Relief

[Anastasia]

That seems to be your plan, yes.

[Nephrite]

Does anyone have any IC input on this plan other than 'we seem to be missing something' :(

[Anastasia]

After some murmuring, "So we're still short something," Sylvie says a loud. "We need something here. Ideas?"

"Even if we can talk to the Hecatoncheires rationally," Cresiel reasons, "What do we tell it? What do we do to move beyond this? That's where I'm stuck. We don't have a way to finish this, only get it into position."

"Actually..." Sylvie hums and looks to Moore. "You became something akin to an abomination when you sought to become One. If so, I wonder what your curse would've been?"

"Interesting, but are you going somewhere with it?" Kaja asks shortly, "It's all parry, no thrust."

"Men," Sylvie rolls her eyes, "There's more to it than thrusting. That could be it. If it understood you too stood as that nightmare and pulled yourself away, it might grasp that change is better possible."

[Nephrite]

Moore instinctively rubs at his arm.

"He certainly didn't seem to want to stay his hand when we met last time." He says. "How do you propose I go about trying this? Simply... stand there and don't say anything? Or... should I add my story to that of the others?"

[Anastasia]

"This is a risk. It might discern the secrets of One and seek that power, or get up to other trouble. Let it see your ordeal, and that you found a way to overcome such a cursed state." Sylvie reasons slowly and carefully. "Drive into it that it's possible. Proof more than words, something that will hit home."

"You want to use Moore's trauma as bait?" Xandra says slowly, "Sylvie, I'm disappointed in you." Her tone says it all, one part scold and three parts pure, almost motherly let down.

"Can you think of a better idea to relate to this thing and hit it in the one place it will understand?" Sylvie rolls her eyes again. "Spare me the sanctimony. I wouldn't do this if it wasn't for a cause Moore's invested himself completely in."

"Is that something you're willing to do and use, Moore?" Cresiel turns away from all of that and to you. "Well?"

[Nephrite]

Moore holds a hand up at their discussion as he looks down.

"I knew when I went out there there was a risk." Moore says. "I had to... think about who I was, think about what I stood for... think about what I embodied."

A breath in and out. One he doesn't need to take.

"I knew that I would be able to overcome that trial." He says, quietly. "I knew it."

Because there is always hope.

"Because there is always hope." Moore says as he looks up, directly at Sylvie. "You could do it too, you know." A small grin after that. "But I know you're not as nice as I am. Yes, I'll do it."

[Anastasia]

"Good. Make sure to strip the memories of anything it shouldn't know about our motivations or true quest," Sylvie goes on, "And be ready to hit it with it. Do you remember how that form felt, how reality was? Put every memory and visceral feeling you have about it in there. The feeling is what will make it the most believable."

"So we have another weapon," Kaja muses now, "Do we have another?"

"Give me a moment," Sylvie closes her eyes and breathes slow. "To play up our ability to form bonds and unity would be a mistake. It seems to want that. The balors were a prime example of that. It doesn't work out for it." A bit of blonde hair is brushed away, "Too likely to enrage it in jealousy and frustration rather than relate to it."

"Instead," Sylvie goes on, "Have you ever been deeply betrayed, Moore? The sort of betrayal that hurts in your soul. That's something I suspect it will relate to."

[Nephrite]

"..." Moore looks down. "I don't... think any of you ever heard this story, and I don't have concrete memories of it myself, but... maybe it's time I finally learn about my own betrayal on Lifasa."

[Anastasia]

The other four look on blankly, but Sylvie just nods a bit. "How much did you learn?"

[Nephrite]

"Only the barest fragments." Moore says with a smile. "Lord Erathaol actually offered to tell me when I founded Hope's Landing and I told him it didn't matter. I learned... a bit, just tiny bits during my One ritual. But I don't know the truth. Maybe now's the time to finally face it, as much as I didn't think it was important to who I am now."

[Anastasia]

"It might be," Sylvie says, and with a serious look, "Can you live with that?"

[Nephrite]

"Whoever Moore was before Lifasa fell isn't who Moore is now." He says.

Because there is always hope.

"Because there is always hope, even for a traitor like that."

He looks up, up, towards the light of Chronias.

As if he's ready for the truth

[Anastasia]

So be it.

Red.

Blood splatters over your vision.

Fire.
No. Please.
They didn't die well.

The forest burned in your betrayal. The blood, the fire, the betrayal. Every tree bloodstained and ablaze, each an offering. You had to do it. They had to die. They had to suffer. That's what you remember telling yourself. They had to. It's how it had to be. It has to be this way.

It had to be this way.

It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
Mom. You remember your mother, her happy smile, the joy to which she sang to you. You remember how much you loved her music. You remember your father, his cheerful lute and harp that he played so well with your mother's songs.

It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
You don't want to remember. Your mind screams that you should turn around. This isn't worth it.

Do you go on?

[Nephrite]

As difficult as this is to finally see - he has to.

He has to continue on through this.

Because there is always hope.

[Anastasia]

It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to.
It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to. It had to.
Were you less than you were, you know your resolve would quail. Every inch of you doesn't want to remember. You understand why. The shame, the horror.

You became a monster. You gave in.

You failed yourself most of all.

It wasn't worth it. Death. Destruction. All for your gain. You remember the shrieking mad prayers, the desperate cries to anyone who would hear as your mind snapped under the guilt. It was trivial to snap your body under the same conditions, wasn't it?

You were a monster.

All because you wanted more. More power, more. Growth. Who cared that those people who you grew up with died? Who cared that you used them to advance yourself and betrayed?

You did. The sheer tidal wave of regret drowned you once, but not again. Not this time.