Awake Once More (In Development)

A scoff. “Humans. So quick to anger, so hard to drive sense through their skulls. So easily filled with grief, one of the worst poisons I think they can suffer from.”

A very faint purr from him. “Those drowning in that emotion so easily loose grasp of what’s reality, what’s possible. Loose grasp on their own control. That doesn’t mean I pardon any of them, they still made their own mess.”

Gonna just telekinetic the bread loaves out of the oven behind him, bringing on over his way to take a bite out of it. The heat doesn’t seem to affect him at all. “One human, one of the few who were nice to me, was driven mad with it. She thought I was her daughter back form the dead. Then more humans happened and she just… snapped. Asked me to destroy the country we were floating off shore of. And I did.”

Another chomp. “She was committed to an asylum and discharged from the military. Said ‘my precious Laura has become an angel!’ as I made the whole country burn.”

Rat gestures towards Thiiel with his bitten bread loaf. “Human minds… are much more fragile than their bodies, I’ve found. So much easier to shatter on accident.”

“But that fellow? Fuck ‘em. Grief doesn’t excuse murder of a people. I see no qualms with blood for blood in such situations. End him and all the men who willingly acted on his orders, and laugh over his corpse if you so desire. Though you seem more like the brooding type.”

“Mm. Understandable. Lots of thoughts from lots of folks out there are vile.”

Rat’s leaking hints of memories again. Mega-cities, folks being cruel just for cold hard cash, so many unethical experiments… some conducted on not-quite-him-yet, but those are quickly stifled.

“There’s still some good folks out there, I think. They’re just buried in the brutes who are jerks and hoard all the power. Or they get corrupted by said power. Human minds are so fragile, you know? For so many of them one spark of power will drive them to madness just to get more. Those humans I never mind killing.”

“The good ones are long gone and decomposed, their spirits already rusted away with time.” Thiiel again rubs his temples as he feels the waves of remembered emotions and memories assaulting him from Rat’s direction.

A very faint purr from him. "Those drowning in that emotion so easily loose grasp of what's reality, what's possible. Loose grasp on their own control. That doesn't mean I pardon any of them, they still made their own mess."

Gonna just telekinetic the bread loaves out of the oven behind him, bringing on over his way to take a bite out of it. The heat doesn't seem to affect him at all. "One human, one of the few who were nice to me, was driven mad with it. She thought I was her daughter back form the dead. Then more humans happened and she just... snapped. Asked me to destroy the country we were floating off shore of. And I did."

Another chomp. "She was committed to an asylum and discharged from the military. Said 'my precious Laura has become an angel!' as I made the whole country burn."

Rat gestures towards Thiiel with his bitten bread loaf. "Human minds... are much more fragile than their bodies, I've found. So much easier to shatter on accident."

Gonna just pull up a chair and flop over the table, resting his head on crossed arms. “Better start than me. I was a weapon from my design stage.” Several blinks.

“Empathy? That’s a thing. I don’t have that skill. Best I can do is bleed walking nightmares over to folks minds while they’re awake. Maybe some vague other emotions if I feel them really strongly. Thinking of the understandable is something I do know well, at least. Probably much more on the stabby side than your thoughts. All sorts of mind powers and whatnot.”

Ever seen a kid finding something they think is fascinating and just staring? That’s Rat right now. Thiiel is fascinating to them.

“I locked it away a long time ago.” And he is not going to mention that being around Rat is agitating that power into struggling to the surface once more.

Rat's leaking hints of memories again. Mega-cities, folks being cruel just for cold hard cash, so many unethical experiments... some conducted on not-quite-him-yet, but those are quickly stifled.

Gonna just huff in mild amusement. “Again. I thought the same. It’d be best to be left alone, to fade to nothing.” A wistful smile. “…But there is genuine good out there. You might not see it for a while, or choose to see it when it’s staring you in the face, but it’s there.”

Yeah. Kindness exists even in the most trying of times. From a man of the cloth, to a grieving mother, to a street orphan and even a mother-to-be who’s misplaced her lover. To those who’ll gather around your tale no matter what you do. Snippets and feelings flickering through his mind….

“If nothing else I’d miss you. Sure, we’ve only just met, but you’re one of the most interesting folks I’ve ever seen.” A smile, full of the innocence of a child, somehow.

“Thanks,” he supposes. With a few gulps of the apple juice he washes down the shepherd’s pie. Instead of resuming eating he’s now poking the food around idly with his fork.

"Empathy? That's a thing. I don't have that skill. Best I can do is bleed walking nightmares over to folks minds while they're awake. Maybe some vague other emotions if I feel them really strongly. Thinking of the understandable is something I do know well, at least. Probably much more on the stabby side than your thoughts. All sorts of mind powers and whatnot."

“You say that now. It might change later. It did for me. Did for many humans I’ve seen on similar paths. I’d say other life forms, but they all tried to kill me so. Eh. No more observation samples.”

It should be edible. It’s cold, and not overly-rich. Just savory. Rat will also float on over a glass of cold apple juice. He’s going to pamper this mook, so help him….

“They don’t remember my clan, why should I want them to remember me? Instead of standing apart, just let me vanish into obscurity with the rest of them.”

Yeah. Kindness exists even in the most trying of times. From a man of the cloth, to a grieving mother, to a street orphan and even a mother-to-be who's misplaced her lover. To those who'll gather around your tale no matter what you do. Snippets and feelings flickering through his mind....

“Neither am I, and yet, my tale faded one of my previous naps. No one remembered what I had wrought.” Gonna just point towards the ceiling. Man, that’s a nice art of a stylized Rat-in-Monster-Form fighting what looks like a massive dragon.

“So last time, I used my strength to make sure they remembered. I survived so I could tell my tale myself, twist where and how it warps into something more. So eat your damn shepards pie, I made it myself with some of the good beef from my current favorite human’s hometown.”

Fork, casually thrown and embedded into the table right in front of one of Thiiel’s hands with a slight twanging noise.

“I don’t mind being forgotten.” Thiiel rubs at his forehead to alleviate some of the mounting tension there. He supposes he really doesn’t have much choice - damn bossy maniac.

Rat has been known to leak emotions at times. It happens with particularly strong ones, as it’s not one of his greater skills. The memory leaking is much more potent as he’s had that skill since… maybe a few months after his ‘birth’.

Fuzzy memories tend to the feelings leaking over more.

“And who will remember your tale if you burn out now? Will anyone even remember your name, your goals? Or will you just be forgotten as ‘another madman’ or a 'poor lost soul’ by those you want to eke revenge on? With no rest, you will be left buried under the sands of time.” Rummage in a fridge that looks like it’s been made of scrap.

“I’m giving you something more than bread. Carbs are good, but creatures of meat need other things to run on. I sure do. You probably don’t need as much protein and sugar as I do, if I were to guess.”

A plate flies on over to Rat, and he places a slice of cold shepard’s pie in front of Thiiel. “Let me know if you want that warmed up while I make you a salad. And get you some fruits. Or a fork.”

"So last time, I used my strength to make sure they remembered. I survived so I could tell my tale myself, twist where and how it warps into something more. So eat your damn shepards pie, I made it myself with some of the good beef from my current favorite human's hometown."

Because this pyromaniac idiot likes adopting folks who are or have been in situations like him. Like finds like, and whatnot.

“If nothing else, it’s hard to go on a revenge rampage on an empty stomach! Store some energy off to the side and whatnot, if you need to. If I needed to eat to restore all my energy these days, I’d make sure to keep a small feast held off in some sorta pocket dimension!”

Back in the kitchen. The room smells much more like fresh-baked bread than before. “Besides, a taste of sweet things– or decent food– only fuels the desire for revenge harder. It’s what you could have, were it not for whatever got in your way!” Rat’s so enthusiastic about this he’s not realizing he’s leaking a few faint memories. Nothing aside from sensations, right now. But a lot of a sense of ‘rest after a long haul’ and ‘finally recharging batteries’.

“It’s fine if I completely burn myself out,”  he mutters indignantly. Thiiel finally manages to pull his arm free when they reach the kitchen. He wants to say something, protest more, maybe just escape then and there. But the barest tickle of memories licking at his consciousness have him a little distracted. What’s more, why is he feeling what the other felt in those memories?

Fuzzy memories tend to the feelings leaking over more.

"And who will remember your tale if you burn out now? Will anyone even remember your name, your goals? Or will you just be forgotten as 'another madman' or a 'poor lost soul' by those you want to eke revenge on? With no rest, you will be left buried under the sands of time." Rummage in a fridge that looks like it's been made of scrap.

"I'm giving you something more than bread. Carbs are good, but creatures of meat need other things to run on. I sure do. You probably don't need as much protein and sugar as I do, if I were to guess."

“Too bad I’m opening your home and dragging you in anyways. Some humans did that for me, and now I’m determined to do that for you. Even if lady who declared herself my mother was a bit mad with grief from my prior actions by a sheer coincidence.”

Rat just gently snags a hand and starts leading Thiiel back into his mountain. “Besides, I repay kindness and like passing it ahead. Just ‘cause I like revenge and stuff doesn’t mean I can’t also be someone who likes ‘lighter’ things like kindness and whatnot. Even gods can’t rage forever, they need to rest once in a while. I sure did.”

"If nothing else, it's hard to go on a revenge rampage on an empty stomach! Store some energy off to the side and whatnot, if you need to. If I needed to eat to restore all my energy these days, I'd make sure to keep a small feast held off in some sorta pocket dimension!"

Blink. Blink blink. “Ohhhh, you’re in that state of seeking revenge. That stage sucks.” a pause. “…Good think I know how to fix it! At least, I know how to fix it if it’s me going through it. Might as well see if it can work for someone else.”

A nod, and he extends his hand. “Let me show you some kindness! A few folks gave me theirs when I was in a similar state, and it helped me out greatly! It’s why I actually respect one of the old religions. Let me let you eat your fill, and get some proper rest for a while!” A beaming grin, full of the warmth of an afternoon summer sun.

“You are opening your home to me?” Thiiel is actually surprised as he blinks and gapes at the hand offered to him. “I should not impose.” His eyes avert as he reminds himself that the kindness is only temporary. People are only kind to him to get something from him or to change his mind.

Oh. That look is kinda familiar. “Fair enough. Oh! Uh. Steaks are nice. And bones. Good things to sink teeth into. Bones also make a good broth.”

Rat’s eyes light up. “Oh! And clementines! I love them! And any other citrus fruit like them! Many of my fondest memories involve them. Heck, I made them like. An important fruit for my cult! And mushrooms. Just because I admire how the latter refuse to die. They’re as stubborn as I am on that front.”

He tilts his head in slight curiosity. “What about you? What foods do you like?”

“What foods?” Thiiel goes silent then. Once more, it’s been so long since he’s eaten with anyone - eaten anything but plain roadside meals - that he’s forgotten what good food tastes like, let alone his favorites.

A content rumble. “Well, a lot of folks do still consider me a god. I essentially lead my own cult on this plane. I find it fun!” Some crackling, and horrible meat noises, and Rat is back in his human form. “I find that I quite like the taste of brains, too. Sometimes I wonder if I add those neurons to my own, then I realize I don’t want the answer to that question and forget about it for a few years.” …Rat seems comfortable around Thiiel. He’s letting more of his childishness show.

“Lungs I find vile. Too little meat, especially with any cooking. And raw? Texture doesn’t agree with me. I’m fond of things I can sink my teeth into. Lungs do work good in sausages, I find.”

Now Thiiel is far from squeamish, but something about that description still makes him shudder internally. He too is rather sensitive to the texture of his food and becomes very upset for some unknown reason if it’s one he dislikes. And right now, the things they’re discussing don’t seem to be very likable in his mind.

Rat's eyes light up. "Oh! And clementines! I love them! And any other citrus fruit like them! Many of my fondest memories involve them. Heck, I made them like. An important fruit for my cult! And mushrooms. Just because I admire how the latter refuse to die. They're as stubborn as I am on that front."

A shake of his head. “I have not. My control over lightning isn’t that strong. I can do grand gestures, not subtlety. Flames, though– there I’ve managed to heat up someone’s brain ever so slowly just with manipulating fire around their skull until they died. And many, many ‘accidental’ lighting of robe edges on fire. Quite fun, that!”

A happy chortle, hinting that Rat is still quite young despite his size and skills. “And, of course, setting a fire inside someone’s lungs! Much fun indeed, that!”

A slow nod. “I understand. But– this can be used as an easy multiplier with minimal extra energy output. And maybe you’ll get lucky sometimes.”

Another tweak of the node: this time, focusing on power multiplication with minimal extra cost. It’s designed around ‘fire’, but should be easy enough to tweak to lightning. “With a bit of practice now, you should have some new skills mostly internalized before you return to your home plane.”

“A multiplier …” Thiiel stared at his hands a moment, committing this thought to memory for future practice and execution.

A nod. “Yes! Nodes can be given their own tweaks, too. If I use this one, it shifts lightning to fire. Energy to energy.”

A small bolt, and a stream of fire hits a rock instead of lightning. “I rarely use it. Much easier for me to just use fire itself. But, might be useful for you.”

Rat gently impresses the instructions for making such a node onto Thiiel’s mind. It might be a bit beyond his skills at the moment, but better to have it and work for it than not having it at all. Added bonus that the energy conversion rate is fantastically efficient.

He doubts he can do that, and is proven right when he makes the attempt only to end up with what else but more lightning.

A howling laugh from Rat. “Pfft. You’re much more science-minded than I. As for pathing adjustments, sometimes you might need subtlety. A fool could jump in the way. Or you might want to destroy one specific thing as an example.”

Rat’s arm raises again, and this time he goes slow enough for Thiiel to feel what he’s doing. Nodes, of a sort, hanging in the air, of ions for the lightning to bounce along before striking the target.

A second bolt, this time the Nodes are more… focused. This specific shape leads to a bolt splitting, this one intensifies power. Ten of these in a row will melt through a tank. Knowledge like that is freely passed over to Thiiel’s mind. Even though he doesn’t look very tank round proof.

After being jarred out of his own thoughts by the new ones entering his own mind, Thiiel blinks to clear his head and focus on the training at hand.

A small bolt, and a stream of fire hits a rock instead of lightning. “I rarely use it. Much easier for me to just use fire itself. But, might be useful for you.”