Cel remained passive in her movements, obviously enjoying herself.
"Biologically, you'd have a very interesting time with yourself. You do not want me to describe the kind of pain and pleasure you would be going through, and odds are, you would be quite disgusted. Emotionally, it probably wouldn't be much different than with, say, a happily married couple... that is, if your own body wasn't revolting against you."
So it'd be a bit more of an investment than a normal baby. I'm glad we never got that far, then. She leaned back in the water, doing a lazy backstroke for a bit.
So tell me about this offering the world the world to the old gods thing. How do you plan to do that? Shuma didn't seem too keen on it.
"There's an old saying among our kind: 'All power exchange must be negotiated.' The statements in the original language is actually very similar to your 'quid pro quo', in that if you want something, you will have to give up something else. If I want my place by the side of Azathoth, I'm going to have to make a pretty hefty price... thankfully, life is the Daemon Sultan's currency of choice. Odds are, I'll try and turn the whole world into a giant temple of worship."
Cel sighed contentedly, the imagery flashing in her mind for a few brief moments.
"...but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. As much as I enjoy a good sacrifice, there's too much to do right now. If I go around and start enslaving nations now, people will probably react negatively."
Enslaving nations. You're kind of just you. She paused, diving down for a second.
You'd kind of need an army, and you're alone here. No one's going to follow the admittedly evil eldritch being. No offense. You're powerful and all, but...I dunno. Maybe you don't need to go back as much as you think you do.
Celephai listened patiently to Margrett, cautiously mulling over the many possibilities. She slipped into the water up to her nose, eyeing the shade hungrily. Maybe she was right, maybe Cel did need help...
"...Bringing aspects of my home here would not be too difficult, by comparison, but that would mean ruining your world beyond repair. I wouldn't need an army, I would appeal to those who desired power, manipulate them to commit their own heinous acts, drawing the eyes of my masters here, until by the wishes of your own populations that the tendrils of the Elder Gods creep down from the sky."
Celephai began creeping toward Margrett, locking into a stare with her.
Margrett threw her an amused look, but then got serious, watching her get closer.
Well...keeping the..."those who desired power" part in mind... She thought for a second.
I want to make Wistvale...bigger. Better. Expand it. I'm not...planning a takeover or anything. But...I used to be a noble. I'm not saying I want that life back quite yet, but...I don't know. I feel like I can make a difference.
"A difference? What kind of difference can be made without power, without control?"
This was all she wanted to hear. To make Wistvale grow into a massive, poisonous pustule on the world, until it's cancerous veins spread throughout the world. Cel continued sliding through the water until she was barely an inch from Margrett.
"...Tell me more. What do you hope to accomplish?"
Margrett leaned back, only slightly. She didn't quite like the look on Celephai's face, but she smiled confidently despite it.
To create something that'll be strong on its own, strong enough to expand and grow even after I'm gone. Strong enough that it looks after the people within it without falling into decadence. It'll absorb and care for those who are willing, ignore those who aren't, crush those who actively oppose it. She looked down a moment, smiling, surprised at her own plans.
Eventually. That's what I hope to do. She raised a playful eyebrow at Celephai, looking mock innocently at her.
Why? Why would a chaos thing like yourself care about law and order on this scale?
Celephai's eyes drifted about the forest canopy, as if searching for each individual possibility, isolating it, and obliterating it before moving on to the next, as if she were setting the future in stone in her mind.
Well, this is all...hypothetical anyways. I don't even know how I'd go about this. I mean, I'm even assuming you're physically capable. Margrett's black eyes flashed a mischievous gleam and she gave Celephai a sidelong look.