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Priscilla     Hearing the bits and pieces that she had of Asterios' --the newest Concord member and Servant of Tanya-- nature, Priscilla has elected to meet a decent ways away from the gradually busier streets, stairs and spires of Anor Londo, where it is a little more quiet. The location is still close enough to overlook the City of the Gods, sprawled out over hundreds of miles as it is, filling the center of a crown of impossibly and unnaturally steep mountains, and gleaming white and gold in the clear, pure daylight. The view is achievable only with the considerable height over it, by standing atop the flat peak of its tallest, northernmost mountain.

    Up here, it should normally be freezing, but the divinely bright sunlight keeps the chill away, leaving the air at an odd sort of pseudo-temperate, warm in the brightest spots, but where frost can persist from the night before in the shadows. There isn't a lot to it, because apparently, a very vast structure is still under construction, involving hauling massive amounts of slate-grey granite carved to exacting proportion up the entire slope, mostly by aid of teams of freakish, bone-white winged things.

    There is an incomplete path going from the top to the bottom which a motley crew of volunteer workers are building on, seemingly intentionally winding and arduous by design, and constantly flanked by seemingly meaningless pillars, but at the top, the foundations are still largely being set. Whatever it is, it promises to easily be the size of a cathedral, and with an odd number of wide open spaces that breach multiple floors, as if meant to be navigated vertically more than horizontally. Actual giants have been recruited to help at this altitude, wearing the steel masks of workers, and it looks like they'll be needed.

    Altogether, though, despite the large scale construction, it is oddly quiet. Something about the thin air mutes sound quite well, preventing it from carrying very far, and giving it a sort of air of contemplative privacy. On one side is Anor Londo, and the other side, endless, unsettled, fog-shrouded woods of utterly ancient proportion.
Asterios The world is really, really awesome.

That's about as much as Asterios has been able to think about since he's started wandering around and seeing things. Whenever he's been on break from the usual duties of 'carry huge thing from A to B' and 'help reconstruct the city by literally lifting buildings into place' and stuff like that, that is. This place is no exception. There are things here that are big. Bigger than he is. And a great mound of earth and stone that pierces the sky itself. The minotaur is characteristically wide-eyed and excited to be out and about. He's so excited, in fact, that he goes and picks up an entire load of massive granite slabs to take up to the top of the construction with him.

Tanya is, probably, riding somewhere up there too.

"Master!" Asterios says as his work clothes (literally just a toga that he's managed to string together from sheets, for now. Tailors can't work tirelessly, after all!) "Master, so much sky! Clouds are near, sun is near. And forest! So much forest."

And fog. And giants. And city and...

Asterios is just happy to get out and go exploring.

He's kind of been... Unable to do any of that. Since forever.
Tanya Degurechaff     It's best to get acquainted with the environments of one's co-workers. And it is a good idea to socialize and educate one's subordinates whenever possible. Fulfilling two goals at once is, naturally, also ideal. Which leads a certain miniature Major to the magical realm of Lordran.

    The best way to visit a place so well known for non-OSHA-compliant construction at dizzying heights is to remember to bring one's ability to fly.

    Rifle shouldered by its strap, Major Tanya von Degurechaff floats a few meters above the pathway under construction, thanks the Imperial flight unit hanging from her waist and strapped to her left foot. Her free hand raises, shading her eyes. This should be, at least, reasonably close to where the meeting was requested.

    Floating to a halt, the small girl turns about, scanning the valley below while shifting the strap of her rifle. After a moment, she glances back over her shoulder at the cheery mound of muscle and hair currently supporting far more stone than should be possible. She turns again to face him, propping a hand on her hip. Even on a day off he can't help but pick up a heavy thing and carry it. Such an admirable work ethic.

    "It's rather impressive. The architecture in particular, very striking." She glances further up the mountain, "You should be able to set that down, soon, and get a better look."
Priscilla     As promised, Priscilla meets the two along the path, where the surprisingly complex arrangement of austere, interlocking flagstones tapers off into rough mountain trail nearer to the top. The first thing to do, of course, is sizing up Asterios. Tanya had assured her that he was a pretty big guy, and Priscilla had found time to do some passing research on the Minotaur legend, but she's still somewhat taken aback by the sheer mountain of muscle hauling granite up the mountainside. Even here, at home, where she chills out at her full height because height is a symbol of power and not a physical inconvenient like around human cities, his horns could poke her ribs.

    "Ah, there is no need for thou to carry such a burden, Sir Asterios. Thou art here as a visitor, not a labourer." Priscilla interjects, though not urgently. If he wants to feel useful, let him. She'd be remiss in letting it slide under the radar that she hadn't demanded he work, however. "And Major Degurechaff as well. Mine thanks for finding the time, though I believeth some of it away from either the front lines or the desk wouldst suit thee well." Of note: Priscilla seems to have some idea of killing time here already, considering the utterly absurd, heavily engraved, obsidian-bone dragonslayer bow held loosely in one hand. Getting practice in beforehand, probably.

    Though Priscilla clearly isn't helping build the place, she seems to take the compliment with a measure of pride. "It is the first temple work being constructed within Anor Londo's territory in over five centuries." she says as the trio arrives at the sunny plateau, grey-white more than the gold hue of the city far beneath. "A sort of faith I deigned worthy of recognition, with mine authority to do so, regardless of how it may offendeth the gods."
Asterios It's true, there's just a frankly unreasonable amount of stone on that minotaur's shoulders. Even his enormous size can't account for his strength-- there's something to his brawn that's just... more than human.

But then, this is Lordran! It's plenty used to that sort of thing.

"Aa! Yes. Very strange, though. Many pillars, no ceiling? Hmn. View is nice, I... guess-- ah!"

There!

Is someone in his path!

AND SHE'S

SO TAAAAAAAAAALLLL

"U-uwaaaaaaaaa--" Asterios tilts his head up, his big, black sclera'd eyes glittering with excitement. "You... huge!" Says the guy who is built approximately like a tank and could probably benchpress one. "Mmn! Do not worry. Is fine. Exercise. Feels good!"

One would suppose that being cooped up in a dungeon with absolutely nothing to do, manual labor could seem... Fun. Or interesting, at least. A change of pace. A good use for the minotaur's enormous strength.

"Temple... makes sense. Grand pillars, strong granite. No roof to worship sky or sun. I see, yes." There's a beat as Asterios sets his big Pile of Stones down near a trio of quite reasonably distressed pale demons. "Your city, your land, is so... open. So many mountains."

Another beat. Asterios looks to the tremendous bow. "Aa. What is... That for?"
Tanya Degurechaff     "Ah, miss Priscilla," Tanya straightens where she floats, lifting a hand in a quick salute. It's less a military gesture, though, and more a force of habit. She's fully aware that the half-dragon is not a true military officer. Lowering her hand, the girl's head tilts slightly to the side with an amused curl to her lips, "I appreciate your consideration. And the opportunity to broaden my borders, as it goes."

    Her eyes wander up the temple's face as the true nature of its existence is explained. The first new construction in five hundred years? Has this land been that stagnant until now? Tanya's free hand lifts to rub her chin, "I feel like a great deal of background will be needed to fully understand why. I'll do that reading later, surely there's a library here I can visit on my free time--"

    She doesn't flinch, but she does close her eyes and go silent for several seconds when Asterios sets his payload down, no doubt waiting for the noise of stone to settle.

    Glancing back, she adds, "I think he does it for fun. But I do admire his work ethic and his enthusiasm." Her eyes wander to the minotaur, a hand resting on her hip again while she floats up slightly to be closer to eye-level with him. Her head tilts, ahoge swishing to the opposing side while she considers his question. Eyes wander to the bow as well, "Is a combat exercise in order, or were you just passing the time?"
Priscilla     Priscilla /absolutely/ cannot help Asterios' enthusiasm anything but infectious, and his surprise anything but charming. Where someone might find it offputting, ill-fitting, or even kind of intimidating, given his extremely imposing stature and demi-human appearance, Priscilla is part of the same exclusive club with her own little horns, fluffy tail, and odd bits of scale, and thus barely so much as recognizes any difference. She visibly has to suppress a laugh for fear of it coming off as condescending.

    "Very well then. Of course, as the Major says, I couldst hardy deplore such a dedication to aiding others." A little nod follows Asterios. "Anor Londo was built by the Great Lord Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight, and thus his city was made to be closest to the heavens. There follows an ancient tradition of celebrating the sun, the moon, and the stars, for reasons most oft obvious."

    When Priscilla responds to Tanya, she points all the way across the mountain range, to a far off peak. Tanya may have to squint or use a little visual enhancement magic, but on a lower level of the mountainous outskirts, where the terrain is still somewhat green, is a rather impressive looking building of a different style from the others that looks like it could be a gallery or observatory. "The Royal Archives, art of course, any of the Concord's right to peruse, given proper hours. I believeth thou hast earned that much more than many."

    She looks at the bow, as if she'd forgotten she was holding it. "Perhaps a little of both. The sojourn to the Shrine of Adversity previous was, of course, a test of its functionality, but there is yet much practice for I, barely initiated in the archer's arts before. There is time enough, of course. I hath been awaiting the arrival of one other, though of course, if thou art hungry or thirsty from the climb, there shouldst be a moment still."
Asterios Stones make a lot of noise when there are a lot of them to drop. Something about being very heavy. At least those gargoyles will be spared at least a couple of trips! They should be thankful.

"Mmn! It is good. To stretch legs. And arms." If nothing else, his enthusiasm is well-meaning and whole-hearted. There's a sense of earnestness about it; like watching an animal released back into the wild after years and years and years of captivity.

Except, you know, actually not... an animal.

Priscilla's semi-chuckle gets a big, toothy smile. The minotaur listens intently as she explains just a little tidbit of her people's culture. He nods along, clearly identifying something familiar with the legends. "Aa. Yes. Sky is very good to worship. Nothing is better than... having sky above. Gods of the Open Sky are good gods."

Well. Usually.

There are exceptions.

There's a beat as Asterios takes a moment to take in his surroundings. He can see... Almost everything. The Duke's archives in the distance. The great city of Anor Londo. The endless expanse of forest and the colorless fog beyond.

It's all just... great.

"Aa. Never used... bow before," Asterios says as the topic shifts to Priscilla's weapon. He bobs his head, then. "Master, are you... Hungry? Thirsty? Mmn, brought snacks."

And he did!

A whole box full of french bread. And bottles full of something red.

Well, they DID just come from Paris. What kind of person brings that much bread and that much wine to a picnic though? Where did he even get all of that!?

(Answer: Asterios gets a paycheck and has absolutely no idea how to spend money)
Tanya Degurechaff     When Priscilla points into the distance, Tanya follows the gesture with her eyes. Floating upward slightly, she squints, making out something. A hand is raised, sweeping sideways and producing a magical 'hologram' screen, which zooms in multiple times until she has a good view of the structure in the distance. The view pans up and down, then side to side, as if getting the lay of the building, "The Royal Archive. Noted, and thank you." The 'screen' winks out when Tanya turns away from it.

    Normally that's what she uses for long range spells. But it serves its purposes here. Like using a sniper rifle as a telescope.

    "Mm..." The thoughtful noise released as Tanya memorizes the location, then turns back to face the dragonlady and cowman. She pauses when Asterios produces baguettes and wine, her eyebrows forming a flat, straight line, "I'll take a slice of bread, but I'll pass on the wine. The hardest stuff I drink is coffee, and I can do without for now." She can't fault him for buying it, though. The bread is legitimately good and as far as she knows, wine was just as big in Greece as it is in France. They even had a god of wine who was, according to the stories, drunk all the time.

    "I'll make sure to show you some other good foods to buy, later."

    To that end, the little girl floats closer and settles down, looking comically tiny in the presence of these two giants, and waits patiently for bread to be provided. While waiting, her gaze wanders towards Priscilla again, "I don't know anything about archery, but I could teach you to use a rifle. I'm sure we can find one large enough for Asterios or yourself to make use of." Head tilting, ahoge swishing, she asks, "Who else is coming up here?"
Priscilla     "An appreciated gesture." Priscilla says to Tanya. "Though, I hath mine reasons for such a choice. It is one of the few accepted virtues of the bow, over the firearm, that it is more easily used whilst maintaining a degree of stealth after the first round." i.e. it synergizes with invisibility cheese. There's a reaaaal question about how stealthy it could possibly be, though, when they walk near the spot she had obviously been using, with a rug laid out to stand on, due to the arrows planted in the ground in a cluster like a historical archers.

    Namely, they're ridiculous, great big flanged steel lances that have been forcefully driven into the solid rock.

    At least a ton of bread and wine would go around between the two Very Large people here, so it's a bit of a happy mistake. "They hath their better sides, and their flaws, like any other." Priscilla responds to Asterios, but of course she's going to be a little patriotic about her greatly extended family, and let it be taken as a given that the celestial gods are the best.

    She offers the rug (really more of a mat) to Asterios, for the time being, and a convenient piece of masonry serves as an obvious place to put a basket. "If I may ask, Sir Asterios, from whence cometh thine love of the heavens? I admit to knowing very little about thee, as of yet; only the circumstances in which the two of thee became acquainted." She looks to Tanya. "As a matter of curiosity, may I inquireth what thou hast been making of him?"
Tanya Degurechaff     Tanya nods once. She expected to be turned down, but it would have seemed unusual to not make the offer regardless. These sorts, the fighters so strongly associated with swords, arrows, armor and shields--Tanya has taken note that they are quite resistant to changing their equipment choices. And, she admits inwardly, not entirely without merit. The magics and weapons she's seen in action certainly hold their own next to her carbine. All she can do, then, is respect the choice being made.

    Of course, if it starts to be a detriment, she'll be more insistent about it.

    As the two colossi seat themselves, Tanya does as well. She selects a discarded piece of masonry, yet to be shaped for its rightful place, as her seat of choice. Mostly because it also elevates her closer to eye level for her much larger companions. The little Major lets Asterios explain his affinity for the stars, and instead addresses the question directed her way.

    "What I make of Asterios..." Eyes close in thought, "I believe I made my thoughts clear in the report, but that was some time ago. Since then, I wouldn't say my impressions have changed much." Eyes opening, she looks down as she pulls off a piece of the bread she was given, "In some respects he is very similar to me. In many, he is my exact opposite. I find that we compliment one another more than I initially expected."
Asterios "Aa! Yes. Have been trying many breads. Could not choose which, so... Alphabetical." As Asterios sets his basket down, it quickly becomes abundantly clear what he means. There seems to be a selection of breads aside from baguettes. There are croissants and brioche and boules... It looks like he's still in the Cs and Bs, at least. "More food is good. Bread is good also, but... Gets old?"

At least he's properly washing it down with wine.

Dionysus would be so proud.

The Minotaur peers over at the mess of enormous steel arrows littering the landscape. He munches thoughtfully on a crispy baguette loaf, little crumbs of crust getting stuck in the soft mass of his great mane. "Mmn. Big arrows. Big bow. Makes sense."

There's a beat. Tanya describes him. Asterios grins and nods. "Aa. Yes, Master is kind. Stern. Strong. Smart. Mmn."

It seems he's quite taken with her. Also, quite taken with the bread. He seems to have gone through half a baguette already, though maybe that's to be expected considering his bulk.

"Aa... The sky..." Asterios frowns and then... falls onto his back with a sudden *foof* of air. The carpet rustles slightly with the rush of wind as Asterios stares into the great blue expanse above him. "Since long, long time ago, home was... Closed. Only one way in. There, there was... grate. Big, metal, locked. Couldn't break. But every day, there was sky, and stars, and sun and moon. There was rain sometimes. It was... Nice. Only place with light."

A long moment passes as the minotaur's sorts through his memories. And then he says: "Also, my name. Asterios. Means, 'Of Stars.' 'One who rules the stars.' So, I like them especially."
Priscilla     "Oft enough, there art thoughts that come out upon paper, and thoughts that come out whence prompted in words." Priscilla says to Tanya. Nevertheless, she seems confident in standing by her words, either because she puts the same care into the ones she speaks as the ones she writes, or because she writes exactly what she means. Perhaps, it's even because her feelings on Asterios are straight from the heart?!

    "I am gladdened to hear of such, however. I admit, I had not taken the two of thee for being so compatible at a first glance, but I supposeth there art many ways in which opposites may fit together, rather than repulse one another." At the very least, Asterios has a very high opinion of his boss, and Tanya seems to be very satisfied with her subordinate, which is the ideal relationship in Priscilla's eyes.

    And even then, Priscilla cannot help but instantly understand what Tanya means by similar and opposite. From what she had read, the story of the Minotaur is not one unfamiliar to her. A cursed half-breed, feared and rejected by men, locked and hidden away, and whose domain was used to send all those that displeased the kingdom, so that they may never return. What Priscilla may have expected from him, when prompted to talk of his past, is dashed immediately when she hears the sincerity in his voice, and sees the heartfelt appreciation on his face.

    Imprisoned in a dark labyrinth and used as an executioner, made to survive on the flesh of men and women, this man had never once ceased to admire and value the simple sliver of beauty he could see of the world outside his cell. Her own prison had been a dark, cold and eventually lonely one, but it was a far kinder and gentler sort of isolation than what he had suffered, to the point that it would make her seem fortunate . . .

    And yet, she had come to hate the world outside of it so deeply, so painfully, and so desperately, that one day, the Deep Dark began to sing to her.

    "A cruel thing, to deny a man of the stars any contact with his namesake. Most any other man than thou wouldst hath broken, I think. Though art a strong one, if peculiar. Do taketh good care of him, Major Degurechaff."

    At that, a shadow temporarily passes over the group, and following a rush of mountain wind, a wave of tingling, indefinable 'pressure' that sweeps over like the powerful calm before an incredibly localized storm. Another winged shape appears overhead, though it is far higher up, and far larger, silhouetted in stark black against the sun. It's really difficult to get any estimate of both its size and height without so much as a cloud to compare it to, but it can be identified by a long, reptilian tail, and the /bizarre/ alternating pulse of four, oddly spaced draconic wings, almost rippling like the wings of a manta ray in their hypnotic rhythm.
Tanya Degurechaff     Tanya considers Priscilla's words, chewing thoughtfully as she mulls them over. It certainly makes sense. Words on a page often have more thought put into them. Her eyes narrow. Which means one might presume that written words are less honest. Though there was no intent there, and clearly what was written matches what was said just now, she resigns to be more careful with her word choices. Wouldn't want to write herself into a corner or something unfavorable like that.

    Her eyes wander to Asterios, soaking up the praise that the monolithic bull provides. She can appreciate that honesty. Though, his opinion might change, if briefly, when the real training begins. Eyes wander skyward, and she reminisces about the mages she'd trained in the past. They, too, had hated her once. Until they realized why she did what she was doing. And then they appreciated her effort. And became useful tools in the Empire's war.

    A smile appears. A shadow passes overhead. The smile disappears, replaced briefly with indignant surprise, and then immediately with a more neutral expression of curiosity.

    "Who is that?" Tanya inquires, lifting her free hand to point skyward at the dragon crossing the sun.
Asterios On the other hand, maybe it's exactly because of the relative comfort of the Painted World that hatred and resentment took hold so strongly. Asterios was never given the opportunity for hatred to truly fester; the Labyrinth was a harsh, dangerous place. Every day and every thought were all bent towards survival. There was no time and no opportunity to have any feelings towards the outside world except for a longing, desperate want to escape.

Priscilla had the time and the peace to nurture hatred. Asterios could only grasp at the faint rays of light that would find their way into his prison.

"...Mmn. I am... strong," Asterios agrees, though perhaps not in the way that Priscilla had intended the meaning. "But now, I can see... many, many stars. Strange, new skies. Am lucky to have lived so long."

At the very least, he's an optimist.

But then, even as Asterios stares into that sky, something flies overhead. Something... Huge. His bestial senses inform him of its presence even before it appears. There's a tingle in the air that precedes its arrival which his animal nature detects. Asterios sits up as the shadow passes by, his mane prickling and rising, though whether out of alarm or just because of the static electricity coursing through the air isn't quite clear. "Something... is there. Dragon...?"

Asterios has only seen one dragon before.

It broke his maze.
Priscilla     Priscilla understands that Asterios hadn't quite gotten what she was thrusting at before. "Strong of will, dear Sir Asterios. Strong of spirit, and of virtue. If is far easier for one to be strong of body, than those, to sayeth nothing of all of them."

    The shadow begins to circle back around, rapidly achieving great distance from flying overhead, and then wheeling about almost as a shark would, rather than a bird. The wind pressure is faintly palpable, even out to distance. "The worst is the same, yes." she says to Asterios, then more informatively "The Everlasting Dragon, Yuva. Direct descendant of the Archdragons. Most likely, the last of her kind, and mine only living link to the other half of mine ancestry, easily forgotten whence I am surrounded by the first day to day."

    The weirdly open design of the temple under construction becomes obvious when the massive creature swoops in and settles down, sliding neatly between the huge gaps in the layers of construction and grinding to a halt. Indeed, it certainly does look like a dragon, with the four legs, tail, serpentine neck, and general body structure. Rather than being a scaled reptile, however, it looks every bit as if it were carved out of semi-metallic stone; an intensely believable lifeless statue in every pose, to the point it looks weird when it moves. Aside from the strangely placed quadruple wings, it has some kind of almost spine-like hair or fur running down its back, its head certainly suggests eyes but they are oddly difficult to actually find, and when it partially opens its mouth, it reveals an entire second set of boned and fanged jaws behind the first, integrated into its skull rather than being the miniature, tongue kind. The weird, hushed, psychic buzz about it is a constant, faint background noise.

    "This temple is hers." Priscilla continues, uninterrupted. "There art those from many of the lands of men who venerate the legends of the ancient dragons, and through asceticism, worship, and combat, wish to shed their mortal forms and ascendeth to a similarly immortal existence. It is a strange and eccentric sort of faith, rarely found, but word of a living dragon gathers them from all lands, totaling to a substantial number within a city of worship of the gods. Despite objections, I hath permitted it, removed from the streets proper. As rarely and . . . seldom comprehensibly as the dragon answers, she is valuable."
Tanya Degurechaff     Tanya stays silent while Priscilla explains her meaning to Asterios. She'd picked up on the intended meaning herself already, and finds nothing but agreement in the half-dragon's assessment. Will, spirit, these are things she's noted to be strengths of the great Minotaur. Her eyes narrow slightly while she pulls off a piece of bread and eats it.

    There's also a thick current of kindness and empathy. And those may be problems if she's to mold him into the ideal soldier. She'll have to carefully observe Asterios' behaviors when she takes him to a proper battlefield before she can be certain on that determination, though. The challenge if it's needed is obvious, but it's not like she hasn't broken undesirable behaviors out of soldiers before.

    For their own good, naturally.

    Her gaze wanders from the conversation between giants to observe the dragon's landing. The name is repeated in her mind. Yuva. A relative of Priscilla's. The comment about being surrounded by only humans pulls a wry smile to the small girl's face. "Yes," she states aloud, "I have the impression that such dragons are immensely rare in your world, so losing track of your relatives must be more difficult." Her eyes close, "It's not a problem I have, admittedly, so I cannot relate. But I can at least understand it."
Asterios     Strong of spirit, is it? The Minotaur cants his head with no small amount of curiosity. "Aa," he says, after a thoughtful moment. He's never really had to think about that sort of thing; he's never had the luxury to. Fight, eat, survive. These three things had occupied everything moment in his life for as long as he has been alive. "I... see. Thank you. For this. But I--"

Have done terrible things.

So many awful things.

Is that really being strong of virtue?

Tanya is right. He is kind, he is empathetic, but he is also bloated with guilt and regret. Who knows what might happen if he's threatened by something a little less monster and a little more man? Will he be overcome by that guilt, or will those old memories allow him to be just as ruthless as the legends say.

Asterios is spared his naval-gazing by the appearance of something just... spectacular, especially to one so insulated from the outside world. This creature is not a dragon-- or rather, it is not what Asterios has known to call a dragon. It has no scales. It has four wings rather than two. The sensation in the air is different. It certainly has a similar silhouette, but Asterios is both beast and man; he judges its identity with scent, the subtle change of taste in the air, all of these things.

"U--waaaaaa!" Asterios gushes. You can practically see the stars sparkling around him. "Yuva! Ahahahaha! Mmn, yes. Like me. I too am... Halfway. Yes? But the one that was... beast, for me, was... Great, white bull. Incredible. Stampede like thunder. Yuva is... Alone now, though. Well, worshipped. Like... a god? But priests and worshippers are... not brothers. Not sisters. Mmn, it is lonely."
Priscilla     "Immensely rare is to put such lightly." Priscilla says to Tanya, just a little sadly. "It is one I imagine few wouldst. Still, there is, quite literally, all the time in the world for I to learn of . . ." Priscilla seems to turn it over several times, as if the words sound really stupid and wrong to her. "Our people?"

    Asterios' unguarded enthusiasm is genuinely heartwarming, though. He has an oddly soothing presence, for a giant bull-man. "Thou art quite right. There is much similarity between the two of us. More than thou wouldst knoweth. I spoke not idly when I said thou wouldst be well treated amongst our number." For an instant, it almost looks like she's going to laugh at the last part. "No. No, neither is a replacement for true family. Still, if all goeth well, she shall not be alone forever. There art yet, a small number of eggs recovered once ago, though I haven't the slightest as to how they couldst be made to hatch."

    Priscilla then dares to ask the question: "If I may inquire, what of thine own families? I very much hath the impression neither of thou hast much, if any, contact with them. Thou seemeth the type."
Tanya Degurechaff     Tanya mulls over Priscilla's words. The final comment cements it, at least. There's still hope for the species, so long as someone doesn't screw up the newborns. Her pragmatic side appreciates the lack of waste and loss, there. Obviously such an ancient species has a great deal of knowledge, and losing such would be a surrender to one of the only things Tanya considers an unforgivable sin: Waste. She regards Yuva once more, in consideration, a finger stroking her chin, "...If Yuva is ancient and wise, perhaps she will know what you do not?"

    Tanya pauses, a brief start that causes her errant hair antenna to bob when she glances back towards Priscilla, "Hm? My family?"

    Oh right. A young girl is supposed to be emotionally vulnerable in situations like relating her own past.

    To that end, Tanya looks down at the bread in her hands, hiding her eyes behind her bangs, "I don't really have one." Her tone is hesitant, as she pulls the usual confidence out of the foundation she typicallys peaks with, "My father died in the earlier years of the war with the Republic. And my mother gave me to a convent when I was a baby." The square shape normally cut by her shoulders slouches uncharacteristically to either side, "I don't even know her name."

    Yes, that should suffice. Though, Tanya reasons inwardly, she should be prepared for followup questions. Just in case.
Asterios     Asterios gives the immense, eternal dragon a long, meaningful look. He would fit in well here? Mmn, that would be... nice. "Aa. Eggs! Good. In the maze, there were... eggs. Most eggs, keep warm, will hatch. But... Dragon eggs. Mmn, maybe more complicated. Maybe clues in... Big library? Hmn."

Searching that place would be... difficult, though.

Maybe she could ask that one data lady to help out?

But then the topic turns to one that's a good deal more... difficult. The Minotaur is very quiet all of a sudden. Only the gentle churn of quiet storm wind rustling through his mane seems to stir around the great beast of the labyrinth. He barely hears Tanya's story as she tells it, his mind is wandering... somewhere else.

Memory is a maze of its own, isn't it?

How many years ago was it since he last saw their faces? They're blurry in his mind. Faded and smudged under the weight of the years. But there's something that he can remember... Sort of.

"Mother... had a nice smell. She didn't... want to send me away, but." he says, quietly. "Father was... King. Minos. Cannot remember much." How much of the truth is that, exactly? "The Bull was the Bull. Sorry. Not much... there."
Priscilla     Priscilla really should have prepared for sad backstories when she asked that question. It really did come from a place of personally curiosity and a desire to know her subordinates better, so the look of 'oh dammit why did I say that' which crosses her features surely indicates that she hadn't.

    Poor Tanya. She's so little. Clearly the girl keeps herself so busy to avoid thinking about her parents, and Priscilla has just forced her to think about something deeply sad. What else could explain the slump in the otherwise constantly professional little girl's demeanor? "A-ah. Well, then it is all the more impressive that thou hast cometh so far. There is no reason to feel any sense of anxiety or shame for it, though if it is thine wish to seeketh them out, I am certain . . . something couldst be done." Priscilla has not the first idea of how to find someone's parents. Gods this is awkward. She'll just leave that one be.

    Asterios is barely any less sad, which is a feat considering him looking to be the total opposite of small and vulnerable. "A king? That is certainly a more easily researched figure, though I knoweth not how long it hast been for thee. It is entirely possible thou may hath outlived them both. If it troubles thee little, then think nothing of the question and let us simply stay a while and enjoy the quiet." And wine. That too.
Tanya Degurechaff     Tanya's posture remains unchanged for several moments, while she considers Priscilla's response to what is, ostensibly, the truth about her background. Slowly, she tears off a piece of the bread she holds and eats it, deliberate and slow in the motion.

    Inwardly, she smiles. The exact desired effect. That should give her leader enough context to her life while giving her little reason to pry further. No doubt, the assumption will be that she works so hard out of some desire to be 'good enough' or 'prove herself'. Either claim suits her goals just fine. The young blonde has little reason to dwell on the topic, however.

    Lifting her gaze, she glances aside towards Asterios, a little frown on her face, "He's from a different time. I highly doubt his version of King Minos exists as anything but ancient history." Glancing back down, she adds, "Which could be a blessing, knowing what he did. I'm fascinated at how such a cruel upbringing could produce someone even half as gentle or selfless."

    Her shoulders are squaring up, at least.
Asterios Asterios turns his face into the wind just as a gust screams over the bluff. It briefly tousles through his immense, white mane. For a moment, he does look... Vulnerable. Contemplative. Like that head wasn't sitting on top of a body that could probably bench-press several trucks.

"...Aa," the Minotaur nods, slowly. "Maybe. He is. King Minos-- Father. Was cruel. But also a hero. Mother said, told me stories. Can still remember. But if the Labyrinth was broken, then... Probably is gone, too. Mmn."

Well. One way or another though, that means this enormous bull man is the closest to Cretan royalty that this world has ever seen. Even if his father was literally a giant white celestial bull, and not the actual King of Crete.

He tilts his head, then, at Tanya's final point... And shakes his head. "Am... Not so gentle. Or... selfless. Did many things. Many... bad things. Hurt many people. Am not... So good."
Priscilla     "As thou shouldst be well aware, Major Degurechaff, upbringing oft hath much to do with the character of a person, but if they art either strong or rational, rarely ever their beliefs." Priscilla, of course, means it within the context of Tanya being raised an unwanted orphan but becoming a war hero, entirely unaware of its ironic dual applicability. It seems all three people on the mountaintop are weirdos, united by their odd backstories, absent parents, and heinously shitty gods.

    "That remains to be seen, Sir Asterios." Priscilla then says, much more seriously. "I am little interested as to what went on within the dark confines of that ancient maze, for they hath no bearing on the places thou shalt go and the people thou shalt meet. Thou hast only thineself to prove, and not a history to maketh up for."

    Of course, how could she believe anything else? The alternative would never have allowed them to come together in the first place.
Tanya Degurechaff     Tanya pauses, then nods briefly, "Yes, of course." A misstep, but apparently lost in the previous awkwardness. She'll take the win and dial back her confidence a bit. After all, whether it's a cruel king locking one away, or country breaking out into war around a small and powerless girl, a tough life is a tough life. Her eyes drift back to Asterios.

    The blue in her eyes adopts a glow and she lifts from her seat, drifting over to float before the Minotaur. One hand props on her hip while she regards him, that statement rolling around in her head.

    "I agree. Much like myself, Asterios, you are not your past," she says after a moment, "You are who you choose to be."

    Floating closer, she twirls around and promptly seats herself on his massive shoulder, hooking her arm around a horn for stability. As the glow fades from her eyes and her flight spell likewise disappears, she lifts her bread in her other hand and chomps into it like an apple.
Asterios     Greek Gods /are/ kind of... terrible. How many random randos running around the Greek countryside could trace their heritage to Zeus or Poseidon? Why was the /God of the Underworld/ the only one who was halfway reasonable even AFTER he kidnapped and then seduced his wife? How many random monsters were the result of a some kind of horrible triste gone terribly wrong when Hera decided to take umbrage with one of Zeus' weird swan lovers.

    "Mmmn," Asterios rumbles quietly. "Maybe so. I am... Still not sure." Tanya alights on his shoulder and the Minotaur gives her an uneasy smile. He... Doesn't seem to mind the weight. If he even feels the weight. He was just carrying like twenty stones. "Aa. We are... What we choose to be."

"......" Asterios looks to the giant dragon.

Then he looks to Priscilla... And points at the not-so-distant Yuva. "Would she... Give ride?"

Beat.

"Master can fly," Asterios says, his troubles apparently pushed, if only briefly, to the back of his mind. "Want to... Try too."

A minotaur riding a distant relative of the Immortal Dragons?

Well. It's not the strangest thing to have happened in the Multiverse.