worldinnovator

( So much of that was unknown to Ja'far as well, things he'd wondered about over the years, but never had asked, since it had been so much for Sinbad. He had just been happy that Sinbad was alive. But now, he's just scared. That memory... It was wrong. It had to be. )

I don't know, and that's what scares me, Sin. I don't know what happened during that last battle, and I was on the ships during Magnostadt. But, I saw that thing in the sky, reaching for that medium. He said that's what's Il Ilah. And it's a god.

Since when do you believe in gods? After all we've seen?

[ Sinbad's voice is soft, but there's a slight frown on his lips as he reaches out to cup a hand against Ja'far's cheek. ]

What can I do to reassure you, Ja'far? I don't want you to be scared of... of something that probably isn't even real.

I don't necessarily believe in gods, but... I believe that thing is a threat, something we've strived to stop in what we've been doing.

( He sighs, leaning into that touch, his hand cupping Sinbad's in turn. ) I don't want it to be real, Sin. I don't want even the possibility of it to be real. That's why I wanted to talk to you about it, to maybe change whatever this is. Stop it from happening, if it's real.

If such a thing is truth, then you know we will stop it, Ja'far. [ His gaze and voice are serious as he meets his lover's gaze. ] We've come too far to fail in what we've always aimed to accomplish.

Sin. You're always so idealistic. ( It's a sigh, but he's half relieved. With Sinbad like this, idealistic as ever, it does give him hope. He won't worry about this as much, not for now. ) Then I will keep it in my mind, just in case. If we ever get to leave this place, we'll stop it. I won't let you turn on yourself if Judar is somehow right.

[ Sinbad makes a quiet scoff. ]

I think it more likely that Judar being right about something is as much cause for a world-shaking catastrophe as me being possessed by an evil god of Al-Tharmin.

( Ja'far snorts in response. )

I'd have to agree with you. If I had not shared that cocoa with Aspen, I would have ignored the validity of any of what I saw to begin with. But... ( He sighs. ) Just be careful, Sin. You get into enough things as it is.