[008] [audio]

[sacredbrand]

For the love of whatever you hold dear, don't stray from the light.

Kevas. Talia. Joe. Everyone here. Please say you're all fine.

Albel too, I suppose. At the very least mind what you point your sword at. If you can, refrain from attacking the people who are as captive as you are

Comments

[Audio]

[virulentrouge]

[You could've said that nicer, you know.

Actually, staying pressed is perfectly fine. It wouldn't really matter either way.]

And just who died and made you king of the land?

[Audio]

[sacredbrand]

[She could have. But who would Nel be if she didn't sass him?]

I don't presume to think you would follow orders if they were given. Consider it a request to behave while we're under attack.

[If she was still into praying, she'd pray that appealing to his military sense works.]

[Audio]

[virulentrouge]

[And according to Albel's strict set of military rule, her argument is automatically invalid.]

Do tell where I can find some of the calvary if that’s what you're inferring. There is no 'attack'. And by all means, I’m sure disposing of a couple of worms would not only be better than sitting around in gripe, but very worthy of my time.

[Audio]

[sacredbrand]

[Cool it Nel. Cool it. Don't bite. Do not bite, girl.]

Almost everyone here is capable of defending themselves. The hell is wrong with forming alliances against an enemy that strikes without showing itself or even giving a hint as to its nature beyond hostile?

[Audio]

[virulentrouge]

What difference does it make? Any common fool can defend themselves by simply nesting indoors. Better to leave every man for himself.

Those incapable would only slow everyone down. This way, the weak are effectively singled out.

[Audio]

[sacredbrand]

We. Are. All. That's. Left. We cannot afford to go by your 'law of the jungle'. There are too few of us to have the luxury.

[How to Enrage a Woman in Five Seconds or Less

by Albel Nox
author of Tell Her She's a Maggot, That'll Show Her]

[Audio]

[virulentrouge]

[To be quite honest, Albel still doesn't buy into the whole decimation account. There had to be some method to the madness, some way around it. He was sure of it.

But for now, he'll delight himself in baiting Aquarians all he wants.]

What sort of world do you live in, woman? I don't care how many of us are here; go by your methods of living and the feeble will surely martyr those who plan on protecting them. It has always been this way. I speak from experience, not some pretense of enlightenment.

[audio]

[sacredbrand]

[She didn't, either. Not for the longest time. Her conviction has since shifted to focus on the survival of anyone who isn't herself.

As the martyr and protector of these people (even if they don't realize it), of course he inspires the next level of righteous indignation.]

So we do it your way, Albel.

[Say her name, dammit, Glyphian scum.]

We ignore all potential alliances and keep to ourselves. One by one, the End swallows them. Maybe a handful of people are left to fight. Not nearly enough for an assault when we finally have a target to go after.

There is strength in numbers. Noncombatants can be trained. The weak can be made strong. You most of all should know that.

[Audio]

[virulentrouge]

[By now, Nel can feel the literal snap in his voice, the provocation. He hadn't the slightest of how anyone in Aquaria got by with this kind of mentality. He's certainly never heard of it in the Glyphian ranks.]

How ridiculous. You'd be dead if Fayt and Cliff hadn't rescued you at the facility. One small misshape on their account, one casual delay, and you're nothing but food for the maggots to feast upon. And for your pathetic excuses of subordinates? They were useless.

[Audio]

[sacredbrand]

[The Glyphian ranks also don't accept women on the basis of it being a maaaan's world. Nel does not have a high opinion of the Glyphian army mentality.

If he's snapping, so is she.]

I think you and I both know I didn't mean to come out of that facility alive. My mission was done, then. I'd failed my subordinates as you failed to stop us at the Becquerel mines.

The difference is I had comrades who refused to let well enough die honorably. You had no one.

[Audio]

[virulentrouge]

There's nothing honorable about dying for the weak.

[He knows this from experience.]

[Audio]

[sacredbrand]

[If Nel knew nothing of his Flame ceremony, that might pass her by. But she knows plenty about it-- about him, and his father, and what happened during his rite. Every person of interest in Glyphian society met her scrutiny. The dread General is no exception.

The flash of empathy almost turns her defiance on its head. The shame of envisioning her father's disappointed look if she dug her metaphorical claws into his soft spots keeps her from going on the offensive.]

There is everything honorable about paying your dues.

[Audio]

[virulentrouge]

[ He needs not for empathy, nor a payment of dues: he doesn't owe anyone anything, in his mind -- anyone who was alive to hear or see such actions, anyway.]

Bah. You cannot rep what you sow in the grave. That's game over, fool, despite your idealistic notions.

[Audio]

[sacredbrand]

[Don't worry, Albel makes it very simple to put any thoughts of empathy for him out of her brain.]

That isn't the point. And stop calling me that!

[Audio]

[virulentrouge]

[You're really not attempting to cease Albel's precious name calling, are you, Nel?]

Make me.

[Audio]

[sacredbrand]

We are adults. Let us act like it.

[Yes.

Yes she is.]