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.
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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.