asgardeventide | Second vision

ooc: Just want to apologize for kind of dropping the ball all over the place in this game lately but my life has gotten insanely busy and I may have to drop some older stuff. There are threads I definitely intend to continue but I'm afraid the pace might be pretty glacial and if you get an ancient tag from me that you don't want to reply to I understand that perfectly. Now, on with the show!

[ Ghanima appears to be her usual calm and collected self, facial expression as enigmatically unreadable as ever. What she chooses to speak to the network about, however, might at least to some hint that she isn't entirely as comfortable in her own skin today as she seems. ]

The apples that give visions, I would like to ask those of you who have tasted them if you believe that what you see is an actual possible future?

[ Not the future because while Ghanima is no stranger to inevitability, she still believes that the future can change. In this case especially considering the fact that they are apparently fighting for the continued existence of all universes here. ]

I am also curious if there are any here who have entered into arranged marriages or similar agreements, if you feel as if that is something you would be comfortable with discussing.

[ And with a slight nod, she ends the video. ]

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[ What she doesn't say is that maybe Magneto was simply the only one who told Pyro what he wanted to hear, even if the thought does cross her mind along with many others. ]

Do you seriously think I don't understand that, or that I am saying that it is that easy? Surely you know better.

And you know better than to think I'd follow a fucking moron. He's the only one who did have any understanding -

[Did, not does. His mind is already rearranging the language, removing Magneto from his present and future. Oh god.

The hard, challenging lines of his expression crumple, and he scrubs his hands over his face.]

Look. I'm not doing this right now. I've defended him to enough people since yesterday when I don't even know what the fuck to think about it myself.

I'm sorry.

[ It's a quiet but very genuine apology. ]

I understand. I do.

[ He opened up a little to her, she might as well return the favor. ]

Leto... the changes in him have made him cruel. He admits it himself. He is no longer the brother I once knew. That person was lost in whatever he went through to become the tortured thing that he is now.

And in spite of the fact that I know this. That the fate of all mankind now rests in the hands of a cruel creature who is no longer capable of human thoughts himself... I would still die for him. I would still kill for him. I will still give my body to his breeding program and carry the children of a man whom he wishes to control because I need to believe that all of the sacrifices we have made were worth it. That my brother will guide humanity through the crucible and take it through the threats he has seen in its future.

I need to believe that, because he was the only person who ever understood me and I lost him. I can't put him aside any more than you can your brotherhood, even if you were to tell me that my cruel god-emperor brother is a terrible villain.

[That earns her a long, solemn silence. Every time he tries to snap back with some sign that she doesn't know, it's not the same, a piece of her speech falls into place with what he's going through himself.]

What if he decided you weren't needed anymore?

[Yeah, there's the fear sneaking out from behind the anger.]

I would endure.

[ She doesn't think Leto would ever put her aside, but she also knows that this belief is based on her tremendous love for who he was. There is no real telling what the God-Emperor might do. ]

But it would be a pain too great for words. I think... I think I would not know what to do with myself. What my place in the world is.

[He sees Mystique (Raven) crying, her strange blue eyes full of tears, and he winces.]

I knew it wasn't unconditional from the beginning. That doesn't exist. But -

[But he admired Magneto for his ruthlessness, and now he's doubting the man for his ruthlessness. He's facing the fact that he might have made a grave mistake.]

It's not like I could stay with them. But what's left? Being a free agent again? Against humans who can turn me into one of them?

{There's something else, too.]

Not like it even matters, because then, whenever it is, I barely even care. I left with him.

I don't know if you can change who you become there, but it doesn't have to be who you become here.

I don't intend to let the future I saw dictate what I do in this place, because that would make very little sense.

I know that doesn't make this any less painful, but all we can do is live from one moment to the next. Don't lose yourself to the future, Pyro.

[ Perhaps he can hear the unspoken 'not you too'. ]

And what if Magneto shows up again? What if he and the Professor both show up again? There won't be any staying neutral, especially if this one remembers me.

[Now he's not challenging or angry - he really does need help.]

You can't plan for that eventuality until you have figured out how you truly feel about what you saw and what your reaction to it told you about yourself.

If you need help... [ Because that is sort of the vibe she's getting. ]

I could try. I do have some experience when it comes to finding yourself.

[ Quite literally, really. ]

I know exactly who I am. I don't need help.

[Defensiveness drips from his words, even though he believes them completely. He's a mutant. He's Pyro. That's all the identity he's ever needed.

But that's not enough anymore, is it?]

Only seconds ago you seemed to be more or less asking for it, or I would not have offered. My apologies if I misread you.

[ She's pretty sure that she didn't, but she's opting for diplomacy here. ]

I'll get through this, alright. One little vision's not gonna bring me down, or change what I wanna do.

[Of course she didn't misread him, and that's why he has to cut this off.]

Good luck with your ten kids. [And he's disconnected.]

Second vision | Video

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