❪ event ❫ a moment in eternity

[natha]

TO THERE AND BACK     It has been a month of chills uncharacteristic of what you might remember as summer — cold days and even colder nights. The days are short and the nights feel eternal. With the recent disruption of the network and no sign of a resolution for the world outside of Nadril, one has to wonder what the future holds for El Nysa. What of Olympia, Wyver, and their residents? The animals you cared for - are they destined to remain as frozen as wretched Ysverai forever? What will become of the sleeping ones in Thesa when there is nowhere else to go but this icy city? Yet not all hope is lost just yet. The woman that appeared at the start of the network errors finally shows up again in another network post. Greetings to you all. I apologize for my abrupt appearance and departure before… My name is Nurray, and I am the closest thing to a monarch that you will find here in Nadril. Magda is... indisposed, so I am here to speak to you in his place. First and foremost, you will notice that your network devices are fully functional once more. Should you experience any further issues, please report them to me immediately so that it can be taken care of. Secondly… Investigating the strange frequency interference we've been experiencing has brought some troubling data to light. The passage of time outside of this colony has been halted, of course, but the hold seems... unstable. Whatever it is that Darma has done to contain the calamity, I doubt that it will last for long. Time is an unpredictable force, and attempting to control it can only have adverse effects on the world. You could stay here if you so chose, outside the reach of that magic... but to do that would be to abandon the rest of this planet to an unenviable fate. ...ah, but there is no need to take my word for it. You can see the effects for yourselves, if you wish — merely look outside. "Seeing is believing"... isn’t that the phrase? Nurray has a point: refugees have not been given a chance to see the outside. The frequent snowstorm barrier of Nadril has made it impossible to see what it's like beyond the colony. Soon after the network post, as though the snow has been "turned off," clouds will clear. With the barrier created by the snow gone, the red sun shines brightly upon the dreary city with its warmth. You can see a purple haze on the south horizon, a indication that Yservai wasn’t all just a dream. He's still there, so far away, yet so close anyway. Near the entrance, a mound of snow melts, revealing steps leading towards the underground. It seems to be a part of the subway station you might have found earlier during your exploration of the colony — this time, the station has been powered on. Two trains lie in wait — their destinations read: Olympia and Wyver. — El Nysa is waiting. FREEZE FRAME     The technology found in the subway station of Nadril is truly out of this world. The combined efforts of Natha technology and alien minds have truly created state-of-the-art transportation never before seen by the typical Nysan. It takes no longer than one hour for the intercoms to announce their arrival to the outskirts of the Dranbu Kingdom — though, even with the platform available, the train never stops; it instead continues for another half hour for it to reach the North Gate of the Olympian Empire, where it sits until it's time to return to the tundra. All in all, it takes a mere hour and a half for this high-speed subway travel from Nadril to Olympia. The second train does make a quick stop at the Olympian Station, but it will be another painless hour and a half until it reaches the jungle of the Wyver Kingdom. Because Wyver is its own island, connected only by a bridge, you might notice that a small part of the travel was underwater. The trip takes only a total of three hours, but there's plenty of time for sightseeing. After all, isn't that the whole point of this trip? BE STILL MY HEART. Leaving the train, you are immediately hit with the still, warm air of the underground. It's hot, much different from the winter of the north, but perhaps a welcome change. The station is old, but it still has a fairly new smell to it, and not just because it's been unused for so long. It feels out of place compared to the rest of this world, and this is especially true when you reach the surface. The entrance was hidden under the earth right near the North Gate. Upon leaving the station, you're immediately hit with the familiar wretched smell and atmosphere of the undead. Even if you're new, you won’tt be able to miss Ysverai, the risen Great Dragon. You see this massive creature on the horizon, mouth wide and ready to blast El Nysa into nothing. Yet he remains still — as are all the terrified residents of Olympia. You've only seen this on the monitors of Thesa Station, and now you're able to experience first-hand how utterly quiet and still the world is now. The native Olympians are all over — you see most of them running away from the Great Dragon. Others equipped their armors and rode their steeds straight toward the danger in hopes of protecting their Empire. And the civilians, having lost all hope, are huddled together — at least they would have been able to spend their final moments with loved ones. Up on Thesa Station, you felt dread when you'd observed Ysverai for too long — this remains true here. That dread reaches your heart and clutches it. You feel his pain and suffering, and for those too in tune with emotions, it may be too much for you to be near him. Best to steer clear from him, or perhaps return to the underground. There is much more to be seen, after all. PRAYING WITH FIRE. Another hour and a half south on the subway, and you'll reach the Wyver Station. It's far warmer here in the station this further south, but Ysverai's dread doesn't reach here. On the surface, you are instead immediately hit with the overwhelming humidity of the jungle. With summer in full swing, the layers you've brought with you from Nadril become a burden. In Wyver, the mood is far different. The Great Dragon Yservai was once a being that was respected and worshipped by the Wyver people — not to mention that the one responsible is none other than Prince Raysc — thus his revival is met with somber resilience. Most of Wyver natives, instead of running away, had gathered around fires in prayer. Trained dragons that were unaffected by Ysverai's influence bow by their master's sides in acceptance of what they feel in their heart is to come with the Great Dragon's final blow. You may even spot your own dragon, eyes beamed up toward Thesa, like it knows you were up there at the moment time stood still. It's hard to imagine where one can go from here. You might start thinking about clean-up efforts, how to achieve proper burials for the fallen ones... but with time frozen, you will find that you cannot actually move anything or anyone. It will be dusk, as Thesa's shines across the skies, when storm cloud gather before Thesa's light. And from the clouds is a familiar figure — Once again, she has descended. TIME & TIME AGAIN     Darma is glowing as bright as the naked eye can perceive. Her massive, true form floats before the world she's built from dust. Is this world salvageable in your eyes, Refugee? We held time in hopes that we fould find a way to dissolve this Ysverai back to the ashes from which he was reanimated. Unfortunately, we continue to be unseeing, thus uncertain of the future... after all, our powers are near depleted. Nurray was correct, Refugee, in that I cannot hold time for much longer. There is... another way, however. It is not ideal by any means, but we shall do what we must to keep Ysverai frozen. As for us... we have expended far too much of our energy — Refugee, I am too aware of the misfortunes you've experienced in your time here. I have failed in my promise to provide better living... perhaps, with more time, I may yet see a better future. Until then, I leave Thesa, our hearts, in your hands. Farewell, Refugee. Her brightness dims as she says her final words — at the same time, raises her arms, palms wide, then closes her hands into a fist. In that instant, time is resumed. It's slow at first, as though time is trying to catch up with reality. It takes a several moments until the slow-motion picture before them reaches normalcy. Darma turns her attention to Yservai, whose motion is also returning, but not for long. In her true form, they are comparable in size; Darma's glow continues to dim as she draws closer to the Great Dragon, and then she coils herself around him, holding him still before assimilating into the wretched creature. By the end of it, time has completely returned to normal, and all residents were able to witness the Natha holding time still for Ysverai — The process turns the Great Dragon, as well as Darma, into stone. HIT PLAY TO REPLAY     Darma has resumed time, and Ysverai is no longer a threat. However, it comes with a hefty price for the Natha. The massive, stone statue of Darma embracing Ysverai looms in the valley between the cities of Olympia and Wyver. It's no doubt an intimidating addition to the world, but there is some peace in knowing it's all over. When civilians finally come to, they can't help but look upon the statue in awe — and their respective cities. It's much to take in all at once. Much destruction has been wrought— buildings lay in ruin, and of the citizens still alive, many look to be in poor physical condition. 1. I. The Sanctuary has sustained much damage, and with the high demand of medical care, cannot serve as the central healing place for those in need. Instead, it is up to individual citizens to find resources and establish places of care. Those with a medical inclination or healing powers may set up medical tents, or work out of their homes. Not everything has been destroyed, and it is still possible to obtain supplies from the market or request them from The Sanctuary. There is also, unfortunately, the tragic task of transporting corpses to graveyards and giving fallen citizens a proper burial. The Temples thank you for your service. II. In order to have a functioning city again, buildings and facilities must be repaired and rebuilt. It's possible your own home was demolished in the battle. With so many important buildings needing to be repaired, city officials are too overwhelmed with the coordination of such tasks to double-check that buildings are restored to their original form. What's more, they seem to encourage design innovation, believing that a new, fresh look to the city will revitalize people's morale. Now is the time to put your own unique flair on the interior or exterior of Olympia's infrastructure. Even parts of the Palace need repair. Time has resumed, yes, but the magic that Darma employs isn't flawless. As powerful of an entity as she may be, to tamper with time is difficult. Some would say it defies the laws of nature. Nature seems to agree, and in the next few weeks, El Nysa will be facing a few hiccups as it finds its equilibrium once more and citizens try to return to normalcy. Strangely enough, El Nysa natives are not disturbed by the occurrence of these events. III. Characters may find that they occasionally (or frequently) suffer from lapses in memory. These difficulties with memory may range from light to severe, although they are thankfully not permanent. Within the span of a few minutes to a few hours, difficulties in remembering people and events are resolved. That isn't to say a similar problem won’t happen again tomorrow… IV. Is it just you, or is your housemate looking a bit old lately? No, it isn't just stress making some citizens appear older. For a short amount of time, some characters may find themselves advancing or regressing in age, both physically and mentally. This particular kind of time hiccup is rare and may be particularly disturbing to the affected person’s friends. Thankfully, there have been no cases of this effect lasting more than an hour. V. At times, it seems as though objects and people in El Nysa will feel a bit out of place. These are beings and things that belong to what some may call "alternate universes." Their presence is transient, and some will only appear for a few instances before returning to their rightful existence. The ones that linger a bit longer, however, may make your day more interesting. Before you stands a pet just like yours, except it talks...? Perhaps you'll meet another version of yourself, a more bloodthirsty version of yourself. Or maybe you'll run into a version of your friend that really enjoys your company. The possibilities are truly endless, and potentially mortifying. VI. Towards the end of the month, the frequency of the aforementioned disturbances will decrease. Following this will be an increase in a different sort of disturbance: one that will either make literal seconds seem like an eternity, or force you to move and talk at a speed you never thought possible. It's as though some higher entity is pressing the fast forward or slow down button on life, and considering your mind works at the same pace as normal, the phenomenon is as frustrating as it sounds. Hope you weren't planning to be on time for anything, because it might be awhile before the universe allows you to take that next step. But these phenomena does draw to a close — and with it, you may wonder what will happen now to those sleeping ones in Thesa now that Darma has turned to stone. After all, it will be near the time of which more refugees should wake... Repairs to Thesa Station should remain ongoing so long as parts can be salvaged from Nadril, at least. And with speed travel via subway possible, it should make travel far easier than ever before. Even with Darma gone, you will have to move forward. There is still much to be done. FINAL OOC NOTES     You may acquire REP for Nadril, and either Olympia or Wyver in this log. An AC-eligible thread for ONE (1) NADRIL REP POINT may be submitted HERE BY AUGUST 26TH, 11:59 PM EST. A second AC-eligible thread for 1 REP for either Olympia OR Wyver may be submitted HERE OR HERE BY AUGUST 26TH, 11:59 PM EST. Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[thetaintedsorrow]

[God, he’s so cute Chuuya could die. Maybe he should try to teach him how to do hand gestures and whatnot, but this is too adorable to correct.

His own face lights up at that praise, even if it’s a bit odd to have Meph eating out of his hand, and he picks up another one that’s peanut butter filled.]

Heh. If you think that’s good, try this one.

[He forgets that this one is dark chocolate and has actual peanuts in it as well. Not exactly the kind of thing a kid would like, but Chuuya thinks they’re pretty good.]

1/2

[meinwaifu]

[And he leans forward to pluck it out of Chuuya's hand like a bird again, giving it a crunch--]

[A crunch?]

[meinwaifu]

[Just lets it fall out of his mouth, making a sour face.]

...you betrayed me. That one was very bad.

[thetaintedsorrow]

Oh.

[Ew gross, now there’s chewed-up chocolate on the floor. The rotting floor...]

I didn’t betray you. I think they’re good.

[HUFF. But Chuuya offers up the last chocolate, and a wistful look crosses his face when he realizes that the confectionary he’d gotten this tin from is nothing but rubble now, and the owner slain outside it. Only now do the faces of the dead begin to become clear in his mind, and it kind of just hits him all at once.

But still he holds out the last one in his hand. This one is milk chocolate and filled with fluffy marshmallow, so maybe Meph will like it.]

This one will be better. Promise.

[meinwaifu]

[He crosses his arms and looks unsure... but two out of three was pretty good odds. So maybe this one would be better.]

[But this time, he takes the chocolate with his hand-- and bites off only a little of it to make sure.]






[And then gobbles down the rest with another cute smile.]

Ahh, I think I've really come to like these "chocolates"! Where do they do come from?

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Phew. At least he doesn’t have to worry about facing Meph’s wrath over chocolates. Chuuya sets the empty tin aside, giving Meph the tiniest of smiles.]

Anyone can make them, but I got them from a specialty shop. [A pause.] Before the dragon came.

[But he’d rather not dwell on such things. He needs to head upstairs and see if anything in his room is still intact, after all.

Except he falls through the stairs because the wood is completely rotten. So graceful. Luckily his ability keeps him from taking a nasty fall. Just casually floats back up like a nerd.]

Tch. Looks like I’ll have to float up there.

[He turns to Mephisto then, thoroughly embarrassed at his own blunder.]

You can come with me if you want, but I dunno what I’m gonna find up here, so it might be kind of boring.

[meinwaifu]

[Shockingly, Mephisto doesn't laugh when he falls, merely hiking up the stairs and staring down at where be vanished before he comes floating back up.]

[But Chuuya's words only cause Mephisto to tilt his head in confusion -- lips turned up in a pout.]

You keep saying things as if I need to be given your permission to do them. If I had no desire to follow you, I would have already left.

[Which means teleporting to the top of the stairs, waiting for Chuuya to catch up.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[And therein lies the difference between adult Mephisto and child Mephisto, because Chuuya has no doubt that older Meph would be busting a gut laughing at him right now.

Well then, Chuuya just got told by a child. Humph. But he really has no right to order him around, even as kid, so he won’t argue. This time.

He floats up to the top of the stairs, and with a nod brushes past Mephisto and down the hall to his room. Thank god the floor up here seems to be holding up...]

This is it.

[He opens the door to his room, eyes taking a moment to adjust to the darkness before he steps further inside. He almost overlooks a small bundle on his bed, and only when he realizes that it’s in the exact same spot where Apollo usually curls up and sleeps when Chuuya is absent does he rush over to look.

What he sees breaks his heart.]

Apollo...

[No...no, was he too late?? But he got here as soon as he could!! The pets were supposed to be safe while Time was frozen, right?? But...then time had been resumed, and the animals would’ve been left to succumb to the elements...

Chuuya doesn’t even realize that he’s crying as he picks up Apollo’s body and cradles it in both hands. That beautiful plumage is as vibrant as ever, but the bird himself-]

Apollo!! Are you alive??

[A very weak peep reaches Chuuya’s ears, and upon closer inspection he sees that his bird is breathing. Alive, but barely. Shit, if only he had healing powers...!

Chuuya turns to Mephisto, pure desperation in his eyes.]

H-hey! You can still heal people, right?

[meinwaifu]

...and what right do you have to decide whether that creature shall live or die, human?

[Mephisto has lingered in the doorway, eyes having flickered to the small, dying creature sitting on the bed. Despite the little smile on his face, his gaze remains cold and piercing even as Chuuya meets his eyes with desperation.]

Death is as much a part of life as living. There is no reason to interfere with the natural order of things. One should simply embrace death as it comes, marked by an end of suffering.

[He steps closer, eyes unblinking as he stares up at Chuuya with what's most definitely a demonic grin.]

Would you beg the angel of death to prolong that suffering?

[thetaintedsorrow]

[This is exactly what he should’ve expected from this newly reborn incarnation of Mephisto, and yet still the words feel like a knife in his heart. Only now does he realize that he’s crying, but he can’t bring himself to be ashamed right now.]

You think I don’t know that I have no right to decide that??

[There’s a definite anger in his trembling voice when he sees that smile, but he keeps himself from lashing out at the only person that can possibly help right now.]

I don’t buy that. I should’ve died several times and I didn’t. I know people who died and came back. Death doesn’t have to work the way you say it does!!

[But arguing isn’t going to get him anywhere with a demon. But bargaining...]

Please...just heal him, and I’ll do whatever you want.

[meinwaifu]

...very well. I will return to the bird to a healthy living state.

[And he raises his hand, pointing at Chuuya as his face takes on a more crazed look, eyes practically aglow as they reflect what little light exists in the room.]

After you've proven to me that you can accept the full weight of its life and suffering-- and snap it's neck with your own two hands.

[thetaintedsorrow]

What the fuck??

[Okay, now he’s truly angry. Apollo never did anything to deserve this, and Chuuya is tempted to tell Mephisto to get the fuck out of the mansion, but-

But what if that’s really the only way? Chuuya inhales a shaky breath to calm himself before looking Mephisto dead in the eye.]

Promise me you’ll do it. You can’t lie to me. Say you’ll heal him and I’ll...

[He can’t even bring himself to say it...]

[meinwaifu]

I offered to show you a miracle before, did I?

[While standing over the body of a dead man-- perhaps it's just another layer of cruelty, to make sure Chuuya is intimately aware that he's choosing the life of a bird over the life of a man.]

I promise to keep my word. I already realized the power you hold over me the moment I laid eyes on you. So you know I cannot lie.

CW: violence, animal death

[thetaintedsorrow]

[And yet Chuuya would still choose the life of his bird over a random stranger. No matter how soft he’s become, he’s still a mafioso at heart, and a selfish one at that. Apollo is the closest thing Chuuya will ever have to a child, and that matters more to him than acting all noble and saving a stranger.

He can’t fail anyone else that’s depending on him, animal or no.]

...all right.

[All he can do is trust Mephisto now. If he refuses Apollo will die anyway. And so after a soft ruffle to Apollo’s chest feathers with a gloved finger, Chuuya activates his ability and braces himself-

Before snapping Apollo’s neck with the sheer force of gravity.]

1/2

[meinwaifu]

[The bird makes no sound as its neck is snapped, killing it instantly. The only sound, aside from the tiniest little pop as those small bones are broken, is the sound of Mephisto laughing.]

[But the laughter is different from anything he would have heard from the demon before. This laughter is cold, and sounds almost unhinged, as if he's not quote sure how or what laughter is supposed to sound like.]

Yes, yes, that's it! The epitome of human suffering and selfishness! Mountains of corpses rotting at your doorstep, and you choose to mourn the life of a single songbird!

It's beautiful! Truly human nature at its finest!

2/3 I lied

[meinwaifu]

Now-- allow Samael, the angel of death, to reward you for putting on such an entertaining show!

[Because at the end of the day, that's all this was to a demon like Samael. He had no interest in the personal tragedies of humans -- but because they were interesting, he chose to intervene.]

[Apollo's lifeless body disappears, only to reappear on the palm of one of Mephisto's hands. He holds up his other hand and draws his finger across one of his own sharp teeth, drawing out a steady stream of blood. With a deft hand, he pries open Apollo's little beak and drops the blood inside its mouth-- before bringing him closer and giving the top of his head a little kiss.]

[As soon as he does, the room is flooded with a bright flash of white light-- and as it fades, the sound of Apollo quietly chirping fills the silence of the room. In the next moment, the bird has flown from Mephisto's hand to instead perch on Chuuya's shoulder. The only sign of the trauma he's is faced being a single small patch of slightly curled blue feathers.]

[But that's not the only thing that's changed...]

[meinwaifu]

[...because the young boy who was once standing across from Chuuya is gone. And taking his place is the Mephisto Chuuya knows -- the brim of his hat pulled forward, head bowed in what can only be called shame.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[That laughter is the single most unsettling thing Chuuya has heard in his twenty-two years of life, and that’s saying something considering his background and the people he once knew. It turns his blood to ice in his veins, and all at once he finally understands the true nature of demons. This...this is what Mephisto is, beneath the anime loving exterior that’s grown fond of humans over the years. This is what Chuuya has always thought demons would be like before meeting Mephisto, after all...

He watches through bleary eyes as Mephisto resurrects his bird, and a spark of hope ignites within him when he hears Apollo’s familiar chirps.

He did it. Mephisto actually brought Apollo back to life. He hadn’t doubted his ability to do so, just his willingness, but when Apollo flutters back over to Chuuya only slightly discolored, he knows that his suffering was worth it. Worth it, and yet he can’t stop crying even as he reaches up to stroke Apollo’s chest.]

Hey. I missed you.

[His entire body is trembling now, as if he might fall to his knees at any moment. He barely notices that Mephisto has changed back...]

Yeah. Yeah, I did the right thing. You’re back, and I’m gonna give you all the seeds you want. Then I’ll let you fly outside just like you always want to.

[He’s fine.]

[meinwaifu]

[Mephisto is no stranger to causing pain and suffering in others. He was Samael, the king of time. A demon who has sat watch over humanity for eons, enjoying their struggles and hardships with just as much enthusiasm as their victories and happiness. That's not to say there haven't been times where he fought for one or the other. At his core, the demon he is now cares for humanity. And he would do anything to protect their right to continue to exist... even if it meant becoming their enemy.]

[But the way he was then was so different. The Samael who would go on to travel Assiah for generations, participating in countless wars pitting demons versus humans... the Samael who looked up to Lucifer, despite their vastly different opinions with regards to humanity.]

[He can hear the little trembling in Chuuya's voice, revealing just how emotionally compromised he is from what Mephisto made him do. What a demon made him do, manipulating his emotions-- and for what? Entertainment?]

[Perhaps the worst part of all is knowing that the only reason he feels guilty about what he did is because of how it made Chuuya feel. The inherent cruelty of the act itself escapes him.]

...I suppose I can only hope that you understand now. The truth nature of a demon, and what it means when I speak of it.

[He doesn't even know if Chuuya's listening, but he speaks up all the same.]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya hears him, and it’s those words that snap him back to reality and have him falling to his knees from the sheer weight of his emotions. Apollo curls up right next to his neck, even as Chuuya trembles with the force of holding back his tears.]

It’s stupid, right? Caring about a bird this much? Even if I watched him hatch and take his first breath, it’s stupid to care this much about an animal.

[He only wishes he didn’t care this much.]

Some mafioso I am.

[He laughs, but there’s no humor in it.]

Maybe making me do that was a sign that I’ve gotten too goddamn soft.

[meinwaifu]

...the only thing that's been proven today is that you are human.

[He steps closer, with slow steady movements, reading Chuuya's body language in case he sees signs that he'd rather Mephisto keep his distance. And maybe right now, he should. Mephisto was hardly stable at the moment, with the constant time fluctuations...]

[But even so, he kneels down in front of Chuuya, the expression on his face now softer -- the sort that was actually capable of empathy and emotions.]

Humans draw strength through emotional connections. There's a reason demons only prey on those with lonely, selfish hearts. Because unlike humans, we're deficient in that regard. Our hearts are weak -- in every meaning of the word.

[Hearts are a demon's weak point, after all -- there's almost something poetic about it, for it to be true both literally and figuratively.]

As much as I'd like to say I'm not the same demon now that I was back then... even now, I don't know if I can say for certain whether I truly understand the emotional connection between you and Apollo.

To that end... I can only apologize for how I've made you feel now. I'm sorry.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya doesn’t try to move away when Mephisto steps closer, nor does he grow angry or resentful. His hat succeeds in hiding his expression, but it’s clear that he’s still crying, which is definitely a record for him. The last time he’d cried this much was the day he found out that Dazai had betrayed the Mafia and disappeared without a trace, which speaks volumes to just how deeply this entire experience has scarred him. The bad thing is that snapping Apollo’s neck wasn’t the worst part; no, it was Mephisto’s reaction to Chuuya’s suffering that truly tore him apart.

And yet he can’t stop himself from looking up into his master’s eyes when he kneels down, revealing his tear-streaked face. He’s so thankful that Mephisto isn’t grinning anymore...

Chuuya actually stops sniffling when he hears Mephisto freely admit that demons are weaker than humans in matters of the heart. Not only is he admitting that, but he’s also apologizing, which Chuuya never would’ve expected. Not once in his life has anyone that had truly wronged him ever apologized, and those words do carry weight, no matter how badly Mephisto had made him feel.]

Weak...

[Chuuya wonders if Mephisto could ever truly understand the kind of connections humans forge in their short, fleeting lives...]

You...you’re not lying. You...regret it?

[Of course Chuuya knows that he can’t lie, and that makes Mephisto’s apology actually count for something. With a shuddering sigh Chuuya sits back on his knees, wiping the tears away from his face and looking rather pitiful. He’s almost childlike right now, with how raw and honest his feelings are. He takes a moment to collect himself before finally speaking up again.]

Will he be the same bird?

[It’s all he can think to ask right now.]

[meinwaifu]

I cannot lie to you. Even in that form, had I tried-- I would have doubled over as though physically ill, until I told the truth.

I take my promises very seriously, whether I remember them or not.

[Seeing as he's not being pushed away-- he poofs a handkerchief into his hand, reaching up to slowly dab at the tears in the corners of Chuuya's eyes. He's never seen Chuuya cry this much... to think he was the source of that pain, of magnifying the pain caused by losing his home and nearly losing his pet, causes a heavy weight to coil up in the pit of his stomach that he's not quite sure how to deal with.]

But he is through and through the same bird. Animals experience trauma just as humans do -- but I don't believe he was aware enough of his surroundings to know what was happening.

[J-Just in case that thought crosses Chuuya's mind. Not that Apollo would ever be able to put two and two together for how Chuuya's powers work, but still.]

The power to restore life was one I learned from the Natha. But given the nature of a demon's blood-- for him plumage to change color like that indicates that a small amount of my power now exists within him. I can't imagine it would have any great effect when so small... but it's possible he may have gained anything from a boosted immune system to a significantly longer lifespan.

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya knows that he should be angry, and a part of him still is, but the anger is buried underneath heaps of confusion and exhaustion. He’s hardly eaten and slept just enough to keep himself coherent, but all of this is starting to catch up to him in the worst ways, and it shows in just how tired his eyes look. But he stays still and allows Mephisto to dry his tears, letting the fact that his bird is alive and well finally sink in.]

Maybe he’ll benefit from it, then.

[There’s a long pause, filled only with the occasional sniffle.]

If I wasn’t your familiar would you have done the same thing?

[Would any of it have played out differently? Did his status truly matter then? Or would any human’s suffering have sufficed?]

[meinwaifu]

[Mephisto will let the silence linger. But at some point, he'll poof away the handkerchief and instead reach down to take Chuuya's hand, holding it palm up. And snapping his fingers -- he summons a little handful of birdseed for Apollo, who readily hops down Chuuya's arm to start eating. It's probably not the first time Meph's done this, keeping birdseed ready for whenever he visits Chuuya in his home -- but he figures it's important that Chuuya be the one to feed Apollo right now.]

[Because he does understand that sort of connection -- he just doesn't realize it.]

...that's hard to say. You were the first human I ever spoke with at that time, and I had very very little information to go off of. I wasn't nearly as childlike the first time I incarnated, as my powers over time game me a great deal of information to work with.

Though it may sound strange to you... if I had my full power, I would have recognized you from my knowledge of whichever timeline we would eventually meet, regardless of "when" I came from.