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[futurologists]

At dusk, she comes from the sea. Pomarr walks up the slope of the shore under the water as if it were no more than a stroll up a slight hill, then up the sandy beach with slow, measured steps. Water drips from her dull fur, and even the glow of her deep blue eyes looks muted in the slowly fading light. She is not a creature made for the day anymore, even sunset seems not to suit her nature. The Dakal can sense the off-worlders closest to her, and even without lifting her head from its droop, makes her way unerringly toward them, wherever they may be found. They may not be the same ones she had met with back on her own island, but it doesn’t matter. They will carry the word. She has bad news to deliver, but she had promised to do it. It must be given, one way or another.

Comments

[twinpeak]

While Papyrus ventures on oblivious as ever, Dipper, on the other hand, notices as the clouds roll in overhead suddenly, and perhaps not all that coincidentally. Though on second thought, the skeleton's suggestion isn't all that wild—not to Dipper, anyway. After several beats his own careful demeanor loosens up in favor of something more casual and light, expression brightening up as he looks back at Pomarr.

"Hey, you know, he's got a point." Dipper forces through a small smile, gesturing again at the three of them standing before her. "I mean—I think I can speak for most of us when I say we only want to help. And if that means giving you something new, then... at least you've got us!"

[futurologists]

Her inhuman expressions, already dampened by her evident sorrow, may be difficult to read, but there's no mistaking a quiet surprise at Papyrus's outburst. Her ears flick back and she stares at him, shifting her gaze again only as Dipper speaks.

"We are not kin, and this loss is not yours," she says quietly, "Why should you want to help?" Let alone befriend her. That's a few steps too fast for her.

[respired]

"Because we can," Koltira says, simply. He won't argue her point: they aren't kin. And though he felt the loss of Dakal keenly, he's aware enough to recognize that what he really felt was his own loss, projected back at him. "Pomarr. Consider a new purpose. Join ALASTAIR."

He gestures towards her island with one hand.

"Your people are gone. You cannot truly resurrect what once was, no matter how much you want to. I know that is a difficult truth to accept. But there is other work for you in this life. Noble work. If you'd care to have it."

[boneafide]

"You're a good person," Papyrus says, full of confidence in that statement despite having known Pomarr for all of ten minutes, if that. "Why would I need a reason to want to help you besides that?"

Good people, if they needed help, deserved help! She never wanted to hurt anyone, not really! She just wanted her life to be normal again. Nodding at Koltira's suggestion, he adds, "it's up to you! But I think you should join us! We're all from different places and worlds, but there's a place for all of us if we're together!"

[twinpeak]

With each of their statements, Dipper nods at in agreement.

"We're not the same, but that doesn't mean we can't do something for each other. And..." He trails off, pointedly looking over Pomarr once more. "I don't think Papyrus is wrong. Well—neither is Koltira, but now that I've finally seen you for myself and how you feel... You deserve better than this, don't you think?"

[futurologists]

She listens to each carefully, looking no happier for it. If only she could try anyway, try it and see -- but if she is wrong, and the life they return to is as these three say it will be, that would be an intolerable mistake.

"You ask much of me," she murmurs, and her attention settles once again on Dipper. She doesn't think, not at all, but his question has her stepping forward and lowering slowly to a crouch before him.

"Do you think that?" she asks, glowing eyes searching his. Preparing to give up a dream is no easy matter, but a comforting, young voice can go a long way in helping.

[twinpeak]

Dipper blinks up at surprise as she crouches in front of him, but after a beat, he manages a small nod.

"I know it's asking for a lot," he says, raising a hand to idly rub at the back of his neck. And he genuinely knows it; after all, his summer vacation back in the sleepy boonies of Oregon involved an uncle who went to unimaginable lengths in order to get his own brother back, and Dipper doesn't think he could ever forget the desperation in his uncle's face while it all went down. But this time it's different—rescuing a person and raising them back from the dead are clearly on different levels of what should be done. "And it might be hard, now, later... for a while. But Koltira's right—you won't be able to go back to what you had before, but there's always something else up ahead. And it doesn't look like whatever you need is going to be here on Nalawi."

After that, Dipper pauses, gauging the look on Pomarr before finishing off: "I think you deserve it."

Anyone would. Offering that chance is just the right thing to do.

[futurologists]

She watches Dipper sadly, but listens closely. It will be hard, he is right about that much, but harder than losing them the first time? Maybe so; this means the death of her hope, as well.

Rain begins to fall, heavy, intermittent droplets, as Pomarr tips her head up to watch the sky. She can't deny the words of these strangers anymore. A hard decision cannot be avoided because it is hard.

Pomarr pushes herself to her feet and backs away again, to address the three of them. "I believe... that you have the right of it. I believe you have stopped me from making a grievous mistake." Her head bows. "I must make amends to my people on Dakal, and say goodbye. After that, you may have Nalanni for whatever you wish for her."

[respired]

The rain soaks his pale hair, drips down between the chinks and crevices in his armor. He feels it, faintly, but it's largely an inconvenience to him. His drenched bangs stick to his face, and he brushes them aside so he can look at Papyrus and Dipper. He offers them a nod of acknowledgment, a sign of his approval for their help. Job well done.

"ALASTAIR will welcome you," Koltira says. "We have a number of children who would benefit from your guidance, Pomarr."

He pauses. Whatever you wish for her. His own drive to see Nalanni pay for her crimes has lessened somewhat, in the face of Pomarr's deep, wasting sorrow. But whatever his feelings, an inescapable truth remains: the goddesses of this world are its death, and so must be removed.

"But, I would ask of you one more thing," he says. "We must defeat Nalanni and Ryba both, for the sake of this world. Have you any words on how we might do this? How we might draw out Ryba? Their weaknesses?"

[futurologists]

It seems she is no longer able to keep up her head, and addresses the sand underfoot as she answers.

"For Nalanni, you will need no tricks. She is as close to mortal now as she has ever been. For Ryba..." That will be a trickier matter. "In ten days, board your recovered warship. Come to Dakal. I will guide you."

[boneafide]

Of course Koltira would want to know how to best defeat the goddesses. He's been aiming for that for a while now. But that's Koltira's prerogative, isn't it? Even if Papyrus quietly disapproves, he won't make a peep on that.

For now, he can focus on the good they've done.

"Thank you for believing in us! Maybe once this is all over... we can talk again, if you'd like!" She might still be grieving, but what better time to throw yourself into a completely new world with new people, right?? But helping people forget about their problems is one of his strong suits.

[futurologists]

She nods, even if it's slow and a little uncertain. The rain lessens somewhat at the same time, becoming more sporadic.

"Yes... we will speak again." Later, though. She steps back, preparing to depart, but casts one more look over the lot of them. "Thank you."

[twinpeak]

Luckily, the rain is little bother with the baseball cap Dipper always wears; his face is mostly spared, and the rest of him can dry off later. He's a kid used to playing around in nature, after all. Instead, he manages a small, thankful, and relieved smile when Pomarr gives them one last glance.

"Anytime," Dipper says, giving her a tiny wave. "Then we'll seeya later."

[futurologists]

Her eyes find Dipper last, and the barest hint of a smile crosses her gray, forlorn face. Then she turns fully away and shifts to move, and has faded from sight even before her foot lands in a first step. The rain will continue for several more hours before fading into the night as well.