equinox snorted, if only briefly. it didn't mean to.

he listened intently to vargas's speech. it didn't understand some of those words, but... it was close. it worked over them in his head. he thinks he got it.

he was silent for a moment as vargas spoke, contemplating how to form its next sentence. it looked to chaos-two again, and back to vargas.

"we train monsters. the strong go out, the others stay here, make more strong ones. train them, and keep the forge... stable." he began. "the stronger are... rewarded. if we are not strong, and fail, the caves... die. we keep it from that. we do other things. like chaos-two with food."

he thought, mulling over vargas's words once more. "the creator is important. we serve him. i think." he finished with that, looking to vargas. they were pretty close to eye level, actually. odd.

quietly, they glanced over to chaos-two one more time. did they get it right...?

could they help with the food?

@V-chaos-two

Chaos-Two looked away, cheeks hot with embarrassment. It was meant to be dry humor like Vargas's own... 'wit', but apparently it didn't come across that way.

"Maybe," they mumbled, "I wasn't exactly made to be the 'funny valkhound'."

And yet again they wondered what purpose Vargas intended them to have. Maybe they were the 'existential crisis' valkhound.

They looked over at Equinox and thought over their words for a moment.

"No.. not the Forge," they said, "The nest. The nest encapsulates the caves, I think, though the Forge is localized within Cepheus, Pegasus, and Draco. If we don't continue with our efforts and keep the whole process running smoothly, then everything will be destroyed. You got the second part right about the caves, sort of."

Then they stepped back again to let the two speak, looking between Equinox and Vargas curiously.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Equinox was using "we" and not "you," which was surprising but a pleasant development. It considers itself one of us, even if subconsciously.
He glanced between the two, and when both had finished speaking, Vargas pushed slowly on. "I can offer you a place among the Forge, if you wish it. We can give you training, depending on what you would want to do. A guard, or a fighter; one to raise children, or to hunt food. We would train you and test your abilities and decide on your level of authority as we go. In turn you would have a place among us, with the rewards that represents--and a chance to keep this nest afloat."

He could, of course, list out all the rewards, but a creature who had already been living on its own might see those as a removal of freedoms, rather than an incentive, so Vargas didn't bring it up for now. He was still debating whether to force newcomers to earn their freedoms all over again, or simply offer them the rewards they did not already have.

For now, he'd take it a step at a time--he'd ensure Equinox held interest, first.

@Equinox

Equinox listened, and thought again. they nodded, before speaking.

"i would... like to join. yes." he said absolutely. "would like to help with... with food. with Chaos-two, if.. if possible. the plants are... nice."

he wasn't very elegant with words, being a toddler at best, but he was trying! he really did want to help though. he wanted to grow things. he wanted to watch things grow, and be proud when they did. to be proud of them when they grew, while his head urges to destroy. his thoughts supplied rather unhelpfully.

"...i can.. i can help."

they looked to chaos-two, and wondered idly what those rewards meant. did chaos-two know? had they gotten one before?

he looked up. "i want to join, yes." he confirmed again. whether vargas knew it or not, it wouldn't matter to the beast, what was taken away or given back, Equinox barely had a sense of object permanence as is. just how things worked, he would think, should it happen. should vargas have something to offer him that he did not have, well, he'd think no different that way too. simply... how things worked. a beast of simplicity, atleast for now.

he huffed, moving to all fours for the moment, back tired from moving, walking, standing so much. top heavy had downsides, surprisingly.

@Maximus

Chaos-Two listened silently, glad they hadn't ended up saying the wrong thing. They were a little tired of being corrected or scolded or what have you. Maybe they were finally learning.

They looked down at Equinox in mild surprise, huffing softly. All these gembound offering to be farmers...

"My garden is for herbs and things, so it is smaller," they contemplated, "A food garden would be very vast, and the both of them would certainly need protecting. Even though they are close to Draco, they would be exposed no matter where we put them just being in Pegasus."

They looked up to Vargas and shrugged gently, easing their weight from one foot to the other, "Perhaps they could guard the gardens. And while they guard perhaps they could assist in tending to it. Merely a suggestion, though."

They looked over at Equinox and offered a half-smile, hoping that they'd understand the positive reinforcement.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

"Then you may join. I welcome you," Vargas said, his voice smooth and calm. "Chaos-Two will not be tending the farms, but they will be gathering others who will do so. You would be welcome as a guard or a plant-tender, or both. I will, if you like, instruct the other gardeners to teach you; and I will teach you how to fight, as well."

He considered, for a moment. "For now, I will give you our most basic rules and information, and then, Chaos-Two can take you to see the location where we will build the gardens. When you have done that, you may rest, or eat, or whatever you require--then come back here, and find me for a lesson in how to fight. I will see what you know, and teach you what you do not. All right?" he asked, hoping that it understood. It seemed to speak rather simply, but if its words were to be believed, it understood him well enough.

"Our rules are relatively simple. Our members earn their rights--their rights to wander the cave, or to procreate, or to raise their rank among us. This is motivation; these rights are for those who have proven their worth. Most must earn their names, but I will not take yours from you. And there are rules--but they are common sense. Do not harm your fellow Forge members outside of a spar; obey those who outrank you. Perform the duties assigned to you, so that we do not fall into decay as a whole. If there are any issues, bring them to me to solve them."

It seemed simple enough. Of course, there was much more to it, but it boiled down, really, to this.

Vargas glanced around, and took a breath. "And remember not to touch the Black Spire."

"Do you understand? Do my plans for your next few days, and your training, sound suitable to you?" he asked Equinox, studying him.

@Equinox

slightly disappointed he wasnt working with chaos-two, being the only other person he wouldve known, but he was immediately happy again to hear he could do either. or both. he'd love to do both...

he spoke, tone lighter. "i understand. i am content with the rules and schedule. thank you, master vargas." he said, proud of himself for stringing together such a good sentence. good job.

he thought. earning a name was something they did? was chaos-two their name, or was it... not?? was vargas's name vargas? he would have to ponder this later. he had stuff to look forward to.

he nodded. "i would like.. to train in both. fighting and plants. i want to protect them and grow them. i will see the place."

he heard that one reward, the freedom to wander and thought. could he not leave anymore? it didn't make much difference to him, but it would be interesting. he didn't think the garden would be here, there wasn't any... fertile-looking soil, so maybe he'd leave then, to do his job. but then? he thought. that would be an interesting shift.

"when i am not... training. working. what do i do..?" he asked.

@Maximus

Chaos-Two was silent again, only nodding when Vargas mentioned their name and that they'd give a tour of the farms. Aside from that they were quiet, thinking towards the rest of their day. Some practice healing, maybe...

This wasn't their conversation so they only half-listened, waiting for their name or some sign that they were being talked to. Otherwise they were silent.

@Vargas
tag me when max is addressed directly uwu otherwise you can skip!

- THE LEVIATHAN -

"Good," Vargas answered, and for once his tone was not the snap-shut clap of a bear trap, booming in cheerful finality. It was almost gentle, simply by way of adapting to Equinox's tone. The creature was either simple or somewhat soft, or both, and Vargas felt no need to bellow at it--positively or otherwise.

Instead he was calm, somewhat quiet.

"We will train you in both, then. When you are not working," he answered, "you may do whatever you wish--just do not wander far, in case you are required. You can earn the right to travel away, to halt your duties for a time, but that comes later; for now, you may rest, play, eat, train, whatever you wish, when your work does not need your attention."

That was that, then--unless Equinox had other questions, he would see them a little later--for training.

@Equinox

equinox nodded, the small beginning of what might be a smile clawing at the corners of their mouth. they hadn't smiled before though, so this was new.

"thank you. understood." he barked simply, turning to chaos-two and pausing. "thank you too... for bringing me here." he said, before beginning to walk off. he had stuff to do, stuff to prepare for. and also really wanted a nap. that sounded nice.

it looked back to them ooone more time, before taking his leave.

exit

@Maximus
@Vargas