[ Oh, that hurts. Not just Dion's fallen expression but the way their eyes meet the last time and he can see the uncertainty. He hesitates a little, trying to find his wording. ]
...
[ Give him a second here. ]
That wasn't you.
[ He raises his hand to stall any objections Dion might have, shaking his head. Just remain quiet for a second. ]
What happened was exactly what Ultima wanted to happen. He chewed you down until you were raw and on the verge, then made you shatter yourself. That's what he does. He makes us break our own wills. It... was also likely part of his plan for me to end up with Bahamut. A clash between Dominants, for Ifrit to devour yet another.
[ He clenches his fist a little, frowning down at it, before glancing up to Dion. His expression is hard at the memory of Dion's memories. Ultima making Dion get his hands dirty, to break the mans spirit, so he'd spiral and fall and become a menace Ifrit had to stop. ]
Have faith in your resolve, Dion. You Primed despite it all, you controlled yourself and Bahamut with skill and wisdom. It was thanks to you we reached Origin, it was thanks to you we got in, and it was thanks to you Ultima was stopped enough we could continue on.
[ He leans forward a little, his eyes locked on the other Dominants. ]
Take Bahamut back, and prove to yourself your will is stronger than Ultima's. You are not his puppet, you are not a part of his machinations. And if you still doubt, do you think my brother and I would let you go it alone? We are beside you, where we weren't before.
no subject
...
[ Give him a second here. ]
That wasn't you.
[ He raises his hand to stall any objections Dion might have, shaking his head. Just remain quiet for a second. ]
What happened was exactly what Ultima wanted to happen. He chewed you down until you were raw and on the verge, then made you shatter yourself. That's what he does. He makes us break our own wills. It... was also likely part of his plan for me to end up with Bahamut. A clash between Dominants, for Ifrit to devour yet another.
[ He clenches his fist a little, frowning down at it, before glancing up to Dion. His expression is hard at the memory of Dion's memories. Ultima making Dion get his hands dirty, to break the mans spirit, so he'd spiral and fall and become a menace Ifrit had to stop. ]
Have faith in your resolve, Dion. You Primed despite it all, you controlled yourself and Bahamut with skill and wisdom. It was thanks to you we reached Origin, it was thanks to you we got in, and it was thanks to you Ultima was stopped enough we could continue on.
[ He leans forward a little, his eyes locked on the other Dominants. ]
Take Bahamut back, and prove to yourself your will is stronger than Ultima's. You are not his puppet, you are not a part of his machinations. And if you still doubt, do you think my brother and I would let you go it alone? We are beside you, where we weren't before.