(catch-all)

[fulgency]

Who: Ozymandias + Assorted others!
When: All month long!
Where: Around Aefenglom!
What: Sphinx kittens and small children raising hell, and sometimes he's a bossypants.
Warnings: Will update as needed!

(if you would like a private starter, please hmu by shooting me a message rebreather or this journal! doesn't matter if we've threaded together in the past or not! anybody is free to request. :]b)

Comments

[fulgency]

In truth, my world is nearing its potential end. At least as far as humanity is concerned.

[Ozymandias does not say this gravely, rather instead his tone is similar to the way one would discuss passing mild showers on a day with otherwise fair weather. It's possible to mistake that for a lack of investment -- he has, after all, been dead for quite a while, so if his investment in the future is a little low... -- but it's more confidence than anything else. He hadn't been entirely certain about his Master at first, but even if time continues to pass without him there, Ozymandias has confidence that humanity will still be there whenever he's able to return.]

[It seems once again, he has no business trying to play at the hero, but such is the will of the gods.]

But I still hope to return, and hopefully with my abilities rightfully restored to me in some form or fashion.

[integrous]

[ For a second Asahi is quiet, trying to take in that statement. It's a very wild contrast with her own world - and even this world, for all its shortcomings, at the very least doesn't seem like it's on the brink of total annihilation just yet. So the thought of a world nearing its end is.. a lot.

And yet his tone seems so calm. Maybe it's to be expected with everything she's seen from him so far, but still.. ]

Are you thinking of turning things around before that end can come? [ Asahi does figure confidence must be the reason behind his tone. He's always seen confident about pretty much everything before, who's to say he wouldn't feel that way even in the face of a potential apocalypse? ]

[fulgency]

I am unable to obtain that eternal life as I was promised, but regardless, my duty does not change. A pharaoh is to protect his people in life and to protect the world's people after death.

[Ozymandias does not speak of this altogether plainly even if there's no doubt of its veracity as fact to him. Try as he might to contain much of it, there is always a part of him that is wistful for his promised eternal life.]

Not every battle, of course, is worthy of my direct participation, but I do not hesitate for the sake of the world.

[integrous]

[ Not worthy of his direct participation, huh. Yeah, that sounds about like what Asahi was expecting. But despite the ego smeared all over that statement, it's not like his intent behind it is bad, so Asahi doesn't seem to mind a whole bunch.

Instead she just lightly jokes: ]

Well, thanks for thinking of us normal people too.

[ Even if she's not from the same world as him, she's sure there must be plenty of regular humans like her around who can't do much to stop some apocalypse. ]

[fulgency]

I know that you jest, but do not mistake acknowledgment of my station as condescension towards those I rule over.

[Ozymandias chuckles quietly, shaking his head.]

To some extent, my subjects are like my children. I will always, in the end, do what I can to protect them and do so especially when they are truly incapable of doing so for themselves. But if I do not allow them to struggle and fight for themselves, they will never grow. If they do not grow, what hope do they have of surviving?

[Ozymandias means this quite seriously despite his smile. While some of the other older kings view themselves as only models for the people to follow or expects that the people will serve them with no expectation of nothing in return, Ozymandias sees the relationship as somewhat mutual. Their devotion towards him allows him to guide them to greatness.]

[His smile shifts into more of a grin.]

But I still also have my pride as a warrior and I was that before I was even officially named the successor to my father's throne. If there is no glory to be had, what is the point?

[He is both joking and not really joking.]

[integrous]

As expected, rulers back then really were different compared to the modern kind of government I know back home. [ Despite passionate speeches, she can't imagine any of those people high up truly care about the people the same way Ozymandias seems to from the way he's talking now. Heck, being a teenager and not too concerned with politics yet, Asahi doesn't even feel any bond at all with them. Unlike the mutual bond he seems to describe with his own people.

Still, since he's also grinning and slightly joking, it's also said lightly. ]

I guess it's good that you seem so capable and responsible though. I'm not sure if the succession is always father to son where you're from, but it'd suck to have someone on the throne who only got there because of who his parents were. Someone with that high of a position should truly care about their people and be honest and upfront with them.

[ Which Ozymandias seems to be. It kind of makes her feel his subjects must be pretty lucky. ]

[fulgency]

If that is how you feel, [he says with a laugh,] then it is my grandfather, Ramesses I, that you ought to admire.

My grandfather earned the trust and friendship of Pharaoh Horemheb during his time as a soldier. He served Pharaoh Horemheb so well as Vizier that Horemheb declared him his successor despite his age. [As Ozymandias speaks of his grandfather, his expression shifts once more. While it's not as though he loses all humor and becomes serious and severe, even now when it is so long after his own reign, Ozymandias clearly still holds a great deal of admiration. The reason why likely becomes apparent as he continues.] It is the vision that Horemheb and my grandfather held for Egypt's restoration that guided my father's rule as well as my own.

[As much blatant pride as Ozymandias holds for his own accomplishments, they do not exist in a vacuum for even him. It is a legacy.]