Set exactly 1 day after this thread --> mr anderson... i've been expecting you

How to go about this...

Chaos-Two had spent what little time they had until the next day thinking. And talking with their sibling, too, but didn't that count as thinking, technically? Either way, they'd come up with somewhat of a plan.

Thought one: Ask Vargas to be given a new job, one that has something to do with the grown members of the Chaos Forge, specifically in a therapeutic sense. Would Vargas even know that word, though? Hm. Perhaps they ought to say something along the lines of, 'providing emotional stability and support for those among the Chaos Forge to reduce yet another task placed upon you, o' mighty Master Vargas. Maybe becoming a healer of some kind would be good too-'

Thought two: Speak of the trials in Polaris and ask if such a trial could be considered for them. The more power the better, at least that's what Chaos-Two assumed. If they could boost their magic then that was one step closer to achieving the strength that Vargas desired. If they could beat that trial then that had to prove that their will was iron!

Thought three: Ask for another trial from Master Vargas himself. It was best they not suggest anything about the contents of the trial, lest Vargas get angry again.

Thought four (optional): Mention the piano palace in Cepheus and ask if visitations are possible once their isolation is over.

Chaos-Two stopped before they reached where they'd seen Vargas only a few minutes before. It was rare the Master left Draco, and so a quick cast of their 'red sense' was all that was needed to find him. Being one of the two massive creations in the cave, identifying his red, pounding heartbeat was easy. Now came the hard part.

Actually mustering up the courage to speak to him.

Chaos-Two knew that Vargas hated them at the moment. That meant that one word spoken wrong or out of place would immediately get them sent away or worse, struck. The last strike they'd suffered under Vargas' hand had been with their consent, but even a simple smack had knocked them out easily, and they feared what could happen if he decided to use just a little more of his immense strength.

He'd very nearly broken Vedette Agate-One when he'd decided that verbal discipline wasn't enough. Chaos-Two feared accidentally crossing that line.

"Mas-" Their voice cracked and they snapped their jaws shut, breathing out hard for a moment as they clutched their staff tightly. It was nothing but anxiety and fears they were working themselves up with holding them back, and they were supposed to have an iron will! Determination so fierce that they'd handled a ball of teeth and venomous quills with only a few accidents, had spent months suffering through constant pain and agony to prove they weren't weak.

Their ears pinned and they inhaled, shaking their head before walking forward, towards the Leviathan, towards the face that the villains of their dreams chose to wear.

"Master Vargas!", they called out, hoping to get his attention, "I have come as you asked. May we speak again?"

Hopefully with... kinder words.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas could hear Chaos-Two approaching, hear the voice calling out--and from the tone of it, it sounded like they'd be off to a better start, this time. He certainly hoped so. He had not ignored the trouble of the day before--in fact, he'd spent a great deal of time thinking over it, examining it with the revealing light of his ex-Overseer's point of view.

With Chaos-Two, he'd found a problem--the problem--and he hoped he wasn't mistaken. If he was right, it would make things much easier to deal with; it wasn't a baffling mystery as with Orthoclase-Alpha, but rather something clear and simple. The question was how to address it. And this was something he still was not decided on, not entirely, though he did have plans.

For now, he addressed Chaos-Two: he strode forward to meet it, his response booming, as always. And calculated, too, though Chaos-Two didn't need to know that. "Yes. I hope you have been thinking over my words, Chaos-Two, and trying to see them from different perspectives--you may learn something. And I have a task for you, perhaps, when you are done. But for now--speak! And I will listen."

He came to a halt, no other mention given of the disastrous prior day, his acid regard closely observing his spawn.

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two swallowed as he stood before Vargas, nervous and trying very very hard to remember the three main thoughts they'd singled out before all of this.

"I have been thinking about it, and I think I understand," they said, and cleared their throat when their voice became raspy with the frog in their throat, "And-"

Actually, perhaps it was better if the incident of yesterday was left in the past. If Vargas would make no mention of it, then they wouldn't either. They could only strive to improve and make up for their behavior going forward.

"I have a few things I would like to talk about," they said slowly, going over each one in their head before they spoke, "Firstly, I would like my responsibilities, my job... shifted. To something else, something I feel I could be more productive with. I mean no offense, Master Vargas, but I am struggling to find motivation in raising the spawn, and what you said yesterday, I think it has become beneath my current abilities. I think I could be more useful to the Chaos Forge."

"I believe you are aware of my training with Doctor, but also with Kethri, the owl. I would like to pursue something of that sort but I think I can go further than they can. I think that as a healer I can do so much more, but there is something else that I would like to possibly pursue. The mental 'health' of the gembound here," they said, looking up at Master Vargas, finally meeting his eyes.

Nervously, they fiddled with a trinket tied into their quills, a simple thing with a single colored bead and two brown, nearly black feathers, and two longer pink, purple, and blue ones. It was rather pretty, and normally they didn't just wear it around, but apparently they were accessorizing today. Perhaps to boost their confidence?

"I am hoping if someone can monitor the health of the Forge closely without distraction, then we can perhaps ensure that they remain healthy and happy. And being as such would boost productivity too, I'm sure... but I don't think I would be very useful with those who are corrupted because their whole existence is based on being unbalanced, so I would like to focus on the non-corrupted, like Khavur, V-Zoisite-One, V-Labradorite-One, and others," they said, "But if this is not what you would like, then a simple healer would be absolutely fine, I am focusing on that magic anyway and I think it would be beneficial too... which leads into my second thought. But I'd like to discuss this first."

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

The mental health of the Chaos Forge-? The phrase was near-foreign to the Leviathan, and the look he gave Chaos-Two was little more than puzzled, but he waited it all out. When it finished, he was silent for a moment, studying it--considering its words, yes, but also all of his options. What he'd planned, what he could use, or do; how it could tie in.

"We could do with a true medic. One who can treat wounds where needed," Vargas began. "As for 'mental' health, we do not need someone dedicated for that, but if you wish to train to look after both, then you may try. I take no offense at your disinterest in your current task," he added, dismissively. "I asked for the truth on that. That is not an issue. Tell me: if you take on this job as your own, what do you see yourself doing day-to-day? Your daily habits, your..." (one clawed forelimb gestured vaguely) "...schedule?"

Then he waited, lapsing back into attentive silence.

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two relaxed, feeling relieved. Vargas would let them do as they asked. And! They'd be useful to the Forge!

"If I take on this job as my own, I would make more use of Kethri's garden in Pegasus," they said, "She has found herbs that are very useful for medicinal purposes- though she's more obsessed with poisons and the like- so I would grow such useful plants in the garden for when my magic doesn't suffice. So I would tend to the garden daily. And attending spars, too, in case of injury. I know of at least one incident in which multiple people were injured because of a fight... so perhaps it is best if I am nearby."

They thought about it for another moment, "And... I shall practice. As much as I can, on lessers I hunt, perhaps. Actually, Master Vargas, I have something else I would like to bring up that would be useful for this. As of right now I am not where I would like to be in terms of magical prowess, and that would hinder my healing abilities. Practice only takes me so far when magic itself is so wild and difficult to control."

"There is a... trial. In Polaris," they explained, "It enhances the abilities, both magical and physical, and if I'm allowed, I'd like to take this trial. I believe it would allow me to be more reliable when it comes to casting spells."

Chaos-Two was quiet for a moment, "... Apologies, Master Vargas. I've gone off topic. Erm... I think that practice, tending the garden, and overseeing training in case of injury is a good start. And I'd like to discuss free time too, if that's alright."

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

"These are too many responsibilities to place beneath one mantle," Vargas said, and mulled it over for a moment. "I will need one to garden--to farm, more precisely. I need someone to grow food for those among us who will need that sort--and hunters to bring back meat. Find a good place, start a garden, find me someone who can take it over," he said, at length. "I will give you two cycles to locate a suitable prospect for a head gardener, or farmer. Or if you choose that, rather than medic, so be it."

He eyed Chaos-Two. What was its element, again-? Light, he thought; his own. "The Trial will test your specific element, if my memory serves! You will need powerful magic that delves into Light and Shadow before you can attempt it. Past that I know little of it, bar that it grants both a step forward and a step back--greater capacity for power at the cost of having to retrain yourself nearly from the level of a hatchling." He'd never seen Chaos-Two use any really powerful Light magic, before; but maybe it knew some he wasn't aware of. "These trials, if you can succeed--they grant a reward among the Forge. A name, reproduction rights, allowance to roam outside of Draco. That sort of thing. We can discuss free time--speak. Then we will discuss, in more detail, your punishment."

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two breathed out and immediately thought to the Forge members. No one in particular came to mind. Perhaps Labradorite but they weren't sure. They'd be more suited to being an assassin like Overseer Cain, rather than a simple gardener.

"I would like to be a medic," they said, "But if there is no suitable candidate within the Chaos-Forge, could I recruit someone outside of it who is interested? And if so, do I only have to pick one?"

Two cycles... this time they wouldn't be late, and if they were, they'd be sure to ask for an extension.

"... If I succeed that trial I s-still get a reward?", they said, snapping their jaw shut before it fell to the floor, "I-I can learn greater spells, that won't be a problem. I will simply have to focus my efforts into those spells for a while..."

They swallowed and smoothed down their quills, excitement having made them stand up. After a moment they breathed out, relaxing their tight grip on their spells.

"As for free time, I've recently discovered an interest in the palace in Cepheus. It is rather large and there are so many things inside I wish to discover, but there is something within I found that truly peaked my interest," they said, and turned, looking back at Vargas nervously, "Erm... could you follow me for a moment, please? I didn't think I'd get to talking about this with you, but I think it best if you were to see what I have. I-I didn't steal it, if you're wondering! I found it elsewhere and brought it back, but it is similar to what I found in the palace and I don't think I can properly describe it."

Chaos-Two hoped Master Vargas didn't decide that they didn't deserve the music box. It was their most precious belonging and its quiet melody helped them sleep when they found themselves restless.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

"Yes, it would likely need to be one outside the Forge. But ask around the Forge; perhaps one of them knows someone who would be suitable. Yes, you would be rewarded. And yes, you will need time to learn and practice that magic. As for following you," and he glanced at Chaos-Two, gaze empty of anything--"So long as it is within Draco." He wasn't about to trek an hour out to Pegasus purely to "see something." He assumed--given that Chaos-Two said it had been "brought back"--that it was here.

He snorted at the mention of it having been stolen. "I hope not. Isra and her hellswans would hunt you down," he answered bluntly.

If the spawn led, he would follow--his senses already reaching out, watching warily for danger.

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two nodded, "Okay. May I have your permission to venture out within the next two cycles to... interview people, then?"

They talked as they walked, laughing nervously at the prospect of being hunted down by those terrible creatures. Pretty, yes, but terrible. He'd seen them tear apart a rat that had dared to drink from one's pond, and it wasn't a pretty sight.

"Here it is," they said, leaning their staff against the wall of the small hollow they'd made into their nest.

It was just a dip in the rock filled with sticks, leaves, and moss brought in from Pegasus to create a comfortable bed. Some down dotted the bed too, and it was neat and tidy, not a twig out of place. Ever so carefully they lifted it up, groping beneath it before pulling out a box. It was rather plain with some carvings on top, and was incredibly well cared for, with not a scratch on its surface.

"It is a music box," they said, ears down, embarrassed, "I am awfully fond of it, so... please be careful."

Chaos-Two opened the box and turned it, holding it out to Vargas and waiting.

From within played a soft tune, the glass-covered gears and moving parts within producing the delicate melody. It was pleasant and lilting, a waltz that two lovers might dance to.

"The part with what looks to be teeth is what I wished to show you," they said, "In the palace is a much larger version of it, and when you press on the keys like the little knobs on the spinning piece do, it creates sounds. A-and if I'm allowed, that is one thing I'd like to do in my free time. I would like to learn to play this melody and others I come upon."

@Vargas

The tune the music box plays if you're curious (obviously this music box would play it much more simplified) --> https://youtu.be/R4kjlhwQjxY

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas grunted. "You have it," he agreed bluntly, striding along with his senses keen to the shadows. The music box he simply eyed, trying not to grimace at the bright, tinkling, lifeless melody that seemed to screech from within. This sort of music was not, it seemed, Vargas's jam. Acid eyes rose from the box to Chaos-Two. "I will speak with Isra--about this, and other things--when I have time. If you are allowed, and earn it, then you will be given permission to spend free time as you see fit, including with the creation of music. But that depends on you earning time to wander. Right now, that is in peril with your prior behavior. As you are now, you are good: reasonable words with a reasonable demeanor beneath. But there is more to work on. That is clear to me now," he added. He didn't give specifics, but instead gestured with one too-long forelimb.

"Come," he said, and began to stalk away. "I have a task for you."

If Chaos-Two followed, Vargas would lead the way to nearish the Black Spire: to one of the deep pits Draconua had smashed from it in her birthing-rage. But it was now filled, by looks, with rubble: smaller rocks, some tiny, some big enough to prove a struggle (but still quite possible) for Chaos-Two to lift. "The punishment for open defiance will be a forced return to the chrysalis in front of the rest of the Forge--to make an example of such behavior. But that has not been yet announced, and your tantrum was perhaps only bordering on such. For now, then... We will try something else." He gestured to the rock-filled pit. "Empty this," Vargas commanded, and stood back to make room.

It was a task that could take hours. There was no seeming reason for him to assign it. It certainly wasn't likely to seem fair. And he did not explain, but his eyes were close on Chaos-Two.

@V-Chaos-Two