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hadriel2018-01-09 08:34 am
puzzlingly) wrote in hadriel2018-01-09 08:34 am
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duel 6. ( video. )
「He's been stalling on this for a while now, not sure of how to address it any longer, back then, when he first had learned about it, he was angry, frustrated, but now, not so much, he just wants answers. Might as well do this before there is more people coming into the city.
He looks thoughtful, mostly, as he stares idly at the camera not caring to hide the Millennium Eye stuck in his left socket as he did when they took pictures at Delmar's home. If everything went right, this would be the last time he would be seen wearing that creepy eye.」
Since everyone seems to be on the topic lately, I might as well remind you that there is a murderer among us. One that remains unpunished.
「Or so he thinks. He cannot keep wondering any longer, he needs to know. He needs to make sure there isn't someone running around killing people just because they think it's right. If that's the case.」
You, the one who killed Yukari, he might have deserved what you did to him, you made him pay for what he did, but you don't have my gratitude for it. Don't think you can hide forever. I will find you, no matter what it takes. And I will make you pay on his behalf.
「The tiredness in his voice, the aloofness in the way he speaks, the passion lacking in his usually prideful speech, doesn't quite make up for a good threat, maybe it's is not intended that way, but, it doesn't mean he's less determined about it. He will find them, he will read every person's mind in this city with the Millenium Eye if he has to. He can, why not simply do it?」
He looks thoughtful, mostly, as he stares idly at the camera not caring to hide the Millennium Eye stuck in his left socket as he did when they took pictures at Delmar's home. If everything went right, this would be the last time he would be seen wearing that creepy eye.」
Since everyone seems to be on the topic lately, I might as well remind you that there is a murderer among us. One that remains unpunished.
「Or so he thinks. He cannot keep wondering any longer, he needs to know. He needs to make sure there isn't someone running around killing people just because they think it's right. If that's the case.」
You, the one who killed Yukari, he might have deserved what you did to him, you made him pay for what he did, but you don't have my gratitude for it. Don't think you can hide forever. I will find you, no matter what it takes. And I will make you pay on his behalf.
「The tiredness in his voice, the aloofness in the way he speaks, the passion lacking in his usually prideful speech, doesn't quite make up for a good threat, maybe it's is not intended that way, but, it doesn't mean he's less determined about it. He will find them, he will read every person's mind in this city with the Millenium Eye if he has to. He can, why not simply do it?」
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It's bad news. 「He says with a resigned smirk.」 The Millennium Items were created by my uncle when we were at war. He said he had discovered a way to win, to drive our enemies away from our doors and stop anyone else who would dare try to take our peace again. And they did, they gave my father and his priest inimaginable power. But... he never said what he had done to create them until a long time had passed. A dark spell was performed, and many lives were lost...
「He makes the slightest pause, merely remembering how that ignorant mistake had costed him his father's life and Bakura's (his now roommate) family and friends. Just thinking about it still makes him sick.」
I guess I don't need to tell you what happens when you use human souls to create anything. Some of the Items hold more darkness inside them than others, but as it turn out, I'm stuck with one of those.
「Curufin might or not remember which one he was wearing, but it's definitely not the eye.」
The Millennium Eye... drove my uncle to do things that... I'm sure he would have never acted on if he hadn't been wearing it. He wasn't evil, he was just... human. I knew... what I was getting into when I made the deal. It's been okay. 「He hadn't noticed until Delmar mentioned it to him, until Ravine came herself to advise him against it and yet, he couldn't see it, he still cannot see it.」But, I've been told I'm not...
... I thought I was stronger than this.
「Admitting it is not easy, it's a blow to his pride and it shows, somehow. He does not mention that it's not just the Eye alone, it is a plethora of happenings that have been driving him mad already, the Eye, of course, just digs into that darkness, but someone like him can only take so much hurt and pain from others while trying to stop their destructive behaviour, he's just a kid trying to play king, it's bound to exhaust him at some point.」
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The Millenium items were originally conceived as power objects, eh? That illuminates a mystery! [ There is an awful parallel between Atem's tale and Curufn's. Objects crafted originally for the best of purposes; dire decisions taken in order to protect family and clan. The slow and awful corruption of that idealism; grief and horror the result of the destruction wrought by it. ]
I can well imagine what happens when human souls are used to create things of beauty or power. My father used his own soul to make the Silmarils -- well, at least it was his own! -- but there was forever afterwards a darkness about those shining jewels, and in the end, they carried a curse of hatred that nigh destroyed the Elvish race in Middle-earth. But never mind, we were talking of your situation, not mine.
[ Curufin remembers two significant items, the dreadful golden Eye that one priest was wearing and the Ankh that another was toting. But he wasn't paying attention to what Atem himself was wearing, other than that he was dressed in the sort of blazing embroidered, gold-encrusted, jeweled finery that royalty was apt to sport. ]
Yes, we all think were are stronger than we are, when we take on the weight of decisions made by our forebears. You are strong, Atem, very strong indeed, but nobody has infinite durability in the face of pain and responsibility.
But what were you told? That others have perceived that you suffer from bearing a Millennial item, and they are concerned about you?
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But Curufin speaks the way he exactly thought back then, that his reign would be even greater than his father's, that he'd keep that peace they struggled so much to obtain and make Kemet great again, and he did, only for so long. How is it that history is bound to repeat over the age, transcending dimensions and time? Curufin is not even human, and yet, can suffer from the same darkness that resides in a human heart.
At the question, he loosely nods.」
Someone pointed out I've been acting different... That's all.
「Not that anyone here knows him enough to tell, or maybe they do, he doesn't know. But he, indeed would have never brushed off their concerns. He had before, overlooked what was important to impose his will, but hadn't he learned to be kinder?」
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[ With gentleness. ] Acting different is not a crime, but what did that person perceive as being different about your actions? What was the worry?
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He kid shakes his head, he's not sure how to explain it.」
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Do you want to tell me about it? I'm your friend. But if you don't, then it's okay too.
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「Siiiigh.」
I think I'm just really tired.
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[ Again, his manner is gentle and curious. His face clearly shows that he believes that if Atem is suffering, it isn't over anything frivolous. Whatever it is, it's important. ]
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「He's not good at all at this opening up thing, he might actually be missing the whole point of this, but he really appreciates Curufin worrying anyway. Not that he likes him worrying, that's just another thing he does, he doesn't like worrying people, so, no matter how tired, he still manages a minuscule smile, trying to assure him he will be fine. It's what he does... It's what he was taught, what good king would show any kind of weakness after all?」
Enough about me... Have you been well?
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[ Curufin understands Atem's reluctance to open up. It stems from another kind of responsibility that Atem cannot refuse to carry -- that of being a leader. And a leader must stay strong; a leader is suppose to look after the welfare of others. Even when he does not feel strong, he has to deflect others from perceiving this, or at least from focusing on it. Curufin's not easy to deflect, but he can see that Atem is not comfortable with further focus on himself. And so he smiles back in response to Atem's little reassuring smile and lets him change the subject. ]
I'm well. I've had my problems, but on the whole, things are working out. And I've got a whole heap of scrap metal to melt down and forge into useful items for the community. [ Dead Null carcasses, that is. Material for his craft, yay! ]
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Useful things huh... Sounds good. 「Ew, this small talk, it's not like him but... oh well.」
And... Yukari? 「He's still unsure why he even cares about that guy, truth to be told, it's so complicated.」
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Well, you know of course that he fought on our side instead of the Null's side. He was badly injured towards the end of it. The two of us were fighting some of the largest of the Null types, and one of them came up behind me and was about to slash me with a couple of whip-like steel arms with blades at the ends. Yukari sprang forward to get between us, and he took a blow that was meant for me. I killed that Null and then carried Yukari to the Hot Springs clinic location and they saved his life. He's still healing, but he's doing all right.
It's kind of you to ask. [ Curufin's eyes are gentle, looking at Atem, who must still be suffering the effects of his encounter with Yukari when the mercenary had murderous intentions. ]
BAW YOU'RE BACK! missed you buddy!
He was already injured before he did that... 「So much for keeping it a secret... But Yukari had blown up cover in the end, what was the point?」
Hardly, he still owes me a jacket... 「He says with a bit of a pout, no, he's not worried! For sure, that was not enough of an excuse to ask about him, but he'll go with that. It might be easy to see that Atem still struggles with his feelings towards Yukari.」
Thanks, I missed you too!
If he owes you a jacket, I'll see that he pays his debt! I've been bringing him fabric to work with, to pass the time.
i hope life has gotten less hectic for you
He got badly hurt in between fighting the Null and watching over you. He was about to get... killed, I guess I ended up saving his hide instead. It's clear he wasn't completely healed if he got hurt again trying to save you.
「He still gives a half chuckle at that alst, he cannot imagine Yukari sewing like some kind of old grandma just to pass the time.」
Yeah, whatever.
「It's really hard trying not to give a damn, but he tries. Wait shouldn't he be doing the opposite?」
A little less. And thanks for asking! <3 How's your life going?
Yes, I hadn't thought of that. He has very fast reflexes. That Null was swinging two arms at him, and he slashed the first one but the second one got him. I don't think that could have happened if he had been up to his usual speed.
[ And now he has to laugh at Atem's tone. Old grandma indeed! ]
I guess you didn't know he's a very skilled tailor. He made my costume for me, last year when there was a ballroom dance. And he made the shirt I'm wearing right now. Say, you ought to ask him to make you something. I'll bet he'd welcome the request.
[ Atem is empathetic, which is part of his great strength, but it can create dilemmas! ]
pretty rad, ty for asking too
Yeah, I have that bad habit.
「Well, now he knows.」
Hmm, I might, when hell freezes over, or so.
「What would life would be like without those dilemmas, right?」
<3
Bad habit or not, I still admire you.
[ Smile ] Well, how else are you going to get that jacket back?
[ Life would be pretty boring! ]
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「But by the tone, that's definitely not going to happen.」
All right, all right... I'll remind him of that.
「At... some point. It's not like they have too many clothing options, he'll have to suck it up.」
How's that you forgave him?
「For sure, it was Atem who had pushed him to fix things, but he hadn't still sorted his own feelings towards Yukari, maybe some insight could help.」
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[ At some point, LOL. A jacket made by Yukari would be stellar! But Atem doesn't have to suck it up. There are a couple of other Hadrielites who know how to sew. Sansa Stark is good, and so is the character who runs the sewing shop on the map. ]
I forgave him with conditions. He can't side with anybody who would kill my family or my friends or anyone who is innocent of harm. But that said, I believe in forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn't ignore or forget what happened, but it does look to the future. I'd be in bad shape if my family hadn't forgiven me for the destruction I
wrought against them. I changed my life, and they were able to see that I meant it, and to value me for who I was becoming, as well as for the best of who I was in the past. I am doing the same for Yukari.
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But he grows serious as he listens, it isn't as different as what he's used to, no one ever said he had forgotten the deeds what people has done, but he could give them a chance, he was giving Yukari a chance, that much was clear. What wasn't clear to him is why he harbored such enmity against him still, it felt wrong, but by the gods, he wanted to make him suffer.」
You're too soft.
「And, that's not him talking.」
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[ It's a rare occasion when anybody accuses a Fëanorion of being too soft! -- they were known for mass murder in their world. But he would certainly understand why Atem is still angry. To be slain leaves the direst bitterness in a person's heart. It is not an easy thing to overcome, even if one wants to. ]
Perhaps I am. But in my own world, I was hard of heart, and I don't think I am in danger of forgetting how to be that. I think now that I had better learn to feel compassion whenever I can.
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「And Curufin might be seeing what Atem's friends might be talking about, he would never talk to a friend like that, he would never be so ruthless about something like compassion, he had learned that unity and kindness were the only way to sail through life, a better life. He doesn't seem to notice at all, of course. It's his own anger towards Yukari, his own fears and the Eye's influence that clings onto them, twisting his perspective to the best of its abilities.」
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But it's a little disconcerting to hear Atem saying such things. There is a discontinuity here, between what Atem normally expresses and what he is saying now. And that is worrisome. ]
How long have you been having these thoughts, Atem?
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「He says after a pause, in which he looked through and through at Curufin (maybe looking more than he should, and more into his thoughts), then he scoffs.」
Is it so hard to believe that I can too have dark thoughts? The fact that I don't say them doesn't mean I don't have them.
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Want to wrap this one and pick up a new thread?
sure thing
<3