![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
- !event,
- *npc: cyrus,
- arcane: silco,
- arcane: vander,
- black butler: sebastian michaelis,
- ennead: set,
- expanse (the): amos burton,
- final fantasy xiv: cid garlond,
- final fantasy xiv: emet-selch,
- final fantasy xiv: hythlodaeus,
- genshin impact: kaeya alberich,
- granblue fantasy: eustace,
- mortal kombat 11: shang tsung,
- oc: liem talbott,
- orv: sooyoung han,
- persona 5 strikers: sophia,
- tiger & bunny: barnaby brooks jr.,
- until death do us part: mamoru hijikata
TDM + GAME OPENING 🎉
Who: Shard-Bearers, new and old
What: Seeds take root
Where: The Tree of Life, Highstorm, Springstar
When: October 14th and onwards
Warnings: Potential for (mild) body horror, death, dismemberment
Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all players are required to fill out an application, which are now open. This does include characters/players from Aion Teleos, so please don’t forget to fill one out! Any character/player that does not submit an application will be swept from the communities and the Discord after applications close.
Activity Check is optional this month, but is highly recommend so Christy can check her fancy program so that you can earn Activity Reward Tokens! Activity will be able to be submitted shortly after applications close. You can find more about how we do AC here.
This log is Game Canon. Any characters who are not apped to the game will disappear. If Cyrus or Yima are asked, they’ll explain that this happens sometimes, since not every soul has a strong tether to Kenos and sometimes return to the Timestream. They’re fine and may even return to Kenos one day, but for now weren’t able to make the full journey.
As a reminder, your character has a Shard somewhere on their body that encompasses their soul, so keep note of where you're sticking it on their person for reference! Additionally, they have a tattoo of their Aspect somewhere on their body. Please be mindful this Aspect will be assigned to you upon approval and whatever you choose for the TDM may be temporary (for new characters)!
For the Highstorm and Springstar prompts, both cities will be fully open and accessible to all characters once they are saved from their rather harrowing ordeal at the Tree of Life. For prompt ideas and any general information about the cities and what you can find there, please see the Navigation page and check out the locations!
New players are welcome to join our Discord Server if you haven't already!
When they emerge from their cocoon/the ground, characters may be wearing their normal clothes, or they might be nude. Up to you!
At some point in the days after leaving the Tree of Life, new Shard-Bearers will have a dream, even if they're usually not capable of sleeping. All new players should read this post, since this details how they'll learn about both factions and their goals and should help them make a decision in which Faction they'd be drawn to.
New characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM.
Your character will be offered temporary housing either at the Heliopolis district or Yima's manor for the first few weeks after their arrival. They will also be given a stipend for basic supplies like clothing and personal effects, and food is served in the cantina (Heliopolis) and at regular meal times in the Dining Room (Yima's manor). Once they Harmonize, they will get personal permanent chambers and a fancy retainer in their Faction's city. Wow! 🌈
Characters may be Harmonized to their Faction (if that makes sense for the character, of course!) by the time of this log. This is more for IC reference, and just wait until application acceptance to do the OOC paperwork!
General reminder that your character won't have access to their powers until they have Harmonized.
CODING
What: Seeds take root
Where: The Tree of Life, Highstorm, Springstar
When: October 14th and onwards
Warnings: Potential for (mild) body horror, death, dismemberment
I. BEARING FRUIT (new characters only)
It starts out as a pleasant dream. You’re in your favorite place, with your favorite people. It’s a moment of idyllic comfort.
And then, it goes wrong.
The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.
So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—
You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.
I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.
You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.
The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.
From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.
And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.
And then, it goes wrong.
The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.
So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—
You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.
I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.
You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.
The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.
From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.
And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.
II. MORAL HAZARD
There are new Shard-Bearers at the Tree of Life, and Yima has asked that the earlier arrivals go to greet them and help them. These aren’t people from Horos, after all, so they’ll have many, many questions. As Yima explains, the roots of the tree rise up to create caverns underneath, and it’s there you’ll find the new Shard-Bearers. And indeed, with careful steps to not slip on the mossy roots, down you go. Perhaps Communion will help you find the new Shard-Bearers, but it might be a confusing process for them.
The roots all start to look the same, to the point that you’re sure that you’ve already been through this passage. You turn around, and most of the people you had come here with are gone, if not all of them. It’s confusing and unsettling, and strangest of all.. You’re starting to feel ill, even if that wasn’t something normally possible for you. But continuing forward, you do eventually find an unfamiliar face of a new Shard-Bearer. They look no better than you feel.
Before introductions, however, roots around you shift suddenly until you’re enclosed in a room together. From the roots, a face forms in the wall. It speaks in a creaking, uneven tone, as if it weren’t used to speaking at all.
Give to take. A sacrifice. To live.
Characters can pick one of the following options, but the decision must be made unanimously. If one character takes a drastic action (such as murdering another), it’s counted as a failure for the group.
This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and Loremasters recommend three if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get in philosophical debates, right? Regardless, when your group comes to a decision, please record it here. These don’t have to be fully threaded out to be recorded, so the conclusion can be discussed OOC if you prefer. Actions can be submitted until October 21st, after which groups will be informed of what comes of their choice…
When a group receives the antidote, they'll be released from the tree's thrall... But will have a hard time waking up. It feels like something has grabbed onto their spine.
The roots all start to look the same, to the point that you’re sure that you’ve already been through this passage. You turn around, and most of the people you had come here with are gone, if not all of them. It’s confusing and unsettling, and strangest of all.. You’re starting to feel ill, even if that wasn’t something normally possible for you. But continuing forward, you do eventually find an unfamiliar face of a new Shard-Bearer. They look no better than you feel.
Before introductions, however, roots around you shift suddenly until you’re enclosed in a room together. From the roots, a face forms in the wall. It speaks in a creaking, uneven tone, as if it weren’t used to speaking at all.
Give to take. A sacrifice. To live.
LET'S PLAY A GAME...
As the Dryad will explain, characters are now trapped in a room and have been poisoned by the spores that the lichens underfoot release. An antidote lays beyond the roots the dryad has curled around you, but to access it, you must make a sacrifice.Characters can pick one of the following options, but the decision must be made unanimously. If one character takes a drastic action (such as murdering another), it’s counted as a failure for the group.
- Each of you must offer up a personal/treasured memory. The memory will be shared in Communion with all characters assembled, and then will be destroyed. No character will retain the memory or memory of its Communion.
- Each of you must offer up something physical. A finger, a toe, an ear, it’s your choice. The dryad will offer a knife if this is chosen that will sever the body part of choice cleanly and immediately stop any bleeding.
- Offer up another. Kill one person in the room.
- Refusing is also a valid option. Characters will get more ill as they debate until they start to find it difficult to breathe, and they’ll die quickly after.
This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and Loremasters recommend three if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get in philosophical debates, right? Regardless, when your group comes to a decision, please record it here. These don’t have to be fully threaded out to be recorded, so the conclusion can be discussed OOC if you prefer. Actions can be submitted until October 21st, after which groups will be informed of what comes of their choice…
When a group receives the antidote, they'll be released from the tree's thrall... But will have a hard time waking up. It feels like something has grabbed onto their spine.
III. DREAMING OF HOME
You may wake with a start from your deliberations (or arguments) with a jolt of pain from the base of your spine as something is pulled away rapidly. A dark-haired man who looks to be in his thirties or so holds you carefully, but as soon as you start to regain your senses, he sets you back and holds up his hands.
Woah— Woah there, it’s fine! The tree was, uh, trying to take you back is all. You’re fine now.
As long as you’re not going to attack him, he offers a friendly smile and a hand to shake.
Name’s Cyrus. Sorry about the rude awakening. Let’s get your friend here unhooked too.
And indeed, glancing over, you can see the person you met in that room laying nearby, and it looks like a vine has snaked underneath them to exactly where something had just been pulled from you… Best not to think about it, maybe. Or if you've been unlucky enough to be one of the last people rescued, you might find vines and roots starting to grow into your skin. It's fine!
Cyrus will gladly introduce himself to everyone, and will further explain his position in Meridian and Springstar (see the NPC Page) and the goals of Meridian itself (see the Faction Page, save for the italicized section). But most importantly, he’ll explain that he knows it sounds like something overly optimistic. It’s fair to be skeptical. He’ll produce a small glass bead from a bag he’s carrying. It looks like the necklace he wears, though not lit up. He’ll explain that the force of Meridian is a gift and can be a tether to your home, if you let it. As his fingertips light up, the energy is infused into the bead, which he’ll hand to you.
Taking the bead into your hands, you’ll take a bird’s eye view of your home world as if your consciousness is split, since you’ll still perceive standing in front of Cyrus at the tree. Rather than a vision, the view of your world is absolutely real, you’re certain. It’s a glimpse at the world that you thought destroyed, and if you focus on a particular place or a particular person, you’ll find the view shifting rapidly to it. No one you watch is aware of your presence, but simply continues about their daily life, whatever that is. But after about a minute, the view will fade as the light in the bead also fades.
That’s an iliachtida, a sunbeam, and when infused with Meridian’s light, allows someone Harmonized to it to check in on their world, he explains. It also acts as an anchor that tethers their soul to their world in the Timestream. With it, their world can’t entirely disappear, so eventually, they can go home. It’s a gift he’ll allow anyone that wants it to keep it, but indeed, they’ll be unable to use it again without first Harmonizing to Meridian.
To help manage threadload for the Loremasters playing Cyrus, we ask that you only tag him with the character you are most likely to app. Similarly, new tag-ins will not be accepted after Monday, October 17th.
Woah— Woah there, it’s fine! The tree was, uh, trying to take you back is all. You’re fine now.
As long as you’re not going to attack him, he offers a friendly smile and a hand to shake.
Name’s Cyrus. Sorry about the rude awakening. Let’s get your friend here unhooked too.
And indeed, glancing over, you can see the person you met in that room laying nearby, and it looks like a vine has snaked underneath them to exactly where something had just been pulled from you… Best not to think about it, maybe. Or if you've been unlucky enough to be one of the last people rescued, you might find vines and roots starting to grow into your skin. It's fine!
CYRUS, THE TRIBUNE
Cyrus is the NPC heading up the Meridian Faction, and is available to thread with under this header. Cyrus has come to the Tree of Life to help rescue the Shard-Bearer’s from the Tree, so he’s not going to be inclined to explain too much right away, since he’s on a mission, but he’ll stick around once everyone is successfully freed from Prompt 2 to speak with anyone that wants to. The following is just an OOC summary of information in case you do not need to thread with Cyrus:Cyrus will gladly introduce himself to everyone, and will further explain his position in Meridian and Springstar (see the NPC Page) and the goals of Meridian itself (see the Faction Page, save for the italicized section). But most importantly, he’ll explain that he knows it sounds like something overly optimistic. It’s fair to be skeptical. He’ll produce a small glass bead from a bag he’s carrying. It looks like the necklace he wears, though not lit up. He’ll explain that the force of Meridian is a gift and can be a tether to your home, if you let it. As his fingertips light up, the energy is infused into the bead, which he’ll hand to you.
Taking the bead into your hands, you’ll take a bird’s eye view of your home world as if your consciousness is split, since you’ll still perceive standing in front of Cyrus at the tree. Rather than a vision, the view of your world is absolutely real, you’re certain. It’s a glimpse at the world that you thought destroyed, and if you focus on a particular place or a particular person, you’ll find the view shifting rapidly to it. No one you watch is aware of your presence, but simply continues about their daily life, whatever that is. But after about a minute, the view will fade as the light in the bead also fades.
That’s an iliachtida, a sunbeam, and when infused with Meridian’s light, allows someone Harmonized to it to check in on their world, he explains. It also acts as an anchor that tethers their soul to their world in the Timestream. With it, their world can’t entirely disappear, so eventually, they can go home. It’s a gift he’ll allow anyone that wants it to keep it, but indeed, they’ll be unable to use it again without first Harmonizing to Meridian.
To help manage threadload for the Loremasters playing Cyrus, we ask that you only tag him with the character you are most likely to app. Similarly, new tag-ins will not be accepted after Monday, October 17th.
III. SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος
After your ordeals at the Tree of Life, perhaps you’re drawn to Springstar, the city of eternal sun and the seat of Meridian.
It’s currently (and fittingly) Spring in Springstar, and the bustling city is coming back to life after finishing up winter. It’s not as if the winters are especially harsh here, but you’ll quickly get the sense that the people of Springstar are vivacious and happy to celebrate. You’ll find the Entertainment District to be the liveliest, whether it’s at a rowdy bar or a brothel, but no matter what, you’re welcome with open arms and without question.
Of course, if you’d just like to use the chance to explore the city alongside your fellow Shard-Bearers, that’s fine too. It’s easy to get lost in the crowds of Springstar and see all the city has to offer.
It’s currently (and fittingly) Spring in Springstar, and the bustling city is coming back to life after finishing up winter. It’s not as if the winters are especially harsh here, but you’ll quickly get the sense that the people of Springstar are vivacious and happy to celebrate. You’ll find the Entertainment District to be the liveliest, whether it’s at a rowdy bar or a brothel, but no matter what, you’re welcome with open arms and without question.
Of course, if you’d just like to use the chance to explore the city alongside your fellow Shard-Bearers, that’s fine too. It’s easy to get lost in the crowds of Springstar and see all the city has to offer.
IV. HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы
Or maybe Highstorm, the city of twin moons and the seat of Zenith is more to your liking. It’s certainly the quieter of the two cities and is a relaxing, meditative place if that’s what you prefer. The chill in the air is constant, since it’s Autumn in Highstorm and the eternal night doesn’t help keep things warm, exactly. Snow isn’t out of the question at this time of the year, but it’s beautiful in the moonlight.
Because of the cooler weather than Highstorm is prone to, you’ll find many of its delights inside rather than outside. Libraries and museums are popular in the more introspective city, though it’s easy enough to find something that might please you. For example, the indoor hot baths are popular at this time of the year too. You’ll find the people are kind, if cool-tempered, though if you mention the fact that you’re a Shard-Bearer or allied with Zenith, they’re more likely to warm up.
Though much like Springstar, it may just be more interesting to explore the city with a fellow Shard-Bearer. And as a resident may warn you, it’s best to stay in the city. Wandering out into the marshes and forests isn’t advised. Of course, if you do, just contact a Loremaster to find out why. ♥
Because of the cooler weather than Highstorm is prone to, you’ll find many of its delights inside rather than outside. Libraries and museums are popular in the more introspective city, though it’s easy enough to find something that might please you. For example, the indoor hot baths are popular at this time of the year too. You’ll find the people are kind, if cool-tempered, though if you mention the fact that you’re a Shard-Bearer or allied with Zenith, they’re more likely to warm up.
Though much like Springstar, it may just be more interesting to explore the city with a fellow Shard-Bearer. And as a resident may warn you, it’s best to stay in the city. Wandering out into the marshes and forests isn’t advised. Of course, if you do, just contact a Loremaster to find out why. ♥
NOTES
no subject
Silco's eyes did not flash this time, it had become increasingly obvious to the man that if Sebastian was speaking on this, it was for a reason. It wasn't for either of their health, or education. Silco's eyes didn't need to flash, or widen, for Sebastian to not sense the hunger he felt. It was the silence that brought it forward. Silco didn't move, barely breathed, it was like he was encapsulated in time, held there.
It wasn't fear, oh no. Silco had already decided, that when this talk of covenants had come up, that if given the opportunity, he would take it. He simply hadn't...imagined that it would happen. After all, weren't there younger kids with foolish ideals about that would make much better work? Easier, certainly. Then again, he'd said it, hadn't he? The type of work that Silco would be involved in was work that he would enjoy.
There was no Zaun, of course, for him to wish for. If they were in Runeterra, he would have signed his soul away for a chance to raze Piltover to the ground, lay waste to it, and bring Zaun forward into the future. He didn't want them to live up in the sun, in their spires and majesty, but he wanted their dark, violent, bright city to hold all the cards, and the power. Let Piltover's people work fields and rooftop gardens to feed them for a change. He would have signed it off, right then and there, had he been given the opportunity to do so. He wouldn't have hesitated.
In fact, he would have been desperate.
Here, though. No, here, they were in a new realm. New rules. There was no beast to defeat, no Pleroma to subjugate. Although there was the Meridian, they seemed to be less... dangerous. Or at least Yima seemed to humor them more than she seemed to fight them.
He would have to think, on what "wish" he would ask for. ]
I should have to think on it -- at the very least, what to ask for. [ It would be easy, in the coming weeks, to think of something. Silco has not had the opportunity to see just how many of his old enemies are here yet. ] Do you have...restrictions? Not on the wish, but...
I should hardly think it acceptable, if I'm offered the opportunity, only to be betrayed, in the last moments. You understand the caution.
[ His tone is light, it doesn't hold the weight it should. Silco should think he could not trust someone, if they would find someone else more interesting. ]
no subject
Take as long as you would like. To be completely honest, as Lady Yima did not ask for one herself, there is no one else I am currently considering offering this to.
[ Or more accurately, there’s no one else he thinks would take it as-is. He’d run into a few people where he could imagine a spark of interest, but he also imagines they would all balk at the price. ]
But I do understand perfectly, yes. Even I have my own principles, but the assurance of my word is not so strong as a contractual obligation, yes? [ He laughs playfully, but continues smoothly after a beat, ] It is worth noting that a Covenant with me is far more than a legal document. It is a kind of curse that binds me to my master, and vice versa. It is a contract enforced by magic, so violating any of its terms immediately makes the agreement null and void. That is, I may have my free will, but to go against the terms would make my efforts for naught.
[ It’s a bit of a preamble, but it helps make the weight of those terms clearer. Sebastian holds up three fingers as he continues. ]
And so, my masters may set three terms for our contract. And indeed, you may have one of them be that I cannot betray you. It was in fact a term of my previous contract. [ In his actual opinion, it’s a waste, but if it essentially takes away one of those binding terms, he won’t complain for it. ] And I suppose to give you an idea of the sort of thing you may demand… His other two terms were that I must obey any order directly given and that I could not lie.
no subject
[ It's a note of thought, considering, as he put together the thought. It doesn't say a lot, but it has weight, as Silco considered the shape of what it was Sebastian was saying. He was not a man of few words, but he was also not a man of wasted words. Wasted words came with problems, and so Silco listened, hummed along, and considered.
Sebastian said there were three terms to hold to, for him. He would have have no trouble coming up with three, he thought, but perhaps there was a way to cover the bases that he required. Silco, after all, for all of his cleverness, was a man deeply suspicious of betrayal. Even if Sebastian had saved him during the event, nearing the last moments of Horos... He didn't trust him, even so.
Perhaps even less, that he had done it. ]
Your last master sounds like they were as suspicious as I. [ He finally said, as if he had something in common with his last master. Perhaps he did, but Silco didn't know who it would have been. He did know, however, that he would have to find the shape of his own wish, first. ]
Do you have things you may ask in return? [ He was curious. Was it just the soul Sebastian was interested in? ] During the contract, of course. I assume you could ask, but is there anything I am required to do?
[ As Sebastian likely suspected, the price wasn't what made Silco balk, but he also didn't dive into deals without considering the consequences. Then again, Silco suspected that Sebastian was a similar type. If he wasn't in a rush, then Silco would certainly deliberate freely. ]
no subject
[ There’s a very light note of something like admiration at the last part, though it comes from a place that would be hard to predict. He can’t help but feel some sense of intrigued admiration when his masters are clever enough to know that words aren’t taken lightly by his ilk, after all. He appreciates cleverness deeply, even if it’s technically more troublesome for him. It simply makes things more interesting.
Though, to Silco’s question, he laughs softly and shakes his head. ]
I cannot. I find it to be better for both of us when my masters consider me a partner or a servant, since it improves our working relationship… But I am a slave, really. I can demand nothing of my master, only request. There is a reason that few demons choose to offer Covenants, relative to how many of us there are. Most find the idea of bowing their head so to a human detestable.
[ Sebastian cants his head lightly, since he knows that feels like a deceptively simple answer or that it doesn’t make sense for something as powerful as a demon to willingly enslave themselves. He is odd for it, even amongst his kind. But— ]
That is simply the evaluated price of a soul. It is not like stories you may have heard where I may drag it down to Hell to be tormented for all eternity. I consume it. My masters forsake whatever judgement day may have awaited their immortal soul. They simply disappear. That price is not one that I set, yet even in a world far away from where that rule was set, I am still bound by such a valuation.
no subject
He could imagine a world where a demon would give him the letter of what he wanted, and no further, and while he wasn't knowledgeable on demons, he could think of what he would do, had he all the power, and who had to be leashed to a... lesser being.
And as Sebastian continued, he considered further.
He did not think that he should like having a slave. It was the sort of fare of other cities and regions, and Silco...he may not hold much empathy, but... he knew what a good working relationship was like. He knew what made for loyalty, or at least not outright hostility. He was cruel, and selfish, yes. Of course he was. He was a Zaunite.
Even still... he could imagine that treating Sebastian like less would... cause the demon to rankle.
No, that would be unwise. ]
Hm. Just gone. [ Well. Silco assumed that's what would happen to his soul in the end, anyway. That had been the plan all along. That it was complicated by new developments was not... something that Silco had dealt with yet, or a new plan. Single-minded pursuit of the goal had been on Silco's mind for some time.
Perhaps that would be something he would think of. Much later. ]
That's what I figured would happen, in the end anyway.
[ A pause, and Silco stamped out his foul smelling cigar, before he looked at the demon. ]
You've given me quite the...proposal to think about.
I do hope you'll give me time to consider my... wish. We're in a new realm, after all, with new possibilities. I would hate to ask for something without experiencing a little more of our new home.
no subject
Though he also doesn’t suspect it’ll be an issue for Silco, even so. He thinks Silco likely has a guess that Sebastian wouldn’t actually tolerate disrespect, even if he also thinks he’s unaware of the extent of what that retaliation could mean. And in simpler, practical guesses, Silco is an older man of the clearly criminal elements. You simply don’t survive that long if you don’t treat your people at least decently.
These, of course, go unsaid. Sebastian’s smile stays cool as he nods. ]
Honestly, I have always thought the deal is not a poor one, so long as you do not particularly believe in Heaven or Hell. If this is indeed all you have, then it is yours to do with what you wish, hm?
[ His gaze drifts to the cigar as it’s snugged out, then back to meet Silco’s eyes. Easily, that cool smile warms as he drifts away from his business-minded tone. ]
You are of course welcome to your time to consider it. I confess, it was you that gave me much to think about with our last conversation, and it is what brought me to this consideration at all! So, it is only fair to return the favor when I have given you surely more to consider than that.
[ which in retrospect, he’ll be glad for giving because boy! Silco sure dd experience their new home huh! ]
no subject
[ His lip curled in a half-smile, and he tipped his head slightly. ] I would question whether I gave too much away, but... if this ends up in a mutually acceptable deal...
[ Silco didn't think he'd given too much away. Was quite certain he hadn't. Maybe he'd said something of his history, with Piltover and Zaun, but he'd spoken on the subjects before -- perhaps that was what Sebastian had picked up on?
Well, he wouldn't quite complain, if it ended up in a deal with more power. How could he? ]
Which I think... it may. Soon, perhaps, once I can think of an appropriate wish to sell my soul for, hm? [ The irony, of course, was not lost on him. ] I'll fill you in soon.
[ And he moved to leave, his steps careful, but perhaps a touch more purposeful. He didn't have a goal quite yet to ask for such power, but... Well.
That would change rather soon, wouldn't it? ]