[Emet-Selch took a sip of his latte, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.]
Zodiark was powerful, and despite all he had done for us, for our very star, there were those who feared His power. They called forth another, equal and opposite to Him: Hydaelyn
[He pronounced the name with utter contempt, a dark expression worn on his features.]
They did. But Hydaelyn had a special power: the power to divide Her foes. Strength stature, soul, all aspects are divided by Her power. And She struck Zodiark and divided Him not into two, but into fourteen.
Ah, but Zodiark was our very star given form! And so it was not just He who was Sundered, but the very star and all of its life...Including what few of our people who remained. Only three of us, myself included, survived the Sundering intact.
[He looked at Hal's hand on his arm and sighed again, a soft sad sigh, this time.]
Yes, I am. What was left of my people... were not even recognizable as such. Fractured as they were, they more resembled worms writhing on paving-stones after the rain than they did the people they once had been.
They lacked strength, intellect, aether... They could not even remember who they once had been. All they had was the vaguest sense that there had once been a better world.
Zodiark, weakened as he was, was banished to the moon. Those three of us who remained Un-sundered set out to undo the devastation that had been wrought by Hydaelyn. We would reunite the shards to the source, and thus heal not only Zodiark, but all the Sundered souls as well.
But travel from one shard to another is no simple thing. To make the journey, we had to give up our bodies, traveling as souls along. Thus I became as I am now. With my original body long discarded, I require a host.
Perhaps they truly wished to bring back Solus zos Galvus, the beloved founding father... But mostly I believe they were simply experimenting, getting the hang of cloning technology once used by the Allagan empire.
I suspect my dear grandson simply picked my discarded form to clone as a twisted joke, really.
Why didn't you tell me you were that important in your home world?! Or Ardyn?! I heard him call you a thing, and I thought, aw, a pet name!
[ This kinda stuff isn't that weird to him - he and Snake fought old American presidents and Snake himself was cloned from a legendary war hero - but he still liked to not be left in the dark on something that big. ]
Nero just was grossed out, I didn't -- I didn't get why, exactly --
[ Hal looked down into his travel mug. Ardyn was a politician, so... they have that, too. Old, bitter, lonely beings who got their fingers into the politics of mortals. One significantly more so. And a lot more than just his fingers. ]
Would you prefer I use a title with you...? Like he did?
[ Hal actually does, but not in casual conversation - he enjoyed calling James "Professor" when they were together being naughty. He liked that submission and roleplay. Maybe one day, Ardyn would get him to beg for more science funding from the Imperial Chancellor. Maybe not. It was hard to be honest about things he liked and fantasized about.
Besides, he's just a hole for Chroma generation. A warm body. That's what he decided for himself months ago, here. It's why when a partner is gentle and wanting him to feel good and appreciated, that he's surprised. ]
Hmm. I get what you mean, even if I can't really understand.
[A fractured being not understanding something? Someone call the Mythril Eye!]
For simplicity's sake, you may continue to call me Emet-Selch or, for novelty, you may address me as Emperor Solus or simply Your Radiance. I will answer to any of those.
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[ He leans back slightly and curls himself up, becoming smaller. ]
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Zodiark was powerful, and despite all he had done for us, for our very star, there were those who feared His power. They called forth another, equal and opposite to Him: Hydaelyn
[He pronounced the name with utter contempt, a dark expression worn on his features.]
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So did they fight?
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Ah, but Zodiark was our very star given form! And so it was not just He who was Sundered, but the very star and all of its life...Including what few of our people who remained. Only three of us, myself included, survived the Sundering intact.
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... oh.
Hal reaches out to put a hand on his arm. ]
You're lonely.
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Yes, I am. What was left of my people... were not even recognizable as such. Fractured as they were, they more resembled worms writhing on paving-stones after the rain than they did the people they once had been.
They lacked strength, intellect, aether... They could not even remember who they once had been. All they had was the vaguest sense that there had once been a better world.
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But travel from one shard to another is no simple thing. To make the journey, we had to give up our bodies, traveling as souls along. Thus I became as I am now. With my original body long discarded, I require a host.
[He placed a hand to his chest.]
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One does need heirs when founding an empire.
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Hal tilts his head at him, blinking. ]
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Ardyn's greeting to Emet-Selch, which he thought was a pet name at the time.
It starts to fall into place. ]
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You're too important.
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I suspect my dear grandson simply picked my discarded form to clone as a twisted joke, really.
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[ This kinda stuff isn't that weird to him - he and Snake fought old American presidents and Snake himself was cloned from a legendary war hero - but he still liked to not be left in the dark on something that big. ]
Nero just was grossed out, I didn't -- I didn't get why, exactly --
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[He shrugged dismissively.]
As yes, Nero tol Scaeva... I would have been an old man in his twilight years, when he knew me.
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[ Hal looked down into his travel mug. Ardyn was a politician, so... they have that, too. Old, bitter, lonely beings who got their fingers into the politics of mortals. One significantly more so. And a lot more than just his fingers. ]
Would you prefer I use a title with you...? Like he did?
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[He takes another sip of latte.]
And I did already let Solus "die" some years ago. I continue to to take his form now for its familiarity and convenience.
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Besides, he's just a hole for Chroma generation. A warm body. That's what he decided for himself months ago, here. It's why when a partner is gentle and wanting him to feel good and appreciated, that he's surprised. ]
Hmm. I get what you mean, even if I can't really understand.
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For simplicity's sake, you may continue to call me Emet-Selch or, for novelty, you may address me as Emperor Solus or simply Your Radiance. I will answer to any of those.
[Siiiip.]
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[ A very long pause. ]
Maybe some day later... uhm...
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