01-04-2026, 04:46 PM
((Ooc: Sorry this took so long - It's not easy for me to get into his head))
Clarity.
That had been what tonight was about. It was about finding out where things lay and Elend's own place in it. Ozy had once had his respect. His talent as a performer was amazing. He was an incredibly attractive man. But beyond that, the man was incredibly dull.
Elend hadn't wanted to play this game tonight. There wasn't a reason to. Ozy had started it for no other reason than that was his MO. He lived and breathed it. Manipulation was a useful tool, but that's all it was - a tool. It was a tool to be used when necessary, and then put back to be used when necessary. Maintenance was necessary. Sharpening the skill was something needed, but oversharpening a tool made it weak and brittle. And that trick with the woman, looking past her and giving a moment of attention. Ozy was a one trick pony. It was disappointing.
Elend should leave, there really wasn't a reason to stay, but he had found his moment of clarity. Ozy had been right - he had aged gracefully. Ozy of course had meant it as an insult. Aging wasn't a bad thing even if the effects of it were. That is what the Di Inferi were about - immortality. Aging had given Elend wisdom - a wisdom Ozy would never understand. The moment was great. The future was everything.
"Truly, Moscow is the center of civilization - yes all decadence is here," he said, his expression neutral. "But too much decadence and it's no longer decadent. It becomes commonplace. My trip to Oslo was simply a palate cleanser."
In that moment of clarity, Elend knew that should he find the secret - the secret to the Ascendancy's slow aging or the truths beyond myths that Ozy wasn't worthy of them. He wasn't the type to move past the moment. He saw small instances - not the whole picture. He'd rely on gossip and rumors to live his life. That was fine enough for him. Elend had more important things to worry about.
Clarity.
That had been what tonight was about. It was about finding out where things lay and Elend's own place in it. Ozy had once had his respect. His talent as a performer was amazing. He was an incredibly attractive man. But beyond that, the man was incredibly dull.
Elend hadn't wanted to play this game tonight. There wasn't a reason to. Ozy had started it for no other reason than that was his MO. He lived and breathed it. Manipulation was a useful tool, but that's all it was - a tool. It was a tool to be used when necessary, and then put back to be used when necessary. Maintenance was necessary. Sharpening the skill was something needed, but oversharpening a tool made it weak and brittle. And that trick with the woman, looking past her and giving a moment of attention. Ozy was a one trick pony. It was disappointing.
Elend should leave, there really wasn't a reason to stay, but he had found his moment of clarity. Ozy had been right - he had aged gracefully. Ozy of course had meant it as an insult. Aging wasn't a bad thing even if the effects of it were. That is what the Di Inferi were about - immortality. Aging had given Elend wisdom - a wisdom Ozy would never understand. The moment was great. The future was everything.
"Truly, Moscow is the center of civilization - yes all decadence is here," he said, his expression neutral. "But too much decadence and it's no longer decadent. It becomes commonplace. My trip to Oslo was simply a palate cleanser."
In that moment of clarity, Elend knew that should he find the secret - the secret to the Ascendancy's slow aging or the truths beyond myths that Ozy wasn't worthy of them. He wasn't the type to move past the moment. He saw small instances - not the whole picture. He'd rely on gossip and rumors to live his life. That was fine enough for him. Elend had more important things to worry about.