gotmilfs | TRUTH BOOTH

[ Her mindset going into this is to be as professional as possible — honestly, she's expecting a walk in silence. So, him piping up is a surprise.

She gives him a brief glance out of the corner of her eye, before returning her gaze forward. Stern and expectant, like she's receiving a report from a subordinate rather than anything emotional in any way: ]

Well? Out with it.

I'll be as straight as I can with all that I am about to say.

[Thank you truth week. :/

He places a hand to his chest and does a slight incline of a bow.]

I am the Geo Archon, God of Liyue and of Contracts. Rex Lapis to my people and Morax to the Heavenly Principles and many more before my claim to dominion over the land. But to the people of Liyue, Rex Lapis is dead. He fell from the sky one ceremonious day and never rose again. I performed the ancient rites myself and that was the end of his long legacy.

[He straightness and returns his hands behind his back.]

I never asked nor wanted dominion. One day the Heavenly Principles demanded much of the world of Gods and Monsters. And for those who wished to ascend to a throne of heaven must fight amongst themselves and climb to the highest of ranks. A plight my fellow Adeptus and I did much to ignore until one of us was slain right in our very home.

To protect the people and the rest of my family I ascended and became the Archon that was asked for. A throne of binding divinity where you are at the beck and call of the Heavenly Principles to do their biding... No matter their call. No matter the atrocity. It must be done.

I am bound by contract not to speak of some of the things asked of me. And so I cannot. But know that they will smite a nation off the map and have demanded it to be so.

Long winded though this may seem it does lead to me playing human now. A reprieve and rest after many millennia of work. To live among the people and pretend to be one of them. To think myself clever enough to slip free of the shackles of the Divine and escape their notice. So I came here with the intent to continue to play human. Especially if those in Liyue were to see. And that matches were of little consequence. But I suppose there is some small part that did hope for more. I think save perhaps one or two of us there is some spark of want for it all to mean something. It was never something to give voice to. My age should never have slipped past so freely. There were more compelling reasons I had why I thought this unlikely.

Such a secret to reveal to the people of Liyue... Should they have seen and heard it would mean no more playing human. A small thing, of course. One can return to their divine duties. And surely, over time, mend the gap between my people and myself for this deceit. What one cannot do is make amends with the Heavenly Principles over deception. What divine consequence will face Liyue should they learn of such actions?

Words spoken to you were done out of a spiraling concern as age became the focus revealing much and more to my people. But that does not make them the correct things to be spoken. And they were misplaced and wrong. After all... It was my actions that have put Liyue in this position to begin with. Cowardly and selfish as the long march of time wears heavy.

What you have said about me is true enough. But what I have said about you is deeply incorrect. And my apologies in regards to saying them could not be more sincere.

[ It's certainly a lot to take in — and she can see now, a little bit more, why Lucifer and Zhongli might have been drawn together, tied to the divine as they are. Lin herself — well, she's firmly rooted in the earth, the material plane, often not thinking of larger spiritual matters of the sort he seems to speak of. She's got too many things on the ground to take care of.

Still, what he says does make sense. She just wishes it could have come out in a way that benefitted them all. She's sure there might have been a way to conceal what needed to be concealed for the sake of his people... and it does make her regret how things have ultimately turned out. But, as ever, there's no turning back. ]

...Believe me, I know a thing or two about duty.

[ It's surprisingly flippant all things considered, casual and down to earth, as she always is. Because — she gets it. As far as she can understand, the need to act this way is all born out of the same desire to protect his people. ]

Pretending to be human... allowed you to get away from it all, at least for a time, right?

[ She thinks about ~~her daughter~~ Korra, who has the weight of the world on her shoulders all the time, what it does to someone to have that much power over the world. Proud and stubborn as Lin can be she can be empathetic, too. ]

There were other ways to go about this. It's not like I expect you to just open up to any of us, or even trust us with the full truth of such things. I mean — hah, I'm no God. [ That, she'll be frank with, a blunt chuckle escaping her lips. It's not self-deprecating, but she still does firmly believe that he sees the two of them on separate levels, and her tone reflects that. ] But I am a woman who wanted the best for everyone here. That includes you. I have a duty and people who mean more than anything to me too, you know. Everything I've done and said has been for the sake of our victory.

[ That's her own way of saying that she didn't mean anything as a personal attack — just general frustration about how they might have played the game better in hindsight. She doesn't accept his apology outright just yet, folding her arms loosely over her chest. ]

I don't preside over a whole nation, but I'm responsible for the safety of every citizen in Republic City. If I had a secret like yours, if it was to protect those people, I can understand why you'd keep it. [ a beat. ] I only wish you might have considered that others might have understood that too, immortal or no. But we can't change the past.

[He hums, a soft quiet thing.]

Mountains do not bend to the call of the wind. The downpour of rain. Nor hail or sleet... All to say stubbornness is a poor trait. And I have found myself more firmly rooted in the ground as the years go on. I truly did not wish to speak of what I had to more than necessary.

[It's impossible to express what the Heavenly Principles can do to nations. To nations of their own Archons, as was recently experienced and was told to him by the Traveler.]

To cleanse the land and defend our safe harbor. That was the first contract of Liyue. Written by my own hands and followed by mortal and Adeptus alike. Thus the secrecy. But you are correct... We cannot change the past no matter how we might wish it so.

[He unclasps his vision from behind his back.]

If you'd allow me one more moment to make proper amends...

[He takes a few careful steps back, needing room as he's about to get very big. And in an instant a large dragon takes his place. He lowers his head, pressing his stomach to the ground in an attempt to bow in this unwieldy form but to also hand off the small vision clutched carefully in his maw.]

Archons do not grant visions... But were it in my power I would grant you a proper one. One who is most certainly worthy of it. Far worthier than I.

[ DID HE JUST TURN INTO A DRAGON ]

[ She doesn't do a thing to hide her clear shock at his transformation, stumbling back a bit, even, hands coming up in defense more out of instinct than anything else. Dragons exist where she lives.... but no 'people' who could change in to such a form. Her mouth gapes open, appalled at the display — and honestly? Surprised that he resorted to it. His actions, here, do much more to convince her of his remorse than anything he'd said. She takes his deferential posture for the apology it is, seeming almost flustered by the serious gesture. After some contemplation, her sternness relents. ]

Oh, okay — I get it. Is this really necessary?

[ Leave it to Lin to try to keep things cool and casual and Not Emotional. It's a bit awkward, the way she approaches to take the small Vision — it'd be rude not to, at this point — and she winces as she does, turning it over this way and that in her palm. ]

You want me to keep this? [ She's never really considered herself deserving of anything too special, especially not a gift from a god. Isn't it a little conceited to accept something like this? The only thing of value she's ever proudly accepted is her position. ] Changed your mind about me being worthy, did you.

[ That's offered sarcastically — it's not cutting. Actually, that sounds more self-deprecating than anything else she's said, disbelieving while she clutches the small artifact. ]

It is. [He thinks so anyway. There's no use hiding anything at this point. What's said is said. He will figure out what to do in Liyue when the time comes. Ningguang is going to be exceptionally cross and Barbatos is never going to silence himself about any of this. But to write a wrong... He will suffer whatever humiliation may come his way.] I can offer no greater concession.

I will confess, it is not a real one. I do not hold a real one being the Archon. But it is what I use to explain my powers to the common people and it is all I can offer.

[He settles firmer into the earth, resting his chin on the ground to keep himself low as possible in a humble dragon bow. (Xiao is in shambles at this scene.)]

There is nothing to change one's mind over. It should never have been said to begin with.

[ Her sister always said she could be bitter — maybe the Lin of a few weeks ago would have held an intense grudge, would have purposefully made this walk as unpleasant as possible. But she thinks of the relief she'd felt when she'd forgiven her sister, and how lately, she's realized she's the source of her own stress and misery, a lot of the time. She can tell he really means it. She sighs, and closes her hand fully around it. ]

All right, if you say so. Thanks... really. [ Quieter, softer than she might usually speak. Then, she extends her free hand out to him — symbolically, of course, since he's still a huge fucking dragon. ] What do you say we finish this? Together? No more hard feelings.

[ Match or not — she's content. ]

[He hums in agreement and pushes his snout against her hand as that's the best he can do as he is.]

Indeed. [He gives himself a little shake as he gets used to his size and all the limbs. It's been some time since he has been out of his human body.] If you'd like to climb on I will get us into the well with little trouble.

[He keeps his head lowered so she can hold onto the fur and climb aboard.]

[ Aww... well, she's giving his snout a little pat. You know what — fine. Dragon flying is gonna be way faster than earthbending their way down there. ]

Long as you don't do any flips.

[ This is half a joke and half a warning. Blease. The only times she likes flying are when she's in a big airship. Nonetheless, she clambers on as gently as she can, seeming hesitant — because this is basically like climbing on another person's back, in her mind, despite his form. ]

[With her on he pushes himself onto all fours and trots the remaining distance to the well. He sticks his nose in it finding his horns catching on the stone.

Having no other choice but destruction he uses his claws to push away the stones that are barring his passage and begins to dig to make it wider, using his Geo abilities to make this all a little smoother and faster until he can slither down the much much larger hole in the ground.

He's careful in his traversing with his passenger and descends slowly into the pit until they're safe at the bottom with all the weird ass bubbles.]

[ oh my god NOT PROPERTY DESTRUCTION??

It was pretty cool riding around on the back of a dragon before he basically played the part of a badger mole and burrowed their way in here... closes eyes. She'll bend the well back into place after this, maybe. Unless she feels like being a Riri hater. ]

I could have bent stairs for us, you know!

[ She huffs but offers no other retaliation, looking around as the shoujo bubbles surround them. Right, the kiss... she looks down at the space between his horns, running a hand there gently. ]

I don't know how a kiss between us is going to work like this... let's see if this works.

[ She bends and plants a gentle little kiss there, the move surprisingly chaste and sweet for her blunt personality. ]

[He gives her a little lick in return which has to count for a kiss.]

Perhaps you can use this for more points [He chuckles softly.] It is unique.

[ Wow. Okay. Sure. Cheat the viewers.

But the bubbles, who are so tired of all your shit, drift closer. They can't wait to retire after this, but for now, they combine, beginning to form a hazy result that becomes slowly clear. ]

[ And there it is! ]

⭐ NO MATCH

⭐ Rock-bottom

Zhongli

⭐ no magnetism

Lin Beifong

[ or maybe there it... isn't? It sounds like someone is frothing hysterically at the mouth in disappointment, but. Oh, well! Back up you go! ]

TRUTH BOOTH

ᯓ⭐ TRUTH BOOTH

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