caughtinanetwork | I. Power and might [Text]

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I. Power and might [Text]

[One thing about Councillor Gorthan is that he is still very unsure about Vatheon and its people, and in general doesn't like hanging outside very often. Also because he may find himself getting hungry for the residents' emotions, and he is trying to maintain a low profile for the moment.

So here, Vatheon, have a short, simple text.]

Is anybody here able to recommend any good books?

I am particularly interested in poetry, philosophy and epics.

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[Oh. Demon or conqueror or alien or not, that was absolutely the wrong thing to say. The very suggestion, the very thought lights a furious fire in Hideyoshi's eyes that cleanly burns away whatever remains of his calmly playful manner. His free hand clenches into a fist rising into view.]

I'm loyal to Lord Nobunaga with every breath left in my body! You can ask Mitsuhide - he'd remember that I forced an army to cross the country in days to take his head! It's true that I - [he sucks in a breath, trying to calm down] I failed my lord, we all did, and we'll all have to live with that. But I don't care what you are or how much you've conquered, don't you dare even hint that I had anything to do with Mitsuhide's treason!

[There's something unnerving about the otherwise small, unremarkable man in this towering rage - he genuinely looks like he can deliver on that threat.]

[By contrast, Gorthan seems to calm down. Not only do displays of emotion like this make him mildly, pleasantly hungry, but in this particular case, there is something else he enjoys about Hideyoshi's reaction, at a deeper level.]

Your righteous rage speaks of your loyalty, earthling. Of your honor. I do not need further proof from you. I believe you.

[But if you want him to apologize for having provoked you, that's not what he's going to do. Ah, even those earthlings who wield power can be such easy preys to emotion...]

Now I merely wonder which weighs more in your mind - your desire for revenge, or the kinship with someone from your own world, from your own land, in these strange, mysterious circumstances that we all find ourselves in.

[Now, this is where it gets a little bit complicated. Hideyoshi doesn't answer immediately - not without breathing in and getting hold of his own anger until it cools away. He understands Gorthan's game and he doesn't resent it, but he also understands his own position. And he understands the network well enough by now to know that anyone could be watching.

Mitsuhide has allies and a support base and he has had time. All Hideyoshi has is the head on his shoulders and whatever impressive act he can put up. Same old story, all over again.]

I don't have any kinship with him, [he says at last, flatly but clearly.] But there isn't any fighting here, and I won't be the one to start it.

Very well.

[Gorthan nods simply, cold and expressionless again.]

You should probably inform him of your intentions, then.

[That's as good as it is going to get for the moment, probably. Hideyoshi nods in return, then gives a wry, humorless chuckle.]

Ahh, he won't believe me even if I do. Not really on talking terms, us two.

You should get somebody to mediate between the two of you, then. Not me, of course, as your world of origin is mostly unfamiliar to me.

I didn't quite peg you down as the mediating type. [He grins just a bit.]

Maybe it's best if we both just give each other plenty of space.

I could very well do it, if my knowledge of the matters at hand was sufficient. But it is not.

So your differences are too big to set aside, even in these exceptional circumstances. Very well. I do believe that you are making your lord proud.

It is a rather long story. [His eyes cloud over for a moment as he thinks back, but he shakes it off soon, and smiles.]

Ahh, flattery will get you nowhere. [But he seems to genuinely appreciate it.]

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I. Power and might [Text]

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