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

[fursuit]

[ He’s quiet in turn as he listens, but there’s not much in the way of his emotional impression from it. It seems perfectly neutral about the prospect, oddly. ]

Even if you might not like what you find? You think you could look into it and not get swallowed up?

[ His tone isn’t challenging—this is an earnest question he’s asking. ]

[fursuit]

…Yeah, can’t help ya there. The way Classes get assigned is total bullshit.

[ With his Phenomenal Cosmic Power, he also has the knowledge to be able to criticize it ]

For example. I told ya I’m a three in one, but that’s because I have Authority to change my Saint Graph as I please. [ which is a whole level of HUH? on its own but ] But take a guess. What’s my “main” class, you think?

[erbe]

I'm not playing this silly game to make you feel cool.

[Though he'll probably be able to feel that even if she "says" that, Rin is still puzzling an answer in the back of her head. Because that stupid brain of hers never stops.]

[fursuit]

That’s not my point!

[ There’s exasperation in his voice, just like every time Rin is smart back to him, lmao. Why are mages like this, he wonders, also having her words about the type of person he attracts haunting him. ]

It feels fuckin’ arbitrary sometimes is all I mean, tch. [ TCH!!! ] ‘Specially since he’s got another soul hanging out with him, and that one ain’t human.

[erbe]

[Another soul? Not human? Hm. That's interesting, but if anything she wants to avoid Servants from the other side. Quetzalcoatl felt like a weird fluke, because if Mordred had truly defected then she's sure she would have avoided the infamous Knight of Treachery. Her main strategy is, and has been, to do as much as she can and simply stay alive.

In the Iconoclast Oracle she helped some people stay with Zenith, and avoided dying. In the Exalt Oracle she played a support role for her fellow faction-mates. And in the Harbinger Oracle she did all she could... She should probably try harder this time. Be more involved. However in the end she needs to remember: stay alive.]

Either way I think I'll keep my distance. What does he look like? After all, Servants should be the ones taking on each other.

[TRADITIONALLY THIS IS THE WAY! She doesn't care what Kirei said to rattle poor Emiya's brain. Servants should fight Servants and Masters should fight Masters.]

[erbe]

I just can't believe there are two of them now.

[fursuit]

[ The space of Communion lights up slightly with Tezcatlipoca’s campfire, and sitting on one log already is a perfect image of Ryouma. But also present is that same feeling of something large, something unseen in the dark, and it’s watching over him protectively. He feels it’s important to give both, because he might not know what that presence is, but he’s more wary of it than Ryouma, honestly. ]

Don’t disagree. But for what it’s worth, he seems like a nice guy. Gentle heart, ironically.

[ He was working with Chaldea and was happy to have time where he and Tezcatlipoca weren’t foes, after all. ]

He and I are essentially enemies before we even got here, but I don’t think he’s the sorta guy that would make a first strike on you.

[erbe]

[Hm. She doesn't like that. She also doesn't like hearing, "gentle heart" and "won't make the first strike". It simply frustrates her all over again how The World takes advantage of people like Emiya.

Another reason for it to wither away and be only a memory.]

Thank you. Since we share the same Aspect I'm sure you'll be able to find me if you need anything.

[She couldn't block him out if she wanted to. Fucking Harbingers.]

[alliterating]

We could give 'em both to Meridian.

[semicharmed]

[ Set asked him something similar--what will he do if the answers he gets here aren't ones he likes. Matt's not a hundred percent sure yet. ]

I don't know, [ he admits. A quirk of ruefulness flickers through his psychic presence. ] But so far, I've been pretty good at coming back from the brink of being eaten, so at least there's that.

[ How many times has it happened now? Fewer than half a dozen, but more than twice. Enough to make a pattern. ]

[fursuit]

[ He laughs, at least! It’s not the kind of assertive, committed answer that he’d prefer to hear, but. It’s acceptable, considering the topic. Diving truly face first into that kind of thing takes a certain kind of person. ]

That so? Sounds like you must be pretty damn tasty if it’s happened that many times.

[ is this flirting or literal… a mystery ]

Well, work on not gettin’ eaten so much first. Ain’t gonna be any help if it takes a chunk outta ya, from the sounds of it.

[fursuit]

I mean, same goes for me, but I’m gettin’ the impression that you might rather get dissipated before askin’ for my help.

[ maybe he won’t even come huh!! Because you are being MEAN TO HIM!!! ]

[bakedapple]

So they're the ones who're going to protect you, then? Highstorm politicians?

[ Link ignores his deflection. He's staring at him without a shred of doubt in how he's feeling, what he's saying. ]

Are you planning on bringing them with you to the Oracle?

[ Link stops suddenly. There's a soft buzz coming from his side of Communion, like he's just realized something. ]

...Where is Sebastian?

[ He hasn't said a single thing so far. Even to the people openly talking about Silco. ]

[semicharmed]

[ It's so frustrating, because if Matt didn't have restraint right now, he'd be like HEY EVERYONE SILCO DRANK MY BLOOD AND HE HAS AT LEAST SOME COMPLEX FAMILIAL TIES.

Sadly, providing receipts for one's restraint is, inevitably, a failure of restraint. ]

You think my intention is to make us worse. [ He sounds a little amused. ] Like I'm some succubus out to sabotage everyone?

[zauneyete]

No, I fear little, and know quite well, how to watch my back and protect it.

Do you think this is the first time I have been detested by the people at large? [ I mean. Look at him. ]

I am nothing, if not capable of survival in the face of strife. It is how I was born, and how I have lived most of my life, if I were concerned with it, do you think I would not simply hide my acts? Do not mistake my forthrightness for foolishness.

[ Well. At least he's being honest. ]

As for Sebastian? I don't know. I saw him last at my club, where he usually haunts.

Perhaps he is busy with a dalliance or two, as he so often is.

[zauneyete]

[ To be fair, if he did share it, silco would kill him.

Ask what one of the things Quetz did was. Just ask. ]

No, like someone whom is so incapable of serious thought that he spends the good majority of it daydreaming about his dalliances, instead of reflecting on how to defeat our foes.

attempting to lock down the communion to private

[semicharmed]

[ Sharing a mindscape can be very helpful for parsing humor. Matt laughs, instantly curious about airships; the shape of the word makes him think of a cross between an airplane and a cruise liner.

Another time, maybe. Matt's mental attitude conveys a sense of regretfully sliding a bookmark in during an interesting passage. At least, until Cid moves on. ]

Yeah, [ he says, seizing on the sentiment immediately, ] exactly. [ Now that he has more of a sense for Cid, he wonders if it's safe to say more. He makes an effort to narrow his psychic focus, communicating to Cid directly rather than Zenith in general: ] It was the lack of records that really got me. And then someone else mentioned to me that one of the oldest people here--Aetos--had made some kind of deal to stay alive with like, the shadowy forces who are really running things.

[bakedapple]

[ The memory is vivid, experienced from the same perspective as Kiritsubo experienced it herself. He winces as he watches the oni remove the young man's head from his neck; as the memory ends and fades away, there's a slight feeling of nausea in its wake. Link is accustomed to violence, but he isn't numb to it. Watching someone take a killing blow is still upsetting. ]

...I see.

[ It was a useful demonstration, at least. ]

Does the tattoo have to be that... extensive?

[baltimores]

[ Tezcatlipoca's staring earns the sensation of a quirked eyebrow in response — and when Amos is ready to directly acknowledge him a tilted head, because Big Bro? Yeah, alright. Kinda likes the sound of that, actually. Kinda likes the sound of Tezcatlipoca proclaiming his expertise a whole lot more, since 1. practicality is always appreciated and 2. a war god on his side who's excited about this? Awesome. ]

Sorry to burst your bubble, [ genuinely, ] but AK or Uzi might be aiming a little high at this stage. I've kinda topped out at an M97 since that's what I've had to work with, but with a bit more capacity. It ain't bad, but man... I was partial to a SCAR-L, back where I'm originally from.

[ hastily wikis shit as Amos sighs a little wistfully... because Set still has his. Pushing that thought aside, ]

You should come on by, though. I've been working at this solo for something like a year now. Another brain and pair of hands to help me out with it would be great.

[ Because of course, since Tezcatlipoca already knows so much, Amos is sure that means he's also good with guns. Right? Why wouldn't he be? ]

i see a chance to take a metaphor and, well,

[fursuit]

Pretty sure no matter which things went, it'd end up in them wanting to kill you. Dunno why, though. You've got a real winnin' personality!

[ He's being cheerful rather than sarcastic, but this is so obviously a joke... ]

—I ain't gonna stop you, for what it's worth. You've picked your path, and at this point, think you have to follow it through to the end. But they might decide to drown you rather than their own desires. All I'm pointin' out.

[bakedapple]

Of course.

[ No hesitation at all. He crosses his arms and nods with determination. ]

You'll see just how good I am with a bow. I might not be much of a Hero anymore, but I can still shoot a rider off their horse from a hundred meters away. Maybe more than that nowadays.

[baltimores]

[ Girl who'd talked about maybe getting shot before wanting a gun of her own—

Yeah that makes perfect sense to Amos, and so his response is bright and happy in return. ]

Sure thing. [ Just like that! He's so easy! ] You ever shoot before?

[semicharmed]

[ Matt laughs in return, though his is more of a mordant huff. ]

You have to give something to get something, don't you?

[ Heavily implicit: wouldn't Tezcatlipoca know better than any of them? Lord of the Smoking Mirror, of the Near and the Nigh, He By Whom We Live? ]

[semicharmed]

Well. I was more focused on keeping other things to myself. [ :D! ] And I consider our foes to be the ravening, world-eating darkness, which isn't really the impression I get from you.

[ Plus whoever's pulling strings behind the scenes, but Matt is trying very hard not to say that to Silco even though he'd love to. ]

[bakedapple]

But what should we do when their decision not to listen could harm everyone?

[ Link really isn't the type of guy who'd have an answer to a question like this. He's a soldier, not a leader. He'd much rather be following the plan of someone adept at organizing people and managing their differences. But... the Zenith Shard-Bearers really don't have anyone like that. ]

If another Meri gets shattered... that'll be it. All pretense of the two sides respecting each other will be gone. But it only takes one of us to make that happen.