[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. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
leicesters) wrote2022-08-10 09:44 am
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. ]