12th oath of moment: Gauntlet Run. Backdated over the course of this weekend
[It began, as many things do with Garviel, with an Oath. In this case an oath to keep Merem from feeding on the blood of drones for 3 days. Unlike every other oath he has made since he came to mayfield, Garviel is having a truly difficult time keeping it. Because the monster is -fast- Fast enough to outrun bullets. Even a transhuman in speed-
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2. The games persist. She watches impassively as he keeps on the chase, from far up away. She also began to take showers both before and after patrols, something like extra precaution: he's likely too focused to notice her, especially when she has put some effort into concealing herself. It'll be simpler, if she escapes both his sight and his acute sense of smell.
3. The brat had it coming, but she knew best that this wasn't the end of it. ...Should she sit Merem down somewhere tomorrow and lecture him? This is starting to get ridiculous.
...No, she already told him that she won't get involved.
4. Now he's just being a stubborn fool. Why does he insist? What idiot devoid of common sense--
--No.
It's his worthless sense of duty, that useless thing called honor. She knew perfectly what drove him, but she won't interfere.
6. jfc For the love of God--
No, she doesn't need to see this. A glance is all she spares, before she turns her back and moves on. This is just self-imposed masochism used to prove the strength of his conviction. When that conviction is misplaced, however, sympathy can't be expected to be given. Nothing can be, when all of this was grossly unnecessary in the first place. If he thrived on making life difficult for himself, then that's his choice alone.]
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No, she was more calculated than that. Calling too often would be suspicious, but this has gone on far enough. She knows he passed out earlier that day and she knows he's home now. So...]
Hello?
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Yes?
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She could ask about what happened to get him droned. Or the marks of his chase left all over town: they may reset themselves, but she goes outside often enough to notice. Or ask him if he's too tired. If he needs rest, then she'll leave him be and call back later.
Plenty of ways to act as if nothing was going on. She would have liked that, truly, but she can't. He's already gotten far too deeply involved. She would have continued to turn a blind eye - but the moment that what happens at night starts to blend in with the comfort that daylight is supposed to provide and the cover that it gives to the secret and the lies, she has to step in.
She doesn't introduce herself, but he should be able to recognize the voice. Soft-spoken and relaxed, it's how she always sounded, even at night sometimes, but the tone is more subdued now.]
I shouldn't need to tell you that this is going overboard, Garviel Loken. Please rest and stop.
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[He frowns.]
You asked me once, to leave him to you. I truly had intended to. But....
I was fighting to prove that even monsters are not without a chance for redemption.
[He is quiet.]
Are you asking me to stop? Astartes never yield.
[There's an unspoken however there. She can probably pick up on it.]
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I am, because you are fighting for a pointless cause. Do you remember all that you did in the last few days?
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Saving lives is never pointless. Making the point I was making is also not pointless.
But that being said...
Because you asked me, Ciel, I shall relent in this. You understand that monster better than I ever could, you know how to keep him in check, were he to run truly wild.
[His hand clenches on the receiver for a moment. In some ways, this strange failure here is as painful for him as his failure at Davin, at Istvaan. He crushes the thought his with iron discipline a moment later, his expression turning into a mask.]
I assume you have been watching us? I was so focused on the hunt that I did not detect your presence. I was simply trying to keep those who are no longer awakened to the reality here safe.
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[He can express himself all he liked. He's not being watched, only spoken to through the line. Her tone stays unchanging; there's a certain degree of artificiality to it.]
He only did this to provoke you, and you reacted just as he predicted. You're not subtle. The traces were hard to miss, and because of how single-minded you have been, you were droned. You've been pushing yourself too, have you not? ...Ah, he would probably be annoyed with me, but he's played you like a doll for long enough. I can't allow you to mix what should be clearly set apart, or have you destroy yourself further than you already have.
So you understand? [Heh, keep Merem in check. Why the hell did they have to involve her in this charade? Frankly, she didn't understand why either of them bothered. Merem, she can form ideas. The little twerp inexplicably liked her despite her being a human, so she just has to deal, but him?
Who is he trying to save? She was already damned.]
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[he pauses.] I can understand your concern for mixing that which should not be mixed, but why are you bothering to worry about my destruction?
[Regarding her question about understanding.]
I hear what you are saying. And you are asking me to stop. So I shall.
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Because you've been blinded by it, and the outcome is the direct result of your ignoring my request. What do you think you're fighting for?
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But... I was wrong to ignore your request. [He considers asking for forgiveness. But that's not his way, not the way of the Astartes. Simply owning up to your mistakes and taking your lumps is best. He offers no mercy but a quick death and as such expects none.]
In the end, I fight for everyone here. Even the drones are worth some consideration. They were once like us. [There's just a touch of pain in his voice now. He has lost family to droning, and saw them in the vat. That hellish thing.... he still rebels against the memory.]
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Ciel.... in the end, monsters always manipulate me. In my own time, and here.
[There's agony in his voice now, raw, and rage as well. He isn't broken, not by a long shot, but the armor that he has worn, the mask of kindness and honor is stripped away. There is only Garviel, the last loyal man, raging at the traitor stars that have fallen, burning and set the galaxy itself ablaze. This is a truth that was hidden away inside him, a flaw in the construction of this sword of the emperor. This deep hurt at betrayal, this anger at being used by his friends, his gene-father.]
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["Fight for everyone"? It's immediately perceived as an excuse to cover the bigger screw up. It may be a legitimate reason for why he took Merem up on his game, but it's still just a minor one, contrasted to the core reason she knew that he has brandished his sword uselessly for.
She doesn't want any part in it.]
Do you wish to speak in person?
[She can hear it. While his tone is breaking bits and bits, hers stayed the same. Quiet and controlled, there's almost an eerie quality to how flat her voice may have sounded.]
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While I cannot agree with your view in this matter, I will respect your wishes.
[He hesitates, then returns her question with one of his own.]
What purpose would that sort of discussion serve, Ciel?
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To clear things up. There seems to have been a misunderstanding, and even if that's not the actual case, it would be in our best interest to speak as to prevent misconceptions from happening later on. I've no interest for my words to be misinterpreted and used against me, and you likely feel the same way. Merem won't be allowed to interfere, for it is I who shall have sought you out of my own free will. ...Or would you rather we finish this on the phone?
[She's pressuring him and she knows it.
The end justifies the means, after all.]
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I shall see you in person if you wish. Where would you prefer to meet?
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