[video] el minha - a discussion

[rootbound]

[after the Syndicate and the King have sent their messages, the Circle's watches light up with a third unceremonious communication -- but hey, at least it's someone from their number this time. Vern's scowling, but his tone's even enough.]

Hey.

Astoria wants us to change things here, right? I submit that the best way to do that is to take advantage of what we are. I know a lot of us have been getting to know people and getting more involved with the city, but when it comes down to it, we're neutral outsiders. Sometimes you need those, in a place like this: people with clear eyes and no strong prior investment except maybe a general wish to not see the people of this city offing themselves.

I've got a proposal. I don't know all your powers and backgrounds, but I know we've got a pretty good range of skills and capabilities here. I think we'd do well to split ourselves up. Some of us can concentrate on mediating -- break up fights in the street, take care of those who get caught up, try to damp down things before they can blow up into fights in the first place.

And some of us go figure out what in the hells the truth is behind this. I think a lot of us figure this poor child's death was preplanned in some way -- I certainly overheard talk that pointed to that myself -- but we're not sure exactly what the angle is here. Are the Syndicate just trying to kill the King? Take control of the seat of power? Some of us have figured out that there's no obvious natural water sources that would support this city, and the King's got some sort of blessing -- if the King controls the water, is that the power that's being fought over, rather than the actual throne?

Let's find out, and then let's figure out a way to use that to calm everyone down. If that takes locking the Crown and the Syndicate leaders in a room until they kiss and make up, or some kind of public broadcast, let's make it happen.

If you're up for this, we can form groups and take objectives. I'm not a great organizer, but even I can figure out where you're most likely to be useful if you need help.

And if you'd rather do your own thing -- well, go ahead. I'm not your leader or your mother.

[...he pauses as something obviously distracts him, eyes going briefly unfocused behind his glasses, listening to something that can't be seen on the screen]

Ah, and the King's just told me not to trust the Guard, and to find someone named Jalin, and now he seems to be occupied and won't tell me any more. So that's an extra complication. Anyone recognize that name?

Comments

[punshots]

[ Yeah...YEAH...come again?? The name doesn't ring a bell, but if Akira says Jalin is the head of the Syndicate, that's all he really needs to know. ]

We sure the king actually said that? Doesn't really make sense, seein' as how the Syndicate's, y'know, leading the charge against him.

[ Maybe he was under duress? ]

[purrtagonist]

[Akira shakes his head; not that Prompto can see it]

If the current king trusts someone linked with an organization known for rising against the crown, then I think it's way more complicated than that.

But Kathashun trusting Jalin makes things easier on us, because I think they should have a liiiiittle chat.

voice

[reeliable]

I think - you've got a good point. Kathashun trusting someone and personally requesting him should sort of speak for itself, regardless of who is part of what end of this.

[Speaking for himself on if he asked for anyone not in his royal guard.....ahahaha. It speaks volumes, honestly, louder than Noct wants to admit.]

So definitely, let's get them together.

voice

[cakebuffet]

[Ann is here as Akira's yes-girl! She's glad everyone seems to be leaning in the same direction.]

It says a lot that he didn't ask for any of the people he's normally surrounded by— if he doesn't trust the guard, it's entirely possible that he suspects someone within it to have orchestrated this, isn't it?

[Like, maybe that's stating the obvious, but she feels it should be said?]

[punshots]

Hi, Ann!

[ ... ]

So, you think there's some kind of traitor in the royal guard? [ Maybe it's obvious, but it's helpful for those of them that are sorta a step behind on this kind of thing! ] Do we...try to figure out who it was? Or focus on getting the King to Jalin instead?

[cakebuffet]

Hi!

[... okay, yeah, not the right tone here.]

It would make sense, wouldn't it? But I still think getting the King and Jalin in the same place should be our top priority. Once they're together, who knows what other information might come out? I definitely think we should keep it in mind, though. He wouldn't just tell us not to trust the Guard for no reason.

[punshots]

And if we get the king out, maybe he can even tell us who betrayed him. I mean, he's got to have a better pulse on that than anyone else.

[ It can't be too big of a leap to think the king not trusting the royal guard and Eliana's death are related, can it? ]

[purrtagonist]

[bless u, Ann. for being on the same page as Akira]

I think we should get the King to Jalin first. That's what he asked for.

[and, in the midst of doing that. . .]

We can investigate into Eliana's death while we do that. If we're lucky, that might lead us to any traitors in the guard. If they exist.

[punshots]

Think the two are related? The traitors in the guard and the ones responsible for Eliana's death, I mean.

[ It's not assuming too much, is it? ]

[purrtagonist]

I don't know.

[too early to say]

Like I said, I'm not even sure they exist. Everything just seems so. . . [wrong, somehow]

[punshots]

Right. [ He's getting ahead of himself. ] Better to start with rescuing the King, and go from there.

voice

[reeliable]

Yeah. Honestly, I'd suspect it too even if no one wants to speak up. A death doesn't just happen without someone knowing something, and whether it was someone in the Guards or the Syndicate - I'm sort of less inclined to think it's the Syndicate at this point, just for how much they try to help their people.

[His tone tries to stress that the most - for all he's heard at the soup kitchens and on the streets, the Syndicate are an organization that has been acting more for the peoples best interest, rather than lining their pockets, even if it would be easy to with so much trust built into them now. Still, Noct doesn't think it's the Crown itself - Kathashun. So the last option becomes the Guards, who... ngh.

He has a sick feeling in his gut, some fleeting memory of he's in your hands now.]

Going with his request to get him to Jalin seems the best option. Physically get him there, whether the Guards like it or not.

voice

[purrtagonist]

[AKIRA KURUSU: NUMBAH ONE SYNDICATE STAN]

[. . . sort of. not in that he believes the organization can do no wrong, but. . . because he believes it more complex than that]

I don't think it's so simple as to say "it was a member of the Syndicate." If Jalin is the leader of that organization, and is someone trusted by a member of the crown, I think. . .

Maybe there are third parties, or factions within both sides, that are working independently.

voice

[reeliable]

Yeah. That's a lot more reasonable to believe than everyone Kathashun trusted in his Guards as being bad news. I'll hope for the best with most people not wanting war, and only some instigators trying to set it all up this way.

[It would be a bitter pill to swallow, honestly.]

voice

[purrtagonist]

I feel like any reasonable person would know better than to instigate an all-out war, but--

[you know, people aren't always reasonable]

voice

[reeliable]

[Noct pauses for a moment, holding his first thought that comes to mind before he actually does say it, even if it's with discomfort in his tone.]

... Some people just don't care. [They should, and it bothers him on every level.]