Last Thread: the Endgame
Manipulation is such a dirty work...I prefer to call it 'being like a games master' :p
Don't believe the lies of evil games masters, Sun Snake is your best friend with knives presents for all!
Sun Snake gave good natured if rueful looks to the others as they spoke with Fall Lobster. However, something about Lobster calling Peacock an ally of Sun Snake seemed to get Sun Snake thoughtful.
He started looking around the room, then back to Lobster in a way he never usually regarded the man. "Interesting. All the others are pawns, but Shining Peacock is an ally? One with his own free will in my plans? Why is that I wonder..." Sun Snake continued after a moment. "So, presumably that means he would have a similar but separate agenda. So what if he decides to ruin you, without my efforts? Would that still be my fault? Would you not be to blame for not defending yourself against Peacock?"
Sun Snake then considered something more. "So you think I can have allies, not just manuipulate people behind the scenes to create all your woes. Interesting. I mean, if you truly believed that, and truly believe that everything I do is for your downfall..." Sun Snake's face begane mocking and unpleasant. "Let us say, hypothetically, that I wanted to ruin someone utterly. A fellow Kai. Imagine ruining that poor wretch's life, having him tortured, torn apart, but then allowing him one last little thread of hope. A new power from his torture, as strange at that would seem. And imagine if an ally of yours, I mean, of that poor wretch's... were to make that power stronger. I imagine that poor wretch would allow anything to happen, smugly thinking they had one small, powerful trick to play. One way to finally turn the tables. That wretch might let themselves be dragged in front of fellow countrymen, fellow Kai. Be shown not just as a worthless wretch, unskilled, but truly reviled by everyone....everyone....as an unwanted abomination. Every. Single. Person." Sun SNake looked deeply at Fall Lobster. "Imagine if, at that painful moment, all of a sudden their saviour...say, for want of a better example, Valador, came out from the shadows.... and stood side by side as an ally with me. I mean, as unlikely as that sounds, given he has only tried to ally himself with me every time we have spoken. But...imagine. Imagine that wretch suddenly realising there was no new power, no trick. Just the sweet, final pain of a false hope dashed. I wonder what that wretch would choose... would they let me win by continuing to live, a testiment to my complete victory? Or do you think they would finally beg to be obliterated by the Sommerswerd, and let me win that way? Hah, or perhaps they would have seem fleeting, final last gasps of desperation. That would be amusing. To be forced to swallow their smugness and pride and beg for Sabre Fox to remember his oath, and then be reminded it was all a smah to play you. Or to beg Swift Fox for the saving they...you... rebuked? And then be met with mockery. One last gasp before you turned to Rain Feather to show mercy and end your suffering, only to have her say no, when you realise it was not mercy that stopped her from destroying you before. It was to keep you alive to know utter dispair. Hypothetically, if I am the monster you think I am, I think I would enjoy that. Giving you false hope and tearing it down once it was too late for you to change anything. Can you imagine that though? I would have to be quite the soulless, dedicated manipulator to do that to you..."
Sun Snake gave a small, pleasant smile.
Poke poke poke...