“ i’m leaving. try and stop me. “

“ let’s get you from that miserable place. “

“ you’ve got quite the fighting spirit in you there, i have to say. “

“ halt, ____. not one step further. “

“ come on, ____. haven’t we had more than enough of each other by now? “

“ you can turn back like a good little man, or i can send you home the painful way. what’ll it be? “

“ i told you nobody gets out of here, whether alive or dead. “

“ do not despair and hold to your resolve, ____. “

“ ever stubborn, aren’t you. “

“ it shall be exactly as you say, ____. your wishes are identical to mine. “

“ i lay the blame entirely upon you, yes. who else? “

“ everyone’s saying i went easy on you, ____. “

“ look, i’ve a reputation to uphold. you get past me again like that, you best go all the way. “

“ leave me be, and don’t think you’re going to be so lucky next we meet out there. “

“ i have to say you’re quite the specimen, and so, i’ve decided i shall aid you for the moment. “

“ hey, ____, if there happens to be something really horrible waiting for me beyond there, then… give me a sign, won’t you? “

“ oh there you are. just as i was beginning to think it’s been too long since i last killed you, ____. “

“ admit it, ____. you can’t stop thinking about me. “

“ don’t flatter yourself. i think of you in pain. and now there’s no need for the imagination. “

“ death is your only family. death, and i. best get accustomed to the both of us. “

“ what have i done, ____, to deserve such scorn? your lapse in judgement here is not so easy to forgive, yet easily punished. “

“ i never grew accustomed to the air, up here. it gusts senselessly whichever way it pleases. “

“ i’ll tear you limb from limb out there next time, you mark my words. “

“ oh, we have met, in a way. i know everybody, here, and there. “

“ the only one responsible for all of this is you. and i thought even you would have understood that by now. “

“ names are there to be forgotten, ____. “

“ no. no mournful speeches. now get out of my way. “

“ you’re running from yourself. though i can slow you down a bit i think. “

“ they say lots of things about me, ____; and they’ll tell you, in your dealings with me, ample caution is in order. let me show you why. “

“ you think me cruel, yet know nothing of cruelty. “

“ you want something to hate, then have it! “

“ you can’t be serious. you’re going to pretend as though it never happened? “

“ it comforts me to see how far you’ve come, ____. and i am confident that you shall make your way, eventually. “

“ a mortal’s life is short, and fraught with pain; is that truly the life you yearn for, ____? “

“ look, i’ve done some things that maybe aren’t great, but i am very, very sure i haven’t murdered anyone. “

“ life isn’t particularly fair, ____. nor death. i’d have expected you to know as much. “

“ blood needs be shed, and yours is going to suffice. “

“ i get the feeling we’re starting off on the wrong foot. “

“ i always wanted to kill a god. you’ll have to do. “

“ something the matter there, ____? you seem a little quieter than usual. dare i say even a little somber and remorseful, for some reason? “

“ what you’re attempting is impossible. you’ve seen what happens when you go too far. “

“ i’m not your practice partner, fool. “

“ you left, without so much as telling me goodbye. “

“ i left when it was necessary, ____. i thought of you and hoped you’d understand. i have to do this. “

“ if you won’t say it, then i’ll say it. goodbye, ____. “

“ you believe you are entitled simply to walk out of here. from your birthright and your responsibilities! but i am here to tell you, no. “

“ always happy to oblige. especially when it causes me to risk my station. to risk everything i’ve worked for. “

“ look here, ____, let me save you lots of future suffering: i happen to be the jealous type. “

“ do not anger me again, or i might come down and kill you there myself! “

“ i’m surrounded by my family, but i always feel alone. “

” i told you i don’t need your help here, ____. “

” you’re no god. “

” you’re nothing but a piece of trash. born into all of this. and you don’t even want it! “

” you seem to have me all figured out. and here i thought we were still getting to know each other. “

” i thought we had an understanding, _____, but this wouldn’t be the first time i was wrong about someone. “

” is this an offering of fealty or friendship, ____? “

” i guess there’s only one thing left to do. isn’t that so, ____? “

” i’d ask you to join me for a drink, ____, but i know you’ve a task ahead of you, and liquor dulls the senses. fortunately so, under most circumstances except yours. “

” perhaps you have defied me here in jest, though in such cases pertinent to my authority, you’ll find i lack a sense of humor. “

” you must see plainly, then, what your birthright amounts to: you’re no better off than any of us here. “

” it’s not that i’m upset or anything, here, ____, you know i’m not, but truthfully i am a bit annoyed, a little bit, and so, i got to send the message. “

” ____, i am getting awful sick of seeing your smug face, time after time after time. “

” have you given any thought to just… leaving me alone, and going back to wherever it is you came from? “

” why? why do you keep showing up? in spite of knowing that the outcome shall be just the same as how it always was? “

” why don’t you go get out of here if you despise this place so much? “

” you know what i like about you? the way you bleed. “

” never met a god that bleeds like you. red. like a worthless mortal. “

” come on! let’s bleed you dry. “

” thought i might find you all the way out here. although quite frankly i’m surprised you’re still alive. “

” even i’m beginning to fear you, i think. seems i don’t know you as well as i thought. “

” whatever you’re doing, it had better be worth it. “

” you’re stubborn. and you are going to get me in a heap of trouble before all is said and done. “

” a harsh winter is coming for you, ____. and i’m afraid you’ve brought it on yourself. “

” you’re funny. but you’ll break. they always do. “

” stranger, i am warning you: if you keep showing up like this, i’m going to have to find a new nickname for you. “