017.3 Willim

[Corwin]

[19:48] <Kotono> Willim has some time to rest as the party prepares for the next stage in its assault on dragon-kind. As it often does, rest equals meat, Willim sitting in the cafeteria. It's odd - one moment he bows his head to take a big bite of food. Looking up the next moment, Annalise is there. She sits opposite him, watching with a faintly amused look. "Accessorizing?" she murmurs, reaching out to
[19:48] <Kotono> trace a finger on the metal of Willim's circlet.
[19:48] * Willim leans out of the way. "Not necessarily."
[19:51] <Kotono> "Oh really," Slowly she withdraws her hand, watching Willim with a more obvious smile. "Congratulations on a good choice. How does it feel?"
[19:53] * Willim shrugs, chewing.
[19:53] <Willim> "Not sure if I like it yet or not."
[19:55] <Kotono> "You'll grow to think it is indispensible." Annalise chuckles as she watches, "The beginning is th e hardest, as you begin to understand what you're missing and adapt to it."
[20:09] * Willim nods, taking another bite. "Stupid was easier, I think. My head is...strange. I don't really know what I'm doing anymore. Before it was just, 'You, go over there and hit things.' or "Me go pay with big spiders now!'"
[20:10] <Willim> "I remember it, but thinking like that is actually difficult for me now. I'm not sure if I want to go back or not."
[20:12] <Kotono> "The slavery of intellect," Annalise looks even more amused, "You won't, in time. Who can go back to less when they've had more?" Slowly Annalise watches Willim, meeting his eyes at all times. She watches him talk and eat, "Before you could be lead around with a few words and a target. Now that your mind is sharpened, you have far greater control over your own choices."
[20:13] * Willim shrugs.
[20:19] <Willim> "We'll see. It could go either way. As for control, I've always been a follower. People point me at things, and I break them. Smart or stupid, I think it's a fine way to live."
[20:20] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm. A mind and free will that you'll need against the coming fiendish reprisals. Speaking of," Going on after listening to Willim's next words, "There's nothing wrong with being a follower. What's wrong is letting a dull mind lead you to that role, when you have such potential otherwise."
[20:21] * Willim blinks. "Potential?"
[20:24] <Kotono> "Not any mere thug or crossbreed grows as far as you have," Annalise points out, "Most would never master unarmed combat in your way or show the initiative you have, even in such a limited scope. Your demon's blood stirs in your veins."
[20:29] * Willim nods slowly. "Yes, the master of my temple commented on that more than once as I recall. He often praised me for my ferocity and unwillingness to back down."
[20:40] <Kotono> "You can thank your mother for that," Annalise continues on, "Those are both common demonic traits."
[20:44] <Willim> "Huh. I'd like to meet her someday, I think. I wonder if she'd recognize me." Willim says.
[20:49] <Kotono> "Perhaps." Annalise murmurs, "Succubi make notably poor parents. Fiends of manipulation, every last one of them. A child is merely something else to manipulate and sully. You can learn those lessons from far better sources, anyway."
[20:51] <Willim> "Hmm?" Willim blinks. "No, I just want to see if she's as good a fighter as me. I had the orphanage, and I grew up when they threw me out."