locked to zenith

[bakedapple]

[ Link's mental space feels like being outside, so depending on where you are, you might not realize that someone has started Communion with you. Since joining the Zenith, the landscape of Link's mind has gone from idyllic, sunny forests to icy, overcast mountains. A frigid wind blows against your face, carrying the scent of firewood and meat roasting over an open flame. The diminutive Hylian is not sitting by the fire, but standing at the edge of a rocky ledge, his back turned. ]

There's going to be another Oracle soon. I can feel it. The rest of you can feel it too, right? That... pulling feeling.

[ He sighs. ]

If we lose this one, it's over. The Meridian isn't going to go easy on us. I know them... I know how badly they want to win. To them, the stakes couldn't be higher.

So let's talk. About what we're going to be up against, and... well, planning ahead isn't really something we can do, but at least we can warn each other of the dangers that individual Meri pose.

And I... I want to say something, too.

[ He sits down where he stands, his feet hanging off the cliff. There's a sense that he knows this isn't going to go over well, but it's important enough to him to say it anyway. ]

Killing the other guy before they kill you is what war is. That's normal. But Kenos is different. Death doesn't work the way it should here. We don't die permanently. You can neutralize someone threatening you by just dissipating them. There's nothing to gain by destroying their soul after you're no longer in danger.

So, I don't think any of us should shatter anyone ever again.

If you claim someone's Shard, you should protect it. If you feel that you can't do that, give it to someone else.

...I'm not stupid. I know a lot of you aren't gonna agree to this. And the Meris probably won't either. I'm sure they want revenge for what happened to Quetzalcoatl, and those of you who lost the Shards Yima gave you probably aren't feeling very merciful right now either...

But if we don't come to some kinda agreement now, that's going to become normal. Things are gonna get really bad. I don't want that. So... can we talk about it, at least?

Comments

[semicharmed]

[ Silco you spend half of all our lives broadcasting??? ]

Yeah, uh, thank goodness all the stuff you broadcast is G-rated.

How the hell would you even know whether I'm capable of restraint? By definition, you wouldn't notice.

[fursuit]

[ Tezcatlipoca’s approval lingers warmly, but he doesn’t speak to it. There’s no need, because Silco isn’t the kind of guy that would appreciate it anyways. Just the fact that he backs Silco 99% of the way is enough, though. ]

I wouldn’t go that far. Don’t get blinded just because your own principles are strong.

There’s a scenario where Zenith loses. If it’s continued and our allies can’t make the hard choices, that’s Meridian’s advantage. I can’t sway things too much one way or the other on principle… But that’s important to keep in mind. Push ‘em too far away from Zenith and you’re playin’ into our enemy’s hands.

[ It’s as close to a “bro calm it down” as Tezcatlipoca will get, because largely? He approves. ]

[youngprodigy]

I work with airships. I don't think "grounded" really applies to me.

[That's clearly a weak attempt at a joke, and not self-deprecation. ]

I've been in Kenos for over a year now. I still don't know much about this place; there aren't any historical records, not really. There was a mass dream a while back, fragments of fragments of memories of previous Shardbearers. But who they were, what this place was like when they were here? Nothing.

There's something at work here, even beyond the Oracles.

[semicharmed]

[ There's a hint of a chuckle for the reference, feathering into a listening quiet. ]

Combining Zenith and Meridian energies has worked for some other things around here, [ Matt replies carefully. ] Fixing a magical corruption, rebalancing energies when they start to make us sick. Healing, basically. I think it's worth a shot.

... But even if I'm wrong, there's still a lot of possibilities out there. And being overly certain, overly concrete--like you say, it closes off roads you might need later.

[ Matt goes quiet for a moment in his mind. Thoughts swirl like wisps of cloud. Then, almost wistful, ] Maybe that's something I can be good for here. Looking into the dark, so we don't forget we'll need a way out of it.

[zauneyete]

The concern is poorly-founded. After all, Amos and I are both relatively intelligent men, and fully cognizant of our actions. We knew precisely what we were doing, and what it would mean.

If I were worried about having a target on my back, I would have stayed my hand. It is an old thing, to have the eyes of others on me. People often look toward those of us whom make waves, and decide that they are uncomfortable with it. It was often only luck that Meridian did not shatter first. After all, Hayame was quite hungry for either mine or Sebastian's shards. Should she have her fingers on either, they will be destroyed.

It is opportunity that led us to take the first blow, and banking on the rebirth we so depend on is foolish.

[zauneyete]

My intention is to make us better.

I'm certain that yours is quite the opposite.

[ He's ignoring that tho matt. pointedly. ]

[zauneyete]

Hm.

[ He hears you, Tezca, but: ]

If they have nobody to detest, they will not grow.

[ There is the mental equivalent of a shrug. ]

Meridian will not push them there, so if I must drive them further out of spite, then that is what I shall do. After all, they were never going to like me, or my methods. I could hide them, yes, and they would be none the wiser, but where does that lead them? Betrayed and angry with our leadership for not being honest? Perhaps intent on killing me once they find out?

No. They are compliant, even now. They know it. That is why they are angry, and why they hate me. They hated me when I dissipated Meridian, after all. They say that they only wish for dissipation now, but there was a time when they were hesitant to even do that. I will drag them towards true power, whether they like it or not. [ Silco please... stop. ] If they are driven to make the new world "better" despite me, then all the more power to them.

If they leave? Well. Why were they here in the first place, if the acts of one can drown out their own desire for a better world?

[ SIGHS LOUDLY. ]

[tattooism]

[excuse you, she’s talking about the morning afters??? like she’s gonna waste time on someone that far gone… that’s really useless…

… she’s proud enough to like the idea of the belly shirts though.]

What sweet words you whisper in my “ear”~

[Hmm, a week… that would explain the abstract sense of looming danger she was「seeing」on shard-bearers.

Oh, well.]

The spell needs time to settle and heal into you, just like the tattoo does.

So no guarantees. But I can try.

[tattooism]

“Dangerous”, no.

But his is more effective the more people are in the dark about it, that is all I will say. He can choose to divulge if he wishes, but it will not come from my lips~

[tattooism]

[A lovely, wonderful time.]

It does chafe, does it not? You have my sympathy.

[Kiritsubo, though, sounds terribly genuine and not sarcastic at all when she says that.]

Do you plan on facing those people, or trying to avoid them?

Not here

[tattooism]

[wow slander… a dog…]

[tresemme]

About humans…

[ yes, he’s still on this. there’s the sense that tony is counting on his fingers as he thinks about the people he’s encountered, but unlike the last time he came onto communion blasting an entire species, he’s a little more thoughtful this time. chrono, flat, …howl? he doesn’t know if that last guy is a human, but he sure had the moral compass of one. ]

I’ve learned something. Just because they’re human doesn’t mean they can’t do anything.

[ that said. ]

But most of them are still no match for me. I’m stronger than almost everyone I’ve met so far, and I don’t think that’s going to change. If you need to escape from somewhere quickly, call me. Communion lets anyone do that, even without psionics, doesn’t it?

[tresemme]

[ tbh? he doesn’t want to agree, and largely he doesn’t with the idea of destroying shards willy-nilly, but… ]

Go for the throat. I like it.

[tattooism]

[The sound of an amused chuckle greets him, surprised in a pleasant little way each time. “Fluffy”, no, it’s funny.]

Thanks for the recommendation, lover ♡

[If they’re doing nicknames in public.

Ugh, but that just reminds her that her last attempt to sate her urges had resulted in a man crying on her… she really is going to have to get a place of “her own”, isn’t she… annoying…]

How’s the patch up work looking, hmm? After service is very important to me.

[tattooism]

That’s a big question.

“A lot of kinds”… as long as they’re to do with the skin itself, with what my ink can seep into.

What… do you have something in mind… ?

[erbe]

You'll probably find that sometimes humans might be more difficult to deal with than other species because they have needed to develop skills and coping mechanisms to survive against more powerful foes. It's not always about pure strength.

[After all... Silco's shattering of Quetzalcoatl's shard was evidence of that.]

[erbe]

You've heard how a few people here are head over heels for him.

[Well, maybe just one person, but--]

[erbe]

I need to start gagging some of our fellow Zenith personally.

[erbe]

Cut the edgy bullshit, of course there's an objectively better world. We had a kid here who was from a world that was overrun by demons and zombies. My own world had its own magical horrors that have no place existing in a new creation. Maybe your world was so nice and cushy that its only problems were systemic or interpersonal, but that is absolutely not the case for everyone. Don't be so self-absorbed.

[He almost sounds like the sadistic priest who raised her — posing stupid ethical quandaries like that.]

[alliterating]

Ewwwww. Who'd want that dusty bag?

[alliterating]

Good luck making it stick.

[erbe]

[...Counter Guardian. This pretty much confirms her fears, doesn't it? That if she were to see that red Archer again they would not see eye-to-eye. She will continue to be alone and against anyone she holds dear that comes from her world.

But that's okay. She stuck her flag in the ground about a year ago, and since then she's only pressed it deeper into the dirt. While her biggest concern has been her talk with D about the possibility of a larger threat, she still will angle for Zenith's win. Because if a side has to win, she prefers it to be this one. Even if it makes her the villain.]

If that's the case I have a guess to what his full name could be, but I suppose his skills would be dependent on class.

[And knowing her Archer, whose memories she absorbed and whose identity was confirmed when the graft of that arm to Shirou's body took successfully, there's no guarantee that a samurai would be a Saber.]

[erbe]

What, you don't hear that kid complaining about "sentimental fools"? It's like he wants to fill his big daddy's shoes before the man is even in the grave.

[alliterating]

Really makes you wanna puke, huh?

[fursuit]

[ He laughs, amused ]

Well, of course. As the god of beauty, I’d be insulted if you didn’t.

[ …His domains are truly diverse. But he’s mostly joking here. ]

But you ain’t hurtin’ my feelings if that’s the point here. Have as many lovers as you want, I don’t give a fuck.