locked to meridian + ota

[warmare]

[Hayame had plenty to say about this disgraceful farce the moment she had regained consciousness... But she waited. She waited, so that her emotions would be as locked down and as under control as she could manage. Until only harsh anger and the burn of judgement come through- at least, for now.

First, she addresses only Meridian.]

I hope you are proud of yourself.

Those of you who have been too weak to commit properly to this cause, content to let those with drive and will do the winning of Oracles on your and your world's behalf.

Those of you who claim allegiance to Meridian but have been content to play "neutral" and hide like a weak little bug in the shadow of those more powerful than you.

Those of you who could not draw a single line in the sand and loved playing friend or whore too much to break off relations with people working to ensure that the lives of everyone in your world are snuffed out permanently.

Those of you who have refused to shatter the shards of our enemies, whining about the sanctity of a soul, even though that is the only way to kill someone properly in this twisted world.

Mourn that sun goddess for the power she possessed that our faction has lost. Mourn the kindness she showed you, if you so wish. But I will impart a lesson unto you- If someone is kind to everyone, then their kindness means absolutely nothing. That empty-headed fool of a woman had her shard shattered by the very man whose shard she protected, after I and another killed him in the labyrinth of the Harbinger Oracle trial. If she had given that foul thing back to us so that I might crush it beneath my hoof, then she would be alive today.

That is what kindness of that nature will reap you. A disgraceful public execution at the hands of a wizened, corpse-gnawing gaki barely managing the veneer of a man.

If you wish to dedicate yourself further to the actual cause you claim to serve, or if you wish to train and empower yourself, I will gladly help you. It would be my honor.

But if your plan is to continue living the sort of shameful existence that helped allow for the assassination of Springstar's Tribune at his own godsdamned home, then either purge yourself of that treacherous weakness... or I will try to find the time in my days to do it for you.

[Maybe this is where she could stop, take a breath... But she does not. The rest, cold and hateful and roiling with anger, is said to everyone, Zenite and Unharmonized alike.]

To all those who still claim allegiance to Zenith... I will not waste breath trying to convince you of anything at all, let alone now, after what your faction has wrought upon countless innocents. Whether you are a poor thing who would abandon every life in your world simply because you were treated badly, whether you are a pathetic thing who cannot muster the will to hope for anything but that sacred bitch on high and a committee of degenerates making a new world for you to exist in, or whether you are a sick thing who delights in watching worlds burn and people die... I, Hayame of Echigo, do not care, and I will not show mercy to one any more than the other.

Unlike, it seems, the many dishonorable among you, I say this to you plainly and clearly.

I will disable you if I see you step foot in Springstar.

I will hunt down your cornerstones and smash them to pieces.

And I will kill you if you put yourself between me and the possibility of returning to my world and my duty.




... Ah, yes. To those of you who have still not chosen a side, even after seeing what has occurred this moon... My advice to you is to stay Unharmonized, to pick up a hoe, and to go tend crops in Alenroux. You obviously lack the determination required for this conflict... and the people require food. Go on.

If you need a recommendation for a farmer looking for labor, I know plenty. Do you fancy turnips, or buckwheat?

Comments

[a_noble_flame]

[Really, bitten off head or not, Alice wouldn't mind much. She's had worse people spitting vitriol at her before and for worse reasons too. The warmth of her communion remains steady and strong, only guttering some when asked about her advice.

Again she takes a moment but her answer is given clearly and steadily.]

I don't know you well enough. I speak as someone who has let anger fuel them before. I have had it fill my body to the point where I have swung my sword in the name of my rage rather than for myself.

[Flames lick at Alice's heels in her communion space even now. The scent of it and gunpowder floats on the air. Yes, she has known anger.]

Remember who you are. You are not that anger and those who have wronged you as well as the rest of us will feed on that anger if you let them. That is all.

[warmare]

[Warmth. Who asked for-]

If you are one who has let that happen before, then perhaps the one receiving this unasked for condescension should be yourself.

[Unfortunately, Hayame can only see that sudden comment from someone who does not know her as that. Even knowing she has succumbed to rage before...]

My anger has felled enemies and claimed Oracles.

[Though it has also-]

Perhaps they should feed upon more of it.

[a_noble_flame]

[Some people can be reached easily, some not at all. When Alice puts her heart into it the latter outcome is crushing but in this moment she really is just giving a bit of advice, one fighter to another.]

I assure you I don't speak to you in condescension. I would never do so to anyone. I am no higher or better than any here.

[Everyone is fighting their own battles after all. No one deserves patronizing.]

If that is how you wish to mete out your justice then do so. I have no intention of stopping anyone. If you seek aid then I will lend by blade if I can. I would simply wish to not see another warrior consumed by those emotions.

[warmare]

You are certainly purporting yourself to be more a mind-reader than anyone here.

[... Heart-reader? Emotion-reader? Whatever- !]

What Meridian needs are warriors willing to do what needs to be done. Not to cower and claim this Oracle business has nothing to do with them, not to covet their secret little connections to Zenites they think they can hide from the rest of us, but to actually stand proud and win Oracles and find us the power that might just be enough to return us to our proper worlds.

Can you do this, woman?

[a_noble_flame]

[She doesn't argue the first point. Alice has said her piece speaking from experience and that was all she wanted to do so ... mission accomplished there. Sort of?

Instead she focuses on the rest. One can almost sense her tilting her head.]

I have offered my blade. I have no intention of backing down.

[Not that she knows much about the Oracle business but yeah sure, she'll throw herself bodily into claiming one even.]

[warmare]

[There is a long pause, as the other woman weighs whether she will choose insult over a stranger, a new shard-bearer, even, daring to preach to her about her emotions, or if she will choose "unity"...

But in the end, even if it stings, even if it does not mean she trusts or believes-]

Then what is your name, woman, that I might know who to call to arms?

[a_noble_flame]

[... Well. She does have 'of' in her name so. So maybe she wants a full title? It seems only fair, a full title for another full title.]

Second Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin of the Imperial Army State Section Three.

[warmare]

[Little does poor Alice know that she just added "of [the region I am from]" because... The way she had used to introduce herself formally had been "of the Miyatsuta Stable", to identify her owner.

She is trying it out. "of Echigo".]

Second Lieutenant.

What is the specialty of Section Three?

[a_noble_flame]

[The warmth of her communion grows some. Even at the worst of times so far Alice's communion feels like a welcoming spot, a campfire or hearth to rest by in times of need. Now it burns a little brighter, a bit more determined with a feeling one might call fondness.

Love? Maybe. She cares about her little Pumpkin Scissors unit and their mission a whole lot anyhow.]

Our speciality is war relief. Our nation entered into a ceasefire agreement several years ago and the cleanup afterwards has been our primary mission.

[warmare]

[................ Oh, she got her hopes up for nothing.]

War relief?

Like... delivering foods or medical supplies?

[a_noble_flame]

In part, yes. Food and medical supplies are the bare minimum. Most including myself wish for far more from the idea of 'war relief'. I doubt you want to hear me talk at length about it though.

[Given Hayame is clearly more focused on fighting at the moment for very good reason. Perhaps in the future she might be more open to talk of the relief effort but Alice likes to think she somewhat knows her audience in the moment.]

[warmare]

[As far as Hayame is concerned, war relief is for "after". Not now. And what she needs now is-]

I would prefer you talk about if you can actually fight or not.

[a_noble_flame]

I wouldn't offer you my blade if I couldn't.

[That said:]

All military recruits are trained in both swordplay and martial arts. I was also under the tutelage of my grandfather for many years.

[Her communion warms mightily speaking of her grandfather. Alice's love for the man is endless.]

If you like I am very happy to give you a demonstration of my skills in the future. I don't believe we have the time at this moment however.

[warmare]

You would be surprised how many people have offered me things that are useless in this faction.

[... Really, probably not smart to ask, though.]

A demonstration, however, is something I intend to witness before we do actual battle. Ten minutes will do.

I should leave hospital imminently. I will make the time.

[a_noble_flame]

[Oh, the hospital. Alice starts to ask whether she's alright but then thinks better of it. She might not like the focus on her physical condition.]

I'll be ready whenever you like.

[warmare]

Very good.

[A very good choice on not asking, too, so-]

I will contact you then.