Tahi nodded to confirm that the Collector was still in Canis, but then paused to consider Pride's question at length. Several variables became apparent to him immediately -- first, the Collector himself. insidious and with the ability to make Tahi-shei forget all logic, he was a persuasive and dark figure who clearly took advantage of the vulnerable and meek. He seriously doubted that the Collector offered magic items out of the goodness of his heart.

Then, Pride. Strong-willed (as far as Tahi knew) -- reasonable, pure, and someone who made him feel... a lot of complicated emotions. Guilt, pride, a desire to grow -- but also shame, insecurity, a feeling that he would never quite measure up. None were quite rational, he knew, but the mind always had its quirks.

Next, he was considering what he had done. Tahi-shei had agreed to do this. He had signed a contract, whatever that meant. Now he was asking a bigger, stronger, cooler-looking deer to go clean up his messes. It was a coward's way out, and he knew it. But in the same breath, he knew for a fact that 'coward' applied easily to him. But how far was he willing to take this?

At a certain point, there became a need for bravery -- or at the very least, courage.

"I really don't want to go," he admitted finally. However, Tahi-shei took a breath, indicating he was not finished. "But asking someone else to clean up my messes for me is already cowardly. The least I can do is face him with you instead of cowering in Orion like a lonely fawn."


@pride
we can probably start closing this on your post unless you want to stretch it?

Pride listened, still and attentive, and then when Tahi-shei made a decision, inclined his head. "It is up to you. I am offering to speak to him in your stead; you are not asking me to 'clean up your mess' so if you do not want to come along you needn't. Either way, it is... brave of you to offer," he added.

It was, perhaps, weak encouragement--but Pride's mind was already elsewhere. Already running over what the Collector wanted, and what he might ask. What consequences might come of this. Whether he would let it go neatly, or demand some other cost, or refuse Pride altogether.

The stag was unsure, but there was only one way to find out.

He looked to Tahi-shei.

"I will go now, then. You may stay or come with me--you are not a coward for not wanting to go back, but I do not think he will harm you, either." With a dip of his head he turned toward the Throne. Despite his reassuring words, his magic reached out--and drew his armor from beside the Throne. It hovered through the air toward him. First he rested the back-piece across his back, hooking in to hang across his flanks and around his chest; the two neck-pieces then meshed together, one at a time.

Then Pride started off toward Tunnel K, steps sedate and relatively indifferent, the diamond armor quietly clanking over him.

exit Pride;
@Tahi-shei

Pride was wrong, and Tahi-shei knew it. The realization disturbed him just a bit -- he'd never exactly thought of Pride as a fallible creature before, but he was apparently failing to see the truth of the matter. Tahi-shei had come to him seeking help. He'd made a mistake, and instead of dealing with the consequences of his actions like an adult, he'd run to a trusted friend to find away for someone else to face them. While perhaps rational, it was still cowardly, and Tahi-shei wasn't going to pretend otherwise. But, he didn't argue the matter. Pride already had a far-away look in his eyes.

Not a coward for not wanting to go back... yes, that one was true. Just barely managing to steel himself, Tahi-shei got up. Generally, you are not afraid of things you're seeing for the second time, he reasoned. Therefore, you have no reason to be afraid of the Collector, who you will be seeing a second time. The admittedly flimsy logic was barely enough to keep him moving, but the fancy metal moving to cling to Pride's body gave him pause. Then, a thought came to him -- insidious and cold, and in a voice that was almost not his own.

Pride was lying.

He blinked it away. Pride wouldn't lie to him, surely. Tahi followed at his flank first, and then at his shoulder -- if he was going to do this, he would try to do it as an equal.



/exit tahi

@pride (visibility)