[ He wants to point out that maybe, some of Viktor's life would be easier if he were more cruel, if he did not bend so easily to give grace to those who did not deserve it, including himself.
He doesn't, cognizant enough to recognize that is a losing battle. Why would he, when Viktor has reached out and is touching him like he's something precious, tracing the line where mottled flesh sits upon his chest so gently it is almost difficult to imagine those same hands enacting the (somewhat deserved) violence in the first place. Against his will, his skin prickles, goosebumps rising in response to the chill and Viktor's careful exploration. ]
I think that may be true for those who've committed what they might consider less...contentious crimes. For this... [ This is not the conversation they want to have here, now, Emet-Selch thinks. There is too much to go over. There are too many moving parts, too much to consider. They would want punishment. There would be those who would push for a penalty of some kind - he could pay any bill that came due if they assessed what he 'owed' as a monetary cost, easily. They could put him to death, but it would not take, and he has watched this play out too many times not to know what comes next. Those who realized and understood his nature would fall into two groups, maybe three. Ones who deemed him too powerful to exist, and would seek to add limitations, if not outright lock him up in perpetuity. Those who would attempt to shackle his abilities. And worst: those who would disregard the past and focus only on the fact he is, to them, a godlike being. One immune to illness, to death, who has lived countless lifetimes.
The Word of Emet-Selch could be exhausting enough. He did not like to think about what a cult would look like. ]
We shall see, I suppose. No sense borrowing trouble where there is not any yet.
[ If they survive, and if the dragons and those they've left have survived, it would be worthwhile for him to make a visit to Vrtra at the very least. Largely, he'd left the dragons alone out of respect for them, but there were plenty of pies with his fingers in them that had caused them no small bit of hardship. Emet-Selch would understand if the dragons' long memory was not so easily sated with an apology.
Distracted, he nearly misses the shift of Viktor inching closer, the slosh of the water drawing his attention back to the present, focusing on Viktor rather than a thousand malms away, trying to plot and plan. Obedient, Emet-Selch leans in just enough to press a lingering kiss against the inside of Viktor's wrist where his pulse beats beneath thin, soft skin. Another, careful not to jostle Viktor's hand from his damp hair, cheek pressed against Viktor's arm as he obeys the command, looking up at him through the fringe of displaced hair with a little smirk. ]
Would you care to be more specific in your instruction?
no subject
He doesn't, cognizant enough to recognize that is a losing battle. Why would he, when Viktor has reached out and is touching him like he's something precious, tracing the line where mottled flesh sits upon his chest so gently it is almost difficult to imagine those same hands enacting the (somewhat deserved) violence in the first place. Against his will, his skin prickles, goosebumps rising in response to the chill and Viktor's careful exploration. ]
I think that may be true for those who've committed what they might consider less...contentious crimes. For this... [ This is not the conversation they want to have here, now, Emet-Selch thinks. There is too much to go over. There are too many moving parts, too much to consider. They would want punishment. There would be those who would push for a penalty of some kind - he could pay any bill that came due if they assessed what he 'owed' as a monetary cost, easily. They could put him to death, but it would not take, and he has watched this play out too many times not to know what comes next. Those who realized and understood his nature would fall into two groups, maybe three. Ones who deemed him too powerful to exist, and would seek to add limitations, if not outright lock him up in perpetuity. Those who would attempt to shackle his abilities. And worst: those who would disregard the past and focus only on the fact he is, to them, a godlike being. One immune to illness, to death, who has lived countless lifetimes.
The Word of Emet-Selch could be exhausting enough. He did not like to think about what a cult would look like. ]
We shall see, I suppose. No sense borrowing trouble where there is not any yet.
[ If they survive, and if the dragons and those they've left have survived, it would be worthwhile for him to make a visit to Vrtra at the very least. Largely, he'd left the dragons alone out of respect for them, but there were plenty of pies with his fingers in them that had caused them no small bit of hardship. Emet-Selch would understand if the dragons' long memory was not so easily sated with an apology.
Distracted, he nearly misses the shift of Viktor inching closer, the slosh of the water drawing his attention back to the present, focusing on Viktor rather than a thousand malms away, trying to plot and plan. Obedient, Emet-Selch leans in just enough to press a lingering kiss against the inside of Viktor's wrist where his pulse beats beneath thin, soft skin. Another, careful not to jostle Viktor's hand from his damp hair, cheek pressed against Viktor's arm as he obeys the command, looking up at him through the fringe of displaced hair with a little smirk. ]
Would you care to be more specific in your instruction?