text | un: EXARCH

[earwiggle]

[Well, this is a new username! Meaning this is clearly a new person. His text comes off as mostly curious. Inquisitive as he might be, he hoped this won’t come across as intrusive. ]

Hello there, as I have come to understand…this place is comprised of many people from many worlds.

Call it being curious, but won’t some of you tell me about your home worlds? Do you wish to return to them? It’s quite alright if you don’t wish to answer, call this satisfying my own curiosity.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Comments

[earwiggle]

I see, what a fantastic tale. I am sure the people who sought to protect that knowledge feared who may harness it.

What frightening power could fall into another’s hand, one might wonder.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

What civilization would not seek to?


But enough of the long dead civilizations of my world. Tell me of those of yours.

[earwiggle]

You make a fair point.

What would you hear of my own? I could tell you of a civilization I could never return to, no matter how much I yearn to. I could tell you of the many places I have traveled, the things I have seen.

But I assume that would pale in comparison to your own stories, hm?

[ He's calling you out, Emet-Selch. ]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I have said nothing of my stories. What I have offered of my world, any historian might find.

[He sees that callout and nice try.]

Tell me of something you have seen.

[earwiggle]

What I have seen?

A community of people I came to love, who rebuilt their lives under one banner. It was quite an honor to watch them come together in such a way.

[ Well that could be any community, right? ]

You sound like something of a historian yourself, dear stranger. I cannot deny my eagerness to discuss more history with you.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

What, and not a word to spare for the reason for their need to rebuild?

[It could be, and yet... he sees that careful attempt to not be direct. Even if he will not actually call it out in so many words.]

I have something of a familiarity with the topic. But should you wish to converse in a more private setting, I should be glad to come to wherever you are?

[earwiggle]

It's a long story. Perhaps one better told in person.

[ If Emet-Selch was amenable to that, truly. ]

The Summer Guild, if you truly wish to speak more on the topic.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

You may expect me shortly.

[There's a brief pause. Time enough for the message to be at least seen and read - Emet-Selch is hardly so rude as to not offer that. But beyond that he wastes little time, and before long a very familiar portal is opening not far from G'raha.

Though if nothing else, the man who steps out is not the former Emperor of Garlemald, but Emet-Selch as he once was and is again.]

You requested my presence, I believe?

[earwiggle]

Lest we continue dodging around whatever conversation we need to have.

[ Are they actually going to talk about history? Besides their history.]

You look quite different from before, I recall this look from you during our final battle on Ultima Thule.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Says the man who chose to deny any familiarity with the Crystal Tower.

[By the tone of his voice, Emet-Selch isn't mad, or even so much as slightly put out, by the fact that G'raha had. But neither is he going to let it go unremarked upon.]

This is how I have looked since first I arrived here. After the events you have alluded to, should you wonder.

[And a stay somewhere else entirely, though that is something he doesn't currently care to mention to G'raha.]

[earwiggle]

I didn’t confirm or deny any familiarity, now did I?

[ It seems G’raha is keeping it light too. He’s not mad, just matter of fact. ]

And I assume you aren’t causing any trouble now, I couldn’t imagine you would have a reason.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Even should I yet wish to seek Rejoinings, there would hardly be a point. This is neither our world nor a shard of same.

[Neither of which has stopped him from sometimes being a bit of a troll, but that is still a far cry from the sorts of things he had gotten up to on his own world.]

Besides, I am dead. It is only through the whims of this world that I yet live on.

[earwiggle]

I have come to realize as much. The reasoning for my reaching out to the wider population was to determine exactly sort of world we’ve been brought to.

[He sighs. Though he wants to be angry at Emet-Selch, he really can’t bring himself to be that angry. ]

You have lived your duty a hundred times over. Though we’ve had our transgressions…I would like to put it behind us in time.

I’ll understand if you don’t wish to.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Have you found the answers you sought?

[For once, the question even sounds reasonably neutral. Emet-Selch is still hardly about to offer information freely - including the length of his own stay - but he does still have it, should questions be asked.]

It will not be so easily set aside, I imagine. But I meant what I said, when last we saw each other. It is no longer for me and mine to watch over Etheirys. Our duty - all of our duties - are done; I have no further wish to champion Zodiark's cause or any other.

[It's... an acknowledgement of truce, mostly. One that does not deny the weight of history standing between them, but offers space enough to seek to move beyond it, in time.]

[earwiggle]

Well, it surely isn’t a reflection of the Source. Completely removed if I might say so myself.

[He wants to ask the other man more questions. If he would be amenable. ]

Then let me be the first to extend the branch of peace, you may address me as G’raha Tia, if it pleases you. Though if you are not ready for that sort of familiarity, Exarch is fine too.

I remember your words, they are not so easily forgotten.

[He just huffs, neither displeased nor pleased. ]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

It is completely removed from our world, yes. Even the Lifestream to which we are accustomed is not present here.

[That much, he is willing to offer freely, as both confirmation and something approaching a peace offering.]

The points in time from which we pull are not always identical. You will forgive me for not assuming all will remember the same things, much less with any clarity.

But I am glad to finally have a name by which I might call you.

[Whether or not he will do so when speaking to G'raha himself is another matter. But he does yet appreciate the offer in the spirit it was meant. Even if he does not feel comfortable offering his own proper name in turn.]

[earwiggle]

Truly fascinating…

[ He muses it to himself mostly, but Emet makes a decent point.]

So not only are there multiple timelines, those brought can be pulled from different points in the timeline…

Forgiven, truly. As well as admitting my fault of never giving you my true name, though, I doubt there was even a chance to do so. I had been self absorbed in my task on the First.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

They can, yes. Though it is not always readily apparent that such is the case.

[The comment about having not offered his true name earlier, meanwhile, simply earns a shrug.]

I had not expected you to offer such, at the time. Preferring a title over a name was common enough, prior to the end of our world.

[Case in point: the fact that he himself still does.]

[earwiggle]

On the offering of true names, I'd learned as much from Megumi about how some of your people, specifically the Convocation preferred the use of their titles. In that case, I won't breach the subject of your name. Emet-Selch will do.

[ G'raha still seems somewhat wary of Emet-Selch, unfortunately. They would find themselves at minor odds more than likely. ]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

It was considered a mark of respect to use one's title over one's name, yes.

[Still, he sounds appreciative and if G'raha looks closely he might spot the slightest of nods besides.]

[private to Emet]

[filikos]

Hades, are you well?

[Look, Hythlodaeus isn't used to an Emet-Selch who speaks in circles. He doesn't want to interfere with the conversation at hand by just jumping in, however, so he chooses to message Emet-Selch privately.]

[private]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[There's an unseen blink, as Emet-Selch is brought face-to-face with a reminder of the fact that this is a part of him that Hythlodaeus wouldn't have been familiar with.]

I am.

The Exarch and I merely know each other from a time before. One where we stood at odds.

[filikos]

Forgive me, I was simply curious. I suppose that makes some sense... but who exactly is the Exarch?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

There is naught to forgive. I had not seen a reason to speak overmuch of the time prior to my long-overdue return to the star. If there is fault, it is mine, for not considering this eventuality.


The Exarch is the man with whom I was speaking - his soul is here, though he has not acknowledged his identity. A man I know, and who knows me; should he have any other name it was not one he chose to give to me.

Should you wish to know more, I should be willing to explain after he and I have spoken in person?

[filikos]

Of course. Come home when you are done, but pray do not feel the need to rush. I will be here with the critters.

[And so he will wait patiently.]