sheep_game | Myngle

Sure...? As long as it's not, like, super realistic or anything.

It's not what you're picturing.

[ he gestures and - well this is his first time using illusions so it is WOBBLY? but also unrealistic, as promised. little black tendrils of smoke appear on Ananke's chest, centering around his heart but spreading out from there. More little black spots imitate ragged scars/holes, as if Ananke had been torn apart by vines. More shadows follow lichtenberg figures along his neck and down his arms. The deepest shadows pool in the very center of Ananke's chest, as if there were a giant hole there. ]

They're old. But ... it looks like you were torn apart, and blew up, and then - uh - the last one's the oldest and it's not super clear, but I think maybe you were struck by lightning?

[ Even though it's only shadows, he sucks in a sharp breath and holds it for a long moment ]

Uh...kind of. It was a regular electrocution. I needed to play possum, but like...for real.

Oh.

[ Yeah okay that tracks better. He just couldn't tell because it was all over.

Anyway he sees that discomfort and quickly dismisses them. ]

Why - why'd you have to do that?

[ scrubs a hand through his hair to funnel off a little of that nervous energy ]

We were fighting this guy that we couldn't keep up with. He had this move that Scarab couldn't figure out how to counter, and it was really fucking me up. I'd have been burned to a crisp if Scarab hadn't taken me out instead. There wouldn't have been any bringing me back from that.

... So you shocked yourself and made him think you were dead so he'd leave?

No, Scarab literally killed me so he'd leave. He gave me adrenaline and some of those heart shocks to bring me back after.

Did he warn you he was gonna do that?

No.

Scarab.

[ Straightens up, losing Ananke's slouch to Scarab's alertness ]

There was insufficient time to provide a warning.

[ that's never not a little freaky. He hopes Ananke didn't get shoved too hard. ]

That's still pretty rude, buddy.

Understood. Next time I will prioritize a warning and risk a vaporized Ananke.

...

[ sigh ]

I get that's sarcasm, and you probably didn't have a choice ... you two sure deal with a lot.

We do. It is the life we have chosen as heroes.

How much of a choice do you two get?

A significant amount. We frequently query each other before engaging in heroic actions. Our decisions are only ours.

No, I mean ... doing it at all. Is that a choice?

That is a complicated query. In the beginning I was subject to my programming and Ananke's commands, but I made my choice after learning more about The Reach.

No one has ever forced Ananke.

.... Ananke, you get what I mean, right?

[ Scarab glances away, and his expression melts into Ananke's tired smile when he looks back ]

... It really isn't much of a choice. It's us, or it's no one. There aren't enough heroes to spare any more for El Paso or dealing with The Reach.

But I wouldn't trade this job to anyone else.

[ hm. well. that is an answer. Kevin nods. ]

Guess that's just how it is.

It's how it is for a lot of heroes, isn't it? That's what makes them heroes.

Edited 2024-05-07 02:42 (UTC)

... Well, yeah. Basically that.

[ He rubs at his neck. ]

Glad you remember everything at least.

I am too. Even though it was, uh, a lot, it feels...better? Like a big weight's been lifted or something.

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