caughtinanetwork | ♓ Video ♑ (color coded so you know who is who)

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♓ Video ♑ (color coded so you know who is who)

[The video feed flickers on to show a lovely adult troll, tyrian colored eyes matching her tyrian painted lips. Thick black hair down to the ground that seems to wrap around her figure. She, all together, looks rather bored, like this is some tedious effort she doesn't want to deal with.]

Hello, Vatheon.

[A smile touches her features, one much softer than most would expect! Less condescending than her title implies.]

I feel now is a good time to introduce my presence and-

[She turns her head away from the video for a moment, something obviously caught her attention. The video becomes shaky as she walks quickly.]

Grand Highblood?

[The video doesn't turn from its original position, but a low rumbling voice can be heard offscreen:]

Well, my lady. Didn't think I would be all motherfucking finding you here so quick-like and shit.

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[Somehow, Darkleer keeps his voice steady, even though he wants to flinch at that look, that tone.]

Why, if I were not to start such a fight as you are doing right in this moment with Her, you would cease to speak to me?

I am not prompting you to act as I am, Darkleer. We are different people. I trust you to show strength even in this situation, to show a fire that I know you have in you, but you have been known to disappoint before.

Do not expect me to accept such displeasing choices if you so choose to make them again. [His face tenses, vision as if looking through the camera instead of at the image of the other troll.]

I will not allow myself to pity a troll that chooses to be servile in the presence of a bane who destroys the lives of so many I love and hold dear.

Edited 2012-02-26 14:57 (UTC)

[He was stupid, stupid, for thinking that they would work things out properly. A complete and utter idiot. Without even thinking twice about it, Darkleer is already sinking into worst case scenarios. His pessimism can be his worse enemy in times like this.]

I... see.

[A pause as he tries to breathe and swallow. For some reason, both actions are hard to do.]

[In that silence, there's the sound of wings beating, then soft cooing. Another moment, and Darkleer speaks.]

On the island... I told you that if you could trust me, I would be yours... And you agreed.

I thought you honest, but is that not true...?

Have I discontinued our quadrant as of yet? Or are you planning of disappointing me and merely waiting for such an outcome?

[Seeing Darkleer like it is tearing at his insides, but he feels as though he has a point. Summoner's merely said what will happen if Darkleer goes to her side. He's expecting... hoping, trusting the other not to make such a choice. But it's important for Darkleer to know his feelings on this and Summoner doesn't look any less serious or focused.]

[A flinch behind his glasses and Darkleer wishes there were more noises in the hive for him to focus on, something to remind him that he's not alone. But there isn't the sound of Equius working on his own projects in his room, Gamzee's laughter, the scurrying claws and excited calls of the chocobos.]

[They're on the island. Where it's... well, more safe than here. Even a little distance is best.]

I'm planning... on doing what I believes needs to be done. To protect those I care for.

So be it then. I will trust you, Darkleer. Until said otherwise I pity you. I pity even the slave within you, a slave that forever lies within all of us in some respect. The slave that downed the prophet, whose words drive me, an echo blasting through the corridor of all my sweeps. I pity even that troll, but do not make me regret my love.

I expect much from you, please don't prove me wrong.

[He won't immediately react hostile if Darkleer chooses to grovel to the hag, but it's more of a long term thing. What will happen as time goes on. He is sure though, that if Darkleer chooses to serve her, even for a short time, he most likely will not speak to him for a while. At least not as frequently perhaps. It's too much of a risk.]

Edited 2012-02-26 15:24 (UTC)

[It really is a risk. Everything about them is a risk, but... he needs to do this. Because getting close to anyone at all was a risk with how this place works, but he can't regret it, won't.]

[There are things more important than pride, more important than his own emotions. He has known this for sweeps and he knows it now. If he wants to keep them safe...]

I'm sorry.

You've made your choice then. -? [Half becoming a question. Not wanting that to be a statement, not wanting Darkleer to have...]

I am going to speak with her when we are done speaking.

I expected as much, but that's not what I meant, you you know this. If what you are doing is truly to protect those close to you, at least defend it and say it proudly. There is no point to speaking with such a tone if what you are deciding to do is just in your eyes.

And let me see you. Stand for what you believe and let me see you when you say it.

[After a few seconds, the video function finally flickers on. Perhaps as can be expected, Darkleer is still in his room. Those same cheap glasses are on instead of the ones he usually wears; he hasn't retrieved them from the Helmsman yet. His jaw is set, and his hands clenched together.]

If I can, if the Grand Highblood does not cull me first, if Her Imperious Condesension accepts, then I will place myself under her service.

[That old saying... Keep your allies close, and your enemies closer.]

[It's a claw tearing at his insides and he wants to just end this conversation now but done But he's made it this far.]

Why. Explain this to me, explain what it is you are doing by making such a choice.

[It's reaching out the best he can right now, which seems likely barely at all. Summoner's furious and disappointed and just extremely conflicted in this moment and he wants a reason not to end this. Earlier when Darkleer mentioned this being something good to look to during all of this darkness, Summoner agreed. But being in her service is just not something he can allow himself to do or understand.]

To what lengths will you serve her...

[This hurts. This hurts in a way that spears his heart and ties it tight with sharp wires until it's close to bursting. But Darkleer keeps his expression as it is and just digs his fingers into the backs of his knuckles to relieve some of the stress.]

What I am doing is making sure that Equius and Gamzee stay safe. In this place, the Condesce has no army, no fleet, nothing. The most She has, right now, would be the Grand Highblood and Dualscar. She needs all the tools She can get, even if she has changed as she is preaching. If I am Hers, then...

[And Darkleer doubts that very much.]

As for the lengths... [A deep breath. A swallow.] If I need to... I will do terrible things to earn a scrap of trust.

What will you do once you have this trust, Darkleer.

Well, going to war against them certainly isn't going to accomplish anything. You should know that.

So I'm going to do what any highblood does when dealing with another highblood.

Obviously. But impressions are important to me. [A deep breath, the branch of the tree under him straining a little as he leans back.]

Not something I'm familiar with Darkleer. I'm not a highblood, and I tend to get right to the point. Say it. [His eyes wander Darkleer as he sits, not leaving him, not even looking away for a moment.]

...Just trust me. Please.

[He glances to Dural, perched tall and graceful off-screen. Her presence, like always, brings some traces of bad memories alongside the good.]

I don't want to lose another matesprit.

[He suddenly looks a lot more tired than he did before, eyes searching Darkleer, face still set. Summoner remains silent for a while, just, looking at him. Thinking. He's not, really not, sure about this, any of this. But.]

Okay.

[Something in Darkleer seems to shatter just a bit, because the stiff set to his shoulders loses its bearing and his brows press upwards and together over his glasses. He's so desperately, pleadingly grateful, and he knows the brief bit of happiness they had with one another...]

[They will not get another chance like that for quite a while.]

Thank you.

[Quiet and small is his voice, as if it could sink into cracks and disappear.]

[Summoner really hopes you're thankful, he's very much regretting this already, very much scared about what could happen, about what Darkleer will do. The highblood is still serving under that... thing, she's not even a person to Lysunder anymore. And Summoner is so extremely unsure about all of this but it... seems like what he should do. He wants to trust him. He wants 'them' to not be a mistake.]

[But this is extremely unsettling and extremely tiring.]

[Lysunder holds the SFC on his lap, looking down to it with his hands holding either side of it tight. He looks directly to the camera for a moment and slides a thumb over it, still staring as his face stays tired.]

Yeah. Just, [Closes his eyes.]

Yeah.

[If only there was something he could say to make this all better. To make this all right, to soothe his matesprit's frazzled, torn nerves. But there isn't, and it tears at him to know this, to have to know this and look upon that expression on Lysunder's face.]

[But he had to tell him. He deserved that much. He deserves more, but Darkleer can't give it to him right now.]

Just... stay safe.

Don't overexert yourself.

I can't promise that I'll stay safe. The Grand Highblood has already issued out the want of a duel. So know that at least.

[A sigh, moving a hand up to rub at his temple.]

I realize you can't tell me everything that you will have to do... if you have to do anything to gain their trust. But if you can tell me, please.

[If this were some other time, if their relationship were different, then there would be a jab in order there, but Darkleer doesn't even think of such a thing. He only feels his heart flick and flutter in alarm in his chest.]

[Carefully, he reaches down towards the screen and touches it lightly.]

...I'll send Dural to you. She'll be safer with you watching after her. However, she tends to roam as she pleases.

[It's all he can do. And it is true; he would prefer the lusus with Summoner than himself.]

I'll keep a commune up with her at all times then, so try not to worry about her, I'll know where she is no matter where she decides to go. [He'll actually establish that commune now that he's thinking about it.]

And I'll take the lack of a response to my second comment as the answer to it

...Quite.

As I said... be as safe as you can allow yourself to be.

[And with that, he shuts the SFC off.]

[Getting up from his seat, he strides over to wear Dural perches and removes his glasses. Every little bit of him- the apprehension, the fear, the worry, the determination- it's all laid bare without his glasses in the way. Leaning down, he lets her presses against his forehead.]

[It's unlikely, but if he already has... Even with his best encryptions in place to keep their conversation private, he still wasn't sure what he could say over the SFC. So now is his only chance to tell him securely, without fearing anything.]

Know I love you, and if I could, if I thought inaction could do anything, I would prefer not to do a single thing at all, but I have those I want to protect, you amongst their number.

♓ Video ♑ (color coded so you know who is who)

Voice; private; weeps gently!

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well technically no longer video but certainly private

Haha, yeaah. I guess it would be...private... action?

idefk

Action?????