; audio

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ He's still got a few marbles unaccounted for. ]

"Second time around
I'm still believing words that you said
You said you'd always be here
"In love forever"
Still repeats in my head
You can't finish what you start"

[motherserpent]

[ Oh, this guy. Nice song or whatever. ]

Free Bird!

@gravedigger; voice

[harlequinofhate]

Blood for the blood god.

video

[motherserpent]

That is the idea!

@PetertheGreat, video

[zunesareawesome]

Uhhh...

Hey...Tess? You feeling okay?

[motherserpent]

Nope. Like I said, out of balance. My head's clearer than it's been in a long time, though.

@godsend, audio

[termineur]

It's really too bad I just died. What a missed opportunity.

[ His voice is rather flat. But it's obvious she's suffering from a death loss, so he's not going to be too harsh on the bloodlust. ]

I don't know if anyone's gonna take you up on this, Goddess of the Search. Are there any other things people can do to try and give you power? Food offerings, et cetera?

[motherserpent]

Crying shame.

[She's starting to get that, yeah, to go off the edge of annoyance that's started making its way into her voice.]

A sacrifice has to be meaningful. It has to be something that's hard to give. I asked for blood, for lives, because it's a shortcut -- blood always works. Food won't give me as much as fast, won't give me anything at all if you just go to the convenience store and burn a bunch of Funions or whatever.

@carcinoGeneticist; text

[quadrangle]

[Karkat hasn't been paying the closest of attention to this... Tess? Person? But, uh. Wow.]

OK YOU MAYBE WANNA DIAL IT BACK A NOTCH? LIKE TRY CUTTING OUT THE WHOLE "WORSHIP ME, PITIFUL HUMANS" AND "I DEMAND BLOOD SACRIFICE" PARTS, THEY'RE NOT WORKING FOR ANYONE.
AND AS LONG SO WE'RE THROWING AROUND WORTHLESS TITLES, HEY, RESIDENT KNIGHT OF BLOOD AND UNIVERSE CREATOR HERE SAYING *SERIOUSLY*, STEP OFF ON THE WHOLE BLOOD ASPECT. SIDE. THING, WHATEVER. IT'S FUCKING CREEPY AND NOT YOUR TURF.

[motherserpent]

If it's not working for you, you're just not the right audience.

I don't need your permission to claim my birthright. Life is my turf, and blood is life. If you don't want to do it, you don't get the blessing, you're fair game for whoever does want to step up. Simple as that.

@hexappeal, Voice

[sleight_of_fate]

[Well. It's probably a super bad idea to jump in, but when has he ever let that stop him?]

We'll, this explains a few things, but you know, it's also probably a terrible idea for a lot of reasons?

Especially since that shit doesn't even work here.

[motherserpent]

Yet again I would be left asking if you'd ever even tried, except I know you have, and I know you pissed this place right the fuck off. That's a result, dude. It could very well be that they don't want worship that doesn't go toward the Prophet because they know it will work. The Morrigan isn't here to hear your prayers, but I am.

@clowncutie92; voice

[clowngirl]

But will spillin' blood in your name get us breakfast? [The important question that no one has asked.]

[motherserpent]

[Tess actually pauses. Frowns thoughtfully. Turns, opens her bag to look inside, and comes to a conclusion.]

Yeah, sure, why not?

@Mnemosyne; video

[bookofnope]

[Ahh, a Very Bad Idea. This is exactly what Beckett needs right now. He answers in video, without his tinted glasses, eyes wide and dark. A picture of compromised sanity.]

I am already yours. [He swallows, licks his lips in one of his disconcerting hungry gestures.] But - this won't do any good, Goddess.

[motherserpent]

[Ah, see, this? This is the proof that all that whining about "no one cares" and "no one's impressed" is grossly inaccurate. Still, Tess's expression freezes in indecision -- she wouldn't have chosen him for a follower, not after what an incredible dick he's been over the last two weeks, even setting the whole bloodsucker thing aside.]

You...say that....

@whatisthis; video

[godsspeed]

[ Castiel is... furious. That's the only word for it. The message, the threat, the presumption all fill him with a wrath he hasn't felt in hundreds of years if not thousands. His wings twitch and kick up air ineffectually in an attempt to lunge through space and confront this pretender, but he's still as grounded as ever.

It takes him some time to compose himself well enough to respond. ]

Is this some kind of joke, or have you finally decided to show your true colors, serpent?

[motherserpent]

[Oh, it's this asshole. Tess tries to maintain the look of cool disdain, but fails utterly to hide the way her lip curls in stronger reaction to the sight of him.]

It's that second one. Got rid of some pesky impurities and here we are, effective at last. I'd suggest you stay out of the way; maybe I'll forget to kill you on the way out.