A Chronometric Defect

Fah, Truth is bothering me now.

[...]

Pride » "What do YOU want?"

Truth » "Pride, I'm sorry. You know how fickle Love can be. She kicked you because she's upset and unsure of what to do."

Pride » "Truth, I knew exactly what to do, and so I did it. I came down here and got a good look at the dragon myself."

Truth » "And?"

Pride » "I've decided to submit to him."

...

[Timeout. No chat detected. Close?]

[Yes] »[No]«

...

Truth » "Pride, I can't. What you just said. You literally embody pride. That doesn't work. It'd be like me deciding to become a pathological liar. HOW."

Pride » "You virtues and your strictures. How many ways are there are to express a compulsion? Yes, I am Pride. That hasn't changed. What's changed is that I met someone more deserving of my title. My pride thus demands I venerate his superiority."

Truth » "Okay. That... Makes... Sense? Huh. I suppose this is why you're the only sin we don't collectively hate. I mean, you're rude, but that's hardly anything."

Pride » "Yes, he gave me some advice about that. I'm sorry for being arrogant in our earlier chats."

Truth » "PRIDE!"

Pride » "Yes?"

Truth » "WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?!"

Pride » "Huh? He gave me advice."

Truth » "You never apologize! For ANYTHING!"

Pride » "Exactly. How am I to be prideful if my harsh words dissuade others from embracing my greatness? When I apologize for my lack of propriety, others can then learn to appraise my limitless value more fairly. Is that an issue?"

Truth » "Justice, and now you too. Does he have some kind of mind control talent?"

Pride » "It's not mind control, Truth. His words rung true so I accepted them. Just like yours."

Truth » "Oh! Thank goodness."

Pride » "Though, his Will is made entirely of a substance that can perform mind control, among many other things. That's how he killed Greed. He gave me permission to tell you."

Truth » "WHAT— WHY?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"

Pride » "Honestly, he didn't need to ask. When he attached it? I didn't see him move, didn't sense it, and he did both instantly. I submitted before I even knew he was ridiculously powerful, so obviously I 'did that' because it was the sensible choice. Oh— he just told me to mention he has Greed's stats and talents. I'm disappointed I must tell you, but he didn't say you had to share. Please don't tell the other sins. I want them to pound sand."

Truth » "Pride, are you saying we lost at the moment Greed died?"

Pride » "Likely, yes. I don't know what the Abyssals would do to him, but I imagine not much."

Truth » "Huh? Why?"

Pride » "He was able to erase Parasitic Will. I no longer have that damned talent. If he can do that—"

Truth » "He can erase the Abyssal corruption they force into the Wills of those around them. Yes, I get it."

Pride » "The Abyssals are a damaged product compared to my new god. I'm prouder than ever being under his all-encompassing wings! Ha ha! Ah— I've never told you, but I hate my sin body. I've always wanted to go back to being a dragon."

Truth » "Because dragons are perfect. I know."

Pride » "That you do. It's so nice to hear it from Truth."

Truth » "That wasn't—"

Pride » "See how easy it is to twist a compulsion? Yes, I know you don't believe dragons are perfect. Still, I will NEVER stop trying to convince you, because I'm certain— we are!"

Truth » "You said, 'we are.' Not, 'I am.'"

Pride » "That's correct."

Truth » "You've really submitted. This isn't some weird game where you play up his power, then reveal you've already defeated him."

Pride » "No, but I absolutely do enjoy doing that. Quite a lot."

Truth » "Another fact of which you've readily made me cognizant."

Pride » "Just say 'I know,' Truth. Big words aren't going to impress the embodiment of pri—"

Love » "You friggin' NUTCASE!"

Pride » "Oh, Love. How long have you been lurking?"

Love » "The whole time!"

Pride » "Ah, stalker behavior. Tsk tsk."

Love » "RAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

Pride » "Love, Love. If you want to be a dragon that badly, just come see Chronovoid! He'll fix you right up. They've finished studying my sin body and moments ago started working on turning me back into a dragon."

Love » "WHAT THE"

Truth » "'What the,' indeed. Anything your god can't do?"

Love » "NO, TRUTH! Never mind that!"

Truth » "What, Love?"

Love » "Pride. Did you just say 'Chronovoid?'"

Pride » "Ah, yes. That's my god's name."

Love » "The God of Time's name. Did you both forget?"

Pride » "A Chronometric Defect. Not too similar."

Love » "What's another term for defect?"

Pride » "I see what you're saying."

Truth » "It'd be... Void."