rainshaveceased

[He wraps an arm around Elidibus and leans his cheek on his head, sighing.]

Well, put that way I can hardly argue.

Was there something in particular you wanted to dream about? Or did you just miss my company?

Well! I certainly miss your company. But I do owe you something unpleasant. If you feel up to it.

...Ah.

[closes his eyes for a moment]

Yes, show me.

[He sighs, kissing the top of Elidibus's head. He's honestly been avoiding this but... Oh well.

He stands, taking the man's hand and lets the dream dissolve around them, to a different part of Amaurot, the Akadaemia. Lahabrea is at a desk, reviewing information on the final days, while researchers are scurrying around. And among them, various people from Imeeji wander.]

I spent much of the dream here, so I could not rightly tell you how other parts of it fared. But at a certain point..

[Lahabrea at the desk looks up from talking to Aradia, alarmed, and teleports away. The actual Lahabrea changes the scene, to a platform in front of a crystal of darkness. A representation of Zodiark in the dream, Elidibus can surely feel the familiar pull.

Absinthe is there with Hades, his corruption seeping into Zodiark. As observers Elidibus will not be affected but it still feels unpleasant from here, wrong. And as other members of Tokyo-F's cast arrive at the platform to fight Lahabrea and Hades who are trying to stop Absinthe, the corruption to Zodiark only intensifies. The scene pauses, with the crystal Zodiark rippling with corrupted star scourge.]

At this point I must make the commentary that in this dream, Vergil and Raven were with a dream version of you. I know not exactly what they saw, for from here my memories grow somewhat chaotic. But I can hazard a guess.

[he watches and listens quietly, with only a slight frown across his face hinting at what it's all making him feel.

as the events progress, he's focusing his gaze on absinthe, frown deepening]

Before we continue, do you have aught to say or ask?

...Absinthe. Do you forgive him for what he did?

I understand his actions. And trust he is unlikely to repeat them. So... yes. His history with gods is terrible. I am unsurprised he wished to test what would happen should he remove Zodiark. He found out, and I do not think he found he enjoyed the result.

Those that opposed us instead of stopping him? I'm far less forgiving of.

That... does make sense.

[he's still mad though]

Let us continue.

[He takes Elidibus's hand, squeezing it, as much for himself as Elidibus, and resumes the playback. This time all feeling is cut off, the dream is only something they're witnessing like watching a movie, the discomfort of Zodiark's corruption removed.

At this point the people from imeeji are trying to fight Hades and Lahabrea, and Vergil teleports in carrying both Raven and a masked Elidibus.... From the eyeholes and under the mask Elidibus is oozing star scourge corruption, shaking, clearly having a bad time.

Vergil sets them down, teleports to Lahabrea and... Well, uses Yamato to cut the tempering out of him, severing his connection to Zodiark. It all happens quickly, and here the background simply fades as Lahabrea has no recollection of anything else. He falls, stunned, and Vergil takes him away somewhere. Lahabrea starts crying and screaming and--whatever else Vergil planned is never fulfilled. Eventually, the world ends around them, but that too is hardly noticed.

Lahabrea waves away the picture.]

From there we woke, and my connection to Zodiark reminded severed for some days. I was not in any fit state until it returned.

[again, he watches with a silent frown, obviously upset with what he's seeing]

[He regards Elidibus, stroking a finger through his hair to push it back over an ear.]

He believed what happened to you would happen to Hades and I. He meant to sever the connection before we could suffer the same corruption. His intention was to do it to Hades as well, but my reaction to Zodiark's loss was not what he expected, and his opportunity was lost. All the better, frankly.

I understand what motivated him, and I do not think he would ever do such a foolish thing again. Not just this, but that he has learned to curb his impulses somewhat, especially when it comes to us he is like to ask and seek our desires rather than to react.

But that is what I understand of him. Tell me what you are thinking.

Edited 2022-06-01 16:46 (UTC)

All of this matches what I have been told. What I heard from Vergil and Emet-Selch. But seeing it with my own eyes is... distressing.

[He sighs, lifting Elidibus's hand to kiss the back of it.]

I am sorry. I have somewhat been avoiding it for its unpleasantness.

There is no need for apologies. I did ask to see this, after all.

We have all been through worse. But it does not make this more pleasant.

What are your thoughts? Ever do I value your insight.

What is there for me to say? I am furious at those who harmed you, regardless of their intentions. I am disgusted with our captors for making you go through such a thing in the first place. I wish I had been there to help.

Your presence would have been deeply comforting, of course. I suppose I can expect no other reaction, I would feel much the same in reversed positions.

And now, all we can do is try and move on.

[He tugs on Elidibus's hand, wrapping an arm around his waist.]

In any way that matters, I already have. I will not deny remembering it makes me wince, nor that the scars on my heart for it do not exist. But I yet persist, and I have you, and Emet-Selch, and new allies and even loved ones besides.

Be angry all you wish, I would not deny you how you feel, but know that I am here, whole, before you. And have no wish to change that.

[leans on him, sighing deeply]

Knowing that does help. Your wellbeing is what really matters, after all.

It's just... I never seem to be there when you need me the most.

[He kisses his forehead, squeezing the arm around him.]

Two times is hardly never. And you are here now, which is an inestimable relief to my heart.

Two times still too much.

You do not think your standards a tad high?

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you

Re: Night 466ish? Or whenever works for you