the fake insomniacs.

[nonbelligerent]

Comments

[tothemaxwell]

Correct. It is indicative of my position.

I am Maxwell, lord of the spirits.

[nonbelligerent]

[it's less the outside and more the inside. val is kind of squishy so far?]

Does that mean you're some sort of god?

[omegathree]

[He's pretty humanoid looking.

Please don't look at his insides i've never had to question those before.

Val has the same question, so he just watches Milla for answers.]

[tothemaxwell]

I'm not sure that's such an apt descriptor, but I suppose it isn't inaccurate. The Maxwell is often called and revered as a deity, but I think that is more to do with their own point of view.

[like

from the point of view of a puny human who can't cast all four elements at once and summon the powers of multiple great spirits]

Does that sufficiently answer your question?

[nonbelligerent]

[I MEANT VAL IS MORE EMOTIVE AND FRIENDLY]

I suppose it does.

[honestly the important thing is that she's not a god. phew.]

It does sound as though we come from places with very different races. Humans seem to be the primary constant, and I imagine even they are not entirely the same across universes.

[given that he's lived long enough to see one version of humanity be wiped out and a second be created in their place.]

[omegathree]

[No god, just spirits, demons and shura.]

Humanity is quite good at surviving as a species despite their short lifespans.

How long do the ones you know tend to live?

[tothemaxwell]

Humanity is resilient, willful, and determined. It's certainly part of why I'm so fond of them.

Mine? It depends on their health, societal situations, and so on, but I'd say to achieve more than ninety years of age is rare. Perhaps you could say a peacetime average is closer to seventy years?

[This seems like a nice and normal conversation to have in the middle of the night in the middle of this village]

[nonbelligerent]

[this is a perfectly reasonable conversation.]

For pureblood humans, it's roughly the same. Seventy to a hundred years.

[omegathree]

[Listen nobody else is up to hear them. It's completely fine.]

Yes, some humans can live past a hundred. If they're rich and they have the money to keep themselves in good health along with paying for the best healthcare can provide. On average it's about 85.

It's drastically reduced during war.

[tothemaxwell]

Naturally. [to Val]

[And to Shess:] Pureblood?

[nonbelligerent]

Humans with some degree of sura blood age more slowly.

[omegathree]

I know of some humans that had children with demons. But in that case they age like demons instead.

[Very slowly. Painfully slowly.]

[tothemaxwell]

[Milla looks back and forth between Shess and Val, head canting with interest.]

How interesting. So not only can those of both your lineages bear offspring with humans, but the children themselves inherit those traits? This is the first I've heard of such a thing.

[Can......... spirits..................

no.]

[nonbelligerent]

Yes, although it has its own complications. Half-bloods aren't always accepted by society.

[omegathree]

We usually can't tell, so they're treated like any other demon.

[He's pretty sure they don't get left on Earth. No human can deal with a baby for 300 years until it turns into a toddler.]

[tothemaxwell]

Hmm.

[This is fascinating. She can't deny wanting to pursue this, ask them each everything about their worlds, their cultures, their societal challenges and issues... but, well. Everything in measure.]

I wonder if we are truly the only other non-humans here. I have met a few others who I suspect are not what they seem, and profiles are not wholly indicative of it. I can't help but feel that the more we know of each other, the better it will be, considering our close quarters.

[nonbelligerent]

Cinnabar doesn't seem to be, and I imagine anyone listed with an age of more than a few hundred years isn't human either.

Though of course that's not the only qualifier, given your own age, Milla.

[omegathree]

There are also those who appear older than their profiles suggest they truly are.

How old are most spirits? [22 seems so young to him.]

[tothemaxwell]

Hundreds, sometimes thousands of years old.

I suppose I am the exception to the rule rather than the standard, however!

[nonbelligerent]

And yet you are their leader?

[omegathree]

[wild dude.]

Is the youngest spirit usually in charge?

[That seems like a recipe for disaster, but perhaps they need a fresh perspective.]

[tothemaxwell]

I am. But it is not traditional, no.

I took over the position of Maxwell from the previous Maxwell only some months prior to arriving here. However, I have been raised from birth for this position.

Who leads your own lands?

[nonbelligerent]

Each clan is led by the king—the strongest member.

[omegathree]

The Netherworld is ruled by the president. The demon who's the strongest and wants that specific job.

[tothemaxwell]

I suppose it is usually the strongest, isn't it? I suppose that's true of my own situation as well, in a way.

[Mysterious! She doesn't bother to explain.]

I wonder if we are the only three non human members of this group, or if there are more? Perhaps they're just staying indoors.