Hanne & Yami - Temp/Alatus Co-Op Part III - Final

Not expecting the goddess to place a hand on his shoulder as he told his story. The kind gesture was as shocking as it was welcome. He had only told a few of his plight, and none had shown this kind of reaction. He found it comforting in a way, but he was not going to let it show. As they began to walk once more to not get left behind, Temperance began to answer his question. After hearing her words he had a bit more of an understanding of why the goddess had a strong loyalty to Diz.

Though Alatus would have never expected the depths of her commitment would be based in love. He knew better than anyone that love was a curse as well as a blessing when it came down to it. Love can bring great joy, but also blind anyone to the truth. Yet, she didn't strike him as someone so devoted that she would allow herself to be completely blinded by the emotion. Though he was one to talk. His whole reason for being here is based on the same emotion.

“Love is powerful. Though it can be a double edged sword if you let it go unchecked.” That was all he was going to say on the subject. Only time would tell if the decisions made in the name of love would be the right ones.

Now came the next question and it happened to be the exact same question that Diz had asked in that meeting. Why was everyone concentrating on that one instance? Why is his loyalty to this cause always being questioned? If his mission would have been to just kill the God it would have been a lot easier to accomplish that than capturing him alive. An audible sigh left Alatus lips as he just shook his head.

“Questioning my loyalty. You and Diz are so like minded it is scary.” Alatus spoke in a flat tone as then a thought crossed his mind. “Or is it a bit more than that?” He shot back however before she could speak up on his accusation he continued his answer. “I didn't betray Diz. I have no idea what In the world happened, and I will not be accused of betrayal. Not by him nor anyone else. I have completed all of my missions perfectly, and never once faltered in my assigned tasks. Like I told him I think someone set me up, and I will find out who.” That was all he had to say on the matter. He would not answer any more questions on that subject. This almost made him want to stop the conversation now, but…

“What is your relationship with young Damian?”

Temperance couldn’t help but to nod along, largely in agreement at Alatus’ rather honest words. Love was a risk, especially considering Temperance understood it was not returned. Yet that hadn’t stopped her from seeing the greater picture of Diz was attempting to accomplish, even if some of the details were not yet revealed. Trust could be just as dangerous as love. However, she would have little time to contemplate such, as her question seemed to rather annoy Alatus, or perhaps sadden him that she too would dare to ask that particular question.

“Very well, I believe you. As I promised, I shall speak no more of it.” Temperance’s voice carried a soft and honest tone, one that perhaps almost carried a twinge of regret for having to have asked that at all, yet she did perfectly as she was told, without fail. “For what it’s worth, I do apologize.” Temperance offered the faintest of smiles as they slowly made their way forward, trailing almost lazily behind the others.

Damian. Temperance should have expected that question, but she didn’t. It caught her unaware and for a moment it left her in an awkward silence. “I guess we both know how to pull a punch.” She replied, almost amused. Her gaze shifted downward toward the ground, arms folded before she contemplated her next words. “I suppose it is complicated. Or perhaps it is far too simple. I suppose you can be the judge of that.” Virtue shrugged and then drew her attention back toward Alatus who appeared to have once more hardened against her presence, but he kept to his word.

“Damian is young. So very young.” Temperance could recall herself at a tender 100, how different she had been then, unaccustomed to even carrying her role as she had been born to do. “Yet he has such power, such possibility and a fate so extraordinary it is beyond comprehension.” Virtue smiled half heartedly. “Can you imagine carrying such a weight at that age? Especially having lost your father, been abandoned by your mother? He was a child alone, so… desperately alone.” It was only when she began to speak of Damian did the dull ache in her muscles return, a slow building pain that would tear through her muscle and into her blood. “I think of him as a son. Though he would be the first to remind you that I am not his mother. Which is the truth, obviously.” Temperance laughed under her breath.

“To be raised by Diz is to face impossible expectations. To be denied the knowledge of what your truth is, what your purpose is exactly is painful and a struggle. He needs a kind touch, a gentle hand, someone to support him when he is at his lowest, and celebrate him when he is at his highest. Damian needs love and support, as any child does. He needs to be protected, not from Diz, but from those who would lead him astray, off of the path set before him. Yet he should not carry that burden alone. So I will always be there for him. To encourage him, to lend him my strength where I can. To help him train his instincts and to control his vast power. That’s all there is to it. He needs someone else in his corner. I will be that someone.”

Temperance spoke openly and honestly with Alatus on this matter too. Though saying these words out loud, it was an odd sensation. Things she had always known to be true, she believed in them. All of them. Temperance, despite her large presence, her characteristic laughter and not-so-subtle embrace of darkness, she was soft at heart. A side of her very few had the opportunity to see, and that was of course by design.

“You don’t hold back.” Temperance was careful not to phrase her thoughts in the form of a question, lest it be misinterpreted as her final ask. “You speak plainly. You seem to say exactly what you need and not a single word more. You don’t pretend to be someone else. It’s an admirable approach.” She complimented him quietly and thought for a moment. “So, in the spirit of that brutal honesty. My last question, now that you know a little of who I am, what do you really think of me, Alatus?”

As the answer came to light Alatus could tell that Temperance had a soft spot for the child. For one reason or another she has decided to try and hear the child find his own way among all the paths that Damien could possibly take. Though he has to question if that was the destiny the child wanted or was it being forced upon him? This conundrum was not his concern. If the child of the Apocalypse decided to change the path of his life that would have to be a decision he would need to make.

“No path is set in stone. Who knows what decisions he will make in the future. He needs to find his own way. He may yet stumble, but that is a part of life that even gods need to partake. Who knows…” Alatus stopped his thought. The child will find his way on his own. That is what he believed. No one has the right to try and carve your path for you.

Temperance has seen that he is direct, and a god of few words. He doesn't beat around the bush. That is one of the reasons he doesn't have too many relations. Not many can accept that he is who he is. The final question was going to be the most difficult question to answer. She wanted to know what he thought of her. A question that was probably going to get him hurt. Shaking his head he looked to the back of the gods that were ahead of them.

“ At first I thought you were nothing more than Diz’s lap dog. A goddess that would suck up to him and tell him he was doing everything right. Someone that had no mind of their own, and only wanted to please him. Someone that would do anything within their power to make that happen. However, now I see that you are more complex than I gave you credit for. Though, I do wonder how much is fake, and how much is real. You are hard to read at times.” Alatus answered truthfully. He was growing tired of this conversation. He knew that he had one more question, but maybe he could save it for a later date.

“My last question will be saved for later.”

Virtue nodded as Alatus answered her question. It was, as predicted, honest. At first it almost seemed complimentary, that was until he posed the thought wondering how much was fake and how much had been real. She smiled at that part and bore him no ill will for it. At the end of the day, he saw her as someone with her own mind, her own will. However, Diz was still her one true master. She would not defy him.