[ She nods and picks a few flowers from her cart, before moving to another nearby grave. ]
I can't dismiss the possibility he has his reasons. Political enemies, infighting or other elements we are yet unaware of.
[ She's investigating those things and so far, she's returned empty-handed from her research. Still... Beyond those few minutes, there have been other things recently. The harsh training. The suspicion cast on each other, with encouragements to distrust the person next to you. Even resorting to having them interrogate each other with truth serum. Morale is at an all-time low and every decision taken so far has made things worse, with no indication they intend to reflect on their mistakes.
And so... ]
But regardless of his motives... [A pause.] For the first time today, I found myself thinking we may lose this.
[ Idiots within their rank? That they can deal with. But when the leadership itself is compromised...? It's like with Masters and Servants. No matter how powerful and smart a Servant is, they will not win if their Master misuses their authority and displays poor leadership qualities. ]
[ It's rare to see Ereshkigal worried - truly seriously worried and not frazzled over one awkward situation or another - which really hammers home the severity of her concerns right now. And that makes him worried, his own expression darkening even more.
As if they don't have enough to worry about with the kaiju alone, now there's concerns about their leadership too. What a massive pain in the ass.
Still, they won't get anywhere just bemoaning the state of things, so he shakes off the worse of his uncertainty. Even if he can't quite pull together a smile, his expression is at least alert. ]
Then we better figure out some way of dealing with things so we can win this, right? [ Which is easier said than done.... ] If we can't trust the people in charge, then we need to either form our own temporary leadership or find a way to replace them.
[ She nods and moves to fetch something from her cart- Not a flower, but a sealed letter. ]
That's why I called you. [She hands the letter over to him.] If I came to disappear... Open it then.
[ G-Gosh, she must really be coming off as overly dramatic right now, huh? It would be even worst if he knew she has her Gallû Spirits patrolling the area to make sure nobody's eavesdropping on them! But she just can't shake up that feeling of dread she has ever since Shiro spoke...
Poor leadership can mean the end of everything. That's why in spite of her pain, she's never released her authority over the Underworld. If the wrong person takes over... Everything will go wrong. ]
It contains everything I know about the enemies of humanity I mentioned last time— As well as what I believe are the best ways to kill them, should it come to that. [Tezcatlipoca, Set and Silco. Two of them are gods and the third one has proven capable of deicide.] I'll keep sending you an updated version of this letter on the first day of every months. I need someone I trust to hold on to this— But also someone most people wouldn't suspect.
[ She does trust him, but comparatively to some of the other people she's close to... They haven't met that often, have they? So it's perfect.
Admittedly, that's really imagining a worst case scenario where they overthrow Shiro, infighting breaks out and those three kill her first thing. But considering the way Silco had approached her... Murdering her sounds just like what he'd like to do if given the chance. ]
I-I know I may come across as a neurotic worrywart right now... [She goes back to her cart.] But I refuse to leave anything to chance. And if we ever confront Shiro, they will be there to try and take the upper hand.
[ He takes the list, holding it between careful fingers, the frown on his face deepening when he sees the names written down. He makes it his business to at least have a passing recognition of most of the Outsiders on base, but the fact that he's conversed several times with one of them is what's more jarring.
Though all things considered, who could be more dangerous to human life than a capricious god?
It's…unfortunate that they have to worry about possible threats both inside their own ranks and out, but he's gotten used to being wary of people from all sides now. This is just par the course now, even if he wishes it wasn't.
Still, he offers her a wan smile. ]
There's nothing wrong with being prepared. Better to have a plan laid out beforehand you never need than to flounder at the moment when everything goes wrong.
[ Kind of like what had happened in Seoul… ]
You really care a lot, don't you? About the people around you, and humanity.
[ It feels….different from his own scant experience with gods, but not in a bad way. ]
[ Ah. That's a question she hadn't expected. Her first instinct is to deflect. All gods love humans - even those who hate them, ironically. Why, perhaps they love them more than most! Oftentimes hat hatred is born from their disappointment, anger and hopes.
But there is no denying that the way she loves humans is different. Quetzalcoatl, Yato, Ryoji, her sister... There are a few gods whose love for humanity is greater than most. The gods who dwell among humans. She turns around and looks up at the sky night. ]
How could I not? Humanity is so beautiful. [She smiles to herself and close her eyes.] I know a boy who was born into a world of pain and forced too early into adulthood. Yet rather than accept his fate and die or become a monster, he found the strength to grow and become the kind of person that may just prevent others from knowing his fate.
[ His is one of the beautiful story that makes humanity what it is. Of course, there is ugliness there. What those people who "cared" for him did, what he had to do. The world that allowed for such a thing to happen. It can't be denied, history is riddled with atrocities. It is a constant of existence itself.
What humanity does is more than add to the ugliness. It adds something more, some beautiful that makes life worth experiencing. That is what she believes. ]
So many humans shine so bright. The darker the world, the brighter they shine. They're so small, you could be forgiven to think them meaningless. [She laughs and shakes her head.] ... Yet they bring to life so much more meaning than any god ever could hope to.
[ The letter in his hand goes momentarily forgotten as he listens to Ereshkigal, her voice warm and hopeful as she speaks of her own personal experiences with humanity. For all that he's experienced a large portion of the worst of humanity, he can agree with her that there are those who make living tolerable, whose lights shine bright even int he darkness.
Though at the same time, he thinks she could stand to give herself a little more credit, his expression softening into a slight smile. ]
There are plenty of people who are able to go through life because of gods like you. You give life plenty of meaning yourself.
[ Ereshkigal and Zagreus, the two gods most likely to get him to change his low opinion of gods in general. But unfortunately, it's back to the letter, which he holds up again. ]
[ She smile. She wonders if she really helps that many people get through life... She used to help them get through the afterlife. If now she's capable of doing that with people still alive, she's happy. She nods at his question. ]
Be careful not to let this knowledge affect your behavior around them. I do not believe either Set or Tezcatlipoca would attack you, but Silco might. [A pause.] I do not know how just yet, but he has been able to kill a goddess in another world. A friend of mine, and he approached me to gloat about it.
[ He could just be lying, but she got confirmation from the other two people on this list that it's true. The fact that Set isn't busy avenging his lover and Tezcatlipoca doesn't do anything against the man who killed his sister... That just makes it all the more worrisome. ]
I plan on getting more information. [She looks at him with sadness in her eyes.] I-I'm sorry, Wriothesley. Me sharing this with you put you in some danger... But you were the first name that came to mind for this.
[ Neither Set nor Silco had seemed particularly vengeful when he'd spoken to them briefly, but if he's learned anything it's that appearances are terribly deceiving. Though he trusts Ereshkigal, he'll have to do his own research into the matter somehow, without bringing up this particular bit of knowledge.
That's a problem for later him though. Current him has more important things to worry about, like the guilt creeping across Ereshkigal's face. ]
Hey. You don't need to apologize for this. I'm glad you trust me enough to share your worries with me. I just wish there was more I could do.
[ Danger has been enough of a constant companion for him that he doesn't think much of it anymore, accepting the risk as just another part of life. ]
It's not like all of us aren't in danger every day here anyway. [ Kaiju, natural disasters, an unstable government…. ] And I'd rather be in danger helping keep the people important to me safe.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I can't dismiss the possibility he has his reasons. Political enemies, infighting or other elements we are yet unaware of.
[ She's investigating those things and so far, she's returned empty-handed from her research. Still... Beyond those few minutes, there have been other things recently. The harsh training. The suspicion cast on each other, with encouragements to distrust the person next to you. Even resorting to having them interrogate each other with truth serum. Morale is at an all-time low and every decision taken so far has made things worse, with no indication they intend to reflect on their mistakes.
And so... ]
But regardless of his motives... [A pause.] For the first time today, I found myself thinking we may lose this.
[ Idiots within their rank? That they can deal with. But when the leadership itself is compromised...? It's like with Masters and Servants. No matter how powerful and smart a Servant is, they will not win if their Master misuses their authority and displays poor leadership qualities. ]
And that terrifies me.
no subject
As if they don't have enough to worry about with the kaiju alone, now there's concerns about their leadership too. What a massive pain in the ass.
Still, they won't get anywhere just bemoaning the state of things, so he shakes off the worse of his uncertainty. Even if he can't quite pull together a smile, his expression is at least alert. ]
Then we better figure out some way of dealing with things so we can win this, right? [ Which is easier said than done.... ] If we can't trust the people in charge, then we need to either form our own temporary leadership or find a way to replace them.
no subject
That's why I called you. [She hands the letter over to him.] If I came to disappear... Open it then.
[ G-Gosh, she must really be coming off as overly dramatic right now, huh? It would be even worst if he knew she has her Gallû Spirits patrolling the area to make sure nobody's eavesdropping on them! But she just can't shake up that feeling of dread she has ever since Shiro spoke...
Poor leadership can mean the end of everything. That's why in spite of her pain, she's never released her authority over the Underworld. If the wrong person takes over... Everything will go wrong. ]
It contains everything I know about the enemies of humanity I mentioned last time— As well as what I believe are the best ways to kill them, should it come to that. [Tezcatlipoca, Set and Silco. Two of them are gods and the third one has proven capable of deicide.] I'll keep sending you an updated version of this letter on the first day of every months. I need someone I trust to hold on to this— But also someone most people wouldn't suspect.
[ She does trust him, but comparatively to some of the other people she's close to... They haven't met that often, have they? So it's perfect.
Admittedly, that's really imagining a worst case scenario where they overthrow Shiro, infighting breaks out and those three kill her first thing. But considering the way Silco had approached her... Murdering her sounds just like what he'd like to do if given the chance. ]
I-I know I may come across as a neurotic worrywart right now... [She goes back to her cart.] But I refuse to leave anything to chance. And if we ever confront Shiro, they will be there to try and take the upper hand.
no subject
Though all things considered, who could be more dangerous to human life than a capricious god?
It's…unfortunate that they have to worry about possible threats both inside their own ranks and out, but he's gotten used to being wary of people from all sides now. This is just par the course now, even if he wishes it wasn't.
Still, he offers her a wan smile. ]
There's nothing wrong with being prepared. Better to have a plan laid out beforehand you never need than to flounder at the moment when everything goes wrong.
[ Kind of like what had happened in Seoul… ]
You really care a lot, don't you? About the people around you, and humanity.
[ It feels….different from his own scant experience with gods, but not in a bad way. ]
no subject
But there is no denying that the way she loves humans is different. Quetzalcoatl, Yato, Ryoji, her sister... There are a few gods whose love for humanity is greater than most. The gods who dwell among humans. She turns around and looks up at the sky night. ]
How could I not? Humanity is so beautiful. [She smiles to herself and close her eyes.] I know a boy who was born into a world of pain and forced too early into adulthood. Yet rather than accept his fate and die or become a monster, he found the strength to grow and become the kind of person that may just prevent others from knowing his fate.
[ His is one of the beautiful story that makes humanity what it is. Of course, there is ugliness there. What those people who "cared" for him did, what he had to do. The world that allowed for such a thing to happen. It can't be denied, history is riddled with atrocities. It is a constant of existence itself.
What humanity does is more than add to the ugliness. It adds something more, some beautiful that makes life worth experiencing. That is what she believes. ]
So many humans shine so bright. The darker the world, the brighter they shine. They're so small, you could be forgiven to think them meaningless. [She laughs and shakes her head.] ... Yet they bring to life so much more meaning than any god ever could hope to.
no subject
Though at the same time, he thinks she could stand to give herself a little more credit, his expression softening into a slight smile. ]
There are plenty of people who are able to go through life because of gods like you. You give life plenty of meaning yourself.
[ Ereshkigal and Zagreus, the two gods most likely to get him to change his low opinion of gods in general. But unfortunately, it's back to the letter, which he holds up again. ]
Did you learn all this from speaking to them?
no subject
[ She smile. She wonders if she really helps that many people get through life... She used to help them get through the afterlife. If now she's capable of doing that with people still alive, she's happy. She nods at his question. ]
Be careful not to let this knowledge affect your behavior around them. I do not believe either Set or Tezcatlipoca would attack you, but Silco might. [A pause.] I do not know how just yet, but he has been able to kill a goddess in another world. A friend of mine, and he approached me to gloat about it.
[ He could just be lying, but she got confirmation from the other two people on this list that it's true. The fact that Set isn't busy avenging his lover and Tezcatlipoca doesn't do anything against the man who killed his sister... That just makes it all the more worrisome. ]
I plan on getting more information. [She looks at him with sadness in her eyes.] I-I'm sorry, Wriothesley. Me sharing this with you put you in some danger... But you were the first name that came to mind for this.
no subject
That's a problem for later him though. Current him has more important things to worry about, like the guilt creeping across Ereshkigal's face. ]
Hey. You don't need to apologize for this. I'm glad you trust me enough to share your worries with me. I just wish there was more I could do.
[ Danger has been enough of a constant companion for him that he doesn't think much of it anymore, accepting the risk as just another part of life. ]
It's not like all of us aren't in danger every day here anyway. [ Kaiju, natural disasters, an unstable government…. ] And I'd rather be in danger helping keep the people important to me safe.