#just a chat chapter

[thehangeddemon]

"Should I tell you to stand for the duration?" Lawrence nodded to the chair across the round table. He couldn't say this was new behavior; an intrusive gentleman this was.

“It’s always polite to ask,” he said, taking his seat. “You’d be surprised how often the answer is ‘no’.” The lone waitress in the bar was flagged down.

“How are you, Mr. Atlas? Or would you prefer to be called Lawrence?”

[thehangeddemon]

    A long sigh escaped his nostrils before he could manage himself. “The ‘universe’ and 'meant to’ and 'fate’ all have the same ring. Different colored apples. If you’re going to try and sit here and school the reincarnated on reincarnation, you might as well be barking math at a mathematician. I’m at the top of my class with the djinn that made me.”

    He didn’t have to fumble for his wallet. He’d prepared for this. A limit he knew he should not surpass. His fingertips warm and the result would be meaningless. A bill neatly folded in his trouser pocket. Time to hold it between his hands under the table. Maybe it was genuine, or some subconscious desire to speak with his brother without speaking to his brother. Either way, time to wrap this up.

    “Is there anything else you want to discuss?”

There was much more he wanted to discuss, but as he’d come to learn was his custom in situations like this, the conversation had completely gotten away from him. He had intended to talk about Lawrence and his well-being, his thoughts, his life. Not reincarnation. But perhaps it was unavoidable.

Either way, he finished his drink and got to his feet. “Yes. I had hoped to ask how you were and were getting on and offer my assistance if there was anything you wanted or needed. But considering your “allergy to demons” and general distaste for me, I’m going to assume that offer would not be well received. Although I do wonder, that being the case, why you agreed to meet at all.” Xavier sighed and offered a polite smile. “But no matter. Thank you for your time, I do apologize for interrupting your evening.“

He went up to the bar to settle the tab. He should still be in time for dinner if he got a move on.

[thehangeddemon]

The nonsense coming out of your mouth, demon. "Wouldn't expect a demon to say anything leaning towards fate. That's quite a declaration." Two more fingers of scotch would do the body good. "So," eyes to his glass, "you look at me and you don't see a shred of your brother?" He wanted to see his expression for this. That same hard stare of a man waiting for a tell. "And that's why you're here. /That's/ your curiosity."

“Who said anything about fate? Reincarnation is a basic principle of existence. There has been reincarnation for as long as there have been souls, it’s a constant cycle. Sometimes that cycle just gets interrupted.”

Xavier’s expression was open, honest. Matter-of-fact. “Of course I see shreds. As we’ve established, you have the same soul. Tics and habits and preferences come with that soul, and it’s not exclusive to you. It’s a universal experience. Take liking gin, for example. If you like it, it’s because your soul has probably enjoyed gin for hundreds of years. It’s not just because Mason likes it. Your soul existed since long before Mason, you realize that, yes?”

[thehangeddemon]

Yes, because we are exactly the same person. Isn't that what you mean? "I don't have the patience for whatever you want this to me, or whatever you want me to be, or whatever you want me to give you. If it weren't for Mason, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

“I don’t want you to be anything, Lawrence. I don’t want anything from you. I am simply here to talk to you, because I’m interested in you and your life. If you had this unique relationship with anyone else, I’d still be interested because my interest and curiosity are not contingent upon Mason.

“And neither are you. You do not exist by the grace of Mason Atlas. You exist because the universe has ordained it to be so. You have always been meant to be here. You do not have to be anything other than who you are, and who you are is not Mason. He is your previous incarnation. You have the same soul and nothing more.”

[thehangeddemon]

"With everything you know about your brother, maybe it's crossed your mind that you were encroaching on his home." One slow, warming sip later. "You're wanting something from me I don't have the patience to give you."

“Whatever I may or may not have encroached upon, it exacted its vengeance. More of that karma you mentioned. That vengeance was not Mason’s to exact, though I’m sure the two of you would disagree.”

Another head tilt. “You don’t have the patience to discuss your arrangement with Mason?”

[thehangeddemon]

"It's just brick and carpet. Drapes and hardwood floors. Nothing you couldn't throw money and blood at." He had no doubt that entire bottle would be empty by the time they departed. "Did you think about killing him?"

“A house is merely brick and carpet, Mr. Atlas. Drapes and hardwood floors that are easily replaced. A home, with a small ‘h’, is a sanctuary. Mason didn’t burn down a house. He destroyed my home. There is a very great difference.”

He sipped. “Do you?”

[thehangeddemon]

"I'm sure you think you do. You wanna believe you do. But you're an Atlas, Lord Blackthorne, nothing comes so easily." Eyes forward now, watching the demon. "Have another drink, before this interview continues."

“It would be a poor fortress indeed if I couldn’t sleep soundly in it. Although having to rebuild it did cause some stress.”

Xavier smiled and poured himself more scotch. “True enough but that only makes it all the sweeter when things do come. I’m sure you can attest to that.”

[thehangeddemon]

He had. They both had, despite both knowing what it would mean, and promises they had made to others. "One of those mysteries to keep you up at night in your grand fort."

“I sleep very well in my grand fort, Mr. Atlas. This...merging with Mason.” He sipped his scotch. “What does it accomplish, what...purpose does it serve?”