Mostly that reason, actually. People can't just shapeshift, that's more a vampire thing. Bestial magecraft is something else, and even that's supposed to cause incredible strain. Add on to that the fact that a phoenix is probably classified as a Phantasmal, and that all adds up to a lot of 'Magic-Crest-In-A-Jar' solutions real fucking fast.
The thing you need to understand is...however rigid an aristocracy as you can imagine, it's worse. It's drilled into the entire society as a basic truth that one's worth is equal to their power, and their power is equal to the strength of their bloodline. Everything, everything that mages are is geared towards a single goal that I'm not going to bore you to death with the details of, and the generations of lives and time spent to get there is nothing but a means to that end.
[He sighed, running a hand through his hair.]
Mages aren't human. They're murderous, bloodthirsty, backstabbing monsters. And this whole thing's just served to remind me that I've turned into more of one than I wanted to.
Edited (changed my line of thought and left shit in oop) 2023-04-15 19:27 (UTC)
Waver. I'm a fucking half-demon and I'm still human. [He thinks, anyway. He's choosing to think that.] Mages are still human, most of them are just fucking jackasses. I didn't see your...whatever the hell we're gonna call that thing with the Black Order's app, but I know you and you are not a monster. But you are a mage. Ergo et cetera et cetera.
That's not-... [He took a slow breath, unfolding the sunglasses and settling them on his head.] I mean that they've cut themselves off from sentiment and attachment. Anything that makes life worth living rather than a stepping stone for a bloodline's advancement. I can't call that anything but a monster.
My point is I've been turning into my predecessor. And I can't lose myself to something like that.
...I don't know. More like I'm actively in the process of catching myself. I have to be Lord El-Melloi II, but I can't be like the person who held the title before me. So it's...just finding somewhere in the middle.
I know I'm not exactly great at showing it, but...I'm grateful to have friends like you and all the others. So, you know...thanks. I appreciate everything that all of you have done for me.
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[at least he's stressed about something normal(?)]
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I'm the only normal person in the Mage's Association.
[and fucking look at him]
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Jesus fucking Christ.
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[He sighed, running a hand through his hair.]
Mages aren't human. They're murderous, bloodthirsty, backstabbing monsters. And this whole thing's just served to remind me that I've turned into more of one than I wanted to.
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My point is I've been turning into my predecessor. And I can't lose myself to something like that.
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But you caught yourself.
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We try. Sorry I couldn't go in and help get you out, by the way.
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[A beat.]
Oh, it's a trumpeter swan, by the way.
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[Look, tell him that wasn't the best way to get Waver to stop dwelling for now.]
Have fun with that!