"Who you are always matters less than what you choose to do next." Kahl chose to let him try, and he's choosing to let it continue, even knowing that he could demand it to be over and Zerxus would listen. It's a stunning lack of selfishness compared to the other god in the room.
Who, at this moment, mutters, "At least I'm not the only one forced to listen to that."
Zerxus rolls his eyes before reaching out to squeeze Kahl's hand. Thank you. I love you.
When he rises, so does Asmodeus; they step forward and meet in the middle, facing each other. As always, Zerxus needs to look up. "I won't give you any more power over me than you already have. But I'll do my best to put you in a better position."
"On your boat, I suppose? Where I can earn my redemption?" His golden eyes gleam with vicious disdain, tail lashing behind him like an angry cat's.
Zerxus shrugs, and crosses his arms. "Take it or leave it."
They both know that Asmodeus is too arrogant to think he can't outwit the Admiral; the curt nod is all but inevitable. "Tell me if there's anything you need from me, beyond what I've already promised."
"I would really appreciate it if you didn't harm anyone else either, but we've been there before." It's also inevitable that the smugly satisfied grin makes Zerxus want to either shatter his fangs or -
He steps back, swallowing hard as his arm fall to his sides. With a nod to Kahl, "We can go." Before he can actually turn away, though, Asmodeus waves a hand and Zerxus feels the chains turning molten and fusing together, fabric stretching and tearing and mending itself. At first it's a relief - maybe he'll be in armour again, or at least a gambeson, or -
I like listening to the stupid things you say, Kahl tells Zerxus.
He wouldn't sit still to listen to them otherwise. Asmodeus certainly doesn't have to, either, the big fat liar. They're having another whole moment, though, so he keeps it to himself.
When the outfit changes, Kahl hiccups for a moment, then cackles with laughter. He jumps onto Zerxus's shoulder as a tiny orange kitten, claws digging lightly into his skin, and nuzzles his ear, still snickering.
"From the bottom of my heart, you deserve this," the Lord of Vengeance tells him.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." It's archly deadpan, but he sure is reaching up to scratch Kahl's little chin.
"I only had so much to work with, you understand." Asmodeus reaches forward and taps the ruby at Zerxus's throat. (He left both necklaces alone; he always does, and Zerxus knows it isn't a kindness but he isn't sure what that leaves.) "Go on, then - mingle, learn, make your plans."
Between one heartbeat and the next he's back on his armchair, one leg crossed over the other. "I'll be here."
He'll be doing a lot more than that, but Zerxus nods; he believes they're on the same page, working towards the same goal. He believes that Asmodeus means that promise, at least for now; he tends stand by his actual word, to the letter if not the spirit, and I will not harm him is pretty basic.
Zerxus could, perhaps, stand to be more imaginative.
Kahl, who recognizes when a mortal is being, to some extent, humored, feels no such reassurance. He entertains a brief mental fantasy of sticking Asmodeus and Usein Darre with each other.
"Go on," Kahl echoes, jumping down from Zerxus's shoulder, flowing into the tiger in the air, landing in silence. "I want to say one more thing to him, god to god. I promise it won't be stupid posturing."
"I'm only saying this because probably it won't matter at all," Kahl admits. "It doesn't matter if he actually persuades you, because I doubt the Cap'n will ever let you go. But the Admiral is a greedy magpie, so, maybe. Who knows. And I know what it is to be killed, unbearably soon after tasting freedom. So I'll tell you this for free, just in case. When I died, the Admiral promised me only two things: a chance, and help. So far, he has not reneged. And I don't think his standards are the same as -"
He flicks his ears in the direction of Zerxus, and the door. All the naive do-gooders that make up only part of his employees.
"Some of those he returns to life are never sorry. I don't think I will be. So if you ever do get a chance to make that decision - redemption is just a word. It's a face of the Admiral he wants to see."
But underneath mortal apprehension, the Admiral is at least as complicated as they are, Kahl is pretty sure.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: Narrenschiff, Day One
Who, at this moment, mutters, "At least I'm not the only one forced to listen to that."
Zerxus rolls his eyes before reaching out to squeeze Kahl's hand. Thank you. I love you.
When he rises, so does Asmodeus; they step forward and meet in the middle, facing each other. As always, Zerxus needs to look up. "I won't give you any more power over me than you already have. But I'll do my best to put you in a better position."
"On your boat, I suppose? Where I can earn my redemption?" His golden eyes gleam with vicious disdain, tail lashing behind him like an angry cat's.
Zerxus shrugs, and crosses his arms. "Take it or leave it."
They both know that Asmodeus is too arrogant to think he can't outwit the Admiral; the curt nod is all but inevitable. "Tell me if there's anything you need from me, beyond what I've already promised."
"I would really appreciate it if you didn't harm anyone else either, but we've been there before." It's also inevitable that the smugly satisfied grin makes Zerxus want to either shatter his fangs or -
He steps back, swallowing hard as his arm fall to his sides. With a nod to Kahl, "We can go." Before he can actually turn away, though, Asmodeus waves a hand and Zerxus feels the chains turning molten and fusing together, fabric stretching and tearing and mending itself. At first it's a relief - maybe he'll be in armour again, or at least a gambeson, or -
Then he looks down.
Re: Narrenschiff, Day One
He wouldn't sit still to listen to them otherwise. Asmodeus certainly doesn't have to, either, the big fat liar. They're having another whole moment, though, so he keeps it to himself.
When the outfit changes, Kahl hiccups for a moment, then cackles with laughter. He jumps onto Zerxus's shoulder as a tiny orange kitten, claws digging lightly into his skin, and nuzzles his ear, still snickering.
"From the bottom of my heart, you deserve this," the Lord of Vengeance tells him.
Re: Narrenschiff, Day One
"I only had so much to work with, you understand." Asmodeus reaches forward and taps the ruby at Zerxus's throat. (He left both necklaces alone; he always does, and Zerxus knows it isn't a kindness but he isn't sure what that leaves.) "Go on, then - mingle, learn, make your plans."
Between one heartbeat and the next he's back on his armchair, one leg crossed over the other. "I'll be here."
He'll be doing a lot more than that, but Zerxus nods; he believes they're on the same page, working towards the same goal. He believes that Asmodeus means that promise, at least for now; he tends stand by his actual word, to the letter if not the spirit, and I will not harm him is pretty basic.
Zerxus could, perhaps, stand to be more imaginative.
Re: Narrenschiff, Day One
"Go on," Kahl echoes, jumping down from Zerxus's shoulder, flowing into the tiger in the air, landing in silence. "I want to say one more thing to him, god to god. I promise it won't be stupid posturing."
Re: Narrenschiff, Day One
"I'll be right outside." An oath to Kahl, a warning to Asmodeus, and then he's gone.
Re: Narrenschiff, Day One
He flicks his ears in the direction of Zerxus, and the door. All the naive do-gooders that make up only part of his employees.
"Some of those he returns to life are never sorry. I don't think I will be. So if you ever do get a chance to make that decision - redemption is just a word. It's a face of the Admiral he wants to see."
But underneath mortal apprehension, the Admiral is at least as complicated as they are, Kahl is pretty sure.
Re: Narrenschiff, Day One
He would know a lie if he heard it. His champion's new god is giving him advice.
His expression is still and cool as a winter lake. "An interesting perspective. I'll consider it."
Re: Narrenschiff, Day One
Information that Zerxus himself cannot give him, because Zerxus is a bit too morally earnest to know it in the first place.
Then he puts himself outside the doors, back at Zerxus's side.