"Unfortunate," they answer, frowning, but otherwise they show no further emotion. "Indeed I was. Do you remember our conversation? Need I explain my position again?"
"I believe you do. What you said applied perfectly well to Bando, if a bit extreme, but does it have anything to do with what you Trumps have been doing to your playthings?"
"I wish for the wicked to be judged for their crimes, and the innocent to be rewarded," they answer. "And I am trusting your ability to tell the difference."
They remain enigmatically silent for a moment, before answering, "I do not understand playthings. This is not a game."
"Dread Wolf take you, as if this isn't a game to you!" she snaps, temper flaring at last. "Why else do you keep toying with our minds, throwing us in and out of these workds as well as our bodies on a whim!?"
She stalks away, eyes trained on Judgment even as she tries to put distance between them, breathing hard to calm herself.
"And what of these Markings?" She tears off her gauntlet and thrusts her Marked hand towards Judgment, the red lines of the horn stark against her white skin. "You seek to claim us? As your slaves?"
"The best way it can be described to you Travelers is a game, or a tournament," they answer sternly, but do not rise to follow. "Synodiporia... is much more than that. It is the best way to destroy the wicked Cabalists among our number."
Penuel raises a brow at the gesture, but they say nothing except, "You are claimed as my Chosen, as my champion. You are not a slave. I would not subjugate my Chosen thus."
Champion. That's a term she's familiar with, and uncomfortable with.
"I've only ever championed for one man, and it was of my free will. You asked Vitsuki, not me." Biting her tongue to stop from sounding more accusatory, she thinks before asking warily, "What do you mean for me to do, because I know other Trumps have been marking the Travelers. Are we to be pit against each other?"
"I asked, and I was answered," they reply simply. "By yourself. Or rather... a resonance of yourself." They shrug. "The Bard of Earth would say... that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet. It is the same here."
They pause thoughtfully at the question. "You are against each other in the sense that you are working toward different goals. But I do not intend to force you to battle your Moonchild lover, nor your other... friends."
"Not all. Devil would gleefully pit you against your friends, as would Tower. They disrupt the order, the balance." There is a pause. "I cannot allow such rivals to continue in Synodiporia."
"So what do you intend to do, kill them? Or trap them in a Jaunt as the Hermit was?" she asks, crossing her arms. "Why should we Travelers be put to use to help you fight each other for this world, when you've brought us here against our will? This is your squabble, settle it yourselves!"
"We have had enough die already, Champion," the figure answers, almost angrily, though it does not show on their face. "The actions of the wicked must have consequences. But True Death is not one of them."
"That is impossible," they say to Vilari's last comment. "We require other hands, other beings. Else the fabric of reality tears itself apart."
"This isn't our fight!" The fury from earlier is returning full-force, perhaps in reaction to the anger in Judgment themself. "You're forcing us to engage in this- this squabble of yours', and you don't care! You're involving children, the fragile, you've toyed with us!"
She looks very nearly ready to strangle the Trump, in all honesty. "You've hurt us in so many ways- physically, yes, spiritually, without a doubt, and emotionally- When will you face the consequences of your actions!? What gives you the right to make us experience all this pain and heartache for your sake!?"
"Incorrect," they answer, frowning. "On many counts. I have forced you to do nothing. You were not drawn here by my power, but by Fortuna's rules set forth in this round of Synodiporia. I care for you, Vilari Mahariel, my Champion, as I care for all my Champions. The children and the fragile are as capable of greatness as you - for example, the child Right, who I have claimed as my Chosen."
Despite her rage, Penuel takes a step forward, showing deep concern in their otherwise neutral face. "This journey wears on you too greatly, then? You wish me to ease your burden?"
"What do you mean 'ease my burden'?" she snaps, actual tears appearing in her eyes that she angrily swipes away. "You turned me into a mother, something I will never be, and it was just as easily discarded as a rag! Siblings to an orphan who will never have bloodkin, community to a pariah- And now you ask if I need you to 'ease my burden'!? Stop mocking us!"
"But you have been a mother, a sibling, and so on - you have experienced those facets of yourself already." They seem rather confused that she does not see as they do. Their hand suddenly reaches outward, palm up, and they state carefully:
"It is... usually not within my nature, to cease progress, even reverse it. But I can do such a thing for my Chosen, with the hope that you will find your true path."
"Incorrect. They are in your memories. They have not been taken. Yet you wish me to take them from you. And so I must, if you are to continue your Journey unimpeded."
"They were never mine, damn you!" she spits in Elvish, hands curling into fists. "They were Valeriya's, Ritsuki's, the Peregrine woman- they are not me and I am not them. Just how much more of this do you expect us to take without killing ourselves to escape?"
"You do not understand. Valeriya, Ritsuki, the others... they are You, my Chosen. I believe the Earthen Bard once stated that a rose by any other name smells as sweet."
They shake their head, solemnly. "Suicide will not aid your escape. Only completion. I do not believe you are foolish enough to attempt an action which has already proven to be harmful to your species during the events of Moebius. I will remove these memories which are so heinous to thee, but I expect better Judgment next time, Chosen."
And Vilari finds herself back in Liminal Space with the others, her memories hazy.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
"Not sure I'm as pleased to be back, truth be told," she answers slowly. "You... you were the 'dragon' in Bando. The one who Marked me."
no subject
no subject
no subject
They remain enigmatically silent for a moment, before answering, "I do not understand playthings. This is not a game."
no subject
She stalks away, eyes trained on Judgment even as she tries to put distance between them, breathing hard to calm herself.
"And what of these Markings?" She tears off her gauntlet and thrusts her Marked hand towards Judgment, the red lines of the horn stark against her white skin. "You seek to claim us? As your slaves?"
no subject
Penuel raises a brow at the gesture, but they say nothing except, "You are claimed as my Chosen, as my champion. You are not a slave. I would not subjugate my Chosen thus."
no subject
"I've only ever championed for one man, and it was of my free will. You asked Vitsuki, not me." Biting her tongue to stop from sounding more accusatory, she thinks before asking warily, "What do you mean for me to do, because I know other Trumps have been marking the Travelers. Are we to be pit against each other?"
no subject
They pause thoughtfully at the question. "You are against each other in the sense that you are working toward different goals. But I do not intend to force you to battle your Moonchild lover, nor your other... friends."
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
"That is impossible," they say to Vilari's last comment. "We require other hands, other beings. Else the fabric of reality tears itself apart."
no subject
She looks very nearly ready to strangle the Trump, in all honesty. "You've hurt us in so many ways- physically, yes, spiritually, without a doubt, and emotionally- When will you face the consequences of your actions!? What gives you the right to make us experience all this pain and heartache for your sake!?"
no subject
Despite her rage, Penuel takes a step forward, showing deep concern in their otherwise neutral face. "This journey wears on you too greatly, then? You wish me to ease your burden?"
no subject
no subject
"It is...
usually not within my nature, to cease progress, even reverse it. But I can do such a thing for my Chosen, with the hope that you will find your true path."
no subject
She glares with clear distrust in her eyes at the offered hand. "What do you mean by 'true path'?"
no subject
no subject
no subject
they are You, my Chosen. I believe the Earthen Bard once stated that a rose by any other name smells as sweet."
They shake their head, solemnly. "Suicide will not aid your escape. Only completion. I do not believe you are foolish enough to attempt an action which has already proven to be harmful to your species during the events of Moebius. I will remove these memories which are so heinous to thee, but I expect better Judgment next time, Chosen."
And Vilari finds herself back in Liminal Space with the others, her memories hazy.