[Closed]

[adun_toridas]

Characters: Tassadar and Zeratul
Location: City Church
Rating: G
Time: March 19th, late afternoon
Description: Two protoss catch up after the mission.



Most days when he needed to think or rest, Zeratul returned to the church where he and Tassadar had first spoken here in peace and quiet. The building was a quiet, spiritual place by nature, and that was why he liked it so much. Going deeper into the park was always an option, but silence was expected here, so he came for that comfort.

There was quite a bit for him to reflect on, having been on two missions in a relatively short amount of time. His excursion with Tassadar and Kerrigan had been enlightening in more ways than one, but ultimately his fight alongside Ramza had been a truer initiation. Zeratul found he had a quite liked the man, and having him at his side was as a beneficial as sparring with him. Which was good, considering the monsters they’d faced down in those caverns. The war effort seemed as reactive and unorganized as he’d first thought, but at least something was being done.

Zeratul sat near the back of the open hall, where only a few people came and went. There was no service that afternoon, though he had sat through a few of the religious meetings here, simply out of curiosity. At the moment, he was waiting for Tassadar to join him, whenever the templar was available.

Comments

[adun_toridas]

Zeratul's brow knit together for a moment, though his response was little more than a flat stare. He didn't move as Tassadar dropped his hand, not really seeming to notice. That had been such a hollow answer, he felt as though he was looking at himself during his self-imposed exile. That was not a good thing.

"Is that all," he murmured, half to himself.

There was a difference between being alive and actually living, not just reacting to pain.

[aiursfavoredson]

The response caught him by surprise, and Tassadar couldn't help but regard his companion in confusion. It happened so often when they had first met and started forming bonds, but what had changed since the discovery of each other?

Lowering his face, almost as if shamed, the templar murmured, "What is it that you wish for me to say?"

[adun_toridas]

"Nothing more than what you have," he said, tone still subdued. "If you have given me the truth, I can ask for nothing else."

Which was the problem, unfortunately. He hardly thought the templar capable of lying in any capacity, which made his words a little to serious for Zeratul's tastes.

"Where is that warrior's fire, hm?" Zeratul continued, looking directly at Tassadar. Though he had never spoken out of ego or bravado, Tassadar had always been strong and proud, not quietly accepting.

[aiursfavoredson]

There seemed to be something within Zeratul that set the templar on edge. Regarding the older male thoughtfully, he debated within himself whether to voice his concerns a tall. It seemed, however, that such a thing was unnecessary as the prelate in question voiced his own.

Feeling that piercing gaze on him, Tassadar's gaze widened in surprise before he glanced downwards a moment later. "Much has happened within this world, my friend," he murmured before honouring his friend by returning his gaze back to Zeratul. "I am afraid that I do not have an answer to your question."

[adun_toridas]

Zeratul held his gaze for several moments, eyes narrowing slightly as if he was trying to see something else beyond the templar in front of him. Eventually he backed down, letting his posture relax some and his eyes slid shut. Had he really been so wrapped up in recovering from his own misery to be so blind to Tassadar's? He knew something wasn't right from the start, but...

He looked back up at Tassadar, lifting one hand and holding his palm out to the templar. "Then show me."

[aiursfavoredson]

It had been difficult to admit to, but the templar kept himself firm with his resolve. Keeping his gaze steady, even despite Zeratul's reactions, he remained quiet while he watched that single hand raise up. When the prelate had first arrived to this world, he had refused his offer to mindmeld, and Tassadar had respected that.

His movements were hesitant at first, but the templar reached up to entwine his fingers with Zeratul's before pressing their palms together. With his eyes flashing a bright yellow, he allowed for his memories of this place to pour forth into Zeratul's mind.

[adun_toridas]

Zeratul gripped Tassadar's hand in return, steeling himself for the flood of memories. It was uncomfortable for him, seeing things like this, and not just because of the source. Even before he'd severed his nerve cords he's never touched the Khala, and it felt too much like an invasion of privacy. There was no mutual exchange of experiences or memories - Zeratul took what was given to him, keeping himself shut off entirely.

He saw it all - the battles Tassadar had participated in, his first Weapon, his employment, the Executor's arrival and departure - and once it was done he eased his grip on Tassadar's hand, but didn't let go. At the moment, he had nothing to say, simply absorbing what he'd seen. His first judgement was that this was no place for a templar like Tassadar.

[aiursfavoredson]

The fact that Zeratul kept himself closed off did nothing to deter Tassadar as he willingly opened himself up for the prelate to see. While he hid much from those beyond his people, there was no shame in sharing with other protoss his experiences and challenges - especially within this world. That was why he remained focused purely on those feelings and memories, and even after they'd died down, he made no attempt to remove his hand from Zeratul's own.

He said nothing while the prelate absorbed everything that had occurred during his time here. There had been much that had changed him over the months, and while it was something that Selendis had been unable to fully accept of him, he found some semblance of hope within that Zeratul could.

[adun_toridas]

Not for the first time, Zeratul felt a stab of guilt at his self imposed exile. The fact that he'd let himself be so swallowed in his own misery while others suffered more than he was almost unforgivable. At least, he had no intention of forgiving himself of many things for quite some. Redemption was an ongoing task.

Nothing drove that home more than Tassadar and his experiences. His friend had changed, for better or for worse, and the struggle within him masked the protoss that he had fought alongside on Aiur.

"This place has diminished you," he finally said, looking and sounding tired. "But not defeated you."

[aiursfavoredson]

Tassadar took note of the tired tune within Zeratul's raspy voice. It was something that he couldn't fault the prelate of, and because of that knowledge, he inclined his head towards his companion. The words didn't help either, since there wasn't anything he could say that would deny that fact.

Instead he kept his gaze steady on his friend as he murmured, "Not even the judgement of the conclave could defeat me." It was his promise to Zeratul that he would remain strong and focused despite everything, and yet even with that promise, Tassadar found himself admitting, "I am trying to rediscover myself, brother, but it is a difficult task to do without the aid of the Khala."

[adun_toridas]

This entire scenario hardly seemed fair to Tassadar. He had been snatched away by BREW at the most critical moment, and robbed of whatever transcendence would free him from this burden. Once BREW returned him, would any of this even be of worth to him, or just those that benefited from his actions in this world?

Suddenly realizing their hands were still joined, Zeratul carefully unwound his fingers from Tassadar's.

"You know well the Khala is not the only path, though it was never your choice to leave it," he said. It might be more than a little of track from his original quest back home, but his presence here might have a grander purpose after all. "If it is a guide you need, then it is my services I offer to you."

Up for a round of sc2 tonight? :)

[aiursfavoredson]

He only dropped his hand down after Zeratul unwound his fingers. Watching the prelate, the templar knew that he would never abandon the Khala, especially given the importance it would plan, along with the Void, in defeating the Overmind. That, in Tassadar's mind, was never a choice.

"I do indeed, but you know also that I would never abandon that path, even if I may incorporate other paths into it," Tassadar responded before his eyes widened subtly at the offer. It was something that Zeratul did not need to do, to offer, and yet the prelate gave of himself. "You would offer yourself for such a task, Zeratul?"

would if i could, spent half the day failing to get the patch to install :(

[adun_toridas]

Zeratul put both his hands on his knees, but didn't stretch his back out this time. Instead he looked more like a hunched gargoyle, or rather, more like himself.

Whether he liked it or not, he was forced off of the path of the Khala here. Even with another Khalai in the city they'd been denied access to it, and not for the first time, he pitied their dependence on it. "I have never known the Khala, or what it might be like to be severed from its path. In that, I cannot help you. But beyond that, I am yours."

Oh man it didn't? :(

[aiursfavoredson]

Tassadar had grown to accept the fact that he would face the silence within his mind alone. That was something he had come to accept even well before Selendis had appeared within Death City, which was why the templar could handle at least that aspect of his life here. Yet that didn't prevent him from feeling that loss at times.

"As I would not expect you to, brother," he answered before inclining his head at the offer. It was something Zeratul didn't have to do, and yet the prelate did so without restraint. That was something the templar valued and cherished before he found his gaze drifting up towards the roof of the church.

"While I would not change the path I took on Aiur, that does not mean that I did not feel the emptiness of what I would lose in doing so," Tassadar thoughtfully offered before returning his blue gaze to his companion. "You, Raynor, Fenix. You will always be considered my brothers, and it was partly because of you that I made the choice that I did. To sacrifice one life to save countless others, yes, but knowing that you would survive and continue on gave me the final strength I needed to destroy the Overmind."

i gave up after uninstalling/reinstalling didn't work /shakes fist

[adun_toridas]

At the mention of the Overmind, Zeratul nearly faltered. He had survived yes, even if he hadn't wanted to, and he had barely managed to continue on. It was shameful, the way he'd abandoned everyone to tend to his own misery, and it was something he was going to shoulder for a long time. For as long as it took, though, Tassadar's situation was given precedence over his own.

For that brief moment he couldn't look directly at Tassadar, but closed his eyes and nodded his head to cover his own failings. "Though Aiur fell, your sacrifice ensured that the rest of us lived. There is not a day, or a single one of us, that goes by without thanking you, brave Tassadar.

"Whatever path we both took after that, it is different now. At the very least, it is a path we can walk together again."

Man! Goddamn blizzard! /shakes fist at them!

[aiursfavoredson]

He was not looking for praise for his actions, just to explain to the prelate across from him part of his reasons for doing what he did. The fact that Zeratul wouldn't even look in his eyes told him more than words ever would have, which is why he remained quiet in thought as he observed the prelate.

Tassadar didn't miss what Zeratul had finally said either. Whatever path we took after that? Was it possible that he had survived within the Khala after his destruction alongside the Overmind? That was something the templar hadn't thought possible, given that when Adun had done the same, he had disappeared entirely. It gave Tassadar paused, even if he did not yet voice his question.

"And we will continue to walk side-by-side through these struggles, as we had during our battles across Char and Aiur," he murmured while his mind chewed over what Zeratul had, probably, unintentionally given him. "Will you seek a partner here, my friend?"

so mean /cries

[adun_toridas]

Zeratul had simply meant the path they took in this world, entirely unaware, for once, that his words would be misinterpreted towards another truth. It was still something he didn't want to explain, and would likely dodge the question if asked. All in due time.

He did note the slight change in Tassadar's tone, just as the templar picked up on his unwillingness to look at him for that moment. They were slowly making bridges again, but it was still aggravating how tuned to one another they could be, and yet keep skirting around like that.

"It is inevitable, is it not?" Zeratul didn't sound excited about it. He had already explained his success with Ramza, but his experience didn't go much farther than that.

They need to give us a break :(

[aiursfavoredson]

The lack of excitement was noted, and it was something the templar felt a level of amusement over. It was of no surprise that Zeratul would react in such a way, and Tassadar found some level of peace and comfort in that thought. Perhaps it was inappropriate to discover such a thing when it came to his friend's discomfort, but Tassadar couldn't bring himself to change his reaction.

"If you wish to fight or protect yourself, then it is, yes," Tassadar murmured in reply. "It is just unfortunate that the BREW machine does not see fit to create our people as anything other than Meisters, even if the machine's choice for us is appropriate."

well it's given me a reason to clean up my desktop and remove unused programs at least...

[adun_toridas]

He had thought it was an adjustment before, getting his dark templar to work alongside the Khalai after so many years of animosity. At least that was familiar territory - here it was an entirely different game with rules that didn't make any sense at all.

"It is unfortunate that BREW does not see fit to leave us be," he snorted. Quite frankly, he liked this topic of discussion better than where they'd been headed before. "But we will persevere, as we always have."

There is that haha! It was like me at the bus stop earlier today. I had 10 mins before it arrived so

[aiursfavoredson]

((ooc: I cleaned out my handbag while I waited and put all the old receipts in the public trash can haha!))

"But it has not, and we must adjust to our situation or perish," Tassadar patiently replied back with. While he may have had difficulties while being within this world, he found no benefit to dwelling on the 'what ifs' to his situation in this world.

an excellent use of time and public service

[adun_toridas]

"Indeed," he said, adjusting his cloak around his shoulders as if resigned to some dreadful fate at last. Zeratul fell silent after that, and as much as he wanted to keep the conversation light hearted, it wasn't fair to either of them. Moments of levity were always treasured, of course, but they had their place. "Tell me, what have you done to anchor yourself without the Khala?"

That's what I thought ;D It took me a good five minutes to clear it all out :(

[aiursfavoredson]

The silence didn't bother him, and Tassadar wondered if it would remain settled around the pair. When it had happen previously in this world, Tassadar found only relief in such a thing, but now he found it to be almost uncomfortable. They used to be so much more prior to what had occurred in this world, along with whatever hardships Zeratul had endured after his death.

So when the question came, he found himself regarding Zeratul thoughtfully.

"The Weapon I once was had been that anchor, perhaps without my knowledge," Tassadar admitted. He hadn't thought about Nataku in that way until this moment, and the templar felt the stinging loss of his comrade when their partnership had ended. Glancing down, he didn't close off to Zeratul, but the templar couldn't return his gaze either. "Since that ended, I have had no anchor."

i just carry a wallet, less prone to clutter ;)

[adun_toridas]

Zeratul folded his hands in his lap, waiting patiently for the templar's answer. Eventually the hard questions would be turned on him, but he was better at avoiding those things than Tassadar.

That partnership had ended some time prior to his arrival, he knew now, and it was troublesome to think he had been so lost for so long. Well, it wasn't very long all things considered in their lifetime, but it was better off not happening at all. Having seen his departure from the city in his memories, it was obvious what the loss had done to him.

"You have sought out nothing else?" Not just another Weapon, per se, but another means of finding that peace.

I wish I could, but I need too much stuff with me /sobs

[aiursfavoredson]

It was difficult to answer that question when it was made, and Tassadar fell quiet while he considered what to say. Had he been seeking anything else? He had disappeared from the city to re-evaluate and meditate over his previous actions, and what direction to take in the future, and yet he hadn't found a true answer. Perhaps there simply wasn't one, but then again, whatever direction he took here was far more difficult when he didn't have the power or resources to follow through with such a direction.

Returning his focus onto the older male in front of him, Tassadar found himself murmuring, "No, I have not." It was an honest answer, but then again, the templar would never lie to his companion either. He held Zeratul in too high a standards to ever consider doing that. "We are here in a world where we are the minority, and I did not wish to bring any potential threats or dishonour to Executor Selendis by following my principles. And so I maintained myself."

wallet, phone, glasses, keys, done! and clothes i guess

[adun_toridas]

He expected to hear that answer from the templar, but to have him confront it would give it more meaning. So few of them were without purpose or solace, Khalai or Nerazim, it was painful to see one so fallen. Especially someone of Tassadar's caliber.

"I believe the Executor capable of handling herself, but you have always been so selfless," he said. Though he hadn't worked long aside the current Executor, she was a fine successor to both Tassadar and Artanis. "If you so truly wish to isolate yourself, you must not make the mistake of isolating others."

A bit of a paradox, but even he knew he would have never made it this far in his life without others.