Curiosity

[curiosity-virtue]

Hiiiii

Hi hello hi I'm Curiosity! I'm a virtue :D

I like talking about anything!

------------------------------------------------------------------ OOC from here down

Heya! Mod Thio @thiocarbonate here Decided to make an askblog for this blorbo, probably for silliness frfrfr You may recognize me from a few other blogs but shhhhhh they are unrelated (fr this time)

just a bit of info:

No NSFW please!

Curiosity is very stupid. little buddy just barely started existing💔

Curiosity uses it/they (They secretly have a preference for "they", but use "it" out of fear of the council's wrath)

I (Thio) hold any rights to not answer an ask for any reason. I won't publicly blast anyone for asking something that makes me uncomfortable, so long as it doesn't become a pattern

I (Thio) am a minor. Curiosity is also a minor. Please keep that in mind during rps and asks

Please do not ship Curiosity with anyone. They are 17. That's practically a toddler in the scope of virtues.

Our rule on physical contact is headpats are welcomed, holding is reserved for exclusively trusted characters, and stuff like cuddling while sleeping absolutely not allowed. Please don't touch the mod.

I (Thio) am very liberal with the block button. If my boundaries are broken repeatedly or too much, I will block you. Please respect that

If I miss a response, or I haven't responded in a while, please feel free to ping me! If I don't respond after that, please assume I've dropped that particular interaction

These may be updated later, but for now, have fun and thank you for reading my blorbo's shenanigans!

TAG GUIDE: #Inquiries - Asks #Yapping - Reblogs #Outside - OOC

[curiosity-virtue]

((Heyo, mod Thio here!))

((Just wanted to give everyone that watches this blog that I'm gonna be insanely busy this month, so plspls be patient w slow responses if any T-T T-T))

((Thanks for reading, and happy [tumblr]ing!))

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[guttermanofficial]

“I thought heaven was good once, I’m pretty sure all have, I’m disappointed in it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Aren't we all...

[*He removes the final fragment]

...I don't even know what to say anymore

[guttermanofficial]

(He stares at the fragments, blood dripping from his hand) “I don’t either”

[curiosity-virtue]

...You wanna uh, get that wrapped up?

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks at it) “if I’m bleeding then tubing is damaged, wrapping it will only hide it and catch the blood leaking”

[curiosity-virtue]

Makes sense

I can try to repair it maybe? I'm not nearly as good at engineering as Kelp, but I could try?

[guttermanofficial]

“You are welcome too, ……I admit I don’t expect success but I rarely do”

[curiosity-virtue]

Ouch

[*He holds up a melodramatic hand to his chest before pulling out a small toolbox from a cabinet]

Lemme see your hand

[guttermanofficial]

(He holds it out for him to work on)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He examines the damage for a few moments before starting repairs]

...My name is Charles by the way

[guttermanofficial]

“I’m Gurt, ….yes, like yogurt”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Charles nods and continues repairing]

Nice to meet you, Gurt

...Sorry it couldn'tve been in... better circumstances

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s as alright as it could be, there is no need to be sorry, it’s nice to meet you too Charles”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He nods and secures a final component]

How's that feel?

[guttermanofficial]

“Good, you did well”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Charles sighs in relief and gives Gurt's hand a gentle pat before returning his attention to the table]

...I um... I don't know where you're going, but I need to stop by the surface, so if you need to go into a lower layer, you can wait here, or wait for Kelp

[guttermanofficial]

“……..I’ll wait for Kelp, I wish to see Laika”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He gives Gurt another curt nod]

I wish you well then. I don't know how long they'll be, but I would wait in one of the waithouses at Wrath

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[guttermanofficial]

“I thought heaven was good once, I’m pretty sure all have, I’m disappointed in it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Aren't we all...

[*He removes the final fragment]

...I don't even know what to say anymore

[guttermanofficial]

(He stares at the fragments, blood dripping from his hand) “I don’t either”

[curiosity-virtue]

...You wanna uh, get that wrapped up?

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks at it) “if I’m bleeding then tubing is damaged, wrapping it will only hide it and catch the blood leaking”

[curiosity-virtue]

Makes sense

I can try to repair it maybe? I'm not nearly as good at engineering as Kelp, but I could try?

[guttermanofficial]

“You are welcome too, ……I admit I don’t expect success but I rarely do”

[curiosity-virtue]

Ouch

[*He holds up a melodramatic hand to his chest before pulling out a small toolbox from a cabinet]

Lemme see your hand

[guttermanofficial]

(He holds it out for him to work on)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He examines the damage for a few moments before starting repairs]

...My name is Charles by the way

[guttermanofficial]

“I’m Gurt, ….yes, like yogurt”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Charles nods and continues repairing]

Nice to meet you, Gurt

...Sorry it couldn'tve been in... better circumstances

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s as alright as it could be, there is no need to be sorry, it’s nice to meet you too Charles”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He nods and secures a final component]

How's that feel?

[guttermanofficial]

“Good, you did well”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Charles sighs in relief and gives Gurt's hand a gentle pat before returning his attention to the table]

...I um... I don't know where you're going, but I need to stop by the surface, so if you need to go into a lower layer, you can wait here, or wait for Kelp

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[guttermanofficial]

“I thought heaven was good once, I’m pretty sure all have, I’m disappointed in it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Aren't we all...

[*He removes the final fragment]

...I don't even know what to say anymore

[guttermanofficial]

(He stares at the fragments, blood dripping from his hand) “I don’t either”

[curiosity-virtue]

...You wanna uh, get that wrapped up?

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks at it) “if I’m bleeding then tubing is damaged, wrapping it will only hide it and catch the blood leaking”

[curiosity-virtue]

Makes sense

I can try to repair it maybe? I'm not nearly as good at engineering as Kelp, but I could try?

[guttermanofficial]

“You are welcome too, ……I admit I don’t expect success but I rarely do”

[curiosity-virtue]

Ouch

[*He holds up a melodramatic hand to his chest before pulling out a small toolbox from a cabinet]

Lemme see your hand

[guttermanofficial]

(He holds it out for him to work on)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He examines the damage for a few moments before starting repairs]

...My name is Charles by the way

[guttermanofficial]

“I’m Gurt, ….yes, like yogurt”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Charles nods and continues repairing]

Nice to meet you, Gurt

...Sorry it couldn'tve been in... better circumstances

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s as alright as it could be, there is no need to be sorry, it’s nice to meet you too Charles”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He nods and secures a final component]

How's that feel?

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[guttermanofficial]

“I thought heaven was good once, I’m pretty sure all have, I’m disappointed in it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Aren't we all...

[*He removes the final fragment]

...I don't even know what to say anymore

[guttermanofficial]

(He stares at the fragments, blood dripping from his hand) “I don’t either”

[curiosity-virtue]

...You wanna uh, get that wrapped up?

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks at it) “if I’m bleeding then tubing is damaged, wrapping it will only hide it and catch the blood leaking”

[curiosity-virtue]

Makes sense

I can try to repair it maybe? I'm not nearly as good at engineering as Kelp, but I could try?

[guttermanofficial]

“You are welcome too, ……I admit I don’t expect success but I rarely do”

[curiosity-virtue]

Ouch

[*He holds up a melodramatic hand to his chest before pulling out a small toolbox from a cabinet]

Lemme see your hand

[guttermanofficial]

(He holds it out for him to work on)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He examines the damage for a few moments before starting repairs]

...My name is Charles by the way

[guttermanofficial]

“I’m Gurt, ….yes, like yogurt”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Charles nods and continues repairing]

Nice to meet you, Gurt

...Sorry it couldn'tve been in... better circumstances

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[guttermanofficial]

“I thought heaven was good once, I’m pretty sure all have, I’m disappointed in it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Aren't we all...

[*He removes the final fragment]

...I don't even know what to say anymore

[guttermanofficial]

(He stares at the fragments, blood dripping from his hand) “I don’t either”

[curiosity-virtue]

...You wanna uh, get that wrapped up?

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks at it) “if I’m bleeding then tubing is damaged, wrapping it will only hide it and catch the blood leaking”

[curiosity-virtue]

Makes sense

I can try to repair it maybe? I'm not nearly as good at engineering as Kelp, but I could try?

[guttermanofficial]

“You are welcome too, ……I admit I don’t expect success but I rarely do”

[curiosity-virtue]

Ouch

[*He holds up a melodramatic hand to his chest before pulling out a small toolbox from a cabinet]

Lemme see your hand

[guttermanofficial]

(He holds it out for him to work on)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He examines the damage for a few moments before starting repairs]

...My name is Charles by the way

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[guttermanofficial]

“I thought heaven was good once, I’m pretty sure all have, I’m disappointed in it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Aren't we all...

[*He removes the final fragment]

...I don't even know what to say anymore

[guttermanofficial]

(He stares at the fragments, blood dripping from his hand) “I don’t either”

[curiosity-virtue]

...You wanna uh, get that wrapped up?

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks at it) “if I’m bleeding then tubing is damaged, wrapping it will only hide it and catch the blood leaking”

[curiosity-virtue]

Makes sense

I can try to repair it maybe? I'm not nearly as good at engineering as Kelp, but I could try?

[guttermanofficial]

“You are welcome too, ……I admit I don’t expect success but I rarely do”

[curiosity-virtue]

Ouch

[*He holds up a melodramatic hand to his chest before pulling out a small toolbox from a cabinet]

Lemme see your hand

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[guttermanofficial]

“I thought heaven was good once, I’m pretty sure all have, I’m disappointed in it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Aren't we all...

[*He removes the final fragment]

...I don't even know what to say anymore

[guttermanofficial]

(He stares at the fragments, blood dripping from his hand) “I don’t either”

[curiosity-virtue]

...You wanna uh, get that wrapped up?

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks at it) “if I’m bleeding then tubing is damaged, wrapping it will only hide it and catch the blood leaking”

[curiosity-virtue]

Makes sense

I can try to repair it maybe? I'm not nearly as good at engineering as Kelp, but I could try?

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[guttermanofficial]

“I thought heaven was good once, I’m pretty sure all have, I’m disappointed in it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Aren't we all...

[*He removes the final fragment]

...I don't even know what to say anymore

[guttermanofficial]

(He stares at the fragments, blood dripping from his hand) “I don’t either”

[curiosity-virtue]

...You wanna uh, get that wrapped up?

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[guttermanofficial]

“I thought heaven was good once, I’m pretty sure all have, I’m disappointed in it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Aren't we all...

[*He removes the final fragment]

...I don't even know what to say anymore

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[guttermanofficial]

“What do you fucking think?” (He shakes some fragments of his shield out of his hand)

[curiosity-virtue]

I. No, yeah they. They gotta go, just. Get over here for a second

[*He starts picking out the fragments of his shield out of Gurt's hand]

Fucking hell... When Kelp said it was bad I didn't think she meant like... Fuck

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt punches his shield, ……shattering it)

[curiosity-virtue]

hOLY shit-

[*He stabilizes the table, ensuring that no fragments fall off]

...

...So in conclusion, that council's gotta die?

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stands there waiting, he sets his shield against the wall)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, carrying a neatly folded cloth and unwrapping it at the table]

[*Inside is what remains of a shattered orb of glass about the size of a small soccer ball, several fragments of varying sizes loosely fitted into place]

...Forensic data showed that the shatter was a result of a high force impact.

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[guttermanofficial]

“……….I’m assuming not but could I see any remains?“

[curiosity-virtue]

...give me a second

[*He buries his face in his hands for a couple moments before getting up and going back down the hall]

I'm so fucking glad I didn't- I didn't get the chance to clean everything up...

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead

[guttermanofficial]

“……..” (Gurt is obviously PISSED)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He cleans off the last bits of grime before shutting off the hose and sitting down at the table in utter despair]

I... I didn't even think it could've been- It was too small, I thought someone just. Dropped their glassware... Oh my god...

[curiosity-virtue]

(Curiosity encounters Gurt, ….wait why is a Gutterman in WRATH?)

(@guttermanofficial)

[*Curiosity is very deeply absorbed in trying to decipher some writing in one of the journals left in the layer]

[*They don't notice Gurt at all]

[guttermanofficial]

(He walks up to them) “hello?”

[curiosity-virtue]

ACSIVSKSB-

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue spirals out of control, proceeding to smash into a table and a wall before crashing into the ground]

H-HelloOOH CRAP GUTTERMAN UH UH UH

[*It proceeds to zip underneath a table, completely forgetting that the glow of its wings gave away its crude hiding place]

[guttermanofficial]

“…..I can see you little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The little virtue's just trembling violently underneath the table, hoping that maybe Gurt was bluffing]

[guttermanofficial]

(He carefully pats the little virtue)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It's practically vibrating from anxiety, proceeding to flinch away feeling Gurt's hand on it, launching a few juvenile feathers out from beneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Woah! It’s ok little one, I won’t hurt you”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*It continues to tremble violently, but dares to peek out of the table at Gurt]

[*Upon further inspection, they seem abnormally small and their wings seem extremely underdeveloped]

Y-you won't?

[guttermanofficial]

“I won’t, I promise, …..you seem young, are you?”

[curiosity-virtue]

u-uh yeah I'm uh- I'm 17-

[rugwollseif]

“….well that’s young but you seem like a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

is that- is that not child age?

[*They slowly get out from underneath the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“No, it’s teenager age for most-…you ARE a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- yeah..

[*They awkwardly hug themselves with their wings]

[guttermanofficial]

“Why are you here then if you’re a child?”

[curiosity-virtue]

uh- I- uhm-

...I kinda uh- got kicked out of- of Heaven for um- misbe-misbehaving

[guttermanofficial]

“…….I’m going to swear in anger”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh

[*It doesn't really know what to do so it mimics covering its "ears" with its wings]

sorry-

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s ok” (he decides to yell in Russian)

“….WHAT THE FUCK HEAVEN”

[curiosity-virtue]

EEP-

[*It zips back under the table]

[guttermanofficial]

“Sorry little one” (he carefully pats them)

[curiosity-virtue]

It-It's ok-

[*They slip out again, still trembling]

[guttermanofficial]

“Hmmm” (there’s a sudden loud flash of lightning)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Aaaand it's gone again]

[*Hiding underneath the table as far as it'll go]

[*Doesn't look like it's gonna come out anytime soon]

[guttermanofficial]

(He looks under the table at them) “it’s ok little one”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They've completely buried themselves under their wings, trying to block out as much sound as they can]

[guttermanofficial]

“…hmmm” (he grabs a blanket and carefully wraps it around them)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Their shaking subsides a little]

I-who-who are you?

[rugwollseif]

“I’m Gurt, what’s your name?”

[curiosity-virtue]

as in- as in the human dairy product-? Sorry I- if you get that a lot

[*They pause for a moment]

My uh- my name's Curiosity

[guttermanofficial]

“I have been getting that a lot”

“That’s a nice name”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- uh- thank you-! Heaven calls it more um- more a curse than a virtue..

[guttermanofficial]

“Heaven has shown itself to be stupid”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- i guess so- I MEAN- uh- in a um- respect-respectful way

[guttermanofficial]

“There’s no need to show them respect anymore, they threw you down here when your but a child”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean in- in their defense I um- I'm not a good- I'm not a good child

[guttermanofficial]

“Even if you aren’t you shouldn’t be thrown away, especially not to fucking hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

I mean I- I dunno I kinda had it coming after I um- did- uh- illegal- stuff

[*They bob awkwardly in the air]

[guttermanofficial]

“……what did you do that was illegal?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I um- uh- er-

[*They droop a little closer to the ground in shame]

kinda.. stole some forbidden texts

[guttermanofficial]

“Why were they forbidden?”

[curiosity-virtue]

They um.

[*They pause to consider for a moment]

I don't- I don't really know, most of them were uh.. history textbooks from the lust layer-

[guttermanofficial]

“Oh, …..I think I know why they were forbidden, for multiple reasons”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They perk up a bit]

Oh uh- really? i mean i- i guess it's probably um- obvious- Is it that obvious?

[guttermanofficial]

“It’s lust, I will tell you more when you’re older, it could also be because heaven ended Lust’s renaissance”

[curiosity-virtue]

Oh right-right-yeah that. Makes sense

I um. Recall reading about it at um- at one point-

[guttermanofficial]

“…..what?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I uh- read about it! Kinda- um-

........my book got um. confiscated before I could uh- finish

[guttermanofficial]

“…….a lot of stuff that happens in lust isn’t safe for kids, I know from experience from being there for a month”

[curiosity-virtue]

U-oh. Um- Really?

...I thought King Minos made it um- a paradise for uh- everyone there

[guttermanofficial]

“That’s part of why, ….it’s better to say it’s inappropriate for kids, the city is perfectly safe”

[curiosity-virtue]

Um- really? Why would...

[*Its internal nebula swirls into an embarrassed pink]

o h

[guttermanofficial]

“..yeaaaaah”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity fights every urge to bolt back under the table, less so out of fear but sheer embarassment]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt notices the ferry is at the dock) “…..would you like to leave Wrath?”

[curiosity-virtue]

I- um- is uh- is it um- thundering outside?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, it always is, but you’ll be ok, I can shield you from the rain and even if any lightning struck near you it would hit me”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*They flutter a bit nervously]

That- um- isn't- what about you though?

[guttermanofficial]

“I’ll be fine”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity bobbles a bit, just about to respond]

CRASH

[*They flinch away from the window as the entire room flashes with the pale blue glow of lightning]

......canwejustmakearunforit

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*Curiosity nods thankfully, before taking a few deep breaths and trying to prepare themselves to zip to the ferry as quickly as possible]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt stretches and attaches his shield to his back, preparing to try and run for the first time ever)

[curiosity-virtue]

o-ok-! I um-

BOOM

okimjustgonnago

[*They open the door to the room they're in and zip across the deck towards the ferry, trying not to think too hard about the rain pummeling down on them]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt runs after them terrifyingly fast, it’s not actually fast, but dear god is it terrifying to see a Gutterman running at you that fast)

[curiosity-virtue]

fhufeihauhuhfaudshfaiha-AHEFUYKGFWGYU

[*It doesn't even bother to glance back, knowing it's just gonna get scared the living shit out of by watching Gurt rapidly approach them]

[*They fly across the bridge to get onboard, managing to]

[*...]

[*Again.]

AHULFEIHAUEWALFUFLWAFUHAWFWELA

[*This absolute beetle of a virtue crashed into the side of the ship.]

[*Again.]

[*.....I don't get paid enough for this]

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt reaches the ship, …..and wipes out on a comedically placed puddle)

[I want to have a gif of this in my photos so I can use it when Gurt runs]

[curiosity-virtue]

[*A lime green ferryman watches as a tiny virtue and gutterman completely wipe out on deck, making a mental note to himself to redo the nonslip coating when the rain lets up]

[*He drops down from his platform and approaches them]

...So uh, you good?

[guttermanofficial]

“I am, I don’t know if Curiosity is” (he sounds out of breath, …..how? He doesn’t breathe?)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The virtue in question managed to get itself stuck under a pile of scrapwood]

[*They try to wiggle themselves out]

...huh

[*He goes over and digs Curiosity out before returning to Gurt]

Damn this thing's tiny, you sure this is a virtue?

[guttermanofficial]

“They’re a child” (Gurt gets up, ……he needs a wash, he’s needed one for a while and the scratched paint and smeared mud from wiping out just make it more obvious)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman seems utterly flabbergasted]

Wh- A child?? Heaven's actually low enough to send a child to Hell??

[*Curiosity flutters awkwardly in his grip]

um... yeah they uh.. kinda kicked me out-

[*The ferryman just looks between them and Gurt, unsure whether to be enraged or sympathetic]

Holy shit

...Also do you like. need a wash? No offense

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, to both”

[curiosity-virtue]

...Holy shit just. Damn.

[*He turns and points towards the door leading to the inside of the ship]

I should have a powerwasher in one of the deeper rooms. I gotta get this kid somewhere safe, but I can come help you out after if you need me

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, I’ll need help washing, I was not designed to wash myself”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman gives him a nod before leading him towards the ship's interior]

[*It looks completely different from the interior of Kelp's ship, seemingly far less furnished and more industrial rather than the welcoming atmosphere of her ship]

Uh- don't mind the interior please, I'm working on getting some stuff from the previous ferryman cleaned up

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright, far less comforting than the last ferry I was on but I still like it”

[curiosity-virtue]

Y'know what, fair enough

Who was it uh... crap not Aeolus... Kelp! She's been around the longest, were you with her?

[*Curiosity looks around, a little intimidated]

[guttermanofficial]

“I believe so, is Kelp Russian? If so then it was definitely her”

[curiosity-virtue]

Yeah uhhhh I think she said she's from Belarus? Some Russian-speaking country I think

[*He tosses Curiosity lightly into the air, catching them again when they fail to take flight]

Anyways I gotta get this guy somewhere, rooms are uhhh... That way

[*He points down a deep hall]

You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright” (Gurt walks over to the rooms and just stands there waiting on Charles)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He returns a few moments later, a few stray feathers stuck to his veil presumably from transport]

Alrighty, the poor kid just passed out like the instant I got them in a bed so uh. Wooo Heaven, I guess

[*He starts walking down the hall, briefly turning back to Gurt]

You coming?

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt is standing behind him) “yes”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He just looks up at him]

Damn you're tall

[*He moves down the hall, holding a door open for Gurt at the end of the hall]

After you

[*The inside of the room is similar to Kelp's in layout, but still more basic]

[guttermanofficial]

(He enters nearly bonking his head but he ducked so he didn’t)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman follows him in shortly afterwards before grabbing a nearby hose, turning on the water, and giving the wall a couple experimental sprays]

Alright... Looks not bad, this shouldn't take too too long

[guttermanofficial]

“Alright”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He starts hosing Gurt down, watching a steady stream of grime trail into the drain]

...Damn

So uh, what are you and a kid doing out in Wrath? Storms are a little bad right now for travel

[guttermanofficial]

“I was wandering and I found them, I don’t know why they are here” (Gurt rumbles a bit as he is cleaned)

[curiosity-virtue]

Huh, weird

So... You've uh, confirmed that this is a kid?

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, they themselves have told me they are a kid, although they are seventeen”

[curiosity-virtue]

[*He stops the hose, pausing to look up at Gurt]

[*Despite his expression being hidden by the veil, he almost seems like he's waiting for Gurt to go back on his statement, hoping maybe it was all just a sick joke]

And you're absolutely sure they're not just saying that

[guttermanofficial]

“Yes, because a rouge virtue told me they were a child and a missing virtue tossed into hell”

[curiosity-virtue]

Please tell me they're the only one

[guttermanofficial]

“There was four tossed down here, they’re the only I have found but others may have been found, and I hope they have”

[curiosity-virtue]

......oh my god

[*He just stares ahead for a few moments, before turning the hose back on and cleaning off his backside]

I... Oh my god I think- fuck- Oh I'm gonna puke-

[guttermanofficial]

(Gurt just stands there silently)

[curiosity-virtue]

[*The ferryman's almost grateful for the silence, trying to process his own thoughts]

...

...I. I think I found one of the 4 but um... It's, kinda dead