[ Knives is going to take a moment to process the fact that such a place exists where V is from. For all that the Eye of Michael spreads its rhetoric to the masses, he is aware that religion is manmade. Still, he's always wondered if there is truth to be found in it.
He and Vash, angels sent by God. Of course, they're also manmade.
And the Demon King, surely that is Satan? And V had wanted the power of the demon who bested him. Yet again, Knives feels that he has been lied to. ]
This does not sound like the ambition of a mere man.
[Who opposed Satan himself? The parallels are not wrong; the Demon King was otherwise known as the Prince of Hell itself, but also several other monikers that suited the ruler of the Underworld. He might as well be called Satan, too, but V feels the need to correct Knives anyway.]
His name is Mundus. And believe whatever you like, but a "mere human" is capable of plenty when one's mind is put to something.
[That's a gentle sidestep from the accusation that he's not telling the truth!]
There also has to be a willingness to change. That, I find, is the hardest part.
[ Mundus? It's not a name that Knives recognizes from the Bible or any history book or piece of fiction, but it could simply be a different name for the same entity. If their worlds are parallel to each other in the way that he suspects...
But he will believe whatever he likes, thank you very much. It's clear to him that there is more to V than meets the eye. ]
Because I learned that what I was wanting, that great power, was a result of something else. A fear, lodged in deep, that I was trying to patch up or remove in any way possible.
[ There's a long delay before Knives responds to that message, because he feels seen in a way that he hadn't been expecting when this conversation started. He's suddenly relieved that these are simply typed messages and they're not having this talk face-to-face.
Not that he feels any sort of regret for humans suffering. As for his brother? He's sick. Everything Knives has done, he's done for him. ]
You decided your brother was correct after all, then.
[Oh, but there's a line drawn there. Even V has trouble giving his brother that much blatant credit. He would rather attribute it to himself; literally, this half of him, who had to undergo so much to become whole yet again.]
I never said that. My brother is still an idiot, through and through.
No, I was the one who came to this realization. It simply took me reaching my lowest point to do so.
[ They can just 🤝 over having idiot brothers. Because as much as Knives might care for Vash, there is also no doubt in his mind that he's a stubborn fool. ]
Your lowest point. [ Knives has yet to be burned to nothing as his brother chooses humans over him, so he's not quite there. And even then, there's probably an even lower point he'd have to get to in order to change his ways. ] And what was that?
[ Weak and dying. Knives knows that he isn't dying at the moment, but the way this place has weakened him has certainly forced him to shift his habits to some degree.
He doubts it would change his entire perspective on life, though. ]
I had found a means by which to access the higher dimension, the Plant core from which all those countless resources originate. With that power, I planned to create a paradise for my brother and my sisters, as well as create more Independents.
[On its own, not a terrible goal. To create a home for himself and his own kind, as well as create more like himself... That just sounds like a race trying to survive.
But he's already gotten a little extra context by way of this man already admitting to decimating a town to achieve his goals. So he has to ask-]
[Sorry Knives, but some of us have tread down that Character Arc already. He wonders if the other man was hoping for some camaraderie on this, and while V can certainly offer understanding—his mindset was similar for a while—that’s about as far as it stretches these days. He’s sure even Vergil would feel the same way.]
It simply seems extreme. The extermination of an entire race? Is there not another option?
[ It's not that Knives necessarily expected camaraderie, seeing how V has been clear on the fact that he's human himself despite all that he's revealed about his past. He's also apparently gone through something that's made him think twice about his bids for power.
Rip to V but he's different. ]
There are some other options, yes, but all of them will take far too much time. The planet will be made a ruin by then, my sisters laid to waste, my brother ripped apart.
no subject
He and Vash, angels sent by God. Of course, they're also manmade.
And the Demon King, surely that is Satan? And V had wanted the power of the demon who bested him. Yet again, Knives feels that he has been lied to. ]
This does not sound like the ambition of a mere man.
no subject
You're wrong. It's the ambition of someone who feels that they're lacking in some form or another. In strength, in this case.
But that might as well have been someone altogether different. A lifetime ago.
no subject
[ Someone altogether different? A lifetime ago? Hmm. ]
I have lived a century and a half, and in my experience, a lifetime is not enough to truly change someone.
[ Just look at Vash. ]
no subject
His name is Mundus. And believe whatever you like, but a "mere human" is capable of plenty when one's mind is put to something.
[That's a gentle sidestep from the accusation that he's not telling the truth!]
There also has to be a willingness to change. That, I find, is the hardest part.
no subject
But he will believe whatever he likes, thank you very much. It's clear to him that there is more to V than meets the eye. ]
You feel that you've changed, then? How so?
no subject
Even at the detriment of everyone else around me.
no subject
Not that he feels any sort of regret for humans suffering. As for his brother? He's sick. Everything Knives has done, he's done for him. ]
You decided your brother was correct after all, then.
[
Couldn't be him.]no subject
I never said that. My brother is still an idiot, through and through.
No, I was the one who came to this realization. It simply took me reaching my lowest point to do so.
no subject
Your lowest point. [ Knives has yet to be burned to nothing as his brother chooses humans over him, so he's not quite there. And even then, there's probably an even lower point he'd have to get to in order to change his ways. ] And what was that?
no subject
A time when I was weak and dying.
[But if Knives wants the specifics, he's not going to get them today.]
Everything was put into a different perspective, let's just say.
no subject
He doubts it would change his entire perspective on life, though. ]
Weaker than this place has made us?
no subject
no subject
[ Sorry, if there were lines to be read between to sense that V doesn't want to talk about it, Knives clearly doesn't care. ]
no subject
[And yet he does not expound. He doesn't care if Knives doesn't care. The hint is glaringly bright.]
no subject
And where did that leave you? After you made this great realization that the power you coveted for so long was not what you wanted after all?
no subject
It left me with cleaning up something of a mess I had made prior.
And then that left me here. And thus, here I am.
no subject
no subject
So what about you? What were you doing before you found yourself in this world?
no subject
no subject
But he's already gotten a little extra context by way of this man already admitting to decimating a town to achieve his goals. So he has to ask-]
And what of the humans?
no subject
[ Yep, he just admits it. No shame, because why would there be? ]
no subject
...Surely you see the problem with this.
no subject
No matter. ]
If I felt there was a problem with it, it would not be part of my plan.
no subject
It simply seems extreme. The extermination of an entire race? Is there not another option?
no subject
Rip to V but he's different. ]
There are some other options, yes, but all of them will take far too much time. The planet will be made a ruin by then, my sisters laid to waste, my brother ripped apart.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)