[pcs] horse dad

[arkitect]

Comments

[arkitect]

But you were able to defeat them, I take it-- were you then taken to the others, if you attempted to revive them as you said?

[it's a very good thing chiron is so tall... it would have been an extreme annoyance if this place had killed him like that.]

[antaressnipe]

[Chiron is king of the d20 specifically to spite me and that's why he's alive]

Yes. Ochako and I found a facility where Soo-Won and Xie Lian were, dead. Whatever trials they had gone through, they hadn't succeeded.

[...]

According to both, they had been faced with extreme emotional burden, watching past phantoms and memories haunt them.

[and while he doesn't say it, chiron assumes this is why they had failed. Killing a monster is easy; facing your worst fears, not so much]

There were two revival serums within the facility, but they could only be used while we were inside. I gave Ochako permission to try... [a sigh]

Strictly speaking, they did their job, but they'd gone mad with blood lust. I had to kill Xie Lian before he attacked the girl. Soo-Won was accidentally killed by her hand before I could get to him.

[arkitect]

...the weight of such things is often difficult to bear.

[few could be faulted for handling such a thing poorly, he thinks-- but he exhales a sigh as chiron continues.]

I hope she has learned, then, what comes of using such things; a difficult lure to resist, to be certain, but it seems it was designed to harm you for attempting to help them.

[antaressnipe]

... She is a gentle child who wishes to be a hero.

[His voice comes out much softer now. He is always a little... softer, especially with the younger girls of their group]

The fault is mine, in truth. She wished for a chance to save them, so I granted her a minute.

[That's the reason why he was so badly wounded. In hoping to spare her some pain, he pushed the boundaries of his own endurance.]

[arkitect]

-of course you did.

[an exasperated little huff, there, as he shakes his head.]

Attempting to spare them does them no favors, you do realize. They will learn one way or another.

[antaressnipe]

... I know.

[He does know it. As a teacher, he should probably be scolded for trying to interfere with the learning process, cruel as it was]

I had daughters, once. Perhaps that is why I cannot stop myself from meddling on occasion.

[arkitect]

You are soft on them out of nostalgia, then?

[he should have anticipated as much. not that he can relate to the same degree, but-]

I suppose even in this, we differ somewhat. The children I sired in my last mortal guise all were sons.

[-it would probably have been easier to simply refer to them as his own sons, but.]

[antaressnipe]

[-- And given his relatives?

Chiron does not blink at this. While the method was certainly roundabout, he still follows the conversation easily.]

Ah, sons. No wonder.

[Smiling faintly, and now he pushes off the tree to stand on his own. They can talk while he walks for the river, to begin the process of washing/stitching himself back up]

I had but one -- my last child. Though I suppose given the heroes I raised, I technically had many sons to my name.

[And he was absolutely hellish to them, so (okay that's not true, everyone loved sensei but whoo he put them through the ringer). He gets it.]

Did you often take mortal guises?

[arkitect]

A father of sorts to them, were you... I do not find it surprising, given your nature.

[another one of their key differences, honestly; emet is not given to treat anyone in that way.]

But yes, I did-- on occasion. It became necessary to use such vessels whenever a guiding hand was needed, or a ruling one. One cannot well build an empire when none may perceive you.

[antaressnipe]

True... otherwise the empire might move in a direction that did not serve your interests.

[That is an assumption on his part. While there are Gods who would have taken up human forms for the pleasure of it all, Emet-Selch does not strike him as one.]

[arkitect]

Or it may not form properly at all. At times it is also necessary to encourage their advancement using relics of past empires, in which cases it helps to have one who knows where they may be found.

[antaressnipe]

I see...

[Sounding vaguely impressed. Literally building the empire from the ground up in the way he sees fit. Even the Greek Gods were not the thorough]

Was your empire as advanced as the previous, in that case...? Or perhaps more so.

[arkitect]

Nothing since her fall has matched the might and advancement of Allag-- even now, various nations pore over the relics and technologies left behind from her prime. Garlemald is among them, but despite tireless research into magitek, she yet pales in comparison.

[there's maybe something very faintly nostalgic, there.]

[antaressnipe]

... Do you wish for it to gain such heights, then? So that it might better reflect what has been lost?

[arkitect]

Even if it did reach the same heights, neither could touch what was lost before them.

[a slight shake of his head.]

It is of little consequence, for the moment. I have left Garlemald in other hands.

[antaressnipe]

[... Well. Once again, he does not deem himself the right to be nosy, and simply gives a nod]

Ah, so I suppose you are in retirement.

[That is almost a joke bc immortals don't retire.]

[arkitect]

The original body I made use of has passed, yes. I did have cause to return to guide the next Emperor, but I much prefer shaping myself in a somewhat younger image now that I am able... old age does a body few favors.

[antaressnipe]

-- So that is not your actual form?

[Just staring at him from every available angle, this is fascinating]

[arkitect]

It is my most preferred one, recently... but it is certainly not my original self.

[antaressnipe]

[Nerd Chiron has been unlocked]

In that case, what does your original form look like?

[arkitect]

You should know one aspect of it, already.

[antaressnipe]

-- You mean the constellation?

[arkitect]

Mm... no. More related to my seat than my original self.

[he's just going to let him keep guessing.]

[antaressnipe]

[sir he is concussed and bleeding but as I mentioned before, nerd Chiron is on the line.

He is going to keep guessing-- NEVERMIND TEEJ HAD MERCY, MAYBE, EXCEPT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS INFORMATION.

I'm gonna make Chiron sweat it out tho bc if I have to be stupid, so does he. It's gonna take him like a couple of minutes before he gets to his answer--

And then has the nerve to give Emet-Selch a side-eye]

That is rather large, yes.

[arkitect]

There are several reasons we have need of other forms, but that is certainly one.

[meanwhile he's been entertained by making chiron guess... hate it.]