By His power and His Grace was order restored, but our woes only grew from there.
Ere long, however, thankless fools began to fear that Zodiark's might was too great. From the fears of these naysayers would rise Hydaelyn, She who was to serve as His shackles, to bind Him and hold Him in check. And so they fought, and they fought, and they fought. And in the end...Hydaelyn was victorious. With all Her strength She smote Him dealing a blow so devastating that it split the very fabric of reality. And thus was Zodiark banished and His being divided.
This singular ability strikes not at such banal things as flesh, but everything that defines the target, diluting its existence. Everything reduced in all aspects - strength, intelligence, the very soul itself. This selfsame fate befell not only Zodiark, but the very star.
Only three of us were lucky enough to escape the Sundering.
[he will VERY CAREFULLY refrain from even thinking about his own opinions on Zodiark.
And fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, this is not far from what Levity has gathered from things both Emet and Cosmo have said. He nods, slowly. Just... focusing on trying to approach it as an outside thing, not something that affects him and people he loves so closely.
But he still can't held folding his arms as though to hug himself, posture growing a little tenser.]
...I wonder if I would call it luck. Witnessing all that and staying the only people alive.
When all was done, all that was left were the shattered remnants of our home. A Source and its thirteen reflections.
The inhabitants of these fourteen fragments were feeble, frail, and foolish. Oblivious to their imperfection, ignorant of their past. Malformed creatures thrashing blindly about. Pitiful. Disturbing. Depressing. Again and again they would give rise to tragedy after tragedy.
So we took it upon ourselves to rejoin the worlds. That has been our great work since the world was Sundered. Work that both Lahabrea and I died before we could see its fruition.
So this is apparently the part where he's supposed to start hating Emet or something.
But at the same time... he would be lying to himself if he denied that there is a part of him that feels frustrated with the ways of humanity, the things they do to one another. For all that this place is hell, mortal worlds seem to offer just as much suffering - if not more, sometimes. And out there, there is no quick way to heal, or feel better. Or sometimes even anyone to rely on.
He wants to believe in the best in people. He does. He still holds onto the idea that at their core people are kind and compassionate, that they seek purpose and fulfillment in life, not the suffering of others.
But he can't deny the fact that he has thought of them as foolish or blind. Not separate individuals, but people as a whole, a great mass constantly at odds with itself, unwilling to search for compromise...
He's quiet for a short time as those thoughts flash by, then nods again.]
And... is it the nature of the way you chose to rejoin the world that you fear telling me about?
You've mentioned numerous times there are those who would oppose the return. So the answer must be yes.
[A brief pause--]
Absinthe did hint quite clearly that you were responsible for destroying worlds. Or simply killing thousands. Is that what you thought would drive me from you?
[There's--actual surprise on his face, like he really didn't expect Emet to take it so closely to heart. He looks aside briefly, brow knitting in confusion, then looks back to Emet.]
...Do you never find things I do or say foolish? Incorrect? Hurtful? And if you do, does it make you care for me any less?
We are going to say things we regret, words of ire where emotions tangle in the way. How else are we to grow. To understand.
But I cannot speak to you without worry of every action being judged, of every misstep put on display. And I will make mistakes, I will falter. But you never ask why or understand why I made that choice?
So, no, saying such things does not make me care for you any less, but not taking that step to understand does.
[Oh. That's. Well. That sure gives him pause. For all he's good with people, it certainly seems that he never noticed this.]
... Oh.
[He looks down, trying to gather his thoughts. Up until now, he's mostly seen himself in that position of disadvantage and vulnerability, having his own actions judged on a scale that he did not understand, never knowing if he's doing something right or wrong. And Cosmo and Alexander both were those in power, as it were; though fearful of him in a sense, yet ready to strike him down should he step out of line, as Alexander had put it. Perhaps his jokes about the two of them being his parents were not too far off - a similar situation, where both sides have a lot of pull but in different ways. A parent would be distraught to see their child hurt and would tolerate a lot of their tantrums, yet still wields the "official" power, as it were, while the child has little formal influence but can inflict great emotional scars.
Is that what it's like? Is that what's been happening, all this time? Levity feels a lump in his throat and a burning in his eyes; it's just as he's been afraid of. He has been hurting Hades, and never truly knew it.]
I... Hades, I never meant to...
[It feels as though every sense is heightened as panic and anxiety fill him. What if he says something wrong now? What if he messes this up irrevocably? Levity tries to focus on his breathing, first hugging himself tighter unconsciously, then forcing himself to relax, however unsuccessfully.]
I... I am sorry. I do want to understand you. I...
[He looks back at Alexander, a lost look in his eye.]
... I don't know why I did not ask. I... think I feared that you would not tell me... that you would say I was not ready.
You feared I would not discuss with you game strategy? If we cannot discuss this, then there is no hope for us being able to tackle a topic as heavy as the Rejoinings.
And understanding does not mean agreement. You need not agree with my choices or my methods. Cardinal and I disagree on many topics, yet our bond is stronger for it.
If there is fear that you cannot even broach less heavier topics, than that is a failing on my part. What can I do to make you feel more comfortable?
But in return I ask you do not simply cast off my actions as foolish or inconsiderate. I do not revel in the injury of others, and had I my choice no one would ever feel such pains again. But that is not the reality we live in.
[THIS IS A LOT FOR HIM TO TAKE IN, IT SEEMS, THE WHITE HAIR LACK OF BRAINCELLS IS STRUGGLING
But really, he did not expect Emet to take such offense to his displeasure with their game strategy.]
No, I meant... I did not fear that you would not discuss game strategy with me. But for any heavier topic, I felt that I would be denied an answer, or I was supposed to know it in advance, and thus... gave up.
[Well. There's a lot to unpack here, but let's start with smaller things.]
As for yesterday... Why did you choose to play that way?
In regards to the Rejoining, you would be correct. I would have shut you down had you asked. But we are here to see if there is a path forward. A path of understanding.
[Unfortunately the word 'martyr' is only one step below the word 'hero' is his vocabulary. It's complicated.]
BARiTONES strategy has and will always be to assure victory. In this way, not only do we not die in games, but we are afforded healing of injuries at the end of games if the hosts are feeling generous. We have taken a stance to protect ourselves and leave as little to chance as possible.
Thus, in order to win this game, we would need to select the most amount of sins. There were also a few of us who did not want to divulge their sin thus we selected all. Could we have selected fewer? Of course. But we strive for assured victories.
You do not have to agree with this, but this is our way of strategy. Other units have other strategies that may or may not be in conflict with our own. However, I am here to listen if there was another way to achieve our goal and others were there a better way in the last game.
I believe there was. You could have used the first round to see how the others would play, and pick the seven sins necessary for a lighter punishment, or maybe a little more for added insurance. You are familiar with how most other units usually play. With the sins being nearly anonymous, no one could be truly sure they would not be targeting their friends or loved ones on their units, a concern for most units - or even that they wouldn't be targeting their own members, for those with more secretive or newer members. The only others rivaling you in offensive defense are Taisho and ZRAEL. That's two out of six winners, three counting Baritones. Three more units could go against you, and it was unlikely there would be more who would choose too many sins: the topic is uncomfortable for many, or they're not ready to judge people anonymously for things they have little context for.
Having assessed the situation, you could have gone all out on the second round to gun for your first place. That would give you enough element of surprise that even if the others scrabbled to catch up, you would still outpace them by sacrificing everyone in the third round as well.
My issue is that you set stakes much too high from the very start. You surely could have foreseen the panic it would cause, and doom every unit who did not score enough points in the first round. If you apply that same logic to every game, is it not the same as aiming to win by killing everyone else, regardless of what is enough for a win? That certainly is a way to achieve victory, but a less than optimal one in my eyes.
[He shakes his head.]
I don't believe that what you did was necessary to secure your survival. And I am particularly displeased that you only reinforced your reputation of being "villains"--and you gave the producers what they wanted. Conflict, hurt feelings, panic, savageness. I hate being source of entertainment for them most of all.
Correct, I also expected Zrael and Taisho to hit hard in the first round. I also expected Avante though in retrospect that was incorrect. So that would have been four units to contend with. What I did not expect was pep!, sensitiv, and Bad End. That would have been seven units in the top spot after the first round though Avante did not play as hard an anticipated.
That would not have assured us the victory to which we strive for.
And by your strategy we would only have spared the panic in the second round, but not the third. Would our reputation truly be any better or would be simply have been blamed for causing a panic one round later? Would you have applauded us for our restraint?
You all could have simply ignored us and continued with your round one strategy.
Though I do believe this is the heart of the conflict. 'By killing everyone else'. Six units were to die and no matter how we played that is an inescapable fact. In other games units will die as well. No one on BARiTONES or any other unit wants this. This is the harsh reality we all must face. The truth of the Production.
If we try your more restrained methods, we do gamble dying from time to time for the sake of the community.
[yeah that last part is kind of. the point. that's the amaurotism baybey.]
... I do not think it such a bad thing to risk dying for the community. And I'm sure you understand why. Unity has always been important to our people, hasn't it?
As I see it, the problem with you starting out so strong is that it sent a message to everyone else that it's fine to do this. And no one could be sure who else would or would not follow suit, and so almost everyone did in a mad bid for survival. That certainly was why we did it. We would not have, had you not chosen to play like that. And I do think your reputation would have been better - or at the very least, I would not have found any fault with your reasoning. I would not have objected even if you'd chosen a good three quarters in the first round. You would have left others a fighting chance for a win while securing a good one for yourself.
Bad End was predictable, in my eyes. Ever since Wed, Bed, Behead they've sworn to be more ruthless to protect themselves.
Our people, yes. These are not our people. And truthfully, if I had to compare them they would be akin more to the shards than they would be to ours. One half would not willing sacrifice themselves to save the other. The 'panic' to save themselves in the last game is proof of that.
I owe the community of this place a paltry amount at best. Therefore, I care not what they think of me.
You, however, I do care what you think. Will you always be disappointed if I do not care about all the units? If I do not have their best interests in mind?
Am I truly? Do I not show enough care to Ardyn, to BARiTONES. To Lahabrea, Five and Vergil. Am I truly the problem?
I just do not believe this group will rise to the occasion in harmony. That they will not act in their best interests. And truly the fault is not theirs. They are all but incentivized to do this. There is no 'saving' everyone. In most games all I can do is to attempt to save BARiTONES. And I will not risk them for any other unit. I will not leave it to chance.
And if I'm hated for it, so be it. I would not begrudge any unit that wished to protect themselves or the ones they love. We simply live in a world where all units living during a game is not a valid reality.
I don't mean that everyone deserves to survive during games! I'm not that stupid, Hades! I just mean that everyone deserves a fighting chance, and you took that away in the last game! And I feel an absolute damn fool for--for trying to be kind to people, to figure out which sins were yours so we could avoid them--
[He stops, breath caught in his throat, then grits his teeth in frustration.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: 378?
You can see out of both eyes if you wish. Anything is possible in a dream.
Re: 378?
Ah... Just a moment, then.
[Lifts his eyepatch, blinks a few times--huh. Seems to work! And it's a regular eye, too!]
I assume your appearance has something to do with what you want to show me?
Re: 378?
[He doesn't change the landscape but simply starts to walk in a circle.]
I told you of the Final Days and the birth of the Will of the Star, Zodiark, did I not?
Re: 378?
You did. And I witnessed some part of the Final Days in a memory as well.
Re: 378?
By His power and His Grace was order restored, but our woes only grew from there.
Ere long, however, thankless fools began to fear that Zodiark's might was too great. From the fears of these naysayers would rise Hydaelyn, She who was to serve as His shackles, to bind Him and hold Him in check. And so they fought, and they fought, and they fought. And in the end...Hydaelyn was victorious. With all Her strength She smote Him dealing a blow so devastating that it split the very fabric of reality. And thus was Zodiark banished and His being divided.
This singular ability strikes not at such banal things as flesh, but everything that defines the target, diluting its existence. Everything reduced in all aspects - strength, intelligence, the very soul itself. This selfsame fate befell not only Zodiark, but the very star.
Only three of us were lucky enough to escape the Sundering.
Re: 378?
And fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, this is not far from what Levity has gathered from things both Emet and Cosmo have said. He nods, slowly. Just... focusing on trying to approach it as an outside thing, not something that affects him and people he loves so closely.
But he still can't held folding his arms as though to hug himself, posture growing a little tenser.]
...I wonder if I would call it luck. Witnessing all that and staying the only people alive.
Re: 378?
When all was done, all that was left were the shattered remnants of our home. A Source and its thirteen reflections.
The inhabitants of these fourteen fragments were feeble, frail, and foolish. Oblivious to their imperfection, ignorant of their past. Malformed creatures thrashing blindly about. Pitiful. Disturbing. Depressing. Again and again they would give rise to tragedy after tragedy.
So we took it upon ourselves to rejoin the worlds. That has been our great work since the world was Sundered. Work that both Lahabrea and I died before we could see its fruition.
Re: 378?
So this is apparently the part where he's supposed to start hating Emet or something.
But at the same time... he would be lying to himself if he denied that there is a part of him that feels frustrated with the ways of humanity, the things they do to one another. For all that this place is hell, mortal worlds seem to offer just as much suffering - if not more, sometimes. And out there, there is no quick way to heal, or feel better. Or sometimes even anyone to rely on.
He wants to believe in the best in people. He does. He still holds onto the idea that at their core people are kind and compassionate, that they seek purpose and fulfillment in life, not the suffering of others.
But he can't deny the fact that he has thought of them as foolish or blind. Not separate individuals, but people as a whole, a great mass constantly at odds with itself, unwilling to search for compromise...
He's quiet for a short time as those thoughts flash by, then nods again.]
And... is it the nature of the way you chose to rejoin the world that you fear telling me about?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
You've mentioned numerous times there are those who would oppose the return. So the answer must be yes.
[A brief pause--]
Absinthe did hint quite clearly that you were responsible for destroying worlds. Or simply killing thousands. Is that what you thought would drive me from you?
Re: 378?
So yes.
Re: 378?
...Do you never find things I do or say foolish? Incorrect? Hurtful? And if you do, does it make you care for me any less?
Re: 378?
But I cannot speak to you without worry of every action being judged, of every misstep put on display. And I will make mistakes, I will falter. But you never ask why or understand why I made that choice?
So, no, saying such things does not make me care for you any less, but not taking that step to understand does.
Re: 378?
... Oh.
[He looks down, trying to gather his thoughts. Up until now, he's mostly seen himself in that position of disadvantage and vulnerability, having his own actions judged on a scale that he did not understand, never knowing if he's doing something right or wrong. And Cosmo and Alexander both were those in power, as it were; though fearful of him in a sense, yet ready to strike him down should he step out of line, as Alexander had put it. Perhaps his jokes about the two of them being his parents were not too far off - a similar situation, where both sides have a lot of pull but in different ways. A parent would be distraught to see their child hurt and would tolerate a lot of their tantrums, yet still wields the "official" power, as it were, while the child has little formal influence but can inflict great emotional scars.
Is that what it's like? Is that what's been happening, all this time? Levity feels a lump in his throat and a burning in his eyes; it's just as he's been afraid of. He has been hurting Hades, and never truly knew it.]
I... Hades, I never meant to...
[It feels as though every sense is heightened as panic and anxiety fill him. What if he says something wrong now? What if he messes this up irrevocably? Levity tries to focus on his breathing, first hugging himself tighter unconsciously, then forcing himself to relax, however unsuccessfully.]
I... I am sorry. I do want to understand you. I...
[He looks back at Alexander, a lost look in his eye.]
... I don't know why I did not ask. I... think I feared that you would not tell me... that you would say I was not ready.
Re: 378?
And understanding does not mean agreement. You need not agree with my choices or my methods. Cardinal and I disagree on many topics, yet our bond is stronger for it.
If there is fear that you cannot even broach less heavier topics, than that is a failing on my part. What can I do to make you feel more comfortable?
But in return I ask you do not simply cast off my actions as foolish or inconsiderate. I do not revel in the injury of others, and had I my choice no one would ever feel such pains again. But that is not the reality we live in.
Re: 378?
But really, he did not expect Emet to take such offense to his displeasure with their game strategy.]
No, I meant... I did not fear that you would not discuss game strategy with me. But for any heavier topic, I felt that I would be denied an answer, or I was supposed to know it in advance, and thus... gave up.
[Well. There's a lot to unpack here, but let's start with smaller things.]
As for yesterday... Why did you choose to play that way?
Re: 378?
[Unfortunately the word 'martyr' is only one step below the word 'hero' is his vocabulary. It's complicated.]
BARiTONES strategy has and will always be to assure victory. In this way, not only do we not die in games, but we are afforded healing of injuries at the end of games if the hosts are feeling generous. We have taken a stance to protect ourselves and leave as little to chance as possible.
Thus, in order to win this game, we would need to select the most amount of sins. There were also a few of us who did not want to divulge their sin thus we selected all. Could we have selected fewer? Of course. But we strive for assured victories.
You do not have to agree with this, but this is our way of strategy. Other units have other strategies that may or may not be in conflict with our own. However, I am here to listen if there was another way to achieve our goal and others were there a better way in the last game.
Re: 378?
I believe there was. You could have used the first round to see how the others would play, and pick the seven sins necessary for a lighter punishment, or maybe a little more for added insurance. You are familiar with how most other units usually play. With the sins being nearly anonymous, no one could be truly sure they would not be targeting their friends or loved ones on their units, a concern for most units - or even that they wouldn't be targeting their own members, for those with more secretive or newer members. The only others rivaling you in offensive defense are Taisho and ZRAEL. That's two out of six winners, three counting Baritones. Three more units could go against you, and it was unlikely there would be more who would choose too many sins: the topic is uncomfortable for many, or they're not ready to judge people anonymously for things they have little context for.
Having assessed the situation, you could have gone all out on the second round to gun for your first place. That would give you enough element of surprise that even if the others scrabbled to catch up, you would still outpace them by sacrificing everyone in the third round as well.
My issue is that you set stakes much too high from the very start. You surely could have foreseen the panic it would cause, and doom every unit who did not score enough points in the first round. If you apply that same logic to every game, is it not the same as aiming to win by killing everyone else, regardless of what is enough for a win? That certainly is a way to achieve victory, but a less than optimal one in my eyes.
[He shakes his head.]
I don't believe that what you did was necessary to secure your survival. And I am particularly displeased that you only reinforced your reputation of being "villains"--and you gave the producers what they wanted. Conflict, hurt feelings, panic, savageness. I hate being source of entertainment for them most of all.
Re: 378?
That would not have assured us the victory to which we strive for.
And by your strategy we would only have spared the panic in the second round, but not the third. Would our reputation truly be any better or would be simply have been blamed for causing a panic one round later? Would you have applauded us for our restraint?
You all could have simply ignored us and continued with your round one strategy.
Though I do believe this is the heart of the conflict. 'By killing everyone else'. Six units were to die and no matter how we played that is an inescapable fact. In other games units will die as well. No one on BARiTONES or any other unit wants this. This is the harsh reality we all must face. The truth of the Production.
If we try your more restrained methods, we do gamble dying from time to time for the sake of the community.
Re: 378?
... I do not think it such a bad thing to risk dying for the community. And I'm sure you understand why. Unity has always been important to our people, hasn't it?
As I see it, the problem with you starting out so strong is that it sent a message to everyone else that it's fine to do this. And no one could be sure who else would or would not follow suit, and so almost everyone did in a mad bid for survival. That certainly was why we did it. We would not have, had you not chosen to play like that. And I do think your reputation would have been better - or at the very least, I would not have found any fault with your reasoning. I would not have objected even if you'd chosen a good three quarters in the first round. You would have left others a fighting chance for a win while securing a good one for yourself.
Bad End was predictable, in my eyes. Ever since Wed, Bed, Behead they've sworn to be more ruthless to protect themselves.
Re: 378?
I owe the community of this place a paltry amount at best. Therefore, I care not what they think of me.
You, however, I do care what you think. Will you always be disappointed if I do not care about all the units? If I do not have their best interests in mind?
Re: 378?
He's quiet for some time, thinking it over, then lowers his arms, looking down.]
... Not disappointed. Just... sad. It's like with Ardyn... where you've been hurt too much, and now you find it hard to care about others.
Re: 378?
I just do not believe this group will rise to the occasion in harmony. That they will not act in their best interests. And truly the fault is not theirs. They are all but incentivized to do this. There is no 'saving' everyone. In most games all I can do is to attempt to save BARiTONES. And I will not risk them for any other unit. I will not leave it to chance.
And if I'm hated for it, so be it. I would not begrudge any unit that wished to protect themselves or the ones they love. We simply live in a world where all units living during a game is not a valid reality.
Re: 378?
I don't mean that everyone deserves to survive during games! I'm not that stupid, Hades! I just mean that everyone deserves a fighting chance, and you took that away in the last game! And I feel an absolute damn fool for--for trying to be kind to people, to figure out which sins were yours so we could avoid them--
[He stops, breath caught in his throat, then grits his teeth in frustration.]
Re: 378?
Are you upset that other did not afford you the same? That they did not search for your sins?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
1/3
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?
Re: 378?