[It's been over 4 centuries since he first arrived in Somnius- and the memories had faded like a dream, and now he was returned. He was not aware of it, however, his final fight in Teyvat- no- his final efforts to attain his precious heart was what wrenched him from his stronger shell, the act that caused his fall. He was damaged, hemorrhaging power, and lost in a slumber from his own malfunction.
Even when and old friend had finally found him and taken him home, he did not wake. He would require extensive repairs- but he was fortunate Eren had done so once before. Though he was different now. Any outward sign of his nature as a puppet had vanished, not a single crafted joint to be found. And it would stay that way until his chassis was opened, and the illusion of flesh was dispelled.
Eren would see what a true sorry state he was in, several long cables screwed tightly into his back, and the once pristine pale wood of the great Thunder Sakura had become riddled with marks- mementos from his many battles both ancient and new. Even some smaller segments replaced with cold metal. Not everything was a mark from battle though, several parts, including his chest, looked as though they had been clearly cut through- but those sections had long been put back together, and for the time being there didn't seem to be any worry of them opening. His interior was in a similar state, Eren would find everything had been rearranged- his power source had been changed from his fragment of divinity to the large cables on his back- and likewise most of his personal power was also sent to the torn cables.
It would be much trial and error, his working were no longer the clean work of master left by his mother, but it could be done, and Eren would no doubt keep trying until the puppet returned to him.
Kanoa, as he was once known, remained oblivious of his own repairs for some time, but slowly vague awareness of sensation in his limbs returned to him. Still, Eren righting his warped innards was only a small piece of what it would take to rouse him. The fragment of divinity that was once a blinding radiant light in his chassis, now flickered like a starving flame.
No, there would be no movement from the puppet until his "heart" was once more placed in his chest. Once more the power flowed through him in a rhythmic cadence, and his inner workings fell back into their routine motions.
Then finally, there were signs of his rousing. A twitch of his fingers, a furrow of his brow, damaged though he was-he'd wake properly in but a few moments.]
[So rarely do people actually return to this place. Eren gave into grief the moment he realized Kanoa was gone, certain they'd never meet again. The circumstances under which they do aren't ideal. Kanoa has changed. Eren has repaired him before, mended would-be wounds, both large and small. He recognizes every difference. It's impossible to tell how much time has passed, but Eren thinks it must have been endless...
[The "heart" is returned to its vessel, and the body begins to move and twitch. Eren sits up straighter where he's knelt by Kanoa's bed, reaching out to grip the boy's hand in his, squeezing tight.]
Kanoa...
[That dullness that weighs down Eren's voice is entirely absent; indeed, he sounds alive in his desperation, voice breaking on the boy's name.]
[Ultimately it was the voice that spurred him to pull himself together. Memories started to return to him as the flow of power within him was made right.
A battle. The Gnosis. Falling.
He was in danger. He had to keep fighting. That was the only conclusion he could make from the scattered memories. His eyes snapped open with urgency, and with a clean precision his younger self lacked, he summoned his great power to his hand. ]
[But in that moment, he felt a vague nostalgia twist in him, the one before him was familiar. Surely that meant he was an enemy? Or some buffoon of the harbingers? No matter, all it would take was one strike to be rid of him and flee-
But before he could let lose his strike, he froze. It was as though a small, long forgotten, voice screamed out in protest. Don't hurt him!
It was enough of a shock to him to give him pause to reassess the situation. The memories were centuries old, and barely took up a fraction of his lifespan, but they had not faded. No, he was built by the God of Eternity, and thus he was cursed to hold onto each memory, a divine vessel created to transcend the erosion of the mind that gods and ancients both suffered with great age.
That said, with great memory storage came great loading time, and it was taking him some time to place the human, but the hesitance to harm him remained.]
[Eren's heart breaks in an instant. Maybe it shows, maybe it doesn't. A strike is prepared, and he knows an attack when he sees one. He makes no motion to defend himself, only half confident it won't kill him, but Kanoa freezes, searches, lowers his proverbial weapon.
[Eren can't steel his features. He can't force his eyes to lose their glistening shine, and he can't speak coldly. Not now. Not with Kanoa. Not even this one.]
[Memories were indeed resurfacing. He remembered this room- this man's face. Things were coming back to him piece by piece. Regardless, he wasn't where he'd thought he was when he first woke, and he severely doubted anything in the immediate vicinity was capable of damaging him further, even in the sorry state he was in.
So the power was dissipated with a little shake of his hand, and he was quick to take up a smile. Integrating- or well, re-integrating seemed like the safest option currently. Especially in the face of someone that knew him well enough to repair him.]
Right, I remember you... you'll have to forgive me, it's been... a few hundred years since then. It's good to see you again old friend- though I suppose I'm the old one now aren't I?
[Something...isn't right. If Eren had to guess, he'd say a lot of things probably aren't right. He doesn't believe Kanoa's sudden smile, that odd friendliness that's nothing like the little thing that used to hand Eren frogs and lament over lonely cats.]
Kanoa. You don't have to lie to me.
[He saw that attack, the look on his face. He never looked that way before.]
[The name gives him pause again. Right- those here had named him. He vaguely remembered seeking one. Slowly but surely memories were flooding back. Kanoa's was an unfinished story, unlike the Kabukimono or Kunikuzushi, his story had not been finished.]
Right- that was the name I was given here. ["Kanoa" never had reason to shed his name, no change in his life worth throwing it away- he just never had the chance to live it out. Well, what's his was his.] It's nice to have it back.
But really, why would you say I'm lying? You didn't think I would keep my youthful ignorance forever, did you? [UGH come on memories, LOAD FASTER! Oh wait- he's got one... well several actually. Wow, he was embarrassing.] Do I need to go out and bring you some stray cats to prove I'm the same person?
[He had a room here already he thought- no wait. He never had a specific room since he never actually slept, he would just put stuff in whatever room was open... which meant-
He idly makes his way to the closet and- yep. Full of swords and misshapen pots. He didn't even bother to hide his wince. These were terrible.
But he turned back to Eren after closing the door on yet another childhood embarrassment. People were going to be walking around with those abominations to smithing weren't they? Oh he hated this and it hasn't even been a full five minutes.]
Would you let me make you a cup of tea? Perhaps a meal? I know my repairs were no simple matter, and we should catch up. I do at the very least owe you an explanation for nearly taking your head there.
actually it's a little more complicated than that, but I'll explain in a moment.
[The kitchen, like everything else in this place, had that uncanny familiar feeling. It was unsettling and bothersome, but tea was tea. He wasted no time moving around the kitchen like he owned the place. Tea, kettle, and a pair of cups. Easy enough.]
["Don't worry about that" he says while stuffing his face on something insubstantial. Whatever. It's his feeble little pile of meat, he can do whatever he wants with it. Go photosynthesize for all he cares.
anyway, He'll just be focused on the tea for now. Of course he oversteeped his, nice and bitter, just how he liked it. Eren's he made just as bitter- for personal amusement really. Either he bluffed and said "oops, just a habit", or Eren tolerated it and he could play it off as being familiar with him. Win-win.]
Here we are. [He takes a seat.] So, I suppose I should start by letting you ask what you wish?
Ah, right. Well, to start off with, I should first explain that when I'm forcefully shut down, then come back on, it doesn't work for me the way it would for a human. As far as I'm aware, no time has passed between the two events. There's also very little time "waking up" as humans have. Either I'm off or I'm on, my mind is clear immediately before and after.
[He takes a sip of the tea. Ahhh, nice and bitter. Just like life.]
As you noticed by my condition, I was in the middle of a battle when I lost consciousness, so when I awoke, as far as I was aware, I was still in the midst of battle.
[All truths. He was vague, but he would see where Eren's questions would take the topic before he started really picking and choosing what he shared.]
[There’s a snicker and almost a sneer, a hint of who he is truly beneath the smile- but just a hint.]
You can’t think I would live for five centuries and somehow avoid the calamity of war?
[another sip of his tea as he continues. Of course a human would think war is terrible. They’re weak and fragile things, filled with fear.]
Though, that’s something I admittedly leave for humans to sort out. [After he fans the flames of course, but he can leave out his little hobby of sowing chaos and unrest in Inazuma.] The end result will be inconsequential to me. Humans will forget about it in a century or so and move on, and it’s not as though I’m bound by their laws.
[Eren feels something cold and heavy settle in his gut. He might have known Kanoa was a god, but he's never talked like one before. He used to love humans more than anything, and now he talks about them as if they're "inconsequential". Eren's heard that before.]
I never claimed the contrary. Like I said, it's been four centuries since I was last here- I believe it would be more concerning if I didn't change in all that time.
[There's a wryness to his grin- a sharp edge tinged with amusement. So the human saw through him, that didn't mean he'd give him what he wanted. Of course had had to still play things safe for the sake of plausible deniability... but this was clearly turning into a sort of game to him.]
I think it's more a matter of just needing to get to know me again.
[It was all well and good right up until that last line. He resisted the desire to wrinkle his nose at the idea, but there was no hiding the uncertainty that crossed his face.
Well, if nothing else, Eren managed to wipe that shitty smirk off his face. So much for his little game.]
I would argue at the logic behind that given the time that's passed, but I suppose that would be more difficult for you given what comparatively little time has passed here... Still, I'm not the same person you knew before.
You may want to learn who I am now before making such bold proclamations.
Honestly, there's probably a lot you don't know about me too. [Or, at least, a lot of things he didn't have the ability to think critically about the last time Eren saw him.]
It doesn't matter, though.
I will get to know you again. That's because I love you.
Even if I end up hating you too, it can't change what's already happened. I'll love you forever now. [He says it as if it were a little sigh. Nothing to be done. He sips his tea again.] That's just the way it is.
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Post Canon Update!
Even when and old friend had finally found him and taken him home, he did not wake. He would require extensive repairs- but he was fortunate Eren had done so once before. Though he was different now. Any outward sign of his nature as a puppet had vanished, not a single crafted joint to be found. And it would stay that way until his chassis was opened, and the illusion of flesh was dispelled.
Eren would see what a true sorry state he was in, several long cables screwed tightly into his back, and the once pristine pale wood of the great Thunder Sakura had become riddled with marks- mementos from his many battles both ancient and new. Even some smaller segments replaced with cold metal. Not everything was a mark from battle though, several parts, including his chest, looked as though they had been clearly cut through- but those sections had long been put back together, and for the time being there didn't seem to be any worry of them opening. His interior was in a similar state, Eren would find everything had been rearranged- his power source had been changed from his fragment of divinity to the large cables on his back- and likewise most of his personal power was also sent to the torn cables.
It would be much trial and error, his working were no longer the clean work of master left by his mother, but it could be done, and Eren would no doubt keep trying until the puppet returned to him.
Kanoa, as he was once known, remained oblivious of his own repairs for some time, but slowly vague awareness of sensation in his limbs returned to him. Still, Eren righting his warped innards was only a small piece of what it would take to rouse him. The fragment of divinity that was once a blinding radiant light in his chassis, now flickered like a starving flame.
No, there would be no movement from the puppet until his "heart" was once more placed in his chest. Once more the power flowed through him in a rhythmic cadence, and his inner workings fell back into their routine motions.
Then finally, there were signs of his rousing. A twitch of his fingers, a furrow of his brow, damaged though he was-he'd wake properly in but a few moments.]
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[The "heart" is returned to its vessel, and the body begins to move and twitch. Eren sits up straighter where he's knelt by Kanoa's bed, reaching out to grip the boy's hand in his, squeezing tight.]
Kanoa...
[That dullness that weighs down Eren's voice is entirely absent; indeed, he sounds alive in his desperation, voice breaking on the boy's name.]
no subject
A battle. The Gnosis. Falling.
He was in danger. He had to keep fighting. That was the only conclusion he could make from the scattered memories. His eyes snapped open with urgency, and with a clean precision his younger self lacked, he summoned his great power to his hand. ]
[But in that moment, he felt a vague nostalgia twist in him, the one before him was familiar. Surely that meant he was an enemy? Or some buffoon of the harbingers? No matter, all it would take was one strike to be rid of him and flee-
But before he could let lose his strike, he froze. It was as though a small, long forgotten, voice screamed out in protest. Don't hurt him!
It was enough of a shock to him to give him pause to reassess the situation. The memories were centuries old, and barely took up a fraction of his lifespan, but they had not faded. No, he was built by the God of Eternity, and thus he was cursed to hold onto each memory, a divine vessel created to transcend the erosion of the mind that gods and ancients both suffered with great age.
That said, with great memory storage came great loading time, and it was taking him some time to place the human, but the hesitance to harm him remained.]
... I know you.
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[Eren can't steel his features. He can't force his eyes to lose their glistening shine, and he can't speak coldly. Not now. Not with Kanoa. Not even this one.]
My name is Eren. I looked after you.
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So the power was dissipated with a little shake of his hand, and he was quick to take up a smile. Integrating- or well, re-integrating seemed like the safest option currently. Especially in the face of someone that knew him well enough to repair him.]
Right, I remember you... you'll have to forgive me, it's been... a few hundred years since then. It's good to see you again old friend- though I suppose I'm the old one now aren't I?
[Gag him. Ugh.]
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Kanoa. You don't have to lie to me.
[He saw that attack, the look on his face. He never looked that way before.]
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Right- that was the name I was given here. ["Kanoa" never had reason to shed his name, no change in his life worth throwing it away- he just never had the chance to live it out. Well, what's his was his.] It's nice to have it back.
But really, why would you say I'm lying? You didn't think I would keep my youthful ignorance forever, did you? [UGH come on memories, LOAD FASTER! Oh wait- he's got one... well several actually. Wow, he was embarrassing.] Do I need to go out and bring you some stray cats to prove I'm the same person?
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[Eren's voice is firm, stern. He stares the boy down, exhausted as he is. He's been working for hours.
[He needs time. He needs trust. Fine. Eren will give him that. He'll try...
[He glances toward the bedroom door.]
You stay here. This room is yours.
[He's welcome. Eren isn't sure how much to insist.]
Return here whenever you want to.
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[He had a room here already he thought- no wait. He never had a specific room since he never actually slept, he would just put stuff in whatever room was open... which meant-
He idly makes his way to the closet and- yep. Full of swords and misshapen pots. He didn't even bother to hide his wince. These were terrible.
But he turned back to Eren after closing the door on yet another childhood embarrassment. People were going to be walking around with those abominations to smithing weren't they? Oh he hated this and it hasn't even been a full five minutes.]
Would you let me make you a cup of tea? Perhaps a meal? I know my repairs were no simple matter, and we should catch up. I do at the very least owe you an explanation for nearly taking your head there.
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When you woke up, you didn't recognize me. I would have tried to do the same thing.
[Eren pushes himself up from where he's been sitting next to the bed.]
There's tea in the kitchen. Come on.
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[The kitchen, like everything else in this place, had that uncanny familiar feeling. It was unsettling and bothersome, but tea was tea. He wasted no time moving around the kitchen like he owned the place. Tea, kettle, and a pair of cups. Easy enough.]
Are you hungry?
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[He takes an apple from a basket on the counter.]
Don't worry about that. I want to talk to you.
[He sits down at the island and takes a bite.]
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anyway, He'll just be focused on the tea for now. Of course he oversteeped his, nice and bitter, just how he liked it. Eren's he made just as bitter- for personal amusement really. Either he bluffed and said "oops, just a habit", or Eren tolerated it and he could play it off as being familiar with him. Win-win.]
Here we are. [He takes a seat.] So, I suppose I should start by letting you ask what you wish?
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You were going to tell me why you almost took my head off. Apparently I guessed wrong.
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[He takes a sip of the tea. Ahhh, nice and bitter. Just like life.]
As you noticed by my condition, I was in the middle of a battle when I lost consciousness, so when I awoke, as far as I was aware, I was still in the midst of battle.
[All truths. He was vague, but he would see where Eren's questions would take the topic before he started really picking and choosing what he shared.]
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That's not all that different than startling a soldier awake. A lot of them don't realize they aren't battling in their sleep too.
[. . .]
War is Hell. I didn't want you to have to see it.
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You can’t think I would live for five centuries and somehow avoid the calamity of war?
[another sip of his tea as he continues. Of course a human would think war is terrible. They’re weak and fragile things, filled with fear.]
Though, that’s something I admittedly leave for humans to sort out. [After he fans the flames of course, but he can leave out his little hobby of sowing chaos and unrest in Inazuma.] The end result will be inconsequential to me. Humans will forget about it in a century or so and move on, and it’s not as though I’m bound by their laws.
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You've changed. Lie all you want, but I see you.
Kanoa...
While you're here, just be. Drop the shitty mask.
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[There's a wryness to his grin- a sharp edge tinged with amusement. So the human saw through him, that didn't mean he'd give him what he wanted. Of course had had to still play things safe for the sake of plausible deniability... but this was clearly turning into a sort of game to him.]
I think it's more a matter of just needing to get to know me again.
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You're right about that. And I will.
It's not so easy. I get it.
[. . .
[There's no reason not to say it. He'd never deny it. Kanoa should know.]
I love you anyway. That won't change.
Basically the same tag but in more words
Well, if nothing else, Eren managed to wipe that shitty smirk off his face. So much for his little game.]
I would argue at the logic behind that given the time that's passed, but I suppose that would be more difficult for you given what comparatively little time has passed here... Still, I'm not the same person you knew before.
You may want to learn who I am now before making such bold proclamations.
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Honestly, there's probably a lot you don't know about me too. [Or, at least, a lot of things he didn't have the ability to think critically about the last time Eren saw him.]
It doesn't matter, though.
I will get to know you again. That's because I love you.
Even if I end up hating you too, it can't change what's already happened. I'll love you forever now. [He says it as if it were a little sigh. Nothing to be done. He sips his tea again.] That's just the way it is.
1/2
2/2
I'll admit it's been many years since I last lived among them, I've nearly forgotten what it's like.
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[Huh.]
You might be right about that. [Love. Hatred. He's never met another human who didn't feel both.
[All at once, he's tired.]
You still don't sleep, do you?
(no subject)
we can wrap here if u wanna ; n ;