LOCKED TO MERIDIAN

[leicesters]

[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.

Comments

[ex_fend346]

[ If Communion can convey the impression of a very polite bow, then it would, because Subaru is nothing if not a polite little vampire. ]

I've never made a formal introduction before... [ A very strong start, that. ] But my name is Subaru. I'm a vampire, and I was born this way, since that's been a source of confusion.

[ Yes, he's absolutely leading with this. No vampiric self-hatred here. Of note, Flat was excited rather than confused. ]

I'm stronger and more resilient than a human, and much longer-lived. My experience is probably the most useful strength I have, judging by what others have said about themselves... Though I can also sense power, or whether someone is not human.

[ This isn't even half of the weird grab-bag of miscellaneous abilities clampires possess, but it's what he thinks of. ]

I'd prefer not to harm anyone outside of necessity.

[escardos]

Subaru!!!!! Hi!!!!!!!!

[ flat is so happy. there’s nothing constructive here other than someone happy to see his friend in this mental gossip session. ]

[ex_fend346]

[ Oh, happy Flat... This is very constructive, so far as Subaru's concerned, though the enthusiasm takes him aback initially. ]

Hello, Flat.

[ Much less energetic, but there's a gentle sort of warmth there for his friend, like the soft touch of the early morning sun. ]

Are you well?

[escardos]

I am! How about you? You haven't gotten injured again, have you?

[ the smile on his face softens just slightly, but the excitement in his eyes is obvious as he continues. ]

I guess we're allies for real now, aren't we? I mean, we kind of already were, but now we're allies and friends. This is great.

[ex_fend346]

I haven't since the attack on Springstar... And as I am now, I'd recover quickly enough.

[ In truth, Subaru's still quite surprised he was capable of harmonizing after all, but he can't help feeling heartened by Flat's enthusiasm. ]

I think it's best this way. I wouldn't have wished to be pitted against you.

[ Not that he'd be willing to hurt Flat if he had been, but it's simpler like this. ]

[escardos]

I agree! It's much easier this way. The less fighting the better.

[ and while a part of him is curious to have seen how subaru's style of fighting is...it's not a big loss, actually. ]

And now we can be allies in this oracle thing. Woo!

[ex_fend346]

That's true.

[ On both counts. He only wishes that settling all this peacefully were a more realistic prospect... But at least he won't be expected to fight his friend.

Subaru wouldn't have done it anyway, but still. It's less messy this way. ]

Accounts of previous oracles sound so mixed, I wonder what it will be like.

[clockpunk]

[ there's a face he's very pleased to see. ]

Hey, Subaru. You doin' any better?

[ex_fend346]

[ In turn, Subaru's response to that familiar presence is warm, even before the words come. ]

Hello, Chrono. I'm much more myself, thank you.

[ Those last two words encapsulate his gratitude for more than just one thing. Chrono had been kind and understanding all this time. ]

How are you? There's...quite a lot to take in here.

[clockpunk]

That's great, man. Glad you're back to fully yourself.

[ it's still a little sad, that subaru had to be forced into a choice, but... at least they're on the same side. ]

Mm, well, yeah. It's a lot, but I think it's just gonna be somethin' I'll learn on the fly no matter how much info I try and absorb, y'know?

[ex_fend346]

That's true, all one can do under the circumstances is adapt, and that is a process...

[ In some ways, Subaru is better equipped to adjust than others. At the same time, he'd always had Kamui with him, so being accustomed to strange new worlds only goes so far.

He can take comfort in not being pitted against people who have only shown him kindness, though. It's something for which he's grateful. ]

With all this talk of Oracles, it seems the others expect something soon, as well.

[clockpunk]

Seems so. Guess it's good we're learnin' as much as we can, even if I still think it's gonna feel kinda. "Baby's first Oracle" no matter what, for us who woke up recently.

[ and he really is uncomfortable with how insistent some of their allies are about shattering shards. at least there are a few voices of reason, but still. ]

If you see me around, don't hesitate to call out, alright?

[ex_fend346]

Of course. And if you could use assistance, you can call on me.

[ Subaru owes him for all he'd done for him, and besides, Chrono is a good person in his book. If he can help him, then he'll do just that. ]

I do wish we knew what to expect, but it seems we'll only know when we find out.

[dreamflowers]

Wait, so we got a vampire hunter and an actual vampire?

[Just an observation she's made while listening in on the introductions.]

Are we doing okay?

[ex_fend346]

[ First comes a mild puzzlement before Subaru responds: ]

My understanding is that D hunts vampires who are unnecessarily violent. I have no objections to this, so I believe we are okay?

[ That's what she's asking, right...? ]

[dreamflowers]

Uh... huh.

...

My mistake then. [Can she really be blamed for raising concerns when seeing "vampire" so soon after "vampire hunter"?] Admittedly, my knowledge of vampires are lacking at best.

[Ask her about werewolves, though. Or don't. I'm not your boss.]

[ex_fend346]

[ He doesn't sweat it in the slightest. It's not the first time people have had notions about vampires and it won't be the last, so Subaru responds in good cheer. ]

Much of what I've heard in my travels doesn't apply to me. I have no idea where people came up with garlic and sunlight, for example.

[ He also doesn't need to feed nearly so often as a made vampire, but he'll leave that aside for others' comfort. ]

I also wasn't changed, as I said, which makes me different from those who were. It's not common, and I don't blame anyone for being unfamiliar.

[dreamflowers]

[Whatever notions Jade had about vampires are next to non-existent. She's. Heard about them? And they have something to do with blood? Or something? But beyond that, nothing.]

I see. The thing about garlic and sunlight is news to me. Then again, I'm pretty sure they're not even... real... where I'm from.

[Just another bedtime horror story and all that junk.]

What d'you mean by "changed"? I know you said you weren't, but that's a thing?

[ex_fend346]

I understand. Many worlds don't have vampires.

[ He'd seen as much for himself as he and Kamui traveled. And of the worlds they'd visited, no other cultivated soulless prey as theirs did.

It's a wide multiverse. ]

Stories seem to vary, but as I know it, humans can be changed into vampires. It's a painful transformation, not to mention, one would then have to prey upon other humans. They need to feed with some regularity, and self-control can be a challenge. It's not something I would want to inflict on someone.

[ His blood had been used to that end just once, and he's been hunted ever since. ]

[dreamflowers]

We have a great deal of many other things... For all I know, vampires do exist, and it's not common knowledge. Fairly certain they'd get hunted down by the Holy Order, anyways.

[And, if the rest of what he describes is any indication, pretty much every other corner of the "Civilized World" and otherwise. Humans don't generally like having a predator/potential threat to their social hierarchy in their midst. It's generally one of the reasons why they don't care much for the Aeterna, like her mother's side.]

Does self-control come easier for you because you were born that way and it was all you knew, as opposed to that "need to feed" hitting at once...?

[ex_fend346]

I'm given to think there will always be hunters.

[ One followed him and his brother across dimensions, after all. The dogged pursuit may have been a surprise, but the existence of hunters is not.

Which is to say: she's not wrong. ]

There is that difference, yes, but also... I guess you could say our metabolisms are different. Born vampires don't need to feed nearly so often as ones who were changed.

[gravings]

...!

[ There is also nothing constructive here, she is just happy to see Subaru officially on the same side. A little Gray-shaped blip of relief and gratitude... ]

[ex_fend346]

[ The presence is familiar. It takes him a few moments to gauge who he thinks it might be, puzzling over this before she's getting quiet appreciation sent right back her way.

Miss Gray is so nice she ran to his rescue twice. ]