[closed] cross-faction talks

[inutilis]

Who: Emet-Selch, Liem, Howl, Misa, Abel, Ernesto, Alphinaud, Hiccup
What: Cross-faction therapy talks
Where: Sovereign Shrine
When: July 6th(ish), mid-afternoon
Warnings: None anticipated? Will update if necessary!

It is an unremarkable afternoon in Horos; the sun is shining, the breeze is breezing, and among the quiet reverie of the Sovereign’s Shrine… a slow trickle of Aion begin to congregate.

Emet-Selch and Abel bid you welcome to the day’s endeavors, laying out the only rules of the land: this is a place for discussion, and violence is absolutely not permitted. Everyone here has agreed to be on their best behavior and if talks are getting heated - there’s plenty of room to cool one’s head beyond the Shrine’s entranceway beneath the calming sunlight where one might take in the sight of the surrounding mountains’ peaks.

After the events in Venera, tensions may be running high between certain parties and the escalation between sects seems inevitable. Whether you’ve come here to discuss the possibility of diffusing those tensions or are looking to stoke the flames all the hotter… speak your piece. No one knows if you’ll get a second chance in such a setting, after all. Who’s to say what the future holds…?

[ ooc notes: please use the OPEN DISCUSSION thread as a network-style free for all! We’re expecting dialogue-heavy, introspection lite boomeranging here to keep the conversation moving since there are a lot of parties involved. Threadjacking is encouraged! If there’s anything you’d like to take to a 1 on 1 or smaller group, hit up the CLOSED DISCUSSION thread for a deeper dive in a quieter setting. OPEN MIC is the spot for you to bring up whatever you’ve been dying to ask everyone. Or to stir the pot. You do you. ]

Comments

[galdorleod]

Howl meets the over-the-top sweetness of Abel's response with a neutral smile, although some of his confusion is still lingering on his face. Do you really think Howl isn't going to notice your deflection, Abel?? You can't bullshit a fellow bullshitter.

Still conspicuously ignoring Emet-Selch, the wizard crosses his arms and cocks his head at Abel inquisitively. "If I said I was worried about you, would it make you more likely to answer my question?" Despite his combative words, his tone is light. "Whatever that thing did you to has the potential to affect us all, you know..."

[inutilis]

Emet-Selch's quip is met with something of a petulant glare, but... Howl's inquiry soon distracts him from where he had been clearly about to open his mouth and ask precisely what 'like that' is intended to insinuate--

"...W-well, I suppose it would, if you were sincere? I mean, I do enjoy being worried after by handsome and dapper chaps." He touches his chin thoughtfully. Mm. Yes, nothing wrong with that, is it? He can't find a flaw in it whatsoever.

"But if you're talking about the Being that touched Venera..."

He lifts one of his hands - his right, his palm faintly aglow with an unnatural luminescence, the tattoo of the Innocence's sigil inscribed on his skin.

"I'm afraid that those events are as confusing to me as they are to you, Mr. Howl. The whole thing was a little... um-- terrifying? Yes. But it wasn't a painful experience, exactly. It felt as though that Being were trying to... protect us. All of us, in Its own way - however misguided. Does that make sense...? Like a child that doesn't understand the consequences of its actions, I think."

[galdorleod]

The wry smile on Howl's face fades away as soon as Abel raises his palm. This is the first time he's seen anything like that illuminated sigil; it's evidence that all he's heard about what happened has been true. He stares with intense curiosity.

"And it does not hurt now, either?" he finally asks, reluctantly glancing to Abel. "What of the others? Nobody is... suffering?"

[inutilis]

"No," he answers with frankness, and runs his fingers over the sigil as if to demonstrate it isn't sensitive nor painful. "It's simply... there, and it's been since its appearance. But--"

There is a meager beat of hesitation before he tentatively carries forward.

"I can't say that Estinien's condition is bereft of suffering, but... it isn't my place to speak on it. Still, what he went through is much different than the rest of us."

There is something soberer behind his eyes as the topic strays to more... delicate subjects. Estinien had lost his life, and it isn't a matter he takes lightly.

[galdorleod]

Broaching the topic of Estinien seems to trigger something within Howl. He narrows his eyes and glances away, over Abel's shoulder, as if his mind is immediately gripped with a flurry of thoughts that make it impossible to maintain eye contact. The wizard has deeply conflicting feelings about the dragoon, feelings that he has avoided dwelling on lest understanding them would complicate everything further. But, in reality, this might have been what Howl has been the most worried about this entire time.

"Not your place to speak on it?" he says, brows furrowed. "Why not? Does his condition not have... an equal likelihood of affecting us all?"