MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

There must be some sort of magic pull coming from the inner most sanctum of Origin, because Louie always found himself back again at the Spire, staring up at the monolith structure and pondering life's deepest questions. How there must be some reason they were here, not just rocks that had the ability to walk and talk. Gems that granted magical abilities It was all too much, and the fox man pressed his forehead up against the base of the Spire, once again feeling the tears well. Unaware of the approaching crow, he began to whisper, "Whatever the answers are. Can I have them please? I have no more explanations. There are no explanations. All I do is kill and murder to fulfill some sick task. It's the only thing that makes me feel. Sending them to their graves is my purpose. Their blood spilled is my purpose gained." Did that even make sense? Was he making sense anymore?

"Magic is the only thing keeping as all alive. But why bother. Why bother making our powers different so we can all just murder each other?" So many questions, but no answers and Louie let his rump drop the ground as he continued to keep his head pressed against the cool stone. Water was whispering nearby, but he ignored it. All he needed to do was let his mind empty, get over it all. Behind him, there was a disturbance, and without looking up he cast his White Sense to feel for any strange movements.

It didn't work, and he didn't bother trying again. If he was killed right now he could safely say he would welcome it.

MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

That was his name. At least the name they knew him by. He swung his head around to the ebony coloured bird and examined her as best he could. Anything with wings knew something he didn't. But the voice was familiar and he confirmed it was his previous mushroom spores buddy. Whilst their talkings had been lighthearted, he was now stuck on the truths behind their exchanged words. "At least I'm not covered in feathers," it was a lame insult even for him and he wiped his eye with the back of a paw, hoping she saw nothing there in the brief moments she saw his teary face. If she'd heard any of it he would actually crack her neck.

"Nothing happened. It's what's happened to everyone else OK." Louie was falling behind the 8-ball. "Just some stuff. Stuff to do with... uhhh. Baratheon." Yeah, make up some excuse like he wasn't crying about his existence and purpose in life. Muttering under his breath, he thought to himself, "Saying something like at least I don't eat shit would have been better." Not even that old, he wondered if it was his senior days playing up on him. No one in Origin really knew where the end was. Maybe he was supposed to die tomorrow.

"What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were off making rocks glow or something..." At least his memory was OK.

MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

Mannerisms of birds were definitely different to mammals, and as she leaned back to preen herself and remove a feather, he forgot his troubles. Momentarily distracted by observing something that didn't resemble him in the slightest. Feathers instead of fur, scaled talons instead of paws. Snapped out of his trance by her placing a feather at his feet, he rolled it onto his paw and studied it. The gesture was something he wasn't used to receiving from anyone, and he felt his heart clench awkwardly.

"Sounds gruesome," Louie lied, a stone that had no life in it wasn't worth anything. Really all the poor sap was doing was walking around with a rock on their head. Must look pretty ridiculous. Eve prodded him on Baratheon and he felt his fur growing hot but he laughed dryly, "Friend is an understatement..." Snorting, he rocked his head from side to side, "Let's just say we didn't part on particularly good terms. If we're not alright I'd imagine it'd be my head on his horn." What a sight that would be.

"Kids?" Ears pricking forwards, he lifted his head slightly from where it had been hanging in defeat. It seemed everyone his age was having kids. Just following the cycle they were. "Technically, life gems are shiny you know. Have they hatched?" What sort of monstrosity had she created... Anything larger than a bird with wings was a force to be reckoned with.

MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

At least someone would consider it a waste if he died, and he laughed dryly yet again before returning to his solemn state as he continued to eyeball the feather. It was the gesture behind it that had him stumped, but he felt the filaments separate and stick back together like glue as he brushed it gently and genuinely gave a small, almost sad smile before placing it between his legs and placing all paws on the ground. "Yeah well, Bara wouldn't feel the same way that's for sure." Just as Eve, he felt no lingering disgust at thoughts like that. They were all a bit damaged, violence and blood were commonplace.

"A weapon? Fascinating, ones child is more likely to end up being a liability than anything else." Which is why he knew that this child would either be a star, or be left in the dirt. Just as all his other useless endeavors. Body stiffening, he wasn't sure how to answer her question. So instead, for the time being he decided to divert the conversation to something a little lighter. Somewhere he wasn't likely to spill blood or break down in tears. Briskly shaking his fur, he tried to dislodge the dander that clung so closely to his skin... It didn't work, in fact he couldn't even get dust to lift off his coat and he wondered if he was just slick with grease and oil from not having bathed. Next time... He'd get it right. Hopefully.

Defeated, "Well... I mean we are already driven by primal instincts to be a "weapon" I guess. Some to eat and some to defend. I don't think anything is inherently a weapon." Louie had different feelings about himself, but he supposed everyone could be a weapon if they so chose to be. Raheerah had brought out the blood lust and drive in everyone. Whether that was present all the time.

MY NAME IS IKHAEL

I CAN'T STAND IT
I KILL, THEREFORE I AM

"Yeah... Kind of was an ass." Conversing with Eve was pleasant. There was a slight glow, and dozens of little blobs began to glow and light up the area in between the pair. Definitely out shone by the Spire, they were still beautiful and now, he reached out a paw to touch them. There was an innocence in everything, Louie just got bogged down in his transgressions to the point that that was all he was. -There's instinct and there's weaponry- I'm sure there's some creature who uses themselves as a weapon- Paraphrasing her words in his head, he placed his paw back down and returned to the doom and gloom he was feeling before. "If there is I feel sorry for the guy."

More directly, she began to ask what exactly had been happening in his life and he shrugged his shoulders. "Merry Men want to punish me for abandoning them. I mean, I did get the dragon... Baratheon not Raheerah, away from them. Mostly I've just been looking after my own two gemstone children." Faintly, he smiled again. "Can't let them be damaged... Gotta be a responsible father now!" Beside them, the river of the water began to whisper once more to him and he shot a fearful look in the direction of the body of water.

"Go away... Leave me alone!"