Haus der Gefallenen [Inami/ Ghislaine]

He listened respectfully, the truth of it was he'd grown tired of them all and their power grabs. The political intrigue and betrayals brought him nothing but anger. The Quincy were prideful and ungrateful for anything he did. Not content was they with demands, but they would banish him from their cities. Banished from them and abandoned by the people he swore every last breath too. He had no place in the Lux Orior either, they had the same questions his people did. And thus it became a former Emperor, an errand boy, and tool to be discarded.

"So no schemes of that table, I detect a purity and truth behind your words." He said the purity word with a smile, knowingly. Calling a demon pure was like calling the devil a choir boy. They both knew it but the conversation could carry on.

He listened to her as his voice and eyes gave way to it. He wasn't just tired, he exhausted by every aspect of it. This world marched towards a cycle of destruction, revenge, new leaders same policies. His voice came out now, not timid but tired of it. Just the general fruitlessness that mankind and these powers wrought.

"I've seen ages come and go, watched power grabs military overthrow kings and dynasties die. All with a promise that is forgotten when they get there. I've lived a long time Empress Inami, seen horrors wrought by Yhwach and Hulderic Hylham both. " He paused for a moment, his mind not racing but slowly going over each thing.

Considering the practicality of it, the fruitlessness that he'd seen, and finally the last thing. that came as he spoke the truth.

"In a lot of ways, we are alike you and myself Empress Inami. We've both been but conduits, toles used by the most precious to us. They dig their daggers deep, loving them hurts so much. Yet I cannot bring myself to condemn them or hate them. Loving them is hard, harder than anything this world offers. I feel as though a blade, I'm picked up when needed and discarded when my usefulness is at an end."

Memories of Sofia and Nif, all the Quincy he tried so hard to protect and put everything there for them. He went and bargained with K-World to get them to forgive what Hulderic did.

He slowly pushed off the table a sad yet weary gaze still upon his face. It seemed that his time here had come to a close. Not because the people he sacrificed everything for came. No, the person they chastised and threw venom at did. The world focused so on appearances, they never saw his age.

"I accept your offer, my home long ago burned and those I cherished have long since departed this world. " He didn't hold a wistfulness but an understanding. That the betrayal, power grabs, and nature of this world were out to fight.

Everything was battle, everything had been so ready to go to war, fight the demonic threat. Band together with humanity and deliver divine justice.

They were no different from the false prophets or those so-called people who reincarnated into divinity. It pained his heart, but sometimes the only way was to let it go.

"What will I be in this place, a blade to be discarded once my usefulness is at an end? A tool to let people know the Quincy can join K-World if they are disillusioned as we are? I know not the rank or what I will hold, but none the less I will serve this place as you do. The capacity of which I believe is up to your discretion."

He went silent now, it was clear betrayal wasn't the word. He was thrown aside, cast into the closet. A memory these people desperately wished to forget. He didn't hold naive beliefs like all were equal. No those died hundreds of years ago. When Yhwach made a similar promise.

When one lived as long as he had, seen, and been treated this way. They became jaded and their heart hard. He cared and it hurt to care because he knew, in the end, the results were plain. When you cast aside your elders or those who lived this life.

You sacrifice the knowledge, but never the love they have. It was out of love for his people he was taking this. No matter the personal pain and price he would pay. Inami treated him respectfully, more than his own people did. Not one of them would dare call him an Emperor, they would sooner swallow nails. The fact was he was a skeleton in the closet as she put it.

He held on to massive power and was very strong, but the fact was Inami was stronger. Her heart was stronger, maybe due to youthfulness. But she'd lived a life and seen hardship. You didn't have to be old to know hardship and pain. The truest pain in this world is knowing the one you love, will hurt you.

But you are unable to do anything about it, why must it be so that the divide has grown so. His final turn came looking at the home he built for himself. A shelter from the pain and betrayal that piled. Memories and nightmares haunted his sleep here. But no matter how he fled or tried to hide from this world.

The fact remained, they would kill one another endlessly. They would engage in barbaric acts without remorse. In the name of justice, they would cry, much like the Templar's he killed that were rapping women. He said it was justice, but that was just his personal disgust with them.

Whatever Inami's justice and heart asked him to do, he was likely to do it for her. The youthful man he portrayed had died and left behind his legacy of bones. Now the only one left was the age of an immortal man who'd seen humanity's truth.

"Where are we headed Empress Inami?" The question finally posed on it as he'd not taken much prodding to get him. He'd made a deal with Sing and she'd been honorable and to her word. He was comfortable in his skin, if nothing else this would be an experience. What kind would depend entirely on the Empress of Chaya Nation.

Loving them is hard, harder than anything this world offers. I feel as though a blade, I'm picked up when needed and discarded when my usefulness is at an end. The world that ghislaine had spoken had a lasting impact in the mind of Inami. Her gemstone-like eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she turned to the door of that humble home, and hopping from the table after listening to all he had to say. His pains that had ailed him, and the harsh reality he had faced--Inami did not judge him for it, but instead as her hand reached and felt the rough wood of the cabin door, with her back turned, fingers gently digging paths in the wood, she spoke.

” I don't hate them either ghislaine, oh how I wished i did. It would make it all so easier if I did, would it not?” Inami said as she shoved that door open to let in the cold, the motes of snow and howling wind blowing past her to extinguish the soft candle-light in the room. It brought could to the original cozy room, much like the chill within her soul that still needed to thaw.

” Ghislaine, do you think I would come to the edge of this god-forsaken planet for a tool that I only wished to discard? Would i tell you the truth if I sought to forsake you like those that came before? Wether or not it was for the best, they made a mistake that day, and I will not. I don’t think you quite understand Ghislaine. “ Inami’s tone was merry, but there was a sultry growl beneath that spoke of the genuine anger that lay beneath the mirth. Anger at the fact that the man would have the audacity to believe she’d waste time for something that would be expendable as he put it.

The queens body shifted and she turned around, her heterochromatic eyes glittering with anger and hurt, she’d cross the distance between them to jab a finger into his chest before ultimately a sigh escaped her lips.

”I said i’d give you a home did I not? A family that would never abandon you. Do you think the words that I speak are given lightly? Do you not trust me, a queen that rules a population many times greater than this planet? Is it because I am a demon, or is it because I am a girl? What is it that makes you doubt the words that come forth from my lips, and why despite that doubt do you still go along with it, as if you’re a martyr?” Inami’s words were scolding before an exasperated sigh escaped her lips and a soft little giggle passed forth from her mouth.

”Fine, listen up I’ll only say this once.” Inami said as she reached up, despite their height difference to tweak Ghislaines nose.

” From this moment you are a part of _my_ family. You are mine, just as you are a part of k-world. A pair of bright and shining white wings, that is what you shall become and..”

Inami paused as her face grew closed and somber, a raw pain flitting upon her face as she swallowed slightly.

”I’ve been told that eventually it will stop hurting. That one day kindness will cease to hurt. I believe for you too that day will come. So lets go shall we? To your new home“

Inami said as she turned around and raised her hand, a portal of darkness rapidly forming in front of the cottage. The snow being blown away as rapidly from that darkened portal came the image of hong-kong. The twisting blackness churning and swirling, as uncertain as the future that he’d now tread. Yet as Inami looked back she’d extend a hand, a wickedly dazzling smile full of razor-sharp shark-like teeth filling her face, as her eyes were alite with expectation and excitement.

”Well? I’m waiting.”