Thom - Orphaned

[15:00:54] Lighting. Cackling.

Red hellstorm above Loranthis could be seen from quite a ways off, easily hinting towards the location of the red haired man. Towards the south of the village, their often frequented fighting ring. Golden hues stared around as the man silently stood in the middle of it, teeth gritted. The letter had been sent out so he awaited for arrival.

Hopefully Rhaziel would show up. It would be quite angering to have to track down his former teacher.
(Thom M. Takashi)
[15:08:35] Rhaziel walked, hands in pockets, into the fighting ring, looking towards Thom. He could help but chuckle, shaking his head.

This was his first, and last student. His prized pupil. So, he simply started clapping as he stared at Thom, seeming.. Somewhat sad. "Thom. M. Takashi. You wanted to see me, yes? I assume it's over the matter concerning Nashandra. If not, then yes. I know you're sleeping with the artificial human made with a little bit of help from myself."

Looking around a bit, the man sat down on a nearby bench, letting out a sigh of mixed emotions. He hated Loranthis, yet at the same time.. It was his home city, and so it was all so familiar, even with it being a mess of ruins.

"It has been years since I've last been here, dear boy. Shall I presume you wish to kill me, then? That seems what you impulsive children enjoy most. Or are you the Thom I know, who's not quite that stupid? Hmm?"
(Rhaziel Vydres)
[15:12:51] The clapping drew his attention and the glowing golden eyes turned, looking towards the form of Rhaziel. For a few moments the red haired man would be quiet, merely watching the man.. Before they would decide to speak, a moment of freezing at his first word.

"An artifical human you helped ma- Are you saying you're her father?" Such gave him all new questions, but he mostly attempted to keep it to himself. A shake of his head as he refocused, glaring towards Rhaziel.

"Why. Why did you endanger Nashandra? That is my question to you. Why did you tell other people about her? With the note there was already enough danger, but now I am forced to hear about this too? Do you hate me teacher Rhaziel?"

No talk was mentioned of if he wanted to kill the man or not, mearly a narrowing of his eyes.
(Thom M. Takashi)
[15:19:40] "Because she's using you, Thom. As I understand from your words, you crave for attention, yes? So she gives you that attention, and you fall for her. Now you're her little puppet." He motioned rather aimlessly with his hands as he spoked, and while he would normally have a smile across his face, he instead had a frown. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a flask of alcohol that he took a swig from, before putting it back.

He sighed, before starting to speak again. "To answer your earlier question, yes. I aided in her creation. I supplied the human sacrifice that was asked of me. Do you want to know more of what she's done? Hmm? She had Yorrick and I aid her in attacking Sanctuary. There we were forced to kill an innocent cook, who was to retire in four days as I recall. Why would we do that, you ask? I saw her absorb the depraved substance about the place into her own body. So, congratulations, boy. You've been sleeping with a homunculus infested with a biological weapon that reeks of depravity. If it makes you feel any better, she also spoke of trying to change the world's ecosystem to accomodate depravity."

He just started laughing, grabbing his face. It was all so stressful- the fact that his beloved employer really did die, and Nashandra was essentially an ultra depraved monstrosity that was seducing his student. Even if she said she wasn't, it was clear enough that giving him 'sex, attention, and recognition' and using his love to have him serve her was actually a text book example of seduction.
(Rhaziel Vydres)
[15:25:39] Was she just using him? The thought crossed his mind now that Rhaziel said it. Was she merely using him to complete her own goals, giving him objectives to complete, telling him what to do? For a moment or two he honestly considered it.. Before giving Rhaziel a shake of his head.

"Using me implies that she was able to control me. Sure, she may praise me, she may give me attention, she may ask me to do things.. But she isn't using me." A chuckle as he looked towards Rhaziel. "Because she can't. Not fully anyways. She wanted me to stay in Cinderfall, to be there all the time.

I left Cinderfall, swore to burn it to the ground. She wasn't the one who told me to join Loranthis. She hasn't been instructing me to do much besides stay by her side when she was afraid once, and a couple other things." Thom tried to think about them but.. It was honestly hard to remember what he did that she told him to, especailly after their.. Time together.

Though the mention of the Greyrot.. She had told him a little about it but never anything of this detail. He merely fell silent, staring towars Rhaziel with a curious look on his face. ".. Is that why you betrayed her? Told Cinderfall about her and me?"
(Thom M. Takashi)
[15:36:44] "I told Cinderfall about her because she isn't sunshine and all, Thom. Because she was using you. Yes, she can't use you fully without your knowing; but she did expressly say that she's the only voice you'll listen to. That she knows what to say, and when to say it. So it may not be so, but she certainly does believe that you're her little puppet." He tilted his head to the left, looking over the boy, before simply adding..

"She did also say that the one thing she can't change your mind on, is the matter of burning down Cinderfall. Which I barely can comprehend- you desired to fight Liara, and when she said 'no' you throw a big fit and join the Vampires seeking to fulfill Dumuzid's dream of culling humanity into nothing more than cattle. Don't delude yourself into thinking that they won't do the same to you."

With a shrug, he got up from his seat and started pacing, thinking and thinking. After a while, he turned towards the boy, smiling at that point. "It reminds me of Malus, who let his anger control him. You do recall, yes? He attacked two young children, because he let his desire to kill your uncle control him completely."

With that all said, the somewhat old man sat on the ground, closing his eyes and sitting patiently. Perhaps, Thom would wake up and stop being little more than a spoiled brat. After some time of silence, though, he spoke up again..

"I was once in your situation, Thom. My anger towards Kuro lead to me willingly serving the Kaor, Aeron. Do you know where that got me? He tried to kill me. But then my best friend, Elyon Loreth, sacrificed himseld to save my life. If you don't wake up from your little dream, people you love will die, and you'll hate yourself for it."
(Rhaziel Vydres)
[15:45:16] A frown appeared on Thom's face as Rhaziel continued to talk. "So because you cared about me you put a person that I cared about at risk? In a place where they were eventually going to kill her anyways? And she's so stuborn about staying there too.." The fact that she called him a puppet.. That was memorized but not commented on.

"It is not that I threw a fit at Liara rejecting my duel. It is the fact that she barred my family from the city. It is the fact she refused to have the honor to face me. It is the fact she refused to take on the same risks that founded Cinderfall in the first place. Ramia and I spoke of this once, that Cinderfall was one big hypocrasy, but I believed it was salvageable. I believed it was saveable. But I was wrong.

It is not saveable. It is not the dream that Maria had. It is an utter and vile mockery of what I worked for in the last twelve years of my life. That is why I want to burn it down. They can build elsewhere but they should leave hte dream, the symbol Maria made, alone." The red haired man explained, there being no malice in his voice as he said such. Instead, it was an earnest belief, that destroying Cinderfall was the right thing to do.

Course, wanting to hurt Liara was also a part of it.. "But no. This is not like your situation with Aeron. Aeron wanted to use you as a tool.. Conquest wants to use me as an enforcer. Also why do you think I came to Loranthis in the first place? There is no one I love here. There is no one I am close to here. Here I am alone.. And that means I have little to risk."
(Thom M. Takashi)
[16:04:54] "Well, Thom. Be glad when Loranthis steamrolls through Nostvale, burning it. Then through Cinderfall, burning it. Then through New Alteros.. Burning. It. What family will you have left? Hm? Ashes. You'll have ashes to love. Loranthis is an enemy. As for the matter of Cinderfall.. I disagree with Liara upon it. I believe she's a stubborn leader, refusing to believe in any way but her own. But what you speak of.. I hated Clio Hirano, so does that mean I should have burned down Nostvale? No. As for Maria's dream.. Did you hear how she died? Hm? She walked into Nostvale. She, as I recall, went up to Ryan Kyros. And called him heresy. Maria was a good girl, yes, but she insulted a man she knew would harm her if he could, until it justified his attacking of her. She did this, knowing she had three children and a future husband. Back to the subject of Nashandra, though.. Do you think she cares about you? Hm? No, she doesn't. Any woman can say 'I love you' until you believe it, but that does NOT mean they mean it, Thom."

He let out a long, drawn out sigh, before standing up and spreading his arms. "Let me describe to you the worship of Azrael. Firstly, the main premise is that Kraus is evil. Yes, the Angel who created Eternia, mankind, gave us the tools and magic to protect us from his mistakes because he couldn't erradicte them himself, is evil. Secondly, they believe we should all march, hand-in-hand, into death so Azrael can ressurect all of us as undead slaves. Sounds absolutely wonderful, doesn't it? Oh, and human sacrifice is a very important part of it. So you love Nashandra, marry her! It's only recognizable if you violently murder somebody. So kill me Thom. Embrace the religion of your family, and prove you're a proper god-hating Azraelite. Murder me."

With that said, he stood silent, and before Thom could act or speak, he clapped his hands; before speaking again. "I am an Occultist. I am depraved. But I understand the basics of our existence, boy. You may not like Liara, you may disagree with Cinderfall, but Depravity has consequences. You've heard of a 'plague,' yes? It kills everybody too weak to endure it. Know where it comes from? Hm? Depravity. The main fucking idea behind Azraelites, is to worship depravity, so one day, you'll die. Those you love'll die. Children'll die. But who will we blame? Cinderfall, for not being the strong bulwark against depravity it pretends to be? Or the fool who left it, and made an effort to kill it?

In short, Thom. This world will burn, because the Azraelites consider something that kills the world like a cancer divine providence. THAT is why your family isn't allowed into Cinderfall, boy, because the gods they worship want to see this world burn, in the name of a fallen angel."

With that, he ran his hand through his hair, as though he let his temper get the better of him; resulting in that massive speech dissing Azraelites. Then, he looked more solemn as he continued on, once again.

"There was a pure and innocent girl in Cinderfall named Leila. She loved her husband dearly, and they had a child. Do you know what happened next? She was attacked in the streets of Cinderfall by a feral Ookami. What did the guards do? They watched. What did the people do? They watched. Everybody watched on, as she was beaten until her unborn child was murdered. And for what? Because that Ookami didn't like Drakanites, and figured out she was married to one. He purposefully, beat her into a miscarriage. Tell me, would you want to let that into Maria's dream?"
(Rhaziel Vydres)
[16:14:17] Thom glared at Rhaziel. "What family will I have left when its done? What family do I have now?" Thom would ask, a frown on his face. "I'm pretty sure I've been disowned, everyone in Cinderfall hates me.. If what you say is true even Nashandra doesn't even love me. So really, what family do I even have in the first place? By the sounds of it, ashes are better then nothing." spat Thom.

"Maria died how she lived. Doing challenges, taking risks. Liara wouldn't do the same. As far as I'm concerned Maria's dream died with her, much like my hope for Cinderfall." Thom crossed his arms over his chest, staring towards Rhaziel once more. Though then he started to speak about something interesting.

"A plauge.." The word was muttered by Thom as Rhaziel spoke more and more on it. Slowly a grin crossed the red haired man's face as he stared towards the other occultist, his eyes lighting up in glee. "A plauge.." The boy once more said, memorizing the word, listening to how it was created, what it did.. Burning the world, scarring it.

"So thats how to complete Azrael's vision. Alright."

The mention of Leila brought a frown to Thom's face. "Exactly how far Cinderfall has fallen. Its people don't even take care of themselves. They are fine with letting those I care about get hurt, get beaten.. So fine.

I'll burn Cinderfall. I'll cause a plauge. I'll do what I can to blacken the skies. Because in the end.. That is much better tehn the world now as I see it."
(Thom M. Takashi)
[16:32:12] "Thom, I believe it;s about time you stop being a spoiled little brat. Why did Cinderfall not help their own? Because Leila's aggressor kidnapped her, and oh boy, he was a little kid! How surprising, huh? A little kid, who she came to love like a son, because of delusions born of her naive self. But if you want to burn this world, so be it. You say you have no family, so I suppose I'll let you get yourself killed instead of trying to speak reason to the boy I consider to be a son. I taught you fire magic, Thom; back then I was apathetic. I didn't care. But now? After having been tortured by the Hiranos because of a plot Nashandra forced me to go upon? After having had my leg and my hand torn off by Kuro Ikeda? After seeing.. My very best friend.. Vaporized, because of me? I finally understand, you fool. The value of family and friends. I have no family, they're all dead. So I can only make do with those like you, Thom. Those who I've come to love like family." With that, he started walking towards the boy, arms spread out, before.. Trying to hug the boy? An extremely rare show of affection from the older Occultist..

"Yes, everybody in Cinderfall hates you Thom. That's because you made a mistake. You let you pride talk for your heart, and you threatened to burn their home before stomping off. But they will forgive you. Hell, why do you think that Marina wanted to give Nashandra well for using you? Because she loves you. She may not see it, but she's had your child, Thom; she loves you, but you've forced her to forget that by being a damned fool."

With that said, Rhaziel sighed, and looked towards the sky. Then, he started to ruffle Thom's hair, humming that light, folk-like tune that Leila always hummed. "I came here, because I love you Thom. I don't want to see you used like a tool, then discarded when you no longer serve any use. So.. Calm yourself, and remember who you area, Thom. You were great before, but now.. You're a monster. You're strong, yes, but so was Aeron. So was Dumuzid. So was Clio Hirano. But they were monsters, trying to take a bite out of this world. The real Thom is drowning, and you're saving the Akuma. So if you're going to burn Cinderfall, cause a plague, and all that.. Go ahead and kill me, son."

With that said, Rhaziel remained silent except for humming that toon, ruffling Thom's hair with his eyes closed. It was certain that the man wasn't going to make any sort of attempt to resist should Thom attack.
(Rhaziel Vydres)
[16:42:27] A grit of Thom's teeth.

"You're wrong." Thom said, looking Rhaziel in the eye. "Marina didn't love me. She said so herself. She said he was using me, probally just as much as everyone else.. Maybe Nashandra is just using me too, and thats why.. When I asked her to come to Loranthis she wouldn't. Because she knows that she can't control me, can't use me, like she can some people in Cinderfall.." Anger bubbled inside the red haired man, anger towards Rhaziel, towards Nashandra, towars Marina, everyone really.

"I have no family Rhaziel. I have been orphaned since birth, orphaned again by the Takashi, orphaned by Cinderfall.. I have been orphaned, left, betrayed, by everyone I ever cared for. Hell, where were you when I wanted more lessons? Where were you when I needed you Rhaziel? You left me like everyone else." The red haired man would have been hugged.. But very quickly he teleported back, escaping from the grasp.

"Pride?" A glare. "Honor, pride, kindness, youth.. Everyone says I have faults. I don't even care anymore. I may be faulty and some people can hate me for that. But thats who I am." A finger rose, pointing at Rhaziel.

"No. I am not going to kill you. But I am going to leave you. Because your love for me is fake. Becuase you weren't there when I needed you. I'm going to leave everyone, not be there for everyone, just like I was..." The next thing he heard was being called a monster.

"... You know, a girl told me the same thing. That I would be a much better monster then a hero. She said I should try to be a monster, years back in Nostvale.. She was right. Being a monster is so much better. Being a monster means you don't get hurt." Rather then attempting to end Rhaziel Thom would turn to red lgihting..

The red haired man would attempt to flee. Rhaziel.. Could be dealt with later. But now he really needed to think.
(Thom M. Takashi)
[17:01:13] As Thom escaped Rhaziel's little hug, the man sighed. "I wasn't there for you, because I was a damned fool just like you're being. Sure, Marina said she hates you, boy, but you betrayed her trust and threatened to burn down her home, and the home of her son. Remember, Pride, Honor, Kindness, Youth; they're not faults unless you let them be."

He raised his voice, shouting at the running boy; "I'm a spiteful, teacherous, idiotic, and ruthless. You'll only be whatever you say you are, Thom- if you want to be a monster without any heart, just like I was, just like Nashandra is, I can't stop you. Only you can."

With that said, the man simply laid down on the fighting ring, eyes closed. Clearly, he wasn't planning on leaving the city he rather openly despised- not until he either died or Thom was convinced to not ruin himself. He took that flask of ale from his pocket once again, holding it to his lips and emptying it of its liquid gold.
(Rhaziel Vydres)