"It's an auction, Doctor. If you did not want to be outbid you should never have started. 6,000,000."

"All that could go towards your funding. 4,500,000."

"2,500,000."

No explanation.

~without considering the consequences.

....he doesn't need to bare witness to my sacrifice any more than he needs to be involved in the war itself.... he just needs sufficient enough distraction to keep him occupied elsewhere."

~the war is over, so there's no risk he'll do something reckless or try to stop me." Thrain shifts, glancing back down at the photo still in his hand.

"...for as much as he'll understand, there will always be that part of him that can't accept it and if he finds himself desperate enough, he'll act~

~but as it stands, my options are limited and time is growing short." He pauses, shifting his head to look up at the Iudex just as the colour starts to return to his blinded eye.

"...if... I tell him, I need you to promise me that you're going to help me keep him away from Natlan. At least until~

~of quiet thought to himself.

"....if there were another way to trigger the paradox and still walk away from Natlan, I would make that choice in a heartbeat...." He admits quietly, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

"If such an opportunity arises, I will take it into consideration,~

Again, Thrain falls quiet while Neuvillette speaks and gets back to work, lowering and angling his head here and there to make access to the rot easier for the other, a low, rumbling hum pulling from him.

It's only when the dragon finishes that he finds it in him to speak again after a few minutes~

// now add his proper height of 7'5" 😂

// I updated you on Discord 😂 Cap is officially 7'5" for my interp

// As per our Discord @oceaniimperium.bsky.social