As frustrating as it was, and as helpless as it made him feel, she was absolutely right. Attempting to return now would have him thrown straight back, one way or another. Plus, he couldn't help in this state. It didn't stop him from giving Karem an extremely dejected look, which had the very unfortunate appearance of sad puppy-dog eyes, but he knew that she was right - and that she was one of the very few people that really did have his best interests at heart. "I'd still like to be kept up-to-date if anything else happens. If you wouldn't mind." He sighed again and reflexively lifted a paw half-way to his face, before staring at the not-hand and slowly lowered it again. "It feels like I've missed a lot, and I... I can't afford to just stop, even if I can't join, I need to do something." Even after death, life moved on. The weight of the tasks ahead still felt as extraordinary as ever. Just as soon as he started to feel the weight pressing on his mind once more, he was broken away by Karem's hushed reassurance.
"That's actually what I wanted to talk with you about. Sometime... later, perhaps." Ever-so-subtly, his eyes darted towards Tio, likely far too embroiled in his newfound Immortalhood to notice. "I like him. But that doesn't mean I trust him. Especially now." Especially since he was now one of them. A target and a bargaining chip. An ally and an enemy. Who knew what they might offer for information? And what he might end up spilling, intentionally or otherwise. No. Far, far too risky, even knowing now what he'd done to others. "Anyway, it's not usefulness that decides likability, it's... compassion and empathy," he replied with another look towards Saoire. "You can't imagine how refreshing it is just to be able to have a conversation. To stand in the same room and not feel cowed, or awed, or like you're doing something wrong by not kneeling at their feet... even the 'nice ones', like Qylios. She just bosses everyone around, telling them to do things as if we're nothing more than servants to her whims." He wrinkled his nose and pulled a face. "And as if we do what she says because she said it, and not because it's ust the right thing to do in the first place." That really grated his gears.
At least Tio certainly seemed to be enjoying himself and his newfound species. "Looking very dapper," he called, "but before you get any ideas, unless you plan on granting me a mark for all the hard work I did not biting your infuriating little mask off every time you asked if we're there yet, my soul is not up for target practice." It wasn't too late to give him a right good biting as well, Immortal or no Immortal. "And if you think I'm going to bow and call you Lord, I've got exactly two places you can shove it and you won't find either of them pleasant." Alright, all that unpleasantness out of the way first, he felt it only appropriate. "Congratulations, all the same. I dare say you've outdone yourself, ascending to literal godhood instead of whatever metaphorical godhood you already were... just don't let yourself get carried away." His pleased smile turned a little sad. "For all of our sakes, and your own." They had enough bad Immortals running around without adding the latest addition to the roster.
Plus, while the death of Faldrun at his own two hands seemed almost inevitable at that moment, and the others like Vri and Father not too far behind, he couldn't put Tio on that list. They'd shared something at the Empyrean Gateway that he couldn't bring himself to break, no matter how much that scared him.
"That's actually what I wanted to talk with you about. Sometime... later, perhaps." Ever-so-subtly, his eyes darted towards Tio, likely far too embroiled in his newfound Immortalhood to notice. "I like him. But that doesn't mean I trust him. Especially now." Especially since he was now one of them. A target and a bargaining chip. An ally and an enemy. Who knew what they might offer for information? And what he might end up spilling, intentionally or otherwise. No. Far, far too risky, even knowing now what he'd done to others. "Anyway, it's not usefulness that decides likability, it's... compassion and empathy," he replied with another look towards Saoire. "You can't imagine how refreshing it is just to be able to have a conversation. To stand in the same room and not feel cowed, or awed, or like you're doing something wrong by not kneeling at their feet... even the 'nice ones', like Qylios. She just bosses everyone around, telling them to do things as if we're nothing more than servants to her whims." He wrinkled his nose and pulled a face. "And as if we do what she says because she said it, and not because it's ust the right thing to do in the first place." That really grated his gears.
At least Tio certainly seemed to be enjoying himself and his newfound species. "Looking very dapper," he called, "but before you get any ideas, unless you plan on granting me a mark for all the hard work I did not biting your infuriating little mask off every time you asked if we're there yet, my soul is not up for target practice." It wasn't too late to give him a right good biting as well, Immortal or no Immortal. "And if you think I'm going to bow and call you Lord, I've got exactly two places you can shove it and you won't find either of them pleasant." Alright, all that unpleasantness out of the way first, he felt it only appropriate. "Congratulations, all the same. I dare say you've outdone yourself, ascending to literal godhood instead of whatever metaphorical godhood you already were... just don't let yourself get carried away." His pleased smile turned a little sad. "For all of our sakes, and your own." They had enough bad Immortals running around without adding the latest addition to the roster.
Plus, while the death of Faldrun at his own two hands seemed almost inevitable at that moment, and the others like Vri and Father not too far behind, he couldn't put Tio on that list. They'd shared something at the Empyrean Gateway that he couldn't bring himself to break, no matter how much that scared him.
