Ah, but armies of Walin-Falme to overtake a city at my command? A face-serpent to lay waste to any whom oppose me? [ This one came with the idea of what it was. A hundred-foot serpent with faces for scales, their voice a chorus of those faces screaming and hounding as it spoke. Truly, horrifying. ]
I could have Bound any devil that I wished with merely a command, after all. We were in no danger, and when it comes to Devils, there is no kindness to be found. [ She says it as Sebastian already knows, but she says it also as a reminder that she was not one to be underestimated.
Even as she does not sense the hunger of the Demon before her, in wanting to corrupt. Pride before the fall, etc etc. ]
I do miss it, of course. I'm Praesi, to deny it would be to lie about whom I am.
It is, however, my punishment, to live with the knowledge of what I did, and live I should have. For an eternity, had Creation not been destroyed.
[ Thereās a sense like an acquiescing bow of his head as Akua offers her reminder of her prowess, and oh, he doesnāt forget it for a moment. Heād only seen her magical power once, and it was formidable, true, but her experience was what he respected more. He may not be capable of feeling fear, but if there was a Shard-Bearer that caused him to feel trepidationā¦ It was Akua. Given the right knowledge and the simple want to do so, he has no doubts that she could best him with magic. It was a demonās weakness, and he would argue it was his only one.
However, itās why he keeps things amiable with Akua. She could learn the information necessary, but he could keep that fate at bay by showing that it was better for things to be amiable. He was fun and even helpful, so long as thatās where his whims were. But heās sure she knows that the moment she tried to exert any chain upon him, sheād make a deadly, patient enemy in a moment.
ā¦But thatās the fun of it for them both. They had a healthy respect for each otherās skill and knew the dire consequences of exerting it. ]
Oh, I understand missing it. I miss my own skill and influence that has been lost to me, certainly. Punishment, howeverā¦
[ —But naturally, he doesnāt speak of that unsaid undercurrent. Thereās no need to draw attention to it. Not when something more interesting is before him. ]
I imagine it will not surprise you that I do not understand that portion. But I suppose that is what is different between us. Demon and human.
[ He hums thoughtfully, a warm, honeyed noise. ]
Would you want to feel as I do? To be incapable of feeling guilt?
Mm, if I met a demon who felt remorse, I would wonder what was wrong with it.
[ She says, blithely. For demons were not human, they did not see lives as what they were, and even Akua had once not. She would have seen her works as a necessary action ā for she had possessed the power to do so. That was it. She could, so it was right. Iron Sharpens Iron, and if it did not, then it was merely something to be sliced through.
His question, however, catches her by surprise. ]
I once was.
[ She admitted. ] Liesse was not something I regretted, after I did it, Sebastian.
[ No. It had taken years of dedication, to making her into a Person. With Emotions. ]
But without it, I would not have been able to help change my world. [ And achieve relative immortality, is not spoken, but there's a flicker of it, in this communion. ]
[ His only response to the first part is a laugh that acts as agreement. Fair enough! Any demon that felt remorse would surely consider it a curse, if they were able to survive at all. In fact, the idea of it is a bit funny to him. Were he still needing to defend his title, that would be a lovely punishment to inflict on some upstartā¦
But. Heāll just keep that in mind, should it ever be needed.
For now, heās focused on the turn in conversation, since he does find it genuinely fascinating. What an odd human Akua always proved to be. ]
How did you come to regret it, then? To me, that would seem like a weakness.
[ Itās not a comment that bears an edge or even any judgment. Heās just stating his perception plainly as he attempts to piece it together. ]
However, it would be inevitable, that my transgression would be punished. By a hero, or the Warden, or someone. I would have been snuffed out. A once-in-a-generation talent.
In fact, I was, really. I was a shade for many years. And during those years, I was... forced. To have Friends. I saw a different way of doing things, aside from the sharp cruelty of my Praesi people. I saw that one could be hard, and villainous, without... simply snuffing out the resources that we would need, to perpetuate our rule. And I saw how every time a villain got closer to victory, we were snuffed out. We had to be better than heroes. While they could allow the story to take them where they needed to go, we had to be better, smarter, stronger. Villains would be eradicated before they even had the chance to be their fullest selves.
Between Providence, and the mere existence of Trismegistus, it kept the balance of everything outside of Keter tipped toward Good.
So, I wanted to change the way the deck was stacked. We had no choice, and Villains would always lose, in the end. Providence had sole control over both parts of the story, and Providence would always favor the heroes.
[ There's a touch of amusement, there. Sad amusement, but still amusement. ] And now there is Calamity, to balance out Providence. Something to help the Villains succeed, and prevent them from always falling from grace.
[ Sebastian listens with interest thatās clear in Communion, but it also doesnāt take long for it to be tinged with confusion. Itās still intrigued, but the way that Akua talks about these circumstances is unexpected. Itāsā¦ oddly literary. (lmao) Heās not completely sure how to take it. Even with hearing so much of other worlds and their circumstances, there are still times where he encounters something wholly new. ]
How very restrictive.
[ Thatās his first comment, because itās what occurs to him first. It sounds like a place heād loathe, since it doesnāt seem like a place that a demon like him could thrive. In fact, he thinks that if this were what his kind were subject to, they likely could band together for something after all. If there would ever be something for demons to band together under, it would be to absolutely destroy and raze such a system, or destroy themselves trying.
So, he can relate to her goal. But the emotions that come with itā¦ Not at all. ]
Your world sounds as if itās governed by the sort of God that many religions in my world imagine. Well, of a particularly extreme and zealous flavor, at least. I always thought their vision a terrible, naĆÆve bore, for humanity is interesting because it is not so simple as only good or only evil. Or Heroes and Villains, in your case. My world certainly had nothing governing balance between good and evil. It simply was what humanity made it. Or interpreted it as.
[ A thoughtful noise follows , but it fades into a laugh and the impression of a shrug. ]
My, you must find Kenos quite refreshing, if this is how things were for you. Even Horos, perhaps.
[ She said, with a laugh. ] Before, it was all about maintaining a level of balance. We have gods, but they are not the ones that directly touch the world, but instead the laws and rules that hold us in place. I've felt their attentions, the Weight of my choice, and the burden that it lays on ones soul.
[ It's all complicated, and she won't bore Sebastian too much with all of the details. There's a Lot, and it's all complications and not ones that are relevant here. ]
I can say, that the impulse to monologue has not struck me once since arriving.
[ A laugh flickered through communion, at that. ]
Which, while I do not think would be a prime opportunity to defeat me here, it is refreshing to simply have a conversation, instead of lay out the details of my plans. I think... a place like this is what my world was going to become. There were Villains trying to do what they thought was best, after all, and Heroes who would not have compromised an inch to save the life of an innocent. It was all very...
[ There's the sense of... fond derision. Akua, after all, once had fashioned herself to be in line as Dread Empress Magnificent. Once, she loved her world, and the Wonders she would have created. ]
[ Thereās a sense of befuddlement the more Akua explains, because Sebastian had thought it was just an unusual naming convention, but the more she gets into itā¦
Is Akuaā¦ very literally a fictional characterā¦? (lol)
Sebastian is suddenly very full of questions, but heās also not sure where to even start with them. He had run into this sort of dilemma in Kenos before where he just has to accept that perhaps some things are simply going to be beyond his understanding, but he doesnāt like it. As particular and knowledge hungry as he is, having to come to that conclusion seems like a horrible cop out. But. If sheās indeed not beholden to such rules anymore, as heās plainly seen himself, heās not sure itās worth picking throughā¦
(Or, that is simply too meta of a thread, theyāre not allowed to have that conversation) ]
My, it does sound it. I thought I had it bad with all of the rules and restrictions that Hell and Heaven by extension places upon my kind, but they seem quite fair by comparison.
[ Someday, near the end of the game, they can gab about the weird worlds, and bringing that behemoth back into the world, and Sebastian can feel second hand embarrassment that this TV-Tropes world will be brought back to existence.
As it is, Akua only has another flicker of amusement. ]
Likely, yes. It may even be more forgiving than our own Angels and Devils, whom are... particularly hamstrung by the Narrative. [ Yes. Capital N Narrative. Boy. ]
Above and Below are, I am afraid, merciless taskmasters, and I have become foolish enough to become the personal messenger of Below themselves.
Edited (that was a joke just for you) 2023-11-09 06:13 (UTC)
Well, I would imagine so. [ Now that he can see Akua's world (?) in this new light, some things that she's explained before make perfect sense. ] There is scarcely a tale I have read where the Devil wins. I suppose that is too depressing for mankind, but it is more realistic. Save for the Covenant I was unable to fulfill by virtue of being plucked to Horos, I have never failed in one of mine, after all.
[ He wouldn't count Ciel's as a failure either, though. More...overcome by events. It hardly seems fair to count that circumstance against his otherwise perfect record. ]
Why, it occurs to me that as popular as the works of my world seem to be, I could make a few literary recommendations that may amuse you! There are a great many where the imagination of the author was so delightful that many a demon picked up some of the habits that were espoused for the fun of it.
I would enjoy to see what you find amusing. Particularly in this area. The imaginations of those who dream of devils and demons are always so... particularly devious. I can believe that they would capture your interests as well. [ The collective 'you're' ]
[ He's pleased to hear it, since no one ever appreciates the delightful irony of this! How fun! aka I guess they're starting a book club, help, ]
Well! My personal favorite will always be Faust by Goethe since it is a delightful and personal tale of a human being tempted... The godliness of it is a bit much, but as I said, you can only expect so much from humanity.
Besides that, there is Inferno by Dante Alighieri, which imagines Hell oh so delightfully. It is also wonderfully petty! A poet just made a book of everyone he hated and described their various ironic tortures and torments, and it is a renowned work of literature for it! It is followed by two other poems, but skip them, for again, the godliness ruins all the fun. But I will say that this work is by far the most influential in Hell. The torments were lovely, so nearly all have been taken up.
And finally, I do also enjoy Paradise Lost by John Milton, though it is the least accurate for our kind. It tells a story of how Lucifer came to have his position in Hell by being an angel that rebelled against God. That part is true, but little else. It is a romantic poem, though. It reflects the sorts of things I enjoy about humanity, but I would not spoil that. I think it would be more interesting to hear your opinion.
All of which you are welcome to borrow from my personal library if you cannot find them, by the way. I can create them with no more than a wave of the hand.
Oh, you're too kind. I always forget that you have such delightful powers of creation.
[ Really, it's not that the creation is what's so shocking, but that he remembers entire books. She almost has to laugh, for of course Hayame would truly choose this creature to have such a tiff with. Sebastian was everything she was not, from his inhumanity, to the cultured demeanor.
Akua, of course, would enjoy reading these books, quite a bit. ]
And when I'm done, we'll have to do dinner. I will want to hear your thoughts as well, once I make my way through them. I am sure you'll have plenty of commentary. And I think I'll be curious how these hells compare to the reports of our own.
[ Which of course might make one wonder what it's like at its full capacity if such a thorough and truly miraculous power was the diminished one... But it's not something Sebastian is all that concerned with. Honestly, of all his abilities that were reduced, he doesn't mind that one in the slightest. The need to conjure up a stronghold or the like really doesn't come up all that often. ]
So, I would be delighted to have you over for dinner to discuss them. I believe you know me well enough at this point to know that there is little I would enjoy more!
[ It's an earnest, honest truth, even though that's inherently funny for a demon... For all his wickedness and cruelty, he really does have perfectly mundane and innocuous hobbies. ]
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no subject
I could have Bound any devil that I wished with merely a command, after all. We were in no danger, and when it comes to Devils, there is no kindness to be found. [ She says it as Sebastian already knows, but she says it also as a reminder that she was not one to be underestimated.
Even as she does not sense the hunger of the Demon before her, in wanting to corrupt. Pride before the fall, etc etc. ]
I do miss it, of course. I'm Praesi, to deny it would be to lie about whom I am.
It is, however, my punishment, to live with the knowledge of what I did, and live I should have. For an eternity, had Creation not been destroyed.
no subject
However, itās why he keeps things amiable with Akua. She could learn the information necessary, but he could keep that fate at bay by showing that it was better for things to be amiable. He was fun and even helpful, so long as thatās where his whims were. But heās sure she knows that the moment she tried to exert any chain upon him, sheād make a deadly, patient enemy in a moment.
ā¦But thatās the fun of it for them both. They had a healthy respect for each otherās skill and knew the dire consequences of exerting it. ]
Oh, I understand missing it. I miss my own skill and influence that has been lost to me, certainly. Punishment, howeverā¦
[ —But naturally, he doesnāt speak of that unsaid undercurrent. Thereās no need to draw attention to it. Not when something more interesting is before him. ]
I imagine it will not surprise you that I do not understand that portion. But I suppose that is what is different between us. Demon and human.
[ He hums thoughtfully, a warm, honeyed noise. ]
Would you want to feel as I do? To be incapable of feeling guilt?
no subject
[ She says, blithely. For demons were not human, they did not see lives as what they were, and even Akua had once not. She would have seen her works as a necessary action ā for she had possessed the power to do so. That was it. She could, so it was right. Iron Sharpens Iron, and if it did not, then it was merely something to be sliced through.
His question, however, catches her by surprise. ]
I once was.
[ She admitted. ] Liesse was not something I regretted, after I did it, Sebastian.
[ No. It had taken years of dedication, to making her into a Person. With Emotions. ]
But without it, I would not have been able to help change my world. [ And achieve relative immortality, is not spoken, but there's a flicker of it, in this communion. ]
no subject
But. Heāll just keep that in mind, should it ever be needed.
For now, heās focused on the turn in conversation, since he does find it genuinely fascinating. What an odd human Akua always proved to be. ]
How did you come to regret it, then? To me, that would seem like a weakness.
[ Itās not a comment that bears an edge or even any judgment. Heās just stating his perception plainly as he attempts to piece it together. ]
Why did you want to change your world?
no subject
[ She said, with a small sigh. ]
However, it would be inevitable, that my transgression would be punished. By a hero, or the Warden, or someone. I would have been snuffed out. A once-in-a-generation talent.
In fact, I was, really. I was a shade for many years. And during those years, I was... forced. To have Friends. I saw a different way of doing things, aside from the sharp cruelty of my Praesi people. I saw that one could be hard, and villainous, without... simply snuffing out the resources that we would need, to perpetuate our rule. And I saw how every time a villain got closer to victory, we were snuffed out. We had to be better than heroes. While they could allow the story to take them where they needed to go, we had to be better, smarter, stronger. Villains would be eradicated before they even had the chance to be their fullest selves.
Between Providence, and the mere existence of Trismegistus, it kept the balance of everything outside of Keter tipped toward Good.
So, I wanted to change the way the deck was stacked. We had no choice, and Villains would always lose, in the end. Providence had sole control over both parts of the story, and Providence would always favor the heroes.
[ There's a touch of amusement, there. Sad amusement, but still amusement. ] And now there is Calamity, to balance out Providence. Something to help the Villains succeed, and prevent them from always falling from grace.
no subject
How very restrictive.
[ Thatās his first comment, because itās what occurs to him first. It sounds like a place heād loathe, since it doesnāt seem like a place that a demon like him could thrive. In fact, he thinks that if this were what his kind were subject to, they likely could band together for something after all. If there would ever be something for demons to band together under, it would be to absolutely destroy and raze such a system, or destroy themselves trying.
So, he can relate to her goal. But the emotions that come with itā¦ Not at all. ]
Your world sounds as if itās governed by the sort of God that many religions in my world imagine. Well, of a particularly extreme and zealous flavor, at least. I always thought their vision a terrible, naĆÆve bore, for humanity is interesting because it is not so simple as only good or only evil. Or Heroes and Villains, in your case. My world certainly had nothing governing balance between good and evil. It simply was what humanity made it. Or interpreted it as.
[ A thoughtful noise follows , but it fades into a laugh and the impression of a shrug. ]
My, you must find Kenos quite refreshing, if this is how things were for you. Even Horos, perhaps.
no subject
[ She said, with a laugh. ] Before, it was all about maintaining a level of balance. We have gods, but they are not the ones that directly touch the world, but instead the laws and rules that hold us in place. I've felt their attentions, the Weight of my choice, and the burden that it lays on ones soul.
[ It's all complicated, and she won't bore Sebastian too much with all of the details. There's a Lot, and it's all complications and not ones that are relevant here. ]
I can say, that the impulse to monologue has not struck me once since arriving.
[ A laugh flickered through communion, at that. ]
Which, while I do not think would be a prime opportunity to defeat me here, it is refreshing to simply have a conversation, instead of lay out the details of my plans. I think... a place like this is what my world was going to become. There were Villains trying to do what they thought was best, after all, and Heroes who would not have compromised an inch to save the life of an innocent. It was all very...
[ There's the sense of... fond derision. Akua, after all, once had fashioned herself to be in line as Dread Empress Magnificent. Once, she loved her world, and the Wonders she would have created. ]
Messy.
1/2
Is Akuaā¦ very literally a fictional characterā¦? (lol)
Sebastian is suddenly very full of questions, but heās also not sure where to even start with them. He had run into this sort of dilemma in Kenos before where he just has to accept that perhaps some things are simply going to be beyond his understanding, but he doesnāt like it. As particular and knowledge hungry as he is, having to come to that conclusion seems like a horrible cop out. But. If sheās indeed not beholden to such rules anymore, as heās plainly seen himself, heās not sure itās worth picking throughā¦
(Or, that is simply too meta of a thread, theyāre not allowed to have that conversation) ]
no subject
My, it does sound it. I thought I had it bad with all of the rules and restrictions that Hell and Heaven by extension places upon my kind, but they seem quite fair by comparison.
no subject
As it is, Akua only has another flicker of amusement. ]
Likely, yes. It may even be more forgiving than our own Angels and Devils, whom are... particularly hamstrung by the Narrative. [ Yes. Capital N Narrative. Boy. ]
Above and Below are, I am afraid, merciless taskmasters, and I have become foolish enough to become the personal messenger of Below themselves.
no subject
[ He wouldn't count Ciel's as a failure either, though. More...overcome by events. It hardly seems fair to count that circumstance against his otherwise perfect record. ]
Why, it occurs to me that as popular as the works of my world seem to be, I could make a few literary recommendations that may amuse you! There are a great many where the imagination of the author was so delightful that many a demon picked up some of the habits that were espoused for the fun of it.
no subject
[ She sounds amused, but interested. ]
I would enjoy to see what you find amusing. Particularly in this area. The imaginations of those who dream of devils and demons are always so... particularly devious. I can believe that they would capture your interests as well. [ The collective 'you're' ]
no subject
Well! My personal favorite will always be Faust by Goethe since it is a delightful and personal tale of a human being tempted... The godliness of it is a bit much, but as I said, you can only expect so much from humanity.
Besides that, there is Inferno by Dante Alighieri, which imagines Hell oh so delightfully. It is also wonderfully petty! A poet just made a book of everyone he hated and described their various ironic tortures and torments, and it is a renowned work of literature for it! It is followed by two other poems, but skip them, for again, the godliness ruins all the fun. But I will say that this work is by far the most influential in Hell. The torments were lovely, so nearly all have been taken up.
And finally, I do also enjoy Paradise Lost by John Milton, though it is the least accurate for our kind. It tells a story of how Lucifer came to have his position in Hell by being an angel that rebelled against God. That part is true, but little else. It is a romantic poem, though. It reflects the sorts of things I enjoy about humanity, but I would not spoil that. I think it would be more interesting to hear your opinion.
All of which you are welcome to borrow from my personal library if you cannot find them, by the way. I can create them with no more than a wave of the hand.
slowly pulls my copies off my bookshelf
[ Really, it's not that the creation is what's so shocking, but that he remembers entire books. She almost has to laugh, for of course Hayame would truly choose this creature to have such a tiff with. Sebastian was everything she was not, from his inhumanity, to the cultured demeanor.
Akua, of course, would enjoy reading these books, quite a bit. ]
And when I'm done, we'll have to do dinner. I will want to hear your thoughts as well, once I make my way through them. I am sure you'll have plenty of commentary. And I think I'll be curious how these hells compare to the reports of our own.
no subject
[ Which of course might make one wonder what it's like at its full capacity if such a thorough and truly miraculous power was the diminished one... But it's not something Sebastian is all that concerned with. Honestly, of all his abilities that were reduced, he doesn't mind that one in the slightest. The need to conjure up a stronghold or the like really doesn't come up all that often. ]
So, I would be delighted to have you over for dinner to discuss them. I believe you know me well enough at this point to know that there is little I would enjoy more!
[ It's an earnest, honest truth, even though that's inherently funny for a demon... For all his wickedness and cruelty, he really does have perfectly mundane and innocuous hobbies. ]
no subject
Then plan to receive me in the near future.
[ SIGHS. Maybe she'll think to pull a lil prank on Sebastian for fun too ]