eyeing a couple different options for games. hey kids, who wants a baby Mandarin?

[wrathfulkhan]

[He has seen things that cannot be unseen and learned things that cannot be un-learned. Because everything from "Dragonseed" onwards was intended to turn him into a completely broken individual. And pretty much succeeded.]

I think you should ignore the season finale. Because this is not what I wanted. Nor what I deserve. I don't know if I want to forget that. I think I'm better off not knowing. But if I don't...I'll make the same mistakes again. And find that out, again. And I can't be the cause of it. Once was enough.

[Oh bby. You need therapy and ice cream.]

I don't need therapy. Or ice cream. [He practically spits the words.] I am not some child to be coddled! Did you have your eyes closed for the entire two-parter?

[The moment of vulnerability is gone and the old menace creeps back into his voice.]

And if you put me somewhere that takes my destiny away from me...rotting in a cell like Zhang will be the least of your worries. [Oh man, I am so scared. Not.]

Comments

[ofdrumsthesound]

I'm a thousand years old and my mun still wants me to get therapy.

Sadly, the therapists keep having nervous breakdowns.

[wrathfulkhan]

Do they ever grow out of the urge to try and get us to talk to Dr. Phil or whoever about our problems?

[ofdrumsthesound]

Probably not, although mine just does it for laughs at this point.

[wrathfulkhan]

I'm pretty sure that's her motivation, too.

[ofdrumsthesound]

I've been insane much too long for a little thing like therapy to cure me.

[wrathfulkhan]

Whether it would help or not, she's also thinking of having me committed.

I'm not happy about that.

[ofdrumsthesound]

Probably not a help.

[wrathfulkhan]

Definitely not helping.

Are all mundanes sadistic?

[ofdrumsthesound]

Nah. Mine is neurotic, instead.

[bindsthedead]

Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?

And how on earth can you 'take away' a destiny?

[wrathfulkhan]

[omg nope, he is so done with riddles you don't even know, so he ignores that first part. But seriously...in his case it's about 50/50. Maybe 30/70 in favor of the path choosing him, really.]

It's...there are these rings. My birthright. I was destined to have them. [And he doesn't even notice that he used the past tense there.] I've fought my whole life for them, and she just wants to take them away! [It was bad enough the first time that happened, and that time wasn't even real. The second time was...also bad. For different reasons. And the third time just sucked. A lot.] If she wants them, she's going to have to take them from my corpse.

[That can be arranged, Gene...]

[bindsthedead]

And you don't find them a burden? [Projecting a bit there, Sabriel? Not that she hates being Abhorsen, but she sees it as a duty instead of a reward.]

You'll find that mundanes are rather skilled at taking things away.

[wrathfulkhan]

[Gene is about to shout "No, of course not," and launch into his usual spiel, you know, "I am the one true Mandarin, last of the Khans, Temujin Stormborn of House Targaryen, of the blood of old Valyria, Khaleesi of the Dothraki, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons" -- Given recent events in Gene's life, it has come to our attention that the Targaryen jokes are in bad taste. Those responsible have been sacked.

Anyway, when he usually would launch into some sort of boastful spiel...here he falters.] I don't know. Maybe. I've done things I...regret, because of them. But I can't believe it was all for nothing.

[That...doesn't exactly fill him with confidence, there.]

Fine. If she takes them, we'll see how long she can keep them. [The world record for playing keep-away with the Makluan rings is about...oh, six hours of Gene not actually being unconscious.]

[bindsthedead]

I can't speak to the purpose of things, but did you do that you regret/

[Aaand time to change the topic!]

I understand your mundane is thinking of taking you to Keeliai?

[wrathfulkhan]

[Quick, make like a stoic and ignore things you don't want to talk about, like what you regret! Good job, Gene. Friends are for losers anyway.

At the mention of Keeliai, his combative stance shifts to something a little more relaxed.]

It's one of the options on the table. I'd prefer it to the others. [Because he gets to keep his hard-earned rings of power there and nowhere else.]

[bindsthedead]

Ah- I've been there for a while.

It should be a more pleasant place once the rationing stops and our powers return, but at the moment... Well, I suppose it could be worse, but Tu Vishan is under attack by a very powerful, very subtle entity.

[wrathfulkhan]

Subtle? [Oh, good.] Subtlety is...not people's strong suit, where I come from. That'd be a refreshing change.

Wait, what do you mean, when your powers return?

[bindsthedead]

I'd like it better if it wasn't coming from something that's likely to want us all dead.

All power is drawn from the turtle- and since Tu Vishan is ill, magic and most technology has stopped working.