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The Choice
by Nabonassar Thu Oct 13, 2016 8:11 pm
Nabonassar was nervous. For the second time in his short life, he was to approach his older sister with the question that would decide his fate. Would he become the buffer against which Celesin rebounded? Or would he be forced to watch in frustration as his nation of choice was marched upon by Imperialist Warmongers? Or would he die in an effort to become the aforementioned buffer? Tonight he would find these things out from his much-loved elder sister. The spatial anomaly that opened was at the edge of the platform of the structure’s top-floor entrance. The being that stepped out of it from what looked to be a portal that was situated in front of a slanted glass wall was instantly recognized as kin to the Marchioness. The people arriving at the club looked at him with envy, awe and some even with calculating looks as if they meant to use him in one plot or another. His pale eyes disregarded them all as he moved in through the entrance, one hand tucked between the buttons of his buttoned suit jacket.
No doubt one of the staff would move to greet him, however all he said to that person would be, “She already knows I am here, child. Please tell her that I will be waiting in the VIP lounge.” He passed through the crowd as if there was a barrier around his person. A space of at least a foot was maintained around him even as he passed through the dance floor. Others seemed to instinctively move away from him. He was not here for them. He was here for Nebuchadnezzar. They were of no consequence in tonight’s activities. A distraction while he waited for her. He moved up the stairs to the lounge and he looked toward whomever was currently occupying it. His voice was cold due to his nervousness, and his expression rather frigid, which encouraged those occupying the space to vacate when he said, “Leave. Now.”
Cheer and optimism gone, he looked out over the patrons of Heaven’s Blade, accepting the drink he had ordered even before arriving. He had made sure, upon completion of Nebuchadnezzar’s tower of debauchery, that should he ever visit, he would have a drink within three minutes of his arrival. He swirled the cognac in the glass before taking a sip, his pale eyes looking down at the crowd of people. They danced and they enjoyed themselves while Celesin prepared to invade his country. He had just recently gotten his home settled upon the world where Black Sun existed. He had no desire to uproot it and leave. And he knew that would be the case if he did not die in the attempt to break his initial limiter. He sipped the cognac again.
He wouldn’t turn when Nebuchadnezzar arrived. He spoke instead, “I hope you have given this considerable thought, my sister. Because I know that I have. Our other siblings have often said that you and I are the most alike. I always liked the thought of that, you know. To know that even years after your birth I came along to provide you with a kindred spirit, so to speak. Someone who shared your rather specialized mindset.” He smiled slightly, “I always liked to think that if I had been around when your limiter broke, mine would have snapped in sympathy.” Scientifically impossible, but it was a rather amusing deception. But it showed just how much he thought of Nebuchadnezzar and their similarities. He felt he was closest to her. That was why he had come to her with this request and had not gone to, say, Konstantine. She might have done it simply to research the ego-death process, or the process in which limiters break, depending upon the outcome. But he had come to Nebuchadnezzar. Because they were so similar.
No doubt one of the staff would move to greet him, however all he said to that person would be, “She already knows I am here, child. Please tell her that I will be waiting in the VIP lounge.” He passed through the crowd as if there was a barrier around his person. A space of at least a foot was maintained around him even as he passed through the dance floor. Others seemed to instinctively move away from him. He was not here for them. He was here for Nebuchadnezzar. They were of no consequence in tonight’s activities. A distraction while he waited for her. He moved up the stairs to the lounge and he looked toward whomever was currently occupying it. His voice was cold due to his nervousness, and his expression rather frigid, which encouraged those occupying the space to vacate when he said, “Leave. Now.”
Cheer and optimism gone, he looked out over the patrons of Heaven’s Blade, accepting the drink he had ordered even before arriving. He had made sure, upon completion of Nebuchadnezzar’s tower of debauchery, that should he ever visit, he would have a drink within three minutes of his arrival. He swirled the cognac in the glass before taking a sip, his pale eyes looking down at the crowd of people. They danced and they enjoyed themselves while Celesin prepared to invade his country. He had just recently gotten his home settled upon the world where Black Sun existed. He had no desire to uproot it and leave. And he knew that would be the case if he did not die in the attempt to break his initial limiter. He sipped the cognac again.
He wouldn’t turn when Nebuchadnezzar arrived. He spoke instead, “I hope you have given this considerable thought, my sister. Because I know that I have. Our other siblings have often said that you and I are the most alike. I always liked the thought of that, you know. To know that even years after your birth I came along to provide you with a kindred spirit, so to speak. Someone who shared your rather specialized mindset.” He smiled slightly, “I always liked to think that if I had been around when your limiter broke, mine would have snapped in sympathy.” Scientifically impossible, but it was a rather amusing deception. But it showed just how much he thought of Nebuchadnezzar and their similarities. He felt he was closest to her. That was why he had come to her with this request and had not gone to, say, Konstantine. She might have done it simply to research the ego-death process, or the process in which limiters break, depending upon the outcome. But he had come to Nebuchadnezzar. Because they were so similar.
Nabonassar- Casual practictioner
- Posts : 34
Join date : 2016-03-14
Alignment : Advisor to the Empress Regent, King
Re: The Choice
by Nabonassar Sun Oct 16, 2016 3:47 am
The King was. . . disappointed. It was not something he was used to feeling. But following that was anger. Not a mild irritation, not a minor annoyance. But anger. It was not something he was used to feeling. In fact, this was probably the first time he had experienced it, and thus it colored his tone as he remarked about her statements. It was not a response to her question, but he was merely pointing out fallacies in her remarks, “Standards of neutrality? Standards which you flaunt simply by existing in your current state.” He closed his eyes, attempting to reign in his rampant emotions, but he spoke again before he could get them under control, almost as a reflex, “So similar, and yet you fail to understand that which drives me to this decision. I was born out of failure. If Black Sun is annexed by Celesin I will be branded a failure and a mistake!” He took a calming breath, the air hissing out from between his clenched teeth. Her brother was beginning to fray. He was losing his grip on his Kingly manners. That ever-present veneer of calm that made them truly seem alien to others. Nebuchadnezzar might even dismiss Signe at this point, but whatever she decided he would not speak until he had regained his calm. Several minutes passed passed in which the very pregnant silence would prevent anything from being said.
When he spoke again, his voice was even again, smooth as molasses, “How many of our siblings have yet to pursue their primary function? They pretend they debate matters consequence when all they really do is sit on their fat asses while the galaxies burn. Esarhaddon’s mate is one of the many reasons for that.” He polished off his drink and set aside the empty glass, “Would you get me another, Signe? Thank you.” He was very much hoping that this would remove her from the setting. But whether it did or not, he looked down upon the people in her club, watching them enjoy themselves, “Among the many debates that burn within the collective is the one about my predecessor. Nabopolassar. They wonder about his death. Some believe he was a failure in some way, some part of him was defunct and so he caused himself ego-death upon triggering the defunct part of his mind. As his replacement, there have been speculations about whether or not I will undergo sudden ego-death or nor via the same defunct line of code.”
He sighed deeply, eyes closing as he unburdened himself to her, “That is why I decided to pursue my core purpose.” He turned toward her, idly removing his meerschaum pipe from his jacket, “I am apart from them, now in body as well as spirit. But I have noticed something odd about your nuances, my sister. Whenever you speak of Black Sun, you ensure that you drive home the fact that it is a planet locked Empire. But of course, you never do anything without a purpose.” He spun the meerschaum slowly in his hands, “You think them irrelevant. Miniscule. Insignificant to the larger picture of the galaxies you immerse yourself in. But that is why I chose them in the first place. They are young. Much the same as I am. But they have. . . great potential. Also as I do.” He held the pipe up for her to see, “A beautiful thing. Small, yet exquisite.” He tucked the pipe away and finally looked Nebuchadnezzar. He would accept the drink from Signe whenever she returned.
The youngest of the Kings looked at his sister, “You ask what I would do in your position? Well, in your shoes I would know that nothing is more important to you than success. I would know that you had done everything in your power to ensure the best chance for Black Sun in the coming conflict with Celesin in the event of your demise. I would know that, should Celesin take Black Sun, you would be forced to leave it so that you would not violate the agreement made by the collective. The agreement that stipulates only one King may be aligned with an empire or nation.” He took a deep breath, “I would know that in your eyes you would rather take the seventy-three percent chance of ego-death than be forced to return to the collective in shame because you did not explore every avenue for success.” To know that there was even one last thing he might have tried that had even a twenty-seven percent chance to succeed and save his chosen Empire. . . it would be a fate worse than death. Nabonassar came equipped with all of the powers bestowed upon Kings. But what he had developed after his birth was non-standard for his species. Feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure and probably several other disorders he did not care to think about. And if she did not value her privacy so much, she would know it as he knew it.
When he spoke again, his voice was even again, smooth as molasses, “How many of our siblings have yet to pursue their primary function? They pretend they debate matters consequence when all they really do is sit on their fat asses while the galaxies burn. Esarhaddon’s mate is one of the many reasons for that.” He polished off his drink and set aside the empty glass, “Would you get me another, Signe? Thank you.” He was very much hoping that this would remove her from the setting. But whether it did or not, he looked down upon the people in her club, watching them enjoy themselves, “Among the many debates that burn within the collective is the one about my predecessor. Nabopolassar. They wonder about his death. Some believe he was a failure in some way, some part of him was defunct and so he caused himself ego-death upon triggering the defunct part of his mind. As his replacement, there have been speculations about whether or not I will undergo sudden ego-death or nor via the same defunct line of code.”
He sighed deeply, eyes closing as he unburdened himself to her, “That is why I decided to pursue my core purpose.” He turned toward her, idly removing his meerschaum pipe from his jacket, “I am apart from them, now in body as well as spirit. But I have noticed something odd about your nuances, my sister. Whenever you speak of Black Sun, you ensure that you drive home the fact that it is a planet locked Empire. But of course, you never do anything without a purpose.” He spun the meerschaum slowly in his hands, “You think them irrelevant. Miniscule. Insignificant to the larger picture of the galaxies you immerse yourself in. But that is why I chose them in the first place. They are young. Much the same as I am. But they have. . . great potential. Also as I do.” He held the pipe up for her to see, “A beautiful thing. Small, yet exquisite.” He tucked the pipe away and finally looked Nebuchadnezzar. He would accept the drink from Signe whenever she returned.
The youngest of the Kings looked at his sister, “You ask what I would do in your position? Well, in your shoes I would know that nothing is more important to you than success. I would know that you had done everything in your power to ensure the best chance for Black Sun in the coming conflict with Celesin in the event of your demise. I would know that, should Celesin take Black Sun, you would be forced to leave it so that you would not violate the agreement made by the collective. The agreement that stipulates only one King may be aligned with an empire or nation.” He took a deep breath, “I would know that in your eyes you would rather take the seventy-three percent chance of ego-death than be forced to return to the collective in shame because you did not explore every avenue for success.” To know that there was even one last thing he might have tried that had even a twenty-seven percent chance to succeed and save his chosen Empire. . . it would be a fate worse than death. Nabonassar came equipped with all of the powers bestowed upon Kings. But what he had developed after his birth was non-standard for his species. Feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure and probably several other disorders he did not care to think about. And if she did not value her privacy so much, she would know it as he knew it.
Nabonassar- Casual practictioner
- Posts : 34
Join date : 2016-03-14
Alignment : Advisor to the Empress Regent, King
Re: The Choice
by Nabonassar Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:10 pm
Nabonassar had gained control of his emotions before his sister spoke, and so it was with a calm demeanor he took in her initial words. A slight smile curled the corner of his lips as she spoke of ‘calling it even’. It was a fair trade, in his opinion. However, he was optimistic about his chances. Oh he knew the odds, it was a rather slim chance that he would survive. But it was the fact that he knew there would be nothing he could do to chance what happened after if this did not go his way. He watched her remove her jacket and then turned back to the balcony, starting to listen as she began to describe her tale. He had never heard about her early years. How she had come to be part of the Shuinsai Clan. He listened raptly, despite being turned away from her.
He took in the information she gave as she told her story, though he seemed to hear things that were important that she simply. . . dismissed. The revelation about Nabopolassar was really quite astonishing. He knew, now, why his predecessor had died. He knew that he was not subject to the same flaws. He was not seeking power for power’s sake. He was seeking it to protect Black Sun from a warmongering Imperialist State bent on annexation. He felt his inadequacy issues melt away as if they had never been. He was not born out of the same defective code as Nabopolassar. It even made him smile.
However as she continued on to reveal that she would assist him, he turned toward her, his free hand rising to place his pale palm against her equally pale cheek, “I thank you, my sister, for telling me all of this. It brings a great deal of clarity and understanding to our relationship. But I think, perhaps, you are overlooking certain high points in your story.” He smiled at her, looking into her eyes, “Things like. . . family, and calling someone father. The mere fact that you have these things outside of the hive. . . you cannot know what it sounds like to someone who has none of it. You have lived and experienced things that I have never had.” He gently drew her close in an untested, untried show of affection between them. He hugged her. It would no doubt feel awkward for a moment until they became comfortable in the gesture. At least Nabonassar became comfortable in it.
Once he was sure that he had displayed his affection for her in a proper time and manner, he pulled away from her and smiled, “I would like to thank you for agreeing to assist me. And I hope that you will not remain angry with me for too long. I came to you, Nebuchadnezzar, because I value your opinion and I respect that you have been through more than any of us, except perhaps Konstantine, even if you never shared the details. But allow me to say this. I am not Mundus. I am not asking you to take part in killing me, as Mundus forced you to do with him. I have asked you to take a chance and help me in my goals to save Black Sun from Mesiphidon’s credo of ‘for the greater good’.”
He took in the information she gave as she told her story, though he seemed to hear things that were important that she simply. . . dismissed. The revelation about Nabopolassar was really quite astonishing. He knew, now, why his predecessor had died. He knew that he was not subject to the same flaws. He was not seeking power for power’s sake. He was seeking it to protect Black Sun from a warmongering Imperialist State bent on annexation. He felt his inadequacy issues melt away as if they had never been. He was not born out of the same defective code as Nabopolassar. It even made him smile.
However as she continued on to reveal that she would assist him, he turned toward her, his free hand rising to place his pale palm against her equally pale cheek, “I thank you, my sister, for telling me all of this. It brings a great deal of clarity and understanding to our relationship. But I think, perhaps, you are overlooking certain high points in your story.” He smiled at her, looking into her eyes, “Things like. . . family, and calling someone father. The mere fact that you have these things outside of the hive. . . you cannot know what it sounds like to someone who has none of it. You have lived and experienced things that I have never had.” He gently drew her close in an untested, untried show of affection between them. He hugged her. It would no doubt feel awkward for a moment until they became comfortable in the gesture. At least Nabonassar became comfortable in it.
Once he was sure that he had displayed his affection for her in a proper time and manner, he pulled away from her and smiled, “I would like to thank you for agreeing to assist me. And I hope that you will not remain angry with me for too long. I came to you, Nebuchadnezzar, because I value your opinion and I respect that you have been through more than any of us, except perhaps Konstantine, even if you never shared the details. But allow me to say this. I am not Mundus. I am not asking you to take part in killing me, as Mundus forced you to do with him. I have asked you to take a chance and help me in my goals to save Black Sun from Mesiphidon’s credo of ‘for the greater good’.”
Nabonassar- Casual practictioner
- Posts : 34
Join date : 2016-03-14
Alignment : Advisor to the Empress Regent, King
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