wakey wakey [ @all ]

[kenosnpcs]

This is a post where you'll find a header in the comments for Aetós, Agapitos Voreen, and Florence Deshayes respectively.

As a reminder from our course correction, your OOC understanding of their places in their factions should not influence IC reactions, especially to Agapitos and Florence. Aggressive threats and demands are likely to be ignored, because this would be very out of the blue to them! ( You can be mean to Aetós, though. They're a dick, and they just won't respond. )

Timewise, Agapitos and Florence's posts are shortly after Shard-Bearers awake after the repose (roughly a day to give people a chance to get their bearings/go get a haircut/etc), and Aetós's portion is later in the month.


Please note, new tag-ins will not be responded to after April 23rd. However, tagging each other throughout this post is welcome. Threadjack to your heart's content!

Comments

[kenosnpcs]

Well, they wouldn't be the only maddened one amongst us, now would they? As for dealing with them... what other choice did we have? You were asleep, so you did not see it, but Kowloon could never fully reign in their hungriest of dwellers, and we could not simply block off access. If we did, they found a new way.

So we used what we had. Once they liberated us from being so close to Kowloon, I... [ there's consideration here. ] liberated something from them. It ensures that they stay in line.

[ A beat, before: ]

As for the immediate future, I foresee that we shall be winning more Oracles, of course! [ Dimitri will feel the force of his focus is on that, like a hot sun on a noon summer's day. ] For those of Old Springstar, they are not left behind. They will have a place back home when we are victorious, and should they fight for that goal, then they are as valued as any member of Meridian. Many chose to remain on the ground for many reasons. Some were principle, some... a fear of heights, but should they wish, there are ways to move to Skysong, but they have not wished to do so.

[hauntedking]

I understand the presence of threat, but even so... he uses people. To align with him, even if you have something over him as you say... I will not say it gives me confidence, Tribune. He's hurt several people dear to me.

[ It's a hard sell, that bit ]

I can understand not wishing to leave behind the familiar to journey to the new city in the sky. It's... overwhelming is a good word. But even if they do not wish to move, is not Springstar still worthy of our protection?

[kenosnpcs]

And the Zenites hurt several close to me. I did what I thought was appropriate — finding a way to make sure we would be safe, in the long term. What happens after we achieved that, well. As I said. That's up for you all to determine, yes? I'm a pragmatic man, and I deal with what I see as a pragmatic solution. Were Aetós to harm someone close to me? I would weigh the needs of the many compared to the few, as I did this time. I had to make a decision, and I did what I thought was best for the people I can watch over now.

[ Essentially: He won't stop you, but he did what he did. ]

Old Springstar deals with Kowloon. I refuse to put my Legionary in danger again after they took so many of us out. Perhaps they need to protect themselves, if they are in such dire need of protection. Though, I hear the Scepter does quite a bit of that these days. What sort of protection are they not providing that you think we should?

[hauntedking]

Surely there were other options, Tribune. I know what it means to lead and to be faced with hard choices - but even so I cannot condone working with the likes of Aetos. You ask us to place our trust in you and yet are hand in hand with the likes of him. I love my world, Tribune, but there are lines I draw.

[ Just so they both know where they stand. Dimitri's tone is controlled, by there is something like a cool anger simmering down in the depths. ]

Would they be dealing with Kowloon in the same way if you had chosen to stay? That, I think, is the pertinent question. Are they not still Meridian? Aren't many of them people who were once your neighbors and fellow citizens?

[kenosnpcs]

Whether or not you condone it, it is done. I believe in collaring and reigning in the resources that may be of use to us. Perhaps you don't. In the same vein, I draw the line at working with Zenites, and yet Meridian bearers time and time again seem to work with them plenty when the Oracles are not in play. Neither Cyrus, nor I, would stop these choices that you have made, even though I would see plenty of other opportunities to achieve the same goals.

But, as I said before, I will not intervene, if you choose to do something about it, either. See? We respect each other's choices, but forge our own paths.

[ It is not anger that fuels Agapitos, he expected that some bearers wouldn't like it, but if they don't, they can change it, can't they? ]

As for Old Springstar, I'm not going to talk about what could or could not have been. They seem to be happy with where they are at and chose to stay. In fact, some of our well-respected leaders stayed, because they wanted to. They will always be welcome members of Meridian, but that does not mean they want us to so heavily interfere with their lives.

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri is "silent" for a moment - as silent as one can get in communication made entirely via the mind, anyway - and then there's the sensation of an exhale. A breath being pushed out, either to calm or because some sort of tension is being released. It's hard to tell. ]

...I believe I understand you.

[kenosnpcs]

I do enjoy it when an understanding can be reached.

[ And it's... genuine. Like a hot sunset after a long day. ]

[hauntedking]

So I have gathered.

[ Dimitri mulls for a long moment. ]

What do you believe is most in need of attention?

[kenosnpcs]

Most in need of attention?

[ Bet you can guess: ] The War. Zenith.

Zenith took a hit, but they've been shoring up their defenses, and our spies in the Beyond have suggested that they have stolen and replicated the magic work that led to the shot against them. We need to find a way to circumvent their protection, if we are to ever find our way to properly... [ The impression of a tight smile. ] Reward them for their previous efforts.