[Action | Locked to Rin]
[Lelouch always looks serious, but today he looks serious and focused on something, and about half as displeased as the day before when he was rigorously cleaning his scratched and dirt-covered little purple contact. Today he's been looking at his phone every so often, but finally he sets it down and goes to Rin's part of their hideout.]Rin. Have
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He listens intently to Lelouch's words. The mystery man did strike Rin as strange but he hadn't thought of the deeper implications that Lelouch brought up. When said that way, there was nothing good to be gained from a mystery man like that. From what Lelouch was saying, it seemed as if his world and his people had suffered enough from tyrannical leaders.
But it was the trust and the friendship that really won Rin over. He didn't think that he'd be able to make another one, especially in a place so far away from home. Lelouch was being very open, something Rin was still hesitant to do so. But perhaps not for long. He didn't like to keep secrets anyway.]
Prince of the Empire of Britannia, huh? Sounds cool. Back home there isn't a Britannia. Just Britain.
[He mulls over the facts again and all the things Lelouch has and has yet to say. Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn't. All Rin knows is that he'll be helping Lelouch however he can.]
...What happened back in your world?
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You see, I lived in a palace until I was nine years old, totally divorced from the harsh realities of the world. Until my mother was killed, and my sister maimed, in an attack. While it was blamed on terrorists, every person in the Court knew it was somebody from the royal family. Almost certainly somebody who saw my mother as a political threat and wanted her out of the way. My life and my sister's life, ruined, all because somebody in my family was greedy for power. I've been told it may have been my own elder brother, Schneizel, who is indeed a power-hungry snake.
But that wasn't enough. I had to know why my father, the Emperor of Britannia and most powerful man in the world, did not protect my mother. Why he had completely disregarded us, not even visiting my little sister in the hospital once.
[Lelouch grits his teeth, barely managing to coherently get the next words out through his anger.]
He said he had no use for weak things, and that was when I knew I did not want to be part of his family any more, and told him so. I could finally see the hard truth of how those in power work. For my insubordination, my father banished me, and my sister, to be given as bargaining tools to the Japanese Prime Minister. We had nothing. My sister was only six years old and she was meant to be sold as a bride. I found out several months later that it was even worse, that we were sent as a false show of good faith before Britannia invaded Japan to conquer it. We could so easily have been killed, and for all he knows, we were.
That was how my sister and I started a new life: we pretended we were dead and assumed the name Lamperouge instead of Britannia. I also vowed to destroy my father, for whom hate is not a strong enough word, and his nation, because it is sick and rotten from the inside.
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Your dad's a fuckin' bastard. [Just sayin' it like it is.] I bet if anyone is gonna overthrow that power crazy asshole, it's gotta be you.
. . . So what's the plan, Lu? [That's about as close of nickname that Lelouch was going to get. Aside from "Princess Lulu". Or "Little Damsel Lulu".]
We're not going to let this guy show us what he's really capable of! And we can't let him think that he's gotten any power over the people here.
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Thank you.
[He's...a little less thrilled about the nickname but doesn't find it entirely bothersome and either way this isn't the time to nitpick. At least it isn't Lulu.]
Right now the plan is to watch for any information that surfaces about the new leader in question. His identity or the way he operates, specifically. For example, we know he announced his claim to power just after doing something helpful and benevolent, but still did so without input from the people he would be ruling. He says it's to prevent a harmful vacuum of power. This means he will probably do whatever he wants for whatever reason he desires, then justify it to all of us in the best light so we don't rise up against him. He will do things that help us when they can benefit him as well, which will make him seem benevolent and prevent uprisings. But this means he doesn't have a strong network of support yet. And when he does, he will probably stop being so nice and helpful.
What we do in the end will be based on his actions. Also, we should make friends and find out what they think. If most people here are uneasy about him and don't support him, then it will be easy to overthrow him with their help. Even a tyrant can't lead without followers.
We don't want to be too obvious though. If you find a person who dislikes him, add them as an ally and swear them to secrecy. If you find a person who supports him, don't let them know you're against him.
Back home, I began the campaign against my father's country under a mask, with the name Zero. I was the one who left those messages with that name. All of the people who followed me were given masks as well, and we called ourselves the Black Knights. This way everybody was able to go about their daily lives without fear of retribution from the government. He's not that powerful yet, but I don't know what he's been doing from the shadows. If he has gotten the power turned back on, he probably has a network of supporters, or at least may not be completely alone.
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[A much toothier grin crosses his face. There's a hint of something inhuman about it, but it's a fleeting vision. A moment later, Rin's smiling like he always is.]
I can do that. I might not look it, but I can be pretty sneaky. And I think I know a few people already we can ask to help us out!
[Rin's about as sneaky as a rock, unless he puts his mind to it. The he'll become as sneaky as two rocks. He's pretty sure he can accomplish something like an infiltration mission, especially if it's for the good of the people.
But what if they didn't want saving? What if the people of Aliunde were ready to accept this new man as their new leader? What was 'for the good of the people'?Rin, for one, did not want to accept this mystery man. Not if it meant the loss of freedom for everyone else.]
Zero? I don't remember seeing that name around... Ha! You really are like a hero from a sci-fi manga! [Yes, Rin reads too much manga.] I'm not one for mask-wearing but I'll help, Lu. Have you started talking to any of the people here?
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I'd like to hear your story too, Rin. I don't only have to talk about myself.
[Lelouch takes Rin's second statement generally at face value and nods. He doesn't need strong subterfuge, just the barest discretion. He's glad Rin is a very friendly and sociable sort; he will be useful.]
We don't have to do anything drastic until it becomes clear he's up to no good. It will look like we're trying to take over for selfish reasons otherwise, and it is possible, no matter how unlikely, that I'm wrong. But as long as we have people on our side, if and when things go bad we can react quickly and forcefully.
Ahh, here, if you didn't see them I'll show you...
[Lelouch holds up his phone so Rin can see the anonymous text he wrote in reply to the original anonymous announcement of leadership, as well as the ensuing messages.]
You have no right to rule - it is a privilege you must earn. Lead effectively and people will place their trust and support in you without threats and coercion. Lead ineffectively and you deserve to be deposed. Whether I stand for or against you will depend entirely on your performance. - Zero
I think the reason Zero appeals to people is that he does seem like a hero. He's not just me, he's a symbol of everything good I believe in.
I need to start socializing more, yes, and I will begin working on that. Now that the monsters are gone, we don't have to be so concerned about going outside, which will make things much easier.
And again, than you for offering to help.
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The man who raised me and my twin brother, Yukio, was a priest. He was the one in charge of the monastery and he also acted as an exorcist to those who needed it. At the time I thought he was just a glorified guidance counselor. [Another pause. This will be the last one, he can't keep stopping like that.]
Anyway, Yukio and I were completely different. Yukio was going to a high-class academy and I was looking for work. He's a hard worker and a dependable brother. But me? The old man had trouble with me. He was always trying to help me find a job, but no place would let me into their company for long. They don't need thugs at convenience stores. So, after losing another job, I got into some trouble with a street gang. I had some trouble with these dumbasses before, but this time one of them was possessed by a demon... It was when they tried to burn me with a metal rob that I "awakened". That was also when the old man finally told me who my "parents" were.
Of course the minute we get back to the monastery, he tries to keep me safe and tells me to leave. He can't take care of me anymore. We got into an argument - and I said some things that really hurt the old man, you know? Because of what I said, the old man wasn't able to keep up his barriers and - that bastard, Satan, took possession of his body.
That asshole... [Rin's anger seeps through his words but there was something else - fear. It made his voice tremble just enough to notice.] ...that ass said he was my real father. That he was going to use my body to take over Assaiah. That he was taking me back home. Satan opened up a portal to drag me down there. But my old man, he broke through the possession and stabbed himself to send Satan back to Gehenna. Can you believe that old man? No one's been able to do something like that... the only problem left was the portal Satan opened. There was no way to close it and if my father and I stayed there any longer, we were going to get sucked into Gehenna.
...Before the old man was possessed, he gave me a sword that held my - my demon half. He told me never to draw it. If I did, I'd never be human again. The only way to save us was if I drew the sword. So I did. ...By the time I got rid of the gate, father was dead. [Through his talk, Rin managed not to get too emotional but at the last sentence a small part he wavered. He ran his hand through his hair and collected himself before he continued.]
That's why I have to become an exorcist - the strongest exorcist - so I can kill that bastard.
[After a few moments, Rin's manages to put his emotions back in check.]
I'm not human, not anymore. Back where I'm from these - [he makes a gesture to his whole body: ears, teeth, and tail] - can be explained away. But the one thing that separates me from the others are the blue flames. A sign of Satan are those blue flames I have. Everyone back in my world knows this, so I can't show them even to save another person. I screw up every time and manage to hurt someone. That's why I couldn't draw my sword the first time we met, Lu. I was pretty sure you'd report me to the Vatican. They want me dead.
[He gladly moves on to another topic and takes a look at the message Lelouch sent as Zero. It was so cool to know that he was friends with a vigilante! Rin slowly regains his good mood and tries to move away from the memories of the past. It wasn't so long ago for him, if it were not obvious enough.]
With how vague he's been, I wouldn't be surprised if he came up with a few bad ideas of his own. I hope you're not the wrong one either, but I'm sure you're a good guy, Lu! You even started this back in your world, and that turned out all right! Right?
At least you haven't shut yourself in your room, like a social recluse. [Hikikomori much.] Just talk to anyone. Most people here are pretty social around here. Just try to avoid some of the shadier guys. [Because obviously Lelouch needs to be reminded of this. As he is a damsel in distress.]
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Maybe they should make a toast to the downfall of their respective powerful fathers, he thinks, but right now isn't quite the time.]
I understand completely. When we first met I had to pretend there was nothing special about me. In my world, anybody who could figure out I was Zero would have me sold to the Emperor or killed, and anybody who found out I was a Prince could do me just as much harm. We're both on the run and have to be careful about who we trust.
That is the freeing thing about being here, on Aliunde...we don't have those same worries from the people here. At least, that's how it's been for me so far, but that might change.
[He laughs.]
And don't worry, I won't deal with anybody too dangerous. We'll find much more trustworthy allies among the honest and good-hearted. Shady guys are too prone to lies and double-crossing.
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I gotta agree with that. [He says this with a sheepish grin.] It's nice not being called some stupid names. And hell, you didn't run away either that first time.
Good! I'd still save your ass, Lu.
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