[ There is, perhaps, the sensation of a polite knock on the door. And, providing Bondrewd answers, a casual drawl of a voice, accompanied by a sense of bewilderment. ]
You, uh. Went up to Springstar's Tree?
[ From the guy who had just been encouraging him to go back to Springstar... and got... banned from a part of it... ]
Amos is nowhere near as empty as Bondrewd is — he's still got that pesky bit of humanity buried in him; not so deep that he can't recognize the difference between the two of them, but deep enough — but their vibes aren't all that different. He's still mostly neutral, but he isn't bothering with any pretence of being amiable. Mostly he's baffled. ]
Wait, so you were just gonna go up, kill them, do what you needed to do and then be on your way?
[ Does. Does he have that right, he really is mostly asking for clarification, ]
What we uncovered during our work on the Isles, was that the environmental Blight can be resolved by an application of Meridian and Zenith energies. I was going with Miss Rosaria to ensure Helipolis was freed of any lingering Blight, and also assisting her with her quest in the meanwhile.
[ worst combo, really ]
I do not kill people, unless they leave me no choice.
[ Huh. The second part is undeniably a good thing, a sense of approval following those words. (What is the criteria for no choice? Fuck if Amos knows, nor is he questioning it, because his own definition there is pretty damn loose.)
The first part, though... ]
Did you tell anyone that's what you were there to do, or did you just show up and get to it?
[ It seems altruistic enough, especially laid out like that... But Bondrewd does have a peculiar sort of energy to him. A good guy? Yeah, probably. Just a little off in a way that has you wanting to double check sometimes? Also yes, so it might be difficult to blame anyone who stopped him along the way. ]
— oh my, come to think of it. I did not petition Heliopolis to perform the work.
[ He is a peculiarly honest man, actually. Incapable of perceiving lies, and incapable of lying. His directness, alongside Rosaria's, definitely meant that there were some substantial blindspots in their methodology — really, he's a scientist, not a spy! ]
Mm, I know I would have done so, had I not been as driven.
[ Perhaps being Harmonized to Meridian had affected him with a bit more, well, urgency? An impassioned drive that kept him from considering every approach, as he would have. He is no less smart, but — thinking of it now, he would have petitioned Heliopolis for permission to enter, would not have simply relied on his Meridian status, would have brought proof of curing the Blight, introduced Rosaria — relied on his spells even, in a pinch. ]
[ Amos isn't much one for lying, either — but he is one for subterfuge when the situation calls for it, and, well... ]
Huh. Well, maybe next time.
[ If it is disapproval that Amos is expressing, then it's incredibly light. People fuck up, but not like anyone got hurt in this case. Not like Zenith was compromised. There probably won't be a next time for Bondrewd in Heliopolis, but that doesn't mean there won't be a next time somewhere else down the line for him.
So there's the communion-equivalent sensation of Amos giving Bondrewd a friendly little shoulder clap; they're good. And hopefully next time — with this in mind — things'll be successful, and not end up like... this. ]
I think I am ill-suited for work such as this. [ It doesn't need to be said, but he does say it. ] Lying is an impossibility for me.
[ There is a steady acceptance of Amos, though. A calm sort of sensation that is pleased to receive his judgment, but would not have been bothered if it had swung towards a need to punish him for his mistakes. Bondrewd views mistakes as part of the process, after all; even failure is something that one can learn from. Meridian is learning from their failures, and rapidly. He believes Zenith needs to be checked, and soon, for their growth to truly begin. ]
— I will be here, for a little while longer as a Meridian. I believe Miss Rosaria returned to Highstorm ahead of me. I am sure she is disappointed in our failure, although the blame may lie more with me.
[ he is after all
nearly seven feet tall in massive armor and lit up in zenith's personal mascot colors ]
[ ... Is Amos good at this? He wants Zenith to win, because they're his people. That's his home now. And part of that, considering how long he's been here — considering how much he's harmonized already — is making sure everyone else is doing well. He's an Exalt; he knows part of his role is to look out for his people. So reaching out seemed like something he should do, and considering how receptive Bondrewd is...
There is, maybe, a little boost in confidence that he'll be able to catch. A little bit of warmth tinging their communion, because Amos did a good thing here, and he's a little proud about that. It feels nice! He wants to help, and he is. ]
It's all good. We can figure out where you're better suited when you get back if you want. Or at least maybe check in with someone first.
[ Doesn't even have to be Amos, but kind of sounds like getting a second opinion would've spared them a bit of grief. But oh well, nothing to be done about it now; just keeping that in mind for the future. ]
I'm sure she'll be okay. See you when you get back.
[ because yeah
seeing him isn't really a question when he's out there looking like that... ]
I would appreciate that, if you or whomever you trust to recommend would grant me the time.
[ Oh, Amos. At his core, he seems a very gentle person.
Bondrewd cannot parse people or their emotions well, not anymore. Once, he was as human as they came — emotional, driven, given to struggling and doubting, and that version of himself might have been able to take the warmth he feels from Amos and return it wholeheartedly. Might be able to understand it, and surmise something more about him ( whether right, or wrong ).
That was why he had sacrificed it on the altar, in the end. Because, he would never ask anyone to do something he was not first and foremost willing to do himself. ]
I will see you then, Mister Amos. Would you meet me for a drink, perhaps? Your choice of venue, I would say.
[ Amos faces that void Bondrewd offers him — because that is all he has to offer, in this shared mental space — and doesn't question it, because it makes sense. It's only a little weird, but like a frog in a slowly boiling pot of water, it's easy to adapt to. Forget about.
Doesn't stop him from continuing to feel that little bit warm, though. ]
Sure thing. [ And he's maybe even chipper, at that. ] There's a good spot not too far from the Tomes. Let me know when you're back, and we can talk shop there.
[ Because there are two different kinds of drinking: getting fucked (up?) and something quieter, and... for something like this, they're probably going to want the more chill environment. Somewhere where they can focus and actually talk. Kinda seems like they might both benefit from it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
communion, after The Sap Incident
You, uh. Went up to Springstar's Tree?
[ From the guy who had just been encouraging him to go back to Springstar... and got... banned from a part of it... ]
no subject
Yes, I did. Miss Rosaria asked me to help her with a request. As I am Meridian currently, I thought I could kill two corpse-weepers with one blow.
[ He was being helpful. ]
no subject
Amos is nowhere near as empty as Bondrewd is — he's still got that pesky bit of humanity buried in him; not so deep that he can't recognize the difference between the two of them, but deep enough — but their vibes aren't all that different. He's still mostly neutral, but he isn't bothering with any pretence of being amiable. Mostly he's baffled. ]
Wait, so you were just gonna go up, kill them, do what you needed to do and then be on your way?
[ Does. Does he have that right, he really is mostly asking for clarification, ]
no subject
What we uncovered during our work on the Isles, was that the environmental Blight can be resolved by an application of Meridian and Zenith energies. I was going with Miss Rosaria to ensure Helipolis was freed of any lingering Blight, and also assisting her with her quest in the meanwhile.
[ worst combo, really ]
I do not kill people, unless they leave me no choice.
no subject
The first part, though... ]
Did you tell anyone that's what you were there to do, or did you just show up and get to it?
[ It seems altruistic enough, especially laid out like that... But Bondrewd does have a peculiar sort of energy to him. A good guy? Yeah, probably. Just a little off in a way that has you wanting to double check sometimes? Also yes, so it might be difficult to blame anyone who stopped him along the way. ]
no subject
[ He is a peculiarly honest man, actually. Incapable of perceiving lies, and incapable of lying. His directness, alongside Rosaria's, definitely meant that there were some substantial blindspots in their methodology — really, he's a scientist, not a spy! ]
Mm, I know I would have done so, had I not been as driven.
[ Perhaps being Harmonized to Meridian had affected him with a bit more, well, urgency? An impassioned drive that kept him from considering every approach, as he would have. He is no less smart, but — thinking of it now, he would have petitioned Heliopolis for permission to enter, would not have simply relied on his Meridian status, would have brought proof of curing the Blight, introduced Rosaria — relied on his spells even, in a pinch. ]
How silly of me, to be so distracted.
no subject
Huh. Well, maybe next time.
[ If it is disapproval that Amos is expressing, then it's incredibly light. People fuck up, but not like anyone got hurt in this case. Not like Zenith was compromised. There probably won't be a next time for Bondrewd in Heliopolis, but that doesn't mean there won't be a next time somewhere else down the line for him.
So there's the communion-equivalent sensation of Amos giving Bondrewd a friendly little shoulder clap; they're good. And hopefully next time — with this in mind — things'll be successful, and not end up like... this. ]
no subject
[ There is a steady acceptance of Amos, though. A calm sort of sensation that is pleased to receive his judgment, but would not have been bothered if it had swung towards a need to punish him for his mistakes. Bondrewd views mistakes as part of the process, after all; even failure is something that one can learn from. Meridian is learning from their failures, and rapidly. He believes Zenith needs to be checked, and soon, for their growth to truly begin. ]
— I will be here, for a little while longer as a Meridian. I believe Miss Rosaria returned to Highstorm ahead of me. I am sure she is disappointed in our failure, although the blame may lie more with me.
[ he is after all
nearly seven feet tall in massive armor and lit up in zenith's personal mascot colors ]
no subject
There is, maybe, a little boost in confidence that he'll be able to catch. A little bit of warmth tinging their communion, because Amos did a good thing here, and he's a little proud about that. It feels nice! He wants to help, and he is. ]
It's all good. We can figure out where you're better suited when you get back if you want. Or at least maybe check in with someone first.
[ Doesn't even have to be Amos, but kind of sounds like getting a second opinion would've spared them a bit of grief. But oh well, nothing to be done about it now; just keeping that in mind for the future. ]
I'm sure she'll be okay. See you when you get back.
[ because yeah
seeing him isn't really a question when he's out there looking like that... ]
no subject
[ Oh, Amos. At his core, he seems a very gentle person.
Bondrewd cannot parse people or their emotions well, not anymore. Once, he was as human as they came — emotional, driven, given to struggling and doubting, and that version of himself might have been able to take the warmth he feels from Amos and return it wholeheartedly. Might be able to understand it, and surmise something more about him ( whether right, or wrong ).
That was why he had sacrificed it on the altar, in the end. Because, he would never ask anyone to do something he was not first and foremost willing to do himself. ]
I will see you then, Mister Amos. Would you meet me for a drink, perhaps? Your choice of venue, I would say.
no subject
Doesn't stop him from continuing to feel that little bit warm, though. ]
Sure thing. [ And he's maybe even chipper, at that. ] There's a good spot not too far from the Tomes. Let me know when you're back, and we can talk shop there.
[ Because there are two different kinds of drinking: getting fucked (up?) and something quieter, and... for something like this, they're probably going to want the more chill environment. Somewhere where they can focus and actually talk. Kinda seems like they might both benefit from it.
Yeah, it feels good. ]