"They might," Astral said. "But the religion isn't set up the best to accept new worshippers…" Astral let out a long sigh, head going back. More likely than not, the gods would get pulled out of this world before that was able to happen, and that was scarier than just disappearing. Mother would save them, but at what cost? To be preserved, in glass boxes?
“Well that is very unfortunate then.” He sighed softly. He didn’t want to think about that possibility of Simon disappearing with Astral.
"Yes it is. It's worrying, I must admit…" Astral hoped the child would help. He wanted to be a father, that was the main reason, but perhaps… a new generation would bring new life to the pantheon.
“Can I ask you a question?” He asked, looking up at Astral again. His mind was on a similar thought. About the kid.
"Sure, that's how conversations work." Astral looked over as well, listening.
“Why are you making Simon have the kid anyway?” He asked. “If you really wanted a kid, there were a bunch of other ways you could have gotten one.”
"I've adopted, many times before," Astral said softly. "And I've raised souls since their creation. But… it's not the same. I didn't even think it would work, with Simon. I'd tried so many times before… And when I did realize it would work, it was too late to do anything. I'm pretty sure Simon would hate me more if I had tried to force him to have an abortion…"
He sighed softly. “Well I guess that does make sense…” he didn’t even want to think about how many poor souls have suffered before Simon for that purpose.
Most of them were still in this room, actually. He'd tried with so many different women over the centuries… And now he had finally succeeded with a man.
"I… I do regret it, you know."
“That still doesn’t make it right. It makes it better but not by much.” He said. He could tell that this hadn’t been Astral’s first time doing something like that to someone.
"I know…" Astral folded his hands in his lap, looking out over the living room a moment. He could point out every single one he'd hurt like that if he wanted to.
He sighed, just falling silent for a moment before thinking of something. “Are you ever going to do that to him again?”
Astral shook his head quickly.
"Never." The thought appalled him.
He nodded. “Good.” By how quickly Astral had responded, Emile was inclined to believe him. “I think he’s still scared that you’re going to.”
"I don't blame him," Astral said softly. "He has no reason to trust my word, after what I did to make sure he didn't know."
He sighed softly. Poor Simon… “He really liked you before, did you know that? He looked really happy…” he commented absentmindedly.
Astral nodded mutely. He'd noticed. It was why he had messed with Simon's memories, and had come out with the truth instead of letting him figure it out on his own.
"I… I know…"
Emile nodded, leaning back into the couch, having nothing else to say at the moment.
Astral let out a sigh, silent as well. The conversation had soured already, then. Ah well.
Not necessarily, Emile just didn’t know what to talk about anymore. He’d still be available to talk if Astral wanted to.
Astral was quiet for a bit, thinking.
"How much do you know, of what's happened to Simon here?" Astral finally asked.
“Not much.” He answered honestly. “Only the stuff I’ve overheard him talk about.” So Emile was most likely in the graveyard when Simon had visited.
So Astral hadn't been the only one watching over Simon that day.
"I see… there are some things Simon still doesn't remember, I think," the god admitted, voice quiet.
“That doesn’t surprise me, his mind still needs time to process. How much do you think he has left to remember?” He asked, curiously.
"I'm sure he remembers that night," Astral said softly. "But I don't think he remembers his first. It was… gruesome." Astral shivered some, not looking at the 'painting' on his wall.