*follow up to a very unexpected arrival*
Jaghatai: *steps forward to shield the Emperor in case Magnus changes his mind about coming seemingly in peace* Brother… why have you come here?… *searches the sky’s beyond him seeing nothing, sensing nothing, no backup. No armies, not even a lowly scribe to pen down this interaction*
Magnus: *rises to his full height, claws digging into the metal deck beneath him, his wings bristling as if to take flight at any moment, and his face unreadable as he stares them down with his one eye* Where is she?… the one I have foreseen beyond the unseeable… the anomaly that emerged from a veil unknown… she who knows the unspeakable… Where is this… beetle?
The Emperor: … *chuckles slightly* Bug… she goes by Bug… you’ve left your brothers query unanswered…
Magnus: you know as well as I why I am here.
The Emperor: your defeat in every outcome.
Magnus: and the lies that started it all… I was told to do nothing… and I failed.
The Emperor: and I am sorry…
Magnus: *visibly disarmed by his words. Having foreseen it as a possible interaction and yet discarding it, unable to comprehend that he would ever be sorry* you… you are?… but you spent- countless centuries entrapped in agony because of me and you- why are you the one apologising?!
The Emperor: because if I only gave you what you needed of me… deserved of me… none of it would have happened.. and you would not be here right now seeking the one person who can save you from the forces that have bound your soul in chains… that is why you flew all the way here, is it not? So Tzeentch would not be able to lead your path wayward through the warp?…
Magnus: I… Yes… the paths I foresaw before me all lead to certain victory for the choices I had made… and then. I saw her… everywhere I looked I saw her. And you behind her… I felt Jaghatai cut my bindings one after the other and with each one I saw her clearer and clearer. And I saw in her eyes the truth. That she already had the best of me… she… she set the sons of Lorgar free did she not?… the word bearers who came to take her at the command of Erebus?
The Emperor: *nods* that she did… she allowed them the realisation that their souls do not belong to anyone but themselves. The gods of chaos merely wish for them to believe otherwise. You wish for her to do the same to you…
Magnus: *nods* And if she cannot… *steps forward, placing his hand on the hilt of the Emperors sword, resting idly upon his father’s hip* you will set me free instead…
The Emperor: …It will not be necessary… come… *turns and heads inside. Turning his back on his son without any hint of fear*
Jaghatai: *stares up at his brother, seeing the true him beneath the veil of chaos shrouding him. As if he’s already beginning to slip from the grasp of tzeentch and retake his sense of self for himself* …I really did find you after all…
Magnus: …I would not have come here if it were not for you… *walks ahead, following the emperor closely, his claws puncturing holes in the floor beneath him with every step as they pass guardsman, custodes, sisters and astartes. All of them simply going about their business as if they don’t see him. The emperor’s powers blinding them to his presence as he leads him right into his bed chambers* is that…
The Emperor: *walks to the bed and carefully strokes Bugs hair from her face* Silphy?… wake, my love… you have a visitor.
Bug: *opens her eyes and looks up at the giant red figure looming over her* …You boys really do just keep getting bigger Huh?…
Magnus: you know who I am and yet you are not afraid?…
Bug: I’m more afraid of your father. *shakes her head* I’m just sad when I look at you… Angron too… Perty, Peacock and Moth boy though I am just disappointed. *sits upright with the Emperors help* okay… come here… *pats her lap*
Magnus: … *walks closer and kneels down*
Bug: *grabs one of his horns and directs his head into her lap, placing his hand on his cheek* what a mess you’ve gotten yourself into…
Magnus: *looking very confused both at the situation he’s in but also at the sensation running through him* you are… sad when you look at me?…
Bug: you made a mistake… a big one but… who hasn’t made a big mistake once or twice in their lives… and you acted to save your sons… *places her hand over his right eye* and it wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t all over a misunderstanding… all you did was try to warn your father.
Magnus: I shattered the webway…
The Emperor: it is mended now… but… if only I had trusted your heart… instead I thought so lowly of you that you had turned on us… and I am so very sorry, my son…
Bug: *smiles softly, feeling his soul dance around her fingers as she smooths them through his hair* the chaos gods aren’t actually gods, you know?… they’re just concepts belief had given form to…
Magnus: they… they are… *voice quivering as he realises she’s right*
Bug: they only hold power over you if you allow them to…
Magnus: *opens his eyes and blinks as depth perception returns to him along with his right eye* they do not… own me… *flexes his now very human toes and feels the weight leave his shoulders as his wings disappear into thin air* nobody… owns me… everything I’ve done… and for what?…
Bug: *strokes his hair and smiles* what you thought was the right thing to do at the time…
Magnus: …I’m… sorry… father…
The Emperor: *sits with them and takes his hand in his* I’m sorry too, my son…
Jaghatai: *runs in looking pale* FATHER!!! The bridge is overrun with the thousand sons! They are- *looks at Magnus, then slowly turns around seeing some very confused Astartes following after him after seeing him run*
The Emperor: Not a threat… just… very confused I am sure.
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