xx-hail2theking-xx

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

((evening all! quick update here:

-yes, blog is still on hiatus atm. it's on what i like to affectionately mentally refer to as an "update when it updates" basis. ive been busy.

-directly related to the aforementioned statement, it turns out drawing a lot of stuff is actually way easier when you prioritize the things that actually matter! who knew!

-those gay demons Will get their happy ever after ending. i promise. there is nobody in the world that wants that more than me

-even if it won't seem like it at first ;} ))

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

we'll resume your regularly scheduled demon shenanigans... whenever we resume it!

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

what could possibly go wrong?

i'm

you know what?

i'm sure it will. it will turn out okay.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

i'm

you know what?

i'm sure it will. it will turn out okay.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

I... have to believe, that it will. because I don't know how to help anymore. I know that every confrontation and choice that will determine this, will likely happen soon. I'm certain the court will survive. that the king will survive. I have faith in both.

...please, Azazel. stay safe. I want you to be okay. I want you to have a thousand, thousand years, and countless more, to know what it means to be part of a good court, and have a good king. I want you to outlive your nightmares, and to be there when still others join the court, afraid to hope they might outlive theirs too.

...thank you.

duke valefar is leaving, i think. to- i think he mentioned something about fighting-?

i hope. it goes well.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

it's going to turn out okay, right?

it'll all turn out okay?

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

it's an idea that mortals have debated more times than I know how to explain. see, people of probably any species can get this idea that once you've committed to an idea, the more you've put into it, the more you stand to 'lose' if you change your mind.

people will stay in bad relationships, because they've invested years in being together, will pour effort into repairing something that can't be, because they've already put in so much effort trying.

it's the same for wars, the same for convictions. once things have gone so far, once so much has been done, even if a person realizes that they don't believe what they used to? they can get this idea that if they don't keep going anyway, that means it will all be for nothing.

it's something we convince ourselves of, that it's 'too late' to back out now. to change our minds.

that's the sunk cost fallacy. because it is a fallacy. it's a self deception that does nothing but cause more pain.

"the best time to do the right thing was yesterday."

"the second best time is today."

like telling a lie for too long.

or... being stuck, in a bad court.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

I had, a feeling.

...too many feelings.

It's almost funny. The idea of those two of them having a demon deal. I'm not sure another binding has ever-

...

Devil, a little monarch, lost both of her parents towards the beginning of the conflict. she was newly summoned, not more than a couple weeks old.

...you've met her, haven't you? Asmodeus looks after her sometimes.

...

do you know what a sunk cost fallacy is?

oh- the little one. i, knew she was an orphan, not... that.

...i'm. i'm sorry. im not sure what you mean.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

abaddon said things to convince all of us, you know? and i- i believed most of it.

all, of it.

but we were always supposedly fleeing or chasing paimak. not..

not like how it is now.

that honor goes solely to michael and her monarch.

i don't know why im thinking about it, really. it doesn't matter much now.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

it was a year ago. give or take, in mortal time.

he brought us a queen from paimak's court. called it tribute.

and now, here we are.

i don't know why im thinking about it, really. it doesn't matter much now.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

i don't know why im thinking about it, really. it doesn't matter much now.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

...

Yeah. I know.

Out of curiosity, was it a demon deal?

i- wasn't in charge, then. er. well. relatively speaking.

i don't know all the details. but i think so, yes.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

I need to trust her. He loves this court. And it's king. She also still loves her once second in command. There's nothing you're likely to be able to tell the king that he isn't already aware of. Things are complicated right now. Trust that he knows what he's doing, and stay safe, please.

As to your question...

The gods themselves wait with baited breath to learn the answer. Sapoa waits. And watches. And hopes. And asked that we pass on a message, if we have the chance.

...

This is hard. but, I believe she'll make the right choice.

but

he made the deal.

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

...

yes. she is. and, he's our friend.

...so, this is. a lot to take in.

...he wouldn't..

go against the king. would he?

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

...yeah.

I... know she's torn. he's afraid, and I can't fault her for that.

...

but I hope... I truly, deeply hope, that we have hope. because... because many reasons. one, deeply selfish.

...he's my friend. and I really don't want to lose her.

she...

isn't she supposed to be part of king paimak's court, now?

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

"...took over."

sighs. there's one more theory confirmed. not that everything didn't point at that from the beginning.

this really was always her plan. wasn't it?

'sidekick.' he called her.

...

...

...

Phenex, please. let us trust you.

...please.

phenex?

[xx-hail2theking-xx]

...

here? you saw-

...recently?

...

...

oh.

no. not recently.

before.. any of this, really.