Phedre had survived him, even if Alcuin hadn't... but from some of the conversations he'd sustained when in Liminal Space before, he knew that she still had some enemies, even if fewer than she'd had once. And Alcuin...
"Indeed? And what would this service entail? How will it help them?"
AS YOU WALK THE WORLDS, BE DECEPTIVE, REBELLIOUS. GIVE INTO VICE. DELIGHT YOUR BASER PLEASURES. ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
DO THIS, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE POWER TO LIVE AGAIN, ALONG WITH YOUR HEIRS, IN A WORLD OF YOUR CHOOSING - A WORLD WHICH YOU MAY, IF YOU LIKE, RULE OR ALTER TO BETTER SUIT YOU.
"Ah, you ask so little of me," Anafiel replies dryly, steepling his fingers, "and in return for such a princely bribe. I do wonder what the catch might be, Messire Phaeton."
I AM THE ENEMY OF ALL AUTHORITY AND RESTRICTION. DO MY BIDDING AND THE WORLD-WALKERS MAY TURN AGAINST YOU, THOUGH YOU WILL GAIN THE POWER NEEDED TO RULE THEM IN TIME.
"Ah," he says. "So that is it. You said you might allow me to live again with my heirs. Does that apply to their chosen consorts? Moreover, in terms of your powers to allow the dead to live again... would those powers apply to those less recently deceased?"
Anafiel doesn't have plans to go out of his way to aid Phaeton, but some of the creature's requests are things he would likely do on his own.
ONCE I HAVE ATTAINED THE WORLD, PERHAPS. RECENT IS A RELATIVE TERM TO ONE WHO CAN WALK BETWEEN THE TWISTED PATHWAYS OF TIME. AND THE BETTER I AM SERVED, THE MORE GENEROUS I WILL BE INCLINED TO BE. CONSORTS ARE NEITHER INCLUDED NOR EXCLUDED IN OUR AGREEMENT AT THIS TIME. YOU MAY BE MORE CERTAIN OF MY COOPERATION ONCE I HAVE SEEN PROOF OF YOURS.
"Ah," he repeats. "I suppose that would make sense, Messire Phaethon. What is this world that you hope to gain? A figure of speech or a separate world all its own? Or, perhaps, the world of you and your kin?" He smiles thinly and mirthlessly. "And regarding your earlier instructions: what qualifies something to be a 'base' pleasure by your standards? In Tiberium I heard that applied to what in my country would be a matter of religion, so forgive me if I do not know which standards apply to one of your kind."
ALL PLEASURES WHICH HAVE THEIR ROOT IN MATERIAL EXPERIENCE AND UNCIVILIZED INSTINCT ARE MIND. THE WORLD IS... EVERYTHING THAT IS, AND THE RANGE OF ALL THAT MAY BE.
Anafiel leans against the arm of the chair, supporting his chin with his hand. "So. You are asking me to revel in food and drink, in luxury and wealth when I might find it, and in the gift of desire. Should I do this consistently, you will see me as cooperating you in your quest to gain everything, as it were, and ensure I have that which I want." He makes a sudden sound, quite close to laughter, if not exactly that. "I am no ascetic, Messire Phaethon. I never have been. Though I am quite fond of the pleasures of the mind, I am equally fond of the pleasures of the world. Yes, I can do that much for you. It is, after all, what I would have done in any case."
He thinks of his beautiful boy, who ventured into the the prison of his mind to rescue him, whose had gently argued with him as a near equal in order to persuade him to leave. Thinks of Alcuin's moon-white hair spilled over a pillow. Yes. He would have no problem fulfilling his half of the bargain.
There is a strange grating noise from the being, which will be recognizable
after a moment as the sound of a faceless smile - then Delaunay will
find himself back in a more conventional Liminal Space.
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"Your usage? And who might you be?"
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"Phaethon, then," Anafiel replies, blandly. "I suppose I have been detained at your pleasure."
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"Indeed? And what would this service entail? How will it help them?"
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DO THIS, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE POWER TO LIVE AGAIN, ALONG WITH YOUR HEIRS, IN A WORLD OF YOUR CHOOSING - A WORLD WHICH YOU MAY, IF YOU LIKE, RULE OR ALTER TO BETTER SUIT YOU.
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Anafiel doesn't have plans to go out of his way to aid Phaeton, but some of the creature's requests are things he would likely do on his own.
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He thinks of his beautiful boy, who ventured into the the prison of his mind to rescue him, whose had gently argued with him as a near equal in order to persuade him to leave. Thinks of Alcuin's moon-white hair spilled over a pillow. Yes. He would have no problem fulfilling his half of the bargain.
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There is a strange grating noise from the being, which will be recognizable after a moment as the sound of a faceless smile - then Delaunay will find himself back in a more conventional Liminal Space.