gocirclegogo | (no subject)

(no subject)

Gallant barrage!

[Of course the arte is lacking somewhat, but the arrows are quite real and piercing enough. The real problem here is the lack of armor. In fact, a flimsy nightgown does very, very little by way of protection even against the cold London night, let alone against tentacles as they reach for the blond archer. The garment doesn't do much for modesty, either, when she leaps back, and notches another arrow to her bow, firing in succession as she nimbly avoids the attacks. It's not giving her any time to cast though, very troublesome. And vexing!]

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Thank you Lion, I appreciate it.

[Not picky. She is the royal disaster, not the royal brat. She takes a sip of the tea and manages to stay composed without flinching in the face of Jade's annoyance. Even if she does feel perhaps a tad bad about being unreasonable, she doesn't waver. She feels it's important to know immediately.]

[Even if the things he informs her of seem too horrible to believe. She has to set her tea down after a moment, hands shaking slightly--not out of fear, but from sheer anger and emotion, carefully contained. Such horrible abuses of power and such hideous realities... It makes her angry. It makes her want to save as many people as she can.]

[At least Jade doesn't even try to tell her not to. And she does listen to him, attentive, because Jade is always rational and she values his opinion greatly. It would be useless to run off halfcocked, as much as it upsets her to know of things she feels strongly that she should fix immediately.]

I understand. I will be calm about this situation. [Dragging others into her emotional outbursts would be dangerously selfish.]

I would like to hear more about the methods of the oppressors first. What depraved cruelty have these royals sunk to, and do you know why?

[At least Lion can tell daddy needs tea. There's a cup given to him by the time Natalia has calmed or at least quieted her anger. It's more than understandable. Especially someone being raised to watch over and protect her people, the idea must be horrible.

Lion seats herself now that everyone has tea. Maybe she's not as knowledgeable as Jade but she can help. She folds her hands in her lap properly.]

The 'why' is possibly the worst and easiest of it. The general doctrines of many of the questionable religions here reflect the idea that people are simply...insignificant. What these beings do to us is their nature and we simply don't matter one way or anything. It isn't even malicious or cruel in that sense.

[Of course, that makes it worse in some ways but Lion isn't sure how to begin on that.] From there, though, they all vary on how exactly humans should interact with these things. That is where...the cruelty begins usually. Yet no matter what, those people will always believe it to be positive. Even a salvation for humanity.

[Well, Jade can probably explain all this better, Lion decides. It really is disheartening.]

[He accepts it with a nod of thanks.] Lion has the essence of it, and I think you can understand a people's willingness to follow their faith even to destruction. Human sacrifice, in various forms, is common. Simply killing a human is enough in many cases. In other cases, the point is to feed their chosen gods with the suffering of the sacrifices. The methods are varied. Vivisection is common, but psychological torment is also favoured. The more the sacrifices suffer, the better, so these tortures continue for as long as possible.

Aside from that, breeding programs are common in both the upper and lower classes, though the programs obviously take a more brutal form among the lower classes. Fish-like humanoids in the rivers called Deep Ones also frequently select humans as either dinner or breeding partners, and this is permitted by the establishment.

In addition to conscious efforts, by their mere existence, the Great Old Ones cause madness. Essentially, they are incomprehensible to human minds, so they have a damaging effect on humans by proximity. Most people in this world experience mild to extreme insanity, and none are spared from nightmares.

[Natalia has to set her tea down and cover her mouth to keep her composure, and even as it is she's shaking faintly.]

That's horrible.

[She won't be able to sit by for it. That much is true. She can't, with people in so much suffering because of these creatures. Just trying to grasp the things Jade and Lion are telling her as reality is nearly impossible, her whole being rejects it.]

That's... That's absolutely despicable and horrible. Jade...

[No calm down, don't get worked up. It's impossible NOT to feel worked up about it though. These are things she can't accept. She wants to yell and scream about this.]

[Deep breaths.]

And the opposing faction is just as bad, you said?

[Lion nods slightly, feeling a little bad. Natalia did insist on finding out more but it's natural that it would be difficult to handle. Still, not much of a way around it.]

Yes. As much as they support humanity, they aren't against any means of freeing it. Even destruction of humanity is better to some of them. Others really don't care at all about humanity as a whole, just...certain parts. The Royalists don't have to work very hard to paint them in a terrible light. Most in London have seen their deeds.

[Skimpier but Natalia does seem overwhelmed. If Jade wants to cover it better, he can.]

To put it simply, they fight fire with fire. If in any way their methods fail to match the standards of their oppressors, it's for lack of resources.

Of course, either side has its more compassionate and reasonable members. I favour the rebels personally. My ear canals are too delicate for mind-controlling slugs.

Mind-controlling slugs?! [She does believe he's not joking, because of everything else they've said and because Jade's jokes and his joking seriousness are different.]

[She folds her fingers together and presses her knuckles against her forehead to compose herself.]

I refuse to be idle about any of this.

[Her voice is steady and determined and pissed.] Lion, thank you for helping to explain. I will not involve you. But Jade... Will you help me? There must be something that can be done.

[Lion doesn't say anything, because well...she does feel a little guilty for not involving herself, especially since it's rather selfish reasons. And she understands why Jade doesn't really, either. 'Really' since his work does have a good purpose. But Natalia doesn't seem the kind to be content with any of that. Lion can't blame her in the least.]

[Jade sighs, then pushes up his glasses.] I suppose I have no choice but to get dragged along by one of you kids again.

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