ohmyarceus | March - April Test Drive Meme

Well, aren't you astute. I dare say when I had mentioned the very same, they seemed rather surprised. Mayhap I judged you far too quickly.

As for why I still reward them, well...that is a talk for another time.

[He lets that settle as he examines Estinien, the other seemingly getting lost in his thoughts. Works for him, because while he otherwise would be able to get a glimpse of the emotions swirling around in the heads of others via his own complete version of the echo, he is without it here. What reads he gets from people is completely reliant on his own deducing skills.]

Careful now—that icy exterior seems to be cracking. What is it—warmed by the news of your long lost companions' success?

Careful, lest you sound insincere.

[He thinks he knows something of how you immortal sort operates. Nidhogg's hatred and his patience is still knocking about in his skull, the wyrm's thoughts on the scale of centuries instead of years.]

Shall you ever tire of the ice metaphors?

[He is Rethinking this temporary ceasefire.]

We certainly wouldn't want that, now would we?

[Nidhogg is a baby compared to him, and the rules of immortals vary. Don't go lumping him with some grief-stricken lizard!]

Would you rather stone? Here I thought you might prefer the former due to its familiarity. Either way, both are quite fitting for the mummery you seem fit to sell.

[He shrugs.]

Regardless, indeed our friends are in good health. You need not worry.

Edited 2020-04-30 06:42 (UTC)

[You both are just going to be sarcastic at each other until the sun explodes. Wonderful.

Are you not also a grief-stricken lizard?]

I owe them my life. Of course I am concerned for their well-being.

[He'd be dead at best, still being puppeted about by Nidhogg at worst, without the Warrior and Alphinaud stubbornly clinging to the hope that he could be saved.]

Tis by their efforts that the war was ended. All of Ishgard owes them a debt of gratitude for that.

[We both know the answer to that.

Excuse you, he's more like a bird. Have you seen his nose? Let alone that shoebill...]

Yes, yes. They are so very heroic and had sense enough to end a war that perpetuated for a millennia, all because mortals refuse to see the larger picture. 'Tis a tale as old as time, and a mistake your lot refuses to correct. Ere long, another will take its place, as is your wont.

[He's really tired of hearing their praise, it's bad enough that he's found himself giving it to them.]

Anyroad—I meant to ask: did you succeed in your mission? Is Black Rose no more?

[Birds, lizards, what is the difference truly.

...did...did you manage to body-jump into that shoebill?]

I feel the situation tis more complicated than that.

[For one, only half the people involved were mortal? Dude, just because dragons came from another star and are generally aligned with Hydaelyn...]

Though you are correct that another conflict did take its place, as we are defending our homeland against your people.

[He means the Imperial armies, not the Ascians necessarily. Though...that too really!]

Aye.

[What his and Gaius's alliance might not have gotten rid of, Zenos surely soon will. Your great-grandson's...preoccupation with hunting people for sport pays off...? ~~Madness must run strong in this family.~~]

[Well one has feathers and a beak...

As for the shoebill, that's a mystery, isn't it?]

Complicated for a mortal, perhaps, but I see it for its simple and true nature: man's frail and fleeting life continues to rob him of history, therefore perpetuating the sins of the past again, and again.

[He's well aware of this battle between mankind and the Dravanians, and the immortal nature of the latter. He's just putting the blame onto man, not the dragons. Honestly, he can't blame Nidhogg for his scorge against them.]

If not Garlemald, 'twould be another. At least there's purpose behind this war, where as your benign petty squabbles otherwise have no meaning at all.

[But the news of Black Rose has him irritated, something he attempts to hide, but the scowl that surfaces on his features makes it a little too plain.

Fuck it.]

I...see. Yet another set back at the behest of man! I'd say your determination in prolonging the inevitable would be admirable if it weren't so deeply infuriating.

Edited 2020-04-30 17:59 (UTC)

Hn.

[See the thing is...Estinien can't either? Not really? He's certainly glad the war is over, and he wishes it hadn't lasted so long and come with so much needless death, but being Nidhogg's meat puppet came with some...perspective. He could still feel echoes of the wyrm's deep grief over Ratatoskr's death, even now. And his fury at man's betrayal.

But he doesn't really want to debate human nature with you. Something tells him he's not going to be changing your mind. Probably the same instinct that said changing Nidhogg's mind was pointless, and look how right he was about that.]

Your purpose, I presume. Garlemald's insistence on expanding its territory and subjugating others seems fair petty to those on the other side of the field.

[Estinien smirks ~~like the asshole he is~~ and shrugs.]

If we are truly as insignificant as you say, I wonder how it is such a small thing can derail your plotting.

Though I cannot say we were the only group working to remove Black Rose from the field.

Edited (broken coding oops) 2020-04-30 19:52 (UTC)

Our purpose, yes, but I dare say you lack the scope to know how petty it isn't. Again, you worry only about what's directly before your nose, and naught else. Your perspective is far too small to truly grasp the enormity of it all.

[The grin almost surprises him, but he doesn't react as such. Merely shaking his head with a dismissive wave.]

Ants--insignificant though they may be on their own--can still make quite an impact in numbers. But just like their lives, the change they bring is tragically ephemeral.

[Now he's grinning.]

So, by all means, continue to build your ant hills, believe their structures strong enough to hold off the impending calamities, but they will crumble as did all the others before them.

Black Rose is far from the last of our schemes--though you have piqued my curiosity. Whom else besides you and yours would know of it, let alone risk so much to remove it?

Mayhap the future would look brighter should we not have to worry about impending destruction.

[He gets it--people think about their lives, maybe their children's lives, but after that the view narrows. And then you have people like him--he didn't expect to outlive his quest for vengeance, and now has to see beyond that.

He wonders--Solus died, of course, and this man standing before him--even the same, had to have been away for some time. Presumably with the Warrior and the Scions, if he didn't have his fingers in happenings in Garlemald.

(Which Estinien spares a brief moment to thank the Fury for, because if he had, he suspects that it would not have been so simple to remove Black Rose from the playing field.)

After he spends a few moments working through those thoughts:]

What news hear you of your great-grandson of late?

'Tis all a means to an end.

[He says it coldly and dismissively. It's not like he enjoys this bloodshed, even if he doesn't view their lives in equal measure of his or those he wishes to save. The moral decline of mortals is largely what keeps him going, his disgust at their broken and sickly souls, constantly reminding him of their pathetic and tragic existence being unworthy of what Amaurot left behind.

Incapable of taking the torch--though, he feels that small gleamer of hope in his breast. Watching those like-minded souls fast at work with the Talos, how the Warrior of Light brought the Eulmorans to heel with kindness and compassion... It was as impressive as it was frustrating.]

My great-grandson? [He pauses, then mentally corrects that: Solus' great-grandson.] I knew of his return from death--for all you mortals are most familiar with it, you certainly never seem to know when it truly takes, do you?

[Of course he's more referring to Elidibus' puppetry, than Zenos himself. While he cannot recall feeling Zenos' soul entering the lifestream, he also cared little to keep track. A mistake in arrogance, most likely.]

Why--what of him?

Of course.

[The impression he's getting from you so far is not a man possessed by the desire to sow chaos strictly for chaos's sake. He doesn't know what you intend, but if it were as simple as that, there would be far easier ways to go about it.

And did you not introduce yourself as Solus? ~~Not that Estinien would want to claim Zenos as family either if he could help it.~~]

Oh, the Scions were full aware that whomever returned his body to Garlemald, twas not actually Zenos. Not that it mattered. He was not long behind.

Zenos lives--in truth. He rode some other poor bastard back to Garlemald to take back his body. Twas him that took umbrage with the plan to release Black Rose. Said it made for 'poor sport'.

[Hey, don't go putting the pieces together! Just keep believing they're villains, it's easier that way. Sure, he wanted the Scions to know the truth, for he planned to take them on as possible allies, but for others? It works far better to believe their fronting.

Sure, he did indeed introduce himself as Solus, the name he will continue to use till he finds its use obscelete, but that did not mean he's not still trying to distance himself emotionally from its ties with the mortals. ~~Also, yeah Zenos is fucking terrible~~.

The news surprises him, not only that Zenos was able to return in such a way, but that he likewise sought to take out Black Rose. What has become of that deranged child? Does everything have to fall apart every time he steps away? It certainly seems so.

Leaves Loghrif to the first, that ends in failure and thus he comes to clean up the mess. Leaves The Source to Elidibus, and now Black Rose is compromised, and his--that body's--great grandson has returned in a fashion that's almost Ascian in nature... Here he was the architect of nations, yet now he was feeling much more the janitor of his cohort's incompetencies.

For a moment, he's left staring at Estinien with widened eyes, blinking a few times as he processes the immeasurable derailment this plan has suffered. So much has gone awry, when it should have been perfect, he was so close to retirement! It should not have come to this.]

...That is...most unexpected.

[And here he is, stuck in this world, incapable to return and right the course! What a horrible feeling of helplessness this is, one that's left him speechless.]

Edited 2020-04-30 23:21 (UTC)

[Oh, you can be a villain and have an understandable, even sympathetic motivation. It's the way you go about it that determines whether or not you're the villain.

Look, no one can predict Zenos apparently. He has made himself a cozy refuge in audacity and does not seem keen to leave it anytime soon.]

Aye, it was. If I had not seen it with my own eyes...

[He shrugs.]

...he killed his father in cold blood. My condolences.

[And...surprisingly he does actually sound apologetic? Granted, he doesn't know you hate Varis.]

[The news of Varis' death likewise leaves him feeling...odd, yet he finds it the piece of the tale hardest to believe. Mayhap he was too involved with the going ons of the First to notice that particular soul joining once more with the lifestream, yet at the same time he finds that hard to believe.

Yet, he believes him. As he keeps his eyes on Estinien, the genuine and stoic way he delivers the news speaks not of falsehood. How troubling.

He and Varis did not have a close relationship, though arguably closer than he had with most mortals. A wall of contention and negligence built between them once his son had passed, strengthened by the look of him, that robust and large body naught but a reminder of his foolish lapse. A painful, necessary lesson he tells himself. Still, there's a twinge in his chest he cannot put words to, one that he pushes himself to ignore.]

I need not your sympathies, Varis reaped what he sowed with that boy of his. He was but a pawn, one that believed his purpose far greater than what it was, and through his hubris he brought about his own demise.

[Recollecting himself, he sighs with a shake of his head and a wide gesturing of his arms. His deeper tone of voice growing light, and far less serious. As if trying to cast off the weight of the news, and what impact it truly has.]

You mortals certainly enjoy making a mess of everything, but it matters not. We will but start again--but I thank you for this most valuable information. Gives me much to think on.

[Estinien doesn't quite understand that feeling--that the loss of a family member just doesn't do anything to you. He still has the occasional nightmare of finding his parents and brother.

That reaction is colder than a winter wind. Though there might still be something there. He's not going to dig at it though.]

Mm. And I thank you, for the news of the others. Lest you think my only concern is for our hero, tis not.

[Well, he is concerned for them, they're one of the few friends he has.]

[If only Estinien knew the grief of loss Emet-Selch had felt when he lost his son, the grief he still feels so keenly. Varis' untimely demise being but one more reminder of his mistake, and perhaps the twist he feels is because of that, than any measure of grief for Varis. Who knows, these things are complicated.

Casual and calm, he shrugs.]

Close to the lot, are you? I do suppose your brusque manner fits well with a few of them, what a pity you couldn't join them on their heroic journey across the First.

[But, if he had, then he might not have been able to learn the details he's learned, so he supposes everything has its purpose. Maybe even being brought here had some purpose other than being infuriatingly inconvenient. He supposes he shouldn't be quick to jump to conclusions.]

Right then, if we've naught else to discuss...

[Y'know you'd probably feel a lot better if you got it out. Maybe had some therapy. You've got time for that now, you know.]

Aye, well, I had enough to keep me occupied.

[Obviously. Now he has to figure out what that is here. Again. Why can't things be simple for once.]

I shall leave you to it then.

[He'll be around, though. He needs to see what this place has to offer, if not a way back.

He turns on his heel and, unless Emet-Selch wishes to get the last word in, he'll be leaving.]

[He honestly had nothing but time before, but I suppose it's hard to seek things like therapy when you have a dark god compelling you to revive him, and your trauma and loss serves as your motivator. Oops!

He seems fit to let Estinien leave, watching him go. He himself turns to do similarly, facing the lake and walking forth—only to realize a few steps forward that his...portal isn't going to show up.

Right...that's a thing, isn't it. How embarrassing. Looking back, half in hopes that Estinien didn't see that, but also that the man isn't too far gone. Fortunately both seem to be true, and thus he calls to Estinien:]

You know, I had a thought... [He begins his pace again, this time towards Estinien, though it is ever his usual amble.] Mayhap...it would do well to not quite go our separate ways. Just yet. After all, this is a new world, who knows what dangers it has, and it would not do for you to wander off on your own, with naught but your endearing companion to rely upon, hm?

[Yes, this is clearly for Estinien's benefit.]

[Estinien cannot recommend his methods of having deep, soul-searching revelations--for one, we're fresh out of elder wyrms hell-bent on vengeance, and two that experience is something he would wish on no one.

But hey, he gets trauma and loss being your motivation! ~~You would just think it was petty.~~

And that seems like it might be the end of it. But then--of course, it would not be so simple. He stops and slowly turns.]

...I suppose this offer of companionship is solely out of altruism on your part.

[It would be easier to keep an eye on you, but you talk a lot. Ugh.]

[Even then, who's to say it'd work! What with the whole messy business of tempering, and it's not likely he needs to deal with another immortal's baggage. Dude has enough to fill a 747 on his own.

~~Hey now, he was empathetic, if maybe a little rude, about Y'shtola's "death', wasn't he???~~

With Estinien facing him, he pauses in his gait, standing with that weighted slouch, a lazy grin on his face as he shrugs, arms out at his sides, before they heavily drop to hang a moment later.]

What else would it be?

[Yeah, he's not about to admit that he'd rather keep company than be without while being rendered so utterly powerless. What good fortune that he would come across someone from the Source, but most importantly: someone reasonable.]

Edited 2020-05-01 23:30 (UTC)

[Hey, guess what, the Scions may have found a treatment for that too. Seriously, put them on any problem, give them sufficient motivation, and it'll be over in a month.

~~She really needs to stop yeeting herself into the lifestream.~~

Estinien crosses his arms.]

Fury give me strength. I prefer to keep my own company.

[Too bad they had to do the whole Old Yeller treatment to Emet before they figured that out, huh?

~~At this point I think she does it for attention.~~

Emet-Selch sighs.]

The loner type, are you? Believe it or not, I prefer working alone myself. I understand well the allure of one's own company. Buuuuut, I am more drawn to the siren's call of common sense.

[You did kind of turn into an eldritch horror on them. ~~What are the odds you'll be back two expansions from now?~~]

And yet when I came upon you, you were sleeping in the open.

[Were you just that tired, old man?]

[It was necessary! ~~Considering they did literally nothing that's been established to kill an Ascian, and the Shoebill's still around...~~

Being called out like that, he stares at him flatly, then shakes his head.]

Old habits die hard, I suppose. But see? I'm learning the ways of you mortals. You'll just have to forgive me for not being in the habit of scurrying away from every perceived danger like frightened vermin.

[Being mortal is exhausting.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject