[ AUDIENCE: LUCRETIA ]

[dormheads]

Comments

[ambiography]

I didn't think you would.

But I hope that you believe me when I say I meant it. That's-- all that I want to do, here.

[inaccordant]

To me, the auction system is annoying, but you offered what I hoped for.

[help for everyone else, because hugo didn't want anything for himself.]

I think most people have that intention, even if it doesn't necessarily mean much on its own.

[ambiography]

I think enough of us have it to make it mean something.

[she has to hope so. god, she hopes so.]

...Hugo, while I'm here, do you mind if I ask you a little more about yourself?

[inaccordant]

[...]

What do you want to know?

[ambiography]

Do you remember the memory that I saw, the other week?

[inaccordant]

[he's silent for a bit.]

... Yes.

[ambiography]

...do you have anything to return to, after this?

[inaccordant]

... Does it matter? I made my choices.

[ambiography]

It matters to me, yes, but-- I also wanted to ask why.

[just what drove him to that-- why it needed to be done.]

[inaccordant]

Because the world had to change, and that was the only way.

[and that was far more important than his life.]

[ambiography]

Change in what way, Hugo?

[there's... well, there's no judgment, because she does understand making that kind of call. she's always had to preserve her own life, because she was the only one who knew the truth. who could fix it. but she's familiar enough with doing drastic things to change the world.]

[inaccordant]

[...]

A long time ago, a god became corrupt, and the other gods chose to seal him away instead of trying to purify him. However, even then, his corruption continued to seep into the land.

A false peace has been maintained by eradicating the symptoms that manifest, but...

[there's a stab of emotions past his wall—grief, before it gives way to resolve.]

Like that, nothing would ever truly get better. The only way was to take a risk and unseal him, so that the corruption could be cleansed once and for all.

[ambiography]

...it really wouldn't have. These things have to be taken care of at the source, or the problem will only be worse in the future.

[that grief gets sympathy in response, though, even after it's given way.]

What pushed you to this?

[inaccordant]

... Only a few people meet the criteria needed to undo the seal. On a practical level, it made more sense for it to be me than the other option.

[it's probably not quite what she's asking about.]

[ambiography]

[it's not, but she doesn't press it immediately.]

What were the criteria?

[inaccordant]

[...]

A warlock who'd accepted the power of corruption.

However, most warlocks in that position lose control of their power and are driven to madness.

[so, uh. the pool of sane corrupted warlocks is rather limited.]

[ambiography]

Then I suppose it's not surprising for it to come down to two options.

[and that probably explains what's happened with him, before.]

-is it causing you any difficulty, here?

[inaccordant]

I can usually keep it under control. Just—this place interfering with my memories made it difficult, at the start.

[ambiography]

It's impressive that you have, with that sort of power.

[especially if most of them, you know, lose it.]

But-- you said the other option made less sense?

[inaccordant]

... After the god is unsealed, those remaining would still have to subdue him, in order to purify him. The other warlock—she's considered the strongest in existence.

[something in his emotions stir; his feelings towards this person are... complicated, apparently.]

It made more sense to ensure her survival over mine. Her power would be necessary for the ensuing fight.

[ambiography]

Then-- what you sacrificed yourself to do wasn't the end of it.

[and, honestly, knowing what she knows of him so far and what she might do in that kind of situation, she has to wonder.]

Did anyone else know what would happen?

[inaccordant]

Are we including those who didn't support our decision?

[ambiography]

I'm mostly including those you were working with, but sure.

[was death an agreed-upon thing, basically.]

[inaccordant]

[... well, if it's those he was working with...

there's a pang of guilt, before it's shoved down.]

They were told eventually.

[ambiography]

Hugo...

[that's more or less what she expected, but she just. exhales a slow sigh.]

...I can understand something being that important to you, and-- not really keeping others in the loop about it the entire way, either, so I guess I can't say much there. But-- I hope they had the time to come to terms with it, before it happened.