35th Devotion: Taking Time to Reminisce

[favoritetraitor]

In reflection upon my most recent curse... I have no regrets. The companies I've helped raise from nothing are my children, and so it follows that the people I've recruited into it's fold could also be considered family of a sort.

My heart aches, thinking of Cinq Fleches and the ones I've lost in coming here. The ones I've abandoned...

... my lost family.

To my devoted employees, can you truly blame me for elevating you to such a role? Even cursed as I was, it was blissful to feel such a bond once again (even as fleeting as it was). Blissful, even with the resistance that some of you offered me in return. For no family is without some internal struggle. Blissful, because of the ones who patronized my madness... for what does family do but to support one another in good times as well as bad? My thanks... I honestly wouldn't mind doing this again sometime...

[Private to Saya]
Do you know this feeling, Saya? The complete and utter adoration and devotion to a small one of your own creation? For a time... I thought I was a father. I think I'd make a very good one... someday. We'd have such beautiful children, Saya... please don't discount me. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your family. I will do my best to prove myself worthy...

[Private to Xemnas and Zexion]
And of course I wish for you both to disregard my comments about abandoning your projects with the darkness. I have no intentions of stopping now and would like for you to resume immediately. Please provide me with an update as to how soon we may begin our first true test. I shall drop everything I'm working on to be there.

[Private to Kincaid]
I have to say that your choice of arguing with me during my curse does not warrant any additional payment for your services. Thankfully, I don't believe I disclosed anything of too sensitive a nature to the network. But I am hopeful that you will be more diligent in the future...

Comments

[phdinbones.livejournal.com]

I don't understand.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Dr. Brennan, what is there that you don't understand? I wasn't clear?

[phdinbones.livejournal.com]

Your compulsion to manufacture an artificial "family" out of your company. It doesn't make sense.

Private

[hematophagy.livejournal.com]

...A small one?

Private

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

A child, Saya.

Private

[hematophagy.livejournal.com]

But I don't

I see.

[valentineluke.livejournal.com]

I wasn't cursed.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Ah, Luke. My 'wayward son' I believe...

Had I suggested otherwise?

[valentineluke.livejournal.com]

You are under no obligation to fill my dance card.

[holymadonna.livejournal.com]

We always feel regret when we leave a family behind, but sometimes we can start a new one.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Yes. I'm grateful that there are those here that would accept me as such... I hope the same is true for you too.

[holymadonna.livejournal.com]

Here, Doctor Solomon? Do you have someone you call family? Thank you for your thoughts.

[Private]

[letxequalnull.livejournal.com]

Even had you not rescinded your request I likely would have gone on with what I have already begun. Science is never precisely safe, more so when one is dealing with the elements that are required in this.

However, it is good to hear that you have no intention of halting what has begun. As for how long it will be before the first test can begin, that is a little uncertain. I do have the first prototype of the containment field, but at the moment it runs on my own personal power stores and I would be unable to keep it up as long as we needed without a serious drain on the same and matters are currently such that I cannot afford such a thing.

[Private]

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Oh really? Am I to believe then that you would go against your employer's express wishes if you deem our requests unreasonable? Perhaps you aren't seeing the extent of the benefits of what you can achieve with us, my dear Xemnas...

I prize loyalty above all else, and reward it accordingly.

As for the project, I don't see any of this to be an issue. I can provide you with whatever you need. Doesn't that have value to you?

[Private]

[letxequalnull.livejournal.com]

Not in the least and I apologize if it came off that way. However, it seemed to me as if you were operating under the effects of a curse at the time and should it have continued I would have been perfectly willing to accept whatever you desired. I would be a fool indeed to go against the whims of my employer here; more so in a matter such as this.

However the matters of my own Organization do require that I interact directly with the same darkness you expressed disinterest in, and as I do not count that as being a part of my work for ARTEMIS I was considering it to not count under that restriction that you had given. If I was wrong to do so, again, I offer my sincerest apologies.

[i-themagician.livejournal.com]

I'm actually a bit flattered.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

I meant it a most sincere compliment. I've come to value all of you greatly.

[i-themagician.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Solomon; I think the feeling is mutual.

voice

[smallestknight.livejournal.com]

You lost your family?

voice

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Yes, little one. But it's nothing to worry about... we can always make new ones, can't we?

voice

[smallestknight.livejournal.com]

Uh-huh. Cause you're my family now.

Private//Voice

[notexactlyhuman.livejournal.com]

No allowance, daddy?

Private//Voice

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

No. And don't forget who signs your paycheck, Mr. Kincaid. I suppose a little fun at my expense is to be expected, but... please understand I'll only tolerate so much...

Private

[masterofpuppets.livejournal.com]

I admit I was disconcerted at the beginning, but soon after I comprehended the situation.

Private

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

My apologies if I caused you any undue concern, Mr. Zexion. I would never jeopardize a project when I'm so eager to see it come to fruition. Of course, if this truly had been something I'd wanted, I'd have expected you to obey my wishes...

Under such circumstances, I think it best if you were to merely wait for a few days to see if my behavior reverts back to normal... that would be the simplest solution when dealing with these curses, until we can devise a better method.