EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (GODSBLOOD)

[aionmods]

Sovereign Citizens

GODSBLOOD

At the height of the Sovereign's moon, Vaeka Lovenskol's execution is announced. Outside of the City Hall, a dignitary of Achamoth is flanked by an entourage of Kenoma, reading the words of Regent from an unfurled letter: Vaeka stands accused to conspiring against the Regent and abetting the fugitive menace known as the Pleroma. Though the details are not made public, rumors spread quickly, some far more wild than the actual truth. The full truth, after all, is something only the Regent's agents and the Pleroma themselves know, and even to them the manner of her exposure is unclear.

Though losing a proud daughter of an influential family, there seems to be little that the people of Godsblood can do besides accept it. After all, they are still a city of the Regent's empire, and for all the freedom they've enjoyed, there are limits. If she was truly aiding the Pleroma, the sworn enemies of the Regent - and in an organized manner, if the rumors are to be believed - can they truly object? Or would challenging the Regent's claim simply invite more death?

As with many things, the families of Godsblood are torn. Tensions are thick for the five days leading up to Vaeka's appointed execution by hanging, with everyone having an opinion and few wanting to go on record talking about it too loudly. As such, the people's frustrations come out in other ways. Bloodites are uncharacteristically unfriendly to strangers in this time, keeping to their own and treating everyone else with overt skepticism.

Those that have arrived as part of the Regent's official envoy, or seen guarding Vaeka, will receive a particularly icy reception. No longer are the Kenoma curious wanderers on personal business. Now, they are here as the hands of the Regent; few of the Godsblood citizens are foolish enough to challenge them outright, but they are ever an honest people.

Early on, the Kenoma and the rest of the Achamite contingent sent with them will be able to take over a jail in downtown Godsblood to hold Vaeka until her execution, clearing out all other Bloodite prisoners and employees in the meantime. This means they have a relatively secure position to guard their prisoner from, which is a good thing; after all, the Regent did outright invite the Pleroma to stop them, and Pleroma are nothing if not stubborn.

EXECUTION DAY

After five agonizing days of waiting and several high visible conflicts between the Pleroma and Kenoma, finally the hour of Vaeka's execution arrives. A gallows is set outside of City Hall, ready to welcome its newest victim, and a massive crowd has gathered in an spirit of anxious anticipation. Some worry that violence may break out in the streets, even without the Pleroma's agitation, but gradually the minutes tick by and the gallows remain empty.

First one minutes passes. Then five. Then fifteen. Slowly, it becomes clear to the people of Godsblood that Vaeka will not be arriving. Are the rumors true? Has she been saved? Have the Pleroma been successful, despite all odds?

As the hours pass and the crowds disperse, Vaeka Lovenskol is not officially reported as either living or dead. Fortunately, Godsblood is a place where information has a way of getting around, whether those in charge like it or not. Some are saying that she was seen being whisked away as if by powerful magic, following a bloody fight at the jail in which she was being held. Where did she go? Maybe her supposed connections to the forest people did her good, some surmise.

The days following Vaeka's failed execution carry a strange and uncertain energy. Where before there was tension and distrust, Godsblood now finds itself in a surreal reality where the Regent's word is apparently not absolute. Then again, do they really want a repeat performance?

QUESTIONS

What is the best way for Aions to travel to Godsblood?
For Pleroma, this is very easy, as they are likely to either already live there or be able to easy take Greentruth's portal. For Kenoma, they may come directly from Achamoth by boat as part of the Regent's envoy or arrive via Eustace's portal which is set up in a shed a fairly long jaunt outside of town. Once there has been some time to get established, Misa will be setting up another portal leading straight to the prison where Vaeka is being stored.

Are the Kenoma permitted by the Regent to kill other Godsblood citizens?
Though the Kenoma are authorized to kill any Bloodites that try to physically fight them, they are expected to keep things clean. The Regent prefers to only punish the guilty, and having the lines be clear will create less of a hassle in the future. Generally, Godsblood is not in a state where physical resistance is likely to happen unprovoked.

Comments

[lifespanned]

[ Perhaps because of their shared Legacy, she feels that shock of disgust more potently than she might've with communion with anyone else. To bury the emotion so quickly, she can recognize it's something he'd rather not show so openly to her. Oh, so that's how he really feels...?

She's always gotten the sense that Ernesto takes this all quite seriously, despite his affable surface personality. The peace talks had only confirmed that, when paired with his tight lips and evasive attitude, visible since the Lover's shrine. Misa lets a contemplative silence fill the air, kicking her feet back and forth from where she's laying. ]

To change the world, there must be sacrifices, right?

[ It's that simple to her - a very black and white view of the matter at hand. To kill an important member of the resistance is the lesser of two evils - the alternative would be, what... that the Regent cracks down on all of Godsblood? On all of Venera? To her, those in Venera being targeted, and even Vaeka herself don't register as "innocents," which drains any of the lasting (very small) reservations she might've had.

To get to the end goal of changing the world, there would always be people who needed to be killed to get taken out of the way— that's something she accepted long before she ever set foot on the soils of Horos. ]

This way, the least amount of people will get hurt. I believe that. It'd be nice if there were an easier way, but...

[ If Vaeka is executed.... yes, she's certain it'll be for the better. Not just for the Kenoma, but for everyone in the continent. ]

[lifespanned]

[ Oh, so is Johnny kinda tough? is what she finds herself thinking. She got the sense he was just a normal person, but that makes her question him...

Luckily, she doesn't have much time to dwell on what sort of superpowers he might be hiding, because he goes ahead and asks her a very loaded question about the Kenoma. Good as it is to act stupid and clueless, she does need to be very careful about what she says here - or at least try to be very careful. Especially since he just said he'd make any of the Kenoma regret it if they became a threat to him.... and she's not dumb enough to think she can face off against Johnny by herself, useful as her powers have become over the last few weeks. ]

What do you mean, "what's going on?" Do you mean what the Kenoma think about it?

[ Her question is innocent and earnest sounding, wondering if he's simply expressing a disbelief that the Kenoma would go along with the Regent's orders. In which case, she could enlighten him... or rather, she probably would've dumbly and very bluntly enlightened him already, if he hadn't just insinuated he would attack hostile enemies. Whew, that was a close one. ]

[lifespanned]

If it has to be something bad, I'd rather they not look at me.

[ She's not naïve enough to believe that the people of Godsblood would ever come to look up in adoration to the Kenoma Aions as the people in Achamoth do— so yes, she'd rather they keep their heads down in fear rather than look at her with that malice. The frustration and unrest in their eyes implies a willingness to try to overturn the Kenoma, and by extension, the Regent's power.

It's a dangerous thing, letting those who are vocally against you talk. She's believed that for some time, now. That's why Vaeka's execution seems to her the "kindest" solution. ]

[expiera]

[Dusk is approaching. Ciel's done her research and knows her target's schedule, but she prepares to leave in advance just in case. There's no such thing as too early, only too late. It was important to let the rest of the Kenoma know she will be stepping out for a bit too, naturally, they need to keep each other posted of their movements and ensure the prison building is adequately guarded at all times. They're still in a state of high alert, so she won't be out for long; she estimates needing maybe half an hour at most, to get her "business" done.

The sight of Amos, calling out to her and approaching with clear intent to boot, has her slow her steps and revise her plans. She immediately turns her gaze to his hand first, having helped him not too long ago with the wound. The bandages look... Hm.

She nods in greeting and acknowledgement, also not bothering with the pleasantries since he isn't.]

Of course. What can I do for you?

[She certainly has a minute, fifteen to thirty even. Hopefully that'll be enough.]

[lifespanned]

I met him randomly on the street one day. I was out shopping, and I saw him walk by with his friends... it was love at first sight! I just knew I had to talk to him...

[ She says this with exactly zero irony, looking gradually more and more perky the more she is encouraged to talk about her darling, darling boyfriend. From the looks of it, her companion seems to be cheering up a little, too— so maybe she's inadvertently accomplishing what she set out to do? Without even trying? ]

I was able to meet him again a few days later, and I asked him out. The rest is history, hee hee.

✦ closed to CIEL

[lifespanned]

[ Throughout the week, Misa hadn't felt frightened standing guard, nor coming into direct conflict with the Pleroma. Changing the world was something she swore her life to all the way back on Earth— she simply wasn't afraid of dying the same way other mortals are. Scared of pain, perhaps, yes, despite her ability to endure. But of dying? Not at all.

Recklessly, she hadn't been afraid, baiting Caitlyn into taking more shots at her, in order to detect her location. She hadn't been afraid when she had to dress her wounds on her own. And she hadn't been afraid, dragging herself back to the prison— hoping that maybe, just maybe, she'd be able to do something in the last final moments.

Misa only begins to feel afraid when she can no longer move, and it becomes evident that the Pleroma are going to get away.

She's laying out on the pavement on her front side, a faint trail of blood behind her leading to the nearby schoolhouse— there's a hastily tied tourniquet of cloth and string around her left thigh, though none of her other injuries seem to have had even attempts on treatment. Blood runs freely and hotly down her arm and shoulder blade, a gaping wound on the back of her right shoulder - the flesh there torn open by a bullet.

Her vision is hazy when she catches a faint glimpse of others running out of the prison, straining with all her might to make out their faces and evoke what power she has left... but it's impossible. Her head swims with the effort, and there's nothing she can do but lay her temple to the dirt, her dark eyes watching unfocused as several of the Pleroma dash out and away from the prison— she lacks even the strength to lift her head to keep watching them. But she hears when someone else emerges from the prison, and squinting, she can just make out that shock of blue hair - though not much else. ]

Ciel...?

[ She gasps, weakly, blinking a few times. She feels so small, and so cold - and more than anything else, like she's failed. Her next words come out like a plea. ]

Hurry... go after them...

[ ...because she's their only hope now, right? She'll believe in her friend until the end. ]

[baltimores]

[ He doesn't like that Yuuta is so young.

Amos has been wrestling with Yuya's presence here since the beginning. Something about it has always sat wrong with him; wouldn't, if they were on the same side, but since Yuya hadn't obliged him in that request... And now the Pleroma have someone else; a little older, still, but—

He's getting conflicting messages here. From the way Yuuta hits him with blunt force rather than piercing. It's almost certainly going to leave a bruise, but it's not lethal. Maybe he can even downplay it to an annoyance at best. (He can't; when this is all over, he's certainly going to have at least one thing to remember Yuuta by.) From the emotions he's picking up from their shared legacy, the way Yuuta does not have that killer instinct.

But then the fact that Yuuta clearly knows what he's doing. Has been in this kind of confrontation before, even though his youth shows on him. In any other scenario, Amos would feel for him; here, he takes it as permission, because he does have a killer instinct. Has had it since he was younger than Yuuta presently is.

Amos had taken his first life at fifteen without much thought. It seemed like the right thing to do, so he did it; quick and easy, someone unsuspecting, a shotgun up close against the chest. The second and third lives he took mere days later had been much more brutal, and he'd taken his fair share of damage along the way. But he'd also learned what it was to be a wild animal, to chew off the foot caught in a trap not so he could escape but so that he could lunge at his attacker and end his life with nothing more than his hands. If he could do it at that age, then surely Yuuta can do something similar at this age, even if he doesn't seem to want to.

Which works to Amos' advantage. So. That's one decision made, then.

Amos brings his arms up to try to block Yuuta's blows, effectively pinned; speed is not in his repertoire. Not like this. He is nothing more than a talented amateur with no filter and blessed with exceptional strength. It's reminiscent of his time in space, which is probably why he'd developed it as an Aion — Belters grow up in lower gravity. Their bones, their muscles, their cardiovascular system, their bodies are all weaker. Unless he ran into someone else from Earth up there (and even then), any time he got into a fight he always had the upper hand, never had to develop anything more. Which is turning into something of a problem here, because it's clear Yuuta outskills him, but when you're born down in the mud you learn to use that to your advantage. Take your blows, because you can take anything; hit back harder than anything they've ever thrown at you.

He leaves an opening for Yuuta, clear as day, in trade for making a grab at the arm controlling the falchion; his other fist pulling back in preparation to nail Yuuta with a worse blow than his first one. Beat him into submission.

It's worked before; as long as he can find a way to sustain everything Yuuta is hitting him with now — and that's not exactly an easy task, but it's one that he thinks he's up for, has no choice but to be up for — then he figures there's no reason it shouldn't work again. Seventeen; a grown adult when he'd been fifteen — in this moment of battle, there's no difference to him. ]

[gravings]

......

[ She was really expecting some kind of response, whether it was a scurrying away or an intent to scuffle or a feigning of innocence... Instead, the intruder in front of her (she thinks she remembers him from the Regent's address) just stands there in silence. As Gray also stands there, also in silence, the pregnant awkwardness between them becomes painfully tangible.

Eager for a clue, she glances in the direction of his guilty eye movement, but it reveals no co-conspirator sneaking up on her so she quickly looks back to him. Should she... herd him off now? She's hesitant to point a weapon at him when he hasn't really done anything yet. ]

Sir? Can you hear me...?

Her bold approach has rapidly devolved into a polite plea for him to acknowledge her existence... ]

[baltimores]

[ Any disbelief in Rand's expression is mirrored by a flicker of bewilderment in Amos'. ]

I dunno if I'd say I have it out for you. [ That's... weirdly personal. But he can concede the colloquialism; not like he's never talked like that. ] But sure. Yeah. If she hadn't shown up, things would've gone the way they're supposed to. You wouldn't be in here, busted up and half-stone; you'd have been out there with me, making sure this goes through [ the execution; a minor detail ] and hunting down those trying to stop the Regent instead of being one of them.

[ It's just... disappointing, but he knows all the blame lies with him. He's not gonna shy away from that. Wouldn't do either of them any good.

Especially when they're on the verge of fixing it. ]

[baltimores]

[ Tyrant. Jesus. Amos practically rolls his eyes at the word; way to be dramatic.

He continues stalking towards Syrlya, fists balled up and ready to strike should he get close enough, but for now he's gonna let the other set the pace. He pays no mind to the way the streets empty around them, to the way some are surely watching all of this unfold. For as long as Syrlya keeps backing up, it's little more than glorified theatre — theatre that he's provoked, theatre that Amos would be doing everyone a favour by putting a stop to.

But for now, he follows his lead, waiting to see where he's gonna take him. ]

You think wanting to make a better world is tyranny? You think wanting to put an end to all suffering is tyranny? What pampered ass world did you come from?

[chronosynthesis]

I call someone with absolute power turning their strongest soldiers onto their own citizens tyranny.

[And Syrlya keeps the pace for now, because it's getting exactly what he wants: a path that gets further and further from where they hide the portal. Nearer to the docks.]

Who could witness this and actually believe you intend to make a better world for anyone but yourself? If a better world is your concern, perhaps you should reflect on how much suffering is your Regent's fault in the current one!

[baltimores]

[ He lets his hand fall back to his side, the new way with which it moves through the air bringing something of a frown to his face. Even though objectively he knows what the problem is, what he'll be facing for probably the rest of his life, it's still fresh, and turns out that's making it a little hard to wrap his head around.

There'll be more he'll have to figure out later. For now, though, he shifts into a somewhat apologetic expression. ]

Was wondering if you could take another look at my hands, maybe clean them up a bit again. I know it's gonna be a while before they're better — [ as better as they can possibly ever be again — ] but you know, just in case. While we got some downtime.

[ They really are his most valuable asset, after all; if she's gone and some kind of fight breaks out, it's in all their best interests that he's at the best possible condition he can be. ]

[baltimores]

[ Amos had been around the docks plenty on his first visit to Godsblood; he's starting to recognize the area. It does leave him wondering why here, though; he picks up his own pace, speed walking with greater purpose in order to close the gap between them some.

His only goal now is to capture Syrlya, but in the meantime, at least he's keeping him engaged — and in a way that isn't causing him further injury, so that part's sorely needed nice, too. ]

And you think all suffering comes from the Regent? You think this world doesn't have its own rot that needs to be eliminated? That's what we're doing — [ he's not going to use past tense here; just because they got Vaeka out doesn't mean something isn't going to change at some point — ] we're getting rid of it in all worlds. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it doesn't need to be done.

[chronosynthesis]

You think that justifies this? Because there's terror in the world, you're free to spread it even further because you think you have good intentions--?

[Ah, he can't keep up with that pace walking backwards. He spares another glance back, seeing that the space is--clear, nowhere to duck into butit gives him space to move--and slows to a stop.

He raises his shield, sword at the ready as he lets Amos approach.]

The Regent has made the decision to contribute, actively, to that rot. They are part of it. Part of why these people suffer. Your stance means absolutely nothing if you intend to carve out exceptions for yourself!

[fightforthejoyofit]

[How had Zenos known Himeka would be here? Simple. Where else would a champion of her caliber be?

Making good on her threat to challenge the Regent themselves, perhaps? No. No, he knows her. She will not allow a personal vendetta to come before saving a comrade.

Granted, by the third day that faith has begun to waver, much as he tells himself that the eleventh hour is the only one that matters in such stories, and the one at which valiant heroes usually appear. He simply has to be patient. He can do that.

By the fifth, he can stand it no longer. So he calls, and she answers, and pitiful though it may be his heart sings to know she has some rancor left for him still. Perhaps it is unwise to leave the prison without his strength, more so to leave it without his and Childe's (he does not want backup, nor require an audience, but there is enough kinship between them to suspect Childe is hating the tedium as much as he, and it should be an entertaining show at least), but removing a key piece from the Pleroma (because he cannot think of Himeka as anything but key) is worth it, surely? Besides, let Emet-Selch and Ciel worry about such things as strategy; he has, since the Regent's invitation to stand against the Kenoma was issued, had only the one, entirely predictable, concern.

He does not bother to hide his approach - unhelmeted, clad in black plate. His blade sits at his hip. There is a pattern to these things, and-

- and she is not alone. Curious. He thinks he recognises the man on the hill from the summons (the one who had asked who the Regent really is?) but he does not know them. He would have expected the dragoon, perhaps, or the irritating boy-child. Zenos casts a brief questioning look to Childe, who is clearly far less ignorant, before his attention returns, inevitably, to his Nemesis]

It is good to see the Veneran Eikon did not break you, Beast.

[vapour]

Childe was hoping she would have had some useful information in her ideals, but they seem rather dull and generic at best. Why is that, he wonders. It can't be simply true.

Nevertheless, he has to acknowledge Emet-Selch's words that time is wasting away and Vaeka being unwilling to ramble off anything of interest (regardless of its true value) makes it difficult for Childe to twist and otherwise circumvent around her being tortured further.

...Her comment about them never knowing a Horos without the Regent is potentially interesting information if she means there's no history of such prior, but asking about that directly would definitely be seen as attempting to stall Emet-Selch's session.

...Well, she's not the first prisoner he's attempted to give something to latch onto and potentially avoid a grueling punishment but failed to do so.

Then again... Maybe he can twist it a tiny bit more?

"...Fair enough on not knowing a Horos without a Regent, but don't you have history books from a time before they arrived to know what things were like then that allowed them to show up and take over?

"Anyway... If that's all you have to say, then I guess you'd just rather continue with my friend here," Childe says to her finally, and he lifts his mask off to the side holding it there just a second to shield his face from Emet-Selch's gaze. His blue eyes glare at the women as he quickly mouths Not helping yourself here! before bringing his free arm up to rub at his face as if wiping sweat from beneath the mask. In the process he moves the mask back further towards his hair and looks to Emet-Selch before stepping back, giving an almost apologetic (but incredibly dismissive all the same) shrug to Vaeka.

As he turns away, he leans in to say something to the other Kenoma once again. This time he isn't as quiet about it, but Vaeka would have to be attempting to sincerely listen in to catch any of it. He can try one more thing, but he has to wonder if she's even earned it at this point. She certainly hasn't impressed him in any particular way.

"Hm, just one more thing... leaving marks on her is going to give her more power in turning the people against us when they see her at the execution. She'll become an undeniable martyr. Just thought I'd point that out. Maybe we don't care what we look like to anyone, but if we're trying to get people to give up on the resistance... This isn't the way to go about it when she's going to be dead in a few days as it is."

Childe finishes settling his mask to one side of his head.

"You're the elder with far more experience, so your call, but..."

[goldendeceiver]

[ It's not a bad spell given their purposes, relatively subtle without the risk of a loud explosion, and even the groan of the door is fairly quiet all things considered.

The problem is that is isn't quiet enough. As subtle as Akua managed to be with her spell, apparently there was still enough noise from it to alert the guards, and Ernesto recognizes the voice that calls down the hallway towards them. He lets out a sharp exhale, before unholstering his sword, and straightening his back. Akua had been in front of him to make this spell work, but he jerks his head to the side indicating she should move back.

His voice is whisper as the footsteps move towards them. ]

I'll do what I can to distract them, to give you time to find Rand.

[ She's already proven she's better with locks than he is, though he hopes that if there are any shackles directly on Rand beyond the cell he's kept in, that she's got a few more spells she can use that are less potentially devastating.

He doesn't really have time to wait for much of an answer though as he hears how close the two Kenoma are, and with a sharp inhale he pushes his shoulder into the door to open it the rest of the way, and charges in.

If the spell Misa pins him with gets him, he certainly doesn't seem to react to it as he keeps running forward, sword out and swinging in a wide arc at whichever of them happens to be closer without any warning. He's intentionally not in close quarters enough that the sword is going to do any serious damage even if the blow lands, but he figures the need to dodge will take up enough of the Kenoma's focus for Akua to slip in without being immediately jumped on. ]

[lachtara]

[ Ah, love at first sight; That silly and childish notion. With such optimism and enthusiasm, he could hardly think of anything more fitting. Still, he does not make to damper her spirits.

Though Emet-Selch does give the faintest sound of amusement that she was the one to approach him. ]

How assertive of you. Fortune favors the bold, after all.

[ It almost sounds like a verbal gesture of approval. ]

I assume he treats you well?

[dragonmount]

[ he doesn't call an answer to syrlya, but surely he doesn't need to. they're agreed on their purpose for being here, for what needs to be done. and it's true that standing behind his ally means he has to choose his attacks carefully.

but it also means that he doesn't have to shout a warning before he spins another weave: threads of light coalescing between his hands into a bright flash with all the intensity of the midday sun. syrlya is sure to feel a warmth at his back, but gray? might just find her field of vision turn into a whiteout. ]

[dragonmount]

[ if there's a stretch of silence before he answers,

it's probably because one part of him wonders just how hard amos hit him. in a night of surreality, this admission feels straight out of a fever dream.

it's probably also because another part of him wonders if there's any point to telling amos, again, that he would never support the regent. things are less abstract now; it's not just good and evil, it's the idea that rand would willingly be part of this execution or the destruction of the pleroma, of these worlds.

finally, ]

And that's what you want?

[ rand with the kenoma. rand working alongside amos in jobs like these. ]

[lachtara]

[ All they've left to do is watch from above. Emet-Selch's eyes narrow at the two as they fall haplessly into the water below. A shame that this is what it's come to, but it's necessary all the same.

Ciel is left to gravity's whims as Emet-Selch exchanges his blood-tipped sword for the mage's staff at the flick of a wrist. Magic is his constant and preferred companion, and he's glimpsed what that 'acid' could do besides.

The very next moment, he outstretches his hand and crosses the distance between him and Ciel with the same slithering shadow as before. Emet-Selch catches her by the wrist to slow her descent and she is lowered gently to the charred surface below. Again, demonstrating an unspoken promise that he would safeguard his allies where he could.

As Emet-Selch's feet touch the ground he swings his staff at the ready and begins concentrating once more. This time, the snaps of electricity begin to pop in the air around them. Water alone would not be their undoing.

If not evident enough in action, the ruinous look in his eyes clearly shows that he intended for this to be the last spell he would cast that night. He would drag them back as shards. ]

[expiera]

[Like an ill-fated star, they fall, they sink.

...And so does she; for all her acrobatics, Ciel cannot teleport or fly. At this height, she can make a standing landing by further reinforcing her body, but knowing her limits on Horos, she will cause a crater in concrete and have her legs (temporarily) crushed in the process, if not punch straight through wood and join their targets in the ocean beneath. She braces herself for impact despite knowing Emet-Selch's stance over how he treats his allies, and it is not a question of trust. She should simply be able to handle herself regardless of circumstance at all times, expecting help from others is not something she is in the habit of doing. Thus it's something of a surprise to be caught, and she accepts the assist as it is. Her face is still in pain, but the disfiguration caused by the caustic blood is already healing. In a few hours at most, it'll be gone completely.

They land, and she steps away from him. Her attention quickly shifts from the point on the ocean's surface where their targets have crashed back onto Emet-Selch, the instant she feels prickling on her skin the enormous amount of magical energy he's begun gathering again. He intends to—]

Emet-Selch.

[She turns to face him, standing firmly in front of him with her arms lowered >(for now) at her side. (Does her face look bad? She shows no hint of acknowledging her fading wound.)]

We can take them back for questioning. They will also help us bait out the Innocence Entity better alive.

[As hostages, it goes unspoken. This is a recourse made with rationale and reason. Will he stay his hand? This may not be completely over yet, but it's undeniable that they already have the upper hand. If he goes any further...]

[aquaveiled]

[ In some ways the water is a blessed reprieve, especially after the blizzard spell has cooled it to a more reasonable temperature in their vicinity. The force of the impact is something she can still feel in every bone of her body, but her concern isn't for her own state--it's Abel. He took the brunt of the impact and several others besides, shielding her from the worst of both of their adversaries.

In the water his wings look no better than they had in the air, raw and mangled even if they are no longer actively burning. His hold on her has lessened considerably as they continue to sink and she can see bubbles of air leaking from his mouth. He looks dazed, but not fully unconscious.

Himeka grunts as she pushes back against him, separating herself further from his hold, but just for a moment. She's feeling weakened from the blood loss, but it's not enough to stop her from scooting around him so that she can wrap her arms around Abel's torso from the back. She inhales deep, the water filtering without issue thanks to the Kojin's blessing she's had throughout her life, and with a few kicks and powerful lashes of her tail, she pushes them upwards towards the surface.

When they break the surface, it's far from graceful. Red starts to stain the water around them and Himeka is vaguely aware of their adversaries still on the docks, keeping them in her peripheral. Her tail moves with an ease that the rest of her cannot as it moves like a snake beneath the waves, directing them towards the shore. There, she can attend to his wounds...or die trying, if the static in the air is any indication of the next impending onslaught from Emet-Selch. But she can't risk going under water again. She can't risk him. ]

H-Hold on just a moment longer...

[ How could this have gone so terribly? ]

[inutilis]

[ their plummet into the water (water--? he had been so sure they'd hit the docks; Himeka... she truly is amazing) is one he barely feels for the way his nerves are already taxed from their efforts in regeneration far slower than they should be. maybe he is mildly concussed after taking the downward blast to the head; even so--

though he isn't aware... the feeling of Himeka's arms winding around him beneath the temperate water (not boiling; again, she'd manage to save them a most unpleasant fate) is accompanied by the more virulent tingle of genuine, faster recovery. the blood she oozes clouding the murky water is unwittingly providing a boon from one Aion to the next... and by the time his head is bobbing above the surface -- Abel's wits have recovered enough he can actively aid in his own salvation.

he takes in a breath of air, coughing, spluttering momentarily and prepares to tell her to swim, to flee if she needs to--

--and instead, the only thing that leaves him is a choked, strangled sound as a burning, familiar pain shoots up from his right hand across his body, rippling like a wave permeating muscle, sinew and bone alike. the unnatural glow from the Innocent's sigil has spread -- a faint but unmistakable light as his ears fill with the sound of cacophonous screaming.

--Estinien.

smoldering red eyes falter, flicker, and fade back into blue as the disorienting and nauseating assault steals his newly regained sense from him as well as vitality. Estinien. --Estinien. a panicked flood, urgent and heavy, becomes his sole focus.

something has gone horribly, terribly awry with their friend... and the vow they had made to protect him is being tested.

they are being found unworthy. ]

[goldendeceiver]

[ It is, and maybe it would have been smarter to play the long game, but it took Ernesto years to really master the art of deception and lies; learning to stomp down on his very emotions is a new challenge he still hasn't fully grasped.

But maybe, just maybe... being more honest here isn't necessarily a bad thing. He doesn't think he's going to win Misa over to his point of view, especially when she's already admitted to supporting the Regent on this one, but trying to connect with her over this isn't going to hurt his cause, right?

He'll be slashing any connection to ribbons later on, but he's no seer, and isn't aware of that fact yet. ]

You know? I used to think that way too.

[ Well, not exactly the same way Misa sees things. Ernesto has always seen things in shades of gray, rather than staunch black and white, but the need for sacrifices to achieve something greater? Sure. It's just that he didn't ever have that strong conviction that it was the morally just thing the way that Misa does. ]

But I don't think that's actually true at this point. It's the quicker and more brutal way for sure, but it's definitely not the only option you can pick.