[He's certainly noticed that, if the almost surprised expression is any indication. He gets it under control quickly, though.]
That means a lot to me, Dist. Thank you.
[He settles easily enough once that's out there. They're both willing to make temporary sacrifices for their goals in order to help the other out, it seems.]
I'll be sure to repay you as soon as I have my magic working properly again. You certainly won't have to worry about that.
I've no doubt that you will. If you have your magic back prior to joining me in my world, I imagine it will translate to incredible potential in fonic artes. You will be fonist to rival Jade, I am sure.
[Which, considering what Dist thinks of Jade's talents, well...it's no wonder why he would love to see Iago at his full potential.]
[Oh, he knows, and he can't help but be incredibly and obviously pleased with the praise.]
If my magic will adapt well to your world, I certainly would be pleased to lend it to your cause. What I seek is power, but that doesn't mean I can't take some time off from my search to help a friend out.
Honestly, I have found myself wondering what it would be like to have you at the helm of Malkuth, one of the two kingdoms in Auldrant. Its current emperor is a...former acquaintance of mine from my childhood, and he is part of the reason why Jade decided to give up on Fomicry.
[Surprise, Dist has royal connections. They are bitter connections, but still.]
Oh, it certainly would. That is something that I have been hoping for for years.
[Peony absolutely does not deserve this.
Sighing somewhat bitterly, Dist lowers himself to rest his back.]
When we were children, Peony also attended the Professor's school. He was a prince at the time, and lived in our hometown in secrecy until it was his time to ascend the throne. He often tagged along with Jade, Nephry and I, and I often found myself having to vie with him for Jade's attention.
[He was a jealous little kid.
He is still jealous as an adult.]
He had become Emperor around the time that Jade and I were working on our Fomicry experiments, and convinced Jade to ban it for it being a dangerous and unethical practice. I still don't quite know all of the details of the conversation that led to Jade's decision, but I do know that much.
Perhaps he was jealous of how close the two of you were. He may have had some legitimate concerns about Fomicry, but it does sound as though he was no longer Jade's primary interest anymore.
[peony absolutely does not deserve this.]
Though I still do have a hard time understanding why Jade didn't find you fascinating. Really, I'm a bit bothered that he didn't treat you as well as you deserve.
Dist almost jumps right back up, but he'll settle for expressing his conspiratorial excitement on the floor.]
That is exactly what I have always assumed! He just wanted to tear myself and Jade apart, and I am furious with how well he pulled it off!
[But he still primarily blames Jade for even going along with it. Jade has never been someone to be easily swayed by others, so he knows he had as much of a say in Fomicry's end.
Which is why his mood grows somber all of the sudden. He stares up at the ceiling, rather than at Iago.]
I...suppose I did not pay much attention to that when I was younger. I overlooked his behavior toward me, which, as I reflect on it...was subpar at best. I figured as long as I remained useful to him, he would let me be around him. He always did find my talent with machines useful.
[Iago's quiet at that for a moment. His gaze is on the floor as well, though his expression has shifted into something almost angry.]
He should have treated you better.
[There's always give-and-take in relationships, and you use the people around you to get what you want while they use you in return. But that doesn't sound right at all - it sounds like Dist was giving everything he had and Jade was making use of it... and for what? What did Dist get out of this, aside from considering Jade a friend when that clearly wasn't how Jade felt?
It's agitating for reasons he's not sure he fully understands. So he shakes his head as if to dismiss it.]
I can promise you I won't ever treat you like that. I do like you for more than just your astounding intellect, after all.
[It's an attempt to lighten the mood a bit, but something about all that still infuriates him.]
[It's really conflicting to hear outside opinions on his relationship with Jade. Back at the beginning of all of this, he probably would've defended Jade even if it made no logical sense to do so. "It's all going to change once I revive the Professor," he'd say. "Jade will go back to how he was, and everything will be fine."
But Jade...never did treat him well, did he? Even back then. And he was more than happy to overlook it, as long as he got to be around the person he worshiped like a god.
Iago just offered to help him continue his goals, but the more he talks about them, the more he finds himself second-guessing it all. It's...something he never thought he'd do.]
...Thank you, Iago. [He's looking up at Iago now, smiling ever so slightly. Gently, almost.] It means so much to hear that.
[Being admired for his intellect is great. It's amazing to feel appreciated, and useful... But it feels so much better to be liked for just being himself.]
[Dist's goals are honestly meaningless to him; attempting to rebuild the past in such a way isn't something he can fathom pursuing to the extent Dist has, but then again, he's of the opinion that he'd prefer to completely ignore his own past. So it's not something he's going to understand, but that doesn't mean he can't help. It's strange to want to put this much effort in for anyone else - especially anyone who doesn't immediately benefit him like Garon had.
It's not a bad feeling, though. It's sort of nice, honestly.]
Once we make it to the end of this, we'll figure everything out from there. For now, let's focus on making it through this alive, shall we?
[He can only imagine that things have changed for Dist too, even if the shift hasn't been as drastic as it has for himself.]
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[IS HE JUST SMILING LIKE THAT OR IS HE WINKING, IS THIS SERIOUS OR JUST IAGO BEING IAGO]
But that is my preferred role. Allow my dark magic to crush your enemies and warp the minds of those who would seek to harm you.
[HE IS STILL SAYING THIS WITH A STRAIGHT FACE]
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[Iago throws him off again. As much as he tries to look smooth about it, it's still obvious he's also trying not to look like he wants to die.
W-Was that supposed to mean Iago...really does like him already??]
Hm. That does have a much more satisfying ring to it. I am no tactician, but I eagerly await seeing you do away with those in my way.
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I would like nothing more. Of course, I do have to figure out how to get my magic back, but I'll be unstoppable once I've managed that.
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[He realizes that's prioritizing something over his own plans, but...perhaps circumstances have changed his mind on some things.]
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That means a lot to me, Dist. Thank you.
[He settles easily enough once that's out there. They're both willing to make temporary sacrifices for their goals in order to help the other out, it seems.]
I'll be sure to repay you as soon as I have my magic working properly again. You certainly won't have to worry about that.
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[Which, considering what Dist thinks of Jade's talents, well...it's no wonder why he would love to see Iago at his full potential.]
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If my magic will adapt well to your world, I certainly would be pleased to lend it to your cause. What I seek is power, but that doesn't mean I can't take some time off from my search to help a friend out.
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[Surprise, Dist has royal connections. They are bitter connections, but still.]
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[...that is entirely too nice of a way to word what he can do, but shhh.]
"Emperor Iago" does have a very nice ring to it.
[peony does not deserve this.]
I wasn't aware you knew the emperor, though. What happened with him and Jade?
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[Peony absolutely does not deserve this.
Sighing somewhat bitterly, Dist lowers himself to rest his back.]
When we were children, Peony also attended the Professor's school. He was a prince at the time, and lived in our hometown in secrecy until it was his time to ascend the throne. He often tagged along with Jade, Nephry and I, and I often found myself having to vie with him for Jade's attention.
[He was a jealous little kid.
He is still jealous as an adult.]
He had become Emperor around the time that Jade and I were working on our Fomicry experiments, and convinced Jade to ban it for it being a dangerous and unethical practice. I still don't quite know all of the details of the conversation that led to Jade's decision, but I do know that much.
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[A pause as he considers it.]
Perhaps he was jealous of how close the two of you were. He may have had some legitimate concerns about Fomicry, but it does sound as though he was no longer Jade's primary interest anymore.
[peony absolutely does not deserve this.]
Though I still do have a hard time understanding why Jade didn't find you fascinating. Really, I'm a bit bothered that he didn't treat you as well as you deserve.
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Dist almost jumps right back up, but he'll settle for expressing his conspiratorial excitement on the floor.]
That is exactly what I have always assumed! He just wanted to tear myself and Jade apart, and I am furious with how well he pulled it off!
[But he still primarily blames Jade for even going along with it. Jade has never been someone to be easily swayed by others, so he knows he had as much of a say in Fomicry's end.
Which is why his mood grows somber all of the sudden. He stares up at the ceiling, rather than at Iago.]
I...suppose I did not pay much attention to that when I was younger. I overlooked his behavior toward me, which, as I reflect on it...was subpar at best. I figured as long as I remained useful to him, he would let me be around him. He always did find my talent with machines useful.
[It's kind of sad, really.]
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He should have treated you better.
[There's always give-and-take in relationships, and you use the people around you to get what you want while they use you in return. But that doesn't sound right at all - it sounds like Dist was giving everything he had and Jade was making use of it... and for what? What did Dist get out of this, aside from considering Jade a friend when that clearly wasn't how Jade felt?
It's agitating for reasons he's not sure he fully understands. So he shakes his head as if to dismiss it.]
I can promise you I won't ever treat you like that. I do like you for more than just your astounding intellect, after all.
[It's an attempt to lighten the mood a bit, but something about all that still infuriates him.]
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But Jade...never did treat him well, did he? Even back then. And he was more than happy to overlook it, as long as he got to be around the person he worshiped like a god.
Iago just offered to help him continue his goals, but the more he talks about them, the more he finds himself second-guessing it all. It's...something he never thought he'd do.]
...Thank you, Iago. [He's looking up at Iago now, smiling ever so slightly. Gently, almost.] It means so much to hear that.
[Being admired for his intellect is great. It's amazing to feel appreciated, and useful... But it feels so much better to be liked for just being himself.]
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[Dist's goals are honestly meaningless to him; attempting to rebuild the past in such a way isn't something he can fathom pursuing to the extent Dist has, but then again, he's of the opinion that he'd prefer to completely ignore his own past. So it's not something he's going to understand, but that doesn't mean he can't help. It's strange to want to put this much effort in for anyone else - especially anyone who doesn't immediately benefit him like Garon had.
It's not a bad feeling, though. It's sort of nice, honestly.]
Once we make it to the end of this, we'll figure everything out from there. For now, let's focus on making it through this alive, shall we?
[He can only imagine that things have changed for Dist too, even if the shift hasn't been as drastic as it has for himself.]