[ K's exactly right. He doesn't like talking about it. The whole war business had once been so clear and so immediate, but the longer he's separated from it, the less relevant and muddier it all seems. Operating on his own had taught the Technical Boy a thing or two about his role in all of this, and so had his struggle to foster the free will growing in K's strict programming. The similarities between the two are not lost on him. But there's more to it than that. ]
Nothing. [ he admits. ] Nothing has given me that impression. [ He bites down on his own lip, nearly hard enough to draw blood. ] You're respectful, and you've been very patient. You deserve straight answers.
Do you know you're the first non-god I've said any of this to? Other than Shadow, but he's Wednesday's--[ a dismissive hand gesture ] whatever. Fucking pawn, I guess, so he doesn't count. [ He gives a soft sigh. ] The impending war back where I came from is hardly relevant here in this version of reality because there's no one here to fight it, other than some old leprechaun who'd take my head off if he gets the chance again. Bringing it up seems to serve no purpose other than to listen to the sound of my own voice. And if I'm talking, not doing, that's where I start to lose people's attention. [ which is the crux of the matter, the reason he asked about K's sincerity of interest. ] Typically, anyway. They think I don't notice, but I do.
[ Which is doubly a shame because the technology god both really loves to talk and really enjoys the sound of his own voice. He likes to know things and to share information, but he does come on a little strong. ]
I won't change the subject. The New Gods fight for a good cause--you've even shown me what one possible victory looks like--but it's still fucking messy. I can tell you that my role is to coax the Old Gods out of their primitive caves and into the light of the New way. We are the ones providing the platform, but each god gets to decide their own fate. We're offering exposure, distribution, advertising. Many have done very well on my watch. Who knows why they won't take the deal. I don't ask for much. [ It's less like enslavement and more like the mob, favors owed and all that. And Tech Boy collects on his. ]
I care what you think of me, K. It's not a clean break if I start digging into the details. War is fucking brutal. [ At some point, he silently dismissed the Child from the piano, and they're alone now. ] And I don't want you tired of the sound of my voice.
no subject
Nothing. [ he admits. ] Nothing has given me that impression. [ He bites down on his own lip, nearly hard enough to draw blood. ] You're respectful, and you've been very patient. You deserve straight answers.
Do you know you're the first non-god I've said any of this to? Other than Shadow, but he's Wednesday's--[ a dismissive hand gesture ] whatever. Fucking pawn, I guess, so he doesn't count. [ He gives a soft sigh. ] The impending war back where I came from is hardly relevant here in this version of reality because there's no one here to fight it, other than some old leprechaun who'd take my head off if he gets the chance again. Bringing it up seems to serve no purpose other than to listen to the sound of my own voice. And if I'm talking, not doing, that's where I start to lose people's attention. [ which is the crux of the matter, the reason he asked about K's sincerity of interest. ] Typically, anyway. They think I don't notice, but I do.
[ Which is doubly a shame because the technology god both really loves to talk and really enjoys the sound of his own voice. He likes to know things and to share information, but he does come on a little strong. ]
I won't change the subject. The New Gods fight for a good cause--you've even shown me what one possible victory looks like--but it's still fucking messy. I can tell you that my role is to coax the Old Gods out of their primitive caves and into the light of the New way. We are the ones providing the platform, but each god gets to decide their own fate. We're offering exposure, distribution, advertising. Many have done very well on my watch. Who knows why they won't take the deal. I don't ask for much. [ It's less like enslavement and more like the mob, favors owed and all that. And Tech Boy collects on his. ]
I care what you think of me, K. It's not a clean break if I start digging into the details. War is fucking brutal. [ At some point, he silently dismissed the Child from the piano, and they're alone now. ] And I don't want you tired of the sound of my voice.