All these years and still not adept in figuring out the nature of truly repugnant humans...
[One could blame it on many things. He is a human from a place far more advanced than theirs. Things he talks about and even when they discussed his role in the world and how it compared to Cloud Retainer's... It was all done deceitfully and in a way they would not be able to parse. His demeanor and smooth assurances all made it sound different... One has to trust humans at their word but with his vocabulary beyond theirs in terms of general sciences and procedures... Perhaps it's little wonder they were deceived. But it stings nonetheless.]
Lucifer requires some consideration... Recent comments have put my thoughts in disarray and I could not parse them in that room full of... that.
[He takes a moment, turning the cup in his hands, watching the amber liquid within gleam in the moonlight.]
I did not wish to become the Geo Archon, you remember this. You knew me before those days. But after Guizhong... I do not seek for dominion but I cannot allow the common people to suffer. [That is what he told them all when he decided to step into the fray.] For if we did not defend ourselves we were going to be killed by those that desired the seat of Geo.
To protect the people who would one day become Liyue Harbor's people. To protect us... what was left of our family. It had to be done. I have grieved and lost a hundred times over. I have called upon great forces who have died or worse... But I can not imagine myself becoming so apathetic that I'd allow hundreds, thousands... millions of my people to simply perish.
But I also understand the threat of the sword pointed at your throat. And it may not be your own people but thousands of others from another place entirely. [He can't speak of it... Khaenri'ah. And how he and the other Archons, at the call of the Heavenly Principles, rained hellfire upon that nation until there was nothing left of them at all. And the price was far too great. The innocent loss of life and old friends both. Nothing was the same after Khaenri'ah. Nor can he claim to have been the same Rex Lapis that had left.] That aside... I have left the people of Liyue now. Knowing that they'd be alright and that Adeptus and mortal would work together to see the harbor safeguarded, yes. I'd have never have allowed things to progress as they had if I had truly any doubts. But I have left them all the same.
[And should the Heavenly Principles ever turn their ire onto the Harbor he'd defend it still. He knows he would. He thinks he would. Wants to believe he would...]
I spoke with Azhdaha not terribly long ago. His seal had started to weaken and a part of him led me back to him to make sure he remained locked away. We could not speak overlong, of course, but he reminded me of just how many more years I have to live. Thousands more, perhaps. If I am tired now... I am not that apathetic now, no, but what of later? If the Heavenly Principles awaken and learn that I have attempted to slip free of their shackles will they turn their ire onto us as they did with Fontaine and the other nations that have crossed them in the past?
I am not as long lived as Lucifer... But in these many millennia to come should a day comes when Liyue burns will I be inclined to do anything about it? Lucifer is attempting to improve and do better. [He glances at Cloud Retainer with a small smile.] A feat most worthy... One to be proud of. I have been trying to determine why we were not matched. Because at a glance it does seem perfect. The answer is perhaps... As Lucifer returns to reaching for his dreams I am on the decline. I don't have any particular dreams of my own. Even the wish... I can't think of a single use for it.
I have, after all, left the sky and heavens behind. And such a heavy stone will only bring down those attempting to ascend to greater heights.
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All these years and still not adept in figuring out the nature of truly repugnant humans...
[One could blame it on many things. He is a human from a place far more advanced than theirs. Things he talks about and even when they discussed his role in the world and how it compared to Cloud Retainer's... It was all done deceitfully and in a way they would not be able to parse. His demeanor and smooth assurances all made it sound different... One has to trust humans at their word but with his vocabulary beyond theirs in terms of general sciences and procedures... Perhaps it's little wonder they were deceived. But it stings nonetheless.]
Lucifer requires some consideration... Recent comments have put my thoughts in disarray and I could not parse them in that room full of... that.
[He takes a moment, turning the cup in his hands, watching the amber liquid within gleam in the moonlight.]
I did not wish to become the Geo Archon, you remember this. You knew me before those days. But after Guizhong... I do not seek for dominion but I cannot allow the common people to suffer. [That is what he told them all when he decided to step into the fray.] For if we did not defend ourselves we were going to be killed by those that desired the seat of Geo.
To protect the people who would one day become Liyue Harbor's people. To protect us... what was left of our family. It had to be done. I have grieved and lost a hundred times over. I have called upon great forces who have died or worse... But I can not imagine myself becoming so apathetic that I'd allow hundreds, thousands... millions of my people to simply perish.
But I also understand the threat of the sword pointed at your throat. And it may not be your own people but thousands of others from another place entirely. [He can't speak of it... Khaenri'ah. And how he and the other Archons, at the call of the Heavenly Principles, rained hellfire upon that nation until there was nothing left of them at all. And the price was far too great. The innocent loss of life and old friends both. Nothing was the same after Khaenri'ah. Nor can he claim to have been the same Rex Lapis that had left.] That aside... I have left the people of Liyue now. Knowing that they'd be alright and that Adeptus and mortal would work together to see the harbor safeguarded, yes. I'd have never have allowed things to progress as they had if I had truly any doubts. But I have left them all the same.
[And should the Heavenly Principles ever turn their ire onto the Harbor he'd defend it still. He knows he would. He thinks he would. Wants to believe he would...]
I spoke with Azhdaha not terribly long ago. His seal had started to weaken and a part of him led me back to him to make sure he remained locked away. We could not speak overlong, of course, but he reminded me of just how many more years I have to live. Thousands more, perhaps. If I am tired now... I am not that apathetic now, no, but what of later? If the Heavenly Principles awaken and learn that I have attempted to slip free of their shackles will they turn their ire onto us as they did with Fontaine and the other nations that have crossed them in the past?
I am not as long lived as Lucifer... But in these many millennia to come should a day comes when Liyue burns will I be inclined to do anything about it? Lucifer is attempting to improve and do better. [He glances at Cloud Retainer with a small smile.] A feat most worthy... One to be proud of. I have been trying to determine why we were not matched. Because at a glance it does seem perfect. The answer is perhaps... As Lucifer returns to reaching for his dreams I am on the decline. I don't have any particular dreams of my own. Even the wish... I can't think of a single use for it.
I have, after all, left the sky and heavens behind. And such a heavy stone will only bring down those attempting to ascend to greater heights.