He wasn't the one that told me for that very reason, so don't you dare think about getting petty with him just because you have control over him.
Is it not? Even though you know damn well how most of us feel about it? Just because you'll never see your home again doesn't mean you get to inflict the same misery onto us!
[ Is it a mark of how tired he is that he doesn't conceal his flinch? Or does it just strike home that deeply? Regardless, he pulls himself up with visible effort and stares her down, eyes burning. ]
And what made you think I would sit idly and watch all of you disappear, one by one, back to your worlds? [ he asks sharply. ] Elidibus yet lives and somehow so do I, even if only here in this crude place. You are all by far the greatest threat to our plans. The people of the world rally around your standard. Of course I am going to keep you here with me if I can. I never promised any of you that I would help you return home.
[ He had, in fact, explicitly said as much to one of them. ]
[She is equally as determined, her shoulders hiking up as she unfolds her arms. It's because they're the ones who fight, who bleed, who sacrifice so that others may have continued life.]
So you'd hinder us instead? Are you just trying to make our lives as difficult as possible, or what?
[ He knows why. He knows damn well why they do. And that's all the more reason to keep them here. ]
What else do you expect from me?!
[ It comes out louder than he intends and he sucks in a sharp breath, lowering his voice. ]
I cannot let you return home. Not if I can see a way to prevent it. I cannot. I will not!
[ The common area swims nauseatingly in his vision and translates to a slight stagger. He raises a hand to his head and grits his teeth. There is not enough abundance of aether in this land for him to recuperate as quickly as he could have on their star. It's almost like being anaemic. ]
Stay here. With me, [ he growls. ] If you truly believe that the shards deserve life, they can solve their myriad of problems without you.
I expected at least the bare minimum of respect, Hades! The freedom to live our imperfect lives the way they are is what we fought for, and it's a battle you lost.
[Her jaw clenches. He may be lowering her voice, but she isn't.]
You would sooner see us die in this hellhole? Because you want to watch it happen and pat yourself on the godsdamned back for what a great job you did!?
[ He clenches his fists, holding her gaze a few moments longer before he finds his eyes sliding away. It isn't that he wants to trample over their hard-fought right to freedom, he argues with himself. And he feels no pleasure in what he's done. It had simply been...necessary. One last vain attempt to salvage his failure. For the revival of their god. Yes, for Zodiark...
... ]
I-- [ He cuts himself off, crosses his arms tightly over his chest. His voice is similarly taut, tongue working against all the lies and half-truths he wishes he can speak. ] Do you think I want to see any of you die? I have seen it happen so many countless times before and every single time--
[ There's a sharp, twisting pain in his chest and his temple throbs. The internal conflict is tearing through his head. ]
Stay, [ he grits out through his teeth. ] Just stay with me. I care not if you hate me for it. There is nothing for me to sabotage here. No schemes to enact. Have I not been a good little Ascian during my time here thus far?
[Her response is indeterminate silence for several moments as she holds her ground, then turns her head away from him in defiance.]
Not anymore, you haven't. Whether it's that you don't trust Elidibus to hold his own or you were simply bored with your lot here, the reason doesn't matter. Why should I stay with someone who does not even see me as a fully-fledged person with feelings of my own?
I know acceptance is just so fucking hard for you, but you ought to just do everyone a favor and--
[Leave us alone.
The beginnings of tears sting her eyes, but she does a valiant job keeping them in check for now despite the powerful urge to drop down and start weeping on the spot.]
For now, it's too late to change it, but I will be working on a way to change his mind if I can. At the very least, do me a favor and at least acknowledge it for the malicious act it is.
[ I should stop her, he thinks with a cold drop to his stomach. His fingers twitch. His balance shifts to the balls of his feet as if to move forward, physically grab her and do-- what? What would he do? Kill her? She wouldn't stay dead here. Restrain her? The others would fight him over it. Not just the other two Warriors of Light but the Exarch and the matriarch. He has...no options. Yet something demands he act and it throttles his tired attempts to resist.
He forces his heels back to the floor and grips his arms, breaking into soft, empty laughter. ]
Malicious? 'Tis hardly malicious. That would imply I meant you harm.
Then what was it? I don't see any reason you wouldn't want us to suffer with you still.
[She sees his movements, the body language saying he's straining to keep everything reined in, but she remains indifferent to his plight, at least on the outside. Unafraid and unforgiving, features set like steel.]
You knew exactly what you were doing, and there's no way you could have possibly expected it would remain in the dark forever. You also knew there would be an uproar once it reached our ears, once you stopped being a "good little Ascian" for us. But you still did it, because you still don't give half a damn about any of our feelings on the matter.
Certainly, we knew you didn't give a damn, either, but we still chose to associate with you... that's on us, I'll give you that. I pretended not to hear the warnings, and now I get to sit and dwell on that for a good long time, because my punishment has turned out to be you. You and your godsdamned fucking cold-hearted stupidity.
I could have left him there in the Void, you know.
[ It comes out bitterly. He doesn't rightly know where he's headed with his words but between the dizziness and pressure in his head, it comes spilling out. ]
When I was casting about for a soul to pull for the Creator, I saw the mage drifting. I could have left him there and you would have proceeded on with your lives thinking he had returned whence he came. But I brought him back because despite being one of Zodiark's thralls, despite being your enemy, and even despite hating him, I could not very well leave him there to be consumed by the dark!
[ He wavers in place and shuts his eyes, grimacing ]
Because despite our history of enmity, we were once friends. And I hate seeing you die.
[She considers that for a moment, sighing quietly at his rebuttal. Perhaps they would have assumed that in the alternative scenario, with the truth being much more bleak...]
Well, I thank you for saving Jophrey, but to then turn around and do this to the three of us sends an entirely different message. Like you were just trying to chain us here out of spite. So I damn well hope you're happy with yourself, because I can guarantee you no one else is.
...If Elidibus can still manage to make that future come to pass, I would spare you all from it. [ He stares at the floor, mouth a tight line. ] He is ever so fond of reminding us that the balance must be kept. And your Light...is useful, even as it interferes.
[She's about to accuse him of lying, only to remember thereafter that he doesn't lie about these things, much as she might like him to just to be able to call him out on it.]
That was... really your reasoning?
[This time, she doesn't know how to refute that. The fact the Exarch still exists would suggest things haven't been altered as they thought... doesn't it? Perhaps events of great importance like that are more difficult to completely erase.
Her ears slowly tick up from where they've been marginally lowered on her head this entire time, and her face softens a bit.]
You're still a complete arsehole for doing it. But... I think I understand what's going on now.
[ He hunches his shoulders and glares sullenly at her. He knows he tried to solicit their cooperation during their crusade against the Lightwardens, yet both sides had been very aware that they would ever be on opposite ends: the Light to his Dark and vice versa. They need each other or, as Elidibus oft reminds them, they will repeat the mistake of the Thirteenth. And needless to say, if they lose the Source, they lose all hope.
It's easier when they hate him. It hurts, but it makes things so much simpler. ]
For better or worse, you have proven yourselves capable of containing that Light which slew me. If you perish...'twill be a long time before another hero rises who is strong enough to temper our chaos.
[Don't forget that more personal reason of yours, she doesn't say.]
You need to trust us more, Hades. We may not be invincible, but the original source of what was to kill us unexpectedly and suddenly has already been destroyed.
Gods, but you are the biggest damned fool... I could smack you right about now if I didn't pity you so much for being injured.
[She glances away, matching her teeth and setting them hard, then gestures to a nearby sofa in the common area.]
Sit the hell down. You look like you're about to collapse.
[ He stubbornly refuses to sit at first. But then he turns his head to the side a little too fast and the world spins again. He wobbles and his knees buckle, barely catching himself by bracing his hands on the floor. Cursing softly in his native language, he staggers upright towards the sofa and collapses in it, doubling over with his head in his hands. Again, he shuts his eyes and focuses on soaking in the latent aether.
Ugh, he wants to return to his room and bathe in the Dark there. ]
[ Oh. Oh, no. Oh, it couldn't be Elidibus because he knew Elidibus' original plan for his great-grandson's body and their Emissary certainly would not suddenly and violently destroy a plot his Architect had set in motion. But his great-grandson would, and that meant the experiment he originally thought had ended in failure was instead a success.
A short burst of laughter erupts from him and he flops back against the couch, arm draped over his eyes. ]
[It puts Zenos at least on par with the Ascians in terms of sheer power. Perhaps even greater, which is a thought she almost doesn't even want to entertain. If Elidibus was so quick to flee at being confronted by him... what could that mean?]
[She sounds morose as she says it, though, like she's definitely turned over the thought a few times already. Especially when he'd just come back anyway.]
Much as I might like to take my frustration out on you, it'd be a waste of effort in the end. All you have left to you now is to recover and let the dust settle a bit.
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Is it not? Even though you know damn well how most of us feel about it? Just because you'll never see your home again doesn't mean you get to inflict the same misery onto us!
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And what made you think I would sit idly and watch all of you disappear, one by one, back to your worlds? [ he asks sharply. ] Elidibus yet lives and somehow so do I, even if only here in this crude place. You are all by far the greatest threat to our plans. The people of the world rally around your standard. Of course I am going to keep you here with me if I can. I never promised any of you that I would help you return home.
[ He had, in fact, explicitly said as much to one of them. ]
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[She is equally as determined, her shoulders hiking up as she unfolds her arms. It's because they're the ones who fight, who bleed, who sacrifice so that others may have continued life.]
So you'd hinder us instead? Are you just trying to make our lives as difficult as possible, or what?
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What else do you expect from me?!
[ It comes out louder than he intends and he sucks in a sharp breath, lowering his voice. ]
I cannot let you return home. Not if I can see a way to prevent it. I cannot. I will not!
[ The common area swims nauseatingly in his vision and translates to a slight stagger. He raises a hand to his head and grits his teeth. There is not enough abundance of aether in this land for him to recuperate as quickly as he could have on their star. It's almost like being anaemic. ]
Stay here. With me, [ he growls. ] If you truly believe that the shards deserve life, they can solve their myriad of problems without you.
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[Her jaw clenches. He may be lowering her voice, but she isn't.]
You would sooner see us die in this hellhole? Because you want to watch it happen and pat yourself on the godsdamned back for what a great job you did!?
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... ]
I-- [ He cuts himself off, crosses his arms tightly over his chest. His voice is similarly taut, tongue working against all the lies and half-truths he wishes he can speak. ] Do you think I want to see any of you die? I have seen it happen so many countless times before and every single time--
[ There's a sharp, twisting pain in his chest and his temple throbs. The internal conflict is tearing through his head. ]
Stay, [ he grits out through his teeth. ] Just stay with me. I care not if you hate me for it. There is nothing for me to sabotage here. No schemes to enact. Have I not been a good little Ascian during my time here thus far?
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Not anymore, you haven't. Whether it's that you don't trust Elidibus to hold his own or you were simply bored with your lot here, the reason doesn't matter. Why should I stay with someone who does not even see me as a fully-fledged person with feelings of my own?
I know acceptance is just so fucking hard for you, but you ought to just do everyone a favor and--
[Leave us alone.
The beginnings of tears sting her eyes, but she does a valiant job keeping them in check for now despite the powerful urge to drop down and start weeping on the spot.]
For now, it's too late to change it, but I will be working on a way to change his mind if I can. At the very least, do me a favor and at least acknowledge it for the malicious act it is.
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He forces his heels back to the floor and grips his arms, breaking into soft, empty laughter. ]
Malicious? 'Tis hardly malicious. That would imply I meant you harm.
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[She sees his movements, the body language saying he's straining to keep everything reined in, but she remains indifferent to his plight, at least on the outside. Unafraid and unforgiving, features set like steel.]
You knew exactly what you were doing, and there's no way you could have possibly expected it would remain in the dark forever. You also knew there would be an uproar once it reached our ears, once you stopped being a "good little Ascian" for us. But you still did it, because you still don't give half a damn about any of our feelings on the matter.
Certainly, we knew you didn't give a damn, either, but we still chose to associate with you... that's on us, I'll give you that. I pretended not to hear the warnings, and now I get to sit and dwell on that for a good long time, because my punishment has turned out to be you. You and your godsdamned fucking cold-hearted stupidity.
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[ It comes out bitterly. He doesn't rightly know where he's headed with his words but between the dizziness and pressure in his head, it comes spilling out. ]
When I was casting about for a soul to pull for the Creator, I saw the mage drifting. I could have left him there and you would have proceeded on with your lives thinking he had returned whence he came. But I brought him back because despite being one of Zodiark's thralls, despite being your enemy, and even despite hating him, I could not very well leave him there to be consumed by the dark!
[ He wavers in place and shuts his eyes, grimacing ]
Because despite our history of enmity, we were once friends. And I hate seeing you die.
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Well, I thank you for saving Jophrey, but to then turn around and do this to the three of us sends an entirely different message. Like you were just trying to chain us here out of spite. So I damn well hope you're happy with yourself, because I can guarantee you no one else is.
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The Exarch claimed you had died in his time.
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I'm aware, but that was in a timeline that should no longer come to pass. Are you saying you were trying to save us from that?
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That was... really your reasoning?
[This time, she doesn't know how to refute that. The fact the Exarch still exists would suggest things haven't been altered as they thought... doesn't it? Perhaps events of great importance like that are more difficult to completely erase.
Her ears slowly tick up from where they've been marginally lowered on her head this entire time, and her face softens a bit.]
You're still a complete arsehole for doing it. But... I think I understand what's going on now.
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It's easier when they hate him. It hurts, but it makes things so much simpler. ]
For better or worse, you have proven yourselves capable of containing that Light which slew me. If you perish...'twill be a long time before another hero rises who is strong enough to temper our chaos.
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You need to trust us more, Hades. We may not be invincible, but the original source of what was to kill us unexpectedly and suddenly has already been destroyed.
Gods, but you are the biggest damned fool... I could smack you right about now if I didn't pity you so much for being injured.
[She glances away, matching her teeth and setting them hard, then gestures to a nearby sofa in the common area.]
Sit the hell down. You look like you're about to collapse.
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Ugh, he wants to return to his room and bathe in the Dark there. ]
Black Rose... You already...destroyed it all?
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[Wildcard that he is. But thinking about it, it does line up pretty well with his usual motivations; you can't hunt dead bodies in a dead forest.
She takes a seat at the far end of the couch, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other.]
We got a report from a firsthand account that he murdered Varis, destroyed the remaining stores of Black Rose, and then took off to gods-know-where.
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[ Oh. Oh, no. Oh, it couldn't be Elidibus because he knew Elidibus' original plan for his great-grandson's body and their Emissary certainly would not suddenly and violently destroy a plot his Architect had set in motion. But his great-grandson would, and that meant the experiment he originally thought had ended in failure was instead a success.
A short burst of laughter erupts from him and he flops back against the couch, arm draped over his eyes. ]
Incredible... So it did work.
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[It puts Zenos at least on par with the Ascians in terms of sheer power. Perhaps even greater, which is a thought she almost doesn't even want to entertain. If Elidibus was so quick to flee at being confronted by him... what could that mean?]
Are you... going to be all right?
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...Would you like the direct answer or the evasive one?
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Do both of them boil down to "no, not really"?
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There is not enough aether in this place for me to recover at my usual rate. You could probably slay me right here, right now, without the other two.
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[She sounds morose as she says it, though, like she's definitely turned over the thought a few times already. Especially when he'd just come back anyway.]
Much as I might like to take my frustration out on you, it'd be a waste of effort in the end. All you have left to you now is to recover and let the dust settle a bit.
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