[ video ] open to both courts (backdated a week or so)

[knightspirit]

[ A video clicks on of a teenage boy. He looks a little worn out, almost making him appear older than he really is. When he speaks, his tone is brusque. ]

... Hey. If we haven't met, my name is Tsurugi Kyousuke. [ not one to spare words, he jumps straight into business: ] I recently learned something everyone should know.

You might know that people seem to disappear on occasion. Sometimes they leave their Shard behind. Sometimes we just can't seem to contact them. [ he pauses, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. ] Apparently, those people die. Or worse, they either get trapped between worlds, or forget everything and lose their forms. I'm told that while we're here we a thin connection to our worlds, and that connection can be lost forever.

[ It's probably clear enough why he looks so tired now. He's talked to a few people he can't seem to find anymore, and thinking that may have happened to them is ... unpleasant, to say the least. ]

I can't tell anyone what to do with all that, but I think that makes it clear enough that we need to find a solution instead of dragging out this war. We don't need to lose more people.

.... That's all I had to say.

[ the video cuts off abruptly. ]

Comments

[video]

[silvergift]

[This isn't something she needed to hear. Her hand moves and tightens around the pendant that holds her husbands shard, knuckles turning white and face going pale. The last piece of him she has besides the long cloak she'd taken from him and the dress he'd gotten her, left in her room in Caer Glaem.

Ridire's words ring in her mind. "He is safe, and has gone from you unharmed, Lady."

How could any of that mean the same as 'unharmed?'

Tears sting her eyes and her hand remains tightly wrapped around Elrond's shard.]

The king lied to me.

[video]

[knightspirit]

[ ... Oh. He's .. really not sure what to say to that. He hesitates slightly before responding. ]

... I'm sure he was trying to be kind, in his own way.

[ Not a way Tsurugi would agree with, but he doesn't necessarily think the monarchs are bad people. ]

[video]

[silvergift]

[The laugh that comes from her is humorless and she finally lowers her hand from the pendant, wringing her hands in her skirt instead.]

I am no child, it has been thousands of years since then. I would have preferred the truth. It would have hurt less and my trust in him would not now suffer.

[Because how can anyone trust a ruler than can't even tell one of their Shardbearer's a hard truth?]

[knightspirit]

[ He can't speak much for the King's intentions, or what's going to hurt more or less—that's different from person to person. He also knows there's not much he could say to improve the situation even if he were good at the sort of thing (he's not). All he can really offer are honest, but useless condolences. ]

... Sorry, that you found out this way.

[ Maybe he should have rethought his tactics in telling everyone; he's already grappled with it for a while before coming out with it. But it's a little too late for that now. ]

[silvergift]

[She can't imagine there being any easier way to announce something like this. It would bother people regardless if only because of the message itself.]

Do not be. At least I have found out rather than being kept in the dark.

[knightspirit]

.... True enough. Not knowing the truth won't change reality.

[silvergift]

It will not.

[And now she has good reason, rather than suspicion, for not trusting the monarchs. How she would have liked to trust Solais and Ridire...]

Thank you.

[knightspirit]

I didn't really do anything worth thanking. ... All I did was ask a question report my answer.

[silvergift]

You shared the truth to everyone that's been brought to this place. That alone is worth thanks.

[knightspirit]

I'm just trying to do what I can.

[ unfortunately, that doesn't feel like nearly enough these days. ]