- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas grunted, then nodded. "Do not forget what I said about hunger. It may be a primitive thing, but you still cannot starve yourself and live. I only suggest perspective."

He turned, apparently intending to go back with Onyx-Three, which made some sense: he was intending to see the pair off. He strode for where they'd left V-Ruby-One.

He still said nothing of Onyx-Three's claim of being at fault, or his maturity in claiming it. He had accepted it without comment and, while it might come up in the future, right now they had a punishment to enact. But he did add one last comment before they'd drawn in earshot of the others. "If you have other questions, in the future, you know you may ask them. Or concerns," he amended.

He came to a halt before the others, looking over them--the Sentinel, V-Ruby-One, Scion if they were still there. "You may wish to rest and eat before tackling prey," he advised. "Your body might need at least a few hours to adjust, particularly given the travel."

Whatever Vargas had spoken to Onyx-Three about, his demeanor had seemingly calmed: rather than bellowing and posturing, he was almost casual.

@V-Onyx-Three (and @V-Ruby-One ?)

Onyx-Three, for a moment, did not understand the purpose of the statement regarding hunger. They never considered starving themselves-- then realized that perhaps he was potentially referring to something else. Ah, love. It was important to allow yourself some indulgence rather than none at all. If it had not been repeated, they might have missed it. "Balance is essential."

He walked back with Vargas, nodding at the additional comment. Onyx-Three was still surprised at how open he was to all these questions and issues of their's. No doubt more issues would arise in the future, and when that happened, they wouldn't feel too nervous about speaking to him. Even if it was a punishment-- not that they would let it happen again, but his final decision always felt fair.

Now they were back with the crowd, if there was one. "I am ready. It is your choice." He would address V-Ruby-One. They didn't mind either way whether they took a break or not, but they were energized enough from the conversation that they felt they could make the trip now if so chosen.

"Exit V-Onyx-Three"

@V-Ruby-One

When the two of them had briefly stepped away to chat, Scion had managed to finally corner its own spawn and give it a (in its eyes) minor scolding. But to V-Ruby-One, it might as well have told it to go throw itself off a cliff for all the use it was to the forge. Something like "You can't being a danger to yourself and others." "Master Vargas will throw you out if you keep acting up! Or kill you outright!"

As if it wasn't already learning its fucking lesson with this stupid fucking exercise.

It didn't entertain it with any kind of response, however, instead just snarling and turning away as Vargas came strolling back. It looked up at the valkhound with so, so little patience left for this conversation it was a miracle it was still here.

Its eyes snapped towards Onyx-Three and growled - not particularly at him, but this frustration and need to just get the fuck out of here releasing itself momentarily. "Hydra." That was all it offered before it turned and stormed off towards the Aperture. It didn't need rest - it needed the opposite right about now, overcharged from the conversation to handle itself in civilized company for any longer.

*exit

Scion stood next to its spawn, tail lashing, still feeling that prickle of embarrassment. It hated Helion with its whole heart and every day was another day regretting ever giving into Azrael's demands. It was a testament, in Scion's eyes, to his complete failure to raise a child. A failure to adapt to someone that wouldn't sit down and do whatever he demanded they do.

As the beast stalked away, Scion stepped forward again and bowed his head. "I apologize again, Master Vargas. I should have been more involved in its training." It glanced to watch Ruby-One's back retreating towards the exit. "If they return from their task, what do you plan to do?" He cringed at the offer that was coming up his throat, but he let it go anyways - it was better to step up then to just sit back and continue to fail. "What would you have me to, to help correct this?"

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas watched the pair go, then shifted his attention to Scion at the question. He considered, grunting once, and glanced at The Sentinel for good measure: one of several parental fuck-ups in this situation, it would seem. He only spoke once the two departing punishees were well out of earshot.

"I will take them under my own guidance, for now. Your lack of familiarity with their element and its... difficulties is noted, and I should have realized; I had thought Azrael would be more of a guiding force. Where you failed was in not informing me sooner," he added, looking back now to Scion. "This is not a punishment for the both of them so much as a lesson. I expect them to return. If they do not we will find their chrysalises and watch them. But it is intended to teach V-Ruby-One that it can and will perform as a team; that it can achieve success in doing so. It is also intended to teach it that there are outlets for its chaotic urges that are... better... than lashing out at allies. ...If they fail at cooperating, I will have them raking Fornax's beach. That was not a joke," he added, in a low and irritated grumble.

He'd already planned out the potential work, there. Getting rakes from the Blacksmith, setting a sentry to ensure they raked sand and pebbles ten hours a day.

"In the future, inform me before minor issues become major ones. We could have lost a Forge member to this foolishness. As for your spawn-? I would suggest speaking with others of its element to understand more of its perspective."

@Scion

At the mention of Azrael, Scion glanced back at its spawn, now distant in the dim light of Draco. It didn't doubt that Azrael had been a guiding force, but in completely the wrong direction. They were both stubbornly prideful and thought themselves superior, and that never made for a great pair. However, it kept that to itself for now - perhaps Master Vargas already knew.

"I understand," it replied, instead. "I will be more diligent to report these things in the future." Although, hopefully it wouldn't have need to - if Vargas was taking over training and responsibility of this one, perhaps it could finally leave that responsibility behind. It never wanted to foster spawn of its own, but alas, here it was.

But...it would at least take Vargas up on his suggestion. It wouldn't hurt, however boring it might be, and after this mess, it was willing to do whatever to make itself look better in its master's eyes.

It nodded once more and slunk back, assuming it was dismissed, intending on returning to its nest, at least for now, to skulk a little bit before it got back to work.

*exit (unless stopped)

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas watched it go.

This had been a bit of a fiasco, and make no mistake. But now he stood back and observed it all from more of a distance, calculating through it.

Nobody was dead.

With luck, he'd caught Ruby-One's disastrous development before it'd gone too far. Scion now had a task, and he'd seen Onyx-Three's development and maturity taking a turn for responsible strength.

This was all... good, in its own way. But it would require close and careful supervision to make sure it stayed on that path, and didn't twist into further catastrophe instead.

With a sigh and a sharp shake of his head, the Leviathan turned, heading back to the Black Spire to continue his work.

exit Vargas