Chaos-Two gently took Nibbles back and held him close to their chest, offering a bit of comfort before setting him back in the sling. Immediately he started to eat the grasses they'd stuffed there, happy to return to the safety of the sling again.

"I will make sure to avoid any who would do that," they said, though they'd already intended on doing so. The thought of Draconua, Nidhogg, or even Labradorite by accident popped into their head, and they tamped it down when Nibbles stiffened. No need to frighten the poor thing.

"I let him free in Pegasus," they said, "Where he has a warren dug already and a few rabbits to befriend. I'm making sure he stays healthy and happy."

Perhaps a bit more information than Vargas needed.

"Maximus," they said, breathing in slowly, "I-I... thought it was... nice."

And hilarious.

But aside from that, Chaos-Two could easily acquire wandering rights later, and they had so much work to do they'd probably receive it if things calmed down a bit anyway, so they'd get no use out of it now.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

"Maximus," Vargas repeated, and seemed to ponder the name for a moment. "Maximus it is, then. Congratulations," he added.

He realized, then, that he was still distant--it was unintentional. There was simply much to think on. And as much as he despised Chaos-Two's occasional weaknesses, it deserved, at least, praise where it was due. Vargas put some effort into mustering some of his old enthusiasm, a louder voice, a little bluster--though thankfully not quite enough to frighten the rabbit unduly. "You are on the right path!" he said, drawing himself upright a little more. "There are those in the Forge who doubt you, but so long as you press on, you will prove them wrong. Draconua has as yet earned nothing," he added, pointedly: a nod to the fact that, complaints aside, the uncontrolled monster was now one step behind V-Cha--no; Maximus. That will take a bit of getting used to, he realized, mentally correcting himself.

"In three cycles' time you will have the chance to prove yourself again, Maximus. Perhaps should this child prove worthy--or should you find some other way--you may take yet another step at that time. The next time I gather the Forge, I will announce your new name as an achievement."

Then he fell silent, mind threatening, once again, to wander--but the unspoken "was there anything else?" hung in the air. Vargas himself seemed to be in no rush, however--patient as he so often was. But he, for now, had nothing more to add.

@V-Chaos-Two

Where perhaps a crueler dictator would hide insults in his compliments like a magician performing legerdemain, Vargas was... genuine? He was congratulating them, praising them, giving them everything they'd wanted from day one.

Approval.

"... Thank you, Master Vargas," they breathed, noting the time they had between tests. They'd done it and they'd done it their way, too.

They'd succeeded where even the biggest, most ferocious valkhound of them all had failed. Once again they'd made it ahead of many of the Forge, even though there had been moments where they themselves had hindered their progress. Moments they'd been humiliated, moments they'd failed.

But they'd finally succeeded, finally showed the will Vargas knew they had in them.

"I-I'll go and get on the stone," Maximus said, so stunned that they were tripping over themselves as they walked backwards, "Thank you!"

As they went to walk away they halted suddenly and whirled around, "I nearly forgot, um... what designation would the child have?"

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Maximus thanked him--twice--and, half-bemused, he responded with small nods of acknowledgements, and those little vague sounds that were something like mm-hmm but not quite. He followed that with a booming bellow, as enthusiastic as he could make it: "Do not show me gratitude: you have earned this for yourself! It is your job to train, examine your abilities, and push yourself to success. As I have said, the Trial is no easy feat." It was not easy to summon up that level of energy for his sentence. He did it: he did come across as hearty, and loud, as always. But he had to shove down a few new concerns to get there.

The last question was acceptable enough, and he had to stop to think about it. He knew where the next child would lay on the timeline; Baokrish would be be Chaos-Five. But would Maximus's spawn would be the next to hatch? This next one, then--"Assuming no others are hatched in the meantime, this will be V-Chaos-Six. Five should be hatching in the next week, or so--that one is one of those destined for Lord Dhracia," he explained.

He kept his voice calm, distant. Businesslike. But it was strange, wasn't it--how quickly things could change?

@Maximus

Maximus nodded and set Nibbles down as he started to wiggle, watching him hop towards the tunnel to Peagsus, where they were headed next.

"I'll keep that in mind... Um, bye, Master Vargas," a bit more lame than another 'thank you', but Vargas did say not to...

So with that they trotted off, Nibbles easily keeping up as he kept close to their side, the valkhound's happiness apparent by the excited shaking of their tail. Off to complete their next task!

@Vargas for vis
Exit Maximus!

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Right-... that was that dealt with, then.

Vargas turned away, a quiet sigh escaping him--his mind going back to... other things. Go back to work, he urged himself. Consider your next creation--begin planning now. You may not have time, later. And visit Pegasus again--the lights, he thought.

For now, he'd go back to sorting some more of these old bones, cataloguing the Womb's old deaths. He'd done it a dozen times--he knew these skeletons by heart, and he was fairly certain he'd found most of the Oilstones that lay throughout.

It didn't hurt to check again, though, now and then.

To his surprise, he found one: the faintest glimmer off in the corner, nestled in the back of one of the empty cocoons.

Maximus forgotten, Vargas lurched into motion, eyes bright and worries forgotten: this was a new stone, and he would compare it to these bones and have it ready to have use made of it.

What a fine prize--it certainly took his mind off of other things.

exit Vargas