not that different, you and i

GIDEON

pulled out all your stitches

Gideon handed the staff back after a moment of feeling it's weight between his hands. Like all artefacts from the Gods it was beautiful in it's inherent holiness and he gave it the reverence it deserved, slowly and carefully placing it into Harper's hands. "Good." They'd need willing soldiers in the next years.

The way Harper listened was encouraging too; Gideon had seen many that had lived among the Ascended that immediately wanted to argue, to insist there was humanity within the cold metal veins and hearts of those corrupted by the Voice. It seemed that while Harper didn't have the words himself to put to it, he could sense their cold danger.

"Exactly. She has the final word on their actions and we must oppose her." Not that Gideon believed any of the Ascended did doubt their Goddess. He'd only seen them disgustingly devout, loyal to a fault to their rebel queen.

As for Torchline...he tilted his head and took in a breath, letting it out as a sigh. "I know. This is why I go there to speak. Sunjata is misguided...all I hope for is that Safrin knows what she is doing, and will soon be able to convince him to leave behind the Ascended. If not...then I am sure he will be handled another way eventually. We cannot have such leniency."

Hubris is a bitch