calamitish | SABO ✴

[ ...

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. ]

[ 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.

[ 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.

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.

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?

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.

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

[ 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?

[ ish just sighs. what did he just say?

still- ]

Something like that, yeah.

[ 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?

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.

[ ...

... 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?

[ ...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. ]

[ 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.

...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.

[ 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.

[ 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. ]

[ you ask him not to protag? impossible. ish might not be an otome heroine and the suppose villain of this situation but that changes so little for sabo. at least he's not going to comment on the flushing? ]

Then I think I know someone who is crazy enough to help me. It's the same guy you called out along me when you first told everyone about your offer.

[ blade.

isn't this funny and how things come full circle between the three of them..?? ]

He promised to help me with any plan that I come up with—no matter how insane it was going to be. I know I'll be dead and I won't be able to make sure that he follows my wishes, but I trust him.

Let's hope that this wish will set all of us free. [ and genuinely with his whole chest. ] You've suffered enough.

[ will sabo have been the only person to say this about ish? who knows, but it's the picture that ish has painted before him. even though ish has done horrible things, he has never been the oppressive presence in the ways that the people sabo actively seeks to destroy have. the fact of how ish forbids and actively prevents sabo from taking his own life is enough proof for him. ]

...fine. [ as much as he wants to refuse, the power of protag is too strong. ]

If it works, once it's settled—I'll see if I can't bring you back to life. Ordinarily I'd say that's impossible, but...

If all of this is, then that should be too.

Thank you.

[ here, have my cute icon as a treat... because, well, sabo wasn't expecting to ish to want to bring him back after saving norna. so much for being a "bad guy"—it brings a smile to sabo's face. ]

...and if you're able to bring back anyone back to life then be sure to focus on the people who didn't ask to die before you worry about me.

[ because, won't that make people the happiest? sure people will be happy to see him back but he wanted this. it's a fair exchange for him. ]

But, if you can, then I'll be in your debt.

[ damn sabish gonna ride for real— ]

That isn't how my magic works! I owe you, so I might be able to get away with it... [ mind, this isn't an immediate refusal it's just "does not know how to solve for X". ]

One thing at a time, alright? I was given the power to grant wishes for the happiness of others, but even having all of Norna's powers doesn't mean I'll be able to perform one miracle, let alone three.

[ except it won't; sabo doesn't have the mind to think about sabish when there are people who need to be saved. speaking right to the point where he concedes to what ish's struggle of being unable to solve for x.

sabo doesn't know what the formula he's working with, but he'll try to meet him halfway. ...this metaphor fell apart. ]

Fine, I know that I'm already asking a lot of you with this single wish.

[ is he really asking a lot if it's meant to be for ish at the end of the day? hmm. ]

If you're able to do this, would you consider changing your name from being a "Witch of Ruin" to something more fitting?

[ it totally won't but that meta was for tori :nyanod: ]

...maybe. I'd like to stay a Witch as long as Norna is.

I'm not sure what else I would be the Witch of.

[ hi tori :)!!

but give sabo a moment to think about this. hmmm. ]

How about... Witch of Wishes?

[ which does make him sound a little like a genie and a little lame. doesn't have that same kind of edge to it. ]

It's pretty cheesy but that's what you are, aren't you?

(no subject)

calamitish - 2025-04-04 16:10 (UTC) - Expand