"A more reasonable authority, certainly," the Emperor replies. "The sort of order that protects, not enslaves. Due to my nature, I govern both tyrants and benevolent rulers, but one usually wishes to display one's upright qualities."
"Upright? Forgive me, but you almost sound like someone trying to divine the future with Sabacc cards."
He does, however, seem to relax a little. Seem to. "Still, it is of some comfort to know that you much prefer more peaceful means of order. And...you mentioned something about fatherhood. Are you a father as well?"
...crap. That last two words shouldn't have come out. But if he knows him by his real name, surely he must've heard about his son as well...
"Your Sabacc cards would be an apt comparison," the Emperor says. "I understand they are your Galaxy's equivalent to the Tarot cards inspired by we Arcana." But then his tone grows more sober and he looks to the mantelpiece, at those framed images. "I was, once. It might be more accurate to say that I was a brother, but my wife and I... we cared for her more as father and mother than sister and brother. Star... she's gone now."
(The Emperor had been in one of those framed images, with a woman and a little girl.)
"Ah...My condolences. It is never easy, losing one's family..." There's genuine sympathy in his words, and his own heart aches as he remembers the family members that he has lost himself.
"She, like we other Arcana, were engaged in the higher level of play," the Emperor confirmed. "She was... weakened and then a blow that she would have otherwise survived lead her to perish."
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He does, however, seem to relax a little. Seem to. "Still, it is of some comfort to know that you much prefer more peaceful means of order. And...you mentioned something about fatherhood. Are you a father as well?"
...crap. That last two words shouldn't have come out. But if he knows him by his real name, surely he must've heard about his son as well...
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(The Emperor had been in one of those framed images, with a woman and a little girl.)
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"This game that you wish for me to take part of...was she part of it as well?"
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