[ too much has happened for dextera to have effectively engaged with anyone outside his tightest, most immediate circle of himself and makoto. he hasn’t even managed to go see himeka and abel with the fear that his defense of makoto—however quiet, internal as it is—would be known and resented.
but he has to reach out to somebody. he fears hayame’s rash decision will bring more violence to them no matter how careful he is. he recalls claude seeming composed, if blunt, to the pleroma in the days following the raid. there’s no one else he knows to turn to—ryunosuke, maybe, but ryunosuke may not be able to make a decision about this. claude is new, and therefore, he can be objective. he isn’t tied down to any one person among them. ]
Claude?
[ when claude answers the impression of communion, he’ll be greeted by the small echo of a voice. ]
[Claude's still getting used to communion, particularly the nudge of being contacted out of the blue instead of reaching out to someone first. He doesn't recognise the little voice, so he sound a little surprised in turn when he replies.]
That's me. Who is this?
[He sounds guarded, at least for now, but he's still open to talking.]
[ dextera knows he’s not making his case very well, so he takes a deep breath—audible through communion—and exhales it. his voice, though it retains its intangible quality, is marginally louder the second time. ]
I don’t think she knew what she was doing when she captured him, but she won’t let anyone help her… and now we have a prisoner favored by the Regent. They’re going to come for us.
Favoured by the Regent...? She said before that he was possibly some kind of spymaster, but I didn't realise he was that important.
[He wonders what it takes to get that kind of favour. Nothing pretty, he imagines. He does sound apprehensive, but overall he's staying calm, particularly for Dextera's sake, who seems so agitated.]
[ dextera instantly wonders if he’s said too much. he’s here because he wants to protect makoto, and makoto has done plenty well at putting a spotlight on himself, but dextera still owes it to him not to use their friendship as intel. ]
…no. I only know a little. But I’ve seen his shard, and it’s been touched by the Regent… it’s not like other Kenoma shards.
[He saw the spears in the city, and if those are an expression of the Regent's power, he can probably guess it follows the same trend of resembling dark magic. But the more detail Dextera can give, the better.]
[ dextera doesn’t know how much more he should say. in a way, it feels like if he doesn’t say anything, he’s less culpable. so with a massive wave of guilt, he gives claude simply the image of makoto’s shard as he’s seen it: cradled in dextera’s own hands, a deep red the color of blood with a crack down the middle. it’s held together by something unnatural, a force that dextera now recognizes as the regent. ]
[The guilt doesn't go unnoticed, but that's not his immediate concern, so much as the shock of the image Dextera presents.]
This seems a lot less gentle than the Regent "touching" it. Did they break his shard, too?
[It's horrifying, and Dextera will be able to feel his revulsion. Even for someone still getting used to having a shard at all, just having Wrathion touch his back at the Seeker shrine was more than Claude could stand, so he can't even imagine what this would feel like.]
[It's not a question. Everything points to it without him needing to say as much, which he suspects this is what this is really about.]
I don't think she's going to execute the prisoner when he's more use to her alive than dead, if that's what you're worried about. But you're also right to assume they'll come looking for him, if the Regent values him. In that respect, what are you asking for my help for? I'm just a newbie who doesn't know anything.
[He might sound a little bitter and sarcastic at that part, but it's a genuine point of confusion, too. Why not talk to another Pleroma?]
[ dextera hasn’t made a secret of it, and certainly his haste in trying to reach out was motivated by care for makoto specifically, but. there is a reason he came to claude, rather than another member of their little sect.
he’s still quiet for a moment. ]
You do know something. We all have something we can do. I thought…
[ pause. ]
You were right. We don’t know what we’re doing. I don’t think she does, either. If you can help get M back to the Regent without anyone getting hurt or putting anyone in danger… I think that would be enough. For most of us.
And I would do that... Why, exactly? You think they're going to leave us alone if we take his head and roll it merrily back down the hill it came from? [...Makoto bouncing off rocks and cursing all the way down...]
I can't say I'm thrilled at the prospect of the Kenoma finding us, but I trust Hayame is taking the right precautions to stay hidden. I've already talked to her about it.
Besides, I'm more interested in how we can use the situation to our advantage, in a way where no one gets hurt. Well, except for any Kenoma rescue parties, that is.
[ to his credit, dextera doesn’t take offense. this is precisely why he came to someone who might have a more even approach about it, though he does inevitably flinch when claude takes the tone he does. ]
…how can we use it to our advantage?
[ his voice is cautious, but the fact that he hasn’t defended trying to kindly return makoto means that he’s willing to hear claude’s perspective. ]
We give them a taste of their own medicine. Trick them into thinking our prisoner is somewhere he isn't, and lure them into a trap. If they survive it, they'll think twice about attacking again... Given the terrain and what they're up against, it would turn into a battle of attrition, and they'd be the ones at a disadvantage this time.
[Raiding Achamoth to snag some prisoners on public display was dangerous, but at least the entry and exit points were obvious, as were the targets. A huge forest that blocks scrying filled with mist and dangerous creatures, not so much.]
They might even be forced to come to the negotiation table when they realise what they're up against. Which means...
[Well, he's sure Dextera can fill in the blanks. That part was his idea, after all.]
[ it’s a better idea than the one dextera had, which was of course to simply give makoto up as soon as the kenoma inevitably came knocking. he doesn’t have the tactical mind to come up with anything better—he does what people tell him to, right up until he decides he doesn’t want to anymore. ]
…I don’t want a repeat of what happened in Achamoth. That’s all.
[ it had been horrible for them all. claude has to understand that, which is why he scolded them; dextera believes he doesn’t want lives to be lost on either side, or for people to be tortured for information. if they can agree on that, then dextera is willing to let makoto be used as a negotiation piece.
not that he ever had a choice in the matter, but at least he won’t interfere. ]
Are you going to tell the others? When we meet, in a few days…
Neither do I, believe me. Making them come to us on our own terms is a way to minimise the fighting.
[And they still get something out of it, instead of surrendering the advantage Hayame brought them. The Kenoma need to be taught Greentruth is a place to be feared and avoided, if they're going to come here at all; it's a way to protect all the Pleroma in the long run.]
And yeah, that's the plan. I can think of at least a couple of people who are likely to back me up on it, so it's worth being transparent with everyone.
[ dextera realizes it sounds odd since he came to makoto’s defense, but he’s been here since the beginning and perhaps another voice can help claude’s hope for people to believe in his ability to help. ]
Hayame… doesn’t like me, or trust me, but that’s okay. I think other people do, so… if we can work together…
She's trying to help in the best way she knows, and you're trying to help in your way. [He'll just... gloss over Dextera's misplaced affection for the Regent's pet attack dog.] If we can string it all together in one big plan, it works out, and everyone's happy.
[Well, maybe. He's sure some are still going to disagree, he's not naive enough to assume otherwise, but diplomacy is all about compromises. It's not like those who aren't on board will be forced to help, either, unlike Achamoth, where it felt like there was less choice.]
Let's just keep this scheming session to ourselves until the council, though. Emotions are running high as is, and we don't need anyone to get the wrong idea until it's time to table it.
[ dextera hopes people have calmed down now that himeka and abel are home and have had a little time to physically recover from the ordeal. estinien’s loss is still a great one, a traumatic one, but a plan is better than nothing. ]
Okay.
[ he seems like he’s going to leave it there, but he does feel the need to add one thing. ]
…I can’t speak outside of Communion. I don’t know how much help I can be, but… I really will try.
It's okay. Everyone still deserves a turn to speak. How about you give us a hand signal when you wanna say something, and you can pass someone a note to read out? Or you can commune with someone who can talk on your behalf.
[It's not a perfect solution, but it's something.]
You're not the only one in that situation, besides. Hayame won't be able to make the meeting herself, for obvious reasons, so I'm pretty sure I'll have to play mouthpiece if she needs to say stuff.
[ dextera has learned to make it work with his limitations, and no one except hayame has been unkind about his inability to speak, but it’s still somewhat shocking to hear someone to immediately and constructively come up with a solution. although simple, the sentiment is appreciated. ]
…
[ he’s silent in response for a moment, and then his voice comes through again with a tinge of gratefulness. ]
[It's not the first time he's had to think about a situation like this, when he has a classmate so timid she struggles to speak to anyone if an animal isn't involved. Eventually he figured out it was best if she was supported in group discussions by someone who could nudge her into talking -- namely, Hilda.]
Don't worry about it. And if you think of anything else in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out again, all right?
[ dextera’s instinct is to nod unobtrusively, but of course claude cannot see that. verbal confirmation of his kind offer is required. ]
…thank you, Claude.
[ the second round of gratefulness is a little more subdued, but no less sincere. he’s just not used to casual acceptance, especially considering all that’s just happened to him. ]
Not back in Greentruth yet, but alive. Physically. He still knows little about how their escape panned out, and while he expects to find the answers once he makes it back to Greentruth proper... well, he does feel a little responsible for one new Aion's involvement.
So he calls out via communion, and hopes for the best.] Claude? I trust if I've reached you, you made it out in one piece.
[The contact is unexpected, but he recognises who it is, at least.]
Hey... Syrlya, isn't it? Made it out by the skin of my teeth, but I'm fine. [He did get a minor injury and a few scrapes, but nothing to write home about where healing magic is involved.] How about you?
I'm fine. [Now, anyway. Convenient thing about temporary death: it takes care of the multitude of wounds he's collected over his body.] Glad to hear the same of you. That... didn't exactly go the direction we'd initially hoped.
[Not that their plan of attack off Meteion's map was ironclad... but it didn't really account for a dragon. Or a public burning.]
It was a long shot from the start. [A wash is better than a failure, if you're just looking backwards. But Syrlya's focus is on the future--they won't win a war with every battle like this.] But we'll learn from it. Did we... lose anyone else permanently?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
leicesters) wrote2022-08-10 09:44 am
christening his inbox… early sekiseri.
but he has to reach out to somebody. he fears hayame’s rash decision will bring more violence to them no matter how careful he is. he recalls claude seeming composed, if blunt, to the pleroma in the days following the raid. there’s no one else he knows to turn to—ryunosuke, maybe, but ryunosuke may not be able to make a decision about this. claude is new, and therefore, he can be objective. he isn’t tied down to any one person among them. ]
Claude?
[ when claude answers the impression of communion, he’ll be greeted by the small echo of a voice. ]
…is this Claude?
this space has been blessed by dex... 🙏
That's me. Who is this?
[He sounds guarded, at least for now, but he's still open to talking.]
no subject
…I’m a member of the Pleroma. [ he speaks slowly, picking his way through words when speaking to a new person. ] Dextera.
no subject
[Not that he's actually given his name to any of them, though, so his tone is playful enough even as he says it.]
I'm kidding. What do you need?
no subject
I need help. The centaur woman… the head she took… I’m afraid of what’s going to happen.
[ he hasn’t explained why he’s come to claude about it yet, but really, he doesn’t realize he needs to. ]
no subject
Afraid... for her? For the prisoner? Afraid of the Kenoma looking for revenge? You'll have to narrow it down a bit.
no subject
[ dextera knows he’s not making his case very well, so he takes a deep breath—audible through communion—and exhales it. his voice, though it retains its intangible quality, is marginally louder the second time. ]
I don’t think she knew what she was doing when she captured him, but she won’t let anyone help her… and now we have a prisoner favored by the Regent. They’re going to come for us.
no subject
[He wonders what it takes to get that kind of favour. Nothing pretty, he imagines. He does sound apprehensive, but overall he's staying calm, particularly for Dextera's sake, who seems so agitated.]
Can you tell me what you know about his position?
no subject
…no. I only know a little. But I’ve seen his shard, and it’s been touched by the Regent… it’s not like other Kenoma shards.
no subject
[He saw the spears in the city, and if those are an expression of the Regent's power, he can probably guess it follows the same trend of resembling dark magic. But the more detail Dextera can give, the better.]
no subject
…
no subject
This seems a lot less gentle than the Regent "touching" it. Did they break his shard, too?
[It's horrifying, and Dextera will be able to feel his revulsion. Even for someone still getting used to having a shard at all, just having Wrathion touch his back at the Seeker shrine was more than Claude could stand, so he can't even imagine what this would feel like.]
no subject
I don’t know. I don’t think the Regent would do that… but I don’t know what happened. M has been through a lot.
[ of his own making, yes, but still a lot. ]
no subject
[It's not a question. Everything points to it without him needing to say as much, which he suspects this is what this is really about.]
I don't think she's going to execute the prisoner when he's more use to her alive than dead, if that's what you're worried about. But you're also right to assume they'll come looking for him, if the Regent values him. In that respect, what are you asking for my help for? I'm just a newbie who doesn't know anything.
[He might sound a little bitter and sarcastic at that part, but it's a genuine point of confusion, too. Why not talk to another Pleroma?]
no subject
[ dextera hasn’t made a secret of it, and certainly his haste in trying to reach out was motivated by care for makoto specifically, but. there is a reason he came to claude, rather than another member of their little sect.
he’s still quiet for a moment. ]
You do know something. We all have something we can do. I thought…
[ pause. ]
You were right. We don’t know what we’re doing. I don’t think she does, either. If you can help get M back to the Regent without anyone getting hurt or putting anyone in danger… I think that would be enough. For most of us.
no subject
I can't say I'm thrilled at the prospect of the Kenoma finding us, but I trust Hayame is taking the right precautions to stay hidden. I've already talked to her about it.
Besides, I'm more interested in how we can use the situation to our advantage, in a way where no one gets hurt. Well, except for any Kenoma rescue parties, that is.
no subject
…how can we use it to our advantage?
[ his voice is cautious, but the fact that he hasn’t defended trying to kindly return makoto means that he’s willing to hear claude’s perspective. ]
no subject
[Raiding Achamoth to snag some prisoners on public display was dangerous, but at least the entry and exit points were obvious, as were the targets. A huge forest that blocks scrying filled with mist and dangerous creatures, not so much.]
They might even be forced to come to the negotiation table when they realise what they're up against. Which means...
[Well, he's sure Dextera can fill in the blanks. That part was his idea, after all.]
no subject
…I don’t want a repeat of what happened in Achamoth. That’s all.
[ it had been horrible for them all. claude has to understand that, which is why he scolded them; dextera believes he doesn’t want lives to be lost on either side, or for people to be tortured for information. if they can agree on that, then dextera is willing to let makoto be used as a negotiation piece.
not that he ever had a choice in the matter, but at least he won’t interfere. ]
Are you going to tell the others? When we meet, in a few days…
no subject
[And they still get something out of it, instead of surrendering the advantage Hayame brought them. The Kenoma need to be taught Greentruth is a place to be feared and avoided, if they're going to come here at all; it's a way to protect all the Pleroma in the long run.]
And yeah, that's the plan. I can think of at least a couple of people who are likely to back me up on it, so it's worth being transparent with everyone.
no subject
[ dextera realizes it sounds odd since he came to makoto’s defense, but he’s been here since the beginning and perhaps another voice can help claude’s hope for people to believe in his ability to help. ]
Hayame… doesn’t like me, or trust me, but that’s okay. I think other people do, so… if we can work together…
no subject
[Well, maybe. He's sure some are still going to disagree, he's not naive enough to assume otherwise, but diplomacy is all about compromises. It's not like those who aren't on board will be forced to help, either, unlike Achamoth, where it felt like there was less choice.]
Let's just keep this scheming session to ourselves until the council, though. Emotions are running high as is, and we don't need anyone to get the wrong idea until it's time to table it.
no subject
Okay.
[ he seems like he’s going to leave it there, but he does feel the need to add one thing. ]
…I can’t speak outside of Communion. I don’t know how much help I can be, but… I really will try.
no subject
[It's not a perfect solution, but it's something.]
You're not the only one in that situation, besides. Hayame won't be able to make the meeting herself, for obvious reasons, so I'm pretty sure I'll have to play mouthpiece if she needs to say stuff.
no subject
…
[ he’s silent in response for a moment, and then his voice comes through again with a tinge of gratefulness. ]
Thank you. I’ll do that.
no subject
Don't worry about it. And if you think of anything else in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out again, all right?
no subject
…thank you, Claude.
[ the second round of gratefulness is a little more subdued, but no less sincere. he’s just not used to casual acceptance, especially considering all that’s just happened to him. ]
Weekish after the raid
Not back in Greentruth yet, but alive. Physically. He still knows little about how their escape panned out, and while he expects to find the answers once he makes it back to Greentruth proper... well, he does feel a little responsible for one new Aion's involvement.
So he calls out via communion, and hopes for the best.] Claude? I trust if I've reached you, you made it out in one piece.
no subject
Hey... Syrlya, isn't it? Made it out by the skin of my teeth, but I'm fine. [He did get a minor injury and a few scrapes, but nothing to write home about where healing magic is involved.] How about you?
no subject
[Not that their plan of attack off Meteion's map was ironclad... but it didn't really account for a dragon. Or a public burning.]
no subject
[But he's already made his feelings on the matter clear, even if he's not sure whether Syrlya heard his communion before.]
no subject
[Besides Estinien. They all saw that.]