Another ghost come to haunt him. His powers had returned to him somehow, aether filling his veins as surely as his blood did, and with it came that telltale prickle of awareness that denoted the presence of another dominant. However, for the longest time he hadn't been sure, couldn't tell whether the buzzing in his head had been real or a long lost memory. Too full of debris. Too full of people who weren't there. Hearing their voices when he woke as surely as when he slept, and when he woke again he'd been nowhere near where he had originally laid his head.
And now that he can finally hold his own thoughts in his head again he has come to realise that this particular ghost of his is here to stay. He can't say he ever considered what he would do if confronted with Cidolfus again—
No, that is a falsehood. He's always known exactly what he would do with Cidolfus, what steps to take, what words to say, how best to apply pressure in order to get him to fold. Cidolfus had had something that his master had needed, and so it had been Barnabas' duty to see that he fell in line, one way or the other.
That both of them would be here in the aftermath... that Barnabas had not foreseen. There is, of course, one very simple way to find out, and that perhaps might even be the reason he is here right now. Except— ]
You.
[ It's guttural, barely human. Barnabas turns, knowing without knowing exactly who he will find there. Aether howls into being around Bahamut, something desperate and wild, and Barnabas feels the corners of his mouth kick up into a smile.
After Bahamut had done his part, Barnabas can't say he ever gave much thought to him again. The boy had broken spectacularly, had shattered so perfectly that maneuvering him had been something of a lark. Child's play. He had played his role beautifully in tempering his master's vessel but it does look as though Bahamut does not share the sentiment.
Unfortunately, Bahamut does not leave them time for words. He primes, and then he attacks. Barnabas steps away from his claws, through folded space until he lands just out of reach, and then sighs and lets go.
Priming again after so long feels like movement after the thaw, like waking sleeping muscles. He had half wondered if he would see Sleipnir again like this, but even without him he is more than enough. ]
Do you perhaps think you will land upon a different outcome this time? [ He charges aether along his blade, and with an almost careless movement, splits the air with it, sending it careening towards Bahamut. ] The definition of insanity. Though some will say that it fits.
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Another ghost come to haunt him. His powers had returned to him somehow, aether filling his veins as surely as his blood did, and with it came that telltale prickle of awareness that denoted the presence of another dominant. However, for the longest time he hadn't been sure, couldn't tell whether the buzzing in his head had been real or a long lost memory. Too full of debris. Too full of people who weren't there. Hearing their voices when he woke as surely as when he slept, and when he woke again he'd been nowhere near where he had originally laid his head.
And now that he can finally hold his own thoughts in his head again he has come to realise that this particular ghost of his is here to stay. He can't say he ever considered what he would do if confronted with Cidolfus again—
No, that is a falsehood. He's always known exactly what he would do with Cidolfus, what steps to take, what words to say, how best to apply pressure in order to get him to fold. Cidolfus had had something that his master had needed, and so it had been Barnabas' duty to see that he fell in line, one way or the other.
That both of them would be here in the aftermath... that Barnabas had not foreseen. There is, of course, one very simple way to find out, and that perhaps might even be the reason he is here right now. Except— ]
You.
[ It's guttural, barely human. Barnabas turns, knowing without knowing exactly who he will find there. Aether howls into being around Bahamut, something desperate and wild, and Barnabas feels the corners of his mouth kick up into a smile.
After Bahamut had done his part, Barnabas can't say he ever gave much thought to him again. The boy had broken spectacularly, had shattered so perfectly that maneuvering him had been something of a lark. Child's play. He had played his role beautifully in tempering his master's vessel but it does look as though Bahamut does not share the sentiment.
Unfortunately, Bahamut does not leave them time for words. He primes, and then he attacks. Barnabas steps away from his claws, through folded space until he lands just out of reach, and then sighs and lets go.
Priming again after so long feels like movement after the thaw, like waking sleeping muscles. He had half wondered if he would see Sleipnir again like this, but even without him he is more than enough. ]
Do you perhaps think you will land upon a different outcome this time? [ He charges aether along his blade, and with an almost careless movement, splits the air with it, sending it careening towards Bahamut. ] The definition of insanity. Though some will say that it fits.