Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hauntedking) wrote2022-10-21 08:01 am
hauntedking) wrote2022-10-21 08:01 am
[KENOS] IC Inbox
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Ara... But you must be a kind King now, if your friend was able to insult you without losing his head...
[After all, there are plenty of tyrants who would not allow such a thing, as she is sure that he knew. Well, let it be Dimitri's turn to smile bittersweet.]
You are not wrong about mistakes, however. Learning from them... That's part of what makes life interesting.
[After all, there are plenty of tyrants who would not allow such a thing, as she is sure that he knew. Well, let it be Dimitri's turn to smile bittersweet.]
You are not wrong about mistakes, however. Learning from them... That's part of what makes life interesting.
I know. But I — I didn't know. [ he adds, urgently. ] I haven't even been in Highstorm for the past month. I was... I was in the Beyond, trying to find out... what the Meris were building. Set and the others. That's... how I lost Zelda.
I didn't know they were going to do this, Dimitri. I swear it.
I didn't know they were going to do this, Dimitri. I swear it.
Well. I try to be - and at the time I had my own thoughts regarding who I was and what I should be.
[ It was a different time. ]
All we can do is move forward and try not to let ourselves be dragged down by the past. No matter how painful it might be or what has been lost. Pain may linger, but... it can't define you forever.
[ Something he tries to live by, even if he's not always successful. ]
[ It was a different time. ]
All we can do is move forward and try not to let ourselves be dragged down by the past. No matter how painful it might be or what has been lost. Pain may linger, but... it can't define you forever.
[ Something he tries to live by, even if he's not always successful. ]
...I believe you, Link.
[ He does trust him, even know. Even if hurts because they stand on opposite sides. He doesn't know how to bridge the gap that has opened beneath their feet. Should he even try? ]
But I have to warn you... this is war now. And I intend to fight it and bring it a conclusion, as quickly as I can.
[ He does trust him, even know. Even if hurts because they stand on opposite sides. He doesn't know how to bridge the gap that has opened beneath their feet. Should he even try? ]
But I have to warn you... this is war now. And I intend to fight it and bring it a conclusion, as quickly as I can.
[ Link is quiet. He doesn't know what to make of those words. Where are they coming from, exactly? Are they the words of a noble kind determined to get back to his kingdom... or are these whispers coming from that dark, cruel place within Dimitri's heart?
He doesn't want Dimitri to do something he's going to regret. But he knows he has no place to lecture him, either. Not anymore. ]
...Shez killed me. Before he did it, I told him we didn't have to fight. He killed me anyway. Because firing that weapon at the Manor was more important, I guess.
He doesn't want Dimitri to do something he's going to regret. But he knows he has no place to lecture him, either. Not anymore. ]
...Shez killed me. Before he did it, I told him we didn't have to fight. He killed me anyway. Because firing that weapon at the Manor was more important, I guess.
...what exactly happened?
[ He hasn't heard this yet. From anyone. ]
You found the weapon they used?
[ He hasn't heard this yet. From anyone. ]
You found the weapon they used?
Yeah. I tracked it down. They built it in the Beyond, north of Highstorm... it's probably still there.
[ If Link were talking to any Meri other than Dimitri, he wouldn't be telling him any of this. But, thankfully, he is — because now he knows that Shez didn't run and blab what happened to everyone. ]
I got caught spying on them.
[ If Link were talking to any Meri other than Dimitri, he wouldn't be telling him any of this. But, thankfully, he is — because now he knows that Shez didn't run and blab what happened to everyone. ]
I got caught spying on them.
I heard rumors of some sort of weapon at one time, but I knew little of it.
[ He sighs softly. ]
...and Shez decided to kill you for it.
[ Which is... well. He can't say he entirely blames Shez. It's a very logical, Shez thing to do. ]
[ He sighs softly. ]
...and Shez decided to kill you for it.
[ Which is... well. He can't say he entirely blames Shez. It's a very logical, Shez thing to do. ]
...
So... the Zenith attacked Springstar to kill the Tribune, and a lot of us didn't know about it. And some Meris built a weapon to attack the Manor, but other Meris weren't involved at all.
[ He pauses, thinking. He already knows, from personal experience, that there are Zenites who strongly object to what their comrades did. There's got to be Meris who feel the same way, but... ]
Dimitri... if you did know about the weapon, would you have done anything?
So... the Zenith attacked Springstar to kill the Tribune, and a lot of us didn't know about it. And some Meris built a weapon to attack the Manor, but other Meris weren't involved at all.
[ He pauses, thinking. He already knows, from personal experience, that there are Zenites who strongly object to what their comrades did. There's got to be Meris who feel the same way, but... ]
Dimitri... if you did know about the weapon, would you have done anything?
I don't know.
[ He answers truthfully. ]
I would have counseled against its use, certainly. And tried to prevent an escalation of the war to open violence. But now... after everything... it's hard for me to say that there wasn't some propriety in preparing for the possibility of needing such a thing.
[ He answers truthfully. ]
I would have counseled against its use, certainly. And tried to prevent an escalation of the war to open violence. But now... after everything... it's hard for me to say that there wasn't some propriety in preparing for the possibility of needing such a thing.
Then, does it really matter if you didn't know about it?
[ Link's voice is gentle, quiet... but firm. ]
I didn't know about the assassination. And I don't approve of the involvement of civilians and non-combatants. But going after Cyrus himself...
[ He trails off. He's not so sure he would have objected to it. ]
It was only a matter of time before something like this happened, wasn't it.
[ Link's voice is gentle, quiet... but firm. ]
I didn't know about the assassination. And I don't approve of the involvement of civilians and non-combatants. But going after Cyrus himself...
[ He trails off. He's not so sure he would have objected to it. ]
It was only a matter of time before something like this happened, wasn't it.
...probably. I've been hoping this war would stay... well. Not non-violent, but at least contained. But it's finally turning into something that can't be restrained and I don't know what can be done about.
[ Probably nothing at all. There are too many people on either side who are willing to go to extremes to win. They'll suck everyone else into their way of thinking, either through intentional persuasion or by galvanizing and radicalizing the more level-headed people on the other side. ]
...I need Zelda back.
[ That's all he can say. All he can do is trying to focus back on why he's talking to Dimitri at all.
Neither of them are about to solve Kenos' problems on their own, anyway. It's almost pointless to even talk about it. ]
Talk to Shez. I'll meet you in Alenroux, if you prefer someplace neutral.
And — if she's been corrupted like some of the other Zenite Shards were last month, I... I'll know.
...I need Zelda back.
[ That's all he can say. All he can do is trying to focus back on why he's talking to Dimitri at all.
Neither of them are about to solve Kenos' problems on their own, anyway. It's almost pointless to even talk about it. ]
Talk to Shez. I'll meet you in Alenroux, if you prefer someplace neutral.
And — if she's been corrupted like some of the other Zenite Shards were last month, I... I'll know.
[ It's true, talking in circles won't get them anywhere. And Dimitri is determined to help Link get the shard back. Even so... there's an unhidden flare of hurt there. ]
...I wouldn't do such a thing, Link. You know that.
...I wouldn't do such a thing, Link. You know that.
You wouldn't. [ he sighs. it wasn't meant as an accusation — well, not against Dimitri, at least. ]
But someone on your side did. Last I heard, we have no idea how. Whoever it was might take advantage of the situation, if they already haven't.
So, please... just be careful.
If you can avoid telling other people that you have a Zenite's gifted Shard, then don't.
But someone on your side did. Last I heard, we have no idea how. Whoever it was might take advantage of the situation, if they already haven't.
So, please... just be careful.
If you can avoid telling other people that you have a Zenite's gifted Shard, then don't.
I know. I'll... I'll be careful. I don't want anyone to harm the shard, either.
[ Dimitri sighs softly as well. ]
Things are going to be difficult after all of this, Link.
[ Dimitri sighs softly as well. ]
Things are going to be difficult after all of this, Link.
I know.
[ And that's all he says. He leaves the conversation there, hanging on that bare acknowledgement, with nothing else to add. No words of encouragement, no further predictions, no announcement of how he intends to deal with it... just silence. ]
[ And that's all he says. He leaves the conversation there, hanging on that bare acknowledgement, with nothing else to add. No words of encouragement, no further predictions, no announcement of how he intends to deal with it... just silence. ]
[ As long as Matt's in Springstar, doing his best to heal these gaping wounds as one guy with limited resources, he figures ... he should reach out to the Meridians he'd been friendly with before. Maybe they won't want anything to do with him, but he has to try. It's about bigger things than his shrinking desire to avoid rejection.
So--tentatively, with the sense of someone waiting at the door to gather the courage to knock: ]
Dimitri?
So--tentatively, with the sense of someone waiting at the door to gather the courage to knock: ]
Dimitri?
Matt?
[ Dimitri's mental voice sounds a bit weary. And maybe just sad. ]
What can I do for you?
[ Dimitri's mental voice sounds a bit weary. And maybe just sad. ]
What can I do for you?
[ It hurts his heart to feel him sound like that. Matt's tired too, but he doesn't notice his own weariness so much--more now, perhaps, fresh off a run of arduous spellcasting. When he focuses only on breath and what he can channel from outside him, power running lightning-rod and woodwind through his limbs, prolonged magic feels like doing a lot of cardio. It saps his breath and puts aches in his muscles.
His mental presence gives a warm sigh. ]
I was gonna ask you that. I'm in Springstar, so ... I thought I'd check in.
His mental presence gives a warm sigh. ]
I was gonna ask you that. I'm in Springstar, so ... I thought I'd check in.
Are you?
[ Dimitri isn't quite aware that Matt is aligned with Zenith now - the last time they spoke, he'd been unaligned, after all. ]
I'm... doing as well as can be expected, I suppose. Trying to help with the recovery and setting things to rights. You weren't hurt during that business, were you?
[ Dimitri isn't quite aware that Matt is aligned with Zenith now - the last time they spoke, he'd been unaligned, after all. ]
I'm... doing as well as can be expected, I suppose. Trying to help with the recovery and setting things to rights. You weren't hurt during that business, were you?
No, no, [ Matt assures him. ] I ... the good news is I was able to help out, at least a little.
Were you hurt?
[ He remembers flinging out frantic psychic messages, but he was so tired at the time he honestly can't recall who answered before he got Nebula. ]
Were you hurt?
[ He remembers flinging out frantic psychic messages, but he was so tired at the time he honestly can't recall who answered before he got Nebula. ]
Not much, no. Although there was quite a deal of fighting.
[ He sighs softly. ]
It's been a long few days. I'm still taking stock.
[ He sighs softly. ]
It's been a long few days. I'm still taking stock.
God. Yeah. [ Matt wants to stay light about it, but the sense memories of burning hair and screams keep coming back. He knows he was lucky to get out with just some scrapes and bangs. ] Well ... if there's anything you need. Even just somebody to keep you company for a bit.
[ Pause.
Don't be a fucking wuss, Jamison. ]
I'd understand if I was the last person you wanted to see right now. I didn't choose the way I did because I approve of--any of that. But still.
[ Pause.
Don't be a fucking wuss, Jamison. ]
I'd understand if I was the last person you wanted to see right now. I didn't choose the way I did because I approve of--any of that. But still.
...I hadn't realized you'd chosen at all.
[ There's a sort of long exhale from him. ]
This is a war now, Matt. And I don't want to have to fight you.
[ There's a sort of long exhale from him. ]
This is a war now, Matt. And I don't want to have to fight you.
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