01-13-2025, 12:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-13-2025, 01:37 PM by DirectorBright.)
Whenever I'm alone with you...
It's quiet.
There's one more, that I haven't mentioned yet... because I didn't think I needed to.
Yet who would I be if I didn't say the name of the most important of them all?
Her. Juno. My Juno.
I chose you, over all of Meranthe...
Without really realizing it, I guess I said it, too.
She was the reason, you know. That I stuck around.
Still here. Still... enduring.
Retired, mostly. Barely sticks her head out every once in a while...
... wish it was more often. Even if the world is so dangerous these days-
I wish she would still just- be.
We'll be safe soon.
Safe as anyone can be, anyway...
... we will go together, that is what we promised, and it is what will be.
Someday... but... not today. Or tomorrow.
Not for a long time yet.
... I will bury my son, someday.
It's more than likely. I outlived all the rest.
I just hope he's old first.
I don't want to see that when he's young. Not like last time.
Will I survive it?
Can I bear to see it?
I don't know. Maybe.
Everyone dies eventually.
My little miracles aren't an exception to that rule, and neither am I, nor my radiant light...
... when we're ready, I hope. I hope we're ready, when it happens.
I have so much left to do. Sometimes I wonder why. Then-
Did you know, darling...
I told you once, I asked... if you knew, that when the world caved in, when I felt like giving up, that it was my thoughts of you that pushed me forwards.
![[Image: 4nec883wkp4.png]](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/4nec883wkp4.png)
... you make me feel like I am home again...
Whenever I'm alone with you...... you make me feel like I am whole again...
It's quiet.
There's one more, that I haven't mentioned yet... because I didn't think I needed to.
Yet who would I be if I didn't say the name of the most important of them all?
Her. Juno. My Juno.
I chose you, over all of Meranthe...
Without really realizing it, I guess I said it, too.
If there was anyone I would dedicate the rest of my days to, let it be you...
Righteous You...
Righteous You...
She was the reason, you know. That I stuck around.
Still here. Still... enduring.
Retired, mostly. Barely sticks her head out every once in a while...
... wish it was more often. Even if the world is so dangerous these days-
I wish she would still just- be.
We'll be safe soon.
Safe as anyone can be, anyway...
... we will go together, that is what we promised, and it is what will be.
Someday... but... not today. Or tomorrow.
Not for a long time yet.
... I will bury my son, someday.
It's more than likely. I outlived all the rest.
I just hope he's old first.
I don't want to see that when he's young. Not like last time.
Will I survive it?
Can I bear to see it?
I don't know. Maybe.
Everyone dies eventually.
My little miracles aren't an exception to that rule, and neither am I, nor my radiant light...
... when we're ready, I hope. I hope we're ready, when it happens.
I have so much left to do. Sometimes I wonder why. Then-
Did you know, darling...
I told you once, I asked... if you knew, that when the world caved in, when I felt like giving up, that it was my thoughts of you that pushed me forwards.
That's fascinating.
What would she say if she knew who's blood was on your hands?
What would she say if she knew who's blood was on your hands?
Oh.
It's you again...
... I knew I was reminiscing a little too happily.
It's you again...
... I knew I was reminiscing a little too happily.
I never left. You on the other hand-
Does she know?
That your 'great work' is soaked in gore?
That you killed a child for this? That it was your hand that swung the 'blade?'
Garret gave the order, but you were the one who needed a shadow.
For your work, it was convenient to have it.
Does she know?
That your 'great work' is soaked in gore?
That you killed a child for this? That it was your hand that swung the 'blade?'
Garret gave the order, but you were the one who needed a shadow.
For your work, it was convenient to have it.
... no, I don't think she does.
Nor do I think she'd care too much, given the circumstances.
Nor do I think she'd care too much, given the circumstances.
Did you lose sleep over it?
A child, screaming and crying for her mother, and you just...
... carried on like it didn't matter?
A child, screaming and crying for her mother, and you just...
... carried on like it didn't matter?
Not particularly.
There was a baseline level of revulsion for the sight. The act.
It is a disturbing thing to witness, let alone do.
It was almost enough to make me feel sorry for her.
... almost.
Yet that was the grave she dug with her own two hands so fervently that even the redeemer knew it was over.
Nobody who observed or knew the truth thought much of it.
Just concerned that I wouldn't have handled it well.
I don't enjoy ending lives.
I had never killed a human before.
... but I can't say it was particularly difficult.
Or that it was much bothering.
It was a chore, much like the last three lives I ended- or at least had a hand in ending.
There was a baseline level of revulsion for the sight. The act.
It is a disturbing thing to witness, let alone do.
It was almost enough to make me feel sorry for her.
... almost.
Yet that was the grave she dug with her own two hands so fervently that even the redeemer knew it was over.
Nobody who observed or knew the truth thought much of it.
Just concerned that I wouldn't have handled it well.
I don't enjoy ending lives.
I had never killed a human before.
... but I can't say it was particularly difficult.
Or that it was much bothering.
It was a chore, much like the last three lives I ended- or at least had a hand in ending.
And Meri'li? That was one your hands too, no?
That was the first.
That was the first.
I suppose you're right.
Then again, I forgave myself for that a while ago.
So did Juno. So I don't see why you bring it up, other than-
Then again, I forgave myself for that a while ago.
So did Juno. So I don't see why you bring it up, other than-
She wasn't any different and it tore you apart.
Everything was all for her.
I would do it again. A hundred times. A thousand times.
All of it. Every ounce of pain, ever measure of fear.
Every moment in which I wished it would all just end, but for one thing:
Her.
I would walk through hel itself, shoulder every burden, hold up the very stars above...
Just for those moments in which we are together and the world stops turning.
Just for that laugh, that smile, to go on for just a moment longer.
... I was better. We were better. You know that. No innocent blood on our hands.
I don't need to defend myself over it because there's nothing to defend.
I fucked myself and her with carelessness, but it was the Citadel's callous hand that sent her to hel.
They were evil. Openly so. None can question that. Now they're dust, and I remain.
And I will always remain.
That is what I am, who I am. I do what is necessary. What I think is right.
People condemn it sometimes, but I've yet to meet a one who hated me truly that didn't turn out to be some brand of evil.
Be it a witch, or their collaborators, or some serial murderer, or one who simply seeks problems for their own sake.
Even then, I do not need people to understand. I only need them to abide.
I will never be satisfied, of course. It's just the nature of things-
Except for I, in her arms, and she in mine.
Then I want for nothing, and all that is outside of that moment is dust.
That is the way of things as they should be.
Weapons roll off the forges. Synthetics shift in their growth tanks.
The secrets of the universe unravel and I pull upon the threads of Creation itself.
I create things that none have ever seen before and send them into the world.
I build wonders that none have dreamed of.
None of that matters when I see her smile.
None of it matters when I hear her laugh.
None of it matters when I have her.
I don't need to defend myself over it because there's nothing to defend.
I fucked myself and her with carelessness, but it was the Citadel's callous hand that sent her to hel.
They were evil. Openly so. None can question that. Now they're dust, and I remain.
And I will always remain.
That is what I am, who I am. I do what is necessary. What I think is right.
People condemn it sometimes, but I've yet to meet a one who hated me truly that didn't turn out to be some brand of evil.
Be it a witch, or their collaborators, or some serial murderer, or one who simply seeks problems for their own sake.
Even then, I do not need people to understand. I only need them to abide.
I will never be satisfied, of course. It's just the nature of things-
Except for I, in her arms, and she in mine.
Then I want for nothing, and all that is outside of that moment is dust.
That is the way of things as they should be.
Weapons roll off the forges. Synthetics shift in their growth tanks.
The secrets of the universe unravel and I pull upon the threads of Creation itself.
I create things that none have ever seen before and send them into the world.
I build wonders that none have dreamed of.
None of that matters when I see her smile.
None of it matters when I hear her laugh.
None of it matters when I have her.
None of those things that I do are as miraculous as that.
None of them are more incredible than that she said to me, 'I love you.'
Everything was all for her.
I would do it again. A hundred times. A thousand times.
All of it. Every ounce of pain, ever measure of fear.
Every moment in which I wished it would all just end, but for one thing:
Her.
I would walk through hel itself, shoulder every burden, hold up the very stars above...
Just for those moments in which we are together and the world stops turning.
Just for that laugh, that smile, to go on for just a moment longer.
I love her, more than words can express, and she loves me in turn.