[ His eyebrows lift briefly at “You owe her more than you’ll ever know.” ]
I may be more aware than you think.
[ It’s not as if he’s unaware that Lina has saved the world from him, twice. Really, if he seems ungrateful, surely it’s because he has no reasonable way of repaying such a debt. Besides possibly leaving her a good share of his money and property if he ever properly dies.
(Though he hasn’t even gotten around to reclaiming most of the things he’d accumulated over the course of a century plus lifespan, not withstanding the amount that had been destroyed by his copy…)
And then the next words, both spoken and implied, weigh down the atmosphere. ]
…
[ But now you want to believe it?
The thing is- Rezo knows how mind control magic works. He's used it before, as Zelgadis can attest. The victim goes into a trance, their conscious mind sleeps while their body acts according to the spell's programming, and when they snap out of it they have little to no memory of what they'd done.
This isn't the case with Rezo. He can recall everything he did and why. And because of that, he can’t honestly disown any of his past actions.
He could explain all this to Zelgadis. He could also lie, claim to have been a helpless puppet, and try to manipulate his grandson into once again pledging his loyalty. He’s starting to think he might even have a shot at it.
It would be immensely pathetic. And Zelgadis objectively deserves better.
In the end Rezo, being Rezo, elects to explain nothing. ]
…There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to shard carriers. I believe you should make your own judgement on the matter. [ Ultimately, it’s up to Zelgadis to decide whether or not he wants to let Rezo off the hook. ]
[ Obvious hypocrisy aside (pay no attention, move along!), he can tell he's going to need to actually explain his thought process in even bringing up this landmine of a conversation topic. Delightful. ]
...I'm not saying I'm naive enough to think you're just a victim. I'm saying that, if Lina hadn't given me something think about, maybe I wouldn't be here trying so hard to understand you.
[ Then again, maybe he would be. Maybe all he's doing is laying the blame for his own softheartedness at Lina's feet... ]
I'll never know the kind of person you'd have been without that shard. But I don't know who I'd be if I were the one with that burden.
[ Zelgadis doesn't give Rezo time to point out the hypocrisy, but that doesn't stop Rezo from noticing it! And he doesn't bother to keep a straight face either, inconsiderate man that Rezo is.
He'd really prefer to discuss Zelgadis's gloominess than the landmine that Zelgadis has planted but, well. Here they are. ]
I can't answer those questions either.
[ It's just a pity Rezo has so little that's useful to say on the matter. As he'd said, there are a lot of unknowns. He'd been able to observe Shabranigdu's effect on others when he was within the Hellmaster's Jar, and compare the changes in their behavior to his own, but there was very little in the way of tangible data.
And more to the point, Lord Ruby Eye has always been within him. Always there, behind the same seal that Rezo himself felt trapped by. If Rezo hadn't been a vessel, hadn't been cursed, the course of his life would have been altered so greatly that it's unimaginable- all he can say is that he wouldn't be standing here now.
It likely all would have been much better but. At least he's had a few bright moments. ]
...Perhaps the next time I see Lina Inverse I should thank her?
[ "Hey thanks for telling my grandson I might not be 100% evil, we had a very emotional discussion and semi-reconciliation where Zelgadis bared his tender heart." Yeah Zelgadis would love it if Rezo went around talking about that. ]
[ What's so amusing, he would like to grumble, except he knows that the answer is that he is just as gloomy as Rezo, if not more so. Listen, the difference is... he's practically made it into an art form. Nobody is better at being gloomy than he is. He can take pride in that. It's cool, you know. Girls are into that kind of thing. Supposedly.
Questions without answers are such a bother. The sort of thing that gloomy people like himself will endlessly ruminate on when given the chance.
That's one of the benefits to hanging out with his chaotic friends. They don't give him the opportunity to brood the way he'd like to.
Speaking of Lina, Zelgadis takes the time to picture how this interaction would go down and quickly changes his tune. ]
Never mind. That would be awful.
[ As if her ego needs it! As if he needs the teasing that would ensue! ]
Don't thank her for anything, actually. Give her an inch and she'll take a mile and then some.
[ And that makes Rezo laugh, a quiet little chuckle but a proper laugh nonetheless. ]
Very well, I'll hold my tongue. [ God knows the last thing Zel needs is his grandfather and Lina potentially joining forces to mess with him. His brooding skills might get all rusty. And then how would he make all the girls swoon? ] Although she has a way of discerning these matters on her own.
[ Really, she's inordinately perceptive when it comes to other people. At least, in Rezo's experience, as someone who considers himself- and sometimes prides himself- on being someone most people find difficult to read, who nevertheless has had Lina repeatedly deduce the true nature of his past schemes. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I may be more aware than you think.
[ It’s not as if he’s unaware that Lina has saved the world from him, twice. Really, if he seems ungrateful, surely it’s because he has no reasonable way of repaying such a debt. Besides possibly leaving her a good share of his money and property if he ever properly dies.
(Though he hasn’t even gotten around to reclaiming most of the things he’d accumulated over the course of a century plus lifespan, not withstanding the amount that had been destroyed by his copy…)
And then the next words, both spoken and implied, weigh down the atmosphere. ]
…
[ But now you want to believe it?
The thing is- Rezo knows how mind control magic works. He's used it before, as Zelgadis can attest. The victim goes into a trance, their conscious mind sleeps while their body acts according to the spell's programming, and when they snap out of it they have little to no memory of what they'd done.
This isn't the case with Rezo. He can recall everything he did and why. And because of that, he can’t honestly disown any of his past actions.
He could explain all this to Zelgadis. He could also lie, claim to have been a helpless puppet, and try to manipulate his grandson into once again pledging his loyalty. He’s starting to think he might even have a shot at it.
It would be immensely pathetic. And Zelgadis objectively deserves better.
In the end Rezo, being Rezo, elects to explain nothing. ]
…There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to shard carriers. I believe you should make your own judgement on the matter. [ Ultimately, it’s up to Zelgadis to decide whether or not he wants to let Rezo off the hook. ]
no subject
[ Obvious hypocrisy aside (pay no attention, move along!), he can tell he's going to need to actually explain his thought process in even bringing up this landmine of a conversation topic. Delightful. ]
...I'm not saying I'm naive enough to think you're just a victim. I'm saying that, if Lina hadn't given me something think about, maybe I wouldn't be here trying so hard to understand you.
[ Then again, maybe he would be. Maybe all he's doing is laying the blame for his own softheartedness at Lina's feet... ]
I'll never know the kind of person you'd have been without that shard. But I don't know who I'd be if I were the one with that burden.
no subject
He'd really prefer to discuss Zelgadis's gloominess than the landmine that Zelgadis has planted but, well. Here they are. ]
I can't answer those questions either.
[ It's just a pity Rezo has so little that's useful to say on the matter. As he'd said, there are a lot of unknowns. He'd been able to observe Shabranigdu's effect on others when he was within the Hellmaster's Jar, and compare the changes in their behavior to his own, but there was very little in the way of tangible data.
And more to the point, Lord Ruby Eye has always been within him. Always there, behind the same seal that Rezo himself felt trapped by. If Rezo hadn't been a vessel, hadn't been cursed, the course of his life would have been altered so greatly that it's unimaginable- all he can say is that he wouldn't be standing here now.
It likely all would have been much better but. At least he's had a few bright moments. ]
...Perhaps the next time I see Lina Inverse I should thank her?
[ "Hey thanks for telling my grandson I might not be 100% evil, we had a very emotional discussion and semi-reconciliation where Zelgadis bared his tender heart." Yeah Zelgadis would love it if Rezo went around talking about that. ]
no subject
Questions without answers are such a bother. The sort of thing that gloomy people like himself will endlessly ruminate on when given the chance.
That's one of the benefits to hanging out with his chaotic friends. They don't give him the opportunity to brood the way he'd like to.
Speaking of Lina, Zelgadis takes the time to picture how this interaction would go down and quickly changes his tune. ]
Never mind. That would be awful.
[ As if her ego needs it! As if he needs the teasing that would ensue! ]
Don't thank her for anything, actually. Give her an inch and she'll take a mile and then some.
no subject
Very well, I'll hold my tongue. [ God knows the last thing Zel needs is his grandfather and Lina potentially joining forces to mess with him. His brooding skills might get all rusty. And then how would he make all the girls swoon? ] Although she has a way of discerning these matters on her own.
[ Really, she's inordinately perceptive when it comes to other people. At least, in Rezo's experience, as someone who considers himself- and sometimes prides himself- on being someone most people find difficult to read, who nevertheless has had Lina repeatedly deduce the true nature of his past schemes. ]