[ He doesn't speak any more on the comparison, not out of some old camaraderie for Edelgard, nor for sensitivity for Rafal's own wishes, but for his own self-interest. He hasn't spoken of the reasons behind the war proper since his arrival here, hasn't regaled anyone with the realities of fighting against old friends and previously friendly soldiers, had simply danced around war, the same as any other war.
Discretion is the better part of valour. If Edelgard winds up here too, he intends to work with her, not against her. No need to poison that particular well. ]
...I'm impressed you had a change of heart. Most I know would have accepted death before accepting that they could have been wrong. [ For all that his words could be interpreted as double-sided, he's being truthful for once; he hopes that if even a being as stubborn as an ancient dragon can accept their lot, then there's hope for anyone. ]
What does making sure it doesn't happen again entail, exactly?
[ rafal makes a note of it. he's not one to let himself get caught unprepared. he's more direct these days, preferring to be himself. but he was a master manipulator once. he brought down kingdoms. and he refuses to be caught unawares. he has to stay alive. for nel's sake. ]
Ensuring that no world suffers from a despot who wishes to conquer and rule. To fight back.
That's all it entails. I do not lead. I will follow.
And in these other worlds... how do you see with clarity which is which? Who is a revolutionary, and who is a despot, and where they may fall in-between?
[ His tone isn't interrogatory, but it is questioning. It's a question he's had to ask himself time and time again, and he had to accommodate to a new country, not an entirely new world. In something like war, where everyone suffers, who decides what's right beyond the victor? ]
Sometimes it's pretty straightforward, I'll grant you that. But other times, it feels like it will take years of study just to understand where everyone is coming from. Unless you stick to the cut and dry examples -- and with all others, you simply move on.
[ It's a more philosophical conversation than he thought he was getting into at the outset. But he genuinely wants to know. ]
I've yet to do so on other worlds. And on Elyos, it is a simple matter. An alternate version of the Fell Dragon Sombron exists. And he must be stopped.
[ It's back home he's worried about. But he doesn't wish to speak on it further, not when Rafal could credibly go to his world and rapidly turn against him. Edelgard speaks well, with passion and fire, and could likely sway another to her side. Hell, even Claude as her opponent believes that she has some fundamental sense to her desires, even if he disagrees with her execution. She already has greater resources than Claude does, greater numbers, greater influence as the sole monarch of her people instead of Claude still in the weeds of needing everything approved by council.
He can't risk talking about it until he knows Rafal better, to either sway him to stay away or to fight for him instead. ]
We have been taken prisoner in this place, kidnapped by forces beyond our knowledge. And while perhaps you and I may have things that we ought to repent - [ Claude hasn't taken as many lives as Rafal and does not regret the lives he's taken, but take them he did ] - but they've dragged innocents here. Children, people who have done nothing to deserve being separated from their homes and families, with no explanation as to why, no system in place for explaining our sins, no way of completing our sentences and being returned home.
I'm pretty confident in calling them the bad guys.
But who is they? Where is their power centralized?
[ rafal taps his fingers against the table idly. it's not often he lacks information. he tore kingdoms apart with information. subtly weeding off the strong, bit by bit until there was no one left. he was confident he could do it again. over and over.
but it would invite a disastrous outcome. and rafal was not the same person he was a thousand years ago. he gave an oath. he intends to keep it, even if alear is not here to oversee his actions. ]
We know them only as The Council. They, like the citizens of this land, worship deities that they refer to only as Those That Were. They're notoriously difficult to get ahold of and infuriatingly tight-lipped, no matter how we try to get information out of them about the nature of this place.
[ That's putting aside the whole nasty business of this all being some cruel simulation, but that had taken Claude many moons to wrap his head around. Even now, he doesn't quite understand it. If Rafal is from a world like his own - which he certainly seems to be - then Claude won't get into those specifics now. Best to leave those conversations with people who haven't spent their lives communicating quite credibly through messenger pigeon. ]
Brute force is not an option, as far as we've been able to tell. A fellow blew up City Hall not so long ago, which didn't hurt them, but I don't think it did us any favours either. [ He shrugs. ] It's not as easy as picking up our arms, I'm afraid. We need more information. But even when we get it, I sincerely doubt I'll change my mind on their, let's say... code of ethics. You and I may have committed a wrong or two, but not everyone who's here deserves it, I'll tell you that much.
But no, there's been no organized effort against them. Largely because there's nothing we've figured out for an organized group to do, unless you count that one fellow who blew up City Hall. Which, between you and me, was a pretty stupid thing to do. I'm not against direct action, but the people writing our sentences were completely untouched.
[ to his credit, rafal takes this seriously. he's no longer suitable to lead, even if he is still "lord rafal" to many. and he'd prefer not to. the fate of a world should belong to the humans, not the dragons. and he is sure alear would agree.
he could function similarly to an emblem. much like claude had for him. ]
I'll consider it.
What about the locals? How do people engage with them?
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expiationlogs2024-04-14 10:44 pm
no subject
Discretion is the better part of valour. If Edelgard winds up here too, he intends to work with her, not against her. No need to poison that particular well. ]
...I'm impressed you had a change of heart. Most I know would have accepted death before accepting that they could have been wrong. [ For all that his words could be interpreted as double-sided, he's being truthful for once; he hopes that if even a being as stubborn as an ancient dragon can accept their lot, then there's hope for anyone. ]
What does making sure it doesn't happen again entail, exactly?
no subject
Ensuring that no world suffers from a despot who wishes to conquer and rule. To fight back.
That's all it entails. I do not lead. I will follow.
no subject
[ His tone isn't interrogatory, but it is questioning. It's a question he's had to ask himself time and time again, and he had to accommodate to a new country, not an entirely new world. In something like war, where everyone suffers, who decides what's right beyond the victor? ]
Sometimes it's pretty straightforward, I'll grant you that. But other times, it feels like it will take years of study just to understand where everyone is coming from. Unless you stick to the cut and dry examples -- and with all others, you simply move on.
[ It's a more philosophical conversation than he thought he was getting into at the outset. But he genuinely wants to know. ]
no subject
I've yet to do so on other worlds. And on Elyos, it is a simple matter. An alternate version of the Fell Dragon Sombron exists. And he must be stopped.
Here, I imagine it is not a simple matter.
no subject
[ It's back home he's worried about. But he doesn't wish to speak on it further, not when Rafal could credibly go to his world and rapidly turn against him. Edelgard speaks well, with passion and fire, and could likely sway another to her side. Hell, even Claude as her opponent believes that she has some fundamental sense to her desires, even if he disagrees with her execution. She already has greater resources than Claude does, greater numbers, greater influence as the sole monarch of her people instead of Claude still in the weeds of needing everything approved by council.
He can't risk talking about it until he knows Rafal better, to either sway him to stay away or to fight for him instead. ]
We have been taken prisoner in this place, kidnapped by forces beyond our knowledge. And while perhaps you and I may have things that we ought to repent - [ Claude hasn't taken as many lives as Rafal and does not regret the lives he's taken, but take them he did ] - but they've dragged innocents here. Children, people who have done nothing to deserve being separated from their homes and families, with no explanation as to why, no system in place for explaining our sins, no way of completing our sentences and being returned home.
I'm pretty confident in calling them the bad guys.
no subject
[ rafal taps his fingers against the table idly. it's not often he lacks information. he tore kingdoms apart with information. subtly weeding off the strong, bit by bit until there was no one left. he was confident he could do it again. over and over.
but it would invite a disastrous outcome. and rafal was not the same person he was a thousand years ago. he gave an oath. he intends to keep it, even if alear is not here to oversee his actions. ]
Do they have a name? A history?
no subject
[ That's putting aside the whole nasty business of this all being some cruel simulation, but that had taken Claude many moons to wrap his head around. Even now, he doesn't quite understand it. If Rafal is from a world like his own - which he certainly seems to be - then Claude won't get into those specifics now. Best to leave those conversations with people who haven't spent their lives communicating quite credibly through messenger pigeon. ]
Brute force is not an option, as far as we've been able to tell. A fellow blew up City Hall not so long ago, which didn't hurt them, but I don't think it did us any favours either. [ He shrugs. ] It's not as easy as picking up our arms, I'm afraid. We need more information. But even when we get it, I sincerely doubt I'll change my mind on their, let's say... code of ethics. You and I may have committed a wrong or two, but not everyone who's here deserves it, I'll tell you that much.
no subject
And what organisations do we have here to deter them? Surely there must be some movement or leader we can rally towards.
no subject
You could always follow me?
[ He's only half-joking. ]
But no, there's been no organized effort against them. Largely because there's nothing we've figured out for an organized group to do, unless you count that one fellow who blew up City Hall. Which, between you and me, was a pretty stupid thing to do. I'm not against direct action, but the people writing our sentences were completely untouched.
no subject
he could function similarly to an emblem. much like claude had for him. ]
I'll consider it.
What about the locals? How do people engage with them?