shaft | school: rupert

[ Looks over at Rupert, shaking his head. ]

I walked out with the others, but something drew me back. A sense of disbelief, I suppose.

...Are the two of you close?

[him and manwol, he means.]

I mean, not that - not that you need to be for this to be horrible.

No, I'm pretty sure she hated me. [ really tho ] I think... It's the realization of how easy it is to send the wrong person to their death that's hard to swallow.

Knowing that people voted for her. Were okay with her being expelled.

...I don't know if I would say anybody was okay with this.

[his expression tightens a little.]

It's more like - there was no good choice, right?

... Yeah, you're right. She volunteered. Better to send someone off who accepts it than someone who fears it.

[ He says it, but his face implies that he doesn't believe it. ]

I just- what can we do better next time?

I mean... Better to find the person who actually did it.

[but they probably all know that. he takes a breath.]

I don't know.

...

[ He clears his throat. ]

Sorry, I didn't mean to make it seem like I was shaking you down for answers. I know we're all... helpless.

No! No, you didn't seem like that at all. And - it's not a bad idea to talk about it.

[...]

I don't want to think we're helpless. Whoever or whatever's behind this probably wants us to believe that, you know?

You're probably right. But I do wonder... have we gotten any answers in our two weeks?

Perhaps we need to be more patient.

[he gives a little snort.]

...Maybe. But I've never been very good at that, I guess.

It's hard to be patient when people's lives are on the line.

[ sighs ]

Are you... used to this sort of thing?

[he shakes his head.]

No. Not at all. Even in the worst situation I've had to deal with, nobody was hurt too badly. So this happening every week is...

It must be a lot for you to take in. I hope you have someone to lean on.

...You don't need to worry. I'm pretty tough.

[...]

What about you? Are you going to be okay?

[ Well, he's gotta be if he's not sulking around like Claude. ]

I'll be all right. I think today's verdict just hit a little too close to home. It's not any one person's fault but it's hard not to feel guilty.

[with frustration in his voice:]

Well... It's somebody's fault, right?

[ he feels you bro ]

Yes. I'd say it's the fault of whoever forces us to decide on a criminal without sufficient evidence in the span of 9 hours.

...Yeah.

[after a breath:]

When we find whoever or whatever's doing this - none of us are going to let this go.

You're right.

[ He shakes his head a moment before glancing at Rupert. ]

Were you ever pitted against villains like this before coming here?

Villains... I mean, I guess there was my father, but I never actually had to fight him, and if I had, I could have at least seen and touched him.

[the lore..... but he glances towards claude.]

What about you?

[ THIS LORE ]

Sort of. Everyone is a villain to someone in war, and as the head of a nation at battle, I'm sure there are plenty of people who make me the villain in their narrative.

It sucks, but when you have the safety of an entire country to protect, you can't really care how history will paint you.

[ That's more than he usually talks, hm. ]

I don't think this situation is as grey though.

[he takes that in for a moment, frowning, but after his moment of thought:]

Can I ask... what was the war over?

A disagreement over how much authority the Church had over the land. Which, by the way, I didn't necessarily disagree with.

But I don't think war and conquest is the best way open other people's minds to your ideas.

Wait, but... If you don't agree with it, why are you involved?

I'm the head of one of the countries she invaded.

(no subject)

heartlands - 2021-06-25 05:48 (UTC) - Expand