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Who: Ozymandias + you
When: 13th
Where: Looking Glass House/Memories and/or other locations to follow up with him
What: Memsharing!
Warnings: Death, attempts at blowing up an entire city that one time. No other warnings as of now, but will add as needed!

[Strangers will see nothing and pass by Ozymandias' mirror. Much as with other strangers' mirrors, there will be nothing about the mirror that catches the eye or suggests that it even belongs to anyone. But with any sort of familiarity to Ozymandias, the frame gives way the identity of its owner near immediately. How could it not when there is a blatant depiction of himself at the top of the frame? Symbols of Upper and Lower Egypt mark the corners, his beloved wife depicted beside him. Further knowledge of him reveals more details than just this. Great structures and temples along the bottom of the frame. Ramesseum takes center stage. Monuments and depictions of his beloved gods appear interwoven with this seemingly impossible complex. Each side holds depictions of great battles, those he fought in life and those after. An archer, swordsman, and lancer stand in defiance of a brilliant sun on one side. A young man is half-turned, a sea of people reaching to him.]

[The frame itself is, of course, golden. It shimmers with precious stones for those closest to him. A small reflection of his radiant light as pharaoh.]

((ooc: these are ota as far as i'm concerned! some of the memories will have present-day ozy for your character to interact with during the memory while some are going to play out for a bit beyond what's initially posted here. i'm down for your characters interacting with the environment as much as they'd like! any questions or other requests can be pm'd to this journal or to me on plurk (

rebreather)!))

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[She's starting to get used to these mirrors. She glances about the area as the boys begin to chat, hands idly propped on her hips.]

[Moses' snort of laughter, however, earns one likewise from Fang. Ozymandias has really been like that all his life, hasn't he?]

See? [The Turnskin calls out, even though she can't see anyone else yet. More often than not, the mirror's owner was here somewhere.] I'm not the only one.

[Moses gets loose from Ramesses’ hold and rubs at his head, smoothing down the mess he created.]

That is the privilege of being second born. I get to act however I please even toward the Prince Regent.

[The pair of them laugh, Ramesses’ laugh unsurprisingly carrying a little further as it turns out to be just as boisterous as it shall be in the future. There is a rustling in nearby papyrus reeds that neither boy reacts to, suggesting that it is not part of the memory itself. This proves true when it is Ozymandias who pushes them aside. He had abandoned his younger self and brother for a moment to be closer to the river’s edge. It is, after all, not something that he has seen in-person for thousands of years. He’s giving her a look.]

He’s laughing because that was a joke.

[Geez, Fang, he doesn’t sound like that when he’s being serious!!]

[(Yes, yes, he does.)]

Titles do not actually mean anything to brothers.

[The laughter between the boys settles back down and Moses nudges Ramesses by bumping a gentle shoulder into him.]

I was looking for you because I wanted to check on you. [Ramesses doesn’t appear to know the reason why Moses would feel the need to come look for him. In perhaps what’s a vaguely familiar gesture, Ramesses raises a questioning eyebrow.] I was going to tell Mother I finished my lessons, and I overheard her speaking to Father.

Brothers, huh?

[She glances over again, letting her gaze linger to take in the details. Fang doesn't mind The Look at all.]

You two sure are an odd pair. [There's nothing terribly puzzled about it, though. Fang hasn't used "family" to refer to blood relatives since she was still in single digits.]

[Ozymandias hums at her comment, his gaze turning for just a moment toward Moses. It's only there for a brief second in his gaze, but there lies a complicated amount of emotions. They were an inseparable, but also impossible pair. By the time Ozymandias looks away from Moses again, his expression is calm and still once more.]

The Nile delivered him to my mother in a basket when he was an infant. [Ozymandias steps out from the papyrus reeds to stand near Fang.] Pharaoh granted her request to raise him alongside me. He never had a chance to become Pharaoh because of his birth so our upbringings were quite different, but we had a happy childhood together.

[In contrast, Ramesses hasn't quite learned how to entirely temper his reactions. He doesn't exactly look worried, but he's certainly concerned without even knowing what exactly it is Moses overheard. It may be a bit difficult to believe given how Ozymandias carries himself now, but back then? Oh, he was quite desperate for approval. And it stands to reason that his little brother would not come looking for him if what he overheard was nothing but praise. Moses holds up a hand in an effort to allay his brother's concerns before he continues.]

He just noticed you were...quiet today is all. He knew you were paying attention, but you hardly said anything as he told you what your orders were.

[Ramesses clearly does not take it as an is all. He looks away from Moses as he elaborates, his brow furrowing and shoulders tensing. He's not mad at Moses though. He's angry with himself. Moses elbows him gently.]

Father still has confidence in you, Ramesses. Everyone does.

[Fang's smile actually turns softer at that. Happy childhoods were luxuries, and one to be treasured. That this Moses kid was so welcomed in the family despite being found in a river... he was a lucky one.]

Mm, right. You said something about bein' part of the military when you were younger.

Moses' education was focused on more scholarly pursuits, but he received some training. Even if he was never meant to lead armies, Father felt he should still know how to defend himself. [Ozymandias huffs a quiet laugh.] Not that he was ever particularly any good at it, mind you. There was more than one occasion where Moses would have returned from hunting trips empty-handed were it not for me.

[But what are older brothers for if not letting things be a touch easier for their younger brothers? Ozymandias smiles fondly as he looks out over the river. In the distance are boats, fishermen busying themselves on their decks.]

He would have made a fine pharaoh regardless had our circumstances been different. Different from what I became, of course, but just as worthy of the praise I receive.

[As Ozymandias is speaking, Ramesses and Moses' conversation has continued. It's taken a combination of needling and patience from Moses, but there's a sigh and Ramesses points out that men with far more experience than him have struggled to effectively manage the border. He doesn't say it out loud, but it's obvious he feels the responsibility of this task is perhaps a bit too great for him. Even if he is the son of Pharaoh.]

And?

[Moses, it seems, does not feel that matters much. Ramesses crinkles his nose and frowns at his brother.]

What do you mean 'and'? Moses, even you know how difficult it has been.

[Fang snorts good-naturedly and crosses her arms.]

Wish I grew up in a world where a good hunter never comes back empty handed. [Not every world has behemoths and wyverns and adamantoises stomping around, Fang. She rolls her eyes a little talks about his praises.]

How old were you here?

Fifteen.

[Ozymandias only answers the question, not bothering with putting it into any context of the order of events in his life. Fang never seems to pay those details much mind, anyway, so the context would likely be lost upon her.]

I know, I know, [Moses admits with a few nods.] But Father has never given you any responsibility you are not yet ready for.

[Ramesses huffs a sigh and says nothing for a long moment. He seems to mull it over though and sighs again, looking up at the clear sky.]

You're right...

[Were it his present self responding to such assurances, it's likely he would have launched into a lengthy boast. At the very least, he would have done all that he could to erase any semblance of anxiety or doubt in his mind about what he is capable of. But instead, it's all he says for another moment or two.]

I know Father is setting me on the right path, but... I sometimes wonder if there is a chance I might stray from it.

[Moses shakes his head "no" and Ramesses turns his head back toward his brother when he spots the movement in his peripheral.]

[And Fang, well. She did the sensitive thing—she laughs. It's a short, bright sound, no mocking to be heard.]

[In fact, it almost sounds a little delighted in the way people laughed over baby stories.]

Listen to you, goin' on like that. That's a tune I never thought I'd hear from you.

[Brothers, huh? It's strange watching someone give Ozy the "you'll be fine" talk. It was heartwarming, watching these two. There was an easiness between them that few people really came to know.]

[Ozymandias frowns a little, opening his mouth to say something and then closing it. He doesn't flush, but he might be the tiniest amount embarrassed???]

I was young... [He mutters. Barely made Prince Regent, not yet married, not yet a father, and not yet able to boast of his military exploits, the Ramesses of this memory was far too inexperienced to carry the sort of confidence that Ozymandias now possesses. He continues, a little louder,] Besides, Moses was someone I trusted above all others. I could speak freely with him.

I know who you are better than anyone else. You won't let anyone down. You work too hard for that. [Although he does not outright reject it, Ramesses does not seem particularly convinced. Moses gives it a moment of thought, perking up as the perfect example seems to strike him.] Remember when Father wanted you to learn to steer the chariot but still hit your mark?

[Ramesses nods.]

What of it?

You were out there so long trying that day, you could barely raise your arms above your head by the time it got too dark to see the target. And yet, you still went straight back to it the next morning as soon as it was light out. That's the sort of person you are.

[Ramesses huffs a laugh, mussing up his brother's hair again.]

Moses, you always make everything sound so simple.

[Moses swats away his brother's hand with a laugh.]

And you always make it complicated.

[Fang cants her head to the side at the last bit, still smiling.]

I like that Moses guy. He gets right to the point.

[That's probably not a surprise. Even if she was capable of scheming and strategy, Fang made her favor for simplicity abundantly clear. Good for him, having a counter balance like that in his early life.]

[The word trusted, in its past tense, doesn't escape her, but even Fang has more tact than to dive right into that headfirst.]

You do make things too complicated.

I do not.

[It's a strangely perfect overlap of voices, their inflections only differing slightly as the younger Ramesses is not quite so irritated with the accusation, more grateful than anything for his brother. Ozymandias scoffs, refusing to defend himself further than that, but Ramesses continues,]

Things are more complicated for me in ways you will never have to contend with since you will never be Pharaoh, [he says, looping his arm around his brother's shoulders. This time, Ramesses doesn't start roughhousing with Moses and simply lets it be an affectionate gesture.] But I like the way you see things all the same. I think even after I've become Pharaoh, I shall always hear you out.

[He pauses and grins wide.]

Even if you're terribly wrong about most things.

[Moses' growing smile turns into a frown as he attempts to shove a laughing Ramesses away from him. Like a good big brother, Ramesses lets him after a few shoves. Ramesses stands up and his demeanor seems far lighter than when Moses found him.]

Hey, Moses?

Hm?

[Moses doesn't move to stand up, watching Ramesses as he stretches a little.]

Did you ever tell Mother you were finished with your lessons?

No, why?

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