Mm, no. I do not despise it, nor do I hate those who follow it. [ they stare off thoughtfully. ] I simply feel... religion is a bit of a crutch people lean on when they don't have the nerve to dig a little deeper for the truth they're seeking. A blanket to comfort them when they can't explain good or bad phenomenon, when they are at a loss to believe in themselves.
I suppose I sound like quite the heretic to you. Well, no matter, I do to my own people, too.
[ there's a tiny huff of a laugh - he doesn't mean anything by it. somewhere temenos mistral is feeling validated. ] But - only a little. That's okay. I think, as long as you don't run around and tell people that they're dumb for it or try to force them to stop then... it really shouldn't matter, right? And... your people should let you believe what you believe, too. It works both ways.
[ rondo's gaze tracks away as he talks, recalling. ]
I think my experience with this kind of stuff is a little different than most people's, anyway. When I got my Flame, it was because I was facing a trial set forth for me by Aelfric - he was speaking with us the entire time. It did end up being... you said a crutch, but... it ended up being something that forced me to believe in myself, but it was much more literal.
So...I get what you mean, I think. I always felt like I relied too much on other people to be strong, and it took that trial for me to learn that I needed to try to be strong for myself. [ and, turning back to look up...eye level...? at him, he smiles. ] In the end, what matters is that we keep our eyes open, and we face truth as bravely as we can. Right?
[ throws temenos outta here even though they would get along in clown to clown communication. ]
I think our odds are I am interested in making a study of religious relics belonging to my people. They are sacred, and so, those of the faith dislike the tampering.
[ they glance at rondo. ]
...You truly do remind me of Verin. Unfortunately, I have come to realize here... that... my ambitions have perhaps caused something very dire for my world. In my effort to tear away the curtains of faith covering my people's eyes, I have... doomed them possibly to... both war and... something more dangerous.
[ war admitting they did something wrong. i'm deeply, deeply deeply proud.
rondo, empathetic and attentive as always, frowns at that idea (though he looks slightly happy at first at being compared to war's Super Cool brother again, it does not last)- his brows knit together in worry, mouth softening into a little oh. ]
...Oh no... [ yikes ] That's... did that happen right before you came here...? Is there any way to stop it?
No. Actually, I have... only just begun my plan not long ago. Someone here... made me realize that in the pursuit of my ambitions, I chose apathy despite being able to consider what consequences may occur.
All that mattered to me was finding the truth and depth of our magic I know is held within our religious relics.
ah... it feels a little familiar, but maybe only in wishful thinking. rondo looks down at his hands, thinking it over. a plan already in motion, and a person recognizing they might have taken something too far. ]
So... I guess then the question is... what happens next?
[ ... huh. well. time magic is way out of rondo's purview - it probably has laws he could never come to understand, but he thinks about it, for a long moment, glancing over at them. ]
... Would it...end up undoing everything that's happened since...?
[ it's okay.... never get involved with the details of time shenanigans, sweet baby. ]
That sort of magic depends on what is out there for me to learn and find. I just meant... I am now standing between two diverging timelines, and the choices I make going forward can send me down a similar path, or a different one altogether.
[ that makes a little bit more sense. he thinks about alfyn - from the future, three years present. there's no guarantee that his future is rondo's future, really, is there? he never did ask him who the flameguard was.
but there's no time to think about that, not right now. his brows knit together, and after a moment... ]
... Would it help to talk it through...? What you might do.
[ the offer is genuine, because... of course it is. there's not much rondo can do to help besides be a listening ear, but of course, of course he wants to. it feels a little childish of an offer, in the face of great decisions of time and magic and timeline divergence, but... if it's all he can offer to someone who has been so kind and thoughtful to him, then without a moment's hesitation he offers. ]
Or... if there's anything else I can do to help...
[ war will lead rondo out of the library and murder him secretly in cold blood (no).
they traverse the somehow short distance to the starry city of Roth by way of tree and magical bullshit. the idea i have to skip this to keep the thread from being 500 comments but also acknowledge they wouldn't have walked in total silence.
war seems to like it higher up, closer to the burning orbs, so they climb through the city a little ways until they can stand on a wide patio overlooking everything. ]
[ how will he murder camille in cold blood if war kills him on monday cmon
anyway yes. they had a nice and companionable conversation on the way up and it was great. rondo's relaxed and curious as he follows war, head craning to look at their surroundings. by the time they're up to the big patio, he makes a little noise of awe and surprise, putting one hand on his forehead as if he could see further into the ruins below under the starlight. ]
war stops and regards the starry canopy above them with a moment of reverent silence. then they reach up to slowly pop the mask away from their face, still looking up, so they can see. ]
[ what's left behind is an incredibly handsome young man with rich, dark purple skin and violet eyes. the short, white hair matches the white brows and white lashes. each long ear is decorated with elegant silver jewelry. he even has one through the middle of the nose.
wouldn't it be funny if i was like rondo didn't look because he was looking at the stars. imagine. no - thankfully, the movement catches his attention, and rondo brightens up! just as big and bright as the light orbs over head. ]
his face sort of gently screws up. confusion, not disgust. DON'T LOOK MORE CLOSELY. ]
Yes, well, I assume that is because we're brothers. [ he doesn't mind looking like verin, though. ] You undoubtedly look like your sister more than likely.
Oh, yes, definitely. She's just much shorter than I am.
[ rondo, who still thinks essek is tall, makes a gesture at cordelia's like. chest height. little. ] But, Ravus blood is pretty strong. Basically everyone in portraits of the main family is blonde.
[ these ravuses could be popped out of a cookie cutter. anyway unfortunately it's sappy time. ]
It's really... it makes me really happy. To be able to talk to you face to face, and look you in the eye.
[ awkwardly thinking about how he is, in fact, only about five-foot-six at the most. rondo is gonna be so shocked to find out.
also noooooooooooooo not the SAPPY TIME!!!!!! he immediately looks uncomfortable slightly, but in the way of being mildly embarrassed and also at a lost at what to do with this. there have been a group of SOME PEOPLE who often do this very thing to him, but it is still strange for the moment to... reconcile. for reasons. ]
What, you thought we were faceless aberrations without thought or feeling?
[ resorts to teasing and bullying to dodge the feels. ]
No! No, no way! It's more like... it feels more honest. [ except for the fact that he's ALWAYS sincere so does it actually work? hard to tell.
but after all - when sazantos went to the dark side proverbially, he wore a mask that obfuscated the majority of his face, so... there's something to be said for being able to look someone in the eye. ]
And, anyway, I don't think I could ever for a second consider you without thought! That's what you do! Feelings, either.
[ both brows rise in a playful sort of way. not to worry, he does not wear any sort of mask while lying, he just straight up turns himself into a completely different person. it's fine. ]
Well.
[ BACK TO BEING SEMI FLUSTERED AGAIN AT THE HONESTY. ]
[ get wrecked nerd. smiling!! as always. except on friday where he will be devastated for the second week in a row but you know it be like that ]
Well! [ hehe. ] I'm glad for it, nevertheless.
[ with that he will gracefully change the subject, glancing outwards at their surroundings again. ] ... you must be glad, to have a little taste of home. I know this week, I have been.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Mm, no. I do not despise it, nor do I hate those who follow it. [ they stare off thoughtfully. ] I simply feel... religion is a bit of a crutch people lean on when they don't have the nerve to dig a little deeper for the truth they're seeking. A blanket to comfort them when they can't explain good or bad phenomenon, when they are at a loss to believe in themselves.
I suppose I sound like quite the heretic to you. Well, no matter, I do to my own people, too.
no subject
[ there's a tiny huff of a laugh - he doesn't mean anything by it. somewhere temenos mistral is feeling validated. ] But - only a little. That's okay. I think, as long as you don't run around and tell people that they're dumb for it or try to force them to stop then... it really shouldn't matter, right? And... your people should let you believe what you believe, too. It works both ways.
[ rondo's gaze tracks away as he talks, recalling. ]
I think my experience with this kind of stuff is a little different than most people's, anyway. When I got my Flame, it was because I was facing a trial set forth for me by Aelfric - he was speaking with us the entire time. It did end up being... you said a crutch, but... it ended up being something that forced me to believe in myself, but it was much more literal.
So...I get what you mean, I think. I always felt like I relied too much on other people to be strong, and it took that trial for me to learn that I needed to try to be strong for myself. [ and, turning back to look up...eye level...? at him, he smiles. ] In the end, what matters is that we keep our eyes open, and we face truth as bravely as we can. Right?
no subject
I think our odds are I am interested in making a study of religious relics belonging to my people. They are sacred, and so, those of the faith dislike the tampering.
[ they glance at rondo. ]
...You truly do remind me of Verin. Unfortunately, I have come to realize here... that... my ambitions have perhaps caused something very dire for my world. In my effort to tear away the curtains of faith covering my people's eyes, I have... doomed them possibly to... both war and... something more dangerous.
no subject
rondo, empathetic and attentive as always, frowns at that idea (though he looks slightly happy at first at being compared to war's Super Cool brother again, it does not last)- his brows knit together in worry, mouth softening into a little oh. ]
...Oh no... [ yikes ] That's... did that happen right before you came here...? Is there any way to stop it?
no subject
No. Actually, I have... only just begun my plan not long ago. Someone here... made me realize that in the pursuit of my ambitions, I chose apathy despite being able to consider what consequences may occur.
All that mattered to me was finding the truth and depth of our magic I know is held within our religious relics.
no subject
ah... it feels a little familiar, but maybe only in wishful thinking. rondo looks down at his hands, thinking it over. a plan already in motion, and a person recognizing they might have taken something too far. ]
So... I guess then the question is... what happens next?
no subject
Well. [ hesitation. ] I cannot say with true certainty, but it doesn't seem like what happens next is very good.
However... time is my specialty. So perhaps... I could make a change for... the better.
no subject
... Would it...end up undoing everything that's happened since...?
no subject
That sort of magic depends on what is out there for me to learn and find. I just meant... I am now standing between two diverging timelines, and the choices I make going forward can send me down a similar path, or a different one altogether.
no subject
[ that makes a little bit more sense. he thinks about alfyn - from the future, three years present. there's no guarantee that his future is rondo's future, really, is there? he never did ask him who the flameguard was.
but there's no time to think about that, not right now. his brows knit together, and after a moment... ]
... Would it help to talk it through...? What you might do.
[ the offer is genuine, because... of course it is. there's not much rondo can do to help besides be a listening ear, but of course, of course he wants to. it feels a little childish of an offer, in the face of great decisions of time and magic and timeline divergence, but... if it's all he can offer to someone who has been so kind and thoughtful to him, then without a moment's hesitation he offers. ]
Or... if there's anything else I can do to help...
no subject
Come with me.
[ they do not wait before turning around to leave, but they do not think they need to wait on to do really. ]
no subject
yeah predictably he comes trotting right after them! it takes .2 seconds for him to get up and follow. ]
Where are we going?
no subject
[ war will lead rondo out of the library and murder him secretly in cold blood (no).
they traverse the somehow short distance to the starry city of Roth by way of tree and magical bullshit. the idea i have to skip this to keep the thread from being 500 comments but also acknowledge they wouldn't have walked in total silence.
war seems to like it higher up, closer to the burning orbs, so they climb through the city a little ways until they can stand on a wide patio overlooking everything. ]
no subject
anyway yes. they had a nice and companionable conversation on the way up and it was great. rondo's relaxed and curious as he follows war, head craning to look at their surroundings. by the time they're up to the big patio, he makes a little noise of awe and surprise, putting one hand on his forehead as if he could see further into the ruins below under the starlight. ]
... The view up here is breathtaking.
no subject
[ :bitecat:
war stops and regards the starry canopy above them with a moment of reverent silence. then they reach up to slowly pop the mask away from their face, still looking up, so they can see. ]
no subject
this is a nerd. ]
no subject
wouldn't it be funny if i was like rondo didn't look because he was looking at the stars. imagine. no - thankfully, the movement catches his attention, and rondo brightens up! just as big and bright as the light orbs over head. ]
Es - [ wait. hand over his mouth
....
removes hand ]
-- War! You showed me your face! [ AAAA!!!! ]
no subject
I can't see the sky with that thing on.
[ THAT'S ALL ]
no subject
Heh. Well, if that's the case, then thank you even more for bringing me up here. [ there's a pause... and he peers a little closer at his face. ]
You really do look a lot like your brother.
no subject
his face sort of gently screws up. confusion, not disgust. DON'T LOOK MORE CLOSELY. ]
Yes, well, I assume that is because we're brothers. [ he doesn't mind looking like verin, though. ] You undoubtedly look like your sister more than likely.
no subject
[ rondo, who still thinks essek is tall, makes a gesture at cordelia's like. chest height. little. ] But, Ravus blood is pretty strong. Basically everyone in portraits of the main family is blonde.
[ these ravuses could be popped out of a cookie cutter. anyway unfortunately it's sappy time. ]
It's really... it makes me really happy. To be able to talk to you face to face, and look you in the eye.
no subject
also noooooooooooooo not the SAPPY TIME!!!!!! he immediately looks uncomfortable slightly, but in the way of being mildly embarrassed and also at a lost at what to do with this. there have been a group of SOME PEOPLE who often do this very thing to him, but it is still strange for the moment to... reconcile. for reasons. ]
What, you thought we were faceless aberrations without thought or feeling?
[ resorts to teasing and bullying to dodge the feels. ]
no subject
No! No, no way! It's more like... it feels more honest. [ except for the fact that he's ALWAYS sincere so does it actually work? hard to tell.
but after all - when sazantos went to the dark side proverbially, he wore a mask that obfuscated the majority of his face, so... there's something to be said for being able to look someone in the eye. ]
And, anyway, I don't think I could ever for a second consider you without thought! That's what you do! Feelings, either.
no subject
Well.
[ BACK TO BEING SEMI FLUSTERED AGAIN AT THE HONESTY. ]
no subject
Well! [ hehe. ] I'm glad for it, nevertheless.
[ with that he will gracefully change the subject, glancing outwards at their surroundings again. ] ... you must be glad, to have a little taste of home. I know this week, I have been.
(no subject)