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starwardbestrewn2021-12-10 04:57 pm
oncedriven) wrote in starwardbestrewn2021-12-10 04:57 pm
loose ends
"Besides," you say quietly, as Emet-Selch folds his arms and huffs. "There's another task for the two of you still, isn't there?"
Emet-Selch doesn't reply, but Hythlodaeus covers his mouth with one hand as he chuckles. "Quick-thinking as ever," he says. "You're right - when you've done all you need to do, there's one more job left for us."
"Another task?" Alisaie asks, looking them up and down, but before either of the ancient souls can respond, Y'shtola catches your meaning.
"The souls that Meteion has trapped here for so long..." she says, tone that particular kind of thoughtful she has when she puts all the pieces together. "The souls whose aether disappeared when they transformed into monsters... Yes, I suppose someone would have to lead them home in the end."
Emet-Selch's silence, folded arms, his gaze very distinctly off to the side away from all of you, isn't an answer, and yet it is. Hythlodaeus grins, folding his arms in a posture that is and isn't a match for his old friend's.
"Even from this distance, we can pick Etheirys out from the myriad stars," he agrees. "A world brimming with life out in the far distance... So don't worry for those who have already been lost. When you've done your part, we'll do ours to see them home safely to the aetherial sea where they belong."
"Then I suppose we can forgive past indiscretions," G'raha says, his tone serious but the way his eyes are on Emet-Selch alight with humor. "In light of all your hard work, of course."
"Hmph," is the only reply, at first. But then Emet-Selch unfolds his arms and shrugs in a way that's so very familiar, looking at the flowers spread around you as he shakes his head. "Don't keep me waiting too long," he says. "Your task is by far the more difficult part. I'm just cleaning up a last few loose ends. As the last keeper of the Underworld, the last to take the seat of Emet-Selch - I'm performing my final duty to the star before I go. Nothing more."
"Well," Alphinaud says, all mild diplomacy, but with the warmth that he reserves for the leaders that he considers friends, if not close ones, "we, and all of Etheirys, thank you for your service anyway."
Emet-Selch makes another, mildly disgusted noise, while Hythlodaeus is clearly biting down on another round of laughter. "Just get on with it."
And so, eyes turning back up to the heavens, you do.
Emet-Selch doesn't reply, but Hythlodaeus covers his mouth with one hand as he chuckles. "Quick-thinking as ever," he says. "You're right - when you've done all you need to do, there's one more job left for us."
"Another task?" Alisaie asks, looking them up and down, but before either of the ancient souls can respond, Y'shtola catches your meaning.
"The souls that Meteion has trapped here for so long..." she says, tone that particular kind of thoughtful she has when she puts all the pieces together. "The souls whose aether disappeared when they transformed into monsters... Yes, I suppose someone would have to lead them home in the end."
Emet-Selch's silence, folded arms, his gaze very distinctly off to the side away from all of you, isn't an answer, and yet it is. Hythlodaeus grins, folding his arms in a posture that is and isn't a match for his old friend's.
"Even from this distance, we can pick Etheirys out from the myriad stars," he agrees. "A world brimming with life out in the far distance... So don't worry for those who have already been lost. When you've done your part, we'll do ours to see them home safely to the aetherial sea where they belong."
"Then I suppose we can forgive past indiscretions," G'raha says, his tone serious but the way his eyes are on Emet-Selch alight with humor. "In light of all your hard work, of course."
"Hmph," is the only reply, at first. But then Emet-Selch unfolds his arms and shrugs in a way that's so very familiar, looking at the flowers spread around you as he shakes his head. "Don't keep me waiting too long," he says. "Your task is by far the more difficult part. I'm just cleaning up a last few loose ends. As the last keeper of the Underworld, the last to take the seat of Emet-Selch - I'm performing my final duty to the star before I go. Nothing more."
"Well," Alphinaud says, all mild diplomacy, but with the warmth that he reserves for the leaders that he considers friends, if not close ones, "we, and all of Etheirys, thank you for your service anyway."
Emet-Selch makes another, mildly disgusted noise, while Hythlodaeus is clearly biting down on another round of laughter. "Just get on with it."
And so, eyes turning back up to the heavens, you do.