2022-05-29 Good Morning, Gentleman - Gerhard

Gerhard stands, hovering a hand over the diamond box. The liquid inside swirls, twisting and moving, as though it would reach out and touch his fingers.

He lays his palm down on the top, listening for the sound of the presence in his head.

"Gentleman. I have some questions."

Gerhard feels a cool cold sensation quickly run up his arm but it dissipates almost instantly. He feels a presence slowly enter into his mind, like someone coming towards you walking down a long corridor. It's a gentle and almost calming presence.

"Hello there my dear boy, what can I help you with?" comes Gentleman's reply.

Gerhard shivers from the sensation, though whether it is from the chill creeping up from his fingers or from the new presence in his mind, he is unsure. "If we are to be spending some time together, I want to know you better. What are you to Andromeda and Mister? Why do they call you Father?"

"Ah that one is rather simple. I was their steward, same as what Andromeda is to you now. I am the one to whom they connected to the Staircase through and the one who embraced them and re-birthed them into what you know today."

Through this connection Gerhard can feel Gentleman's pride both for Mister and Andromeda and also for doing his duty to the Staircase. Gerhard is not sure how he is able to understand this, but the connection seems to allow it.

"Hmm. Then if you were Andromeda and Mister's steward, who brought you to the Staircase? How did you become a... hmm. What shall I call all of you? Stewards?"

"Ah yes. Mother, a wonderful steward, oh you would be terrified if you met her, she had a command of the Staircase like no other. Truly special." You can feel Gentleman drift away for a second lost in thought and then snaps back. "Oh, what to call us. Stewards is probably more of a title than a name. Most refer to us as The Infinite."

"The Infinite." Gerhard rolls the words around with his tongue. "How old are you then? How old are Mister, and Andromeda? How often are new Infinite... created?"

"To be honest I stopped counting some time ago, but I do remember when the Blood War started. As for Mister and Andromeda, he is definitely older but I cannot recall when they were re-birthed. In regards for how often we are birthed, it happens whenever someone is ready for it. For example, Copernicus has travelled for a long time now and it will be a while still before he is ready. Lamel will undergo the rebirth much sooner."

Hearing that Lamel is well on her way to becoming one of The Infinite unsettles Gerhard, and his mind latches on to the idea. It's one thing to be told that he will become part of The Staircase in due course; it's another to see it happening in front of you.

And for Gentleman to recall the first days of the Blood War…

He shakes his head. "What happened to you, Gentleman? Why do you look like... well, why do you look like the silver of the Call, just a bit.. darker? Why would Mister want me to steal you for him?"

"Well as you know I had a vision, a vision of the Staircase opening its doors fully and permanently. It would be glorious. However, the Others saw the results and deemed that it was not in the Staircase's best intentions to allow this to happen, and thus they punished me the only way that they can. We Infinite cannot die as long as the Staircase exists, so they instead imprisoned me in a way that I am cut off from the Staircase, unable to influence it or any of its inhabitants. What you see is my body. Trust me, I look much better when I'm out of the box." He pauses. "As for what Mister wanted me for I cannot say, I am no longer connected to him. I cannot see or feel what he thinks, but I do have my hopes. My vision came from the Staircase itself. Perhaps it granted Mister this, and he is trying to take up my mantle? A prodigal son, I think is the phrase you would use."

Gerhard mulls it over. "Thank you, Gentleman. You've given me a lot to think about."

He moves to take his hand off of the diamond panel, and pauses a moment. "I'll check in regularly if you… need anything. But I assume you'll be fine."

He lifts his hand, severing the connection, and begins the motions of getting ready for the day.