[center][h1][color=00aeef]Chres[/color]
[color=8493ca]The Being of Many Names (A.K.A. Bud)[/color][/h1][/center]

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Again a shadow seemed fall upon the room when the name, Vi'daerus, was spoken.

Bud cautiously glanced around only to give what seem to be an almost nervous chuckle. [color=8493ca]"Not of the faith, are you Ice Flower?"[/color] He mused at Karina's words. [color=8493ca]"Well you might be happy to hear that neither am I. They call me the Lord of Senses. Though honestly, I would prefer to not really be a Lord of anything. If you would take away anything from this encounter, then take away this. I do not wish to fashion myself as a god. So please, if you would be so kind, spread word to my would be 'followers' and tell them to go... sniff a butt."[/color] Bud smiled. Amused by his very unclever butt joke.

[color=8493ca]"Their Goooooooooooood commands it!"[/color] He spoke the last sentence as if preaching to a quire. Hands shooting into the air.

[color=00aeef]"You still haven't answered the question."[/color] Chres growled. His patience was thin. Not just due to Bud's annoying nature, the pain from his injuries or from to his own tiredness. No, he feared this lack of patience was starting to come from something much deeper.

Bud eyed Chres, and gave him a lopsided grin. [color=8493ca]"Alright. Alright. I give."[/color] He said. His hands raised in the air innocently. [color=8493ca]"Believe me though, the answer is not very satisfying."[/color]

Bud snapped his fingers. A chair appeared behind him. Taking a seat, he said. [color=8493ca]"I'm actually not entirely sure what I am."[/color] Bud's pride and arrogance seemed to fall away with his words. His coy smile turning into one far less certain. He seemed to age in that moment. Not physically, but mentally.

[color=8493ca]"At the very least, I seem to be a bubble of awareness, shattered long ago. I can create these temporary bubbles of existence, occasionally move minor objects to and fro. Aside from that though, I can't do much else... well, other than my ability to form pacts with the likes of you.[/color]

[color=8493ca]"My shattering imprisoned me to this land. Trapped me for many a year. I do not seek godhood. I simply wish to be free from this world and the bonds that tie me here. The Cult's continued existence is the final healthy bond that holds me to this world."[/color]

[color=8493ca]"That is why I came to you. By gambling on all of you, I knew that at the very least it would save you all from the day of Madness that struck Shimmertown the day after. So while yes, I am using you as pawns, I did so knowing that it might save your lives for another day."[/color]

Bud sighed. He bent forward in his seat and looked to Karina. Bags lined the bottom of his eyes. [color=8493ca]"I have seen all this world has to offer. It tires me, Karina. Makes my essence grow thin. To see the realms that lie beyond, that is what I need. For this prison, it drives me mad. It is a madness I'm sure you have already seen. A madness I wish to stave off a while longer."[/color]

Chres frowned. He wasn't entirely sure what to make of Bud's words. The man joked from one moment only to become serious the next. 

[color=00aeef]"And yet,"[/color] Chres spoke hesitantly. The itch, it clawed at the back of his neck. [color=00aeef]"when we met, you claimed that your involvement wouldn't save my life. You claimed I would survive the aftermath."[/color]

[color=8493ca]"I said, they would take you. Convert you."[/color] Bud waved his hand to the corpse of the Seed. [color=8493ca]"Did my involvement not save you?"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Only if what you claim is true."[/color] Chres said coldly, the itch digging ever deeper. 

[i]'You don’t understand’[/i] His wife's words rang through his head. 

[color=00aeef]"And even then, I wonder if a little Insight wouldn't have hurt."[/color]

Bud blinked. A cold look crossing his face. For the first time since he first appeared before the Pactmakers, Bud actually seemed bothered by one of their statements. [color=8493ca]"Then by all means, run off to your friends in the Cult, Chres. I'm sure they would welcome you with open arms."[/color]

Now it was Chres' turn to blink. Why had he said that? He shook his head. The wariness was getting to him. [color=00aeef]"I'm sorry."[/color] He said warily to the others. [color=00aeef]"I didn't mean..."[/color]

Bud gave a dismissive wave of his hand. [color=8493ca]"Noooo..."[/color] He said getting up from his seat. With a snap the chair disappeared. [color=8493ca]"I'm sure you didn't mean anything."[/color]

He gave Chres a smile that didn't reach his eyes. In that moment, the ware and tear seemed to vanish from Bud's face entirely. The normal Bud began to resurface.

[color=8493ca]"You know on second thought, Karina. Maybe you shouldn't go around telling people that I told them to go sniff a butt. Senses no! For if you did, I fear they actually might start doing it! Knowing them, they would make it some sort of tradition! Can you imagine, Karina? Everyone sitting around for evening prayer only to be told, 'And now we end this ceremony with the ceremonial sniffing of the butt.'"[/color] 

Hand this his face, Bud shook his head. [color=8493ca]"Ooooh, the humanity!"[/color]