The tour is, you desperately desperately hope, nearing its conclusion. You have learned more about Meru today than you've taught about Meru, and you are absolutely certain that you will not remember a single word of the tour.
Brilliant Azure Lily, the Chosen of Serenity who is guiding you on this tour, is entirely aware of your discomfort but is choosing, politely, to ignore it. You appreciate that. She's approaching what, she tells you, is the manse left to you by your previous incarnation, a Lunar Exalt of considerable note and influence. The estate is huge; you could have fit your entire village and all its farms inside it and it would have been a cramped lifestyle, but not unlivable.
As you approach, you become aware of two lines on either side of the gate - two equal, perfectly-spaced lines of Dragon-Blooded dressed in formal wear. They are dressed in black and silver, and you can tell just by looking that they're all Water Aspects of considerable breeding. You've never been this close to a child of the dragons before, and for a moment you are intimidated, and then they bow.
"Welcome, great Chosen of Luna!"
"How may we serve you, great Chosen of Luna?"
Now you are definitely intimidated. You stare helplessly at Azure Lily, who smiles at you and informs you that these are scions of the minor house that has served your incarnations since the Primordial War, and that they are ready to serve you even in peace-time. She says that they're part of your inheritance.
"I've inherited … people," you say, slightly concerned that you are about to have a panic attack. Azure Lily starts to explain the span of the house, and you respond with "aaaaa" because you are definitely, definitely having a panic attack. She's staring at you. Everyone is staring at you. They're not quite sure how to respond to 'aaaaa', and so have chosen to default to polite silence, waiting for you to speak. "I shouldn't be able to inherit people," you wheeze, frantic. "You're not-- things. You have thoughts and feelings. What if you hate me?"
"We won't… hate you," offers the closest water aspect, looking concerned. "In the Primordial War, your previous incarnations led us in battle against several of the enemy. Of course, if you would rather dismiss us, we… would have no choice to accept…?"
Oh no. This is worse.
"No, you, it's. You don't have to go. But you… should be able to go if you want? You should be able to hate me. I shouldn't just -- step into this role just because of what my previous incarnations have done. I don't deserve this. I didn't do any of this. You shouldn't have to do what I want."
Your response is a bunch of awkward looks, a sort of sympathetic condescending smile from Azure Lily, and a silence so complete you can hear your own heartbeat in your ears more loudly than anything. You wring your hands, and --
[ Shahi doesn't have the silver tattoos in this memory. ]
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branchandroot
1. Welcome Home
Date: 2020-11-23 05:45 am (UTC)Brilliant Azure Lily, the Chosen of Serenity who is guiding you on this tour, is entirely aware of your discomfort but is choosing, politely, to ignore it. You appreciate that. She's approaching what, she tells you, is the manse left to you by your previous incarnation, a Lunar Exalt of considerable note and influence. The estate is huge; you could have fit your entire village and all its farms inside it and it would have been a cramped lifestyle, but not unlivable.
As you approach, you become aware of two lines on either side of the gate - two equal, perfectly-spaced lines of Dragon-Blooded dressed in formal wear. They are dressed in black and silver, and you can tell just by looking that they're all Water Aspects of considerable breeding. You've never been this close to a child of the dragons before, and for a moment you are intimidated, and then they bow.
"Welcome, great Chosen of Luna!"
"How may we serve you, great Chosen of Luna?"
Now you are definitely intimidated. You stare helplessly at Azure Lily, who smiles at you and informs you that these are scions of the minor house that has served your incarnations since the Primordial War, and that they are ready to serve you even in peace-time. She says that they're part of your inheritance.
"I've inherited … people," you say, slightly concerned that you are about to have a panic attack. Azure Lily starts to explain the span of the house, and you respond with "aaaaa" because you are definitely, definitely having a panic attack. She's staring at you. Everyone is staring at you. They're not quite sure how to respond to 'aaaaa', and so have chosen to default to polite silence, waiting for you to speak. "I shouldn't be able to inherit people," you wheeze, frantic. "You're not-- things. You have thoughts and feelings. What if you hate me?"
"We won't… hate you," offers the closest water aspect, looking concerned. "In the Primordial War, your previous incarnations led us in battle against several of the enemy. Of course, if you would rather dismiss us, we… would have no choice to accept…?"
Oh no. This is worse.
"No, you, it's. You don't have to go. But you… should be able to go if you want? You should be able to hate me. I shouldn't just -- step into this role just because of what my previous incarnations have done. I don't deserve this. I didn't do any of this. You shouldn't have to do what I want."
Your response is a bunch of awkward looks, a sort of sympathetic condescending smile from Azure Lily, and a silence so complete you can hear your own heartbeat in your ears more loudly than anything. You wring your hands, and --
[ Shahi doesn't have the silver tattoos in this memory. ]