[IC] DATE

[goddamnemperor]

[ he steps out of his room, dressed casually, save for an golden hawk pinned to his shirt ]

[ he also seems to be playing with something in his hands ]

Comments

[goddamnemperor]

Perceptive of you.

She has a lover.

[drfeelgold]

But she's still going out with you.

[goddamnemperor]

She said she loves me.

[drfeelgold]

Do you love her?

[goddamnemperor]

I'm seeing her, aren't I?

[drfeelgold]

You don't have to love someone to date them, but since this is you, yeah I guess that does answer that question.

So what about the lover? Are they... not receptive to this development?

[goddamnemperor]

Quite the contrary. Rain would never object.

[drfeelgold]

Then what are your thoughts? Because if they're both okay with it, then... well that really just leaves you. What aren't you okay with in regards to this?

[goddamnemperor]

Enough!

[drfeelgold]

[ow your voice but he goes silent. although he's totally giving you some major puppy eyebrow right now]

[goddamnemperor]

I am not for anyone's dissection, least of all yours!

[drfeelgold]

I'm not trying to dissect your psyche, Leto.

[goddamnemperor]

Then have some respect. I am the God Emperor.

[drfeelgold]

I do. And you are. But you're also my friend. I'm not doing any of this to hurt you.

I'm just trying to help.

[goddamnemperor]

And why do I need help?

[drfeelgold]

Leto you see into the future all the way past your death and you have the memories and experiences of countless past lives. What you haven't had a lot of is time for yourself.

And after all you've done, all the sacrifices you've made, I can't imagine doing this, taking the girl you love out for one night on a date, is an easy thing to do. But there's something more to it that's upsetting you and I don't know what it is, and you damn well don't have to talk to anybody about it if you don't want to.

But as your friend, I'm here if you ever need to.

[goddamnemperor]

Need? Want?

What is that anyway?

[drfeelgold]

You tell me. You've lived countless lives and experienced numerous things, you know the ins and outs of need and want just as well as anybody.

And not just because you previously experienced them, but because you still do.

[goddamnemperor]

I wonder. That's not entirely true.

[drfeelgold]

How so?

[goddamnemperor]

To make those kind of emotional connections... I will not say impossible, but it is ... difficult for me.

But the only thing I've ever wanted, and wished for, was my father.

[drfeelgold]

[solemnly]

What was he like?

[goddamnemperor]

[smiles]

Awful. He ran away when we were born. Presumed dead.

[drfeelgold]

You mentioned once that he'd gone blind and gone off into the desert. Did you ever get to meet him again?

[goddamnemperor]

No one can hide from me.

[hesitates] We met. He... was upset with my decision. I was upset with him. It was not the touching reunion either of us had pictured.