milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

The man sitting in a corner on a chair with a glass of wine in hand and a harp lying nearby does not look like Jasin Natael the melancholy bard. Nor does it look like Joar Addam Nessossin the famed composer. This man looks like Asmodean the Forsaken. With his dark eyes cold and filled with anger and his face pulled taut, it would be conceivable that this man is responsible for the deaths of millions. This man could have murdered his own mother in cold blood.

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It was true that she didn't really know what he had done. But...there were things that everyone regretted in the past, wasn't there? And although she had never met one personally, she knew that there were several superheroes out there that were criminals turned heroes. But Cassandra did truly believe that what mattered what you did now, and not in the past. She, in a sense, believed in redemption.

"I only know...you. Now. And...that's what counts."

The Forsaken was without words. He shook his head and smiled.

For once, the normally verbose Jasin Natael was at a loss for words.

Well, the man wasn't saying anything, but at least he did smile. That wasn't a bad sign, right?

"Jasin...?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

He glanced up at her. His eyes opened into his heart. His heart was a scary place. Nobody should have that much pain, guilt, or sorrow. It also revealed a touch of madness.

"...Yes?"

And Cassandra saw those things. But it wasn't the first time she had seen those things in someone's eyes. Had she not seen those very things in her father's eyes a short while ago? And she knew her father was not a bad man at heart.

"Are you...okay now?" As in, will you not burst into flames again anytime soon?

He furrowed his brow and glanced away.

"I am well enough. Thank you."

Cassandra may be slow with her words, but she wasn't stupid. And in this case, his actions seemed to be speaking louder than his words. A frown came across Cassandra's lips.

"Why...you lie?"

He chuckled a little as he glanced up at her.

"...Hm. It was not precisely a lie. I am returning to my normal state. Not that my normal state is particularly pleasant, but it is an existence."

Did that go over Cassandra's head? In a word, yes. It was still difficult for her to grasp some concepts -- not for the lack of basic language knowledge, but from a lack of use and exposure.

"...No more flames?" At least that seemed like a simpler question to ask.

Asmodean chuckled, and smiled.

"That is the aura from my power. Sometimes I use it involuntarily when my temper gets out of control. No power for the moment. I have no need of it."

Okay, so that meant no flames. Which was good, since although Cassandra didn't have a particular fear of it, it was still a bit disconcerting. And he was smiling, so that to be a good sign, right?

"Good. You smile, too."

He chuckled. He rather hoped that she never saw his 'bad smile'.

"I suppose."

A nod was given to Jasin in reply. She seemed satisfied that his mood had improved since they had first talked this night.

Now that the situation had been averted, Cassandra knew that she should probably be returning to her world. She had yet to go on patrol tonight.

"I...need to go. Work," she told him.

Asmodean nodded kindly.

"Of course, thank you for talking with me, Lady Cassandra."

He watches her leave with a sad smile on his face.

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