(no subject)

[oraculi]

it's a PC for them holy shit i didn't think this would happen but i'm so proud of them

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week 4, post trial

[oraculi]

[He waits for her outside the trial room, once all the fuss is done and the wounds are tended to. Arms crossed over his chest, he meets her eye and nods, leading them to his room. It's private there, and despite the fact he feels as though things are slowly unraveling, he wants to take as many precautions as possible.]

Katy told me what you did last week. Why you did it.

[Hmm. He rubs his mouth, fingers brushing against his beard.]

. . . it was a good plan. Or at least a good shot. And if you want to do something like that again, if we're that desperate, I'll give you a hand.

[It's never going to be an apology, because frankly he feels as though he has nothing to apologize for. But it's that same grudging respect. Maybe they'll never be best friends, but he can say he respects her.]

[hegemonstrous]

[She'll follow him there, and listen to him, serious, but when he finishes his speech, she laughs lightly, though not really derisively.]

Oh, is that all it was? [She doesn't really think he needs to apologize, either, so it's amusing that he seems to have thought he should?] I did suspect she'd spoken to you. But really, I wouldn't have done it if I didn't expect everyone who didn't know wouldn't be ready to believe I meant to sacrifice her.

Very well. I don't think the same gambit will work again, but if it comes down to it, I'll give you a name.

[oraculi]

[He huffs just slightly, irritated at her laughter. But:]

. . . you got a minute?

[Meaning: stay, as he takes a seat and tugs out a bottle.]

I realize I don't know a whole lot about you. And I'm thinking maybe I should.

[hegemonstrous]

Certainly.

[She doesn't make any move to go.]

I don't make it a habit to make enemies on purpose, but I do seem to have a tendency to acquire them. Perhaps it is because my plans have always been divisive in my own home country, and as a result I seldom take pains to remedy others' negative impressions.

Perhaps I ought to start trying to remedy them. It seems a wiser course of action. What would you like to know?

[oraculi]

[He chuckles, if only because-- well, yeah, sure, but that's not such a bad trait to have.]

Well, first of all, princess, how bout you take a seat? And tell me where you're from.

[hegemonstrous]

First of all, I am not a princess, nor am I fond of nicknames. Edelgard will do.

[She'll sit, a little stiffly, raising an eyebrow of him.]

I am from the Adrestian Empire. It is a country on the continent of Fódlan. [But she knows that is probably meaningless to him.] It is a very different sort of place than here. We don't have this level of technological advancement, but it is also strange to be somewhere where there is no church, or crests, and very little magic.

My family has ostensibly ruled the Adrestian empire for centuries, but in truth, all of the nations of Fódlan exist under the thumb of the church.

Tell me where you are from.

[oraculi]

[So not a princess (not that he ever really thought that). But at least someone up there. Nobility, or a Capitolite, or however you wanna think about it.]

District 12 in Panem. [Which similarly means very little.] Poorest district in the country. Used to be a coal miner, then I got entered into a Games a whole lot like this, except we just had to kill each other. Saved time. I won.

Twenty-six years later, here we are.

[hegemonstrous]

[She nods, thoughtful, actually listening to his story.]

Then you are, like me, from an especially brutal place. And you are a warrior, too. I have never heard of games where people kill for entertainment, but many die in war and in acts of cruelty.

It is different from some here, if you are already accustomed to death.

[oraculi]

No kidding. I dunno if it's better or worse that way.

[Better, in that he hit the ground running. Worse, in that he's been dealing with PTSD for about five weeks now.]

What kinda fighter are you, anyway? I mean, usually people as rich as you act don't have to fight.

[hegemonstrous]

[She laughs a little at that.]

You wouldn’t be wrong, but I’m not from a wealthy family, I’m from royalty.

[She puts a hand up as though expecting a protest.]

I’m sure you expect that I think I’m better than others based on the wealth we have or that status, but I assure you it cannot be further from the truth. Royalty and nobility in my country is decided by bloodlines and the strength of one’s crest, both accidents of birth, and therefore a great many fools and talentless oafs will rise to the top of society rather than those who are deserving.

But the difference is that while the children of the wealthy may expect to lead idle lives, the children of the nobility are expected to defend their lands and lead armies into battle. The elder children will be expected to learn to fight.

Myself, I was the ninth born to my father and had brothers. But my siblings perished, and I became first the heir and later the emperor. And my reign has not been a peaceful one. Since I assumed the throne, I have seen a great many battles.

[oraculi]

[Huh. Well, he's never encountered royalty, but he sure has encountered the wealthy, and maybe that's the difference: the latter inspires mild derision, but he can at least grudgingly acknowledge the former's validity.]

So I oughta be calling you Emperor and not princess, huh?

[Interesting.]

There a reason for all those battles?

[hegemonstrous]

Technically, the correct address is Your Majesty. But you are not my subject. As I said, Edelgard will do.

[She's not all that concerned with titles. But 'princess' does chafe a bit.]

There is. I mentioned that in truth, the nations of Fodlan are controlled by the church. It is a corrupt institution, responsible for enforcing a cruel social structure and carrying out many atrocities in the service of its own power. It has always been my desire to expose the lies taught by the church and free my countrymen from its tyranny.

Given the power of the church, the only way to break its grip is war.

week 6; post-invest

[hegemonstrous]

[After the investigation, she's going to have some water in her own room. Haymitch is welcome to come find her - the door isn't closed.]