Day 10

[andascholar]

[Everything is terrible and Zelda has no time to mourn forever. She needs to make plans and solidify alliances. And so she is making invitations to her dressing room whenever boys are available.]

Comments

[andascholar]

She... [jfc Lotus. And unpleasant memories for Niles.......]

[locktouching]

I don't know if she meant what she was offering. I know how I act, but I wouldn't have wanted that. It's just... the reminder that got to me.

[Debating if he wants to keep talking about it. But... well, Zelda isn't such a bad person to talk to anymore, and it kind of helps. SORRY BUT THIS IS GOING TO GET DARK.]

As I said when we first met, I grew up close to death every day, just a thieving wretch barely surviving in the gutters. I did anything to keep living... killing, stealing, begging... and selling everything, even my body and my soul.

...I only remember pieces of what happened. Bricks, rain, rats, a large man laughing cruelly, blood, gold coins... All of my past is in fragments.

[Puts his cup down on the floor.]

[andascholar]

[She listens quietly, attentively, taking it all in. It's a world she's never had to worry about, and she can't imagine what it must be like, what he's been through. No wonder Niles said he hated the privileged. The people with money and power in his life hurt him like that when any decent person should have helped him, he said he grew up like that, just a child...] I'm so sorry you went through that, Niles.

[locktouching]

...Thank you.

[It could go on and on, but he stops there.]

About my idea...

[Takes his bow off and places it on his lap.]

You'll have to be open to the idea of assassination. At this point, it might only be playing fair. ...I didn't want to go back to such ways, but survival is becoming harsh. We need to be willing to do anything.

Next voting round. If we strike at around the time the bid is being carried out... we might get away with it. Others might think it is a bid, or at least be thrown off by the timing.

[andascholar]

...And what would Corrin think of such a plan?

[locktouching]

It would weigh on his heart... but I think he would understand. He has always done what was necessary, as hard as it may be.

Doing this could also redistribute some votes.

I doubt the jester would give us weapons like he would the bidders, but I have a special skill for capturing enemies. This could be done without leaving arrows.

[andascholar]

[This is all so much different than plotting to kill an evil pig monster force of nature. Does Lotus really deserve this? ...Did any of the others? Ayato? Katou? Gorix? Zelda has to cut herself off there, lingering on those she couldn't save won't help anything. She has to focus. Nobody here deserved to die but it was going to happen anyway, and Lotus was actively contributing to it. She'd already said she was a person who couldn't be trusted, who was spreading dangerous rhetoric and had to be eliminated. Think this through.] If... If we were to do it. Would it not be an idea, for one of us to use it as an opportunity for the hotel pass? Just like the first round, say there was a problem with the turn-in and use a position as a zero voter to get... But that's so hypocritical. After everything I said, the whole point of hunting the person with the second hotel pass down was to dissuade others from trying to escalate their bids, if we do something like that we'll be exacerbating the problem. [ZELDA IS PERHAPS TOO SOFT FOR ACTUAL ASSASSINATIONS.]

[locktouching]

[Niles doesn't look really thrilled about this line of conversation either. But he's the one with experience in necessary cruelty.]

Well... as I said, I am practiced at capture, the only one in the Nohrian army skilled at it. I would restrain them on the battlefield for later recruitment.

Maybe... we could just hold on to Lotus or whoever else secretly. Keep her from acquiring votes and causing harm. Then she might die by way of votes... or her allies might use a hotel pass on her.

[andascholar]

...Perhaps. [I wish Link was here he would know what to do.] We should discuss any further plans with Corrin. And then... we will see.

[locktouching]

Yes... I want to include him on whatever I do. I've resolved to be open with him, even if he might not agree with my actions.

[andascholar]

A good leader should be open to dissenting views. It's too easy to be blinded if you don't listen to others. I'm sure... Together, we can come up with a good plan.