video; un: eraserhead

[eyedrop]

[ Aizawa's lolling against some tree somewhere. Terrible, slumped posture; hair wild about his face. His expression is neutral, bordering on irritable, and his voice is an exhausted monotone. He sits with one leg folded over the other, idly tossing a cat figurine from hand to hand. ]

Hey. Myself and a few others did some looking around. Apparently, both the sea clan and the mountain clan have their allies--but they're not within easy reach. In the case of the sea clan, the empress's brother is married to some far-off queen. The mountain clan's allies aren't too nearby, either.

[ He shifts minutely. His eyes flutter briefly shut, and he sighs. ]

Point being, war between these two would be irrational. The old man we spoke with said no one really wants to start anything, but I don't know how true that is. I haven't tried to approach the nobles.

[ He really doesn't look or act the part, and he knows it. Nor does he have an escort. ]

If you've spoken to any of them, what's the mood? What do they want?

[ He cards a hand through his hair, frowning slightly. ]

They're the key to this, I think. Certainly the key to actually meeting that empress of theirs. So if you've got info, or if you've made any connections, spill it.

Comments

[eyedrop]

Yeah, this guy's right.

[ Rhys? Rhys. SKINNY GUY. ]

That plan is not rational.

[dbag]

I don't know, it's perfectly rational if we all want to die gruesome deaths at the hands of an executioner. Screw diplomacy, right? Let's just bum-rush a castle and corner an Empress! Haha. Ha. Ha.

[ he's laughin but he's dyin inside ]

[eyedrop]

[ Aizawa sighs. ]

Hopefully it won't come to that.

[ It seems like the more aggressive plans have been set aside, for now. ]

[dbag]

But if it does.

If someone maybe, you know, goes rogue or something.

I'm just saying, maybe we should have a plan to, um. Neutralize them.

[eyedrop]

[ He doesn't particularly relish the idea of fighting his teammates. But ... ]

I'll do whatever I have to do.

[dbag]

Whatever? Like...

[ why is he whispering this is over the network ]

Are you carrying? Like, packing? Are you strapped?

[eyedrop]

[ boy ]

I have a weapon, if that's what you're trying to say. It's not a gun, though.

[dbag]

Okay, fine, whatever — and you're willing to use it if somebody tries to screw everything up for us. [ Oh, that sounds evil. He adds: ] Just as a warning! Not actually hurting them.

...I mean, unless you have to. Then go for it.

[eyedrop]

[ Even over the network, Aizawa feels the radiation of Rhys's nervous energy. Reminds him of someone. ]

I'm pretty sure it won't come to that. But thanks for the vote of confidence.