[video] Second Remembrance

[notsogrimreaper]

[You now have one death goddess trying to figure out technology. She looks pretty similar to the derpy kid with the scarf you may have seen running around, though she has white gloves, two pairs of huge black wings, and a creepy mask.

...Though she doesn't look nearly as creepy when she's poking the camera with one finger, accidentally shutting off the feed a few times.

Finally, a few minutes later, she turns it on for good.]

There. I believe I have unearthed the secrets of mortals' communication devices. I should be broadcasting a video now.

It would be much easier if you were all telepathic and could contact those you wish to in that manner, but I digress.

[For a moment, she fidgets, stretching her wings, and then... stutters?]

I... I have been told that if I am to stay here without being able to accomplish my initial duty, I should consider 'having a few drinks' and 'picking up men'.

I am unsure of the social etiquette and instructions regarding these activities. If anyone would care to inform me, I would greatly appreciate it.

((Replies will come from apprisingreaper! I don't know what I'm doing.))

Comments

Run! Incoming TL;DR!

[oathshackledbird]

[Lancer shakes his head.]

I'm not so sure it would be as interesting as that, Lady. This curse only affected one...well two, people. It's just that one was already dead.

[He takes a deep breath to steel himself. Despite how distant the time when this happened is, parts of the story still have the power to hurt him.]

The story starts with a pair of young boys being brought up together in the home of one of the land's gods.

[The boys are actually half-brothers, but Lancer doesn't knew that.]

The younger of the two was fair, courageous and brave, his determination more than making up for his youth. The elder was dark, serious, and focused, but kind and cared for the younger as if he were the brother he didn't have.

[The brother he didn't know he had.]

They had plans--the two of them. The elder had always been promised to the service of the local lord and the younger would follow to be the sword and shield at his back. It was for this time they trained, this time they lived.

It was not to be.

One night the elder boy's father paid an unexpected visit to the god's house with the man who would be their lord. The boy's father was a dishonorable man. He wore the title of knight only for what it could get him. He held none of the honor or nobility that should have come with having such a title. He was also a jealous and selfish man who became enraged when he saw his son being trained and treated the same as the son of a servant.

Later that night amidst the distraction caused by some of the dogs fighting, he caught hold of the younger boy and broke his neck, tossing his body under the dogs in an effort to hide his crime.

He was a fool--his crime obvious to those who were there despite the fact that no one had seen him commit it. The murdered boy's father was a powerful druid and in the overwhelming grief caused by losing his only child in such a manner, he laid a curse both on the now dead boy and the one who had been like a brother to him.

The dead boy was given life again in the form of a monstrous boar that tore from the house and disappeared for many, many years. The other boy was cursed--told he would live only as long as that boar did.

In other words, the two would find death at each other's hand and none other.

[Lancer pauses here for a moment, shutting his eyes and again collecting himself. For a very long time, he hadn't remembered that night. Be it because of shock or youth or maybe something of Aengus had done, it had only been when his lord had told him the story shortly before his death that he had remembered--remembered the pain of losing his closest friend to his coward of a father. No one knew, but one person had seen the crime first hand. He had. But shock, fear, the sharp sting of sadness and his later loss of memory had kept him from saying anything.]

A lifetime later with the help of a lord who had not forgiven the trespasses done to him, the curse would find its end with the boar brained by the hilt of a sword and me bleeding out on a hillside not far away.

I love tl;dr! I'm just sorry I don't have a better response. XD

[apprisingreaper]

[Nyx listens quietly to the story, not really giving any cues that she's interested by the story, yet not giving any hints that she is bored, either. In reality, she is a bit entertained, and perhaps, if her other form was more conscious, even a little saddened.]

And I am guessing that you are the older of the two boys, then. So then, which of you instigated the death curse's end? Were you stabbed, or was the boar bludgeoned? Or did fate assign both of these events to the same moment?

[Now that she's spoken, it definitely sounds like Nyx is intrigued, with all those questions. She never would have made that much of an effort if she was not entertained.]

Bah...a long excited reaction wouldn't be in Nyx's character. Don't worry!

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, I was the older boy.

My lord organized a hunt to deal with the boar since it was causing problems for the people in the area. As it was the area in which I lived, it was my duty to help. At least, that was the story. I'm pretty sure he set it up because he knew of my curse and knew I had a good chance of being killed. He could have saved me after I was injured, but his hurt and anger prevented him from doing so.

During the hunt, the boar charged me. In the end, he gored me first. It was only after I was fatally injured that I was able to hurt him by throwing the hilt of my shattered sword at him. Previously, all of my attempts to hurt him came to naught. My spear bounced off him and his hide was hard enough to shatter my sword.

Always worrying, that's just who I am. :\

[apprisingreaper]

Then you went out to hunt your own friend. Rather cruel of you. Though it wouldn't have mattered, the murder of your companion would have resulted in you having some sort of fatal accident, correct?

It is strange, though... it is like a primitive form of immortality. I am thankful my existence does not depend on the fate of one person.

[Nah, just on the fate of every person in the world.]

Though you say that this lord could have revived you?

I know exactly how that is, believe me.

[oathshackledbird]

[Lancer nods.]

Healed, though, not revived. He had the power to turn water into a powerful healing agent just by cupping it in his hands. There was a spring nearby from which he could have easily drawn the water needed to heal me. In fact, he did go to get it more than once, but each time he let the water drain from his fingers before he got it back to me. His anger and resentment of me was just too great to allow him to heal me no matter how much my friends yelled at him to.

[Lancer smiles a sad and somewhat bitter smile.]

It was just not meant to be and so I passed from this world even though I could have been saved.

/hugs

[apprisingreaper]

Perhaps it was not meant to be... but perhaps it was. It is interesting how much the will of one pathetic human could change fate in your world. It is almost frightening... and familiar.

[Was Minato similar to that lord? He had been able to stop her with his own life force. It had been surprising to say the least, but maybe there were people that were simply that powerful in the world.]

*hugs returned*

[oathshackledbird]

[Lancer almost lashes out at her for referring to his lord as pathetic, but stops himself when he realizes what she just said.

She said she feared something.]

Why so frightening, Lady? Why so familiar?

[apprisingreaper]

Why? I am the one fated to bring an end to any world I am brought to. No single mortal should be able to change what has been sent in motion by many.

...Yet it has happened before. A young human dared to stand against me and managed to hold off what was already happening.

Stubborn boy.

[Yes, she does fear it. She would never admit it to herself, but she does have some feelings. She does feel angry, remembering Minato, and afraid, being behind that Seal. Perhaps it was the few remaining remnants of the boy who called her down coming to the surface. She would hope that was the case.]

[oathshackledbird]

Stubborn? Perhaps. Daring? Certainly. That boy had something he wished to protect. That is the way humans are. They will fight against the most overwhelming odds to protect what they love.

[Diarmuid pauses in thought a moment before continuing.]

That is perhaps your weakness, Lady. You don't care to understand what it is that you wish to kill and so when they do something you aren't prepared for, you have no way to stop them. Even the weakest most scared human can do amazing things if they want to badly enough.

[apprisingreaper]

One solitary human should have no ability to cancel out the wishes of so many.

And nothing is unexpected for me. My duty is to listen to the desires of humans, therefore, I should know just what they want at all times.

[Why yes, she does sound a little bitter.]

[oathshackledbird]

No, Lady, that is another mistake. Listening does not equal understanding. To truly understand you must feel and sympathize and those are things you say you cannot or will not do. If you were able to do those things, then I think you would realize that those so called 'wishes for death' are actually cries for help.

[apprisingreaper]

... Are you implying that perhaps this host of mine was correct? That his emotions were actually useful? I hope you will forgive me for doubting that. His sympathy for humans prevented him for carrying out his role, a role that is necessary for the cycle to continue.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid can't help but smirk.]

That is a very simple question to answer, Lady. Tell me, which of you was more successful in reaching their goals? Therein lies your answer. And don't try to confuse the answer by saying your 'host' didn't fulfill his role. I said 'goals' very specifically.

[apprisingreaper]

That boy should not have had any other goals besides what he was designed for. His emotions were a fluke; therefore, he should have had no need to be led by them.

[oathshackledbird]

What point is there in arguing the 'should haves,' Lady? He did and that is the important part. In the end, it was he who was more successful. Maybe if you spend less time rejecting him and more time understanding him, you might learn how it is he managed to succeed where you failed.

[apprisingreaper]

There is no point understanding him. He was changed, warped by the humans who captured him. Why should he adore the humans who trapped him in that form?

[oathshackledbird]

[Lancer can't help but smirk slightly at that question.]

I don't know the answer to that, Lady. However, if you take more time to try and understand him you might find the answers you so desperately seek. You assume he was changed--twisted--by his expose to those humans when in reality, they might have actually allowed him to find who he really was and what he really wanted. Why else would he adore them?

[apprisingreaper]

He already knew what he truly was. It was being with humans that made him forget that.

[Nyx really does almost sound angry, before she stops herself.]

...I was under the impression that this conversation was supposed to be intriguing for me.

[oathshackledbird]

Humans often think they know who they are only to find out differently later. This go for human-like creatures as well which I assume your 'host' was, but if this conversation is really so upsetting for you, then lets take it no farther.

Shall I try to find something else about myself to amuse you with or would you rather just call this little experiment finished?

[apprisingreaper]

... I believe I am finished with this for now. I have been interacting with several of your kind this week, and now I am exhausted.

[No, Nyx, that's just being pissed off.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Lancer nods and then bows to her.]

As you say, Lady. I wish you well. Hopefully, the next time we meet it will be under better circumstances. Rest well.