ᴏᴏ1 ( ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ) | ᴛʜɪs ɪs sᴛᴜᴘɪᴅ.

[insubordination]

[ The camera doesn’t show Hank’s face at first; it shows a little mermaid girl, one hand buried in his dog’s fur, looking back at him as she swims into the tunnel to the hopefully safe place underneath the palace. The girl seems reluctant. The dog doesn’t. Sumo’s always liked kids.

Hank takes a deep breath, clears his throat, and squints upward, muttering to himself. ]

Fucking seahorses. What kind of cartoon bullshit…

[ Then the guy he’s looking at throws a very real weapon from atop his very stupid seahorse, and Hank looks a little sick. He doesn’t move the camera to show it. That’s not what he’s here for. ]

Look, anyone try to sit these royal asses down and tell them to talk to each other like goddamn adults? Can anyone even find em in this fucking mess?

[ A sigh comes from the right and the camera pans to Shiro, black edged helmet held in one hand and brows furrowed. This isn’t going to be easy and he can already feel the headache coming. But it’s this or more people die. He faces the screen squarely. ]

We need to find out what each side wants out of this conflict. We can’t get them to talk if we can’t find their common ground. It’s going to be difficult, but we need as much help as we can to find them to figure that out.

[ Roy, in some weird mixture of exasperation and pursing his lips together to prevent from laughing at Hank’s “fucking seahorses” comment, clears his throat before he speaks, coming into view at Shiro’s right, arms crossed over his chest. ]

We’re assuming they want to be adults.

[ but now that that pointlessly cynical comment is out of the way, roy turns to business. ]

They seem to be centralized in the Palace of Wahine . . . or, at least, that’s where they will be, if the King continues to advance. They seem to be amenable to talking, at any rate. [ at least, given the Princess’ seizing of the network and begging for assistance from all of them. ] The worst that could happen is they refuse to come to the table . . . so any information anyone has managed to collect about the Queen, the King, or the Princess would be appreciated, particularly in regards to motivations and who would rule this place once we leave.

[ and Roy, who pauses, turns to Hank with a sudden seriousness: ]

Do you think the seahorses go to the victor of the battle, or are they up for the taking as compensation for doing their work for them?

[ Hank takes a second to switch into bullshit mode but after that second he raises his eyebrows, answering dryly. ]

I think the seahorses are forming a union as we speak, there’s no way we’ll be able to afford em.

[ Then he looks back at the camera. ]

Come on, guys. Anyone here got experience talking morons out of stupid shit? The sooner we fix this the sooner people stop dying, so uh. Let’s put our heads together or… whatever stupid pep talk BS you wanna hear, I don’t know. Let’s just stop chasing after all this weirdo bullshit and figure out how to fix whatever the fuck it is we came here to fix, okay?

(OOC: This is meant to function as a party post sort of thing, a way for characters to share information they get from their questions, figure out strategy, argue over who’s going to deliver the final offer, etc. Answer each other’s comments, threadjack, go wild. Team Negotiation is go, y’all.)

Comments

video;

[nogoldenmirror]

'Tis plain what the King's stance is, I would think, given the state of what their current dwelling is and the state of the markets. As to whom will lead, I haven't the faintest.

[Nor does she care, really. Morrigan frowns.]

Regardless, while I have little experience beyond watching my Warden charm his way through any obstacle he could not set on fire... I can offer muscle and a few growls should the need arise.

[What's this? Her wanting to help? Say it isn't so. Though considering the look she'd given the small child on the image prior... ugh, weakness.]

video;

[insubordination]

[ . . . interesting. ]

Adding to the violence won't help foster peace, at this juncture, but it might be needed if this all goes straight to hell.

[ roy has no illusions about how slim the chance are of brokering peace, but an attempt must be made, if only for the innocent parties here. ]

But something has to be done before they tear this place apart.

video;

[nogoldenmirror]

You mistake my intent. I do not offer to incite more violence.

[She tries to be, at least. A faint smile that shows a bit of her teeth crosses her lips.]

Indeed. Though ask Shiro there; he'll confirm that I have a rather stunning voice in my other form.

[One of them, at least. Shapeshifting witches. What can you do?]

Considering this "King" had eyes on a certain temple and a place full of sand, however... [They seem smart enough to be able to get what she's hinting at: Desperation and fear can be used as well as hunger.]

video;

[moneytwin]

[ 'fucking seahorses' gets a snort from Vex; its a little too serious right now for outright laughter, and she has a few injured merfolk to take care of as Trinket tows them to safety in the underground passages. ]

Family tend to be bitter to the end when there's that big a rift. But by all accounts, the mermen--hnn! [a pause, as she hefts one of the fishing spears she's collected while transporting people and uses it to jam one of the doors closed behind her; it won't last but it'll buy a bit more time] --hff! There! Anyway, the mermen? Look a lot like the Markolos mermaids.

Far more than the Queen does.

Also, really hungry. [a grimace] Hungry enough to kill anyone for what little there is, which means this must seem like a feast to them.

video;

[insubordination]

[ -- well, at the very least, vex can take care of herself. ]

People tend not to leave home unless they have no other option.

[ a bit tiredly; roy seems to speak from some experience. ]

It may be able to be used to our advantage, though -- if they need sustainable food sources, that's something that Akvos can certainly provide, judging from what we've seen so far. But I don't think the King is going to be satisfied with an emergency food drop in the face of power.

video;

[moneytwin]

[ Wait till you see what she can do with a weapon she knows like the back of her hand. ]

I've seen this kind of desperation of those without a home before, of those who've newly lost one. [not so much the food greed, but it's still not a surprise]

There's plenty of room here, food enough. They don't have to kill others to get it, yet they're indiscriminate. This isn't just about power. [Her expression turns grim.] Both Queen and would-be King want revenge, and they're happy to drag their citizens into it.

video;

[spaceforged]

A feast in more ways than one. They've been targetting anyone from the city for looting and murder. I wouldn't be surprised if part of their history lessons are designed to stir up hate.
[There's Vex. He's not worried about their capability, they've been competant about that since he first saw them.]

Still, maybe proposing solutions to the future of their people's survival might appeal to them. All of them, invaders and thriving mermaids alike.

[moneytwin]

The lack of knowledge about what they know about their history is something we need to rectify. We've too many unknowns here, and the tale the citizens of Akvos were raised on were clearly written by the victors.

[ She at least gives Shiro a tight smile; it's good to see him on board here. ]

I can leave Trinket to guard some of the injured, and approach them, see what I can learn. I'm very convincing.

video

[dadandgone]

[Maes has a few of his maps with him, but his surroundings are not the library -- that location wasn't exactly safe at the moment what with all the fighting going on. He appears to be in one of the many places they've established to helped the civilians.]

I might be able to locate the Queen at least. I've been working around the Palace since we arrived [He holds up one of his maps. Apparently being a library nerd has its perks.] and we, that is the Queen and I, did speak briefly about our families before all this...[he gestures vaguely toward a wall...distant sounds of fighting can be heard.] chaos broke out.

[He's mostly directly his attention to Roy. Based on certain posthumous promotions, Roy wasn't exactly in command...but still. Old habits.]

What do you need me to do?

video

[insubordination]

[ indeed, titles don't seem to matter, in the heat of the moment. roy is a natural leader, and he tends to think quickly when other people are depending on him. the news that maes has bonded with the queen isn't of great surprise to him, but it is a useful piece of information . . ]

Talk to her.

[ thinking quickly. ]

Attempting to see what she's willing to lose, in pursuit of this asinine civil war, would help gain leverage in forcing them to come to the table. Her daughter seems willing to bring the parties together to live in peace; why is she so reluctant to do the same?

[ read: use her love for her daughter against her, but roy isn't so crass as to say that out loud. ]

video.

[efface]

[ so she doesn't know the third man in the video, but when she responds she's not necessarily addressing him (sorry hank). between shiro and roy, she can assume one of them will answer, which is half the reason she responds at all - her jaw a little tight, her brows furrowed. she's in the city somewhere, possibly in someone's home, but there's little other identifying features of the video beyond the obvious sounds of distant fighting and chaos. ]

The King's men are fairly open to talking. I don't know if the King's motivations and what he's told his men are one in the same, but they're loyal to the cause. [ her eyes drift off-screen for a moment, like she's checking on a noise she's heard, before turning her attention back. ] They claim that the Queen banished them to another realm, with little food or light. They've come back to take the palace and to put King Ka’pouli on the throne.

[ which causes riza to sigh for a moment. pretty...generic, if you ask her. but it also puts them all in a precarious position. ]

They seem against harming any of the Circle members, but are adamant about doing harm to the other mermaids. They claim they're only to protect Princess Kea and whoever she is with. Apparently the Princess has claimed the circle as her own, so they aren't trying to hunt any of us down, but they won't back down from a fight either.

Has anyone spoken to the King?

video. locked.

[insubordination]

[ riza, as always, is spot on with her observations and information, and he allows others to chat with her, for the time being, but he soon contacts her privately. in a separate room, away from hank and shiro, in the home they've . . . repurposed as an impromptu war room. ]

Are you alright?

[ and, unspoken: where are you? ]

video.

[spaceforged]

Is it really the same queen? Or her ancestor many generations removed? [It's never been clear to him. Exactly what the family ties are is murky as hell. If he could he'd stare down Kathashun and ask him. But that's not an option.

Shiro rakes his hair out of his face and glances to the right of the camera. He's keeping an eye out for anyone attempting to disrupt them.]

I haven't yet spoken to the King. I scouted the rift instead. There's a lot about it that...we have to close it.

voice

[explosivo]

Talking to these guys... what are you gonna do, beg for them to stop fighting? [ anyway here comes a genius question, how about this-- ]

What if someone tries to knock 'em out by force? King and Queen both since they're being a royal pain in the ass?

voice

[insubordination]

Are you volunteering?

[ in a dry tone. ]

Because, by all means -- if it works.

video;

[spaceforged]

[His expression slides right into neutral and flat. Yet his tone remains the same, patient and calm.]

That wouldn't stop the present conflict. These people have been brewing with suspicion and hate for generations. The King's people listen to them. The same can be said of the queen. Without them it will be a mass slaughter and civilians will lose any defense they have.

At present, that's us and what forces the queen can spare from the main defense. and that won't guarantee the fighting stops for good. It might inflame it past any chance of talks at all.

The talks might not work at all but they have a better shot at ending this at least a cease-fire.

video;

[bleps]

It'll be easier to encourage negotiations if we can first establish a means of compromise for both parties. Common ground, as was mentioned.

[However-]

But the proposition for negotiation is just as important as negotiations themselves. It would be better to focus on the advantages that each party can reap, and make no mention of placating the other side until they all actually "sit down" at the figurative war table.

Has anyone reached out to the King or the Queen just yet?

video;

[insubordination]

Certain parties have spoken to the Queen before everything went straight to hell, and the Princess seems willing to speak with us, but I don't know if anyone has managed to speak to the King.

[ roy would volunteer, but he has no real means to defend himself properly underwater and the mod is not threading with herself lmao oops ]

He doesn't seem to be making much effort to keep himself hidden, though, and he has made his . . . motivations [ to put it delicately ] fairly clear. Making contact with him should be the first priority, if it's safe to do so.

video;

[spaceforged]

Once I talk to the Princess about the rift, I'll make my own attempt to talk to the King. I advise anyone planning to talk to him to do the same.

[The Rift absolutely needs shut. He's still twitchy about it.]

I don't know if anyone has already spoken with the king or not.

video;

[invasif]

[ Lady Ilde is still in the library, her blonde hair braided, her black dress carefully tied to her limbs to stop it floating off her. ]

I am assuming... what they want is to rule. And only one of them can. Even were they to agree to manage their own ranks and live as mutual states, this conflict would only rear again at a later date.

It was a mistake, opening this wound.

private.

[courtmagic]

Come now, Ilde. Speak a little plainer for the common folk, would you?

[he knows what she's hinting at. he just has to be an ass.]

video;

[nogoldenmirror]

... [WELL, THEN. Have a wolf staring at the screen, topaz eyes gleaming due to the depths she's found herself in again. A low snarl gets translated as:]

Could you perhaps state your opinion more clearly? I fear the common folk and the animals might not understand your skirting about the topic at hand.

video;

[insubordination]

Agreed.

[ roy doesn't bother hiding how he feels about the odds of success, on this plan. he may come off as relaxed and nonchalant in the initial message, to set minds at ease, but he's pragmatic, and realistic, at the chances of success. ]

But our primary concern has to be mitigating the damages, and ensuring the safety of the civilians before we leave here, including our own numbers. A temporary ceasefire may provide the opportunity for actual negotiations, rather than a mindless slaughter.

[courtmagic]

[honestly, he didn't even want to respond to this. it's volunteering himself for work, something he dislikes with a passion. and yet, the responses here aren't filling him with the confidence he'd want to step away from it all entirely - so he can offload some information and then leave, he hopes.]

I don't know about morons, but I've dealt with and served a fair share of royalty before. Meaning I know how to hold a conversation without needing to worry about causing deep offense or being spoken over. If you're looking for pointers, I can advise.

Also, I've spoken to the King. His words have offered a little bit of enlightenment.

[just going to casually toss that out there.]

[insubordination]

[ . . . ]

Did they now.

[ merlin has his attention, with the last part. roy ignores most of the first. ]

What did his royal highness have to say?