[ gamaliel puts a hand on the mirror through the memory, but doesn't make any move to stop it otherwise. she lets it play out, something sad in her expression. ]
... I don't understand. [ she admits at the end of it, still lingering on the mirror ] If you're the king, can't you make the decisions?
[ oogh. this one never gets easier, really. miguel's words echo in his head - they've never stopped. ]
... Not really. [ taair murmurs, eyes lingering, too. ] It's... more complicated than that.
[ it's easier to deliver this information because it comes from the perspective of the historian. he steps back a little from the mirror, folding his hands behind his back. ]
My family had a long relationship with the Papal States. In exchange for endless wealth, protection and favor from the Radiant and the church, my mother and father allowed the Papal States to do whatever they wanted to the people of Iria - robbing them of their livelihoods, their luxite, and often of their lives. They subjugated the people and treated them impossibly cruelly, while my parents reaped the rewards.
When they were overthrown - and rightfully so, by the Irians, who gained true independence - both of my parents died. I was still a child, and Lady Caris, the Bishop, took me under her wing and raised me as her ward as a favor to the aristocracy. I have been with her ever since.
Many members of the aristocracy did survive the rebellion, and they too expect me to follow along so they can resume receiving their rewards and status. That reciprocal experience is the expectation, and the Papal States exert an incredible amount of power and pressure on not just myself, but on the entire continent. If I am to take the throne, and I do not follow her wishes, there will be consequences. Not for myself - I don't care what she does to me, nor do I have any interest in her wealth, power, or influence - but for Iria. It's already going to be bad, and if I resist, it will only grow worse. The geopolitical conditions of Iria are already fragile enough as it stands.
She intends to use me as a proxy. And in my current position, it is not so easy that I can throw off the shackles of the fate I was born to.
[ she listens to all of that with a kind of frown, because while she knows there's obviously more intricacies and politics involved... ]
Can't you and your friends join the people of Iria and overthrow her? If they did it with your parents, I can't imagine it'd be impossible to do without the right backing. [ a pause ] Or maybe they're still too damaged from the first time. You said they were fragile. But even as a mouthpiece, you should at least be able to open up the conversation between both parties as some kind of ambassador. Negotiate something, maybe? It's not a great solution, but it's better than being stuck.
[ it's nice to hear a little solution, even some problem solving - it's nice that that's what gamaliel reaches for, and it touches his heart, enough that some of the melancholy melts off of taair's back, and it puts a small smile on his face, instead. ]
It would not be a coup d'etat - in that case, declaring an attack on Lady Caris would be a war. The Papal States are far, far too powerful for Iria to take them on directly, no matter how many forces of the people we could gather, and... the nation could not handle a drawn out war. Our people will starve.
The Papal States and Iria have a long, long history - and one that is filled with fury. Righteous fury, honestly - the States deserve it, for their treatment of the Irians. Peace negotiations have already failed once, with Princess Inanna, because neither party will bend. One asks too much, and one accepts too little. It is not a relationship that will be soothed anytime soon.
The aristocracy does not want the best for the people of Iria, they want the best for themselves. And the Irians do not want to become a vassal state. I do think... I think the leader of Convallaria has a way with words, yes, but even his attempts at peace fell through.
[ ... ]
War is on our horizon once more either way. Each path out has ended for myself, and for the nation, at a dead end.
[ it's in her nature, she's a fixer. that political intrigue is not at all her forte is obvious in the way the frown on her face deepens when taair talks, even though he's looking a little better ]
And I'm guessing there's no way to get alliances for Iria against the Papal States? Yours can't be the only nation that's suffering under them.
[ if taair is convinced war is the only option, then the solution is arming themselves as best they can, clearly. this is very angelic of her. ]
Mm... we have one. The Luccians, but they are small and relatively reclusive. Beyond that, the Union of Knights States... a war between the Union and Iria only just recently ended, and they are not only stretched thin of resources, but were defeated by Iria defending her borders, and while peace treaties were signed, relations between the two nations are frosty at best.
[ its so bad chief. in fact, he sets a hand against his chin, trying to think through the paths that gamaliel lays out, too- even if they're familiar, some aren't. ]
... The Papal States sent envoys to help Iria during the war against the Union - likely to begin building the foundations that Iria still needed the Papal States support to win. Lady Caris thinks of these sorts of things.
To convince the Papal States to riot against their leader would be... incredibly difficult, because the Papal States is a theocracy. They would have to think that Lady Caris is acting against the Hierophant, and not carrying out the Radiant's will. Which... when the possession of luxite has been declared a part of the Radiant's will, and Iria is full of luxite... the people of the States will hardly think attempting to absorb Iria is against the Sanctuary's teaching.
Okay, back up, theocracy and the Radiant's will? [ this is politics AND religion? horrid? she figured when she saw the memory and the name papal states but COME ON ] Is the Hierophant a person or some kind of god that talks through a messenger of some kind? Because you said possession of luxite would be declared as part of the Radiant's will. That means someone's making that call.
[ politics AND religion yeah. welcome to hell! he smiles a little sheepishly. ]
Both. Supposedly the Hierophant is the descendant of the original sage who started the Light of the Sanctuary. To defy the Hierophant is downright unheard of - even across Iria, the Light of Sanctuary as a religion is still the most popular one on the continent.
Sooo... Could you talk to them about all of this? Or even some of it. Obviously I don't know how much they'd listen if they're in charge and doing all of this, but it's an avenue?
[ she's like. well maybe not you can't stop catholicism by talking to the pope ]
Forget the religious aspect for a second. [ says an angel ] You're sure there's absolutely no way to get to them? How do they get their messages out? Is there a person in charge of talking with the Hierophant to communicate what they've heard from the Radiant or whatever?
It would be very difficult for me to do so, for a variety of reasons... I have always been under constant watch - and the few friend I have made in Convallaria Town are now, as well.
[ there's a beat. ] Ah...but, my dear friend, you aren't. For what it is worth - I appreciate it, Gamaliel. Truly.
[ it's sweet, for her to try to run through this situation for solutions, for what is a desperately hopeless place to be - he smiles, and it's not stressed or anything by it, but genuinely touched. ] I've not really had anyone to ever try to fight for me before, until very recently. So... I am thankful. I just wish it was easier to solve.
Nothing worth fighting for is ever easy. [ this isn't said in an optimistic way, more kind of a resigned tone ] But you can't just accept going back and being locked away again. What's the point of life if you are?
[ he could like. stay in heaven. that is an option. ]
[ what's the point of life, indeed? what a great question. ]
... This life of mine is pointless already. [ his death, in the grand scheme of things, was just pointless, too. ] But... perhaps I can finish my book, at least. If nothing else, I will be watched closely - I will not be able to make it as comprehensive as I would have ever liked, but... maybe there are some truths I can reveal. And maybe that is the only difference I could ever really make.
[ ... ]
I have learned that the more that I run from my fate, the faster it catches up to me.
Forget fate. Your choices are your own. [ there's something a little spiteful in how she says that. ] I know how it feels to think your life is pointless, but it's not. You can't just write yourself off like that.
[ but what if you've never had any choices? he doesn't say that, but it's the truth. he's never been allowed to make them. heaven is the most freedom he's ever known. coward. you can't even fight for yourself.]
... thank you, Gamaliel. [ quietly. ] And...I'm sorry, that that's a feeling that has crossed your heart - it is an awful way to be.
[ to feel pointless. ]
I... have not yet lost all hope. [ but boy is he getting close to it! haha yay bad end. ] So, I will do the best that I can to make the right choice. Whatever that choice may be.
It's fine. [ very quick and dismissive ] I was a teenager, which is honestly the stupidest age to be.
[ she looks 15. ]
I'm going to be blunt, Taair. I don't think locking yourself away is the right choice. I know there's more to it than that, but it sounds like that kind of sacrifice would just delay the inevitable anyway.
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Good day, Gamaliel - I have not! But I'll never say no to a new adventure. Shall we?
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[ off they go!! to probably open the door to the mirror maze instead unless you want to see the shack. rip to them ]
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[ he sounds DELIGHTED by this prospect. it's a shame that he opens the door and what he sees instead are mirrors.
and not one second later, the reflective glass begins to play a memory: a bird's first flight from the cage. ]
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... I don't understand. [ she admits at the end of it, still lingering on the mirror ] If you're the king, can't you make the decisions?
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... Not really. [ taair murmurs, eyes lingering, too. ] It's... more complicated than that.
[ it's easier to deliver this information because it comes from the perspective of the historian. he steps back a little from the mirror, folding his hands behind his back. ]
My family had a long relationship with the Papal States. In exchange for endless wealth, protection and favor from the Radiant and the church, my mother and father allowed the Papal States to do whatever they wanted to the people of Iria - robbing them of their livelihoods, their luxite, and often of their lives. They subjugated the people and treated them impossibly cruelly, while my parents reaped the rewards.
When they were overthrown - and rightfully so, by the Irians, who gained true independence - both of my parents died. I was still a child, and Lady Caris, the Bishop, took me under her wing and raised me as her ward as a favor to the aristocracy. I have been with her ever since.
Many members of the aristocracy did survive the rebellion, and they too expect me to follow along so they can resume receiving their rewards and status. That reciprocal experience is the expectation, and the Papal States exert an incredible amount of power and pressure on not just myself, but on the entire continent. If I am to take the throne, and I do not follow her wishes, there will be consequences. Not for myself - I don't care what she does to me, nor do I have any interest in her wealth, power, or influence - but for Iria. It's already going to be bad, and if I resist, it will only grow worse. The geopolitical conditions of Iria are already fragile enough as it stands.
She intends to use me as a proxy. And in my current position, it is not so easy that I can throw off the shackles of the fate I was born to.
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Can't you and your friends join the people of Iria and overthrow her? If they did it with your parents, I can't imagine it'd be impossible to do without the right backing. [ a pause ] Or maybe they're still too damaged from the first time. You said they were fragile. But even as a mouthpiece, you should at least be able to open up the conversation between both parties as some kind of ambassador. Negotiate something, maybe? It's not a great solution, but it's better than being stuck.
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It would not be a coup d'etat - in that case, declaring an attack on Lady Caris would be a war. The Papal States are far, far too powerful for Iria to take them on directly, no matter how many forces of the people we could gather, and... the nation could not handle a drawn out war. Our people will starve.
The Papal States and Iria have a long, long history - and one that is filled with fury. Righteous fury, honestly - the States deserve it, for their treatment of the Irians. Peace negotiations have already failed once, with Princess Inanna, because neither party will bend. One asks too much, and one accepts too little. It is not a relationship that will be soothed anytime soon.
The aristocracy does not want the best for the people of Iria, they want the best for themselves. And the Irians do not want to become a vassal state. I do think... I think the leader of Convallaria has a way with words, yes, but even his attempts at peace fell through.
[ ... ]
War is on our horizon once more either way. Each path out has ended for myself, and for the nation, at a dead end.
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And I'm guessing there's no way to get alliances for Iria against the Papal States? Yours can't be the only nation that's suffering under them.
[ if taair is convinced war is the only option, then the solution is arming themselves as best they can, clearly. this is very angelic of her. ]
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[ its so bad chief. in fact, he sets a hand against his chin, trying to think through the paths that gamaliel lays out, too- even if they're familiar, some aren't. ]
... The Papal States sent envoys to help Iria during the war against the Union - likely to begin building the foundations that Iria still needed the Papal States support to win. Lady Caris thinks of these sorts of things.
To convince the Papal States to riot against their leader would be... incredibly difficult, because the Papal States is a theocracy. They would have to think that Lady Caris is acting against the Hierophant, and not carrying out the Radiant's will. Which... when the possession of luxite has been declared a part of the Radiant's will, and Iria is full of luxite... the people of the States will hardly think attempting to absorb Iria is against the Sanctuary's teaching.
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Both. Supposedly the Hierophant is the descendant of the original sage who started the Light of the Sanctuary. To defy the Hierophant is downright unheard of - even across Iria, the Light of Sanctuary as a religion is still the most popular one on the continent.
[ fantasy catholics ]
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[ she's like. well maybe not you can't stop catholicism by talking to the pope ]
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[ as far as I can tell anyway sweating in lore ]
That would be the equivalent of speaking with the Radiant themselves, which... is.... I guess in this specific situation, not that strange...
[ considering they are literally in heaven right now ]
...but even so, that would require getting to them, and that would be impossible, as well.
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[ forces you to suffer your own lore ]
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...well, yes. That person would be Lady Caris.
[ and therein lies the problem. ]
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Okay. [ Okay. ] So... Could you find out how she's contacting them and then do it yourself? If she's even contacting them for real.
[ she pauses and shakes her head ]
Sorry, I know I'm being pushy.
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It would be very difficult for me to do so, for a variety of reasons... I have always been under constant watch - and the few friend I have made in Convallaria Town are now, as well.
[ there's a beat. ] Ah...but, my dear friend, you aren't. For what it is worth - I appreciate it, Gamaliel. Truly.
[ it's sweet, for her to try to run through this situation for solutions, for what is a desperately hopeless place to be - he smiles, and it's not stressed or anything by it, but genuinely touched. ] I've not really had anyone to ever try to fight for me before, until very recently. So... I am thankful. I just wish it was easier to solve.
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[ he could like. stay in heaven. that is an option. ]
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... This life of mine is pointless already. [ his death, in the grand scheme of things, was just pointless, too. ] But... perhaps I can finish my book, at least. If nothing else, I will be watched closely - I will not be able to make it as comprehensive as I would have ever liked, but... maybe there are some truths I can reveal. And maybe that is the only difference I could ever really make.
[ ... ]
I have learned that the more that I run from my fate, the faster it catches up to me.
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... thank you, Gamaliel. [ quietly. ] And...I'm sorry, that that's a feeling that has crossed your heart - it is an awful way to be.
[ to feel pointless. ]
I... have not yet lost all hope. [ but boy is he getting close to it! haha yay bad end. ] So, I will do the best that I can to make the right choice. Whatever that choice may be.
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[ she looks 15. ]
I'm going to be blunt, Taair. I don't think locking yourself away is the right choice. I know there's more to it than that, but it sounds like that kind of sacrifice would just delay the inevitable anyway.
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...When you were actually a teenager?
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....reasons?
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