futurology | text 💎 un: Tohsaka Rin

[shortly after the storm clears on may 11th and the network connection between both sides of the group is reestablished, the following post appears:]

We're fine, as far as I know. I don't think anyone's dead, at least.

The storm that separated us was brought about by a Dakal named Pomarr. Some of you may remember her as our feline friend who sold her soul to Ryba—or whatever it is she did—to continue to live on after death.

She swept us to an island that looked like it was raised from the seafloor. It wasn't a vacation, but there were definitely remnants of what those big cats must have called home.

Her plan is to revive her entire race, in the same way Ryba "revived" her. As if life-or-death deals with shady goddesses aren't concerning enough, she wants to grant Ryba the power to carry out this mass revival by having her suck Nalanni dry. Pomarr understandably doesn't care much for Nalanni after she drowned everyone she loved; in fact, she showed us this in morbid detail. She's taken Nalanni. Hence, all the Nalawi losing their Gifts and all of this inconvenience we have to deal with.

Pomarr knows where Nalanni is, but she's asking us not to interfere, and she wouldn't give us the opportunity to speak with Nalanni when I requested it. For some reason, she didn't expect that we would be suffering like the Nalawi are. She's promised to try to fix that.

What do we do now, ALASTAIR? I can share anything else you want to know about our meeting with Pomarr, or Yukimura Sanada-san or Mr. Keats can, but this is most of it. We have a situation where the balance of this whole world might be upended if we sit and twiddle our thumbs.

I don't think I need to remind anyone of the potential consequences of messing with either goddess. Or a litter of zombie cats roaming free.

(( ooc: infodump for rin, yukimura, and keats' conversation with a dakal npc, for one of the plot slots! feel free to handwave your character (in either the marooned group or the left behind group) learned this info by reading the post or talking with rin/yukimura/keats/another recruit. yukimura and keats may also be replying to tags! ))

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[There is a distinctly pointed pause, and when Yukimura speaks again his voice is notably sharper.]

For someone who claims to be a great leader and ruler, you seem to sorely lack the qualities that makes a leader great in the first place. Someone unable to show compassion is not a leader worth following, in life or in battle.

[And yes, he himself is too far the other way. But someone who can show compassion and then bottle it down when necessary is a more admirable person to him than someone willing to dismiss a whole race just to take his anger out on gods. He's seen leaders who rule with strength alone. And he's played a role in defeating them too.]

My compassion is selective and not reserved for those who cannot defend themselves.

[But in reality, Gilgamesh actually was being rather childish. Just wanting an excuse to bash a god's head in rather than question the legitimacy of said excuse. That's just the sort of person, the sort of leader and ruler he was. He was simply destined not to see eye to eye with Yukimura on this issue.

And he accepts that. The path of the King was best walked alone, after all, away from others.]

You may hate me if you like, or even oppose me, despite my warning. But my decision will not change.

Your compassion is not compassion then.

[Arrogance, and childishness, yes. Every ruler will be different, but a leader is mean to lead and protect those who follow them and cannot protect themselves. Sure, the Nalawi aren't followers traditionally in the same way Gil's people would have been followers, but they are looking to the recruits for aid.

Endangering their entire existence so flippantly just for the sake of taking out a god leaves him feeling hollow.]

Oppose and disagree, yes. Perpetuating a cycle of murder and hate will do no one here any good.

[Breezily:]

Is that what I seek? I do not recall advocating blind genocide, as these gods have.

[Though he doesn't particularly care one way or another, in truth, and would enact it if he deemed it necessary. Still, these gods were out of control, and out of control gods were absolutely his jurisdiction. He won't entertain any arguments to the contrary.]

You know not the manner of my kingship and therefore you've no right to pass judgment upon my decisions. You are a soldier, not a sovereign.

[His eyes narrow, ever so slightly.]

Leave the rule to your betters, or else be trampled beneath them. That is all there is to say on the matter.

Yet you are willing to wipe out gods without a thought for the consequences you will leave behind you.

[And therein lies the issue. There may be legitimate reasons for taking out the gods, but the snap decision without thinking of the destruction they might leave behind? It just doesn't sit with him.]

I am proud to be a follower to a great leader. One who would consider consequences and be sure to have information and a strong plan before taking it upon himself to potential condemn a race. You speak as though I should be ashamed of my place.

Perhaps you should.

[What, did you expect him to disagree? If you're going to hang yourself, he'd be the last one to stop you, little tiger.]

[Good thing he's confident.]

I have no reason to.

[He shares Shingen's ideals, and is happy to support and work towards them for both himself and his lord.]

Why are you so set on fighting these gods?

[A shockingly good question to ask, as it receives a shockingly insightful answer.]

I am of divine blood myself. I was born to oppose them; I was made to rise against them. It is all I know.

[Ah. Hm.]

It is not something you can repress for a limited amount of time so we can continue our investigations?

[Pause. It's worth asking, right...?]

[Gilgamesh cracks a small grin. It may not actually be predatory. This time.]

Upon my return, I will tell you a story. And when you hear this story, you may better understand why that is not possible.

[Stories are all well and good, and he probably would be a very interesting tale to hear!! But right now promises of story time later on aren't helping the situation.]

I suppose there is no time to hear it now to better understand the situation from your point of view before you act?

[One way or another.]

Truthfully, it is best to see it as well as hear it.

[After a moment of thought:]

Trust in me this much: I am not acting without reason. This is my reason, the very cause for which I draw breath.

You perform re-enactments?

[That would probably be a sight.]

... [It's simpler reasoning than some of the more... anger based reasoning he'd seen going around.] And if it has huge consequences, then so be it?

[Oh, Yukimura... you're so fortunate Gilgamesh is willing to entertain your well-intended stupidity.]

It is within a book. You might like to see it. As for consequences, you may grasp that more after the fact, as well.

[Look, don't crush his dreams. Seeing Gilgamesh re-enacting a tale would be fun.]

... [Easy to say when you don't have to stick around a pick up pieces. But at least Gil's reasoning is easy enough to understand in amongst a lot of yelling and ideas of justice. Even if it is really... egotistic.]

Then I would suggest not getting yourself killed so you can tell me this tale.

Ah, you're concerning yourself over me? How sweet...

[...it's becoming increasingly obvious just why this man got on Masamune's nerves so much.]

Not especially personally, no.

[Record scratch?]

But I would like to hear this tale of yours, and it is preferable to come out of trying times without the loss of fellow comrades.

[... Yes, just a little.]

[Good enough for Gilgamesh. He smiles a little, and... shock and awe, it isn't entirely creepy.]

Very well. Consider it a promise.

[Whoa. Gil. R u ok.]

I shall hold you to that then.

[He is a man who appreciates promises and keeping them.]

text 💎 un: Tohsaka Rin

y'know what you said about screwing the pooch...

naaaah

shakes head slowly

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