Death and Tide

[Mirach]

"I would like to do that, but I don't want the title," Death said. "I would like to be a random little subject..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Are you sure? I just wish... I could give you a place at my side. Something no one could challenge. It would not be possible or right to give you any crown, but... Something?" Tide encouraged timidly." Is there tryly not a position you could desire? It doesn't have to be some arbitary position copied from human or Spirit kingdom. We can make you up your dream place and just put you there. Like, want to advise me on healing? Be my official healing advisor. Want to travel my land and keep me informed on the state of my people and who needs help? Be my traveling state supervisor. Want to look out for my people and make sure the war happens not again? Be... Be my ambassador for peace." He smiled faintly, caressing his hair." You can be anything... You deserve to be anything. So let me give you something... "

[Mirach]

"Then give me that, please..." Death said. "Give me a chance to be noone, one of many. I would like to help you in healing, but I don't want any title with it. I let a title bind me once, I don't want it again..."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded slowly. He seemed to need a moment to take it in, but then he spoke up.
" I remember when you said you were chosen to be king in your absence and didn't want it... I won't make the choice instead of you then. If you want to be a little subject, then be. I just have to ask, then, to make sure. If you wish to be a little subject..." He smiled slowly and hopefully, his worried eyes lighting up with streak of light." Does that mean you have decided? Do you want to be *my* subject? Will you accept the offer?"

[Mirach]

"I thought that was obvious..." Death said. "Wasn't it the plan since we talked about it?"

[VisAnastasis]

" It was my plan and my desire, yes. Especially after what happened with the hunters, I wouldn't be at peace any other way. But this is not about me, but you. " Tide whispered. " When I first offered it, you said you are going to think about it and consider it. I thought you are still considering what to do... When I first suggested it, you made a point of how important it is for you for everyone to see you're loyal to Solstice and didn't even say you'll think about it before I asked if dual citizenship would work for you. It wouldn't be right if I forced the decision on you... Some people like to hold pretty birds in cages, but that's not me... "

[Mirach]

"I do not want to flee from spirit kingdom," Death said. "My king is Solstice and I will remain loyal to him. But I think exile is the only option for me, a punishment to appease the hunters, but not a punishment to me, if I have a place to stay... if you will have me."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide watched him for a moment thoughtfully. He shook his head slowly.
" The question is not if I'll have you. The question is - will it work out now? " he asked quietly. " When I offered it, I thought - we have a perfect chance to make it work. We'll make it work by implying to the council that working under the demon king as a guarantee of peace will be your punishment. That since they believe you resent demons, making you my subject will be hell for you. But, now they know you have spared a demon. Even if they do as you say and just exile you and not try to punish you in any other way, don't... don't you think it'd be a dead giveaway to them that you were playing them all along when they see you hanging out with Demon King all of a sudden? " creature bit his lip. " Since you promised you'll reborn demons as themselves from now on, I... I don't deem myself smart, but I don't know how well the plan is going to work now, and if it won't get you into even more trouble, not just with hunters, but with all your kingdom... "

[Mirach]

"Yes, you are right..." Death sighed. "I guess at this point, I can only only hope for the exile."

[VisAnastasis]

" Exile sounds like a too mild punishment for a traitor. I am worried what all they may do to you. They may hurt you for the worst again. You can't afford another hurt. They may force you to eat plant that erased your memories, they may find a way to tear off all of you until only shell of healing remains, and what is the point then? Or what if they want to monitor you closely so you can't help any of their enemies ever again? What if they perhaps lock you up in the very unescapable vault you had built for your sword? Forever in the darkness, in vault turned prison, with no escape and no one to love or to love you? It is as good as dying. "  Tide whispered. " I don't think we can risk that. That's why I propose... Let's figure out another way. Don't give yourself up to the mercy of people angry with you. I have an idea." He gulped, before adding quietly, while subconsciously tightening his hold over lock of Death's hair he played with before." Some of hunters probably already saw or realized you are with me. It would look bad for you... But what if we use that to our advantage. We can say you realized your Spirits will kill you and sought me out. You made a deal with me - that you will reborn demons as they are if I keep you safe from your prosecutors. That you had to join my kingdom to stay alive. That it was a necessary evil you hated but have to endure. It will look better for you if it looks a punishment you have been forced in to survive. And... Now no one but me is at your side. But if we make it so that my people think you will reborn us as we are as long as we protect you, they will protect you if at least for that benefit. They all have too many demon friends to not make that compromise. It's not ideal, but when all of my kingdom stands against few of them, it'll sure be less clean, but if we manage to force them into compromise of letting you be, it will be worth it. And since I made a deal with you to protect your life, it won't be strange at all that I spend lot of time with you and bring you everywhere, to keep you safe... "

[Mirach]

"Who is *they*? They have no right to judge me and I will resist any such attempt as unlawful. I will only submit to the judgement of Solstice, and accept it without resistance," Death said. 

[VisAnastasis]

" *They* is the council that holds power until Solstice is of mature age of fifty. And they don't like you and they shall be wrathful." Tide whispered urgently." Solstice is a child now. He barely knows to fly or speak. He can't comperhend notions of Justice yet, only fire and sun. Are you seriously telling me.. you would rather trust Solstice, a child, to be at your side, than me who has already promised to be so?"

[Mirach]

"Not a child," Death said. "Until he is grown, I will seek asylum in your kingdom. But when he is able to judge me, I will accept that judgement. It is necessary to support his authority as a king and best for all, we have agreed on that."

[VisAnastasis]

" That was before everyone figured out you betrayed them. Solstice will grow up knowing that and being told you did poorly and should be punished. " Tide looked very tense, holding his breath. " You say you will accept his judgement without question... What if Solstice decides that you shouldn't be destroyed, but that you don't deserve to remain yourself either? What if he judges you to have your memories erased,  and no longer remember anything of who you were before then? Or what if he chooses that you should live but have to be imprisoned for good? What if he forbids you to ever see me or come to my kingdom again after you'll have made home in it for 50 years? What if he exiles you to the edge of the world? What if he forbids you to take upon human form and walk among people again? Would you still take that judgement? "

[Mirach]

"I would know that I was wrong in my judgement of choosing him and those who raise him," Death said quietly. "I would see that the road to peace I hoped for does not lead that way. I don't know what I would do then..."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide's resolve was unwavering.
" It wouldn't have to mean you were wrong about the road for the piece being through him... It may only mean they see you not to have deserved their mercy. Mercy is an expensive commodity. Things may stand completely different by then. He may choose to punish you not for your good treatment of demons now, but for your war and how you acted to us before. Who knows, but I do care not for why. I don't ask this for peace. I ask because if you were to go to his judgement if you knew he was to offer you anything but exile from Spirit kingdom... I'd not forgive you. " he whispered. " If you see anything other than that in your future... any harm, any pain, and punishment of loneliness or loss of yourself from your realm... will you stay at my side after those 50 years come to pass, then? "

[Mirach]

"There is no other road to peace than mercy..." Death said tiredly. "If I don't get any, I would try to stay, if it's possible. Things may also be a bit different than you perceive them. The hunters do not answer to the council."

[VisAnastasis]

" The hunters do not answer the council, but in your absence, and in Solstice's childhood, the council is left with unprecedented power. We can't know how it will grow or wane in the years to come. " Tide whispered, his resolve unshaken still, as he kept speaking. " Mercy is an expensive commodity... But we have fifty years to save up for it. I want to save up for it, day by day, so when that time passes, if Solstice demands justice, I can demand mercy for you, if luck serves us and we form truce until then. " Tide whispered. " I'd rather have you as my own now... But if your heart says no, I will wait... As long as I know you won't sacrifice your self to let the peace be when the time for your judgement comes. I have to know that when the time comes, you will not act against me in this. "

[Mirach]

"I won't submit to the council, but I will submit to Solstice," Death said. "Until that time though, even if with a formally unclear status, I would like to be your subject, by actions if not by law."

[VisAnastasis]

" But to be a subject requires you to serve me. If I want no service of you... How can I be your king? I don't want your services. I want you. And I don't want you just for 50 years." Tide was unusually tense and stiff, and he appeared to be in a struggle between withdrawing into himself, or expressing his feelings. He struggled, but spoke still." I won't ask one single thing of you for all those years if you grant me but one single thing in the end - only submit to the Solstice if you see no fate where he harms you. You said it yourself, Semai don't leave each other, yet you act as if leaving is even an option. " His voice was very thin, as if with pain." Don't... Don't you see that following through with this stubbornly is nothing short of betrayal? If I only give you one order in your life, and that order is to not surrender yourself and you dissobey... What kind of a subject are you?"

[Mirach]

"I can't see Solstice harming me," Death said. "Not because I'm looking into the future, but because I know Solstice. If I would see such options, I would obey you as a king."

[VisAnastasis]

" Solstice  has not one bad bone in his body...But he likes to feel like he is doing the right thing. Punishing you may seem like the right thing after everything... That's what I am afraid of. Self righteous people can be blinded so by good intentions." Tide whispered."Promise me... Give me your true word, that even if you see one little possibility, you shall not go. That we will figure it all together when it comes to it." He asked, with a simple dignified but serious, somehow solemn grace to it." Because I can not go back to the time before I knew you, I can not go back to time before I wanted to keep you safe. Before you do anything rash... Know that I will be ready to start the war again if Solstice were to claim you and do you any harm. " He whispered, almost like a threat, unusually for him." If you care for the peace in this world, you shall not play games with my trust. I will do whatever needs to be done. "

[Mirach]

"What if you went with me?" Death asked. 

[VisAnastasis]

" You mean to the trial Solstice gives you, if there is one? " Tide wasn't sure he understood. " I mean... Did you think... I'll just send you off and cross my fingers that you will be back and Solstice will be merciful? No. " he shook his head. " I am going to be there, so I can defend you and demand mercy - or take you out of there if you get none. You may accept Solstice's will, but I am not obliged to do the same, and I'd never have accepted punishment as justice for you. "

[Mirach]

"Then I will accept your will about the result," Death whispered. "Just don't say it to anyone..."