[reverie - ic inbox.]

[peacetalks]

"Pray speak your piece, and I shall return it anon."

Comments

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

I thought you might say that...

[Roy sighs deeply.]

Go for Kraken.

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

Is that how it is, then?

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

[nnghgguughhh]

Hear me out?

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

I am listening.

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

I proposed the idea to Bugbear because I'm trying to find a way to gain as much from this situation as possible, okay? Half of us are getting punished either way. But, if more than four people are protected, then the Warden herself has to make the pick. It'll reveal her biases - maybe a hint of what she wants from us. What she's looking for.

Under the assumption that she also wants to disincentivise total cooperation to prevent us from banding together, then the next best outcome is for everyone to be protected except one block.

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

[aymeric listens, and with a self-deprecating chuckle, he sits down on the sofa next to roy]

Aye, a sacrificial karakul, as it were.

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

[A what...]

And before you suggest anyone else, every person in Bugbear already agreed. I told'em they could veto the plan and it'd be off the table.

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

[another humorless chuckle]

You're far more organized than we are, it seems. We had been contemplating the very same thing, with the caveat that most of Cerberus request a transfer to another team and leave only one or two behind to receive the punishment. We all agreed to take some time to think on it first, and I wanted to speak with Estinien on the matter before, but... this does complicate matters.

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

We here at Bugbear are committed to our delinquency.

Reim had the idea of purchasing Priestress cards for us, with the Echidna tokens. He's covering Break, Vincent, me, and I've got Vicious.

Who knows whether it'd work at all. I mean, it's a get-out-of-pain-free pass from the Warden's own store.

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

'Twould rather defeat the purpose of the exercise. And who knows if a request for a transfer to another team would be allowed at this point in time? 'Tis difficult to say. Still...

[...]

I should very much like to talk you out of this scheme, but it would only make me a hypocrite.

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

A little! ...But I know you don't wanna see Estinien in the line of fire.

[Roy breathes in deep.]

He doesn't wanna see you hurt either. And neither do I.

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

I would spare him and Megumi in a heart's beat if I could--after all they have been through, all they have suffered... 'tis unfair that they should endure even more, when they do not need to. To say naught of Master Moon, and Master Minato, who possess kind and gentle souls. I would protect them too, if I could. I would protect you, and Master Break, as well. I would protect everyone, if I thought I could do it.

[his grip on his tea mug tightens, nails dragging against porcelain]

Yet the best thing for me to do is to protect myself, instead.

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

I don't feel much better 'bout this. Vicious and Break both... mean a lot to me. And they're going down with the ship that I'm sailing. Because it was my idea... it was the best plan I could come up with without screwing other people over.

What kind of terrible boyfriend am I?

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

At least as terrible as I, who cannot protect those I cherish. What good is a knight without the strength to fulfill his oaths?

... I will convey what you've told me to the rest of Cerberus. I do not know if it will change our minds, however.

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

It has to.

Look, we're lying to the other blocks to tell them we're already protected. I know that if Bugbear's too open about our plan, it'll put a target on our backs in the future. But I didn't want to lie to you, Aymeric! I didn't wanna give you some kinda false hope and betray that.

I didn't do it so you could protect us anyway!

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

We had already been leaning towards protecting Kraken. If you wish, I shall swear to you that we'll not protect Bugbear. You're protecting Phoenix, are you not?

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

Sphinx. If no one screws anyone over, the plan is we protect Sphinx, Sphinx protects Yatagarasaur, they protect Tsuchigumo, who protect Phoenix, who's "pretending" to protect us.

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

... and Phoenix did so readily agree to let you follow through with your plan?

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

...I don't think it was an easy decision. Reim's basically married to Break, and Vincent is Elliot's brother.

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

... I see.

[gets quiet]

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

[ :( ]


Yeah, this all sucks.

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

Pray consider what I have told you about the team transfer. If you might be able to convince others--such as Master Break or Master Vicious--to try it... there is always a chance it will succeed, and fewer made to suffer.

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

...I'll try. I doubt they'd want to, but I'll try.

Re: day 14

[peacetalks]

The fewer of you who must suffer, the better. Though, I...

[without even thinking of it, his clawed hand comes up to touch roy's cheek]

... I dearly wish it were not you.

Re: day 14

[notsospeedy]

[Roy goes still with surprise, eyes widening. His lips part to speak, but whatever words he'd like to say evaporate before they can leave his tongue.

It's nice, being touched by Aymeric like this. He wishes he were Estinien, or someone worthy of being looked at with such fondness. If he closes his eyes for a second, he can almost pretend.]

I...