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I didn't think you'd actually take it anyway. I'm just taking it for a walk.

[That's normal! And he starts walking into the forest.]

I don't think we need any more archons here. It would just get messy.

It's a tree, not a dog.

[ but. he thinks it might feel better for Haruki to finally have that connection back, so he does look pleased ]

I should ask you for some seeds too, actually. That boon suits you.

Maybe I'll plant it outside.

[He laughs.]

Already asking for favors? These supplies are supposed to be used as leverage against other teams. Or at least, that is how we viewed it. With so many leaving Cricket, I doubt we even have ties to Snail or Salamander anymore.

You'll have to bargain for them.

Don't I get special privileges as your Herald? How cruel.

[ but it's obvious he's not actually expecting things to be different - an exchange suits him much better, too. There is something else that grabs his attention, though ]

They were yours and now they're gone. If you're angry, I shouldn't be the one to tell you you should let it out.

Begging counts as bargaining.

I am angry. More than I would care to admit. But these emotions won't solve the problem at hand even though now more than ever I wish to be rid of them.

Anger is a powerful tool. But it's true we have no way to change the course of events as things stand right now. Remember your fury and unleash it at those who are responsible for it when the time comes.

[He pauses for a moment. Trying to figure out how to respond.]

Mad as I am, they are just gods. They don't have to be reasonable.

No. But they are not above punishment.

In the meantime, you may use me as you see fit.

What a way to phrase it. You'd better not be offering that to anyone else.

Of course not.

Others will just have to do what I want and dance to my strings instead.

We'll just have to wait and see then.

[They walk far enough until they reach a spot quite a fair distance from the clearing. He kneels down with the sapling]

I thought about keeping this in Cricket, but I didn't want to tether it to such a lonely place. It deserves a chance to be free, too, right?

... It does. It'll be better for it to grow outside rather than caged inside one of our gardens.

Maybe it will get a domain of its own. A new god to serve it. Clever as the ones here are, time will tell.

[He plants it among the vines and jungle stepping back when he is done.]

If I didn't know any better, you wanted a punishment of sorts. Or did you mean something else when you said 'use me as you see fit'?

Only if you felt like taking your rage out on me. I'm perfectly content just helping you tend to this sapling instead.

But I figured you might need a distraction. I always hate it when my teammates are taken away from me. It is not these gods' place to do so.

You really are too accommodating. I could take nearly everything from you, and I doubt you'd care.

But you are right. I do hate it. I was getting attached to two of them. I also pointless games. Even more losing them.

But Snail lost, too.

I wouldn't let you take everything. But if it's pieces of me then I don't see why not. Besides, one of these days our positions may be reversed. Maybe then I'll be the one who'd want to take everything from you, have you thought of it? Rather than being accommodating, I'm simply making sure you will always have use of me.

As for Snail ... we really need a victory soon.

Is my promise not enough? That I will always have use for you.

[He faces him, wrapping his arms around his shoulders.]

Then you better work for it.

[Nevermind that Cricket lost too!]

[ he's going to bring his arms around his waist, pulling him a little close ]

Is my promise enough for you? You do the same, just in different ways.

[Cute. How about if a couple of vines root him in place?]

I want to hear it.

[ oh. So stubborn. ]

...

Your promise alone will never make me feel safe. To the back of my head I'm always going to think "this is it. this is the moment he's going to discard me".

But if I make sure you can't do without me, then that's something I can count on.

Are you really surprised?

That means you don't trust yourself yet. You've spent far too long with humans and their ignorance.

But you did answer my question which is deserving of a gift.

[And of course these vines have thorns that catch on Mochi's skin as he brings him closer for a searing kiss.]

[ he barely has the time to let out a pained noise at that, his lips are sealed with a kiss and honestly he's not going to complain. He's returning it with the same fervor, the cuts on his skin only spurring him on further ]

And you? Are you worried despite my promises?

You've kicked up a lot of dust. Brought a lot of things into question. Not that I mind. I would rather know than not.

[The vines let up but only so he can kick him to the ground.]

But if you try to leave, I will break you. You won't get far, and you'll remember your place. And if there is anything I do trust it is my own durability. You'll survive it.

Edited 2023-05-27 16:13 (UTC)

[ he's kicked, but he's grabbing on him, trying to force him down with him and laughing as his back hits the ground. ]

Ah ... then I've already made it so you can't be without me, mm? All this effort to be useful is unnecessary.

[ but he doesn't seem like he wants to stop being so, regardless. ]

I'd almost want to test it just to see how you'd break me.

[He falls on him catching himself on his hands. As he sits up, he takes Mochi's wind vision.]

For all your wanderings, you are still a puppet. A puppet created for the purpose of holding a divine being. Even though you've discarded it, it leaves a hole in your chest, right?

You won't accept a gnosis nor any pact with Celestia. Fine. I'm not going to fight you on that.

But I am a divine being. And you've accepted my pact. By doing so, haven't you fulfilled your purpose?

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