[ well. the absolutely indescribable pain of having your soul wrenched out of your body did not feel like a just unconscious thing. he doesn't say that, though, because he doesn't want astarion to worry.
he does look at the reflection, uneasy, and shakes his head. ]
It's... not mine. [ ... ] ... The person who stole my Flame asked me to join his cause, first. I said no.
[ so maybe this is some alternate universe where rondo decided to go to the dark side.]
[ mmm. he reaches a hand up and places it on his own chest.]
... Sir Sazantos wanted to destroy the entire world because he felt that humanity was too wretched and full of desires to continue. He thought that by wiping it clean and rebuilding the world anew using the power of Orsa, the Mother of All, he could guide humanity along the correct path.
He asked me to turn my back on the Sacred Flame and join him, and I said no - that I'd rather fight to protect humanity. [ the way he delivers this information is very measured, if a little sad, and still... very uneasy, looking at his reflection. he swallows, hard, reaching his hands up to his face to try and remove the mask. ]
I... think so. Yes. I would've... [ ... ] I followed him my whole life. So, I guess that I would be his second in command, if I had.
A man of quite a lot of ambition, then. We’re all very good at finding our way back to being wretched, regardless of which path is followed. [ observation, not… judgement. ]
The you who said no, and the you that said yes. I think I’m starting to see what this place is cooking up for us this week. I do so hate the intrusive effects the most.
[ they’re all intrusive, but— if it’s showing possibilities, alternate paths your life could take, all of them must’ve been possible at some point. an opposite choice, a moment of weakness, something like that. leading down a multitude of different paths.
different, but not pulled out of nowhere. ]
Are you planning on letting it eat at you? You know you didn’t make that choice.
[ no its okay you can judge him. you should definitely judge him. sazantos deserves it.
rondo takes a long last look at the armored version of himself. his eyes feel harder. he looks more tired. he has to wonder, if this is what sazantos looked like under that mask - exhausted. it makes his heart hurt, and he listens to astarion's wisdom, letting the words simmer in the back of his head.
he takes a deep breath. and he smiles. ]
...No. No, I don't think so. And besides - it showed something awful, but... it showed me something wonderful before, too. [ rondo as the flameguard, after all.
he has the strength to take a step away and out of the mirror's line, smile still on his face. ]
Thank you, Mr. Astarion. [ hehe. ] I needed to hear that, I think.
no subject
[ well. the absolutely indescribable pain of having your soul wrenched out of your body did not feel like a just unconscious thing. he doesn't say that, though, because he doesn't want astarion to worry.
he does look at the reflection, uneasy, and shakes his head. ]
It's... not mine. [ ... ] ... The person who stole my Flame asked me to join his cause, first. I said no.
[ so maybe this is some alternate universe where rondo decided to go to the dark side.]
no subject
[ confusing. ]
So this is you if you’d said yes? Joined the cause of this thief of yours.
no subject
[ mmm. he reaches a hand up and places it on his own chest.]
... Sir Sazantos wanted to destroy the entire world because he felt that humanity was too wretched and full of desires to continue. He thought that by wiping it clean and rebuilding the world anew using the power of Orsa, the Mother of All, he could guide humanity along the correct path.
He asked me to turn my back on the Sacred Flame and join him, and I said no - that I'd rather fight to protect humanity. [ the way he delivers this information is very measured, if a little sad, and still... very uneasy, looking at his reflection. he swallows, hard, reaching his hands up to his face to try and remove the mask. ]
I... think so. Yes. I would've... [ ... ] I followed him my whole life. So, I guess that I would be his second in command, if I had.
no subject
A man of quite a lot of ambition, then. We’re all very good at finding our way back to being wretched, regardless of which path is followed. [ observation, not… judgement. ]
The you who said no, and the you that said yes. I think I’m starting to see what this place is cooking up for us this week. I do so hate the intrusive effects the most.
[ they’re all intrusive, but— if it’s showing possibilities, alternate paths your life could take, all of them must’ve been possible at some point. an opposite choice, a moment of weakness, something like that. leading down a multitude of different paths.
different, but not pulled out of nowhere. ]
Are you planning on letting it eat at you? You know you didn’t make that choice.
no subject
rondo takes a long last look at the armored version of himself. his eyes feel harder. he looks more tired. he has to wonder, if this is what sazantos looked like under that mask - exhausted. it makes his heart hurt, and he listens to astarion's wisdom, letting the words simmer in the back of his head.
he takes a deep breath. and he smiles. ]
...No. No, I don't think so. And besides - it showed something awful, but... it showed me something wonderful before, too. [ rondo as the flameguard, after all.
he has the strength to take a step away and out of the mirror's line, smile still on his face. ]
Thank you, Mr. Astarion. [ hehe. ] I needed to hear that, I think.
no subject
Like showing you a dream and a nightmare.
[ hmmm. ]
You’re welcome, I suppose. This place is rather good at messing with our heads.