[ Gray is such a good girl, and Set is the WORST ]
They already did that, Miss Gray. Kowloon's violent bid for autonomy below our feet, is Zenith's thousand smaller weapons. They have already opened the development of the war on the innocents, without remorse. For have you not heard the words of their most prominent and trusted? "As long as something good comes of it, anything is permissible," to paraphrase Amos Burton.
[ People die. Unfortunate, but true. He is a god of war, who has long been made to hold the weight of a slaughtered life in one hand and necessary evil in the other; moving him is difficult, but by the way his edges blur and the desert's heat dwindles, as if caught in the twilight of the day, he is not not listening to Gray. It's different, talking to her outside of an Oracle battle. Different, because he's not aiming to defeat anyone who crosses him, anyone who could bolster his power and thus, Meridian's.
She is gentle. He can see why she is readily beloved. ]
A political tool. [ And he does, for a moment, seem to come to some idea with that. A little smile, sharp but appreciative of her, crosses his face before he settles again. Quieter, and attentive to her words as best as a god can be. ]
If I were to tell you that my target was not the people and never had been, would you at least refrain from betraying Meridian about this? I want to rattle the foundation of their faith. Attacking their people is not how to accomplish that, no matter what people assume of what I represent as a god.
[ Gray rarely engages in ideological fencing, and she doesn't intend to start now. Set clearly believes that his weapon is necessary, and he will see it to fruition if he hasn't already; there's no point in trying to argue its existence back into kernels of imagination.
But she can at least say with straight honesty and a little bewilderment, ]
Betray...? No, of course I wouldn't.
[ She wouldn't betray Meridian. Not "she wouldn't refrain from betraying Meridian." Language can get in the way so much. Moreover, should she be offended that he would even ask? Imagine Gray being offended about anything. ]
If you could keep your target that precise, then I would feel better, but, um... pardon my asking, but why are you telling me all this?
[ She isn't technologically proficient like Nebula or an amazing sorceress like Akua, so she isn't sure why Set is scoping her out in relation to his weapon. She continues to be surprised that he hasn't grown bored of her yet. ]
I am doing all that I can to ensure it. Destruction takes more forms than physical, after all. My aunt taught me that.
[ Sekhmet was a HUGE fan of shattering people's minds, after all. She'd utterly eviscerated Set long, long ago. Since she was gone for now, it was up to him to embody her will and domain to the fullest. A weapon of war that doubled as a psychological statement was, to him, the best way to combine the two of them into one blow.
As to the last question... ] I suppose, because everyone likes you. You embody Meridian's will without compromising your kindness. I want to see what you will do, next.
[ It's a bit funny to hear him refer to his "aunt," which inspires the mental image of a homely little lady in Gray's mind. She's sure the reality is anything but. She might have to see if the libraries have any books on Egyptian mythology after this...
As for Set's answer, Gray is taken aback, and it manifests in a little reel of surprise through their connection. It feels like a bit of an overstatement to say that everyone likes her... and she finds the Shard-Bearers of Meridian quite kind on average, so it isn't like she's anything special in that regard. (Such is her self-esteem.) ]
I'm afraid kindness won't have much to do with anything soon. Kindness won't win us the Oracles, and it won't protect the people I care about.
[ What he calls kindness, she thinks of as softness, is something she struggles with often when it comes to fighting other Shard-Bearers. A weakness, not something to be interested in. ]
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Date: 2024-01-31 04:07 pm (UTC)They already did that, Miss Gray. Kowloon's violent bid for autonomy below our feet, is Zenith's thousand smaller weapons. They have already opened the development of the war on the innocents, without remorse. For have you not heard the words of their most prominent and trusted? "As long as something good comes of it, anything is permissible," to paraphrase Amos Burton.
[ People die. Unfortunate, but true. He is a god of war, who has long been made to hold the weight of a slaughtered life in one hand and necessary evil in the other; moving him is difficult, but by the way his edges blur and the desert's heat dwindles, as if caught in the twilight of the day, he is not not listening to Gray. It's different, talking to her outside of an Oracle battle. Different, because he's not aiming to defeat anyone who crosses him, anyone who could bolster his power and thus, Meridian's.
She is gentle. He can see why she is readily beloved. ]
A political tool. [ And he does, for a moment, seem to come to some idea with that. A little smile, sharp but appreciative of her, crosses his face before he settles again. Quieter, and attentive to her words as best as a god can be. ]
If I were to tell you that my target was not the people and never had been, would you at least refrain from betraying Meridian about this? I want to rattle the foundation of their faith. Attacking their people is not how to accomplish that, no matter what people assume of what I represent as a god.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-01 08:22 am (UTC)But she can at least say with straight honesty and a little bewilderment, ]
Betray...? No, of course I wouldn't.
[ She wouldn't betray Meridian. Not "she wouldn't refrain from betraying Meridian." Language can get in the way so much. Moreover, should she be offended that he would even ask? Imagine Gray being offended about anything. ]
If you could keep your target that precise, then I would feel better, but, um... pardon my asking, but why are you telling me all this?
[ She isn't technologically proficient like Nebula or an amazing sorceress like Akua, so she isn't sure why Set is scoping her out in relation to his weapon. She continues to be surprised that he hasn't grown bored of her yet. ]
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Date: 2024-02-08 11:46 pm (UTC)I am doing all that I can to ensure it. Destruction takes more forms than physical, after all. My aunt taught me that.
[ Sekhmet was a HUGE fan of shattering people's minds, after all. She'd utterly eviscerated Set long, long ago. Since she was gone for now, it was up to him to embody her will and domain to the fullest. A weapon of war that doubled as a psychological statement was, to him, the best way to combine the two of them into one blow.
As to the last question... ] I suppose, because everyone likes you. You embody Meridian's will without compromising your kindness. I want to see what you will do, next.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-13 12:59 am (UTC)As for Set's answer, Gray is taken aback, and it manifests in a little reel of surprise through their connection. It feels like a bit of an overstatement to say that everyone likes her... and she finds the Shard-Bearers of Meridian quite kind on average, so it isn't like she's anything special in that regard. (Such is her self-esteem.) ]
I'm afraid kindness won't have much to do with anything soon. Kindness won't win us the Oracles, and it won't protect the people I care about.
[ What he calls kindness, she thinks of as softness, is something she struggles with often when it comes to fighting other Shard-Bearers. A weakness, not something to be interested in. ]