007 ♔ [video]
I’ve been thinking, about this gameboard, and our place on it…
[Whenever Battler’s appeared on the network he’s always been at least mostly ridiculous. Right now, his demeanour is serious, pensive. His eyes are not fixed on the screen but elsewhere, his brow knit in thought. The sharp collar of his cape makes his pale hands, laced before the thin line of his mouth, stand out all the starker.]
It seems to be that we’ve been working under the mindset that it’s us against the fae - humans or whatever we are at one side, them at the other.
[He looks, and sounds, almost like a totally different person.]
We’ve been mistaken. It’s not a simple black and white board here, and we’re not standing on two different sides.
It seemed strange to me that, pitted in a game like this, we wouldn’t be under a more constant attack. Sure, we have plenty of difficulty to face - I know the Watch are kept busy. But I’d have expected a more concentrated offensive against us. Then there are the neutral parties to consider - no, it’s not even neutrality. Some of these fae are openly friendly and helpful to us, so how can we brand them all enemies?
If all these fae are bound together the way they appear to be, then we can’t say that our opponent is the fae. Maybe it’s just to lead us into a false sense of security, maybe we’re meant to put our trust in them, but… no. I’ve underestimated and misjudged my foe before, I won’t make that mistake again!
[Lowering his hands, he looks now at the screen.]
The Queen of the fae isn’t just a ruler. She’s a representative - she holds them all together. They’re pieces of her, so she has to be made from them. And that would mean that when she chooses to appear benevolent… It’s not just a lie to her own benefit.
Really, the fae are pretty similar to any group of humans - we can’t make sweeping judgements.
[He shakes his head.]
I’m digressing, I apologise. My point is our purpose here. We’ve been wondering why we were dragged here if only to fight - that’s not what we’re here for.
This war here isn’t between ourselves and the fae. We weren’t supposed to be the pieces of this fragment - we’ve been caught up in the middle of someone else’s fight.
Talking to that Guardian made me realise… The heart that the Queen is searching for, it’s not ours. And it’s not a living, beating thing either. It’s more than that - our hearts are powerful. They’re the source of so much - they’re bound to us, our thoughts, our feelings. The emotions we carry can form any type of magic if we channel it correctly - love, and these things we carry in our hearts… That’s a truer power than anything else.
Even then… Another shake of the head, his gaze darting away as he goes quiet for a few long moments, thinking.] It’s not as simple as seeking that power.
We’ve noticed the connection between the Guardian and the Queen. It’s not so simple as a battle between enemies, and that’s why we’re not pit against the fae. In fact, I’m not sure you could even say that the Guardian is - I’m going to suggest something, then, with all this in mind.
[He looks at the camera directly, his gaze flat and sharp.]
The Guardian is one of the fae. Actually, I retract that statement. I’ll take it further!
The Guardian is the king of the fae.
The Queen’s husband, that is. This battle we’ve been drawn into… it’s a quarrel between the two of them that we’ve been caught in!
[He leans back again, eyes downcast, hands coming up to lace in front of his jaw once more.]
But even if it seems like it… we can’t underestimate conflict, because of that root. The force of love… can’t be undermined.
[With a sigh, he looks once more at the camera, reaching over to pick it up.]
Of course, this doesn’t answer all our questions. It’s really only the start of a case. So, I’d appreciate other input too.
[He gives a nod, and then the video turns off.]
[Whenever Battler’s appeared on the network he’s always been at least mostly ridiculous. Right now, his demeanour is serious, pensive. His eyes are not fixed on the screen but elsewhere, his brow knit in thought. The sharp collar of his cape makes his pale hands, laced before the thin line of his mouth, stand out all the starker.]
It seems to be that we’ve been working under the mindset that it’s us against the fae - humans or whatever we are at one side, them at the other.
[He looks, and sounds, almost like a totally different person.]
We’ve been mistaken. It’s not a simple black and white board here, and we’re not standing on two different sides.
It seemed strange to me that, pitted in a game like this, we wouldn’t be under a more constant attack. Sure, we have plenty of difficulty to face - I know the Watch are kept busy. But I’d have expected a more concentrated offensive against us. Then there are the neutral parties to consider - no, it’s not even neutrality. Some of these fae are openly friendly and helpful to us, so how can we brand them all enemies?
If all these fae are bound together the way they appear to be, then we can’t say that our opponent is the fae. Maybe it’s just to lead us into a false sense of security, maybe we’re meant to put our trust in them, but… no. I’ve underestimated and misjudged my foe before, I won’t make that mistake again!
[Lowering his hands, he looks now at the screen.]
The Queen of the fae isn’t just a ruler. She’s a representative - she holds them all together. They’re pieces of her, so she has to be made from them. And that would mean that when she chooses to appear benevolent… It’s not just a lie to her own benefit.
Really, the fae are pretty similar to any group of humans - we can’t make sweeping judgements.
[He shakes his head.]
I’m digressing, I apologise. My point is our purpose here. We’ve been wondering why we were dragged here if only to fight - that’s not what we’re here for.
This war here isn’t between ourselves and the fae. We weren’t supposed to be the pieces of this fragment - we’ve been caught up in the middle of someone else’s fight.
Talking to that Guardian made me realise… The heart that the Queen is searching for, it’s not ours. And it’s not a living, beating thing either. It’s more than that - our hearts are powerful. They’re the source of so much - they’re bound to us, our thoughts, our feelings. The emotions we carry can form any type of magic if we channel it correctly - love, and these things we carry in our hearts… That’s a truer power than anything else.
Even then… Another shake of the head, his gaze darting away as he goes quiet for a few long moments, thinking.] It’s not as simple as seeking that power.
We’ve noticed the connection between the Guardian and the Queen. It’s not so simple as a battle between enemies, and that’s why we’re not pit against the fae. In fact, I’m not sure you could even say that the Guardian is - I’m going to suggest something, then, with all this in mind.
[He looks at the camera directly, his gaze flat and sharp.]
The Guardian is one of the fae. Actually, I retract that statement. I’ll take it further!
The Guardian is the king of the fae.
The Queen’s husband, that is. This battle we’ve been drawn into… it’s a quarrel between the two of them that we’ve been caught in!
[He leans back again, eyes downcast, hands coming up to lace in front of his jaw once more.]
But even if it seems like it… we can’t underestimate conflict, because of that root. The force of love… can’t be undermined.
[With a sigh, he looks once more at the camera, reaching over to pick it up.]
Of course, this doesn’t answer all our questions. It’s really only the start of a case. So, I’d appreciate other input too.
[He gives a nod, and then the video turns off.]