The heat from that pillar of fire seems to linger on his skin long after the beast's already perished -- even when the replay of Emet-Selch's memory ends. And once that breeze clears his field of vision, dumping him back onto the quiet streets of Venera ...
Gen stumbles one, two paces off to the side, and doubles over as he retches.
Could he be blamed for it, really? Despite all his posturing he is, in the end, just a teenager from a relatively pampered position in life. Though he's almost certainly more experienced with violence and bloodshed than most others his age, that does little to inure him to the shock of seeing the level of carnage and destruction in Emet-Selch's memories without warning.
At least that little fit of his doesn't last long at all. Gen stays doubled over with his hands braced against his knees as he coughs shallowly, a wet noise catching in the back of his throat for a moment, squeezing his eyes shut as he tries to steady his breaths. (Fuck. It feels like he can still smell that rancid stench if he doesn't drive his mind away from it. The same smell from six years ago.) One last cough before he spits off to the side, then straightens up, wiping his mouth on the back of his sleeve. If nothing else, the shock of that experience has jolted him back to full clarity, and his gaze is fully focused once more as he looks to Emet-Selch.
"... is it really worth that much to you?"
Despite the provocative wording, Gen's tone of voice is quieter than usual, and he seems wary rather than hostile. Everything that Emet-Selch apparently lost ... is it all really worth fighting so desperately for?
cw: v. light emeto ... ?
Gen stumbles one, two paces off to the side, and doubles over as he retches.
Could he be blamed for it, really? Despite all his posturing he is, in the end, just a teenager from a relatively pampered position in life. Though he's almost certainly more experienced with violence and bloodshed than most others his age, that does little to inure him to the shock of seeing the level of carnage and destruction in Emet-Selch's memories without warning.
At least that little fit of his doesn't last long at all. Gen stays doubled over with his hands braced against his knees as he coughs shallowly, a wet noise catching in the back of his throat for a moment, squeezing his eyes shut as he tries to steady his breaths. (Fuck. It feels like he can still smell that rancid stench if he doesn't drive his mind away from it. The same smell from six years ago.) One last cough before he spits off to the side, then straightens up, wiping his mouth on the back of his sleeve. If nothing else, the shock of that experience has jolted him back to full clarity, and his gaze is fully focused once more as he looks to Emet-Selch.
"... is it really worth that much to you?"
Despite the provocative wording, Gen's tone of voice is quieter than usual, and he seems wary rather than hostile. Everything that Emet-Selch apparently lost ... is it all really worth fighting so desperately for?