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

AUDIO. un: LOKIOFASGARD

[selfimage]

Well—there was a little buttering up of Mister Doro in the Flowerlands. Apparently he's the Empress' distant relative, he gave me a long, boring explanation of his lineage.

[ she drools out the words to prove her point. ]

He said that this Empire of the Crashing Wave just appeared—poof!—out of no where. Apparently the Empress leans heavily enough on her advisors to lean the conservative route to keep the peace. Though he did say she may be willing to give up her throne if her people our threatened. She is, after all, not a blood relation of the last Empress, but appointed after the last Empress died without an heir.

audio; un: aloy

[datapoint]

I hope you're not suggesting we let her people be threatened so she'll step down.

[selfimage]

[ she can't see, but an eyebrow goes up, and then another. ]

...

Really?

There's a means and there's an end—is ther a benefit in her stepping down from the crown, other than what seems like her own at the moment?

[datapoint]

If she steps down, there would only be one empress. Mission complete.

I'm just making sure you aren't looking to complete it like that.

[selfimage]

Do you already have a big foam finger on for one side?

[datapoint]

...what?

[What.]

[selfimage]

Do you have a horse in this race?

[ DOES THIS MAKE MORE SENSE? ...MAYBE?? ]

audio; un: lodge

[refashioned]

So—she may be a false Empress all on her own.

[selfimage]

That certainly depends on definiton, but it's possible.

A lot is possible right now.

[refashioned]

The important part is keeping our options open.

I don't like the idea of her just stepping down so we can be done here. That won't solve the conflict. And it'll likely brew resentment.

But it does mean that she's willing to make drastic moves for the good of her people. We can use that.

[selfimage]

There's far too much clutter around her, isn't there? A little fire is exactly what this place needs.

[refashioned]

You have something in mind?

[selfimage]

We'll need a little perspective from the other side before a shake up. We don't want to miss the base.

[eyedrop]

[ Hey, it's somewhat useful information! His opinion of Loki raises very slightly. ]

That's good to hear, actually. Suggests she's a reasonable person.

[selfimage]

I don't doubt that. The problem doesn't seem to be her—but the situation itself. Tsk, tsk, time to get complicated.

[eyedrop]

Is it? Too much overthinking going on already.

[selfimage]

Well, someone has to be right.

[ that's the way it went with ALASTAIR when everyone got together to discuss, she's not entirely certain it will be much different. ]

I take it you're more of a straight-forward sort of fellow.

[eyedrop]

I make decisions based on logic, and I don't like to waste time. Seems like that's not common around here.

[selfimage]

[ she's not entirely convinced, after his show of morality. ]

Everyone comes from different worlds, so perspective always seems to get tossed into the mix.

un: sharpshooter

[ceruleo]

Why was she appointed? Was she the last Empress', like, ward, or knight or something?

[ politics??? ]

[selfimage]

Wouldn't that be a kicker? It's still up in the air where she came from.

[ceruleo]

Do we--is there a way we can find out? I mean. Should we?

[ Does it matter? Bringing it up at all would probably do more harm than good, right? ]

[selfimage]

If you're asking if I think it would be valid or useful, then yes. The more information the better.

Do you have a means?

[ceruleo]

[ s w e a t s ]

I wish. How'd you get an appointment with Doro anyhow?

[selfimage]

We walked in.

[ she says smoothly. ]

We just looked like we belonged there.