video ; both courts

[survivra]

[ Katsa’s thrown herself down on the ground somewhere, hay sticking out of her short-cut hair as she scowls at the locket dangling in front of her face. ]

What’s the use of gifts if it can still be even that people are taken out of their own beds at night—where out of anywhere they should have protection? Is it meant to be a distraction to keep us from noticing all the other wrong?

[ are the boons all just a big conspiracy theory?? will time ever tell ]

[ PRIVATE TO PO ]

[ she rubs a hand over her face ]

Po, will you fight me now? I think I need—I can't sit still or think straight. There's so much that's happened, that I'm not sure I understand. I think it'll help.

Comments

[survivra]

I've done enough killing and death to know what it is. A dog jumps at orders and bites when its master tells it: it believes when it's told it has no choice. You're right. You are a dog. But I'll not be one, and I'll not think those who don't belong aren't drawn in anyway, and that those with the most power choose to distribute presents rather than to protect them.

[wild_goose]

Oh even if they shouldn't be here they will be drawn in, it's a shame in every war. Even innocent cute girls are drawn in to horrible things when you fail to protect them, they can become monsters or your only hope as well.

If you don't want to fight though then you shouldn't be on the front lines, or near the battle field, rather as far away from it as possible. Otherwise you'll get someone else killed when they're trying to save your ass. If you don't have the stomach for what to be done then don't blame those who do what has to be done. It's fine that you look down on us, berate us, call us dogs and murderers, it's who we are and what we do. But the reality of it is that here, the only safe place is behind the dogs that are guarding the front door of the castle.

You wanted to know the reason for the gifts, it's to keep the dogs in check. Not so that we won't notice all the wrong in the world, but so that we'll care about what our purpose is and not lose sight of what we're supposed to be doing. Take that away and there will no one left to do the dirty work and then everyone is dragged into it whether they want to fight or not.

[survivra]

I'm not the one who needs saving.

[ she's downright astonished by how much she immediately hates him. it's probably a combination of her irrational temper and the fact that she's more reacting against exactly what she used to be, and what she still thinks of herself in some ways, but either way. not fond emotions. ]

Well. A fabulous job you seem to be doing of it, too. What dog was guarding the door of the castle when the last girl was kidnapped?

[wild_goose]

Hell if I know. Seems like no one has any interest in keeping things in order around here, and I haven't exactly been here long enough to set up a patrol or anything. Ask whoever's in charge.

[survivra]

And I plan to do that, soon as there's an audience.

[ ... ]

It wouldn't be a bad plan to patrol, if you did it. Seems like there's no reason to wait, is there?

[wild_goose]

If I had my men here setting one up would be no problem, but this place is a little too big for me patrol on my own.

[survivra]

[ she snorts ] That sounds like excuses—there are plenty of others here. I'd even do it, if you could handle my not being one of your men.

[wild_goose]

[There's a half hearted laugh.] I suppose it is, though what is the excuse for those that were here before me? I'll get a map and work on making a patrol for those who might be interested.

[survivra]

I imagine they don't have a good one either. [ a pause. ] Good. And if you do—I won't always be at the castle, but I will help.

[wild_goose]

Well then I suppose I'll have to figure out rotations into who would be here and who won't. Wonder how many will actually volunteer?

[survivra]

Don't know. Even if it's only a few, it's better than none. And we still can make something out of it. I've seen it, something like this starting small but always continuing to grow.