XX1: Restart[ing]

[resurrectedgod]

It's been over a month, brother. Or have you not noticed?

Let's meet. I'd like to have a talk with the king.

[OOC: Apologies in advance since replies will be slow and late.]

Comments

[mythgravenblade]

[akhfbasfnasnaef. Handwriting is very shaky and appears slowly. Strikes barely decipherable even with a great deal of effort.]

I did not

Eternity, it's Eternity, I Eternity

Yes.

[mythgravenblade]

[Oh, that hurt. Impulsively, he reached out to him--then drew back. What could he say to counter that? There was nothing, really--no matter how he wanted to, he could not deny that.] If there is ever anything--ever--that you need or want, you have only to ask.

[He started when Eternity spoke again, then shifted guiltily.] It is only that--you called me a king. [That was true. Not the whole truth, but true nonetheless.]

[resurrectedgod]

[Eternity didn't acknowledge the offer. He wouldn't allow his brother that satisfaction or comfort.

Although he already had a vague inkling of what troubled Paladin, he asked the question anyway. And once more, as expected, it was still an uncomfortable subject.]

Oh? [He'd already opened the door to his temporary room and paused.] But it's true, isn't it? Didn't you... remember it?

[Not that Eternity could remember it clearly, but Paladin didn't need to know that.]

[mythgravenblade]

[He'd expected that from Eternity--he knew him well enough to know that breaking the stand-offishness, the aloofness, would be the strange and out-of-character move--but it was human nature to hope, and so it hurt, all the same.]

[Paladin waited, and once more brightened, if only internally, when he paused--only to say that and...nevermind.]

I did. [Paladin said, and thought over his words carefully before speaking.] It is...merely not something I make well-known.

[resurrectedgod]

[He'd taken another step and now stood in the doorway to continue the conversation but still kept his back to Paladin.]

Is there any reason to hide that discovery... in a place where people recall almost nothing of themselves? [A short pause.] People want to remember who they once were, yet selfishly reject and feel guilty when their wishes are granted.

Would it have been better off if you hadn't known at all?

[mythgravenblade]

No! [Paladin said, and though a distant part of him was surprised at the speed and vehemence of it, he pushed the stray notion aside.] I'm not--sorry I remembered that. Never. [How could he be--though, not for the fact of the crown on his head, but rather the people around him, and especially--]

[He took a deep breath before continuing on.] It is only that I wanted to--to keep that aspect of that memory out of public life.

[resurrectedgod]

[Eternity had expected a reaction but not one quite so strong. He spun, glaring in disapproval, but waited for Paladin to finish.

He allowed a brief silence before speaking again.]

Is it... something to be ashamed of, then?

[mythgravenblade]

[In his anger, Eternity was frightening. Paladin had known that, but never before had he been the target of it. Even so, he stood his ground, though he did not raise his voice any more.]

I was once a king. Meanwhile, here there are children who were once slaves. [Anger was mostly gone from his voice.] What do you think?

[resurrectedgod]

[A quiet snort as his expression relaxed and he closed his eyes.]

Paladin. [Eternity shook his head before fixing an almost amused gaze at his brother.] Even if you remember the past, you can't change it... especially when not everyone here came from the same place. Am I right?

[mythgravenblade]

[Though he was no longer angry--and the shame, sadness, and disappointment in himself was returning--he could still fix Eternity with a disapproving look to counter his amusement.]

I cannot change the past, [Paladin conceded,] but that is no reason to trumpet it.

[resurrectedgod]

Mentioning it hardly does so. You hardly expect anyone to pay you the respect due the title, do you?

[Eternity spoke like this now yet pondered to himself how he'd take back his superiority. The urge to put everyone --and especially Paladin-- in his place was almost overwhelming, but there was little he could do about it for the time being.

It'd be fine. There were things he had to take care of anyway.] It's of the past and now inapplicable.

[With that, he waved him off and stepped into his room.]