[closed] show me your inner workings; i trust you implicitly.

[redeify]

Who: purpletaint & redeify
What: Albedo and Dai meet up, at Dai's behest, because he has something to give him. A few somethings, actually.
Where: Cathedral.
When: Right now. :)

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[purpletaint]

...And what was this now? The tale told rang as familiar, and Albedo likely knew the theme before it was said. Come now. Speak of beasts, of fumes and fog, of poison and creation, and Albedo knew the tale indeed. It rang the same on other worlds, and where he had come from, he had faced it--had it tear into his soul and reform him. The emotion crossed his face despite himself--understanding and something clicking into place. He found himself grinning, and he echoed quietly, "The reason why everyone died."

U-DO, indeed, but by a different name, and likely different motivation. What was known as god to some was the devil to others, after all.

"I follow you more than you likely know," he gave, expression slipping a bit more serious. "You're describing something that happened to my reality a bit before I found myself here. The world cracking open and a... taint tearing all who encountered it to shreds--resulting in death or insanity." The word was given with a subtle grin. "In the end, none live who had come into contact with it. But one." Perhaps two, if his theory was proven. But that was yet for another time.

Albedo leaned back in the chair, sighing. "The universe marching on. It's a tale known to me. Anything that evolves will fall apart with time; a flame rising to die out. And in the breaks left between, there exists a reality others cannot ascertain." He was digressing, wasn't he? Ah, but this one was too tempting to do so with. Who would have thought, after all? That he'd leave that world to encounter something familiar. Perhaps there was a rhyme and reason to his being here.

He dropped into polite silence as the other moved and spoke, tilted his head at the small vial in Dai's grasp. Despite the relative apathy he had towards the outcome, there existed something of a hunger in Albedo's eyes. Here was something that was not yet known. What effects could be gained, what changes would occur? And yet-- "Let me reassure you at the least. Of my demise, natural or antagonized, you needn't worry." His eyes slipped up from the bottle, to Dai's face. "I'll speak clearly." Words set in placement and motion, trodding carefully onward as time slipped around him. "There exists nothing that can kill me here." Give him a beast of destruction, a dragon of red, a twin of shared hearts if Albedo's death was desired. Otherwise--

"Madness in its tastes are intriguing, and I've been torn apart to nothing time and time again. I'll be clever." As he always was. "But either way, dear; I'll be fine."

[redeify]

'Dear'. Oh, but everything he said was entirely too perfect, that cute dismissive wave of his hand, the pride there - entirely earned in his own world, but oh, it was just quaint to Dai. Everything about him was utterly ideal, just like he would want in someone beneath him. Resilient, powerful, and incredibly eager to prove it. Like a stubborn, brave puppy.

Dai laughed openly, but he pressed the vial into Albedo's hand all the same, used the other large hand to close his white fingers around it. He held him there, stood over him in full armour, the dark metal wings extending back behind him, the gauntlets trapping his fingers, closing them into the thick glass. He met his eyes firmly, smiling with more gentleness than the rest of him was showing.

"Oh, but I have no doubts of that. You'll be fine, to be sure. You're resourceful enough alone." He released him when he was sure he had a grip on it, and knelt at the side of his chair instead, levelling his gaze with him. "... But simply being alive isn't all I'm demanding of you. If that were all you were good for, I'd keep you here as I keep the others, no more than a pet or a pastime. A cute living shell, aspiring to be so much more. Like they all are. On something like that... you'd be wasted, with all your potential.

"But time you spend torn apart is time spent in disobedience." He captured Albedo's chin, then, tilting his head, pulling him closer.

"You understand, Albedo. If you're driven to something by this taint that spreads through the city, you won't be the one who made such pleasant company for me today. I would so hate to lose that, even for a moment." He smiled pleasantly, regardless, his eyes flicking down to the vial. "... I won't force your hand, of course. What measures you take, what your pride in yourself allows you to accept... that would be interesting for me to see, as well. That's only more proof of your nature. But should you be unable to stave off that sickness... I think I'd be quite sad about it."

But not disappointed. Their alliance is still young enough that there's plenty for him to learn from observing - particularly if Albedo should choose not to take his gift.

[purpletaint]

Speak words and know treason. It existed only as amusement. Being kept like a pet, a bird in a cage, was quaint enough for the boy to cock a small grin in response, as he was only and always reminded of his dear Kirschwassers, left behind for another to play with. And those little dolls? What would they do without him to speak to them, show them affection, and press them into submission? They would wait for him, of this he understood quite well. They would wait in the cold damp of that place as long as they ran, insides bound by love, a kind that their Realian hearts should not be able to posses. Like birds in cages, trapped by their own petty emotions, programmed into them by a man who wished to keep a girl forever.

A story for another time, maybe.

Albedo closed his fingers around glass without looking at it closely, eyes on the one speaking, the one dark and imposing, a perfect contrast to Albedo as he was. Dark to light, large to small, and in the end, there were likely other things of note Albedo could say. Speak disobedience? Why, how enchanting, really.~ Should Albedo raise arms and be cast down, burning brightly as he fell? He was labeled, purification, was he not? And so a light-bringer would not be that far of a stretch.

Still, when the being grasped his chin, Albedo did not fight him, allowed the movement with something in-between curiosity and amusement, and wondered how far this game would go. They were amused by each other, no doubt, amused and interested, and he would wonder which party's attention would falter first. The words used were far too perfect, and the boy giggled gladly, smiling near intimately. "I'm not fighting your offer. The only... taint..." Another giggle at the word. "Affecting me will be my own, of my own want. Pride isn't something too closely held." Not as closely as a Dragon, bursting at the seams of anger and missteps. "Especially if you speak as such. Why would I ever want to make you sad, mm?"

Unless something interesting could be shown from it. But at this point, there was no real kind of attachment. Both could wash their hands of each other without much effort, but still, it was a dance, steps in motion, and Albedo would play it just the same.

[redeify]

Dai's shoulders visibly relaxed from that, a little sigh escaping past his lips. Why, indeed? And in that respect, for as much as this was a game for them, as much as they play - Albedo's present trustworthiness was, at least, no pretense, because his enjoyment of the whole process was no pretense.

... It would likely remain no pretense until Albedo had far stronger incentive to make it one. And, well. He didn't have a lot of competition from the other magisters, did he?

"Then you've done me a great service, and you've flattered me with your affection. With such conviction, how can I not trust you to the fullest?" He finally released the vial into Albedo's slim hand, his long fingers giving the knuckles an affectionate, reassuring little pat. His free hand turned from gripping his chin, smoothing the back of his knuckles against his cheek in a gesture somewhere between paternal and possessive, and he finally dropped both hands, getting to his feet.

"... Well. We'll see how much it helps, then, and I'll wish for only the best for you. I suppose I ought to tell you bluntly that I've never tried this serum in a scenario like this, before... though I assure you that it has no unpleasant side-effects, regardless of the outcome. I've given it a few tests, and feel assured of its usefulness. But..." He gives Albedo a reassuring sort of smile, his white eyelashes dipping lower coyly. "... Perhaps it might reveal the nature of this imbalance itself a little more thoroughly. In that respect, you'll also be of great help to me."

He moved at last, took his seat at the opposite end of the table again, crossing his legs smoothly.

"There's no way to say how long it will take for these disturbances to settle, unfortunately. It's regrettable; it may sound trite to say it, but however entertaining it may be in the short-term, I prefer you all when you're lucid and sweet.

"But there'll be ways for you and I to make the most of it, I'm certain. As time goes on."