BiT live

[temperedinpride]

Who: Cosmo
Where: Lobby
When: 436

[Cosmo is rocking a look. Minus the plague mask, it's just his normal mask. He's got a set of fruity drinks in front of him, and he's leaning back with a drink in hand.]

"Risk" and "Reward".

Half of these drinks are non-alcoholic, most of the rest are quite potently alcoholic, a few are drugged.

The risk is obvious, the reward is engaging in the live. Or perhaps in avoiding the traps.

The drugs are one of three kinds--a potent psychedelic, a numbing agent, and something to get you a little hot under the collar. Do take it elsewhere if you get that last one.

[He sips his drink.]

Of course some say the best way to win at gambling is not to play, but where's the fun in that?

((OOC: tag any toplevels with the aphro as nsfw and you can have like, multiple if you want. I'll toplevel Lahabrea to talk to but you can also just engage with drugs.))

Comments

[temperedinpride]

[He looks at his glass but it appears to be empty? Hm.

He leans back in the chair, taking off his mask and setting that and the drink on the desk]





I remember Hermes as a gentle soul. It is a shame how broken this shard is.

[rainshaveceased]

[sitting down on his bed, sipping more]

He was quite possibly the kindest of us, once. And now...

[sigh]

It cannot be helped, though.

[temperedinpride]

These twisted souls... I weep for them, yet...

[rainshaveceased]

It's horrible. How much they suffer, how far they fall.

But we will save them.

[temperedinpride]

[He sighs.]

He can have his annihilation for all I care. In his timeline.

My worry is that should he learn of our goals he won't be content with the end of that star alone.

[rainshaveceased]

No. He cannot have it.

[temperedinpride]

That star is already doomed, Elidibus. With the three of us gone what hope do the mortals have?

[rainshaveceased]

There is always hope. I will find a way to save them.

[temperedinpride]

You will do no such thing. You will not even be in that timeine.

[rainshaveceased]

It should be possible to find a way to travel between timelines. That is not a problem.

[temperedinpride]

We are not opening the timeline we wish to save to destruction and the failings of others just for the possibility of saving other timelines, Elidibus.

This is not up for debate. You will find myself and Emet-Selch of one mind on this. We have come too far and lost too much to go gallavanting off with some notion we can fix and save the entire multitude of universes.

I will not permit your shortsighted ideals to endanger everything.

[rainshaveceased]

But you would leave countless other worlds to suffering and destruction? You might be able to ignore them, but I can't.

[temperedinpride]

Yes. I would.

And so will you.

You must learn to ignore them, Elidibus. Is trying to save another timeline worth potentially dooming the one we claim? I do not think so. The idea horrifies me.

Even if a timeline is not doomed too complete death, there are Scions here. They will wish their own future unchanged. Will you oppose all here and in every universe? You will fail. We couldn't even save one world, the three of us. We have a chance to change that. Do not endanger it.

[rainshaveceased]

Lahabrea. You keep saying these things. About what you think I should do with myself and with the world. As if I have a choice like the rest of you.

Could it be you have forgotten what I am?

[temperedinpride]

We have already discussed this. We will sever your connection to Zodiark.

And if you truly are getting distracted by the plights of other worlds before concerning yourself with securing an inviolable timeline of our own, your priorities of salvation have already gone entirely astray.

[rainshaveceased]

You speak of one impossible plan as if it is already resolved perfectly, yet when I propose another you dismiss it out of hand as too dangerous.

How very convenient.

[temperedinpride]

It is because our impossible plan is not resolved perfectly that your idea seems both dangerous and reckless to me!

[rainshaveceased]

No, it's because it's an idea you don't like. You want me to just- retire, and sit around doing stupid nonsense like drug gambling, so you have decided that anything else is dangerous and reckless!

1/3

[temperedinpride]

Do you think I am happy to consign our timeline to doom?! That it brings me joy to know we will be returning to a past where I will still yet be forsaking all those I love for there is no possibility they--

[temperedinpride]

[He grits his teeth and clenches a fist. Takes a deep breath, gathering himself, demeanor cold.]

You are acting both foolish and naive. I do not wish you to retire, find some other way to serve that does not require constant sacrifice, of yourself most of all.

If you wish to view me in such a light I care not, do what you will. But do not endanger our last hope.

[temperedinpride]

[He is going to get up, put on his mask, and try to leave.]

[rainshaveceased]

[stands up to try and reach for him

and falls over]

[temperedinpride]

....

[He could just be an asshole and leave him on the floor.

But like, could he though?

He will turn around to try to pick him up.]

[rainshaveceased]

[is picked up.

he's wiping at his eyes]

I know you are right. I know we can't afford to worry about other worlds or timelines when we haven't saved even one yet. Of course I know that.

I'm just very drunk, Lahabrea.

[temperedinpride]

[He looks down at the man in his arms and while he's very tense for a few moments he takes a breath in and out, buries whatever it is and sets Elidibus down with utmost gentleness on the bed, brushing his hair back from his forehead and cupping his cheeks in his hands.]

My apologies for speaking harshly. Your words frightened me. Our path ahead is so tenuous, our hope but a thread, the thought of taking on too much and risking it... It leaves me shaking.

But I do not want to deny your thoughts or desires. Even if they cannot be seen through, I will endeavor to hear you out without such a kneejerk reaction in the future.