's not that uncommon, back home. Strong wizard, good charm spell; you can have somebody under your thumb doing whatever you want in a second.
[ his expression twists at that, into a matching scowl. that especially doesn't sit right, now - he thinks about the white space and the smoke, and he thinks about percy and his red, red, terrified eyes.
... ]
I thought it was going to escalate, after last week. Think that just made it worse.
[ there's a little bit of humor to it, but it's not nearly at its usual level of playful - he gives him a half smile. it is concerning, but for now, he lingers on the first topic. the curiosity of the 'star' piques. ]
You said you guide souls, right? When they return - for you, what's that like? Do they just die of old age, or something?
For my people... it is nothing like what I have heard from the rest of you. We are born from the aether of the star, and our souls are as drops of lifeblood in its veins. We are a part of it, as much as we guide it, and it is to the star we eventually return.
[a pause there, quiet.]
But we determine when we return. When one has led a fulfilling life, accomplished their purpose, done their duty-- when they feel they are ready, only then do they return. We do not call it a death. And when they embark upon this journey-- it is beautiful.
[ and it's... sort of funny. it's not, really, but, when emet describes this, the corner of vax's mouth twitches a little.
because... that's what he did, isn't it? fulfilled a purpose. found a new purpose. wrapped himself in the twines of his sister and the rest of vox machina and then cut his own thread to help others cut theirs. a lucky, lucky life. ]
... it's not like that at all. Death can happen at any second. You can step the wrong way on a piece of ice, snap your neck. Your village can get attacked by a dragon, and in a second, you're burnt to ashes. Touch a piece of shitty fucking cursed armor that's got a trap on it, and your life's snuffed out.
[ the last one rings especially true. just in the blink of a second, a life with purpose, with meaning, with love, can just end. ]
Some demon fuck can try and force you to kill your closest friends.
[ ... ]
But, everyone's got a string of fate. Sometimes, that's your time - dying because you tripped into a battle - but, sometimes, it's not. Death isn't merciless, necessarily. It's just... concrete. Fate, more like.
It doesn't feel like this should've been either of their times. If I was back with her, I imagine they wouldn't have been. So - even if it's normal, to die suddenly. 's fucked up for me, too.
[it's still terrible, he thinks, for this to be possible. for a productive life to be cut short, a life that could have had more to contribute. one that may not be fulfilled, all over due to-- precisely as he said, tripping into a battle, or the like.]
This fate of yours still does not feel like much of a comfort-- nor would it even if this were their time. I prefer not to think that...
vax is not expecting it. he - laughs, sort of startled out of him, and then nudges emet if he's close enough. ]
Yeah. Yeah it is, huh. Proper fucked up. No better way to say it. [ it's a much needed moment of levity, actually - funny in the dark humor sort of way, in the i-have-to-laugh-to-handle-anything-that-is-happening kind of way. ]
Iunno if it's a comfort, either. I never thought it was. Took me a long time to accept mine - and it makes it being screwed with here feel even worse.
[don't nudge himmmm he just shoves back at vax's arm. stop.]
For those like ourselves, who are accustomed to matters of the soul and the end of life, this truly is-- it is a mockery, there is no other way to say it.
We were talking about what pink really meant here, 's all. I can't say I disagree - you can't really control everything. Maybe that's how your world and theirs and mine're different, though, so who knows.
[ it is fine! he's getting used to this huffy behavior. also, vax likes to think he's correct and occasionally wise about some things and this is one of them.
he props his chin in his hand, amused. ]
Mmhm. Makes sense. [ it fits percy, that's for sure. ] Neither Shale or I felt like we fit with it much in comparison. Pink's their favorite color though, apparently, in the normal sense.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[he scowls, shaking his head.
it was. it was visceral, it didn't sound as if he was acting-- and if he wasn't acting, then something certainly must have been wrong.]
And how much worse would it have been, were it someone already predisposed to this.
no subject
's not that uncommon, back home. Strong wizard, good charm spell; you can have somebody under your thumb doing whatever you want in a second.
[ his expression twists at that, into a matching scowl. that especially doesn't sit right, now - he thinks about the white space and the smoke, and he thinks about percy and his red, red, terrified eyes.
... ]
I thought it was going to escalate, after last week. Think that just made it worse.
no subject
[there's disbelief in it, but he's also just... this is tiring.]
The more I hear of what all of you are accustomed to, the more concerned I become for where we go from here.
no subject
[ there's a little bit of humor to it, but it's not nearly at its usual level of playful - he gives him a half smile. it is concerning, but for now, he lingers on the first topic. the curiosity of the 'star' piques. ]
You said you guide souls, right? When they return - for you, what's that like? Do they just die of old age, or something?
no subject
[a pause there, quiet.]
But we determine when we return. When one has led a fulfilling life, accomplished their purpose, done their duty-- when they feel they are ready, only then do they return. We do not call it a death. And when they embark upon this journey-- it is beautiful.
Always.
no subject
because... that's what he did, isn't it? fulfilled a purpose. found a new purpose. wrapped himself in the twines of his sister and the rest of vox machina and then cut his own thread to help others cut theirs. a lucky, lucky life. ]
... it's not like that at all. Death can happen at any second. You can step the wrong way on a piece of ice, snap your neck. Your village can get attacked by a dragon, and in a second, you're burnt to ashes. Touch a piece of shitty fucking cursed armor that's got a trap on it, and your life's snuffed out.
[ the last one rings especially true. just in the blink of a second, a life with purpose, with meaning, with love, can just end. ]
Some demon fuck can try and force you to kill your closest friends.
[ ... ]
But, everyone's got a string of fate. Sometimes, that's your time - dying because you tripped into a battle - but, sometimes, it's not. Death isn't merciless, necessarily. It's just... concrete. Fate, more like.
It doesn't feel like this should've been either of their times. If I was back with her, I imagine they wouldn't have been. So - even if it's normal, to die suddenly. 's fucked up for me, too.
no subject
This fate of yours still does not feel like much of a comfort-- nor would it even if this were their time. I prefer not to think that...
[a slow sigh, there, quiet.]
...as you said. It is all-- fucked up.
no subject
vax is not expecting it. he - laughs, sort of startled out of him, and then nudges emet if he's close enough. ]
Yeah. Yeah it is, huh. Proper fucked up. No better way to say it. [ it's a much needed moment of levity, actually - funny in the dark humor sort of way, in the i-have-to-laugh-to-handle-anything-that-is-happening kind of way. ]
Iunno if it's a comfort, either. I never thought it was. Took me a long time to accept mine - and it makes it being screwed with here feel even worse.
no subject
For those like ourselves, who are accustomed to matters of the soul and the end of life, this truly is-- it is a mockery, there is no other way to say it.
no subject
Yeah. Real fucking vicious one.
[ hmmm. you know, actually, ] ...Have you talked to Shale about this kinda stuff at all?
no subject
anyway, at the mention of shale he just. makes a face.]
They are frustrating to speak with on the subject, but they have mentioned a familiarity with it, yes.
no subject
anyway he. raises an eyebrow? what ]
Shale's frustrating? We talking about the same statue?
no subject
no subject
what ]
...Like what, exactly?
no subject
[what the fuck.]
no subject
[ ... weird. he wouldn't have pictured that from emet, considering. vax's brow furrows. ]
's more like... Feels more like guidance, to me. A listening ear, you know?
no subject
[he scoffs, there, shakes his head.]
Naught is truly immutable, and yet they insist everything simply... is what it is. 'The control you value isn't reality'. Honestly.
no subject
he
starts laughing
im sorry ]
no subject
[now he just looks offended.]
no subject
[ god! god. he waves his hand - ] Sorry, sorry, fuck. Talked about you! We talked about you. Not in a bad way.
[ help this is so funny ] Hoooo! Ah, man. I thought they were talking about Percy.
no subject
[he is SO HUFFY NOW ugh.]
no subject
[ bats at his arm, but he's still snickering. ]
We were talking about what pink really meant here, 's all. I can't say I disagree - you can't really control everything. Maybe that's how your world and theirs and mine're different, though, so who knows.
no subject
[still a little huffy. it's fine.]
As I understand it, however, our color represents both intelligence and distrust.
no subject
he props his chin in his hand, amused. ]
Mmhm. Makes sense. [ it fits percy, that's for sure. ] Neither Shale or I felt like we fit with it much in comparison. Pink's their favorite color though, apparently, in the normal sense.
no subject
[he's maybe still annoyed about that, too.]