middaeg | open catch-all + closed prompts for August

[You're looking for the other golden king if you're here for petty kings.]

[Ozymandias supposes what she says makes some sense as he takes another sip of his coffee. A built-up association would be natural even without her body creating such a response. There is, however, something she says that he can't quite put together on his own.]

Mimicking what exactly?

[Yeah she knows that petty king...]

Daemons possessing humans. While true daemons could conceal themselves to normal human detection, and even imitations could only be discovered by their behavioral change...

They couldn't hide from me.

[He's a bro. ~~To Nitocris' chagrin.~~]

And that is an ability passed down through your family?

[A good bro that can handle Caren. That's something.]

Through my mother. I've been told my sire was a mage, a blessing and a miracle, as his magic did not come from any predating bloodlines.

[That's an interesting way to speak of her father, lacking all affection and denying any real familial connection. Ozymandias doesn't pry into the matter, however, and lets it be.]

Your mother's circumstances were the same as you?

From what I understand, she was even more deeply effected, and far more frail then I.

[Her shoulders lift in a shrug, and fall, even as she drains her cup. She's glad Ozy didn't press; someone closer to her age...they would have fussed and gotten emotional.]

Though I'm unsure if she reacted to pain similarly to myself. It might have been too delicate and private to share.

[Considering that the first word that comes to mind when he thinks of Caren is certainly not frail, he doesn't imagine that it would take much for her mother to be in a more delicate state than her daughter. But at the same time, he imagines her choice of the word was intentional and whatever her mother's state, there's little room to exaggerate.]

A parent should protect their child from some things. I'm sure she did not wish to concern you more than was necessary. Whatever she experienced, she probably thought it best you not know.

Likely so. It was possible that I wouldn't have inherited her blessings.

[She lifted her shoulders in a shrug, before setting her cup on the table.]

But we never had a chance to compare notes. However, from all accounts, she was a kind woman. I can only assume she'd wish to protect me.

[And now the way she speaks of her mother, it seems as though Caren was distant from even her mother as well. It makes sense, he supposes. If she were truly so frail, it may have been for the best that there were limitations to how frequently they were with one another. But what a sad thing to grow up so alone. Or perhaps not so much grow up alone as it is to be alone. From her condition to what she shared with him the last time they were together, it seems there's been a great deal of time and circumstances that have left her on her own.]

Did she pass recently?

[She shook her head.It seemed she was not beloved or cherished like some children were; instead...]

When I was a small child-a toddler when she died. Far too young for such discussions or even to be certain that I inherited her gift.

That is unfortunate.

[Even if Caren does not necessarily see it as being so. (She does appear to quite frequently accept whatever it is that might befall her; whatever frustrations she may hold being kept quiet and private.) Ozymandias was fortunate enough in his life that his parents lived long enough to see him reach adulthood, his mother not parting from the world of the living until nearly his first Sed festival. He could not imagine his life having been any other way.]

Is it the Church that raised you then?

Ah, you remembered.

[Her mention of the Church that is. She was turning the coffee cup in her hands, idly, instead of helping herself. She didn't know all of Ozymandias' history but...she was certain that he was loved and beloved, by not only his family, but by his world. She couldn't blame them either. He was a little like the sun, in how he brought people in with his sheer brightness.]

You are correct. They did raise me.

I should apologize. I feel...this must be depressing to hear, and quite honestly, that was not my intent.

[Ozymandias considers his next words for a moment. He has no desire to lie to her and tell her that it isn't something that inspires a bit of sadness, but he also does not particularly want her to feel guilty for having said any of it.]

It is an unfortunate thing, but I do not anticipate that my questions will be met with happy answers. I would rather the truth no matter how unfortunate it might be than a pretty lie.

[She stops fussing with her cup, and she watches him briefly. It's difficult to say what she's thinking. Even more perhaps when she bows her head and smiles.]

A true sign of a king, isn't it? Or just a man who lives in the real world? Maybe it's both.

Thank you Ozymandias. There are few people who I could speak the truth and meet it unflinching.

[And just because:]

And no, this was not some twisted way to ensure you'd make the first move out of pity.

[He chuckles softly, shaking his head.]

I would never insult you and do anything out of pity for you, Caren.

[Tragic as her life appears to have been prior to coming to Aefenglom and even with the continued forms of misery once in this world, Ozymandias does not see it as a reason to pity her. She does not seem to take her experiences as mere misfortune and instead, developed some form of strength from all of it. That makes Caren far from pitiable.]

Anything I might do, you would be safe to assume that it is because I desire to do so for any number of reasons other than pity.

You may be one of the few who won't.

[Which puts her at ease, not surprisingly. And yet-while she has changed, has become something else, she can still do what she considers important to her. And that's all that matters.]

Or at least one I trust not to lie about it. Is it strange that it feels...

Refreshing?

[Ozymandias has another sip of his coffee, nearly but not quite finishing it off.]

For you, I do not think it is quite so strange.

[From what she has described, it sounds as though she has had a number of manipulators. Some perhaps had noble intentions behind their manipulation of her, others less so. But the motivation hardly matters so much as it has likely continued eating at her ability to trust what others might say.]

[He finishes off his coffee.]

It is no small thing to be in possession of your trust. [He smiles at her.] I will take care not to misuse it.

[She moved to set her cup on the table, but it was to refresh her cup. She motioned to see if he would want more for herself. If nothing else, she was well trained-maybe too well trained-when it came to manners at times.]

I can only hope you will not.

[She offers a small smile back. It's not sarcastic for once, or filled with hidden intentions.]

But if it happens...well. No harm will come to you. It'd only be a mistake.

[On both their parts.]

[He laughs, placing his cup back on the table.]

I appreciate your reassurances, [he says, clearly feeling them to be unnecessary. Whether it was a belief that Caren would not strike back at him or simply his usual confidence in himself is anyone's guess.]

[Caren, surprisingly, laughs. Even as she adds milk and sugar to her new cup of coffee, she seems amused. It's hard to say if it's just due to his confidence or his belief in her kindness.

Because she wouldn't strike out: she'd only be disappointed.]

And I appreciate your confidence.

[Maybe it just helps that he doesn't call everyone mongrel and make a point of standing above everyone.]

[There's never any mistaking that Ozymandias views himself as superior to everyone. He declares it with every utterance of his titles and all his unspoken expectations for obedience and subservience to his might and radiance. But it's also surprisingly far easier to forget that at any point in his lifetime he was a tyrant with just as firm and strict a rule as the other golden king because he has never been quite so cruel. In claiming himself an incarnation of Ra, as the sun allows for all life on Earth to thrive and grow, so too must Ozymandias. Ozymandias fashions himself into someone who both protects and guides others, not one who oppresses and dominates them.]

[Smiling, he prepares his own second cup of coffee.]

I would not be much of a God-King if I lacked in that, now would I?

[It's such a confidence that surprisingly...for all of his need for others to bow his head, that it's not offensive. There is, after all, a difference between a tyrant and a king, especially a king that sees the need to guide his people.

Like a beam of sunlight causing a flower to flourish.]

Oh, you'd still be a God-King, but it wouldn't be as convincing.

[Which she really finds funny for some reason.]

[Ozymandias huffs a laugh at the mere notion that he must convince anyone of anything, but especially that.]

I believe that having to convince you of that would be enough for the gods to strip me entirely of all my divinity, Caren.

And that certainly would be a shame, wouldn't it?

[She laughed under her breath, sitting back carefully with her coffee.]

Rather, I wouldn't want to take away from what you are. It'd take away all the fun of flirting and thinking of possible ways to seduce you.

[He picks up his own coffee again, but stays seated forward.]

Still planning that, are you?

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