kenoscomm | LOCKED TO MERIDIAN

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LOCKED TO MERIDIAN

[Claude's communion prescence has always been like a summer breeze; warm, easygoing, albeit difficult to read before it moves on. Now it has more of a brittle, bitter quality, like a looming dust-cloud he has to hold at a distance. There's no going back from this point when he knows things will only escalate from here, and so now seems like an important time to address his fellow Meri.]

The fight for the next Oracle will be on us soon. The Tribune may have been slain, but he entrusted the future of the worlds to us. Though he won't be able to help us see this through, we can still fight for him, and all the others we've lost along the way. We can fight for Springstar... and we can fight for Quetzalcoatl.

[There's a brief pause on this point. Her death deserves respect and acknowledgement, and she may not be the last to meet such a fate before the fighting is over.]

...We'll fight for your homes, too. After all, our worlds aren't that different, right? They might be flawed in their own ways, and there might even be some of you who would rather stay here when this is done. But every world and the life on it is precious, and it beats whatever phony world Yima and her followers come up with.

Speaking of Yima: I've discussed this with a few people already, but I suspect she's still alive. When the Blight almost destroyed Kenos, somehow she was still around. When I asked her about it, she said she wasn't bound by time like a normal person is. She can exist in different times and different places simultaneously; I don't know how it works, but maybe she even foresaw this attempt on her life before it even happened.

That said, it's just speculation, so we might as well play dumb and behave towards Zenith as if we're convinced she's dead for now. It'll be easier for us that way.

[Others have probably arrived at a similar conclusion, perhaps people among Zenith's ranks too, but it bears saying, particularly for those newly arrived to the conflict.]

Anyway, enough about her -- how about we use this opportunity for a little strategy get-together? We have a few new faces around, so feel free to introduce yourself and your capabilities.

For those of us who have been around longer, feel free to toss in an introduction too. More importantly, share what you know about Zenith and its current capabilities, in combat or otherwise. Any insight into their current thinking would be useful right now, too. What's their morale like? We know by now that some of them really hate our guts, and I wonder how much their desire for revenge is going to play into the next battle...

[He sounds casual, almost flippant, but there's a serious point in there he's sure he doesn't need to overstate: the more loyal Zenites are going to have some serious motivation in the next battle to get back at them, whether they believe Yima is gone or not.]

Let's not let our own judgement be clouded by revenge, even if we've sustained losses. We need to go into this with a clear head, looking toward the future.

Oh-- on that note, Hayame wants to speak with some of you about some further strategising either before or after the Oracle. Sorry that's a little vague, but I'm sure she'll talk to you about it properly when the time comes. For now, let's just focus on one thing at a time.

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Thank you, Claude. I will speak to some of you imminently. In private.

[... If no one but him notices how incredibly insane it is that she says that publicly, then, that's just fine by her! But also... Is this even the same woman who spoke on Communion earlier? The sense of her seems... calmer, and warmer. Warm like Meridian feels.]

My name is Hayame, if you are new enough not to know it. I will not waste your time with much talk, since I have so recently said my piece. My stance on this faction, and our enemies, should be more than clear.

But as for what you may count upon me for in an actual Oracle trial,

I am a warrior- an archer, primarily, but when need be I wield a naginata just as well. You will find me on the front lines, where a warrior ought to be. If you require aid against a Zenite you cannot handle yourself, you may attempt to call upon me. I am a jinba, so you need not fear how fast my hooves can carry me. As long as we do not find ourselves stuck in some godforsaken maze again.

More importantly... I have come into a new ability. I would speak on it in detail for you, but far too many weak-willed people can hear this, so allow me to simply say that it may be able to rob some of our more powerful enemies of their advantages. If the more trustworthy among you are curious, I will speak with you on it.

And as a courtesy, if I bring it to bear in an Oracle trial... I will alert you via Communion to clear the area.

You forgot to say you're [ Claude's girlfriend and ] like, everyone's boss in Meridian, you know. Can't let that slip anyone's mind!

[ A very important addition! ~~Both of them.~~ ]

She's also very well-respected in the centaur community in Springstar. Uh-- that's like another word for jinba, basically.

So if you ever need someone to liaison, she's the one to ask. [casually volunteers her for something she didn't ask for hi]

Right, right. [ Here's the sense of his arms folded as he nods along, very sagely, very serious, until: ]

Oh, and this is Claude, Hayame's number one fan! Best to not get in his way, if you know what I mean!

[ IS HE WINKING OR IS HE BLINKING, you'll never know...... ]

[What is that introduction, Shez??? It’s almost less weird to say “lover” than “fan”…]

[ Oops. If there's a communion "presence" then there has to be a communion emergency exit, right? PSYCHIC SHADOW SLIDE, GO!! ]

[… This reminds her. Hnn. She feels like some sort of… village wife… but she had said she would relay the message, so- !]

… I ran into Skela at the market this morning.

[Hrid’s second wife, the robust blonde. Also half-allergic to shirts.]

She asked me to tell you her husband wishes to… go drinking.

[…]

I think it may be. A test.

[Or maybe that’s you, Hayame, and he just wants to be friends and do manly bonding???]

Hah! I hope it's not a drinking contest, or I'll concede defeat here and now. He already knows he'd drink me under the table.

[But yeah, this is Hayame's opinion, so it might not be anything of the sort...]

Still, I owe him a drink or two anyway, so I'll take him up on hanging out.

Hrid drinks everyone under the table, it would not be fair...

[But maybe- Maybe Claude will win if he just dares to try???

She had heard the role Hrid played in reuniting them after the chaos in Springstar, so... she had thanked Fresia, Hrid's first wife, who had found her initially, yes, and sent her husband out to find Claude, but...

Should she. Be buying the woman a drink... ? She has some venison...]

Hey, if he won't play fair, maybe I could cheat and get my drinks watered down while he's not paying attention.

I'm sure I won't need any elaborate schemes, though. He seems like a decent guy, and he cares about you.

Khalid, he is like five times your size...

[It's not even not "playing" fair, it is just not existing fair! That is not an even playing field, but... Technically, that excuses some watering down of the drinks.]

...

But. He is a decent man. Yes. Despite his aversion to clothing.

I am grateful.

[... Because he reunited them. Because she was then able to finally say... it.]

I am not everyone’s boss.

If I were, things would be very different right now.

[… Yeah, she said that with her whole chest(s).]

But I have been promoted, of late, within the hierarchy Springstar acknowledges.

So perhaps there is time yet to turn certain tides in our favor.

[ He's. He's just going to be mentally staring at her for a bit. ]

... man, your sense of humor is even worse than Byleth's.

[ It was! A joke!! Clearly a failed attempt, but one day he'll get it right!! For now though: ]

But hey-- all joking aside, good job on getting promoted! Not really sure how this hierarchy works, though... Got something to do with the leadership?

That was a joke?

[... Yeah, she. Genuinely did not get it. She thought it was a snide comment on her recent attempts to whip Meridian into shape and how they did not ever work.]

... Your congratulations are accepted.

I will be serving directly under General Zaman.

Yeah? Gotta say, you're a pretty tough crowd.

[ It was a jab at her latest communion, yeah, but a friendly one! Made in jest! But it's okay, it's fine, one day he'll find the kind of humor that works(?) on her!! ]

Anyway, I guess this is one of those promotions where you've been doing the job all along and they sort of belatedly acknowledge it, huh? Can't think of any other Shardbearers who've been putting in more work with the military than you. Just don't go taking on a heavier burden than you can handle, okay? We're all still here to help.

[ Y'know. Because of her honorary Faerghan tendencies... ]

[As if such a thing as a friendly jab could exist, especially when aimed against so serious a topic or one that involved a failure?!]

Yes, I am tough.

[... Hayame, please.]

- You may think of it as this. Before, I was an instructor to the Legionary, primarily, who occasionally did missions for the General. Now... I am directly beneath her in rank, and I will command missions, not just accept them.

This is a burden I accepted. So I will bear it.

[...]

But I will not be doing it alone. When the time comes I will gather a trustworthy council.

[ BIG MENTAL SIGH. One day he WILL get some humor out of her, mark his words!!

In the meantime though, he's at least happy to hear the latter half of her response. That's one less Faerghan tendency to worry about!! ... he thinks. ]

Yeah, I wouldn't expect you to back down from the challenge, but I gotta say I'm pretty relieved you won't be trying to tackle it all on your own. I've got my hands full just with the Dimitri back home as it is.

[ The Dimitri here in Kenos seems somewhat better about that, but on the other hand he's just as stubborn, so one can never be too sure. ]

Anyway, I dunno what kind of missions you'll be running, but if you need some extra steel, I'm pretty reliable in combat! Just say the word and I'll be ready to help out!

It is simply not of the scale that can be accomplished alone, so.

[... So maybe it is bad that she would try to do it alone in certain circumstances, but. Baby steps!!]

As for your sword... I may call upon it, so be ready.

Yeah I get that, but it's still a relief that you can acknowledge your limits. It's probably more than I can say about some Faerghans I know.

[ Which is to say he appreciates her baby (foal?) steps! ]

And I'm always ready for a good fight! Been picking up a new trick or two, so I'll have more to bring to the table whenever you call upon me, Boss!

[ ... yeah, she's Boss to him now. There was truth to his earlier jab and that's what makes it friendly, see? ]

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LOCKED TO MERIDIAN

Hayame

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