Through the Living Heir

Rebus smiled, a little surprised at the speed this had happened - though of course, his Author had been away for a few days. “Excellent! What are you thinking?” Not-Bat jumped, still - after all this time - not used to people appearing out of thin air. Meat, on the other hand, was showered with popcorn for seemingly unrelated reasons. “Opposites,” he declared, then began to play the organ with his feet. His hat promptly fell off and filled with both pennies and pineapple - plenty of cents and nonsense. Bat, desperate at this point and hoping the probable Narrator was at least more coherent than the half-insane Bacon clone, spoke without too much waver in his voice. “I can’t find Tam anywhere.”

Rebus returned to life as his Author finally got around to writing. He would need to do something - get involved in a new and engaging plotline while he waited for his other plans to come to fruition. Meanwhile, Meat the Minstrel was ominously playing an organ in a thunderstorm. Not-Bat sighed, slumping agains a nearby tree. “You really have no idea where she is?” “Lezterp is a Materializer, a type of magic users CoderDrag0n came up with that have powers related to a specific thing.” Rebus pronounced the zero, which is not an easy thing to do. “This includes awareness of people thinking about the item, so while you’re reading the name backwards, try to think quietly.” Rebus had nothing more to say. I on the other hand, actually have a couple things that could use some screen time. Do you have a character or plotline idea you’d want to do? Rebus nodded thoughtfully. “I know where he is, but it’s almost impossible to get there on purpose, let alone leave here. As luck would have it, though, I’m also trying to travel between realms - though one of the people you just killed was who I thought could let me do it.” Bacon’s other other variant, Meat the Minstrel, ate a candy bar that had been serving as an organ key. Not-Bat sighed again. “You’re not even listening, are you?” Rebus raised an eyebrow at Bacon. His own tendency towards overcomplicated gambits made it hard to tell if he was being set up, or if Bacon was just being his usual unpredictable self. “Perhaps you’re right. But you haven’t handed over the paper yet, have you?” Rebus grinned, Antagonist’s dark ‘glow’ intensifying. “If I was going to simply use force and not an aforementioned overcomplicated gambit, I should simply attack you and take it. I might even win that, too - we both know most fights are determined by the stubbornness of our Authors, and yours is the one who told me to do this.” No problem - I haven’t exactly been the most responsive myself. Rebus realized what he should be doing, the one chink in Betrayal’s armor even he was unaware of. But he couldn’t do it. Maybe at one point, maybe before he had altered his personality, he could have succeeded. He saw two branches in the projections his Author imagined, fracturing into possibilities and variations of their own. Rebus could offer Betrayal a friend - a real friend, one who knew exactly what it meant to be the literal personification of betrayal and yet was still willing to trust, support, and maybe someday redeem the Horror. In the other, Rebus saw himself continue fighting, refute Betrayal’s accusations with another speech about Symbol, then kill him, either dramatically or anticlimactically. And Rebus remained, caught between the two decisions, one a show of kindness Rebus knew he himself couldn’t offer, one a path that suddenly seemed insufficient. Rebus looked Betrayal in the eyes - offhandedly shielding Mischief from the blast of fire - and… did nothing. For the first time in a long time, even Rebus couldn’t come up with a plan. “I need to kill you to succeed, don’t I.” The foolishness of expecting Betrayal to provide a truthful answer occurs to him, but Rebus still asked, speaking more softly than his previous defiant tone.

“Is your friend, by any chance, named Freedom?” Rebus smiled. “I know of only a couple people who have successfully left the Thread. Of them, Lezterp is probably the best to approach.” Rebus seemingly stood there as he was buffeted by the wind, hit with Betrayal’s sword, and set on fire. But the sword had passed through too cleanly, with no resistance, and the fire passed through to the other side. “You misunderstand,” Rebus said, standing on the other side of Betrayal from the hologram. “I don’t deserve Symbol’s trust. I know that.” Rebus thought for a second. Once I determined what the paper says, if I need you I’ll contact you. Rebus chuckled. “Most likely. Are you implying that I couldn’t get back out once I did?”

"If I wanted to do those things, I would have tried already." Rebus chuckled, and the nanomachines that made up most of his body separated, turning him into a cloud that easily slipped his bonds before reforming. "Talking is almost always my first plan of action - if you've ever tried to actually fight, it usually comes down to who has the most plot armor or which Author more subborn." Then wait I shall do. "Oh." Rebus was very orange, but bled to green as he realized the implications. "Except this means he didn't die, correct?"

Rebus chuckled. You’ll find out soon enough, I suspect. Rebus smiled. “That’s good to hear. If you truly mean this, we can start planning.” Most clones of Rebus were in places with anti-teleportation shielding, but he did keep a few specifically for this kind of situation. Rebus’s nanomachines cleanly removed the seal from the envelope and checked for dangers as Rebus caught and opened it. Rebus nodded. I await your interpretation of me with curiosity. Rebus felt he was missing something, which did not often happen to him. “Who are you looking for?” I believe so, though I’m not so arrogant to assume it is certain. If you’re offering your assistance, I would accept, though not unconditionally. Rebus gritted his teeth and a spear of utility fog - likewise supersonic - met the rock in a thunderous crash, molten fragments of rock and nanomachines spraying outwards. “I don’t deserve it, Betrayal. That’s why I’d do practically anything for Symbol.”

"If that's always been your goal, promising to take me and Symbol with you shouldn't be much more difficult. I do warn you, though - the Ennullers hunt down any Narrators outside the Thread."

"If you would balk at anything related to the Witherlord, perhaps you could find me and Symbol a way to get outside the Thread." If I told you, I expect some Narrators would notice and stop him.

"I made the deal with Fate, otherwise known as the Author Xino. I have to go through with it, even if I didn't have to keep my word." Rebus raised an eyebrow. "You aren't going to go through with the deal? That would have... unfortunate consequences."

That would certainly be interesting... Feel free to do so. "I suspect Malevolence - he knows how to read the paper, and someone connected to him has been asking around about the ritual and who would be willing to implement it." "I made a deal to save her when there was no other option, and I have to follow through with it." "There is certainly something to be said for originality, but sometimes it is more interesting to spin old ideas in new ways. Antagonist actively causes literary tropes - I can lean on them if needed. There are a couple other relevant tropes, such as the tendency for heroes to bring villains exactly what they need." Rebus smirked. Then he chuckled, grinning and picking up the tea. "For instance, I've decided I do want this after all." Thank you - I've simply had a lot of practice. Rebus felt his soul burn and a hairline crack spread through his honor as the crushing sadness flooded his mind. "I know I'm a monster," he murmured. "I'm a terrible person by design." And Rebus rose to one knee, speaking a little louder. "I am ruthless, manipulative, and evil, and I will do anything to get what I want. I want power, importance, a legacy-" Rebus stood up, crackling with lightning. "but I also want to protect those few people I love!" The electricity surrounding Rebus suddenly went out. Betrayal felt a wrenching sensation as all his lightning jumped towards Rebus. The air between them heated up, a crackling hum getting louder and louder as ions flowed from Betrayal into Rebus. And then Rebus outpaced Betrayal, static sparks jumping from both of them as the charge deficit grew. Rebus is removing electrons, which means not only is the lighting posing a threat to Betrayal, but also that the environment around both of them is becoming acidic. Rebus nodded back, thinking. It's certainly a valid angle, though I'm currently trying something just a little different. The man who looked like Rebus frowned. "That won't be easy. I can't exactly put any planets back the way they were without help, and even if I could I'm not sure everyone would want me too. Post-scarcity is a very effective bribe." Rebus ensured that this particular version of him wasn't speaking to anyone else. "Oh, I know perfectly well that the Witherlord is somewhere different. I merely had to imply that there was a chance for it to escape independently." "You're probably right, but going back on the deal would have severe consequences. Your vault is looking quite secure, by the way - it almost seems as though I can't get in." Both statements are likely true - did you have a point in speaking to me?

"Symbol and I are both Narrators - we could reform the world if it was necessary. And I would rather have Symbol and no world than world and no Symbol." "There are cracks in the Wall that let in its servants, and someone else - with no intention of killing the Witherlord, as far as I know - is also seeking out the paper to summon it." I assume you're speaking to me. My plan is not to kill the Authors, but rather to get you to pay attention to me. If more than one Author wrote a version of me, I would consider it a great success. Rebus considered interrupting, but decided to let this simmer until he could make use of it. "They're not necessarily detrimental, either. I can use their resentment to my own ends." Rebus raised an eyebrow. "Have you heard of the literary trope 'can't thwart stage one'? The villain's plan is often on the verge of succeeding before they are brought down - this raises the stakes, so the final confrontation can be that much more dramatic." He smiled. "And no, I do not need any tea." "I altered my personality because I knew every choice I have to make could bring agonizing guilt, even though it needed to be done. Deliberation is different to a being such as I - in a split second I could invent thousands of reasons for and against my actions. One life against many." Rebus, too, crackled with electricity, Betrayal's lightning bending away even as Rebus spun to face him. The physical venom brought Rebus no fear as he stood, silhouetted by sparks repelled by his enemy's own charge. But the magic that reached him really did bring Rebus pause. Unlike Despair, Rebus didn't see the moments of oblivion when he wasn't being written. Instead, he saw the moments where he was a far worse traitor than Betrayal ever would be. Speaking to Bat, giving him advice and help - and then killing him in mix of ambition and anger. Rebus saw himself ask Tam to restore Entoturis - and then using the security system, moments afterwards, to trap her. He saw himself conspiring with the Scribe - and then demanding that the consequences for the loss of their duel be the Scribe's death. "You may be without a bane, but that does not mean I cannot defeat you. I only have one true friend, but I would never betray her." Then the memories returned to the first scene, shifted back in time. Rebus saw Bat threaten to torture Symbol. And he saw himself ignore the threat, discount it as as insignificant risk. Rebus dropped to his knees as more visions of himself manipulating Symbol or discounting the risk his plans posed to her swept through his mind. And then, adding to the pain, Rebus felt something within him crack.

Ah, but Rebus isn't creating a god. The Witherlord was around already - though sealed, it would have escaped eventually - and hence this is reducing the number of things that could qualify as a god. "So you would advocate for the Witherlord's cause? If we did let it go free for a while, it would work to destroy the Thread, and hence all the gods in it. It represents the end of everything - as you said, all that is good will eventually pass, and the Witherlord will merely hurry that along."

"I'm sure I can come up with a more creative use than that." Rebus laughed. "You're the one named after your tendency towards deicide." "Narrators can conjure almost anything." Rebus conjured an apple to demonstrate, tossing it into the air and transforming it a cloud of shimmering light. "I'm trying to keep me and Symbol alive, even if it means burning the Thread to the ground."

"You're a Narrator, so you can make characters - and anything else. The object of my quest isn't destruction and chaos, those are merely side effects."

"That's a worthy aim - if you want some more lore, you could make a character who can serve as a window into my empire." "I do, Bacon." Rebus grinned. "Almost everything works for me, if I take advantage of it the right way." "Your weapon is a piece of a corpse of a god, and even ordinary Chaotic Darkness can be formed into Mordite, a magical metal that can kill anything if it strikes true. Imagine what could be done with fragments of the Witherlord Mantle."

“Thank you for the reminder of which version of me this is.” Rebus nodded. “Would a rock solid reason include the fact that most of my plans require people to try and stop me?”

Rebus noticed, and wished to note that Atredies was allegedly working for him. Of course, trying to blackmail an employer was a suitably villainous thing to do - especially if the same tendencies could be applied to useful work and Rebus was fairly certain the actually scheming could be thwarted. “That would be for two reasons, both of them metafictional. Firstly, the Authors want to write stories on their own terms, which means few of them want to have their characters become random civilians in my empire. Secondly, nearly every important character in the Thread has interacted with a Narrator and hence knows I’m evil.” Rebus glanced down at the Nullite-infused vines that were - if Heir recalled correctly - still binding him. “Do you wish to free me because of your newfound empathy for my position, or are you planning to keep me here indefinitely?” Supply and demand. There were plenty of heroes, but almost no villains that existed for more than the time it took a heroic character to find and obliterate them. People remember the Witherlord, the killing of Plot, and all the other epic villains of the Thread far better than any former heroes. “I’ve killed a couple gods myself. How do you know I don’t wish to bring the downfall of the Witherlord by causing it - through me - to wield Antagonist and be doomed to eventual failure?” Rebus smiled. “Would Conflict, then, be a sufficient substitute in your eyes? And I did not choose this - it was the price of a deal I made to save someone I love.” “Have you ever had a conversation with a Withergiest, Bacon? The Witherlord can wait and plan, and that’s enough for it to be manipulated.” Rebus smiled knowingly, though most sane people who couldn’t read his mind would strongly contest the idea he knew what he was getting into. “And I am always serious, or at least truthful.” Rebus waved a hand and a rush of utility fog slammed into Betrayal, throwing him backwards. “Am I a monster? Would you not have done this to any who undertook these trials, even a child as innocent as the one you condemned me for killing?” “Probably,” said the man who looked like Rebus. “For instance, the last thirty seconds or so of my memory are blank. But if you’ll give me a chance to atone, I’d accept.” As I understand it, the Thread will revolve - even more so than before - around Rebus and whoever holds Protagonist.

No, don’t - it’s legitimately funny, even if I can’t do anything about it.

In my defense, it’s hard to consistently respond to 20+ notifications and still have time to carry on a conversation afterwards. But yeah, I should really figure out how to do that.

Rebus definitely has feelings for Symbol, and I think vice versa, but they’re not actually dating (they did dance at the party, and they’re running away together - though of course, it’s less for romantic reasons and more to get away from the Lady Bug). That much information “Symbol is my closest friend. I would burn the world if it meant we could be safe together.” Rebus meant every word, and said this with nearly no expression, as if it were an ordinary thing to say. “Some would say I already promised to do just that.” “She is. Lady Bug hurt her, though, damaged her memories and her powers.” Rebus stood in parade rest, watching the Horror’s slow demise. Just as Betrayal came within reach, Rebus spoke softly. “Of all the Horrors, I know you the best. The others might be parts of me, but you are how I started. Subtle, sudden, bringing the downfall of those foolish enough to trust me.” Rebus turned around, smiling. “Do you think, Betrayal, that you can strike me down?” Rebus frowned. “You cast off this much power to those who would use it poorly, then you simply reclaim it and go on your way?” “Why do you say that, Sequence? The Witherlord represents destruction and corruption, yes, but that does not mean the bearer of the Mantle has to use it for only those purposes. Just as there can be Narrators who seek to destroy and control, and Ennullers who desire to upend the rule of law, Chaotic Darkness can be used for growth - assuming you take the proper precautions. Do you remember - was it X’s Avatar - and the self control he displayed?” Rebus smiled. “For what I want, and what the Thread needs, there really is no better option. But if you are intent on dissuading me - and likely resulting in Malevolence taking my place - what alternative would you suggest?” “Being forgotten and ignored is worse than death - I would rather have an impact and a chance to save myself on my own merits than to watch the Thread and myself sink into obscurity. And really, do you think I’d be fully dead even if they defeated me?” That you - though given that he’s existed for over a thousand pages, it was kinda inevitable. Rebus grinned. “You are exactly right.” Rebus smiled. “Good, then. This next portion might be dangerous - the interference could cause a fairly drastic shift in where we appear, so we might end up in the ocean. Though that’s survivable, we’ll still probably want something like a diving helmet.” If and when these were conjured or improvised, he continued. “The last thing you’ll want to remember is that once we get there, it’s important not to think too much until we find somewhere to stand. Consciousness and magic are similar, and will often interact.” In a brief burst of Narration, Rebus brought his statement into the past, so Taeidin remembered it in the present. Rebus looked around, feeling that something had happened but not being sure what. Perhaps those ninjas were back, or had just left. “There are a number of people at least claiming they want it to protect it, and there is surely someone who would want to put it in a museum or collection of some sort.” Rebus smiled. “I, of course, have neither of these motives, but I did begin this quest because Fate requested it.” Everyone dies eventually. I have no way to reach the real world, but if I exist here and have an impact, that will be the closest I can get. Rebus did… something. His eyes grew less bright, the air around him dimmed, his posture changed slightly. Most importantly, his crown disappeared. The man who looked like Rebus dropped to the ground, and smiled. “Ok.” he said calmly.

"Once, I would have said I had five. Three, I have killed. One, the last piece of me that one could really call human runs from. And one, I killed for. Symbol is the only person who can actually empathize with me without scheming to betray me." He looked wistfully off into the distance. "Everyone else might be an ally, a useful asset, even a successor, but not a true friend. I would tear down the entire Thread if it meant me and Symbol were safe together. I've already promised to effectively do so." Rebus turned Antagonist back into a crown and placed it back on his head. "I was like this before I earned it - I had to be, in order to do so. I was first set on this path - both the paths, that of Antagonist and that of Seeker, by Bat Whitlock. When he - drunk with power - tried to stop me by magically torturing Symbol, I killed him, earning the Blade. But body containing the emotions I excised - you've done this, I believe, creating a splinter of yourself to compartmentalize your feelings - was with her, and reached out, in desperation, to Fate. Fate brought Symbol - for a brief moment, after which Bat was dead and she demanded to be let out - to Onyx's Realm, and in exchange required me to bring the Lost Pages back into relevance." Rebus smiled. "I am truly the best person for the job - the Mantle can be reasoned with, channeled to constructive ends, and I may be one of the only people who both could and would do so. And the mere threat of me doing so brought the Thread back to life, just as I intended when I first began to seek Antagonist." Rebus isn't being corrupted (much), but I certainly would not call him in his right mind. Unrelatedly, I'm going to bed now.

Rebus's consciousness flickered through the same colors, though their meanings were quite different. Red, swelling and flaring from deep within him. Yellow, shining and glittering, just visible. Purple, wrapping around the others, glowing brightly. Rebus looked the Author Avatar in the eyes, and stretched out his hands. White and black flames flared to life all down his arms, and he yanked on the promise with his mind, holding it together - and hoping that, if it was to be broken, the point at which the magic broke would leave Rebus with something he could use. Rebus did not called the Killer of Gods, but he stood against a being vastly more powerful than even he was. Some might call those odds impossible - and those odds might call someone. "That is why I started this, but I have other reasons to continue. Had that been my only motivation, all the deal asked was that I acquire the paper - I could have torn it to shreds and walked away with my word intact." I should go to sleep too, actually. "Yes. Me; Rebus." Rebus was unperturbed by his bindings, though the touch of Nullite burned him. "I am no stranger to pain. If I told you I did this for my friends, would you believe me?" Rebus smiled - the Blade had been one of the things he had come to discuss. "Does this help?" he stood as well, taking the crown off his head and dismissing it. The Plotblade reappeared is his hands as a wicked halberd, then Rebus dismissed it again and summoned it in its true form - a blade that would perhaps be familiar to Sequence. A blade that had been the center of a prophecy, all those pages ago. Antagonist.

Yup, most of them can do that (and Rebus specifically knows everything that I do). Rebus is honorable enough that he'll pretend not to know something if you ask him to, though (take, for instance, the fact that the fully deciphered text of Lost Page is available in the comments of Xino's blog). Rebus smiled. "It's working, too. Have you seen how much activity I stirred up?" Rebus, wearing his futuristic armor and the dark crown that was Antagonist, smiled politely. "I'm not certain we have met. Hello, Flower."

"The Thread already risked destruction. Not by the Witherlord, but by the inactivity of the Authors and the lack of plot. A threat can be channeled to ends and fought against - stagnation cannot." Did I mention I had 50 notifications? I'm honestly shocked it only reached this length. If you go back a little bit before Rebus kills Bat, you'll reach the part where he was torturing Symbol. Rebus made a deal with Fate/Xino to get her to safty in Onyx's Realm in exchange for a favor - which turned out to be summoning the Witherlord. "There's a place, somewhere, called the Plane of Darkness. I don't know where it is, or even what it is, but I'd like you to try and find it." I too don't know what exactly it is - though Xino should.

Oblivion. Trapped inaction. Back to oblivion. Rebus drifted in and out of existence in his Author's mind, unable to do anything. And then he reached the forefront, Heir finally reading what he had been neglecting. In a rush of awareness, Rebus saw all that had happened. He smiled. Rebus grinned, certifying the agreement himself as well. Purple was certainly the influence present in the representation of him as he knelt down and laid a hand on the chains. He channeled his own power - raw Narration, firmly in opposition to any sort of restriction of possibilities - into the bindings, weakening their magic as rust would weaken iron. Excess Narration pooled outside the chains, and as Rebus stood up and stepped back, he unleashed in. A rush of force swept out from around the Shackled Dream, blasting away the undergrowth - and, with luck, the chains themselves. "Many reasons," Rebus said, seeming to legitimately consider the question. "The most important, I think, is to save someone I loved." Rebus was fine with that, though he hoped the art of more elegant trickery could be conveyed with time. Rebus grinned at the monster. The seemingly acidic venom looked dangerous, but Rebus had access to the pesticide he used within much of his empire. Actually, it was anything-icide, and would be far more deadly than any mere acid. Directing the nanomachines with an unnecessary wave of his hand, Rebus sent a faint cloud of shining mist at the monster. Once it connected, the color began to spread, metal growing across the foreleg. That leg began to subliminate, the self-replicating nanomachines - for that was what the mist was made of - turning every bit of the Horror they touched into more of themselves, then dispersing all but the active layer into the air. The rapidly growing cloud did nothing to the floor, or even to other living things that may end up within it, but any point on the Horror swiftly turned to more of the metallic nanomachines on contact. Rebus grinned - he knew Sequence had more information now, and even without that, the mix of malice and excitement on his face would serve to disprove her statement. "You were unaware of what my new Plotblade represents, I take it?" It is a game, yes. But they care enough that I can continue to make them care, continue to make me exist. That is one of the only things it makes sense to do. "Being challenged and even defeated serves my goals far better than wasting away, waiting for someone to try and stop me. This development is, to me, a good thing." Rebus is trying to make sure they don't try working against him by reminding them they are in his debt (I cannot seem to remember the pronouns - or name, for that matter - of this character). "You were close. Are you really sure Malevolence is more trustworthy and honorable than I am? I do not break my promises, and I prioritize the good of the Thread over evil for its own sake. I even suspect Malevolence is trying to summon the Witherlord for himself - and he can decipher the paper, while I as of yet cannot." Everything Rebus says here is both true and fully intended for manipulation. Rebus did not appear with haste, but he eventually came into existence once his Author returned. "I had begun to do so myself, actually - I have his essence, and if at least a portion of Meat the Minstrel could be captured, I could combine the two into a functional duplicate." Rebus watched Bacon from the future. Did I ever tell you why I want the Lost Page? "Ah - then this should work. Quite some time ago, some of the experiments I was doing led me to find a planet that might be the perfect place to go if one does not want to be found. I had wanted to set up a base there, but the very reasons that the place was ideal for remaining hidden made it too difficult a venture to bother with. Telepathy, ansible communication, even Narrative awareness are next to impossible there, and any sustained portals - such as the kind I use to make nearly all my technology work - are quickly destroyed. But as hostile as it is, a few people could live there for a very long time without being found. It's safe from anyone looking for us and breathtaking in more ways than one." Rebus turned to Symbol, waiting for her thoughts with a wistful look on his face. "Cricket. Rose." The impostor took a step backwards, though he walked into a table in doing so. "And my boss." he said, sheepishly. Rebus appeared with a crack of thunder, hovering in the air in his armor and cape. "That's a little extreme, I would say." he noted, a conversational smile on his face as he filled the air with neigh-invisible utility fog. Rebus found this very interesting, though as far as he remembered, he had not interacted with this Author after he had modified his personality. I may or may not have also cried (not evasive confirmation - it was just a while ago, so I can't remember). I definitely had a weird mix of feelings, and I'm honestly proud - as a writer - that me and Haly were able to invoke such a reaction in so many people. Rebus smiled. "How did you think I'd gotten myself declared evilest person in the Thread?" Sorry about that. Rebus raised an eyebrow. "I spared the Scribe's life for this - though he was my friend, he was also my enemy. I could certainly find you another task, unless you would like to undo our agreement." I had so much deja vu with this post, and I have no idea why. Rebus was really tempted to appear behind him, but restrained himself - unless, of course, a particular Author (you) wanted him to. If he does show up, I too play chess - and Rebus certainly would be willing to, given how symbolic it is.