(Intro Music)

A

This new vigilante is really becoming a problem.

EXTRA 1 (SCORCH)

I guess so…

A

What’s wrong?

EXTRA 1 (SCORCH)

Do I really have to say it?

A

I would like you to, yes.

EXTRA 1 (SCORCH)

(sigh) Look, Atomic, you’re a great superhero and a great leader. But you never want to talk about the main supervillain our city faces!

A

Scorch-

EXTRA 2 (VERTIGO)

No, Scorch is right. You’re too concerned with this vigilante when they haven’t even done anything particularly wrong.

A

What!? They’re breaking the law by taking the law into their own hands. They’ve beaten people up-

EXTRA 2 (VERTIGO)

Only criminals.

A

Well, they’re operating without a hero license, and-

EXTRA 2 (VERTIGO)

Do you really care about that?

A

…Maybe.

EXTRA 1 (SCORCH)

Well, you shouldn’t. What you should care about is Zero and his plans to take over the city.

A

He’s not going to take over the city.

EXTRA 2 (VERTIGO)

He might if you keep ignoring him!

A

(Annoyed sigh) Look, just- Let’s take care of this vigilante first, okay? And then I’ll go after Zero, once and for all.

EXTRA 2 (VERTIGO)

(suspicious) You promise?

A

I promise, Vertigo.

EXTRA 2 (VERTIGO)

Well… in that case…

EXTRA 1 (SCORCH)

The vigilante was spotted downtown a few minutes ago. Stopped a bank robbery, apparently.

A

Wha- And you didn’t tell me!?

EXTRA 2 (VERTIGO)

You’re obsessed, Atomic.

A

Agh, I have to go! Bye!

EXTRA 1 (SCORCH)

(sigh) Bye.

(sounds fade out, night sounds fade in)

A

Stop right there!

Z

Stop right where you are!

A

Z?

Z

A!? What are you doing here?

A

Looking for- Shit, they’re getting away!

Z

Go, go!

(they run after the vigilante, Amaia tackles them to the ground)

A

(panting) No more running!

C

Okay, okay, you got me!

Z

Tell us what the hell is going on!

C

It’s… It’s complicated!

A

Yeah, we know! So explain!

Z

We’re tired of this stupid dance. We want to finish our story, we want to be able to live things out, together. And- And I think-

A

We want to do it with you, C.

C

…What?

Z

You’re a part of this. You always have been, and- We wouldn’t be us without you.

C

That’s- That’s ridiculous, you don’t need me, you-

A

We do need you, C. I’m sorry we weren’t prioritizing you before, but we are now. We want answers, but we want to find those answers with you. We’re not your enemies.

C

…I can’t tell you much.

Z

Then tell us a little.

C

It’s…

(White noise begins)

Z

Shit, quickly!

C

Just- Stick together! That’s all I can offer you, I’m sorry, I just- Next time- Stay close, okay? Stay close!

(White noise overtakes them.)

A

I’ll have a caramel macchiato.

Z

Sure thing. Name?

A

Abcde.

Z

…That’s a ridiculous name.

A

Tell me about it.

Z

Listen, this is weird, but I have to ask: Ever heard the song “A Heart Like Yours?”

A

(relaxing) Oh. Have you been asking everyone that?

Z

(relieved laugh) Everyone with an A name, yeah. My whole life.

A

God, I love you.

(White noise starts up.)

Z

Shit. Damn it, already!? I hate this!

A

What did C say? We have to stay close? Stick together?

Z

Have you even seen them this life?

A

No, have you?

Z

No!

A

Ahhhh what do we do!?

Z

Hold my hand!

A

Okay!

(White noise overtakes them.)

A

…Z?

Z

I’m here.

A

Oh thank god.

Z

Wait! Don’t let go.

A

Shh, I won’t. I was just trying to see where we are.

Z

I can’t see… anything.

A

I can see you.

Z

Yeah, I can see you, too. It’s quite the sight.

A

(flustered) Z!

C

We have five minutes.

Z

What?

A

C!

C

You can call me Constance. We have five minutes before this space collapses and the cycle begins again.

A

Uh, okay!?

C

Ask me a question.

A

What are our names?

C

You are Amaia. And you are Zora.

Z

Who are you?

C

I… I am the goddess of Balance. Of forgiveness, and… and second chances.

A

Why do I feel like you’re just as important to me as Z- Er, Zora, but… But you’re never the focus of my story? That’s not fair.

C

(emotional) I know. I’m sorry. I wish it could be different.

Z

If you’re a god… Are we gods too?

C

Yes, you are. Amaia, you are the god of Ends. Zora, you are the god of Beginnings. Mortality, and existence. Death, and life.

Z

Huh. I would not have pegged us for that.

A

I get it, I think. I like satisfying endings. I wish I could have one with you.

Z

I don’t really care if we start over again and again, I enjoy getting to see you in a new light every time–but I wish I could spend more time with you. I wish we could be together from the start.

A

Constance, why are we…. You know, mortal? And why do we keep repeating?

C

You were… exiled.

Z

What? For what!?

C

For falling in mortal love with another god–with each other.

A

But that’s not fair! What’s wrong with falling in love!?

C

It’s… beneath you. It is something fit for your creations, not for you.

Z

I don’t believe that. You don’t believe that. Do you?

C

…No. I don’t.

A

So what can we do about it?

C

You were put into this repeating cycle as a means to teach you that your love was not necessary, that you could exist without it.

A

Of course we can exist without it. But that doesn’t make it unimportant!

C

You’ve proven that by falling in love over and over, hundreds of times. You’ve proven that, while not necessary, it is natural. At least for you.

Z

Okay, then… are we un-exiled?

C

No.

Z

Why?

C

Because you need to make your case to the other gods. And I can get you before the court; but you will have only one shot at this. If you fail, you will return to the cycle.

Z

Fuck it, let’s go.

A

Zora!

Z

What? I want to be with you. You want to be with me! I know we can convince these uptight gods that our love is worth the taboo.

C

Please don’t call them uptight in front of them…

Z

Well it’s true, so.

A

…Okay. Okay, yes, let’s do it. Let’s go!

C

Alright. Brace yourselves.

(White noise overtakes them.)

TAIMI

You stand before the court of the gods, Amaia and Zora, with Constance as your reference.

GRACE

You are charged with mortal love with another god. What is your response to this accusation?

Z

Yeah, and it fucking rocks.

C

(horrified) Zora!

A

No, Z’s right! Loving each other is amazing, and I want to know why you think it’s a crime.

EXTRA 2 (EMORY)

It’s beneath you. It is the stuff of your creation, not the stuff of the creator.

Z

Yeah, that’s what Constance said. But if we created it–shouldn’t we get to partake?

A

Love is natural, even to us gods–or at least, it is to us! I think we’ve proven that much, at least.

TAIMI

You are gods. You do not need mortal love to complete you.

Z

Neither do the humans! But a lot of them love anyway.

GRACE

(Curiously) Why?

A

(Gently) It doesn’t complete us. It enhances us. It changes us. It brings out new parts of us! Sure, we were happy without each other… But being together brought us a new kind of happiness. We felt like we fit, like two puzzle pieces coming together. And it was nice to have someone on our team, someone we knew we could trust.

C

I… can vouch for them. When they were gods, I- I was part of their relationship, too.

A

What!?

Z

That makes… so much sense.

EXTRA 2 (EMORY)

Then you should have been exiled as well, not assigned to keep watch over them!

C

I know. I’m sorry, I… I should have come forward, I…

Z

Hey, fuck off, gods! Not you, Constance. If you were going to be fucking exiled for admitting you were with us, then I don’t blame you for not saying anything. This was cruel and unusual punishment, making us exist over and over again without ever getting to experience an ending.

C

It was cruel. I should have been with you, I should have-

A

You were with us, Constance. Every step of the way, you were with us. Stop blaming yourself.

Z

And you, all of you gods: Stop blaming us! Our love cannot and should not be helped.

GRACE

It is not pure-

Z

It doesn’t have to be pure! Who said ‘pure’ was a requirement?

GRACE

Uh…

A

It was you, wasn’t it?

GRACE

Um… (Clears throat)

Z

Who made you the ruling force on mortal love?

GRACE

Why, I am the god of Good! Of righteousness, of purity, of-

A

Oh, enough with the purity thing! Are the humans pure?

GRACE

Of course not.

A

Then why do we have to be?

GRACE

Because you are gods!

A

So? Gods aren’t pure. I’m not. Zora’s not, Constance isn’t.

Z

Hell, you’re not pure.

GRACE

What!?

Z

Yeah, you heard me! You exiled your fellow gods just for loving each other. That’s some pretty impure behavior, if you ask me.

GRACE

No one asked you!

Z

No one asked you either!

GRACE

…Hmm.

TAIMI

I must admit, it cannot possibly be against our natural order. Three of us have felt it, hundreds of times now. Three is a pattern, Grace.

GRACE

Oh? And what is the god of Time’s official stance on this, then? Do you feel this ‘love’ as well?

TAIMI

No, but I do not condemn it. While it does not come naturally to me, it does come naturally to them.

EXTRA 2 (EMORY)

And who is to say that something must be ‘natural’ to be allowed?

TAIMI

What do you mean, Emory?

EXTRA 2 (EMORY)

We created the natural order–arbitrarily, some might say. Who, then, can be certain that our own natural order was not created arbitrarily? Why must we follow invisible rules? We are gods. We should be free to do whatever we please.

GRACE

Of course you would say that.

A

(quietly) Who’s Emory?

C

(quietly) God of Evil.

Z

(quietly) I like them.

TAIMI

I must say, that is quite the argument, Emory.

GRACE

What!? How can you say that?

TAIMI

You are not listening, Grace. You are caught up in your tradition. Be free of it.

GRACE

You have never liked tradition. Strange, for the god of Time.

TAIMI

Time moves forward and on, like all things. I do not find it strange at all.

C

Well-spoken, Taimi.

GRACE

I… am finding myself outnumbered.

EXTRA 2 (EMORY)

You are not forsaking your morals by accepting this love, Grace. You are only expanding them.

GRACE

(sigh) I… suppose you are right.

TAIMI

Then it is settled. Mortal love amongst gods is allowed. Zora and Amaia will be reinstated as the gods of beginnings and endings, respectively.

A

(cheers)

Z

Yes!

TAIMI

Brace, dear gods. Your memories will return to you soon.

(whooshing noise)

A

Oh… I feel…

Z

Overwhelmed…

C

Come, you should rest. And after that… we need to talk.

(White noise overtakes them.)

C

You… Why did you want to meet… here?

Z

It felt fitting to talk things out here, on Earth.

A

We, um… We got you some flowers.

C

(flustered) Oh?

A

Bluebells for humility and remorse… Yellow roses for friendship and warmth… Lily of the valley for a return to happiness. If you’re okay with that, that is…

C

Why- (emotional) Why are you apologizing? I abandoned you both!

Z

Don’t say that, that’s not true.

C

Yes it is! When the other gods came for you, when they accused you of being in love with each other, I kept my distance. I stayed back, out of the spotlight.

Z

Good. We have our memories back now, Constance, and we remember–we wanted you to lie. We wanted you to get off scot-free, so you wouldn’t have to be exiled, too.

C

But I- I should have been exiled too! Then I could have been with you…

A

You were with us, Constance! You were with us the whole time.

Z

You’re a part of this. You balance us out!

A

Just because you weren’t part of the romance during the repeats doesn’t mean you weren’t just as important to us.

C

How can you say that? I-

Z

No. No more talking bad about yourself. You’re important, Constance. To the world, and to us. We want to be with you, in whatever way you’ll allow. Whether that’s romantic or platonic or not at all, we’ll leave that up to you. We just want to be a part of your existence.

C

You are. You always have been.

A

Then join us again, Constance. It’s allowed now!

Z

We could go get some coffee, maybe?

A

(playfully) Oh? Or we could visit the nearest monarchy, just for old times’ sake.

C

Next you’ll say you want to bring about the zombie apocalypse. Again.

Z

It’s not off the table, C.

C

Gods… you two are so important to me. I… I love you. Amaia, Zora. I love you dearly.

A

Oh, thank god! We love you, too, Constance.

Z

Damn right, we do!

C

So… we’re… back?

Z

Fuck yeah, we’re back! Gods, I missed you both.

C

Next time, I’m with you. No matter what.

A

Hopefully there won’t be a next time… But if there is, we’ll stick together. Promise.

Z

Forever. Under any name, and any face. I’m yours.

A

…I kind of want to be a superhero again.

C

You’re a god, Amaia. You can do whatever you want. If you want to inhabit a mortal body for a while, then you can.

Z

Can I come with?

A

Why, are you going to be a villain again?

Z

Maybe.

C

Can… I come with?

Z

That’s not even a question, Constance. Are you going to be a vigilante again?

C

Depends on what would cause the most trouble for you two.

Z

(laughing) Oh, you little gremlin!

A

(giggling) I love you both.

C

Forever.

Z

Forever.

A

Forever.

END.

(Outro Music Plays)

NARRATOR

A was played by Cadey Elise. Z was played by Perry Hall. C was played by Louisa Stabenow. Various extras were played by xacio and Peyton L. Taimi was played by Loxley Blaine. Laura and Grace were played by Haven Blaine. The score was composed by Yana Ramos. Theme music, writing, and sound design by Haven Blaine. Thank you to all of our Crowdfundr backers, and a special thanks for CodfishJoe for being one of our biggest supporters. Also, a big thanks to my family, who have been incredibly supportive also. Thank you for listening to In Every Universe!