The Barian "Labrys" (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tachyonparticle) wrote2020-08-15 01:14 pm
tachyonparticle) wrote2020-08-15 01:14 pm
[Story/Post]
[Story]
"It's not going to bring him back, you know."
Failnaught barely glanced when he heard Labrys' voice from behind him, as he stood there, staring at a particular Weapon that he had repaired and placed there so long ago-- a constant reminder to him of the failure, in a sense, which even his fellows had begun to realize might not be having the best influence on his mind.
Still, Failnaught wasn't exactly a quitter, even when the thing he should quit is his depressive swings, so he merely grunted at the words. "You keep saying that like I don't know it."
"If I had any faith that you truly believed it, maybe I'd stop saying it. But it doesn't take a precognitive ability to tell what you want to do, Failnaught."
Labrys walked up next to him, arms crossed as she stared at the large scythe-- for anyone who wasn't a Barian (or otherwise, very strong), it would be difficult to even move the weapon from its' place, especially while it was in its' inactive state...
"Even if we were to remake the Core, somehow, someway, the one who'd come from there probably wouldn't be the Scythe you'd remember, you know. Not even in the sense of how Koyo and Kai have some connection to Moralltach and Beagalltach, but it'd be someone wholly new, at this point."
Failnaught hated this type of conversation. Labrys dealt with the reality of the matter, of course, and Failnaught usually would agree with the probabilities, and yet...
"It isn't like we don't know where Scythe's consciousness likely transffered to."
"I've already told you again and again, he's wary of us."
"I think it's more likely that he's just simply wary of you, you realize."
"I apologize that I might have made a bit of a bombastic impression, but at least it left one at all."
Of course, the one they were talking about was Yamada, Mamoru. A human-- but a human who held an incredibly uncanny resemblance to Scythe's previous "human" form. Who acted in the same manner, had the same demeanor, but...
"We're not even sure if it's the case, or if it's just a coincidence. He isn't really allowing me to get close enough to check, if at all."
Failnaught let out another grunt. "It'd be easier if we just brought the Weapon to him."
"I'd rather not. Besides, we've already gone over this, Failnaught." Labrys gave a bit of a judgmental stare at him. "Unless he willingly seeks us out for this, we're not going to drag him into the situation. We don't need to drag other victims into our problems when they're not required. It's bad enough that we had to end up pressing that responsibility onto Koyo and Kai, remember?"
"I know... I know that, already." It always would weigh on him, but at this point, what else was really new about it and his emotional state? "Even though it'd be helpful if we had Scythe back, outside of my... personal grievances... We don't even know if the Core exists in him to result in anything useful, anyway."
The Core, of course, was effectively the heart and soul of the Barian. Without the Core, the Weapon, which held up the psyche, was effectively nothing but a tool to be used by any interpretation.
Of course, it's what Failnaught would always stare at-- the empty hole left in the scythe. The null sense. Even his little assistant hadn't been able to sense anything when it was pointed out, unlike some of the other weapons around...
"On the other hand, perhaps you should consider taking a visit, yourself." Labrys said the words carefully, but she could already tell the tension around Failnaught as she said them.
"What difference would it make if I went? Even if I apologized, over and over again... It isn't like he's going to remember what I'm apologizing for, right?" He shook his head.
"You say that, but you said yourself that his problem might just be with me and the impression I made on him. Maybe seeing you will cause something, anything."
"Can you guarantee that? Can you sense a victory in that case?"
Labrys shrugged at the question, idly. "If I considered this to be a situation where there'd be a victory in any sense, I'd tell you. But..." She shook her head. "Failnaught, I do think it'd be for the better if you could let this go. If he could go on with his life as normal without getting involved. But... I don't think that'd be the preferred route, either."
"So all routes lead to doom, effectively."
Labrys couldn't help but smirk a bit at that. "A bit defeatist, there. No, I don't think it's that severe, it's just more... this is a very gray situation, when it comes to my abilities. So trying to tell the different outcomes of this... Well, whatever result that comes, wouldn't be considered a victory, but it might also not be considered a failure, either."
"I preferred it when we kept having situations where you could tell the right path."
"You say that, but sometimes I like having the challenge." Labrys brushed her hair to the side. "Though, I should tell you... it might be a good idea to pay him a few visits, anyway, relatively."
"Why?"
"There's someone who's been trying to keep track of him."
Failnaught stayed silent for a moment, before glancing at Labrys. "Does he seem to be a threat, to him?"
"If he were a threat, I'd have taken him down already. But I can at least tell you... That the less he's alone, the more successful his future will be. And I think it has to do with whoever this person is."
"Right." Failnaught seemed a bit weary, but he finally turned away from looking at the Weapon. "I'll consider a visit, but if you feel that he's in danger at any point, try to invite him here. Even if he isn't Scythe, he's still a victim of what happened to us, right? So it's only fair if we extend our protection, in the best place where we can protect him at all."
"I understand your logic... Fine, Failnaught." She placed a hand on his shoulder, but squeezed it slightly as well. "Though if you keep dancing around making a choice about visiting or not, I'll open up a gateway and throw you into his workplace myself."
Failnaught knew fully well that making threats wasn't the best of ideas, but, well-- okay, maybe she was getting a bit tired of his behavior at this point. Even he was a bit tired, but he couldn't stop his processes from looping around to that so easily.
So maybe it was okay to get a push, sometimes.
"... Fine, duly noted. I'm going to get back to work." He shrugged off Labrys' hand, as he went deeper into the Sanctum.
Labrys, however, lingered, looking after him. She... really did wish she could do more to help him. He always seemed so tired, anymore, especially since he didn't have the same privileges as she and the others did...
Maybe she should have someone else try to talk to him, too. Maybe she should get into contact with Durbe and Mizael. She almost considered even trying to reason with the Astrals-- but even that seemed like a heavy stretch for something that was, effectively, a personal favor.
... Well, maybe at least the Terminal might have some answers to help alleviate the wear on him and his psyche, if she can find a moment to look. But maybe in the meantime, she could seek out some advice...
[Post]
So, while this might seem a bit impertinent of me to talk about this rather openly, I feel that things have gotten to the point where I may need...
Well, some advice, on how to help someone.
"It's not going to bring him back, you know."
Failnaught barely glanced when he heard Labrys' voice from behind him, as he stood there, staring at a particular Weapon that he had repaired and placed there so long ago-- a constant reminder to him of the failure, in a sense, which even his fellows had begun to realize might not be having the best influence on his mind.
Still, Failnaught wasn't exactly a quitter, even when the thing he should quit is his depressive swings, so he merely grunted at the words. "You keep saying that like I don't know it."
"If I had any faith that you truly believed it, maybe I'd stop saying it. But it doesn't take a precognitive ability to tell what you want to do, Failnaught."
Labrys walked up next to him, arms crossed as she stared at the large scythe-- for anyone who wasn't a Barian (or otherwise, very strong), it would be difficult to even move the weapon from its' place, especially while it was in its' inactive state...
"Even if we were to remake the Core, somehow, someway, the one who'd come from there probably wouldn't be the Scythe you'd remember, you know. Not even in the sense of how Koyo and Kai have some connection to Moralltach and Beagalltach, but it'd be someone wholly new, at this point."
Failnaught hated this type of conversation. Labrys dealt with the reality of the matter, of course, and Failnaught usually would agree with the probabilities, and yet...
"It isn't like we don't know where Scythe's consciousness likely transffered to."
"I've already told you again and again, he's wary of us."
"I think it's more likely that he's just simply wary of you, you realize."
"I apologize that I might have made a bit of a bombastic impression, but at least it left one at all."
Of course, the one they were talking about was Yamada, Mamoru. A human-- but a human who held an incredibly uncanny resemblance to Scythe's previous "human" form. Who acted in the same manner, had the same demeanor, but...
"We're not even sure if it's the case, or if it's just a coincidence. He isn't really allowing me to get close enough to check, if at all."
Failnaught let out another grunt. "It'd be easier if we just brought the Weapon to him."
"I'd rather not. Besides, we've already gone over this, Failnaught." Labrys gave a bit of a judgmental stare at him. "Unless he willingly seeks us out for this, we're not going to drag him into the situation. We don't need to drag other victims into our problems when they're not required. It's bad enough that we had to end up pressing that responsibility onto Koyo and Kai, remember?"
"I know... I know that, already." It always would weigh on him, but at this point, what else was really new about it and his emotional state? "Even though it'd be helpful if we had Scythe back, outside of my... personal grievances... We don't even know if the Core exists in him to result in anything useful, anyway."
The Core, of course, was effectively the heart and soul of the Barian. Without the Core, the Weapon, which held up the psyche, was effectively nothing but a tool to be used by any interpretation.
Of course, it's what Failnaught would always stare at-- the empty hole left in the scythe. The null sense. Even his little assistant hadn't been able to sense anything when it was pointed out, unlike some of the other weapons around...
"On the other hand, perhaps you should consider taking a visit, yourself." Labrys said the words carefully, but she could already tell the tension around Failnaught as she said them.
"What difference would it make if I went? Even if I apologized, over and over again... It isn't like he's going to remember what I'm apologizing for, right?" He shook his head.
"You say that, but you said yourself that his problem might just be with me and the impression I made on him. Maybe seeing you will cause something, anything."
"Can you guarantee that? Can you sense a victory in that case?"
Labrys shrugged at the question, idly. "If I considered this to be a situation where there'd be a victory in any sense, I'd tell you. But..." She shook her head. "Failnaught, I do think it'd be for the better if you could let this go. If he could go on with his life as normal without getting involved. But... I don't think that'd be the preferred route, either."
"So all routes lead to doom, effectively."
Labrys couldn't help but smirk a bit at that. "A bit defeatist, there. No, I don't think it's that severe, it's just more... this is a very gray situation, when it comes to my abilities. So trying to tell the different outcomes of this... Well, whatever result that comes, wouldn't be considered a victory, but it might also not be considered a failure, either."
"I preferred it when we kept having situations where you could tell the right path."
"You say that, but sometimes I like having the challenge." Labrys brushed her hair to the side. "Though, I should tell you... it might be a good idea to pay him a few visits, anyway, relatively."
"Why?"
"There's someone who's been trying to keep track of him."
Failnaught stayed silent for a moment, before glancing at Labrys. "Does he seem to be a threat, to him?"
"If he were a threat, I'd have taken him down already. But I can at least tell you... That the less he's alone, the more successful his future will be. And I think it has to do with whoever this person is."
"Right." Failnaught seemed a bit weary, but he finally turned away from looking at the Weapon. "I'll consider a visit, but if you feel that he's in danger at any point, try to invite him here. Even if he isn't Scythe, he's still a victim of what happened to us, right? So it's only fair if we extend our protection, in the best place where we can protect him at all."
"I understand your logic... Fine, Failnaught." She placed a hand on his shoulder, but squeezed it slightly as well. "Though if you keep dancing around making a choice about visiting or not, I'll open up a gateway and throw you into his workplace myself."
Failnaught knew fully well that making threats wasn't the best of ideas, but, well-- okay, maybe she was getting a bit tired of his behavior at this point. Even he was a bit tired, but he couldn't stop his processes from looping around to that so easily.
So maybe it was okay to get a push, sometimes.
"... Fine, duly noted. I'm going to get back to work." He shrugged off Labrys' hand, as he went deeper into the Sanctum.
Labrys, however, lingered, looking after him. She... really did wish she could do more to help him. He always seemed so tired, anymore, especially since he didn't have the same privileges as she and the others did...
Maybe she should have someone else try to talk to him, too. Maybe she should get into contact with Durbe and Mizael. She almost considered even trying to reason with the Astrals-- but even that seemed like a heavy stretch for something that was, effectively, a personal favor.
... Well, maybe at least the Terminal might have some answers to help alleviate the wear on him and his psyche, if she can find a moment to look. But maybe in the meantime, she could seek out some advice...
[Post]
So, while this might seem a bit impertinent of me to talk about this rather openly, I feel that things have gotten to the point where I may need...
Well, some advice, on how to help someone.