♫ contractors

[falsehymn]

❝But I tell you, do not swear
an oath at all:
either by Heaven, for it is God’s throne;
or by the earth,
for it is His footstool;
or by Jerusalem, for it is the
city of the Great King.
And do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make even
one hair white
or black.
All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No';
anything beyond this comes from
the evil one.
—Matthew 5:34-37

Comments

[trollophoroi]

[ Would he? If it were only so easy, and he doubts it is. He should not trust her, even if he aches to, if only to cling to something to fill the emptiness left by Nishi. ]

...no. [ He decides after a moment. ] It is what I deserve, to doubt my life's work after all this time, to struggle with what I have done. Though I suppose you get what you want after all.

My wish... is no longer desired.

[falsehymn]

Is that so? That's too bad. Well, I don't have to grant it, but it does mean you've been granted no particular boon for your contract. Are you all right with that?

( honey ... he'll pour him a drinky and slide it over. drinking while depressed is like antidepressants but bad and evil )

[trollophoroi]

[ He'll gladly take the drink. ]

Ha, is that so? No wiggle room then?

[falsehymn]

Only now that you've asked.

( remember, he likes proactive children! )

What did you have in mind?

[trollophoroi]

That's the difficult part, isn't it? I came here thinking to ensure the end of all life upon my own star... and now I don't know.

Do I merely wish my soul out of existence? Do I wish for something useful? Do I use my wish to spite someone I have taken a dislike to here? The choices are infinite.

[falsehymn]

( hummmm... )

It's never too late to try and save someone.

[trollophoroi]

[ Never too late... ]

You wish for me to save Meteion. She is not your Mikaela, Sika Madu. I do and do not know her. She is and is not mine. I...

[ He what? He sounds... soft, a sadness not tinged with anger or hate for once. ]

I do not know what will come next, but there is someone. Someone to whom I must bequeath this task in my place. They are her friend, where I cannot be.

[falsehymn]

Ah, you wish to save them now?

( How the turns table... )

There could be something done. Are you aware if something obstructs them?

[trollophoroi]

[ Does he, though? Does it matter? ]

Should I be? I am no longer aware of anything upon my star. I have been dragged away from meddling again by the very same pest who originally called this body his own. Ironic, isn't it?

That I sweep in to take his body upon his death, and he sweeps in to doom my soul upon mine.

[falsehymn]

Poetic, if unpleasant.

( A theatre kid no matter which side of the nihilism meme you fall upon... )

But do you have quarrel with where you'll be heading after all this is done?

[trollophoroi]

[ No escape from the dramatics, no matter what. ]

Do I...? [ Excuse him while he nurses his drink a bit, wondering. ] If our star's precious little hero fails, then my soul will be burned up into nothingness, the same as everything else. If they succeed... then yes, I would.

My own concept of self will be washed away bit by bit until it is time for my soul to be reborn. I will be gone, though that man's own memories will remain. He burned his miseries into it, his crimes, his guilt... Whoever I become next will only follow the same steps, again and again, on into eternity.

'Tis no fate I wish for my soul. Better to stop existing outright than this never-ending folly.

[falsehymn]

( Hoh. )

To save Meteion you will need to save her friend. But to save her friend means you will not find your salvation. A noble sacrifice.

( She tilts her head, smiling. )

You've come into yourself as a fine prince. Through your eternal suffering she may be saved.

( person who is eternally suffering for her own bird child, maybe a little biased, )

[trollophoroi]

A fine prince? More like a fine villain, suffering under the weight of his own choices at the end of the story. A fitting fate.

[ Save her friend... Save them? Him? Perhaps the kindest way, now, to use his wish. Still, it brings a bitter laugh out of him, followed by a cough, which he turns to the side to cover with a hand.

He would never cough in Sika Madu's face, after all! ]

...hah... I do not think they will need me. T'was the original Fandaniel's decision to test mankind in this way and to wish them success would feel... false. But perhaps... to ask for kindness should they meet again. For Meteion to have the second chance that I do not deserve.

[falsehymn]

Hmmm, I do recall recommending you wish for something like this at the start...

( :) )

I can see what there is that can be done. You have been quite helpful to me throughout this show, after all.

( It's not clear if he means the roses, or...? )

I suppose you still do not claim her as yours?

[trollophoroi]

[ Well, isn't that suspicious? ]

My, and here I thought I may not have been as helpful as I could be.

[ But the topic of Meteion is distracting. He could dig further. It'd be logical to. Press him for what he means, pick at their brain, get answers, and maybe he will, but about the bird? Well.

Let him just finish off that drink in one go. Yeah. ]

Yes, yes, you recall, but I believe you had a little step up regarding certain knowledge at the time. I still am disinclined to claim her as mine. If I were that man... Hermes... T'would be as you with Mikaela, I imagine. Alas, I am but a poor replacement for that fool.

She would only be harmed to be near me, much less know me, or call me her—

[ Father isn't the correct word, but Hermes felt so protective of her. Of all of Elpis' creations. It's almost... ]

Her creator. I will not do her the disfavor of it.