Text | Locked to Unseelie plus Lancelot, Kaldur, and Flora

[gordianknots]

[The message is simple, because there's no reason to elaborate. Everyone knows what's happening and where it'll be. But it needs to be done, so that no one comes to him at the last minute to find things shuttered.]

The Barrel will be closing as of the 27th.

Thank you for your patronage. It has meant the world.

Comments

[gordianknots]

Aaaand if you are?

[winterwork]

Can't say I'm surprised. I have a reputation for making it to the top of that list for people.

[gordianknots]

And not an ounce of humility in you either!

[winterwork]

Where's the fun in being humble? And in times likes these, you need fun more than ever.

[gordianknots]

Truer words, Jack.

Also, as a note - start looking into alternative means of communications. Safer ones. Things being what they are, everything will be analyzed a lot more closely.

[winterwork]

Trust nothing and no one, huh? This world's really going to shit soon, isn't it?

[gordianknots]

I feel like it was just a matter of reaching critical mass of people, if that makes sense?

[winterwork]

It's barely been a month. A MONTH. Everyone was smiling at the Barrel. Ice skating and playing with snow. What happened?

[gordianknots]

Basically? Management made a decision to start the machine up, and everyone's caught up in the wheels.

[winterwork]

Management, huh? They say one thing and suddenly everyone's paranoid and avoiding each other like the plague. Talk about bad influence.

[gordianknots]

They say one thing to their big important players, and those players say what needs to be said to get people involved. Get them realizing that even if the people they know individually on the other side are okay, the whole and the leadership is where the problem lies.

Propaganda. Pure and simple.

[winterwork]

Hypocritical on both ends for them. Not like it's anything new. I've seen enough war to know how it works.

[gordianknots]

That's the worst part, honestly. It's all repetition. Same themes, same fights, the only thing that changes are the details.

I mean, even the end result is the same no matter who wins: the other side gets slaughtered en masse for their shards.

[winterwork]

You'd think people would get that hint already. But it's not like anybody listens. I know people are trying to protect their worlds, but it's not like anyone's is more important that somebody else's. No one deserves to lose everything here.

[gordianknots]

Why do you think I stay out of it? I can't, in good conscious, contribute to something that ends like that. Nor can I accept that such a course is the only way to win.

The monarchs want an end either way, and there's enough rumours about the world ending if no one wins that people feel compelled to act. If not to defend their homes, then to defend the friends they've made here.

[winterwork]

I'm glad to hear someone else say it. Really. Thanks for reassuring me that I'm not the only crazy one that thinks there's other options than what people are getting into here. If things like Samhain and Yule parties can happen without any casualties, peace negotiations aren't impossible.

Plus, a world ending over no war is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

[gordianknots]

A cynic would look at the length of the war and suggest that since no one has managed to find another route yet, it doesn't exist. I find it impossible to believe that there's really no route out there.

I think that between the monarchs, peace negotiations are almost impossible. There's too much bad blood between them to get anywhere. But shardbearers aren't monarchs, and that's a key thing.

Yeah, well, Drabwurld. No one's surprised.

[winterwork]

No route's been found because no one's TRIED a different one. Einstein -- really decent guy by the way -- talked about insanity being when people try the same thing over and over expecting different results. The people of this world in a nutshell.

And forget the monarchs with their political crap. The shard guys outnumber them. It's their call on changing things. THEY'RE the one who need to lighten up and get over this need for power to set things right.

[gordianknots]

[Waver knows a little about other attempts taken, but now isn't the time. The lockets aren't secure enough for that discussion.]

Name drop a bit more, mm?

Point holds completely true. It's absolutely pointless how they keep beating their heads against the wall and expect anything besides an eternal stalemate. Unless we're not privy to other attempts made in the past - that's the only other thing I can think of.

The monarchs are masters at manipulation though. They can plan for decades in advance. People come in and are new and ignorant and the monarchs give them everything they need. You can see why it's so hard to forget the monarchs.

[winterwork]

[The monarchs give them everything they need. The boons, he realizes, too. The thought almost makes him sick to his stomach, even for a spirit. He may never wear that necklace again.]

That's the thing I've always hated. Bribing to gain someone's favor. It's even worse for reasons like this. Giving them something that means the world to them, just to make them die for it.

For now, we just gotta get through the current mess now. It's already started so there's no way to avoid it.

[gordianknots]

The best you can do is use what they give you and make sure it can't be used as leverage over you. For your own ends only, never theirs. It's not much, but actions do carry far here.

What worries me is how people will come out of this. If they'll be more willing to fight after this. Who will walk away vowing never again.

[winterwork]

Yeah I know. Though ironically, I'm not sure the gift they gave me would benefit THEM in any way. [Other than his lack to fight back in his human form. Then again, it's not like he knew the long term effects of using that thing.]

I've seen men realize everything in the midst of battle. When it's way too late already. That's what's worrying me.

[gordianknots]

Good. Make sure it never does. I wish that some of mine could say the same. [10 litres of weaponzied mercury that actually managed to deal with Reynard could be a huge well, boon, if used.]

The best we can hope to do is provide the right support and resources when it all ends.

[winterwork]

At least you're a smart guy who'd know how to keep yourself from getting mixed up. They're gonna have a real tough time taking advantage of you, I can bet that.

But you're right. That's all we can do at this point.

[gordianknots]

You as well, I hope you've come to realize.

I'll try and keep in touch with you during this nonsense, but if you can, try and start weaning yourself off the lockets for anything but an emergency.