SABO ✴

[calamitish]

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[calamitish]

Again, if you asked me, I would have told you that this isn't my first time doing this and no I don't mean with your little group. The set-ups a bit different now, imagine what trials would be like with three hundred of you weighing in— [ waving his hand, that isn't important. ]

Anyway, don't do that. Find someone to murder, which I'd say is easier than last week given how trial went, or ask a friend?

[ he is not being entirely serious here, but lmfao. ]

[vivens]

[ sabo absolutely will keep trying to off himself until The Time Comes but fine. he'll stop because hello? this is brand new information... the impression was always there but— ]

Not your first time? You're telling me that you've been some sort of judge previously?

[ not that he's doing any kind of judgement here right now... since sabo doesn't know if ish will entertain either of his questions, he's just going to casually do a little ribbing. ]

And after what's been going on, I think listening the voices of three hundred people might have been a good experience for you.

[calamitish]

Judge? Please. [ he laughs here, honestly amused. ]

No, I did the same thing in Ecumene as I do here. Give them the right nudge, a voice in their ear to tell them to really let go and give into their desires that they hold back.

[ he sounds so fond saying all of that, soft but obviously deranged. ]

I've listened to entire kingdoms and that didn't tell me anymore than what I already knew.

[vivens]

[ squints. honestly, ish denying being a judge is something comforting in its own right. can't imagine that level of shitshow but now that ish has told him this much, just how much more can he get away with? ]

...and you did all of that because of what? Obtaining the lives of people to pay for whatever spell that you wanted to cast?

[ or the whim of his goddess, boss, whatever...? ]

Despite everything I still don't see you as the kind of person who would do things like this simply because you can or for the enjoyment of it all.

[ is this sabo being an optimist or something else? who is to say. we'll find out maybe never. ]

[calamitish]

Same cause, different method.

[ he smiles. ]

Well you're not wrong, but I'm not gonna tell you that I don't enjoy it either.

[ is he terrible? yes. he is also self-aware. ]

[vivens]

And you're still not going to tell me what the cause is? [ just how many times has ish done this in order for this cause?? how many people have died for this. clearly whatever he's wanting is astronomical. ] Not even if I promise to tell you I'd take it to the grave?

[ cue sabo raising the blade but not fully to his neck but ish should know his intentions. ]

I'm not surprised to learn that you enjoyed it. Even from what I can imagine, you'd either have to get something out of it or feel nothing.

[ with ish having confessed to having feelings, it's clearly not the last one. does it make things better? jury is still out on that one. ]

[calamitish]

[ he sighs. he could push back or deflect like he's always done, or he could allow himself this, because at this point, it's likely obvious to others who have spoken to him.

and in this matter, he really can't deny it for too long anyway. ]

I want to save her. And no, you're not going to change my mind.

[vivens]

[ ...

this is probably the funniest thing that ish could have dropped on sabo because he does a bit of a 180 in terms of his attitude. he's far less hostile now that he had been. ]

I assume you're referring to your boss.

[ ""boss"". ""goddess""... someone who is very important to ish. don't think i haven't scrubbed through the threads. ]

[calamitish]

[ scrunching his nose. he didn't like referring to her like that but also he lacks a word that truly encapsulates what she is to him. ]

Norna. I was born after she married a snake, and no that's not a metaphor.

[vivens]

[ sabo will just nod his head and respect ish's words. also, who is he to judge about weird couplings. ]

Then that would make her your mother... Or is that still not the right way to define your relationship with Norna?

[ if this helps anything— ]

...and you don't have to worry about being judged by me about this. My world is full of unconventional things, I've learned.

[calamitish]

She is, but that word doesn't feel like it's enough.

[ she's his everything.

he laughs, more of a chuckle really given that thinking about Norna always makes him feel a way. ]

I couldn't care less if you judged me or not.

[vivens]

She's your core.

[ the center of everything that ish is and with that sabo thinks about everything thus far and... given everything? what kind of danger in the world (or worlds) would call for what ish has been working at. ]

What kind of danger is she in? After all of the times that you've done this and people you've influenced—

[ ...but there are different means in which you can "save" a person. ]

Is she dead?

[calamitish]

I guess she is. But saying it like that makes it seems like she's part of me, when I'm more correctly part of her.

[ though he's not really objecting either, but even the subtle difference of putting himself before her doesn't sit right with him. ]

She's not dead, but she's not alive either. If she had merely died, as ridiculous as that sounds considering what she is...this would be way easier.

[vivens]

[ hmmm... a state that's worse than death but not quite alive but not exactly dead. there are a few ways that sabo can imagine someone existing in that state and it makes him frown. ]

Then what kind of danger are you trying to save her from?

[ please notice that sabo isn't trying to talk ish out of it. he simply just wants to know more (and maybe help. the jury is still out on that part, really). ]

There has been talk about how you need to gather emotions for the spell, but I think that is too simple of an answer for everything that's going on. For you to be doing this for as long as you have.

[ pls lb my lore before i die. ]

[calamitish]

[ several moments tick by, long ones, as he debates on what he wants to say and how much he wants to say it. he's cautious in some ways, perhaps overly so for how he conducts himself in public spaces. ]

...there's an order to things. I spent a while lashing out and then I spent even longer figuring out what I could do. What I was doing in Ecumene was a precursor, maybe you want to call it Plan A to here.

I've heard a saying... [ what had zen called it again? ] "Rome wasn't built in a day"? Something like that. I wasn't powerful at all when I woke up, but I'm the strongest I've ever been now.

[ ... ]

It has to do with the Akashic Record, and that's all I'm saying.

[vivens]

[ don't worry; sabo will wait for ish to speak again because he clearly has something that he wants to say and when ish finally gets around to it...

a lightbulb just clicks in his head. even if he doesn't fully understand the references he understands the contexts. ]

Akashic Record? I'm not familiar with that.

[ ( naru voice ) why is the one piece getting this when he has no idea of this theology. i am on my hands and knees crying. but sabo is also ignoring how ish told him the wasn't going to tell him more and just keep asking questions. ]

...but I'm assuming that everything—all of those lives and the emotions that are tied to it—are a means to allow you to access them?

[calamitish]

[ ish just sighs. what did he just say?

still- ]

Something like that, yeah.

[vivens]

[ yeah, answer his questions ish. ]

...and there's no other way that it can be opened?

[ ... ]

You implied that this is your "Plan B" but, is this really the only way to go about it? What if someone gave you their wish?

[calamitish]

I don't think that would happen.

[ he says this like a reflex, because he's been at this for a very long time and not once has anyone said anything towards him other than some variation of "you're insane". ]

Even if it did...I'm not sure if I could. [ but it's not a no. ] I can't use my power for myself, only for others.

[vivens]

[ ...

... i'm so sorry to do this to you lb— ]

And if I used my wish for this?

If I gave myself up—had someone kill me because you won't let me do it myself—and wished that you would open the Akashic Records.

[ sabo is dead serious about this. clearly. the man has tried to kill himself so many times before and it cannot be understated about the absolute lengths that sabo will go to save another person. to free them. ]

Would that be enough?

[calamitish]

[ ...he probably should have anticipated this offer somewhat given the trajectory of this conversation, but he does not. ]

What? You— [ this throws him for several reasons and all he can do is stare, mouth agape and red eyes wide. ]

Why would you? I'm the one who took you from your world, you don't owe me anything. If anything, I—

[ there is precisely one person he's met in all of his years who can compare in a sense of justice and earnestness, but that man, that prince, didn't even forgive him. ]

[vivens]

[ honestly? sabo is pleasantly surprised that ish isn’t jumping to the prospect to it. that he geniunely didn't think anyone would do this. it makes him smile despite everything. ]

Because you're trapped just as much as we are. Like the chains you have on me, you're chained to this fate until you can save Norna.

[ the irony is there and he will take the chance to point it out. ]

When I say that I'd do anything to free people, I meant it in every sense. [ firm and resolute. ] If my death can set you and others free then I'll gladly pay that price.

You considered yourself as villain and the "bad guy" because everything that you've done, but I've also done the same. [ yet there is a majority that sees him as a hero, a guiding presence for hope. ] Who said a "bad guy" can't redeem themselves.

[calamitish]

...You're just as insane as me. [ this entire week has been insane actually, and this is from a guy who runs a murder carnival. he doesn't know if he wants to redeem himself, but the box sabo has placed him in, shackles, really, is that this offer isn't conditional. it's not "reform and then Ill consider it", it's not "stop this right now and apologize for everything you've done." it's way too good of a deal and though ish is suspicious of it, he can't turn it down either. ]

...I'm not sure if it will work. You get that, right? You could die for nothing. When Norna gave me the power to grant wishes, I was forbidden from ever using it for myself. It's only to make other people happy.

[vivens]

[ when ish calls him insane sabo's only response is to laugh at it because, yeah, it's absolutely insane. no one in their right mind would make this offer and sometimes that's what you need. the smile he gives ish growing even brighter. ]

You aren't the first person to call me insane and I doubt it'll be the last time I hear it.

[ he'll take his hat off his head and hold it to his chest. ]

But I understand—except I won't die for nothing.

If this doesn't work then you'll know what has worked and won't have to wonder about this possibility. [ the next bit that sabo says he says with full confidence. (a burning fire behind his words.) where does it come from? simply by being a protag (adjacent). ] And if it does work, like I hope it does, then you'll be making plenty of people happy.

I'll be happy if this wish will give you the ability to save Norna from her fate and free you from this nearly endless cycle. You deserve to live freely just like anyone else.

[calamitish]

[ sabo??? that gesture gets ish to look away, just for a moment, flustered. if there's the lightest pink flush on his cheeks, no there isn't it's all an illusion. don't protag at him he's not the otome heroine he's the villain! ]

You—alright. But you'll be dead, so the wish doesn't go to you. It's on whoever kills you. You'll need to get them to agree to it so...

[ even if it could work, he thinks this avenue isn't likely because who would even volunteer to do such a thing? to kill someone for a hare brained idea? someone who they likely care about too, considering. ]