aionchat | To the Pleroma, a few days after the raid

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To the Pleroma, a few days after the raid

[After speaking with Yuya, Ryunosuke suspects this message may not be well received by some. Maybe it's simply not the right time... But if not now, then when? He can't keep sitting on this information.

After pacing restlessly in his quarters and fretting over his decision, he resolves to take the plunge. A deep breath, and a quick slap to the face later, he pulls his shard out, closes his eyes, and focuses, his spirit reaching out to all the other Pleroma across the communion.]

This is Naruhodo speaking. I... I have some important information to share. And I hope that you'll all indulge me a moment to speak. I considered waiting a bit to relay this information, but after everything that has happened...

[There's a wavering emotion on his end, deeply mournful and angry. It's a righteous anger; the restless sort that won't allow him to sit idly by while evil still sits atop its thorny throne, content to think that it's won the day. He hardens his heart, thinking of that, and plunges ahead:]

Before our infiltration of Achamoth, Sakaki-kun and I were able to... To speak with the Innocence once more. I know many of you may think that ill-advised, and I don't disagree; it was a risk, to be certain. But I considered it a necessary one, because whatever that thing is... Whoever she is... It's been abundantly clear for some time now that she has far more knowledge of this world, more knowledge of the Regent and their plans, than any other source we've been able to tap into so far. The Innocence constituted a lead that I couldn't ignore, and I... I don't regret following that lead. I hope some of you will agree, once you hear what I've to say.

The Innocence can be difficult to speak to, but there can be little doubt about what it imparted at the end of our discussion. The truth we all need to be aware of is this: the Regent's strength, their power, the force that will lead them to realizing their goal of destruction on a cosmological scale: it's despair. Literally, our misery feeds them. It makes them stronger.

Perhaps that's not surprising to hear, given what we already know of the Kenoma, but please consider the implications: Horos's entire history, particularly the last hundred years... The suffering caused by the Regent's tyrannical rule; it's not just the behavior of a despot, typical as it may be for leaders of similar ilk. No, everything they've done in the past... From the suffering they continue to cause to the civilians of Horos, to the way in which they continue to bait us and antagonize us, instead of letting us live in peace... It's all a means to an end! The ultimate end! The Regent mistreats the people here and spreads misery across the land simply because breaking souls and leading them to despair literally gives them strength.

[His anger has intensified, a bright flame burning at the center of the cloud of grief enshrouding his heart.]

I am not asking you to forgo mourning. I am not telling you that you should not ever feel pain, or sadness. Gods know I've had my share of both. But I implore you: grieve, but do not wallow in it. If you feel yourself slipping into despair, be defiant. Remind yourself that it's exactly what the Regent wants. And if you can't do that on your own, reach out. We must come together and support each other through this.

...Yuya and I suspect that this truth about the Regent is what drove the Innocence to spread its touch around Horos as she did, back on the moon of Inoseri. She felt the suffering of the Horosians, of the Venerans particular, and saw how their misery gave that bastard strength. That's why she infected the people with apathy as she did, to interrupt the thing that was feeding the Regent power. Horos suffers, and so the Regent grows ever closer to winning. The Innocence sought to ease the people's pain, I think largely out of compassion but-- but also, to buy time. Time enough for us to fight back and avert the destruction.

[He knows this has been running long. Assuming anyone is even listening... There's something he's taken away from all this, and it's the point he wants to drive home.]

As long as one of us still holds hope, the Regent cannot win. The Innocence's methods were deeply flawed, but... She had the right idea, in some sense. Which brings us to the heart of the matter, the thing I wish for you to take away from this more than anything else:

The people of Horos need hope. Going forward, if we can give it to them, if we can help them to fight back against the Regent's rule... I suspect we will take away the very thing that makes the Regent strong. And if that's true, we CAN beat them. I'm certain of it. We have a new advantage now, knowledge that we didn't have before. We can use that to direct our efforts. We can start truly fighting back.

We can prove to them that hope never truly fades.

[Gods. Alright, maybe he's... Gone a bit overboard with all this, but what's said is said. He's not going to regret it. He'll just leave things there. In real life, he lets out a long, shaky breath, coming down from his defiant fervor.]

Now, if you have questions... Go ahead and ask. I'll answer what I can. And perhaps Sakaki-kun can help, if he's willing.

[ooc note: the intent is for this information to also be shared at the Pleroma council that will be taking place next month, so no worries if your character is not in a state to listen in on this message! The info will still get around without you needing to sit through Ryunosuke's inspirational speech efforts.]

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[ As a new Aion, Miyako doesn't have the experience of Venera. She doesn't know what the Innocence put anyone through, has no real horse in the general race of the events - But even so, that doesn't stop who she is. A person who doesn't want to see violence enacted on anyone. She can't forget that gentle warmth from that day or watching its fall from the skies. It twisted in her gut as she listened on. There's something in Ryuu's speech that's distantly familiar -

The concept of light and dark aren't new to her. The concept of hope prevailing over despair is extra not new to her. The defeat of BelialVamdemon is one that lives on in her heart for many reasons... But, no, even the will to "help" and doing it so poorly resonates with her. Wasn't that what Menoa wants to do for the Chosen of her world? To lock them in their memories so they never felt the despair of losing their partners?

Despite her newness she gets it. And for her, Ryunosuke speaks the truth over shed tears of an entity that she could hardly say she knew. But then, that's not unexpected - Miyako loves freely, believes in peace. Maybe that's why... She listens carefully, intent, agreeing to everything without question. Highlighting his perception with her own as she considers and then says in a soft voice, a quote from a friend that's been on the forefront of her mind the last several weeks:]

Where there's light, there's always darkness. The brighter it is, the darker the shadow. No matter how dark, keep the light inside your heart lit.

[ She paused and then off-handedly, a little flippantly, realizes her dazed mind thoughts aren't very helpful without context: ] That's what a friend taught us once was the meaning of Hope and Qinglongmon, too.

[ Not that Ryuunosuke knows who Qinglongmon was or even that the friend was supposed to be some kind of embodiment of the force of hope. ]

I guess, I don't know a lot of what's happened. But you're not wrong. In the past it's always been a battle of light and dark and to win out... The darkness wants people to suffer, to hate themselves and give up.

That's why we can't ever give up even if it hurts a little.

[ This much she fully believes. It's something that for a relatively friendly, non-eager force to fight in the few weeks she'd been there she clings to. Her genuine warmth translates even now, to the feeling of the communion, though it's tinged with concern - With the fluttering sensation of loss at something she didn't have a chance to fully understand. ]

...Would you tell me about her? About everything you know?

Edited 2022-08-29 01:38 (UTC)

[Ryunosuke's touched. By her words, by the emotions she shares, by her support.

He wishes he could give her what she's asking for, but... Not everything he has to say is nice.]

...I... I can try. Though I fear I may not have as much knowledge to impart as you may hope.

That's okay! [ Miyako's response is immediate and quick, a whirlwind as ever as she adds: ] I just wasn't here for any of that...! So I want to know more.

I need to know more.

[ How did it get that far? Why did something so warm have to disappear - No. Miyako had said they would meet again, she has to believe in that. It's not really an end (or is it, she'll think later, of the fluttering of light as something's extinguished). She'd promised to not let their message be forgotten and it's something she's determined not to do.

But then. She simply is who she is: ]

She was willing to sacrifice herself for all of us... Even if some the things she did was wrong and hurt others... She was warm.

[ She has? No other way to explain it and she knows it sounds silly - in the light of everything, but it's important. Because that warmth had been comforting and gave her hope; Something to believe in, if only fleetingly. That's what the Sanctifier was for her. ]

[It doesn't sound silly. Not really. And if she's willing to take the good with the bad here...]

...We first encountered her about three months ago, in the month of Inoseri. A... Plague of sorts was spreading across Horos, afflicting civilians. The cause was unclear but the effect was... Well, 'apathy' seems to be the best word for it. People infected were like husks; they cared of nothing. Their sense of self preservation, their drive to care for their own bodies, for the well being of their families... It was suppressed. They would do nothing but sit about in a stupor that no amount of pleading would shake them from.

[He goes slowly, like he's carefully dredging up the details; it feels so very long ago already.]

No one knew the cause, but the effect seemed to be at its worse in the city of Venera. So... We went to investigate. Members from both sects converged to try and sniff out the source. We made little progress at first but as the Innocent's Moon reached its peak... That's when we discovered that the disease could affect Aions, and not just the Horosians.

[Ryunosuke pauses for a moment, partly to let her take that much in but... Also because he seems to be struggling a bit with how to talk about the next part. The Innocence's arrival is tied to a very traumatic memory for him, after all.]

Edited 2022-08-29 15:21 (UTC)

[Hayame wasn't going to bother with this. She felt the sense of the message, who it was from, and she almost just didn't look. But she's alone in a cave in the depths of Lohkimareen with the muzzled head of her enemy, and she is... curious.

Her curiosity shrivels and is replaced by something that burns. Something that isn't-]

The people need hope? The Regent cannot prevail as long as people hope?

[As usual, her communion attempts are marred with an uncontrolled bleed-through of jumbled memory and emotion, flashes of something dark and far more befitting the kenoma than the pleroma, of bloody rain and a hail of scales, of pain.]

To think that you would be blinder than I am with a single eye... You are far stupider than I imagined, Ptarmigan.

[Why has she even bothered to be disappointed?]

[For once, Ryunosuke doesn't quake at her interjection. Their physical distance at the moment, the lack of an angry glare to pin him to the spot and make him stumble over his words, that certainly helps... But even if they were face to face, he'd be every bit as defiant right now. He's full of fighting spirit and he's NOT in the mood to placate or play nice. Not if she's going to come in swinging with insults like that.]

...So shocking that you would think that. Care to elaborate on why?

[Despite his sarcasm, he makes no attempt to shut her down or shut her out, because... He can feel her pain. He can feel how precarious she is right now, and that scares him more than anything she actually says.

Being nice or polite has never worked on her before, but she's clearly in need of someone. He's going to help her whether she likes it or not.]

Edited 2022-08-29 02:19 (UTC)

You want me to elaborate?

[Of course he needs an explanation. Of course he doesn't understand. What sort of sweet life had this idiot led, that he can spout such ideals and think it constitutes fighting back?]

Let me make it simple for you. Hope is something people feel when they're foolish enough to believe in things that will never be a reality. It's a condolence. And having it doesn't do a gods damned thing.

Hayame-san...

[He remains resolute. He doesn't soften. But the way he says her name intimates understanding, and it carries with it a candid glimpse into his own heart... To the chasm of pain and grief that's been torn open there.

Whether he means to share it or not is immaterial. What matters is that it spotlights one inarguable fact: They are both mourning deeply the loss of the very same person.]

I am not suggesting that we merely have faith and hope for the best. I am saying that hope, despair... In this world, they hold tangible power, as... As much as fire, or the wind!

[He's echoing similar lines, he realizes, to things he has said in the past while discussing the Pleroma and Kenoma. They're like essential elements.]

It's not mere sentiment. Inspiring the people to resist and fight back... It can have real, tangible impact! I've long wondered why a leader who claims to abhor the ills of the world would have such a heavy hand in causing more of the same suffering, well, this, this is the answer! It directly benefits them, and not just in an abstract sense! The Regent, the Kenoma-- they feed on making the people suffer!

[Maybe he's making some leaps of logic here, but it FEELS right as he says it. He's so damn sure he's on the right track here. This is what the Innocence was warning them of.]

[She doesn't want to see or feel that, some sick appeal that seems designed to elicit sympathy or prove that they must be feeling the same thing-

But Hayame doesn't feel that's true at all, and it makes her own emotions flare up in a biter, caustic wall.]

You expect people to believe that hope is tangible? Can you eat hope when you are starving? Can you sleep on it when your bed is hard? Can you warm yourself by it when you cannot light a fire?

[... It's communion, but. The mental equivalent of spitting on the ground? It happens.]

Who the hell do you think you'll save by making them hope for things? The only thing hope births for most people is disappointment.

It was...

[Yuya isn't feeling very full of hope himself, but he feels he owes Ryunosuke to at least listen and provide any facts he has. And this is... actually, something he has experienced.]

You've heard what happened to the first of us, right? When we were taken to the cave and fed that goo. When we were escaping, there was--some kind of energy, that felt like it bolstered our hope of getting out and it gave us power. So we were stronger and faster, and that feeling... it was part of it. It felt like more than just my emotions.

It's a part of the Pleroma and Kenoma. The actual force, not us Aions. And the Regent is using despair as a weapon to make us weaker and them stronger.

[What he describes isn’t what Hayame would call “hope”. This place has magic, it would be simply something like that, something supposedly “explainable”…

But more importantly,]

Was I talking to you?

[At that, Yuya gives...

... no response. Not even a flare up of emotion to preempt any sort of acknowledgement or retaliation.

He agreed to support Ryunosuke by sharing the things he's learned. To affirming what Ryunosuke has learned. Information. Not convince people.]

[He doesn't dare assume that what they're feeling must be the same; only that the source of their pain is shared. But there's only so much detail he can impart without words, and if she takes it as an appeal, then so be it.]

Even if that's true, [said with the heavy implication that he doesn't think it is,] so what?

[He lets that hang there a moment. Watches, feels for her reaction.]

Will you just give up? I was under the impression that you were made of sterner stuff than that.

[If he wanted to feel that bitter, dark feeling (that despair he claimed the Regent fed on) flare up brighter and stronger… Well, he has succeeded.]

Look me in the eye and tell me I have given up.

[Just the one. It’s not like she’s told him, or anyone really, but the left side of her (his?) face burns with pain.]

I just do not need hope to live, like some filly dreaming in the night.

[Exasperatedly:]

...Meaning, 'no', you won't give up. You just take issue with the terminology.

[Despite the dark edge to her message, he seems... Relieved, in some small way, to know that there's still fight left in her yet. And now the scope of this conversation has narrowed. This is no longer about Horos. It's about Hayame.]

If YOU don't want to believe that things can be better, then that's fine. You don't have to agree with me. All that matters is that you hold on to the will to live, and fight another day. Do not let despair take hold of you.

[She had almost given up, on that rooftop in Achamoth. She had almost-

But she isn’t about to tell anyone that. Let alone this man, now, when he’s spouting drivel like this.]

And you do not try and lecture me as if you know for sure the truth of this gods forsaken world none of us belong to. Else when we meet next in person, you’ll have to actually account for this sudden bit of spine you’ve grown.

If anything, I can show you what hope truly does.

I may not know the full truth of this world, but at least I'm making an effort to try and find it!

[Easy, Ryunosuke... Don't lose your cool...]

It's as I said: you can either believe me or not. I'm not forcing you to agree. But even if my information turns out to be completely unsound, inspiring resistance among the Horosians can and will make a difference towards bringing down the Regent, and this gives us even more of a reason to try. You do want to defeat the Regent, don't you?

Then make a greater effort!

[Every time she wants to believe people just come back with this nonsense. Hope? Hope?]

What I want has nothing to do with what’s possible. This group can’t even save two people without losing [one] a half dozen in the process, and you want to inspire the populace?

With what? Our great deeds and glorious victories in battle?

When the Regent tightens his fist over those people, and they die, what will you tell them? Have hope, please?

[Revolutions are messy, right? Isn't that what they always say? And if revolution is what he's proposing... He will need to accept that it'll come with losses.

He hasn't been thinking about the collateral damage and civilian deaths, though. Even if her question is an important one. And that puts him off his stride. He doesn't want to think about the inevitable deaths, he just wants to find something, some tiny little lead to grab on to, that will help lift him out of this grief-fueled rut he's been rotting in.

And what does she want? For someone to prove her wrong? To vent her own frustrations by beating him back down, since he dares to try and stand up?]

...I don't know. [He says it with a bit of a growl. Does that help? To hear him admit that he doesn't have all the answers yet?] Would ANYONE know what to say, in a situation like that? I doubt you'll find anyone equipped to answer. What I do know is that having hope isn't the same as having blind faith. It's about resilience. It's about pressing on, even if the fight looks hopeless. You're a warrior, are you not? Surely you can appreciate what I mean.

[... There is a certain mollification in it, if only because, if there's one thing Hayame hates more than false hope... It's people who claim to be able to use something that formless in a concrete way. So maybe it does help. A little.

Not as much as him calling her a warrior, but-]

The tell them it is about resilience.

[That's a word that can be stomached.]

And struggle. And suffering, too.

[She cannot imagine a victory in this place without it.]

[Watching one of the Scions fall in battle has hit Cid hard. He doesn't know Estinien's ultimate fate— dead, like the Regent tried to make an example of Himeka and Abel? Maybe something far worse?

In a number of ways, it's shattered his confidence. But he has never been the type to back down, even if he has spent a decade as a pacifist, only rarely participating in battle. And even then, that has almost exclusively been something he'd done at Himeka's side.]

I didn't have the chance to tell you after it happened, but I met a descendant of Helico.

Her bloodline still lives on in Venera, and I for one intend to keep it that way. Her descendant, he was one of those the Regent sought to have assassinated, but he was able to fight back. Do things I've never seen a native of Horos do before.

I'll do my part to bring hope to Venera and see that those who were lost didn't die in vain.

Hold on, you... WHAT!?

[He's shocked. Shocked, but also delighted? He had never considered... Of course it makes sense that the previous Aions may have had progeny here. He'd be kicking himself for not thinking of that angle sooner, if he wasn't so excited by the revelation.]

Helico... Has descendants! That's... That's incredible! What were they like? Did they tell you anything?

The circumstances of our meeting meant that conversation was rather difficult.

[It's obvious that while he isn't shaken up by it or bothered, this is a source of mixed emotions from Cid, and it's obvious a moment later why.]

I was the only Pleroma of the group, though Meteion was among the Kenoma. The others were Barnaby and Liem.

[The fact that they hadn't been able to bring the other two safely to the Pleroma will bother him forever. He doesn't think they'll ever be able to save the two of them now.]

Helico's descendant is named Tristan. I followed two soldiers, knowing they were like to lead me to one of the Regent's targets. He was capable of defending himself just fine, though. He could use magic, Ryunosuke. He was able to make a dull blade sharp again.

His grandmother was one of those we evacuated to Godsblood, at his request.

Mr. Barnaby...

[He doesn't know Liem, but it's obvious the other name resonates with him. He feels similarly dismayed of his fate, though he hasn't given up on the hope of rescuing him yet either.]

Magic... Like beyond the basic sort that Horosians can usually perform? Must be, since I don't think I've ever heard of a blade sharpening cantrip before... Not that I'm an expert...

[His befuddled musing flares back up into excitement, and a bit of alarm.]

Wait-- So, his grandmother was evacuated, but-- Did he stay behind, then!?

…aye. They helped secure the soldiers we gave to the Resistance.

[That he hadn’t insisted they come with him…]

Even the Eorzeans couldn’t perform a feat like what he did. He sheathed his blade in the floor.

[It seems impossible. He’s missing something, but what?]

Aye, he insisted he stay behind. He didn’t want Helico stamped out from the city. I’m to bring him a letter from his grandmother for proof she’s safe. And then I’ll do my part to help nurture Venera’s Resistance.

That's... That's wonderful, Cid!

[Seriously, he's BEYOND thrilled to hear that; his enthusiasm rings as bright and clear as a bell.]

Exactly the sort of thing that Horos needs, really!

[Then it hits him:]

Ah, but... I suppose that means you'll be leaving Greentruth, then...

[That makes him a bit sad to think about, but. Cid's mission is far more important.]

[Cid is the sort to act without thinking, even if his brand of acting without thinking is usually about bettering the people around him. Because of that, he hadn't actually thought about the fact that he'd likely be relocating to Venera full-time.

That's not to say he'd never return, but there will be people he misses.]

...Aye. You're right, I would be.

But I will do all that I can to help return Helico's light to Venera.

Ah...

[There's a bit of sadness there at the confirmation; he's grown used to seeing Cid around Greentruth, around the Ironworks. Ryunosuke considers him a friend, for certain.]

Well... I'll be sorry to see you go, of course, but. I suppose we'll only be a portal away, right? And if the Regent is really feeding off the people's misery... Reminding the Venerans of their history, giving them their spirit back? That would remove an IMMENSE source of the Regent's power.

I've no doubt you'll do Helico proud.

[There's a bit of sadness on Cid's end, too. Leaving Greentruth would mean leaving his followers, though he has no doubt those two will continue to help both the Resistance and the settlement.]

I've no doubt you speak true. In my world, only recently did it become common knowledge of a force beyond aether. It's called dynamis, and I suppose one could could refer to it as emotions made flesh.

I've seen incredible things come of hope. The ship that took Himeka and the Scions to the ends of the universe was powered by very literal hopes and prayers of the peoples of our star.

[The sheer amount of wonder he feels recalling it is powerful.]

[ ~~You're doing amazing, sweetie~~

Thoma's aware him listening to this is more like preaching to the choir... he's not the one who needs hope and optimism. When is he ever? But he is very worried about his fellow Pleromas. ]

Wish there was a more tangible way to boost morale. I've learned pretty quickly that words alone tend to fall on deaf ears here, but I don't fault you for trying. It's just– losing one of our own was a hard blow.

[ He'd only just begun worming his way into Estinien's good graces too... sort of. ]

I thought a cook-out or something like that wouldn't hurt. I know whenever my lord's retainers needed extra motivation in the past, food or gifts would help.

I know... Believe me, I know.

[ Ryunosuke's grief is immense; he'd grown rather protective of Estinien's well being, in addition to coming to view him as a teacher and a comrade. He's convinced the man is still alive, but... The loss is still hitting him hard. ]

This is about more than just morale, though. Or... No, it is about morale, but the stakes are much higher-- this has to be connected to the Pleroma and Kenoma, I'm sure of it! If people would just listen... We finally have a direction to work in with this!

[ He isn't being optimistic so much as he's feeling motivated. That said... ]

...I think you are right, though. A cookout couldn't hurt.

[ Definitely not just saying that bc he likes Thoma's cooking. ]

I appreciate you trying to logic your way through it, but forced happiness is no different than outright misery. It's just painting over the latter with a bright color.

[ That cheer and hope has to be genuine, which might be next to impossible for some people. Thoma's bore witness enough times to how deeply despair can sink its claws. ]

Do you think there are other creatures out there like the Innocent creature that possessed Estinien? There are plenty of shrines littered around...

What? [he's. very befuddled by that first thing.] I wasn't... Suggesting we force anyone. That wouldn't be any better than what the Innocence tried with its plague...

[Ah well. He's just going to let that one go for now.]

I'm not sure... Tehri hadn't heard of anything like the Innocence before, and she's been in Horos longer than any of us. You could ask her about it; she may have gained more insight on it, since last we spoke.

Maybe forced is the wrong word, but ...trying to motivate people to move past their pain before they're ready.

[ He's guilty of it too, if only because he's naturally cheery and doesn't like to dwell on the worst. ]

Hopefully, more will come around when they're ready, but right now, the pain is still too fresh for some. I felt encouraged at least!

[ He doesn't want Ryu to feel bad at all. He knows Ryu was trying his best. ]

And I'll see if I can catch her while we rest. If there are more beasts like that, it'd benefit us to get them on our side.

Ugh... Forcing people to move on before they're ready is explicitly the opposite of what I was hoping to do here. Really.

[He's feeling sort of discouraged by the overall reaction he's getting to this, to be honest, but. Not much he can do about that.]

I'm glad you found it encouraging, at least. Though I think I'd rather sit out on dealing with any new legacy spirits that may be lurking out there.

[He's joking, but also. He'd had more than his fill of it with the Innocence.]

I'm sure your words still resonate, and they'll remember it all later. Don't be too hard on yourself either.

[ He's giving him a mental pat on the shoulder. ]

I do hope the other legacy beasts aren't quite as hostile. I could poke around the Wanderer shrine and see if there is anything of note to discover. Last time I was there, I was too busy being naked to find out much.

[ Maybe there was something crucial he missed before while covering up his naughty bits. ]

[ tl;dl (too long, didn't listen)

Actually that's a lie, he's half-listening as he works on other stuff, quietly absorbing what Ryunosuke says with one ear. It's an interesting concept, not all that far-fetched based on his own personal experiences with the Kenoma, but... ]

How do you suggest we accomplish that?

[ It's not exactly a criticism so much as it is a genuine question; words are great and all, but without action they don't exactly accomplish much. (Also—hi, hello, some time no talk.) ]

You--?!

[Long time no talk indeed. Its been a while since he's heard that voice, but he recognizes it all the same. And this message is only supposed to go out to Pleroma, which means...]

You left the Kenoma!

[It's a statement, not a query. And forget Eustace's question, this is much more important.]

[ He hadn't exactly made any sort of announcement regarding his shift away from the Kenoma, so this particular reaction doesn't come as much of a surprise. There's a small blip of muted amusement before he replies simply: ]

I did.

[ Ryu's gonna have to push if he wants more detail than that though. ]

I'm... I'm honestly very glad to hear that.

[And Eustace will find that, much like when speaking with him in person, Ryunosuke is the opposite of muted with his emotions; he hides very little, and his happiness at this news is 100% genuine.

He won't ask him about the people he was sticking around in the Kenoma to protect; that seems a bit too pointed and personal a line of inquiry, for a public channel like this. But he is hoping this development means perhaps they've gotten out as well.]

When did that happen? If you don't mind my asking...

[There's barely restrained elation over this communion, though Wrathion is doing his level best to shove it down. The last thing he needs to do is overwhelm this poor human with his emotions, when Naruhodo is least expecting it. It isn't that he isn't sad or angry about Estinien, because the dragon surely is. He just has a bad tendency to hyperfixate...]

I had thought the Regent was capable of that, but to hear that they are...

[Well, that does make him slightly less elated, because that's quite a problem in and of itself, isn't it?]

I regret not being able to converse with this...Innocence, before the recent events.

[Wrathion has about a dozen other questions and will only think of more, but he isn't sure that this young man is the right person to ask, either...]

[Oh? Oh, this is a fairly new voice. He may have heard this one over the previous Rumor Mill group chat, now that he thinks about it, but just not had the chance to introduce himself.]

Conversing with her was always... Risky, and frustrating for me. But feel free to ask me any questions you have... I rather doubt I'll have the answers, but you never know... Perhaps I retained something else of use from our conversations, without realizing it.

...Ah, I'm. Ryunosuke Naruhodo, by the way... I don't think we've had the pleasure, before now.

Ah! A pleasure. My name is Wrathion.

[To actually ask questions, he'd have to settle slightly, first, and pick one. Which is difficult, when he's also ruminating on what Naruhodo has said, about hope and other things, as well...

In his journeys through his own world, Wrathion had been taught a lesson. It's one he's not certain he has learned properly, even now, but these are words that need to be heard. That much, he's certain of. He may as well share them. He can't help a flash of memory, though Wrathion tries to stifle that, too. Rise, son of Deathwing. I will give you my blessing, for you need it more than any I have ever met.]

Was this Innocence--was she trying to foster hope in her way? I was...given a lesson, in my travels through a land called Pandaria. One of the August Celestials bade me--challenged me, to speak true--to think not of hope as a vague and unimaginable future. The Red Crane said to live every day with hope in my heart, because in doing so, I would create the future I dreamt of.

[Wrathion is rather certain he hasn't been the best student of any of the Celestials' lessons, but...he's trying to keep them in mind.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

To the Pleroma, a few days after the raid

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