unseelie; video.

[survivra]

They're going to take our power, one by one, and the lives of everyone here. I don't consent to live like this. I don't know about worlds being eaten in our homes or being born again later, and I don't care. Our lives are being ended as they are now.

I don't like to kill needlessly, but it will keep happening—if you meet someone who wants to let that thing destroy everything, including you, then you should find your chance and stick a blade into their heart.

[ she hurls her locket at the wall, and the video hits its target and shuts down. ]

Comments

[digophelia]

Katsa.

[ Gentle, yet stern. ]

[uneulogized]

Not that I don't agree with ... most of your sentiments. [Most. It's definitely most.]

You're gonna attract some unwanted attention with this. Probably. [Then again, most of the Unseelie should be bitter as fuck by now. He should hope, anyway. But then there are those who are foolish not to understand the harshness behind the monarchs' methods. The harshness is there for a reason.

They are losing, after all. It's blatant.]

[survivra]

What.

[ She snaps open her locket when she picks it up and just as sharply snaps her reply to Alice. Katsa is clearly and obviously on edge. ]

[survivra]

I don't care. What else have we been getting that is wanted?

[uneulogized]

Not a whole lot. We're easy targets, for just about anyone. [Jason doesn't say that because he has a persecution complex (though there are times when he certainly has one). No, that just seems to be the actual situation.] Or that's what they think, and it feels like a whole lot of energy is being directed toward us.

But the rest of this needs a subtler hand. These statements tend to draw out the reactionary, especially from those who aren't prepared to kill.

[For his part, these conversations have never gone well.]

audio;

[cockade]

Katsa. [A pause.] Breathe.

[He doesn't like what's happened, or what's happening now, but losing his mind over this really isn't the place or time. He hopes he can at least calm Katsa down, too.]

audio;

[survivra]

[ Stop. Breathe. This isn't the first time she's been told these words, lost control of her temper and struggled to keep herself in check. Katsa feels her anger, shame, and fear all pricking behind her eyes at once, and she closes her eyes and listens to Arno as she tries to calm down.

For now it's only a little effective. ]

I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of sitting and being told what to do and how to fight. That something else has been lost. Nobody deserves this, and I do not want this.

[digophelia]

Calm yourself. You're not good to anyone worked up like this. You need to focus on the future.

[survivra]

[ She throws a hand into the air, and her voice rises in pitch—and rather in hysterics. ]

I am! In fact, I may as well be the only one! There's not going to be a future. No future to make or break any promises about, because what are we doing to change that? Waiting for our High Majestic Lord King to give us orders on how to proceed?

[digophelia]

[ Alice is calm -- unnaturally clam. ]

As if they would know how to solve that and nor is it the solution. It's better if we take matters into our hands and find out for ourselves. No one can amend this situation, only us.

[andallbite]

[ If there's anyone out there who understands this brand of fury, Eren is certainly one of them. He doesn't lash out on the lockets, nor does he intend to, but she's justified in her anger. He thinks so, at least. ]

There're going to be more losses. [ It's inevitable. You can't save it all. ] But we're not going to lose everything—especially not our worlds. We'll make it out of this.

[huntedby]

Darling, is what we talked about, not enough?

( video. )

[atoned]

[ after mount verla had perished, along with the pyrii, zuko's been feeling unbalanced. he feels as he had when reynard had taken his bending, but it's as though toph had weighed stones on his feet to keep him anchored down on only one side. he doesn't like it; the pyrii hadn't fought for themselves, not as hard as they had for them. ]

[ he looks paler than usual, slightly exhausted, with his bangs still flopping into his face. his voice is slightly defeated as he sighs, ] Killing isn't the answer, Katsa.

( video. )

[survivra]

Then tell me, Zuko. What is? [ her voice nearly chokes in her throat, making it obvious that her outburst is as much from distress and hopelessness than anything. ] I don't like it. I hate it. But sometimes there's nothing else to do; and I'm as suited for it as anything.

[survivra]

You say that as though you can promise it when it's obvious that we're losing. And denying it does nothing.

I would kill their leaders—

[ and she stops, swallows, and leaves the sentence hanging. ]

[survivra]

What if we wake up and more is lost than we thought? Do we have that much time after all? What about in the meantime, what will others who aren't a part of it do?

[ She's been shaken since the last time she spoke to Vanessa, and she looks it. Katsa is afraid, and it isn't something she handles well. ]

[survivra]

Yes. [ Her response is fervent, almost desperate. ] That's what I mean. I don't care about wars and courts and orders, but I want to live. I'll do whatever it takes, and I want to start doing it now. With anyone's help or without it.

[digophelia]

Start at the beginning.

[ She is still far too calm, despite her worries, despite her fears what this will have on her lover. ]

This is a single day in which you are unsure of yourself and your fate. This day will not dictate you for the rest of your days here. It does no good frightening yourself.

But this must is clear -- within you is the power of your world and the power of this world. If I may be bold to suggest, learn how to use it in any way possible and keep it close. They will want it, they will want to use it against you. Don't let them. You will survive this.

[andallbite]

[ If it meant winning. That the world wouldn't end. That everything will be saved and the war will finally come to a close. He isn't above killing someone who deserves it, either; the remark doesn't faze him. ]

I know we're in trouble, but I don't believe this is the end. If we all fight hard enough, we'll win.

[survivra]

Then they should be prepared.

[ As soon as she says it, she knows that's wrong; Katsa catches herself and takes a deep breath. ]

No—that's not what I mean. I don't wish for everyone to kill. I'd do it all myself if I could. [ Not that she likes it much, either, but that's stopped mattering again. ] But at the rate things are progressing, people need to be aware that the need might arise; and when it comes, they should be ready and able to do what must be done.

[survivra]

Will it also be true that if we hope hard enough, all that we want might come falling right into our hands?

[andallbite]

No.

[ He knows sarcasm when he hears it, but he's giving a serious response nonetheless. ]

Hope isn't the same thing. Stop talking like we're all done for already.

[survivra]

[ The fear and anger continues to wash over her, and Katsa doesn't know what to do with it. She flounders but closes her eyes and tries to breathe. She has been unsure and afraid before. She has conquered it before.

Pretend, she tells herself. Alice said survive. That is her Grace. Not killing. Survival. Pretend that you believe her when she says this, Katsa thinks. Believe in the strength of your Grace. ]

You mean my shard. [ She curls a hand over her chest. ] They'd use it against me like they did with Ariadne.

[digophelia]

[ Alice doesn't like the word "shard". She'll never say it.

But as much as she hates it, she knows it's apart of the key to this world. She remembers from a year ago, about the great gem. ]

Yes. That is a strength, no doubt. But there's more to you than that rock, as well.

[survivra]

They're wonderful things you're saying, but they're not going to win it for us. We need to do more than what we have been. How are we supposed to fight that Void that eats and eats, but to throw knives and arrows for its pleasure?