「He really doesn't, but context might be good here. He seems to take some air in even before starting. It's a long tale, going by parts doesn't help anyone understand.」
What you saw on the network was me, trying to do the job I used to do a few millennia ago. But here things are obviously different. Back then, I had people with me... guiding me, advising me... I wasn't alone trying to do my will, like... I was here.
「At least he can see that now.」
Back then we also had some magical artifacts, that... helped with the job, you could say. The thing, the Eye I was wearing helped me channel magic and, do other stuff. But as you can see I'm not wearing it anymore, and... I will not do it again. 「Hopefully.」 So, I'm pretty much useless now.
「Ouch, he meant normal, but, heh, it doesn't change the truth. Some peace of mind in exchange for a reality check. That's how things are.」
[Nick seems to accept that explanation for the time being, his expression softening just a hair, tension easing out of his brow as he pushes a sigh through him. He knows a thing or two about regrets, about things being different years and years ago... and about feeling useless when surrounded by people with all kinds of fantastic abilities, ones folks in his world could only dream of.]
If it took some kind of hocus pocus to accomplish anything of value, a lot of us wouldn't be here at all, myself included. Both magic and machines can do a hell of a lot more harm than good in the wrong hands.
[And when Atem was acting like his will was the end-all-be-all, making vague threats out in the open? Yeah, those were the wrong hands. Nick's tone remains even as he continues.]
But if you ask me... you're better off now. You're not useless, and not as alone as you might think.
[And he never was -- none of them are. People in Hadriel might not always see eye-to-eye, but they're in this boat together whether they like it or not.]
「There is something absolutely fascinating about being able to read Nick's semblance just as he does with other people. Atem is still not sure of what he is, but the way he speaks and moves, he feels there is something else going on under the layers of metal and synthetic skin. It is a bit of a shame that he is no longer wearing he Eye because if there is a soul inside Nick, it would have been so easy to see it with it. But he made a choice and will stick to it. He might not be king here, but he will carry his word with the very same honor.
While he knows what Nick means, about not being alone, it's a little hard to believe. But wouldn't he be one huge hypocrite if he didn't do as he preached? After all, wasn't he the first one to jump at people and plead them to go show exactly that to Rey, that she wasn't alone? He cannot explain the solitude he feels, however, from having lost his other soul before arriving to Hadriel, that he's been away from home for so long, but he will not explain, his solitude is no different from others' after all.
As of being useless... well...」
There isn't much demand for ancient kings around here, Nick.
「There was a time, not too long ago that he thought he had been brought back to protect his friends, and back then it had been true, but without a Millennium Item, he's nothing, just a old soul inside a fragile vessel.」
[Nick might be physically manufactured, but there are several who would attest to the humanity that lies just beneath his synthetic skin. He'd attribute that to the real Nick Valentine's memories that are burned into hardware, behaviors and morals of a man long dead living on through an artificial copy; others would say he's more than just a facsimile, having become his own person through his experiences. Either way, the lopsided smile he offers Atem is genuine.]
Not much demand for detectives either, but I keep busy. You can, too.
[There's always someone in need of help, after all.]
「He appreciates it anyway, replying in kind, whether he's not sure but a learned response from a very advanced AI. But at the moment Nick mentions that, Atem's face brightens some.」
「He might have been joking! Or not. But that little smile eases him anyway. They... are good, right?」
Sounds like you really have a lot in your hands... Anyway. That's all I wanted to... 「No, wait, he's here now, it might be best not to waste the chance.」
Actually... About Rey... I'm really sorry about the way I handled it... Or tried to. I never meant to hurt her or her friends.
no subject
Date: 2018-01-16 11:33 pm (UTC)What you saw on the network was me, trying to do the job I used to do a few millennia ago. But here things are obviously different. Back then, I had people with me... guiding me, advising me... I wasn't alone trying to do my will, like... I was here.
「At least he can see that now.」
Back then we also had some magical artifacts, that... helped with the job, you could say. The thing, the Eye I was wearing helped me channel magic and, do other stuff. But as you can see I'm not wearing it anymore, and... I will not do it again. 「Hopefully.」 So, I'm pretty much useless now.
「Ouch, he meant normal, but, heh, it doesn't change the truth. Some peace of mind in exchange for a reality check. That's how things are.」
no subject
Date: 2018-01-18 08:50 am (UTC)If it took some kind of hocus pocus to accomplish anything of value, a lot of us wouldn't be here at all, myself included. Both magic and machines can do a hell of a lot more harm than good in the wrong hands.
[And when Atem was acting like his will was the end-all-be-all, making vague threats out in the open? Yeah, those were the wrong hands. Nick's tone remains even as he continues.]
But if you ask me... you're better off now. You're not useless, and not as alone as you might think.
[And he never was -- none of them are. People in Hadriel might not always see eye-to-eye, but they're in this boat together whether they like it or not.]
no subject
Date: 2018-01-18 07:23 pm (UTC)While he knows what Nick means, about not being alone, it's a little hard to believe. But wouldn't he be one huge hypocrite if he didn't do as he preached? After all, wasn't he the first one to jump at people and plead them to go show exactly that to Rey, that she wasn't alone? He cannot explain the solitude he feels, however, from having lost his other soul before arriving to Hadriel, that he's been away from home for so long, but he will not explain, his solitude is no different from others' after all.
As of being useless... well...」
There isn't much demand for ancient kings around here, Nick.
「There was a time, not too long ago that he thought he had been brought back to protect his friends, and back then it had been true, but without a Millennium Item, he's nothing, just a old soul inside a fragile vessel.」
no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 09:15 am (UTC)Not much demand for detectives either, but I keep busy. You can, too.
[There's always someone in need of help, after all.]
no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 02:42 pm (UTC)Like Sherlock Holmes?
no subject
Date: 2018-01-23 12:02 am (UTC)Something like that, save for the part where I'm filled with gears and gizmos.
[Neither of them is technically real, either.]
no subject
Date: 2018-01-23 03:21 am (UTC)Like what, laser eyes?
「Look, he's still that kid that probably read a lot of manga. Again, blame his host.」
no subject
Date: 2018-02-01 07:35 am (UTC)No, nothing like that. I've got enough problems without accidentally burning a hole through my paperwork.
[Though he wouldn't be surprised if the Institute started equipping synths with laser eyes instead of laser rifles one day.]
no subject
Date: 2018-02-07 04:52 am (UTC)Sounds like you really have a lot in your hands... Anyway. That's all I wanted to... 「No, wait, he's here now, it might be best not to waste the chance.」
Actually... About Rey... I'm really sorry about the way I handled it... Or tried to. I never meant to hurt her or her friends.